Emotional Triggers Behind Fashion Purchases

In this episode of The Australian Finance Podcast, Gemma Mitchell is joined by Emma Edwards — financial behaviour expert, founder of The Broke Generation, and now two-time author.

Emma’s new book, The Wardrobe Project: A Year of Buying Less and Liking Yourself More, published by Wiley, explores the powerful connection between spending habits, confidence, and self-worth. It’s the perfect read for anyone wanting to reset their relationship with money and shopping before 2026.

Together, Gemma and Emma unpack how a year-long no-buy challenge changed her approach to money, mindset, and fashion, and how you can start your own “wardrobe reset” to spend smarter and feel better.

Topics Covered:

- What inspired The Wardrobe Project and the surprising lessons from a year of not shopping

- How body image and confidence influence the way we spend
- What Emma discovered about self-worth and financial behaviour during her no-buy year
- Practical tips to reduce impulse spending and start buying with purpose
- How to balance self-expression and sustainability with fashion
- Which money and mindset habits stuck after the challenge ended
If you’re ready to build a healthier money mindset and rethink how you spend in 2026, this episode is for you.

Resources for this episode

- Buy Emma’s book “The Wardrobe Project” https://www.amazon.com.au/Wardrobe-Project-Buying-Liking-Yourself/dp/1394376812

- Buy Gemma’s book “The Money Reset”- https://amzn.to/42Uz0aK

- Ask a question (select the Finance podcast): https://bit.ly/R-quest 

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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