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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two 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 anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.