From a Compulsive Shopper to a Savvy Consumer: An Easy Strategy That Changed Everything

One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my usual when payday arrived: I launched every single retail application on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but thought 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 new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

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

I was never entirely certain about the reason. 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 hidden desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring anything, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it gave me space to think – something I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I actually require this? Is it within my budget?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this system, I stopped acquiring goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before going to the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I possessed a phone, similar to most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more discerning about the items I do buy, and I can at last look at my bank statements devoid of feeling guilt or embarrassment.

Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a strong trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, in hindsight, forcing myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.