Frugal Friends Podcast

Saving for kids' college is an admirable goal, but can sound overwhelming and expensive! On this episode, Abby Chao from College Backer talks candidly about why to save, when to save, how much to save, and where to save! Whether you have no kids, young kids, or even kids already in college Abby offers great tips and hope that it's never to late to save for college!

We've all been there - whether in our financial journey, or other life circumstances - we reach a point of low motivation or down-right discouragement and we want to just give up! In this episode we talk about this very real feeling and some practical ways to overcome this barrier, regain will power, and press forward! Whether you've been there, or are there right now this one's pivotal to consider in our frugal lifestyles!

Having a hobby is crucial to the frugal lifestyle - it can provide rest, encourage creative, foster community, keep us from wasting our time + money on less important activities and so much more! BUT hobbies can also be expensive! On this episode we discuss how to enjoy a hobby with breaking the bank, and how to find a frugal hobby if you are still clueless in this domain!

Paying off debt is a big (and worthwhile) goal, but what can be done when we have other financial goals we want to be pursuing as well? On this episode we talk with Erin Lowry from Broke Millennial about what it can look like to balance paying down debt while also investing. Theres a lot to consider in this topic, but we’re excited to pick Erin’s brain and share her insight here!

We have been your Frugal Friends for one whole year now (ahh!) and what better way to celebrate than to talk about YARD SALES!? It's one of our favorite topics AND activities, and today we're talking about how to make the most of your 'yard-saling' (that's right we made it a verb) experience! Whether you are going to yard sales, or hosting a yard sale, we've got some good tips for you!

Homesteading is becoming more and more appealing , especially in the world of frugality, but what can be done for those of us who don't sit on property or don't plan to invest in land? Have no fear! Homesteading is not just about having a vegetable garden, it's also a way of life with many practices that can be incorporated even into tiny or urban living situations!

Student loan forgiveness - we've all heard about it, but is it real?! In this episode we chat with Travis Hornsby from Student Loan Planner about all things student loan forgiveness, plus some tips we are sure you have never heard of before! We shared some laughs and received from invaluable tips and knowledge on this very important, and sometimes overwhelming topic! Have a listen!

It's one of the most important days of your life, but that doesn't mean you have to spend your (or your parents!) entire life savings! We're following up our Part 1 episode on ceremonies (ep. 6) with what you need to know to plan a killer reception and honeymoon without emptying that bank account, or worse, collecting debt!

Frugality pairs nicely with many things, including environmental friendliness! Practicing good stewardship of resources is something us frugal folks have been doing for ages. Whether going 'green' is something you strive for or not, today we dive into how being frugal has some great environmental perks and why us frugal people can feel even more assured in our lifestyle.

We know the benefits of minimalism and how it fits so nicely into a frugal lifestyle, but can minimalism be achieved in the kitchen also? Today we talk with Kristin Marr from Live Simply about how to achieve a 'capsule pantry'. From how to identify the essentials, to shopping and stocking - Kristin gives some great insight into the most important part of a home; the kitchen!

Warehouse clubs, the only place you can go to purchase your chicken, your wedding ring, your outdoor furniture, AND your underwear all under one roof! While it can be great to score some savings on toilet paper, today we explore the pros and cons of warehouse club shopping and how to determine if they provide the best frugal options for you!

Negotiating; some people love it - others hate it. Either way, it can be a great frugal skill for lowering bills, scoring deals, getting out of late fees, OR just enjoying some Saturday morning yard sales!

We love to have guests on the show and today is no exception! We have THE Mrs. Frugalwoods (A.K.A. Elizabeth Thames), author and blogger on everything frugal+sustainable. AND since Jen is currently pregnant, we seized the opportunity to ask Mrs. Frugalwoods about pregnancy and parenting the frugal way. Let's just say she did not disappoint! Check it out!

Simple, DIY, Low-cost - these words are music to our frugal ears! We're excited to talk about how frugality can intersect with all aspects our lifestyles, including the way we clean! There's more to know about cleaning products than we ever thought - but have no fear - we've got all the do's and don'ts of DIY cleaning products you need to know! Whether you clean often or you can't remember the last time you swept your floors, there's some good stuff in this episode!

The frugal life is not just about spending less, it is also about financial responsibility and planning well for those beautiful financial goals we know you all have! In this episode we get back to the basics, and talk about those fundamental aspects of personal finance; where you should be focusing your time, energy and resources to make the most of your life and earnings! Whether you are completely clueless on the things you 'should' know, or you need a refresher course on 'the big picture' - this one's for you!