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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 proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two shoes that weren’t even my size. 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 doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d place it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a dedicated camera.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.