From Being a Spendthrift to a Smarter Spender: The Simple Trick That Transformed My Habits

One afternoon at my job two years ago, an alert popped up on my phone: my paycheck had come through. It was a fair amount for a student, so I proceeded with my what I always did when payday arrived: I launched 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 heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I returned to the internet 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 ever since I could afford to buy my own things.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or uninterested, I would mindlessly scroll until it inevitably culminated in an impulsive shopping spree. My excuse was constantly: “Oh well, it’s just £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and continued.

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 brighten up the house. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a hidden yearning for novel and thrilling things. Or possibly, and almost certainly, I was just financially irresponsible and gave in easily to capitalism’s demands.

The Game-Changing Strategy

Eventually, I decided to experiment with something new. Before buying anything, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it gave me time to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began questioning: “Do I actually need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the answer was negative.

If I opened my shopping apps and found items lingering in my basket, I’d clear them out and begin anew. Using this system, I stopped acquiring things that I intuitively knew I would never use. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the store, I understood I never actually engage with board games.

I also wanted to buy a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, similar to everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and thus did not need to buy a dedicated device.

The Lasting Impact

It also means I am more selective about the items I do purchase, and I can at last look at my bank statements without feeling shame or discomfort.

Naturally, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into previous patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can recognise the warning signs sooner, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s probably the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Consumer culture exploits this idleness and our need for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, forcing myself to pause before buying has felt unexpectedly liberating. To be able to have control over my urges and remind myself that I don’t need to expend my diligently earned money on unnecessary goods feels as radical as it is straightforward.