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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.