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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, 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 hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.