From a Compulsive Shopper to a Savvy Consumer: The Simple Trick That Transformed My Habits

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had come through. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every single retail application on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A short while after, I went online again and purchased a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two 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 stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My justification was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely certain why I did this. Maybe it was because I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d go months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for novel and thrilling things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and gave in readily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I decided to try something new. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it provided me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I truly require this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I stopped buying goods that I knew deep down I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I understood I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like most people, that has a perfectly adequate lens, and thus had no requirement to acquire a separate device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can finally review my bank statements devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a powerful catalyst. It’s perhaps the biggest motivator of my impulsive spending.

Consumer culture preys on this boredom and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, in hindsight, compelling myself to pause before buying has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to spend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.