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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added 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 always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d go months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something 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 answer was no.

If I accessed 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 things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture preys on this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.