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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably 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 completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased buying 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 board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.