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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my what I always did 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, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly good camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.