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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched 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 weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because 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 some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this method, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, similar to most people, that features a perfectly adequate lens, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my financial records without experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining command over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is simple.