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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 someone still at university, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips 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 ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment 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 gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.