From Being a Spendthrift to a Smarter Spender: An Easy Strategy That Transformed My Habits

One day at work a couple of years back, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I opened every single shopping app on my device. Amazon, Vinted, Etsy, Depop, Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, decorative items and a totally unused heavy blanket that I never used.

A few days later, I went online again and purchased a blow dryer. I already had one, but reasoned another couldn't hurt. Then I included LED strip lights and two shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn’t new behaviour. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, exhausted or bored, I would mindlessly scroll until it always ended in an impulsive shopping binge. My justification was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 became £10, then £20, and so on.

I was never entirely sure about the reason. Maybe it was due to I grew up in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without purchasing new clothes or anything to brighten up the home. So any time I had some disposable income, there was always a subconscious yearning for new and thrilling things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to the lure of demands.

A Revolutionary Approach

Eventually, I opted to try something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d place it in my basket, wait 24 hours, then make a choice on whether to finalize the purchase. The best part of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – something I’d never done before. For the first time since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly need this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was negative.

If I accessed my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. Using this method, I ceased buying things that I knew deep down I would never use. I once considered purchasing a trio of games, but after a waiting period before going to the shop, I realised I never actually play board games.

I also contemplated buying a disposable film camera for my first trip to the coast. After waiting I recalled I had a smartphone, like most people, that features a perfectly adequate camera, and thus had no requirement to buy a separate device.

The Lasting Impact

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

Naturally, there have been times I’ve relapsed into previous habits – it’s only natural. The key change is that I can recognise the signs early, especially when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a powerful trigger. It’s perhaps the biggest driver of my reckless expenditure.

Modern culture preys on this idleness and our need for immediate gratification. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before purchasing has felt strangely liberating. To be able to have command over my impulses and remind myself that I don't have to spend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as radical as it is simple.