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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended 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 due to my upbringing 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 extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.