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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips and two pairs of 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.