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One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items 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 had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden desire for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first time since I turned 18, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found 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 a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and therefore had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my impulses and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is straightforward.