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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single 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, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.