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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last look at my financial records without feeling guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.