From a Compulsive Shopper to a Smarter Spender: The Simple Trick That Changed Everything

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had come through. 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 shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought another couldn't hurt. Then I added light strips 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 ended in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £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 buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I decided to experiment with a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I started questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

It additionally means I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally look at my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old habits – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can identify the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.