From a Compulsive Shopper to a Savvy Consumer: The Simple Trick That Changed Everything

One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my usual payday ritual: I launched every shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, the list was endless. Within the space of an hour, I had parted with £90 on clothes, decorative items and a completely unused weighted blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and purchased a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included 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 since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My justification was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely certain about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this technique was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and found products lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once considered buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

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

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of experiencing shame or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the warning signs early, particularly when I’m hastening 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 exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, in hindsight, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential goods feels as radical as it is simple.