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From Being a Compulsive Shopper to a Smarter Spender: An Easy Strategy That Transformed My Habits
One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my salary had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a student, so I did my usual when payday arrived: I opened every shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had parted with £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that I never used.
A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but thought an extra one couldn't hurt. Then I included light strips and two 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 bored, I would doomscroll until it always culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My justification was always: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.
I was never completely certain about the reason. Maybe it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in readily to capitalism’s demands.
The Game-Changing Strategy
Eventually, I decided to try a novel idea. Prior to buying anything, I’d place it in my basket, delay for 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 reflect – something I’d never taken. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the response was no.
If I opened Amazon, Depop or Zara and found items sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and start fresh. Using this system, I ceased acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after waiting before visiting the store, I realised I never actually play board games.
I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I recalled I had a phone, like everybody else, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus did not need to buy a separate device.
The Lasting Impact
It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the items I do purchase, and I can finally review my financial records devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.
Of course, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it's human nature. The difference now is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve realised ennui is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.
Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt strangely freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.
Carl Goodwin
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