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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included 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 since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the response was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my financial records without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.