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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless 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 another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits 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 definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items sitting in my cart, 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 waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.