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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, 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 easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. 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 questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly 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 goods feels as radical as it is simple.