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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.