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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure 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 home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.