Episode 81 - The Wardrobe Project: Style, Spending & Self-Image with Emma Edwards

Have you ever stared at a wardrobe full of clothes and still thought… I have nothing to wear?

You’re not alone.

In Episode 81 of It’s a Mindset, I’m joined by Emma Edwards — financial behaviour specialist, founder of The Broke Generation and author of The Wardrobe Project — to unpack the powerful psychology behind our spending habits, self-image and relationship with consumption.

Emma undertook a radical experiment: one full year without buying any clothes. No new pieces, no second-hand finds, not even rentals. What followed was a deeply honest journey that challenged the cultural “hamster wheel” of fashion consumption and revealed just how closely our spending can be tied to identity, insecurity and emotional needs.

This conversation goes far beyond budgeting. It’s about awareness, behaviour and the quiet patterns driving many of our financial decisions. Emma really encouraged me to reflect on my own consumption — especially when it comes to clothing — and what might be sitting underneath those choices. It was such a powerful reminder that money habits are rarely just about money.

Emma is the founder of Broke Media and host of The Broke Generation Podcast, reaching tens of thousands of listeners each month. As a Certified Financial Behavior Specialist®, she is known for helping people feel good about money by focusing on the psychology behind our financial choices — not just the numbers.

Key Episode Takeaways

• The dopamine hit of buying clothes — and what’s really driving it
• How insecurities (and beauty and diet culture) can fuel overconsumption
• Emma’s year-long no-buy clothing experiment and what it revealed
• Why money is often about security or freedom — and what that actually means for you
• Emma’s powerful ethos: as long as you’re doing something, clarity on your life path will come

About the Guest:

Emma Edwards is a financial behaviour specialist, author and founder of The Broke Generation — now evolved into Broke Media, a personal finance media company helping people feel good about money. She is the author of Good With Money and The Wardrobe Project, and host of The Broke Generation Podcast, reaching tens of thousands of listeners each month. Through her work, Emma helps audiences understand the psychology behind their financial habits, with the firm belief that getting on top of your money starts with getting to know yourself.

Show Resources:

Follow Emma on Instagram - HERE

Check Out Emma's Website - HERE

Learn More About The Wardrobe Project - HERE

Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram - HERE

Learn More About Emma's 1:1 Coaching - HERE

Book a FREE Discovery Call with Emma - HERE

Emma’s approach is refreshingly honest and deeply insightful, reminding us that getting good with money starts with getting to know yourself.

If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram stories and tag @emmalagerlow and @the.brokegeneration.

Thanks for tuning in.

Yours in Conscious Spending, Emma. X.