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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

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

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment 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 succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

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 signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

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