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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every retail application on my device. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added LED strip lights and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Perhaps it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After pausing I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can finally look at my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.