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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did 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 spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part 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 began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

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

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.