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One day at work two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me space to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.