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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights 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, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.