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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two 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 mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began questioning: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I possessed a phone, like most people, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.