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

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an notification hit on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a student, so I did my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I went online again and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but thought an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I included LED strip lights and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In fact, I’d been notorious for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt stressed, exhausted or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping spree. My excuse was always: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new outfits or anything to decorate the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious desire for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just bad with money and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to try a novel idea. Prior to acquiring any item, I’d place it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to check out. The best part of this technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since I turned 18, I started questioning: “Do I actually need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed Amazon, Depop or Zara and discovered items lingering in my cart, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never utilize. I once considered purchasing three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also wanted to buy a disposable film camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I remembered I possessed a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally means I am more selective about the items I do buy, and I can at last review my financial records devoid of feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a purchase. I’ve come to understand ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s perhaps the primary driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this boredom and our need for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining command over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is straightforward.