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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before buying any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.