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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary 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 shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous 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 excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.