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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened 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 unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to try a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I actually require 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 start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy a trio of 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 remembered I had a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.