From a Spendthrift 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 phone: my paycheck had been deposited. It was a decent sum for a someone still at university, so I did my usual payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my phone. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. In under 60 minutes, I had spent £90 on clothes, home decor and a completely useless weighted blanket that never touched.

A short while after, I returned to the internet and bought a hairdryer. I already owned one, but reasoned an extra one wouldn't be a problem. Then I added 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, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely certain why I did this. Maybe it was due to my upbringing in a poor family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new outfits or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for new and thrilling things. Or possibly, and definitely more likely, I was just bad with money and gave in easily to the lure of consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Prior to buying anything, I’d put it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice whether to finalize the purchase. 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 began questioning: “Do I truly need this? Can I afford it?” Most of the time, the answer was no.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered products sitting in my cart, I’d remove them and start fresh. By employing this method, I stopped buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to buy a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also contemplated buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After pausing I recalled I had a phone, like most people, that features a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a dedicated device.

The Enduring Benefits

It additionally signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can finally review my bank statements without experiencing guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve relapsed into previous patterns – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can identify the signs early, particularly when I’m hastening into a purchase. I’ve realised ennui is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture preys on this boredom and our desire for instant gratification. That’s why, looking back, forcing myself to pause before purchasing has felt unexpectedly freeing. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my diligently earned money on non-essential goods feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.