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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 student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

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 didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting 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 try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.