From a Compulsive Shopper to a Smarter Spender: The Simple Trick That Transformed My Habits

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that didn't even fit me. This wasn't a new pattern. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure why I did this. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a poor family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for novel and exciting things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to think – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items sitting in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. By employing this system, I ceased acquiring things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first holiday to the coast. After waiting I recalled I possessed a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly adequate camera, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It also signifies I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can finally review my financial records without feeling shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into old habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve realised boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary motivator of my reckless spending.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.