A 24-year-old who once described herself as a "shopaholic" spending £700 a month online has revealed how she turned her finances around, saving an impressive £15,000 in just eight months and nearly £30,000 over four years.
From Klarna Sprees to a Home Deposit
Lauren Mayers, a team assistant from Surrey, confessed her previous habits were unsustainable. "I used to have a real shopping problem," she admitted. Her major issue was buying entirely new outfits for every holiday or event, despite having a wardrobe full of clothes at home.
She would routinely fill online baskets with £300 of fast fashion and relied heavily on 'Buy Now, Pay Later' services like Klarna, telling herself spreading payments made it acceptable. "I now know this does not matter and spending is spending," she stated. The wake-up call came when she repeatedly drained her savings, some months saving nothing at all, and realised she was living perilously "month to month."
The Six Rules That Built a £30,000 Savings Pot
Determined to buy her first home with a deposit over 10%, Lauren implemented six key strategies to curb her spending and boost her bank balance.
1. Ditch Fast Fashion
Lauren's first step was quitting websites like Shein and PLT. A dramatic wardrobe clear-out, where she bagged up six bags of unworn clothes, showed her she was discarding over £1,000 worth of poor-quality items. She now only invests in versatile, re-wearable pieces.
2. Clear Debts Before Saving
She prioritised paying off a car loan that was accruing interest. "I couldn't save if I was also paying additional interest," Lauren explained. Using some existing savings to clear the debt allowed her to save much faster afterwards.
3. Be Realistic With Spending Money
Instead of setting an unrealistically low "fun money" budget of £300 a month—which led to dipping into savings—Lauren now allocates a realistic amount. This simple change stopped the cycle of overspending and created a sustainable budgeting plan.
4. Practice Mindfulness & Delayed Gratification
Lauren swapped scrolling shopping sites for visualising her five-year goals. She also practices delaying purchases. Recently, she left a £300 laser hair removal device in her online basket for a day, thought it over, and decided against the impulse buy.
5. Ruthlessly Cut Subscriptions
She audited all recurring payments, asking, "Do you need Netflix? Do you need Spotify?" Lauren ditched Disney+, Spotify, the AA, and even switched to a SIM-only phone contract, slashing her monthly outgoings.
Life After the Spending Overhaul
Despite the drastic cuts, Lauren insists she hasn't missed out. She still enjoyed two holidays last year and allows herself occasional treats, which now feel more meaningful. "It just means making sacrifices, like re-wearing outfits that you already have," she said.
Her story highlights the profound impact of mindful spending and disciplined financial habits, proving that significant savings goals are achievable with a structured and realistic approach.
