Frugal Friends Podcast

Traveling and vacationing is very difficult right now with all that is going on in the world which is why we are very excited to talk with Danielle Desir from The Thought Card about ways we can enjoy the summer, experience new things, and get creative in safe and affordable ways! https://thoughtcard.com/ Sponsors: ! We are so excited to share this with you next week! We have designed this workbook to be six week-long challenges that will help you identify changes you can make to become more frugal long term. You can definitely do them on your own but the workbook is really designed to 8be done in pairs or small groups. And don’t worry if you don’t have a friend to go through it with because if you buy during launch week we will have a way for you to connect with other people who’ve also bought the workbook so you can set up some groups. It launches August 7th and if you want that buy now button in your inbox on launch day go to frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook.The Frugal Friends Workbook You may not be able to take that international trip you were planning this summer or go to that conference that is your one week a year you get to escape from your normal life and hang out with other people who understand youBrowsing the Internet! Notable Notes:We asked Danielle her top tips for frugal vacations, especially in the age of COVID and travel limitations:For people who want to take a break but can’t or just don’t want to leave the house, what are your recommendations for frugal staycations?-hiking-walking/running-check out local restaurants2. How about local travel? How can we save on safe activities and other stuff?-consider whats within a few hours-check regulations3. What about road trips? Any advice for safe and affordable road trips?-identify your comfort level-check state requirements-viatur.com - travel offers-travelzoo - every Wednesday they post top 20 deals-gate1 travel-tripadvisor-use pinterest as search engine4. How can we get financially prepared for travel in the future?-define comfort level-check credit card if not getting money backBILL OF THE WEEK - Thank your Danielle for sharing your bill about dropping a bill you don’t need anymore! AND saving for backyard weddingfrugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundOur upcoming travel plans, how we've had to alter them due to covid, and what we're doing to save on them. Danielle - traveling local Jill - MOVING! Jen - an 'early adopter' and went on a quick trip to Nashville Where people can find more about you Blog Podcast: The Thought Card IG, FB, twitter Book: “Traveling With a Full Time Job” We also want to thank Danielle for sharing about WOC Podcasters; a community of content creators. AND for providing us with a list of her current favs: Freelance Friday - Latasha James School of Ambition - Dielle Charon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever been curious about what it would be like to pair down your clothing essentials, this one's for you! While there are all sorts of definitions and guidelines out there for how to achieve a 'capsule' or minimalist wardrobe, we are providing the foundational tips and principles to create a closet that is simple and beloved.Sponsors: The Frugal Friends Workbook! We are so excited to share this with you in two short weeks! We’ve always worked to promote healthy conversations about money and those don’t have to start with telling people how much debt you have and what your 401k is invested in. So The Frugal Friends Workbook helps you do that with challenges and questions designed to help you open up about money but also change some habits. It launches August 7th and if you want that buy now button in your inbox on launch day go to frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook.Jen- Less is more - when it comes to garlic knots, pasta, and doughnuts this couldn’t be further from the truth - BUT our sponsor wants us to know that sometimes having less of something provides space for more of something else - kinda like less complaining leads to more joy. Less is more - only true for some things in life.Jill- Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Be More With Less gives us 3 foundational tips for building our own capsule wardrobe.What Jen + Jill have to say: 1. See 2. Sort 3. Choose More from the Internet:This article from The Blissful Mind provides us with a list of the top 10 capsule wardrobe essentialsMore from Jen + Jill: Choose a color palette. It's ok to like black/grey/white, but you can also make it colorful! We love their definition of a capsule wardrobe: "A small collection of useful clothing that you love” - now how great does that sound?! BILL OF THE WEEK - This week's bill is brought to us by EveryPlate; America's best value meal delivery kit! We tried it and agree that the food is fantastic, affordable, and super convenient! EveryPlate’s recipes come with everything already pre-measured so we don’t buy a whole bunch of stuff at the grocery store that will just go to waste. And every meal comes together in about 30 minutes – definitely faster than a trip to the grocery store or starting a meal from scratch. You can get 3 weeks of EveryPlate meals for only $2.99 per meal by going to EveryPlate.com and entering code FRUGAL3 at checkout. Thank you so much Chanelle for submitting your bill of the week well done on negotiating your rent! We are amazed!frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundWhat you always wear, what you never wear (but people say should be in a capsule) Jen- yes: athletic wear, no: heels, jewlery Jill- yes: cardigan and scarf (doesnt matter the season); no: jewelry (sunglasses???) Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all experience transitions in our lives; some foreseen, others unforeseen and while these changes impact our whole personhood, we want to explore how to sustain financially through these stressful shifts. From divorce to job change, today we're talking about what we should be focusing on to come out the other side aimed at financial well-being!Sponsors: Our show has always been about coming together around a shared desire to save more, consume less, and do great things financially and we have been working our hearts out to bring you something that helps you do that better and it’s called The Frugal Friends Workbook. We worked too hard on the inside to come up with a better name. The Frugal Friends Workbook can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups. It’s 6 week-long challenges that will help you become more frugal in various aspects of your life. It launches August 7th and you will be hearing more about it in the weeks to come.The Frugal Friends Workbook! Specifically the great Instagram post I saw that said you have every right to give em a plot twist. Plot twists: What the Internet has to say:This article from Forbes lists out some important steps to take specifically when walking through a divorce, but we find these tips helpful for all sorts of transitions we may face!What Jen + Jill have to say: Update accounts Build a “post divorce team” - financial advisor, therapist, vocational counselor (FRUGALLY!) Develop a financial plan More from the Internet:This article, again from Forbes, lists out how we can think about and be prepared for a career change.More from Jen + Jill: Understand your costs & Cut expenses Make sure new career can cover your costs Save! Take your time (stick with ‘old’ profession as you learn the new one) Thank you Erica from NJ for sharing your bill about PAYING OFF 2 credit card! Congrats!BILL OF THE WEEK - Sponsored by Grammerly! A free Chrome extension that helps keep your writing grammatically correct and error free! We love using Grammarly Premium for its plagiarism detector and have found its other features to be very useful! Because Grammarly is a sponsor of the show you can get 20% off Grammarly Premium, which will 100% make you a better writer whether it’s for work or personal. Just go to Grammarly.com/frugal to get 20%.frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundHow we navigated big life changes Jill - current move to FLORIDA Jen- Career change from acupuncturist to writer to freelancer Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Despite how important budgeting is for our frugal lifestyles, we often skip over this step or struggle to find a method that works well for us. For this reason (and many others) we are over the moon to share our conversation with THE Rachel Cruze about her budgeting tips and the ways we can tailor our budgets to make sense for our lives and circumstances!Sponsors: As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor, here are 2 ways you can support us. 1st is to buy a discounted gift card from Raise. Raise sells gift cards at a discounted price to all kinds of places. Find a store you’d shop at anyways and you can save money right off the top by using a discounted gift card to purchase it! When you use our referral link: frugalfriendspodcast.com/raise you’ll get $5 to spend and we will too! 2nd is to sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. If you do this you will get $10 bonus cash back and so will we. YOUR AD HERE: when you experience something awful so that others don’t have to, or you learn a new lesson the painfully hard way so that others can pick it up easily. Kinda like taking a soccer ball to the face at recess. Taking one for the team; it’s not pleasant, but the rest of us are grateful.Taking One for the Team: Notable Notes:We were honored to ask Rachel Cruze all about her budgeting tips and ways to tailor our budgets to work for us! How can someone who busts their budget every month safeguard themself to stop spending out of control? How about for the opposite person who just wants to hoard money and that’s keeping them from reaching financial goals? How can someone make the cash envelope or clip system work if they don’t like carrying cash? What should someone do after they break their budget, like they get an unexpected bill or they go into Target for one thing and come out with 12? !BILL OF THE WEEK - Thanks Rachel for sharing with us your tip about spending less at target than expectedfrugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundOur most recent budgeting flop and how we recovered. Rachel- food! Recovered by spending less in other areas Jen- newspaper subscription :/ Jill- thankfully not doing much right now; but FOOD - always food! That pendulum swings and I get real tired of figuring out meals everyday. I do best in the radical middle (some meals at home, some take out - or a mixture i.e. CFA chicken on my own salad) Website, ShowRachel Cruze daveramsey.com/hopeGiving away 14 day free trial of financial peace Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are starting in on our summertime listener requests today with a show all about making the most of your outdoor space, no matter how big or small, as inexpensively as possible.Sponsors: We love you guys. You are the third most important reason we keep doing this podcast behind liking each other and the money. And if you would like to support the show head to FrugalFriendsPodcast.com/support to find free and inexpensive ways you can help us big time with little effort!Listeners like you: Want to get your neighbor to mow their overgrown lawn? Send neighbor kids to knock on their door with a lawn mower various days throughout the week. The neighbor kids will either make some money mowing the lawn or the neighbor will eventually be shamed into doing it themself. Neighbor shame, if you care more about your neighborhood looking nice than actually being nice. Neighbor shame: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Budget Dumpster gives us some great ideas for making our yards look great on a budgetWhat Jen + Jill have to say: Vertical Garden - consider this approach if short on space AND can be inexpensive to make if using recycled materials (i.e bottles, containers) Utilize Color - consider how you use paint; if you have ‘mismatched’ planters but prefer a more clean look - paint it! Look for plant swaps in your area Plant useful! FORM AND FUNCTION Rosemary - fleas+ticks Peppermint - ants, spiders mosquitoes Basil - mosquitoes + house flies Lavender (the cadillac of plants!)- moths, fleas, flies, mosquitos Ground cover - natural perennial ground cover (i.e. sedum, creeping periwinkle, violets, pansies, snow glories, moss flox) Incorporate inexpensive lighting, fire pit, seating Compost instead of mulch, free mulch from tree companies Save old tires from the dump More from the Internet:This article from An Oregon Cottage gives us a list of the top 10 plants to grow that give us a great return on our moneyMore from Jen + Jill: Herbs - easy to grow, not bothered by pests, grow in mediocre soilBASIL - freezes well, also PESTO! Squash - super high yield at peak (veggie noodles, breads, stir fry..)*important to pay attention to your climate and the varieties and types of fruits/veggies that can be grown in your area Lettuce and greens - hearty and fast grower Hot peppers - we love salsa! BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Amanda for sharing your utility bill that you dropped by $13frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundHow we do/will maintain our lawns Jill Personally most concerned about decreasing maintenance - plan to have little to no grass in backyard Plant usefully - I like flowers, but I also REALLY like food - veggies will be priority Plan to live life outdoors quite often - creating oasis (with my own hands) will save money on labor and hopefully in other areas in the long run Propogate my own - from my own yard/garden AND others - considering this before I buy any plants! Jen- I kill everything so I don’t have a garden. We compost and use well water to water our lawn. Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some say money can't buy happiness, but what if it can? Today we're talking 'happy money principles' and ways to align your dollars with your values and use money as a resource to experience greater intentionality with your spending.Sponsors: As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor here’s how you can financially support us without giving us your money. 1st is to buy a discounted gift card from Raise. Raise sells gift cards at a discounted price to all kinds of places. Find a store you’d shop at anyways and you can save money right off the top by using a discounted gift card to purchase it! When you use our referral link: frugalfriendspodcast.com/raise you’ll get $5 to spend and we will too! Sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. When you spend $25 through rakuten you earn $10 CASH MONEY! So that’s one way you can help us without spending any money beyond what you’ve already budgeted for. YOUR AD HERE: it’s what makes me happy and it’s what repels cavities. Chewing gum, it’s a win-win.Chewing Gum: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Forbes provides us with 5 principles of happy moneyWhat Jen + Jill have to say: 1. Buy experiences- “research shows that material things turn out to provide less happiness than experiential purchases.” 2. Make it a treat- “When something is always available people are less inclined to appreciate it. Look for ways to turn your favorite things into a treat again. This may mean cutting back on them for a while.” #absencemakestheheartgrowfonder 3. Buy time- “outsource your dreaded tasks in order to have more time to follow your passions. If money is an issue, consider outsourcing things like cleaning the house so you can work more and earn more money to pay for the house being cleaned.” 4. Pay now, consume later- “By paying up front and delaying consumption, you can buy more happiness even as you spend less money. Because delaying consumption allows spenders to reap the pleasures of anticipation without the buzzkill of reality, vacations provide the most happiness before they occur.”Provides something to look forward #hope 5. Invest in others- “Research has shown that spending money on others provides a bigger happiness boost than spending money on yourself.” More from the InternetThis article from INC provides us with some top tips for 'happy spending'More from Jen + Jill 1. Spend it on extra time- hire a housekeeper, virtual assistant, splurge for grocery delivery 2. Spend it on a great experience- just because physical things last longer doesn’t mean they bring happiness for a longer period of time. When creating your budget, prioritize at least 1 experience each month. 3. Spend it with someone you care aboutBUT SPEND WITHIN YOUR MEANS 4. Spend it on someone else - 'tis better to give than to receive BILL OF THE WEEK - Thanks Olivia for sharing about your $2 bill that you used to FILL UP the gas tank on your scooter! frugalfriendspodcastIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes our budgets, financial goals, and lifestyles don't fit into a nice neat box; we find that our approach needs to be individualized and create space for freedom! This is why we are excited to share one of our top most listened to episodes with Merilee from Easy Budget; tune in (again!) to hear about how she modifies the baby steps to fit her needs!Sponsors: As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor here’s how you can financially support us without giving us your money.YOUR AD HERE.1st is to buy a discounted gift card from Raise. Raise sells gift cards at a discounted price to all kinds of places. Find a store you’d shop at anyways and you can save money right off the top by using a discounted gift card to purchase it! When you use our referral link: frugalfriendspodcast.com/raise you’ll get $5 to spend and we will too!Sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. When you spend $25 through rakuten you earn $10 CASH MONEY! So that’s one way you can help us without spending any money beyond what you’ve already budgeted for. The psychological concept that refers to how strongly you believe you have control over the situations and experiences that affect your life. People with a strong internal locus of control have greater confidence in their ability to make change through their own actions and often have higher self-esteem. An internal locus of control, focus on what you can control and create your own path, don’t wait for others to create it for you.Internal Locus of control:Notable Notes:We got to ask Merilee all of the questions! She shares more about their debt free journey and how they have made this process work for them. When and how did your debt free journey start? Tell us about the ways you and your husband approach money differently, and what struggles have you faced during it? How are you modifying the baby steps and are you happy with those modifications?Merilee's modifactions: Still contributing to 401k Bought a house during baby step 2 Maintain a bigger emergency fund How do you stay motivated? Questions - Thanks Merilee for sharing your favorite bill and your love for amazon prime!! (Here's the link to the Tinkle Razor for anyone interested ;))BILL OF THE WEEKIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a bill More from Merilee What are your recommendations for side hustles for stay at home moms? Nanny - find gigs where you can bring your own children or watch others’ children in your home Find stay at home work - such as appraisals Consider selling items on Etsy Ask around! Be creative! Tell us about your debt snowball calculator?Find Merilee's awesome creations HERE Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk a lot about paying off debt and most of the time that debt includes student loans but what about just not getting into student loan debt? Is that even possible? We think, now more than ever, it is. College is changing and today we’re talking about how you can adapt and graduate college without debt.Sponsors: : As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor here’s how you can financially support us without giving us your money. 1st is to buy a discounted gift card from Raise. Raise sells gift cards at a discounted price to all kinds of places. Find a store you’d shop at anyways and you can save money right off the top by using a discounted gift card to purchase it! When you use our referral link: frugalfriendspodcast.com/raise you’ll get $5 to spend and we will too! Sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. When you spend $25 through rakuten you earn $10 CASH MONEY! So that’s one way you can help us without spending any money beyond what you’ve already budgeted for. YOUR AD HERE Seniors: We want to thank all the recently graduated seniors for sponsoring this show - you pooled together your dimes and nickels and really came through for us! BUT TODAY we want to celebrate YOU! Congratulations on your hard work and effort and completing an important chapter of your lives - whether you just finished high school or college you had many more obstacles than most in the final stretch of your race. We see you! Thanks for the sponsorship ;) Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Good Call gives us 4 ways to get our college degree without taking on loans or going into debt!What Jen + Jill have to day: Find money (grants, scholarships, military funding, crowd funding, employee tuition reimbursement) Lower tuition costs (AP classes/dual enrollment in H.S., maximize classes taken each semester, community college!) Make money - look for flexible, reasonable hours, desired experience Reduce expenses - (car, rent, food, books) More from the Internet:This article from Learn provides a list of 10 reasons to consider attending college online!More from Jen + Jill: No wake up fees Lower tuition No commute! No lost wages (i.e. maximizes time - all time on school can go to graded assignments - more time to work) Potential lower tuition - Thank you Kelly for sharing your bill with us about how you saved money on your menstrual cycleBILL OF THE WEEKIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning Round Biggest waste of money in college and where we’re glad we saved: Jen- Not using my full scholarship Jill- going out of state - living on campus Jen- Living off campus Jill- books savings and school online Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you make your stuff last longer? Along with reducing and reusing - prolonging the life of our things can save us money, build life skills, and increase contentment! Listen in as we talk about some of the ways you can take better care of what you already have so you can spend on what you want and need.Sponsors: As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor here’s how you can financially support us without giving us your money. Sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. When you spend $25 through Rackuten you earn $10 CASH MONEY! So that’s one way you can help us without spending any money beyond what you’ve already budgeted for.YOUR AD HERE: : 5 time Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, comedian, and author. June is June Carter Cash month here on Frugal friends Podcast because duh its June and duh her last name is Cash. Take time this month to listen to a few of our JCC favorites including it aint me babe, jackson, and A Good Man. And emulate your own inner June this month as you kick butt and take names with your cash.June Carter Cash Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Martha Stewart gives us a list of 12 items we should repair before we replace!What Jen + Jill have to say: “fix it first” mentality Lamps Favorite sweater (AND ALL CLOTHING!) Rugs and carpet Ceramics Handbags- buy nice products that can be repaired Scuffed furniture- salt + heat take out water rings! More from the Internet:This article from This Old House gives us a great list (one to earmark for the future) of 23 things you can actually fix yourself!More from Jen + Jill: Learn a lot about how things work! Lots of plumbing stuff - leaky faucet, uneven water stream (calcium build-up) Sticking door Vacuum What's not a DIY fix - Thank you Brittany for sharing about your PAID apartment bills!BILL OF THE WEEKIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a bill - Top 2 things we take care of so they last longer (and how)Lightning Round outdoor furniture (bring cushions inside each night; wash yearly - bought the kind that can come off for this reason!) Clothing - line dry and sew repairs Bonus: anytime I do a painting project/refurbish something I paint a clear coat overtop which makes the finish last longer and more resistant to chips See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paying off debt is hard enough, not to mention when you live in an expensive area! Reaching financial goals can feel insurmountable when living expenses are astronomical which is why we're excited to hear from Emma on today's episode talking about how she paid off $46,000 of student loans while living in CA.Sponsors: As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor, here are 2 ways you can support us. 1st is to buy a discounted gift card from Raise. Raise sells gift cards at a discounted price to all kinds of places. Find a store you’d shop at anyways and you can save money right off the top by using a discounted gift card to purchase it! When you use our referral link: frugalfriendspodcast.com/raise you’ll get $5 to spend and we will too! 2nd is to sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. Once you spend $25 you get a $10 bonus! YOUR AD HERE: : a little imagination and thinking outside the box goes a long way - this is true when it comes to caring for your kids for the 9,732nd day IN A ROW annnddd for paying off debt in seemingly impossible situations. Creativity: using our imagination to make debt disappear :)Creativity Notable Notes:We are so thrilled to ask Emma all the questions about how she paid off debt while living in an expensive area; here's some of our favorites: What was your debt, how much did you pay off and how long did it take you? Where were you living while paying it off and what unique challenges did you face because of the cost of living? What strategies did you use to overcome these challenges? Is there anything you’d do differently or advice you have for people currently in this? - thanks Emma for sharing your bill - cousin Bill; not a fan of his picking on you, but so glad to know a guy named bill!BILL OF THE WEEK If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning RoundDebt in the Time of Covid: How can people paying off debt pivot and still stay on track to reach their goals? Emma- assess safety of job and family’s position with money - stock money towards debt to high-yield savings Jen- mentality give self permission to slow down (you’re not a failure, circumstances may dictate) Jill- cut expenses, sell stuff, downsize (#tinyliving) Get more from Emma at her blog, Nurse FernWrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Once we've sorted through our closets, toy bins, junk drawers, and garages and sold or donated what is not needed; and after we've learned to be content with less stuff and make room for what we want from life - what comes next? How do we maintain what we've worked so hard to achieve? Today we talk about how to continually be aimed at minimalism and some of the lifestyle shifts and changes that will help keep us in the minimalist lifestyle we desire!Sponsors: . As if it wasn’t hard enough to source our own sponsors, now the world has fallen apart and there are no ad budgets for podcasts. While we look for our next sponsor there are two ways you can financially support us without giving us your money. 1st: sign up for Personal Capital using our referral link, frugalfriendspodcast.com/pcap. Personal Capital is a free app that allows you to monitor and track all your financial accounts from one place. It’s awesome and again, totally free. When you use our link to sign up and connect 401k, 403b, IRA, 529, or any investment account with at least $1,000 you’ll get a $20 Amazon gift card and so will we. Our referral link is frugalfriendspodcast.com/pcap 2nd is to sign up for Rakuten and spend $25 at any online store they offer cash back at. Sign up at frugalfriendspodcast.com/rakuten and download the chrome extension to see every time Rakuten offers cash back at a store. If you do this before June 30th you will get $30 bonus cash back and so will we. Normally it’s $10. Those are the ways you can help us without spending any money beyond what you’ve already budgeted for. YOUR AD HERE ! Today is Kai’s first birthday! We’ve kept him alive for a full year and I am impressed. I’ve been dreaming about throwing him a first birthday since before he was born because let’s be honest, a 1st birthday isn’t for the kid, it’s for the parents. I bought space decorations because people on Facebook looked at me weird for asking if I could have their decorations. 1st birthdays, I will give anyone these decorations when I’m done with them.1st Birthdays Our Other Minimalism Episodes: Ep 32 with Joshua Becker author of Ep 32 with Joshua Becker author of Ep 89 with Desirae Endres host of the Minimalish podcast Ep 99 on contentment, gratitude and flexible minimalism.Ep 32 with Joshua Becker author of 'The More of Less'Ep 89 with Desirae Endres host of the Minimalish podcast Ep 99 on contentment, gratitude and flexible minimalismNotable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Becoming Minimalist describes ways to keep the minimalism momentum going!What Jen+Jill have to say: Continue to explore new opportunities + intentional living so as to not fall into old patterns Take better care of your things Volunteer! Start a blog Give Start a daily habit More from the Internet:This article from See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all have to put our money somewhere, but how do we decide the best banking solutions? On this episode we explore whether an online bank is right for you, if credit unions live up to all the hype, and if you do choose multiple accounts how you should organize your money in them. We'll also go through our recommendations for the best banks with no or low fees!Sponsors: is a mobile bank with an awesome user interface, no overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirements. Its app has a free built in budgeting tool, that gives you purchase notifications, and insight to your spending. Premium users can even break up their savings account into different pods which is super helpful if you’re saving for multiple things at once. And when you set up direct deposit you can get paid up to two days early! So, if you’re looking for another bank account to hold your emergency fund or something big you’re saving for then you’re definitely gonna want to try Current because we’re giving $10 to the first 10 people who sign up using our promo code "FRUGALFRIENDS” for each episode. That’s FRUGALFRIENDS, all one word.Current: that feeling of slight awkwardness and uncertainty about what’s happening next. Sort of how talking about things I am not an expert on makes me feel! Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted to have said ‘do something everyday that scares you’ well - for some of us that’s talking about and/or learning about intricate financial details so you can check that box for the day. Being uncomfortable: it’s less scary when you have your friends with you!Being Uncomfortable: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article comes from Credit Karma and outlines what you need to look for when choosing a bankWhat Jen + Jill have to say:Consider the following:What is your current financial situation?What are your current banking habits?What do you anticipate your future needs to be?Put your money in one of the following:Traditional, brick and mortar bank: great for getting lots of financial products, interact with tellers, great for depositing cash, access to ATM'sOnline Bank: many of the same products as traditional banks, not as easy to deposit cash, free ATM use (sometimes internationally), often offer high yield savings/checking accountsCredit Union: non-profit, member-owned organizations, lots of financial productsPay attention to: Make sure the bank is either FDIC or NCUA insured! If it's not insured you are at risk of losing that money. Insurance rates; check out the APY rates Minimum balances, services fees, overdraft fees, etc. ATM fees ATM location More from the Internet:This article is from The Balance and provides a list of the best no-fee checking accounts for 2020More from Jen + Jill:What makes for a good checking account: minimal fees deposit insurance easy access to cash mobile deposit online bill pay Recommended Banks: Ally - high yield savings and checking, don't need high balance to get good APY Discover - can earn cash back rewards with debit card Radius - also provides rewards for debit card use Simple - has a great (free!) app for budgeting and money management Schwabb - unlimited rebates on ATM fees, high yield investor checking account (great for traveling internationally) &See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paying off debt is a daunting task no matter what stage of life, however the older we get the more insurmountable it can feel! For this reason we are thrilled to have Bobbi Olsen on the show to share her story of beginning her debt-payoff journey in her 40's and all that she learned along the way! It's never too late (or too early!) to pay off debt!Sponsors: is a mobile bank with an awesome user interface, no overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirements. Its app has a free built in budgeting tool, that gives you purchase notifications, and insight to your spending. Premium users can even break up their savings account into different pods which is super helpful if you’re saving for multiple things at once. And when you set up direct deposit you can get paid up to two days early! So, if you’re looking for another bank account to hold your emergency fund or something big you’re saving for then you’re definitely gonna want to try Current because we’re giving $10 to the first 10 people who sign up using our promo code "FRUGALFRIENDS” for each episode. That’s FRUGALFRIENDS, all one word.Current: Not just a multi level marketing company or the name of a carnival themed horror movie. It’s the age I’m turning tomorrow! And the age Jill will be turning in just a few months! In 31 years we’ve experienced Brittany spears and Justin Timberlake wearing matching denim outfits, that door in the titanic movie that was definitely big enough for two people, and a global pandemic. 31. Too old for tik tok, not old enough to watch the Hallmark Movie channel.31: Notable Notes:We asked Bobbi all about her debt pay off journey! What motivated you to start your debt payoff journey and were you discouraged at all by your age? What kind of debt payoff difficulties did you encounter that were unique to being in your forties and how did you tackle them? What did you do to pay off your debt? What are you doing now that could've never been possible while living in debt? - Thank you Bobbi for sharing your bill with us!BILL OF THE WEEK If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning Round:Our favorite budgeting apps/ methods Bobbi- YNAB (You Need A Budget) Jill- Google spreadsheets - you know I'm old school!! Jen- Everydollar Get more from Bobbi at Centsable Chat podcast and blogWrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's our most popular episode and we're digging it up out of the archives! Check it out to see where we started 2 years and get back to the basics!Sponsors:A mobile bank with an awesome user interface, no overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirements. If you’re looking for another bank account to hold your emergency fund or something big you’re saving for, try Current because we’re giving $10 to the first 10 people who sign up using our promo code FRUGALFRIENDS for each episode. Current: here to remind us of the days when we couldn’t actually choose what we watched. Before the days of netflix and hulu there was “basic cable” - come come, gather round the fire while I tell you about ancient days when a television (these were like phones, tablets, and laptops only with large protrusions off the back filled with stuff that can never be thrown away)...a television... had access to approximately 3 ‘channels’ with 1 show playing non-stop. The likelihood of seeing the same episode of the same show more than once was 2,000%. Oh it was fun and it was awful all at once, but we didn’t know any different - we called them reruns - and we ate our hot dogs and mac and cheese in blissful ignorance while the 5th airing of Family Matters ‘good cop, bad cop’ episode played. Reruns - it’s what’s about to happen to you, so grab a hot dog and settle in.Reruns:Notable Notes:1: 4 Pillars - Categories to anticipate with Frugal Friends podcast episodes Clothing/Shopping Bills/Utilities Transportation Housing What the internet has to say 2: Frugalwoods ArticleMrs. Frugalwoods (a.k.a. Liz Thames) identifies 19 reasons why frugality is the best - and the frugal friends agree!What Jen and Jill have to say: Frugality helps you identify your true priorities Frugality builds community Frugality means you'll never be bored Frugality leads to gratitude and joy 3: Millennial Money ArticleGrant went from a frugal guy who amassed $1M to flippantly spending over $200K in one year. In short; the spending didn’t make him feel better.What Jen and Jill have to say: Frugality is about spending wisely Frugality is about the journey, not the destination It is never too late to 'course correct' 4: BILL OF THE WEEK Introduction of the most anticipated, interactive segment! Leave us a voicemail with your BILL OF THE WEEK at: 570-995-1540 5: Tenets of Frugality The Law of Diminishing Returns (i.e. at some point you're wasting your time) Frugality allows you to discover what you truly value ( i.e. if frugality keeps you from what you love it’s cheapness) Frugality is good for the environment (i.e. you can’t buy your way to green) Frugality refines your taste and style (i.e. you can have better things when you buy used and you’ll eventually stop buying those souvenir t-shirts you’ll never wear) Frugality allows you more time to increase your income (i.e. the best way to not spend money is to spend time making it!) Frugality will not make you rich (i.e. sorry, not sorry) Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During difficult financial times it can be tough to make ends meet, and while finding ways to earn extra income is great, this is not always feasible! On today's episode we tackle how to cover our expenses without pushing ourselves to get another side hustle!Sponsors: Current:A mobile bank with an awesome user interface, no overdraft fees and no minimum balance requirements. If you’re looking for another bank account to hold your emergency fund or something big you’re saving for then you’re definitely gonna want to try Current because we’re giving $10 to the first 10 people who sign up using our promo code: for each episode.FRUGALFRIENDS Y’all ever gone to a blog, downloaded a free template and find out the creator has a course? But it’s like, $400, no thank you. Or you find one that’s $30 and you buy it and you already knew all that info? Online courses that don’t cost a lot and actually help people are here to solve that problem. Ya know how we know they're affordable? Because I’d actually pay it and I don’t buy stuff. Ya know how we know they help people? People tried it and said so. Online courses that don’t cost a lot and actually help people, because some stuff you can find for free on the internet, and some stuff you can’t.Online courses that don’t cost a lot and actually help people: Notable Notes -What the Internet has to say:Check out this article from Don't Waste Your Money to get 5 tips for getting back on your feet after a financial disasterWhat Jen + Jill have to say: Know what you OWN and what you OWE - sometimes making ends meet is as simple as moving some things around in your budget. Drain the emotion from your decisions- stop impulsive and treat yo self type spending, stop saying “i deserve this” to things that cost money and start saying it to financial security and prosperity. Take clear eyed and bold action- don’t sit and wallow, don’t play the victim - this may require more intentionality than ever before and we may be talking about doing more than cutting out your AM latte! Build a support team- you can’t do this on your own. More from the Internet:This article from Moolanomy provides 10 tips for making ends meet with a limited budgetMore from Jen + Jill: 1. Fine tune your budget - you may feel there’s no wiggle room - but look again! 2. Stick with the basics 4. Downsize your life - you may not even realize how much stuff you have! 5. Don’t utilize credit 6. Shop outside the box - farmers markets, dollar stores, thrift stores for essentials 10. Plan for the big picture - Thanks so much for sharing your bill of the week! We're so encouraged to hear of how beneficial your monthly bill to 'financial gym' and getting a 'financial trainer' has beenBILL OF THE WEEKIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning Round -How to spend your stimulus check: Your 4 walls: food, housing, utilities, Netflix Emergency fund: $500 to $15,000 High interest debt Give it away: neighbors, local charities, local businesses Wrap-Up -Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listeningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's our most listener requested episode AND our 2 year podcast celebration! You all asked the questions, and Travis and Eric answered! It's certainly not 'content heavy' but it is fun!Sponsors: An awesome mobile app jam packed with features that make managing your money easier. With a high-yield checking account offering 1.6% APY, and direct access to their financial coaches; Empower is an obvious choice in mobile apps! For more info about Empower, visit: empower.me/FRUGAL and use offer code FRUGAL to get a $5 bonus when you reach your savings goalEmpower: In any whole - there is always a better half. This is true about sandwiches, bananas, shirts, and marriages. Today you will meet our better halves and then you will know the right way to eat a banana.The Better Half: Notable Notes:You asked, our husbands answered! Stacey- Our love stories & how we met? Mona: Do you feel accurately represented on the podcast? Jocelyn: We want to hear all about Eric’s cars+Travis’ amazing hair! ALSO, do you have any friends named bill? Who sings the BOTW song?? It’s so catchy! Leslie: How do you balance what you + your spouse think is important to spend $ on? Patricia: what’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of frugality? Virginia: what was the most challenging part of becoming frugal (or along the frugal journey?) Adrienne: Has your idea of style changed since being frugal? Jay: what financial goals to you have for yourselves? Caroline: how do you guys handle the fame of your wives?:) BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Travis and Eric for sharing your bills with us!If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning RoundBest Frugal Tips Travis - find someone who can align with financial approach Eric - research your purchases; learn what something is worth and how to get good deals! Wrap Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Decreasing our consumption, decreases our spending, which increases our savings AND creates sustainable practices! Sounds good right?! But how do we do this practically...and frugally?? On this episode we explore attainable ways to decrease our waste in an effort to live more frugally and steward our resources well. Sponsors: An awesome mobile app jam packed with features that make managing your money easier. With a high-yield checking account offering 1.6% APY, and direct access to their financial coaches; Empower is an obvious choice in mobile apps! For more info about Empower, visit: empower.me/FRUGAL and use offer code FRUGAL to get a $5 bonus when you reach your savings goalEmpower: Every April we celebrate the planet we live on and it’s environment. This year we celebrate the 50th official Earth Day by posting eco-friendly quotes, heartfelt posts on Facebook, and going to a free event with a folk band. Whatever you choose to do, remember that you only have one earth so take care of it because it takes longer to get to mars than we originally thought.Earth Day! Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Hestia Speaks provides tips for sustainable living on budgetWhat Jen + Jill have to say: Glass jars - perfectly reusable! You don't need to buy new! Simplify your meals - don’t spend on all the oils and fancy ingredientsBase your meals around 3 veggies instead of 5! When you DO buy new...spend on high quality Grow indoor herbs Make a meal plan Simplify your use of non-food products Choose secondhand firstfrugalfriendspodcast.com/thredup Host a swap party More from the InternetThis article from Going Zero Waste describes 12 things you can STOP buying when you decrease your waste and consumptionMore from Jen + Jill: The average American spends almost $5,000 on products that are thrown away! #1-3 AHHHHH #4. Aluminum foil #6. Trash bags #8. Disposable water bottles #9. Conventional cleanersAmerican family spends on cleaning supplies. Anywhere from $300-800 a year - Thanks Andy Hill from Marriage, Kids, and Money podcast! We love your bill about kids summer camps ;)BILL OF THE WEEKIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning RoundOur Favorite Frugal Zero-Waste Swaps Jill- water filter (and reusable bottle) + food creativity (i’m no pro but I have a few tricks up my sleeve :)) Jen- glass containers Jill- learn simple sewing skillz (I’ve saved plenty of clothing, purses, blankets, etc. by doing my own mending) Jen- convenience food Wrap Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to [email protected]. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!See ya next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we respond when money is tight or when we reach a point of financial crisis? This can bring feelings of anxiety and overwhelm to any person especially when it seems we don't have enough to cover the essentials. On this episode we hope to reduce the panic financial upheaval can bring and discuss some tangible ways to care for ourselves and our budgets when things aren't going 'according to plan'.Sponsors: An awesome mobile app jam packed with features that make managing your money easier. With a high-yield checking account offering 1.6% APY, and direct access to their financial coaches; Empower is an obvious choice in mobile apps! For more info about Empower, visit: empower.me/FRUGAL and use offer code FRUGAL to get a $5 bonus when you reach your savings goalEmpower: that feeling when you can barely make ends meet and you are wringing out that dollar for all it’s worth - sometimes our financial situation can feel like a tight squeeze; but our sponsor wants to remind us that this term can also refer to the best most warmest hug from our loved one. So when you’re looking at your budget wondering how you’re gonna pay your bills don’t think of it like a snake coiling around you causing anxiety and panic; think of it like a warm hug coming from your finances. Tight squeeze - when feeling constricted is a good thingTight Squeeze: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Investopedia highlights a few simple ways we can prepare for a financial crisisWhat Jen+Jill have to say: 1. Maximize liquid cash 2. Make a budget: know how much you have coming in/going out each month (helps ID how much you should have in emergency fund) 3. Prepare to Minimize Your Monthly Bills 5. Take stock of ‘non-cash’ assets and maximize value (i.e. utilize points, gift cards, extra food in house, 8. Look for ways to earn extra cash 10. Keep up with routine maintenance More from the Internet:This article from Very Well Mind gives tangible tips on ways to manage our stress and emotions during financially stressful timesMore from Jen+Jill: Remain calm Ask for help- friends and family, financial planner Reframe the situation - watch the internal narrative and find ways to shift perspective Pushing through the difficulty and identifying ‘kindness’ to invest emotional time and energy into Take a break - strike the middle ground between ruminating/obsessing and abdicating/avoiding Ask for help- find a mental health professional, especially if your stress, overwhelm, or feelings of anxiety are inhibiting daily activitiesUse this code for a discount for online therapy Thank you Jess for saving us with your bill about ALL the Bill's who have contributed to making St. Pete Florida so great!BILL OF THE WEEK - If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning Round: What we’re doing to prepare Jen- longer and simpler meal plans Jill- NOT PANICKING!! cooking at home more Jen- taking extra work Jill- re-evaluating budget; spending only on essentials - now’s not the time for extra luxuries :) Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Where does all our money go? It can often seem like we've cut back on spending but somehow we're not 'crushin it' like we thought we would! We quickly learn that our budget's don't work well on autopilot. Thankfully we have Alyssa from Mixed Up Money to share with us some tips on how to increase our level of intentionality with our finances so we can see the results we want!Sponsors: An awesome mobile app jam packed with features that make managing your money easier. With a high-yield checking account offering 1.6% APY, and direct access to their financial coaches; Empower is an obvious choice in mobile apps! For more info about Empower, visit: empower.me/FRUGAL and use offer code FRUGAL to get a $5 bonus when you reach your savings goalEmpower: The sleek athletic dog breed and star of Disney’s 101 dalmatians. These dogs are intelligent, playful, and typically non-agressive. They’re patient and generally good with children as well. That’s why it’s reasonable to keep 101 of them as pets. We had 2 dalmatians growing up. One was sapphire because she had blue eyes and the other was choca because she had chocolate brown spots.Dalmatians: Notable Notes:Alyssa gave us some background about herself AND her top 4 tips for being more intentional with your finances. We're excited to share these tips with you!Create a goal that is specific and achievable Track your spendingSave money each weekReflect on behaviors and habits- Thanks for sharing your bill with us Alyssa! BILL OF THE WEEK If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a billLightning RoundWhy we value putting pencil to paper with our finances: Alyssa - accountability; opportunity to look at bad AND celebrate success Jen - like the tangible; breeds intentionality Jill - enjoy walking through a process Get more from Alyssa at MIxed Up Money! AND... Check out Alyssa's 100 day financial goal journal that comes out April 7, 2020 Follow on IG @mixedupmoney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we keep up motivation and effort with the ebbs and flows of our financial journey? Once we know how to budget, cut spending, pay down debt, and increase savings the challenge can become how to maintain these practices over years! On this episode we're talking all about tips for motivation + focus to keep us working towards our goals and maybe even have some fun along the way!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's a lot of uncertainty right now and depending on where we live some of us are feeling this burden more than others. We are not doctors, policy makers, or financial planners, but we are encouragers and we recognize our current situation is leading to profound financial impact for many. So what can we do? In our current climate how do we harness the most of our time and energy and take the best steps forward? Join us in our short bonus episode on ways to respond to what's happening.Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we know how much is enough? What are our measuring tools for knowing this? Today we explore the topics of contentment, gratitude, and minimalism as a means to embracing frugality and being kind to our finances. Listen in as we explore why these principles are foundational to our frugal journey.Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Saving money and spending less is an ongoing journey and can have additional difficulties when this is paired with raising young kids! We know everyone's financial story is different but we also know that it is not uncommon to have children before accomplishing major financial goals. For this reason (and many more) we are thrilled to have Caroline Vencil to share some encouragement and tangible tips for those living on a budget with small children!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes spending money is a whole lot easier than saving money! Spending money often gives us what we want in the moment, but it can derail us from our financial goals or debt payoff plans. Today we're talking about strategies to move from spending to saving so that we can get the most out of budgets!🎙️ https://bit.ly/3Hgf7OE📑 https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/ebook📣 https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/💸 https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/club-bff-waitlist/👉🏼 https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends💃🏼 https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/Get full show notes here!Get our FREE Modern Frugal Living eBook here!Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from usJoin the waitlist for Financial Freedom MentorshipSubscribe for more on YouTubeHang out with us on Instagram!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Insurance; it's not everyone's favorite topic to talk about, but it is an important one! We'll keep it short and sweet for you, reviewing which insurances you can skip, and which ones are the 'must-haves'.Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Debt can feel insurmountable and even debilitating at times, especially if our debt reaches the 6-figure mark. This is exactly where Kate from 'Living that Debt Free Life' was at prior to tackling $105K of student loan debt and she's got some great insights and tips in her story to help the rest of us on our debt payoff journey. Regardless of the reasons we find ourselves in debt we hope Kate's story will provide encouragement and motivation for your financial goals!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's never too early to start saving for retirement, but with all the weird acronyms and other necessities vying for our money it is easy to push this off to the 'someday' category. On this episode we're breaking down more of those barriers to saving and making retirement feel a bit more attainable!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our fast-paced, busy lifestyles it can be difficult to find time for rest and enjoyment. And beyond that, the things we often turn to for 'self care' are expensive and not always effective. We're excited to spread the message today that self care does not need to break our budgets AND it's about so much more than bubble baths and massages (although they're nice :))Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reigning in our food and grocery bills can be one of the most challenging things to our budgets! We often talk about cooking at home and being savvy with the items we purchase, but what about controlling our food waste? It's staggering how much food ends up in the trash and thereby how much money is wasted, which is why we are pumped to be talking with Debt Kickin' Mom about how to get a handle on our food consumption and save money in the process!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever wanted to achieve something, financially or otherwise, but struggled to actually make it happen? You're not alone! It's one thing to desire something, but a whole other animal to take the steps towards accomplishing it! Goal setting is a popular idea this time of year, but let's chat about how we can actually MAKE IT HAPPEN in 2020!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Out of the biggest expenses we incur, transportation falls in the top 4! So if we are looking to cut spending and save we've got to look at this category! On this episode we talk about the ways we can limit our transportation costs and commute frugally.Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Combating the desire for material possessions is crucial in our 'debt-payoff and other financial goals' journey! And it's this desire for 'stuff' that is really at the heart of impulse spending and can be such a barrier to seeing real shifts in our budgets. So today we've invited Desirae Endres from the Minimalish podcast and blog to share her personal story of scaling back on possessions and the impact this made in her life!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Budgeting is foundational to this frugal lifestyle, and can be a hard enough muscle to build with a predictable income, but how do we approach this task if our income is irregular? While there are a few more barriers to budgeting when we don't know exactly how much we are making, there are still ways to get the bills paid, and save!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Talking about finances can feel just as taboo as talking about politics with co-workers; but what if it didn't have to be this way? Today we're chatting about the conversations we all should be having with our friends, family, and partners about money. Listen in, then tell us how you approach your important conversations!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Learning financial tools and responsibility can be hard enough as an adult, but how do we approach this topic with our kids? How do we pass on better money habits and financial literacy? On today's episode, we talk with Bobbi Rebell about the impact our own childhood has on the way we approach money with kids, as well as ways to navigate money conversations with your children.Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The idea of increasing our earnings each month sounds fantastic, but what if our day jobs sap all of our time an energy?! In this episode we explore some side hustle options that require minimal effort but maintain decent pay-outs. Skip the online surveys and check out this episode!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

'Tis the season for parties, get-togethers, and hosting! While we've already explored frugal gift ideas, black Friday, + holiday fun; today we talk about entertaining. Having others over to our homes is not only daunting at times, but let's face it; EXPENSIVE! Of course, some of us relish the opportunity to provide an enjoyable experience in our homes, while other's of us don't even know where to start! The good news is, having get-togethers can be more attainable and far more budget friendly than we thought! Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Goal setting; we all know we should do it, but what makes it so difficult to take this first step? Maybe we don't believe it works, or maybe it's the fear of failure - no matter the reason it remains true that if we don't know where we are going, any road will get us there. Join us in our discussion with Brian from SAVVI financial about the importance of goal setting and how to do it in a way that makes sense to YOU!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paying off debt is a BIG and worthwhile goal, but why does it seem like we are making zero progress at times?! On today's episode we talk through the reasons why paying down debt can seem insurmountable, and the ways to break down the barriers to see real progress fast! Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We all know there are so many resources out there that can help us save AND make money, but how we do find them?! It can be difficult to weed through the internet and find the apps and websites that are actually worth our time. On this episode, we do the heavy-lifting for you! We've got a curated list (with commentary of course :)) on the best apps out there to help you make the most of time, energy, and money!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're all about cutting expenses, especially the major ones! And what better way to reduce costs than by getting someone else to pay your mortgage?! We're talking about house hacking, and we have Craig Curelop, author of "The House Hacking Strategy" on the show to talk about how he reduced his housing costs, and how you can too!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We love food! And if you haven't noticed yet, we love talking about food! It's even better when we can make and eat good food for a reasonable amount of money! On this episode we give you our favorite food blogs + recipes... award show style. Listen in to find out who wins each category of our Frugal Friends Foodie Awards!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever considered taking extreme measures to pay down debt or save money? Have thoughts of tiny living ever entered your mind? Do you wonder what it would be like to live in a small space? We've considered it all and Jill is here to tell you about it! She's currently living in a 170sq. ft. trailer and previously lived in a motorhome and now we're finally letting her share all the insight about the pros and cons and how to do it right! Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There's all kinds of things we tell ourselves about money and our financial situations, but not all of them are true! We're thrilled to have Rob Berger on the show, author of "Retire Before Mom and Dad" to dispel some common myths about money, break down the barriers between us+our goals, and set our perspectives right!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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We took the opportunity to record at FinCon 2019 in D.C. and answered all of your most pressing questions! Our frugal friends community asked some great questions, and while Jen encouraged people to 'get weird' you all kept it classy and we appreciate that :)Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Watch the video on Youtube! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

FOOD! We love it, but it's one of the biggest budget challenges we face each month. But what if we could reduce our spending and save more money by cutting costs on food? We're challenging all of us (including ourselves!) to cook at home by dispelling some myths about home cooking and providing some tips on how to do this with ease! Join in and share your own progress!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's one thing to be frugal when living on 2 incomes and splitting expenses, but how can we achieve financial goals on just 1 income? We're thrilled to have Budget Girl (Sarah Wilson) on the show sharing her story of debt-payoff, budgeting, and stretching her dollar - proving to us all that financial goals can be achieved on even the tiniest of salaries! Whether you are single, a single-income family, or still interested in learning more ways to reduce expenses and save money - this one's for you!Click here for full show notes!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Watch the video on Youtube! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.