A teenager has revealed how she kicked her impulse spending habits and managed to save £15,000 by ditching a few daily habits.
Emily struggled to find a way out of the never-ending cycle.
In less than a year, she had spent £4,000 on luxurious days out, concerts and a lavish perfume collection, totalling £1,200 alone.
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It wasn’t until the 19-year-old, who was only earning £700 per month at the time, went on her first holiday abroad to Lake Como, Italy, without her family, that she realised something needed to change.
Now, in less than a year, she’s managed to save an impressive £15,500.
“When I went on that trip, I wanted to enjoy myself – but I quickly realised I didn’t have as much financial freedom as I thought,” the management trainee, from Essex, Founder Insights.
“It made me want to start saving properly and take more control of my money.
“I always knew I wanted to do more in life, as well as move out of my parents’ house as soon as possible.
“But my spending habits didn’t allow much room for that.
“It started as a way to reward myself after long days or stressful weeks.
“It was easy to justify small purchases, but they added up faster than I realised.
“In less than six months, I had amassed over 20 different perfumes, and I didn’t really like the majority of them – it was such a waste.
“That’s when I started thinking more carefully about what I actually valued.
“I felt very wasteful and thought about the savings progress, I could have made if I hadn’t spent the money.
“Instead of feeling ashamed, I saw this as a turning point to make smarter choices.
“I didn’t feel bad about it.
“I just wanted my money to go further and help me reach my goals, rather than stay stuck in this never-ending loop.”
According to a survey by Finder, a comparison website, the average Brit aged 25-34 has around £9,357 in savings.
Emily’s money in the bank is far higher than most of the country – and her peers – who have since turned to the teen for advice.
She began by putting away £200 per month, increasing this to £500.
In total, this amounted to £3,000 – so how else did she get to her current savings figure?
Emily said, “It wasn’t just about saving money; it was also about curbing my impulse spending habits.
“I looked for deals and discount codes when I shopped online, as well as in-store, so I could save as much as possible.
“My student discount had a huge impact on this.
“And even just asking at the tills worked multiple times.
“I also waited a few days, then weeks, going on months before making bigger purchases.
“I wanted to be sure that what I was spending my money on was something I actually wanted or was necessary, not just an impulse.”
Emily has stopped buying her daily coffee and has opted for flavoured sachets from the supermarket, costing £2 for eight, rather than £5 for a takeaway cup.
She said: “Getting a hot drink out has massively increased in price over the past few years.
“I just need enough to scratch the itch.
“I like herbal teas, too, which I take almost everywhere to stop myself from paying for a tea bag in hot water.
“I’ve actually ended up saving money while eating out more as well, as I always look for restaurants with special deals.
“I’m ensuring not to miss out on fun experiences due to being stingy with my money.”
The teen utilises cashback initiatives and loyalty programmes, turning her spending into points, which she then uses to buy items down the line.
Schemes such as Boots recycling have been a “game changer” for racking up points, and she also uses free sample websites or adverts.
To date, Emily has received full-size makeup items, perfume and skin products.
The management trainee has shared her savings journey as new research from Plum, the smart money app, revealed that 75% of women feel confident about saving.
However, many are saving in secret – with an estimated four in 10 Gen Z and millennial women having a hidden savings pot, often kept from partners, family and friends.
And over half of Gen Z women say they feel pressured to justify their spending decisions.
To help tackle bias and boost confidence, Plum has launched a free Confidence Toolkit, created in partnership with linguistics expert Dr Justyna Robinson.
It’s been designed to give women practical steps on strengthening their financial mindset and challenge stereotypes around spending.
Emily’s biggest piece of advice? Pay yourself first.
She added: “If I wanted to buy my own home to get on the property ladder and explore the world by my goal of 22, I knew I needed to start saving more seriously.
“But one thing that has really stuck with me during this process is to always ensure I’m paid first.
“I put money in my savings and investment accounts as soon as my pay slip hits to make sure these are growing.
“I like to put a decent chunk in each month to maintain steady progress.
“Then, with any leftover income at the end of the month, instead of letting it roll over into my spending pot, it goes into my savings with Plum.
“This has massively helped me to save so much more money in the past year and to break free from the vicious cycle of impulse buying.
“My advice to other young people is to start small, stay consistent and don’t see savings as missing out – it’s about building freedom for the future.”
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