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

One afternoon at my job a couple of years back, an notification hit on my mobile device: my paycheck had come through. It was a decent sum for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a completely useless heavy blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I went online again and bought a blow dryer. I already owned one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I added light strips 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 anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it inevitably ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never entirely sure why I did this. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d go months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any time I had extra money, there was always a subconscious desire for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and succumbed readily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with a novel idea. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, delay for 24 hours, then make a choice whether to check out. The greatest advantage of this technique was that it gave me time to think – an action I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” More often than not, the answer was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying goods that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to buy three board games, but after a waiting period before visiting the shop, I understood I never actually play board games.

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

The Lasting Impact

It additionally signifies I am more discerning about the things I do buy, and I can at last review my bank statements devoid of experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been times I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, especially when I’m hastening into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful catalyst. It’s probably the primary driver of my impulsive expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our desire for immediate satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. Gaining control over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to expend my hard-earned money on unnecessary products feels as radical as it is simple.