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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.