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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.