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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.