Frugal Friends Podcast

Hosted by Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni | Backyard Ventures

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664

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Sep 2026

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October 2, 20261 hr 0 min

Should You Still Be Following The Baby Steps?

You’ve probably heard of Dave Ramsey and his famous Baby Steps. But do you have to follow someone else’s financial blueprint to make progress with your money? In this rerun, Jen and Jill revisit Dave Ramsey’s advice, where they agree, where they’d do things differently, and how finding other voices in personal finance helped them figure out what actually works for them. 🥘 Spend less on takeout with our FREE 15 Easy Emergency Meals recipe book: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/meals 💲 Do you know the 10 Financial Decisions you need to make before 40? Get the FREE workbook here: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/decisions 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 📲 Get 20% off our spending habits coaching app! https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 👩🏻‍💼 Interested in a comprehensive financial plan? Fill out this form: http://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/cfp 📚 Order our book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ ⭐ Submit your Bill of the Week : http://frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill 🎙️ Get full show notes and mentioned links here! https://bit.ly/ffpbabysteps See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 29, 202646 min

Halloween Overconsumption is OUT OF TOUCH

We love Halloween, but the endless stream of viral “must-haves” can make it feel like you need to spend more every October. In this episode, Jen and Jill explore how TikTok, social media, and influencer culture are fueling Halloween overconsumption, from trendy decorations to nostalgic must-haves. They also share how to enjoy Halloween, embrace the spooky season, and celebrate without letting unnecessary spending take over. 🥘 Spend less on takeout with our FREE 15 Easy Emergency Meals recipe book: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/meals 💲 Do you know the 10 Financial Decisions you need to make before 40? Get the FREE workbook here: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/decisions 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 📲 Get 20% off our spending habits coaching app! https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 👩🏻‍💼 Interested in a comprehensive financial plan? Fill out this form: http://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/cfp 📚 Order our book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ ⭐ Submit your Bill of the Week : http://frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill 🎙️ Get full show notes and mentioned links here! https://bit.ly/realityofhalloween See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 25, 202635 min

What to Include in Your October Budget

A pumpkin one second, and then a cart full of candy, a bunch of costumes, and decors next. It’s quite hard to stop when you’ve reached a flow state in spending. But Jen and Jill are not here to cancel the fun. In this episode, they help to plan for the things you actually want to spend on so November doesn’t have to clean up October’s financial mess. 🥘 Spend less on takeout with our FREE 15 Easy Emergency Meals recipe book: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/meals 💲Do you know the 10 Financial Decisions you need to make before 40? Get the FREE workbook here: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/decisions 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 📲 Get 20% off our spending habits coaching app! https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 👩🏻‍💼 Interested in a comprehensive financial plan? Fill out this form: http://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/cfp 📚 Order our book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ ⭐ Submit your Bill of the Week: http://frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill 🎙️ Get full show notes and mentioned links here! https://bit.ly/octoberbudgetkit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 22, 202647 min

My Mom Lost Her House. This Could've Saved Her

Losing a home isn’t always one bad financial decision. Sometimes it’s about not having the resources, information, or support to know what to do next. In 2017, Jen’s mom lost the house Jen grew up in to foreclosure after eight years without making a mortgage payment. Today, Jen and Jill share what happened, what might have prevented the loss, and what every homeowner can do to protect their home. 🥘 Spend less on takeout with our FREE 15 Easy Emergency Meals recipe book: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/meals 💲Do you know the 10 Financial Decisions you need to make before 40? Get the FREE workbook here: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/decisions 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 📲 Get 20% off our spending habits coaching app! https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 👩🏻‍💼 Interested in a comprehensive financial plan? Fill out this form: http://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/cfp 📚 Order our book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ ⭐ Submit your Bill of the Week: http://frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill 🎙️ Get full show notes and mentioned links here! https://bit.ly/ffphouseforclosure See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 18, 202646 min

7 Psychological Tricks Stores Use to Make You Overspend

It’s not you, it’s capitalism. When you start feeling like you have no control over what you spend, it’s easy to wonder if something is wrong with you. But the truth is, you’re not entirely to blame. In this episode, Jen and Jill break down the psychological tactics stores use to get you to spend more, how to recognize when they’re being used on you, and most importantly, how to avoid falling for them. 📲 Download our Spend Smart App: frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffpstoretricks 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 15, 202644 min

People Share How They Save Money on Utilities

A once-a-month bill can require major adjustments to the next month’s budget, especially with how much utility costs are rising these days. And we’re over artificial “hacks” that are really just designed to sell us another product. So in this episode, Jen and Jill turn to real people and share their best, practical ways to save on utilities. 📲 Download our Spend Smart App: frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffpsaveonutilities 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 11, 202641 min

Paying Full Price on These Items Is a Scam

IN THIS ECONOMY? When everything is “on sale” every other week, paying full price starts to feel like a choice. Jen and Jill are calling out the pricing tricks that make inflated “original” prices look like a bargain and revealing the products and services where you should never feel bad about asking for a better deal. 📲 Download our Spend Smart App: frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffpdontpayfullprice 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 8, 202639 min

10 Money Decisions You Need to Make Before 40

Whether 40 feels right around the corner or a lifetime away, these are the money decisions you’ll be glad you started thinking about now. In this episode, Jen and Jill walk us through the financial questions and decisions you’ll want to start thinking about before 40 that can help you make more intentional choices along the way. 📲 Download our Spend Smart App: frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffpbefore40s 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 4, 20261 hr 0 min

When to Buy "Off-Brand" & When to Buy "Name-Brand"

Many of us think buying generic brands means we’re being responsible with our finances, but navigating when to opt for off-brand versus name-brand can be a strategic decision between quality and savings. So today we’re replaying one of our most popular episodes of 2024, looking at what experts in their field buy and Tiktok product review videos to know which is worth our money. 📲 Download our Spend Smart App: frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffpnameoroffbrand 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

September 1, 202644 min

2026 Weddings Have LOST The Plot

It’s crazy when choosing the flowers, venue, and dress feels like the easiest part than keeping the costs under control. And beyond the couple, guests can end up spending more than they expect, too. Today, Jen and Jill talk about the wedding costs nobody warns you about, the trends driving them up, and the frugal ways to make your wedding actually fit your budget. 📲 Download our Spend Smart App: frugalfriendspodcast.com/app 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffpweddings 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .