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One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

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

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. Using this method, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and therefore had no requirement to buy a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

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

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless spending.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and reaffirming that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.