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One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned 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 anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

The Game-Changing Strategy

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to think – something I’d never done before. For the first time since I turned 18, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this system, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew 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 tabletop games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a phone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to buy a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements without experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. 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 goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.