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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every shopping app on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. 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 anxious, tired or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor 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 subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the response was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that features a perfectly good lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs sooner, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.