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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new outfits or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Lasting Impact

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 discomfort.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is simple.