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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.