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One day at work a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt stressed, tired or uninterested, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found products sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy three board games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a disposable film camera for my first holiday to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a smartphone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It also means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is simple.