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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did 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, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.