25 Little Luxuries That Are Worth Every Penny in 2026

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Frugal Friends Podcast

Episode: 25 Little Luxuries That Are Worth Every Penny in 2026
Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: April 7, 2026

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Overview

In this spirited and affirming episode, Jen and Jill highlight the power of incorporating “little luxuries” into daily life—luxuries that cost nothing but bring meaningful comfort, joy, and satisfaction. Designed for anyone on a budget, from the avid minimalist to ambitious savers and those on their journey to financial independence, this episode unpacks 25 small, no-cost pleasures that foster contentment and stave off the deprivation mindset so often associated with frugality.

Their tone is warm, candid, and funny—steadily reinforcing that living richly isn’t about big spending, but about maximizing joy from what’s easily within reach. The episode’s wisdom springs from five main categories: In Nature, At Home, Connection, Mental, and Physical, each filled with actionable, realistic ideas.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to “Little Luxuries”

• Defining little luxuries: Not about material indulgence, but rather about de-stressing, being intentional, and finding daily enjoyment.
  • “When in reality, little luxuries don't have to cost money. The core and the root of them is de-stressing, like grounding yourself with your life and your intentions.”—Jen [04:22]
• Link to contentment: Simple pleasures keep us sustained and are crucial for not feeling deprived while focused on big money goals like debt payoff or saving.
  • “Simple luxuries are inextricably linked with contentment...What about enjoying our lives daily and weekly?”—Jill [05:31]

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1. In Nature

(07:25–10:15)

Top Picks:

• Watching sunrise or sunset:
  • Jen prefers sunrise runs; Jill loves sunsets over the beach.
  • “Let’s see if you’re a sunrise girl or a sunset girl.”—Jen [08:07]
• Taking a long walk in the neighborhood or park.
• Cloud watching, stargazing, or tree gazing:
  • “Tree gazing from below is the most trippy thing…”—Jill [09:10]
• Sitting outside with a drink, no phone:
  • The phone-free aspect is emphasized for true presence.
• People watching at the park or public spaces.

Notable Quote:

• “A beverage of your choice in your frugal AF mug. And just like being outside. Oh, I love it.”—Jen [09:35]

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2. At Home

(10:15–17:42)

Top Picks:

• Long, unhurried bath or shower.
  • Discussion about “everything shower”—a thorough self-care session.
• Opening windows to air out the home.
• Fresh sheets at night:
  • “If you need a little pick me up, wash the sheets.”—Jill [12:41]
• Lighting a candle you already own:
  • Joy in the ambiance; burn through what you have before buying more.
• Cooking a nice meal with music playing:
  • Music and nostalgia enhance the experience.

Memorable Album Mentions:

• “Pennies From Heaven”—Jill's go-to cooking playlist [16:02].
• New Mumford and Sons album—Jen’s current obsession [16:56].

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3. Connection

(19:58–27:26)

Top Picks:

• Calling or FaceTiming a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
  • Bravery required for FaceTime!
  • “You have to be present with the person if you're going to call them...it's meaningful.”—Jen [21:04]
• Sending a thoughtful voice memo, not just a text.
• Walk-and-talk hangouts (with neighbors or friends).
• Writing and mailing a handwritten note or card—using supplies on hand.
• Deep at-home conversations over coffee.
  • Authenticity at home is unmatched compared to public venues.

Notable Quote:

• “If there's one thing that we should be supporting right beneath the library, it's our mail system. So, send your friend a letter that's folded in a cool way.”—Jen [26:05]

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4. Mental

(28:17–35:35)

Top Picks:

• Reading a library book (“that crinkly plastic cover ASMR!”).
• Listening to a podcast while walking.
• Journaling for 10 minutes to clear your mind.
• Watching a comedy set on YouTube.
  • Current recommendations: Josh Johnson (Jen), Jeff Hakuri (Jill).
• Rewatching a comfort movie (personal faves: Runaway Bride—Jill [33:12]; The Hunger Games trilogy—Jen [33:19]).
• Listening to a full album, start to finish:
  • Lean into the artist’s journey, not just single tracks.

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5. Physical

(35:35–40:31)

Top Picks:

• Stretching or short yoga session (DIY—don’t pay for “stretching gyms!”).
• Taking a midday nap (if it works for you).
• Slow morning with no alarm (the beauty of “pajamas, tractors, and milk” mornings inspired by Jen’s 3-year-old).
• Putting the phone on Do Not Disturb for at least an hour.

Notable Quote:

• “It’s so important that we make space for ourselves...we should not be so fixated that everything else falls by the wayside. Especially our feeling that we are living this one life we have to the fullest.”—Jen [40:31]

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Listener Story – Bill of the Week

[41:56–45:37]

Alana from Reno, Nevada shares about surviving two heart attacks and receiving a $1,000 ambulance bill—completely covered by her church’s community care fund.

• “Not only am I a survivor of two heart attacks, but I am also so thankful for our church to cover that bill.”—Alana [41:56]

Hosts’ Response:
Deep gratitude for community and generosity in times of hardship; reminder to reach out for help when needed.

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Lightning Round

[48:13–51:36]

• Jen’s favorite luxury: Running at sunrise—combining fresh air, exercise, and nature.
• Jill’s: Having something to look forward to—anticipation as a recurring “little luxury.”
  • “Just that, I think, is a little luxury...What am I looking forward to today?”—Jill [49:32]

Final Reflections

Jen and Jill reiterate the power of gratitude and presence in amplifying the pleasure derived from these small luxuries. Their essential advice: “If there’s nothing you’re looking forward to, pick one of these.”

They invite feedback about listeners’ own “little luxuries,” album suggestions, and whether they’re #TeamSunrise or #TeamSunset.

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Time-Stamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------| | 01:29 | Introduction & context of “little luxuries” | | 07:25 | Category 1: In Nature | | 10:15 | Category 2: At Home | | 19:58 | Category 3: Connection | | 28:17 | Category 4: Mental | | 35:35 | Category 5: Physical | | 41:56 | Bill of the Week – Listener Alana’s story | | 48:13 | Lightning Round – Favorite little luxury |

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Notable Quotes

• "Little luxuries don't have to cost money. The root of them is de-stressing, grounding yourself in your intentions." —Jen [04:22]
• "Simple luxuries are inextricably linked with contentment... enjoying our lives daily and weekly." —Jill [05:31]
• "There is something to be said for that anticipation of something good." —Jen [50:17]
• "Make the space for yourself. Especially if we’re trying to reach a financial goal; don’t let everything fall by the wayside." —Jen [40:31]

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Memorable Moments & Finishing Thoughts

• The playful banter about “sunrise versus sunset girlies.”
• The “candle enough” debate (how many is too many?).
• Jen’s son, Atlas, inspiring a slow morning lifestyle: “Pajamas, tractors, and milk.”
• Encouragement to seek daily luxuries for mental health and to bolster perseverance toward financial goals.
• Heartfelt listener story about community generosity.

Takeaway: Frugality is about creative fulfillment, not self-denial. Daily, no-cost luxuries matter—and can be more powerful than any big-ticket splurge.

Transcript

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[Jen]

Think 25 little luxuries that are worth Every penny.

[Podcast Host Intro]

Welcome to the Frugal Friends podcast where you'll learn to save money, embrace simplicity, and live a richer life. Here are your hosts, Jen and J.

[Jen]

Welcome, Frugal Friends. I'm Jen.

[Jill]

I'm Jill.

[Jen]

And we spend hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars a year chasing luxury. Chasing not just, I'm not talking like designer fashions and stuff, but just like, like little luxuries, pedicures, a nice new outfit, going on a vacation, fancy coffee.

[Jill]

Yeah.

[Jen]

But we really believe that these little luxuries that we're going to tell you about today are where the real luxury is at. And bonus, they don't cost a penny completely free.

[Jill]

Amazing. Because it's not about spending money, it's about de stressing. It's about finding enjoyment and a little bit of whimsy in our lives. And so we can't wait to share our favorites with you. But first, we have a mug giveaway.

[Jen]

Yeah. Oh, I didn't even grab the mug. I.

[Jill]

Will you talk about it?

[Jen]

So yeah, we have these mugs, they say Frugal af Jill has one and we are trying. I have like 20 at home and I'm trying to get rid of them. And so I want to give one to you potentially. Here's how you get it. You're going to go subscribe to the YouTube channel. Hit subscribe. You're going to go to frugalfriends podcast.com sl mug mug. And on that page you're going to put in your YouTube username. If you don't know what the username is, comment on this video and your username will pop up. But your YouTube username, your email, ta da. You are entered and we are doing three giveaways. So if you already entered earlier, you're still in the Running for the next giveaway. Our second is coming up, I think is later this week.

[Jill]

So.

[Jen]

So, and if you are listening to this the week after or something, we have one more May 22nd. That's our last one. So as long as you're listening before May 22, get in there and frugalfriendspodcast.com mug and that's like a little luxury you can make your coffee at home. I actually, no lie, do drink my coffee every morning out of this mug. Actually, this mug is in my car right now with the coffee I had. Because another little luxury is I'll drink half of my coffee and I'll bring the other half with me in the car in an open container so like I can live a little on the edge.

[Jill]

Yeah. So I feel like a mom in a 90s romcom.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Jill]

You know what I'm talking about. They just live life loosely and they're fast driving with their messy bun and their open container coffee. Love our females protagonists.

[Jen]

That's typically me. Yeah. So get yourself one of these little luxuries. I am going to define little luxury. And Jill, this is your thing. But like for me it's less. It's. It's about de stressing. Right. And so if we take it to its core, like social media and tv, movies, traditional media, they will all say that these little luxuries cost money. Right. We can't afford the big luxuries. Like I'm not going out and getting a Porsche, even Alexis, like I'm not living in the mansion, but I can afford little luxuries. When in reality little luxuries don't have to cost money. The core and the root of them is de stressing, like re, like grounding yourself with your life and your intentions. And so that to me is what we're after. And yes, it can be found in a pedicure. I love a good pedicure. Sure. But it can also be found in all these other ways. You don't have to wait to your pedicure or get so many of them just to find little luxury.

[Jill]

I think too simple luxuries are inextricably linked with contentment and, and an awareness of our surroundings, what's available to us, the things that are going to provide simple pleas throughout the day that keep us sustained, that I think so often we think, oh, if I could just, you know, that vacation once a year and that is great, but that's once a year. What about enjoying our lives daily and weekly? And I think this is the key to that And I think the key to staying on track with some of these other goals that require our money and so we don't have to experience deprivation and say a debt payoff goal because we are able to tap into this type of thing and experience greater levels of contentment, more awareness of opportunities for just enjoyment in life while still not spending money.

[Jen]

So I love it.

[Jill]

I cannot describe to you how much my life feels as though it revolves around simple luxuries. I really need them.

[Jen]

Well, I always think about the thing the entrepreneur influencers say, instead of vacationing, working for a vacation, create a life you don't need to vacation from. And they're talking about like become an entrepreneur, make your own hours. And what I'm talking about is like these little luxuries. And we have five categories and I think if you include just a couple from each into your life on a weekly basis, you are going to create a life that doesn't feel so in need of the luxurious vacations, the spa days and all that. And those things aren't bad, but they become less necessary.

[Jill]

So I love this. My favorite episode already.

[Jen]

Let's go into the first category is in nature. So incorporating a few things in nature into your life. First one is watching the sunrise or the sunset.

[Jill]

I vote sunset.

[Jen]

So I love, I love a sunrise, especially right now. The time just changed and so sunrise is a little later. But I really love to take my runs at sunrise.

[Jill]

I love a sunset. Thankfully we live near the beach and we can watch it over the water. There's this cool restaurant on the beach that rings a bell at sunset every single day. So even small rituals like that just make so much meaning. So do it. Figure out which one you are and take some.

[Jen]

Let's see if you're a sunrise girl or a sunset girl. Oh yeah.

[Jill]

Number two, taking a long walk around the neighborhood or in a scenic neighborhood or a park. Again, this is the time of year too where that is more available to us. Some of this we can't necessarily do year round. I know in the wintertime the sun sets at like 4:35 o' clock and so taking a walk when it's pitch blackout isn't necessarily my cup of tea. But now that the sun is setting later, it is a more common ritual for Eric and I, especially after dinner. And that is good for digestion.

[Jen]

Yes, that's when I love to take my walks, is after dinner. Next is cloud watching or star gazing. I'm more of a cloud watcher just because, I mean we live in the city. It's not great for stargazing, but like it is. There's something to be said about like sitting in a chair outside and just looking up. Like looking and. And being in the world that you are in.

[Jill]

I like tree gazing and tree gazing from below is the most trippy thing to see the branches up this direction. I love it. Okay, number four, Sitting outside with a drink and no phone. If we want to talk about enjoyment, contentment, peace and de stress, our phone is going to be nowhere to be found.

[Jen]

A beverage of your choice in your frugal AF mug. And just like being outside. Oh, I love it. Okay, and then the last one. In nature, people watching at a park or public space. And if you're in the city, the people watching is good. Good.

[Jill]

When I had my house, I used to like people watching just out my window. So it wasn't entirely in nature.

[Jen]

I don't know. That is my thing.

[Jill]

Staring out my window.

[Jen]

I don't know if that's the same thing. Eric.

[Jill]

Get the Knox. Spying on my neighbors more like. But yeah.

[Jen]

Okay.

[Jill]

The next category is at home.

[Jen]

That's the more in that category. That's a. That's a bonus. Is like peeping on your neighbors. It's not in the actual list.

[Jill]

So six would be a long, unhurried bath. I will also add shower. I get it that that might not be the most friendly to the water consumption.

[Jen]

I know. I took it out because I was like. And then you put it in.

[Jill]

I did. And because I love a shower, I'm not. There are bath girlies and you already know what a bath does for you, so that's great. But even just in everything shower, let's be real. These are luxuries. We often don't get the time to wash our hair, scrub our back, shave our legs. When we get the opportunity to do all of those things in a nice warm shower. That's luxurious.

[Listener Alana]

Yeah.

[Jen]

We're going to have to define everything, Char. We're going to have to do like a self care episode. Because I am seeing so much self care over consumption, especially in baths. And so that's an episode that's coming up.

[Jill]

Yeah. We don't have to over consume it.

[Jen]

Everything means different things to different people.

[Jill]

Really? I thought everyone knew what an everything shower is. It's. It's all the things. It's washing the hair, washing the body, shaving.

[Jen]

Yeah. There can always be more and that according to capitalism, there can always be more.

[Jill]

Oh, no. Okay.

[Jen]

All right, Next is opening the windows and airing out your home. So we love to do this in the spring and fall. You can't. I mean, you can probably do it more often where we live than up north, but I do just love to have an open window. It also kind of connects you to the outside too, in some sort of way without actually having to go outside.

[Jill]

Yeah. Having a fresh breeze come through is so lovely. Number eight, fresh sheets at night. You know what I'm talking about. Sleeping in some of that newly washed bedding. The feeling of not just accomplishment, but also the crispness of the sheets and the clean bed. It's just so lovely. And especially if you've hung those sheets out on the line. But that's, that is totally next level.

[Jen]

That's another level that, yeah, I have, I've never been done that in a long, long time.

[Jill]

But even just fresh, fresh sheets. So if you need a little pick me up, wash the sheets, you do

[Jen]

have to go through the arduous tasks of taking sheets off the bed and putting sheets back on the bed. I understand that's task, but if it's between you getting some extra time to scroll social media or taking your sheets off the bed and putting them on so that you can have this like, crisp, nice thing to get into at night, put down the phone and wash your sheets, there's always something you can be doing to get off social media. I truly believe that. Next is one of my favorites. Lighting a candle you already own and just like slowing down. Like, I love to have a candle burning at almost all times. If I'm going to be home for only 15 minutes, I won't light a candle. But really, I just do love to always have a candle be burning. It's something about the ambiance of like the flame. And so I go through candles. I have talked about this, but I had a friend who had, who loved candles. And we're like, okay, what's going to be your candle? Enough number. And she's like 20. And her fiance's like, you know, side eye. And I was like, no, no, this isn't your. This isn't a question for you. This is a question for her. And so 20 is her number. And she goes home, she counts and she's got like 70. I was like, okay, we are burning through whatever, 70 minus 50 candles, 51 candles before we buy another.

[Jill]

Yeah.

[Jen]

And so that is. I personally, I think I have like two candle backups. I have like three at a time. The ones I have some like in use. But yeah, I have like two in the pantry, like at all Times like waiting. Switch out. Yeah, that's my. Enough. So, yeah, Lighting a candle, man.

[Jill]

Yeah. Number 10. I love this one. Cooking a nice meal while playing music. Listening to music that's playing. We're not talking about pulling out an instrument and cooking dinner.

[Jen]

I'm playing flute and I'm cooking dinner.

[Jill]

Cooking can feel like such an arduous task and really has so many barriers for so many of us and this can't be done every single time. But when we need a pick me up in the kitchen, this particularly helps me to just slow down and enjoy what I'm doing. I have to eat. I need to cook in order to do that. In what ways can I make this enjoyable for myself? And putting on fun music and just getting to bop around. Or sometimes it's listening to a podcast or an ebook or putting on a familiar show, a show that I grew up watching. Something that's nostalgic that I don't have to be paying close attention to. I can still pay attention to the recipe that makes my cooking experience so much more enjoyable. And I think it makes the food taste better, if I'm being honest.

[Jen]

Yeah, I like music. What music? Like, what's an album that you're listening to right now?

[Jill]

So my go to right now is to play Pennies From Heaven and then it goes into a Spotify playlist from there. And I like what Spotify chooses as the remaining bit of the playlist. But Pennies From Heaven, which is one of the reasons why my Spotify wrapped at the end of 2025, was gave me an age of 85 years old.

[Jen]

Mine gave me a spot on accurate age because 90%. Well, I say now 80% of my running playlist is Fallout Boy. I'm like, oh, you are 100% elder millennial. Because that was like, I am in the top half percent for Fallout Boy listeners in the world. That's amazing. Yeah, but that's not what I listen

[Jill]

to when I cook.

[Jen]

Actually, right now I am listening to the new Mumford and Sons album, like, really on repeat. It's very good.

[Jill]

It is very hard for me to listen to the new stuff. I am Definitely a 80 years old to what I know and remember. But yes, sometimes you can get me

[Jen]

on board with that. It can be disappointing when an artist that you love comes out with a new album and you just like, do not vibe with it. And I was very worried about this new Mumford and Sons album.

[Jill]

Do you like it?

[Jen]

It's so good. Like genuinely, like, first album good. They didn't have to go this hard and they did good. So we would also love to hear your new album recommendations. Yeah not old. We're not going pennies from heaven.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Jen]

Like give us something new. Give us something new everything.

[Jill]

Okay, okay okay.

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[Jill]

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[Jen]

So next category is connection and I think this is the most important one. I want us to really prioritize this one because a lot of our spending on luxury and spending on like feeling something I think really stems from isolation too. So it's part stress and part isolation. I think those are the biggest factors. So the first one, calling a friend you haven't talked to in a while. Calling. Calling or FaceTiming if you're brave. Travis, my husband is the bravest person I know because he often facetimes friends that he hasn't spoken to in a while.

[Jill]

That's adorable.

[Jen]

And people would say like, oh, I hate that. But I honestly, like, I love it. It's a friend, you know, it's not a zoom call with a co worker, an acquaintance. Like, yeah, so you do have to

[Jill]

be far more present for a FaceTime call.

[Jen]

That's the thing. You have to be present with the person if you're going to call them or FaceTime them. And I think that's meaningful. Right?

[Jill]

Number 12, sending a thoughtful voice memo instead of a text. And maybe it's just our age. I do think our generation is starting to get into this more, but particularly this is something I've been doing more regularly where I want to send a text, but it's too much for my thumbs to write out.

[Jen]

I just sent an email and I cc'd you on it where I was like, okay. I typed it though. I was like, actually, I want to like also have this person know that I'm not just like a disembodied, like, podcaster on the other side of the email. So I also included a voice note in the email. It was like a little like, app that you could add it to an email. But yeah, if you're not brave enough for FaceTime, the voice memo.

[Jill]

And that's so nice even when I receive them because we don't always have time for a phone call. But still, getting to hear the person's voice is really nice. And then being able to put more content into your message than what a text might be able to hold is also really nice.

[Jen]

I. I remember when we were switching networks, I reached out, I DM'd a podcaster who was on the network. It would be like, what's your, what's your experience? And she sent me a voice note, like a three minute voice note being like, you know, explaining their experience. And I was like, this is so nice. This is so genuine. So if you want to be known as a nice and genuine person. Voice notes.

[Jill]

I've done that to people who have DMed us on Instagram, although I can't say that they really appreciated it because sometimes I'll just get a zero response to it. There was one time I got a thumbs down and I think she, I think she made a mistake. I really don't think she intended to thumbs up.

[Jen]

Do you listen to the Voice note. Before you send it, make sure you.

[Jill]

I mean, I know what I said.

[Jen]

If you got a thumbs down, maybe you don't.

[Jill]

So true.

[Jen]

All right, next. Doing a walk and talk hangout. I have done this before. This is a great, like, after dinner, but I will do it over the summer spring break, like kids breaks from school with other moms who, you know, we're home with our kids, and so we'll just take, like, a walk break with our kids on the bicycles, just, you know, walking and talking. Love it.

[Jill]

Yes. I made friends because, like, with neighbors, because they're out walking, we're out walking. And now one of my old neighbors, we're gonna do a walk and talk on Wednesday.

[Jen]

I love that.

[Jill]

I know.

[Jen]

Yes. The walking talk is, you know, such a great thing. And we all want to move more, right? We all want to be more active. That doesn't mean you have to go to the gym more. It means, you know, hey, do you want to go for a walk? Which sounds weird, but you could just be like, girl, I'm trying to get my steps in. You want to go for a walk with me? And that's normal. Everyone's trying to get their steps in.

[Jill]

Everyone knows what that means.

[Jen]

Yeah, everyone is trying to get their steps in. So that's normalized. So try that.

[Jill]

14. Write a handwritten note or card. And here's the important part. With the supplies you already have, we do not need to be out here spending $5 to send a card that Hallmark wrote, you can write it with a pen and paper that you own already. And this is luxurious because correspondence is so elevated to be doing correspondences through snail mail. How luxurious. I recently did this for a friend who's. It was her birthday, and I. I'm out of cards, out of stationery. Usually I'll get stationary every six months or so, but I did have computer paper, and I have markers, and so I just did a YouTube lookup of how to fold a letter in a cool way. And it turned out very middle school in the best way, where it was like, pull here and then this opens up, and then it opens up this way. And it was so fun. And, I mean, I think she liked it. She. She said that it reminded her of this real or meme that she saw recently that said, I healed so hard. I'm as corny as I was in middle school. How accurate is that?

[Jen]

And she gave a thumbs down to the real,

[Jill]

but it felt just so playful. It was so fun for me. That was a very relaxing thing to Write the card and make it and, and to know that I. It's so thoughtful, I think, when it's just, I, I did this for you, not I spent five bucks. Who knows what it says?

[Jen]

Yeah. I mean, and I'm always a proponent for connect with people. At minimum, if you can schedule, if you've got imesses, schedule a text to go out. Like if you're thinking in the middle of the night, scheduling it, you know, for tomorrow when you can think better, people are awake. You know, like minimum viable communication with people. Right. But these are the little luxuries. Right? These are that elevated. It's a FaceTime. It's a coolly folded letter that you mail. And if there's one thing that we should be supporting right beneath the library, it's our mail system. So, you know, this may be your civic duty to see. Send your friend a letter that's folded in a cool way. And then the last one for connection is having a deep conversation over coffee at home. I truly believe conversations that are had at homes are the most authentic. You can be the most real. You're not worried about the noises, people around you, where the bathroom is. Like, you're not worried about any of that stuff. You can have a great conversation at a coffee shop or a restaurant. But I do believe that the best conversations happen at home.

[Jill]

I had a friend who did Saturday morning coffee hangs at their place. So it was kind of open, invite, come hang out. And they just had some bagels and cream cheese and brewed some coffee. And I loved that as an alternative to needing to throw a dinner party or a late night weekend thing. This is just. And so, so many people were able to make it because usually you're available on a Saturday morning unless you've got some sort of kids activity, but even then you can probably still pop in. And so, so many people were able to come. It wasn't a huge cost for the person doing it and it just created such nice opportunities for conversation and people didn't. It's a nice NA option too. You know, you're not, you're not drinking. Suppose you could, but we weren't.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Jill]

Okay, final or no, fourth category is mental. So some of these simple luxuries that help us to care for ourselves mentally. So number 16 is reading a library book.

[Jen]

Reading a library book.

[Jill]

Reading a book is great. Reading a library book, even better luxury

[Jen]

because you know you're getting that hard back, you know that you are supporting a vital piece of the community. Like you just know so much good is Coming out of that, in addition

[Jill]

to reading, you get the ASMR of the crinkled plastic around the hardback, like, pages. I can hear it right now. The crinkling of the library book.

[Jen]

And all you annotators out there, get. Get out of here. Stop annotating acotar. All right, you don't need to do that. Get it from the library or audiobooks. We love audiobooks. Our favorite audiobook is Buy what yout Love Without Going Broke.

[Jill]

You can get it from your local library.

[Jen]

You can. Okay, next is listening to a podcast while taking a walk. Like, a solitary walk. And our favorite podcast to listen to is Frugal Friends. We love listening to ourselves on walking.

[Jill]

That's false.

[Jen]

We do not do that. But we think you should. If you are not finding enough time to listen to all of the episodes on the Best of Frugal friends playlist on YouTube, then go take a walk. It's beautiful. I love. So I do love my walks at sunset. Like, I'll take our dog for a walk after dinner around this law school. That is just gorgeous at sunset. And it is truly, like, a little luxury for me. And, yeah, it's so nice. So. And I'll listen to a podcast or a YouTube video or something, like, while I'm on the walk.

[Jill]

Yeah, agreed. Number 18, journaling for 10 minutes just to clear your mind. And this is so powerful just for us mentally. I think it's a luxury because finding 10 minutes sometimes can feel like such a barrier. But. But if we were to clear the pressure of this needs to be a written masterpiece, or I'm going to come back and reread these things if we're not worried about that, but we're just thinking about how can I get what's swirling around up here just out on paper. There really is such a release that happens when we are able to put it somewhere and into writing. It is this tangible thing of taking it out of here, giving it a place to live, and then being able to move on from it. And we can even set ourselves a timer. Just dump. Dump it out. And how. How luxurious is that?

[Jen]

This was so integral, like, when I was, like, young, like, in my teenage years and early 20s. Like, I wouldn't keep a consistent journal, but I would keep a journal when things were just like. And I didn't know how to deal with them. That's the clinical term. I would. I would just journal and. And I would feel a lot clearer after I wrote things down. And not everything I wrote down was, like, reality. It Was a lot of it was perception, but I was able to see that more clearly, like when I wrote it down on paper. So it was like that. This was so important in my formative years, for sure.

[Jill]

Agreed.

[Jen]

Next is watching a comedy set on YouTube. There is so much power in laughter and there is so much good comedy for free on YouTube. My personal favorite right now is Josh Johnson. I think that every time. Every time that man takes the stage for a comedy set, he also takes the audience to church. Like. Like, it's so great to see someone who can be funny and joyful and really inspire people to be better people overall. Like, so I love that. And he's one of my favorites right now.

[Jill]

Jeff Hakuri is my favorite. His crowd work is insane. He's a very funny person. Okay. Number 20, rewatching a comfort movie. You know the one, the one you've seen so many times that you just. Just love the character. The plot is just so good. Maybe you can. You know it so well. You know it like the best.

[Jen]

What is your comfort movie? I can say I know what mine is.

[Jill]

I haven't watched it in a long time, but the one that I have probably seen the most is Runaway Bride.

[Jen]

Ooh, good one.

[Jill]

Yeah. Julia Roberts.

[Jen]

Yes. Mine is actually the Hunger Games trilogy. It's four movies. Oh, my God. I know.

[Jill]

So you're rewatching a comfort movie is all weekend long?

[Jen]

Yeah, yeah, that is. And it does take me a full weekend. Like, and I do it once a year. Oh, my God. I find I don't set, like, a timer, you know, where it's like, oh, it's time to rewatch the Hunger Games. But, like, once a year, I just get this, like, like, oh, it's time to re watch the Hunger Games.

[Jill]

Is that so interesting? Because the Hunger Games is not a comforting, I don't know, story.

[Jen]

I don't know what is. When I was in college, I'm not like a. A ya, like, reader typically. Like, I was. I was reading weird adult stuff in high school, but in college, I was so burnt out in grad school, I was like, I need something to take my mind off of everything. So I just grabbed the Hunger Games for some reason and started reading it. And it was such an easy read. I flew through the series and then watched the movies. And so I think that's some of the comfort stems from, like, that season of my life too. It became a comfort book series in that time. So, yeah, okay. It can be anything. Next is listening to an entire album from Start to Finish. I think we're like in this playlist era that we are only listening to one song from each artist but listening to an entire album from start to finish. Like besides Taylor Swift. Another artist besides Taylor Swift. Please. No shade on Taylor Swift. But like I know you're gonna say that you already did it. And other artists have full length albums as well. And I think it's really good. Like I said, like Mumford Sons, Noah Khan. His two most recent albums which are not recent anymore. But those are some that I like to listen to from start to finish. I think Matt Hanson is his name is another one. I can't remember right now.

[Jill]

But I do think there is something to be said because that's how an artist approaches an album is they're taking you on a journey. And so I can understand the picking and choosing different song songs. We all have our favorite songs on an album. But to be able to enjoy and embrace the artistry of listening to their full album is. Is a simple pleasure to really understand the album more fully. My some of my favorites are Petey P E T E Y Lean Into Life. That's one that I will listen to the full album. Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts. I know that, that, that's an older one, but that's a good one all the way through. Okay, moving on. We are in our final category now which is physical. So caring for ourselves physically but also embracing the small things that bring joy. So 22 is stretching or doing a short yoga session. There is nothing that feels more good to me than this type of body movement. When we're talking kind of the more stretching Yoga can be quite intensive, but the movement where we are working out some of the tension and stretching out our muscles I think does provide a good amount of release. I think a release of oxytocin. I think it helps to de stress us because we are stretching the muscles and engaging in breath work a little more and you, you can now go

[Jen]

to a place and pay to be stressed.

[Jill]

I saw that.

[Jen]

That's why I heard an ad for it. I thought it was satire. And Travis is like, no, this is a real place. And I was like, I hate it here. But you can stretch on your own. Like I get it. If you're an athlete and it is your job to be physical, sure, get stretched. But you can do it on your own. It's fine. Next, taking a midday nap. This might be a controversial one because some people hate a midday nap because it makes the next part of the day kind of like. And some people Love a midday nap. Just a 20 minute cat nap. But so if that's you take your nap and if it's not, you come have a cup of. A cup of coffee at 4pm with me like the other crazy people.

[Jill]

Yeah, I am not a nap person because if I'm gonna take a nap, it's gotta be two hours. I don't understand the 20 minute thing. And I just, I never have two hours to get a nap.

[Jen]

I'm not a nap in the middle of the day.

[Jill]

But how luxurious that is if you are able to do it. Number 24, a slow morning with no alarm. Not setting an alarm value that I

[Jen]

know it's something you probably do like on weekends. Right. But like what if we looked at that and valued it as the little luxury that it is? Sometimes it's just not doing anything different, but shifting our perspective.

[Jill]

Exactly.

[Jen]

Yeah. And I. So this Morning Atlas, my 3 year old, woke up and he was like, like I. He crawled into our bed. Travis was already at work. And so like I'm laying next to him and he's like, I want. I'm telling him, he's like, okay, we got to get dressed. We. He's like, no, pajamas, tractors. And he's pointing to the TV to watch tractors on tv and milk. He said that like word for word, Pajamas, tractors and milk. And I was like, well, that sounds lovely. I wish we could do that. We could just stay in our pajamas and watch tractors and drink milk. But like we have to go to work in school. But yeah, have some of those days. Tractors, pajamas and milk.

[Jill]

Tractors and milk days.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Jill]

Would that be so lovely?

[Jen]

All right, next, and this is the final one, putting your phone on, do not disturb for just an hour, maybe longer. But even if it's just an hour, putting your phone on, do not disturb and just doing any of this stuff. Just giving yourself an hour for little luxuries, making the space for yourself. It's so important that we make space for ourselves. Especially if we're trying to reach a financial goal. We can get so fixated on that goal. And we should, we should be focused, but we should not be so fixated that everything else falls by the wayside. Especially our feeling that we are living this one life we have to the fullest.

[Jill]

Like you said, so much of it has to do with an awareness of the thing that is available to us because we might be doing some of these things and not embracing the level of enjoyment. Enjoyment or gratitude. Attaching gratitude to it to the degree that we could, which would Help us to feel as though we are getting these really amazing luxuries throughout our day, throughout our lives. And so that practice, I think, can help to build some contentment, too. Of I'm getting so many good things throughout the day, and it's going to decrease our need and want and desire for greater levels of consumption of things we don't actually need, but a little luxury that we have incorporated into every single episode that I do look forward to.

[Jen]

Oh, I love it so much.

[Jill]

Every time. The bill of the week.

[Podcast Host Intro]

That's the. That's right. It's time for the best minute of your entire week. Maybe a baby was born and his name is William. Maybe you paid off your mortgage. Maybe your car died and you're happy to not have to pay that bill anymore. Duck bills, Buffalo Bills, Bill Clinton. This is the bill of the week.

[Listener Alana]

Hi, Jen and Jill. This is Alana from Reno, Nevada. Last month, I had not one, but two heart attacks within a week of each other. I rode in an ambulance twice to the hospital. Well, just last week, I got the bill for those two ambulance rides, and it was not cheap. I was around a thousand dollars for the two trips to the hospital. But our gracious, wonderful church has a care committee, and they offered to pay the whole $1,000 for that big, awful bill. And so not only am I a survivor of two heart attacks, but I am also so thankful for our church to cover that bill. So that is my bill of the week that I am living and surviving, and that bill is covered.

[Jen]

Wow, Alana, that is terrifying. Like. Like, it is so scary to have something like that sudden happen to you and to your family. And so we're so glad that you're doing better. Like, it sounds like you're doing better. So we're so happy for you. And that's such a testament to community, like, good community, is that they can help you cover a bill. And that's why sometimes we have institutions like Churchill is to be able to funnel money to things like this. This is where you want to see your tithe money going to. And I'm just so glad that your community, your church community is doing that for you.

[Jill]

Yeah, how tragic. How scary. Alana, I can't even imagine to get to not just once, but twice. And that's the really awful part about medical emergencies and. And money is that you're not only going through something physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally that is so overwhelming and traumatic, but then you've got this really immense bill that you have to respond to, and that can just pile on top and really not help us to be able to recover from these medical things if we're so stressed about the financial aspect. And so man, I'm feeling this one deeply. But I'm also, like Jen said, so grateful for your church community and the way that they have just stepped up and supported you. What a huge weight off. And we really hope that you're on the mend and that you saw the last of those heart issues. That's so, so awful. And another reminder that if we are a part of communities like this, if we are plugged into a church and we have a financial need, that is one of the reasons that they exist for is to foster generosity and to funne that generosity to where there is need. And so don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

[Jen]

It's not for quote unquote or should not just be for quote unquote poor people. Right. Like it's for people in the community in need. So I think we should be willing to ask for things if we like that and our communities, like I know of communities, churches who have been unwilling to give to their church patrons and like, yeah, that's not the kind of community you want to be part of. So. But there are plenty of good ones out there. They are out there.

[Jill]

Yeah.

[Jen]

So. And I hope you find yours.

[Jill]

If you all are listening and you have a bill that you want to share, if it has to do with your community just coming around you and caring for you in a financially struggle, stressful time, or your name is Bill or you've got anything else bill related, we'd love to hear it. Frugalfriendspodcast.com bill leave it for us.

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[Jill]

At monarch.com code frugal we talk a

[Jen]

lot about having a meal rotation. Those six to 10 dinners you can make without thinking, but getting there is the part nobody talks about. You're tired midweek, you don't know what to cook, and somehow you're also supposed to plan everything out, go shopping and not let half of it go bad

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[Jill]

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[Jen]

I'll be honest, the no waste thing alone sold me. Pre portioned means you use what you need and nothing more. If that sounds like your kind of solution, nothing hits like home cooking. And HelloFresh makes sure of it.

[Jill]

Go to hellofresh.com frugal10fm for 10 free meals plus a free NutriBullet Ultra plus two in one compact kitchen system worth $189.99 on your third box. New subscribers only free meals applied as a discount on your first box. Third box must be ordered by May 31, 2026. And now it's time for the lightning round.

[Jen]

All right, what's your favorite little luxury from the list? If you had to pick, pick one.

[Jill]

Okay, why don't we just say favorite little luxuries. It have to be from the list.

[Jen]

I mean, you can add to the list. You can get some bonus, bonus ones up in here.

[Jill]

All right, you go first.

[Jen]

Okay. So for me, I do really feel like the running at sunrise is my. I don't know, like I just get out there. It's hard to get up. Yes. And I don't do it every single morning or even every single week. But I do have to do it in the summer when I run because it's just once the sun's out, it's too hot. And that is a little luxury where I'm just like, I'm feeling the cool. The only cool air you will feel outside all summer is like in my face, the light is beautiful. Like I'm listening to my running playlist and it just like feels good to be outside. Outside. Like, I don't know, there's just like a feeling being all of these physical, mental nature, all of them, the luxuries combining for me, yeah.

[Jill]

Just being outside is so important for us. It helps to regulate us. The Breathing the fresh air. We need this.

[Jen]

We do.

[Jill]

If we need a reset, just go outside. For me, I think what I've realized as far as what helps to sustain me even in tough seasons is having something to look forward to. Just that, I think is a little luxury that you've got something on the horizon. And it could be one of these things that we've already listed. But being able to find something of what am I looking forward to today? What am I looking forward to this week? And helps to kind of trudge through some of the things that might be a little bit more obligatory or not enjoyable. I think there's a real key in that, at least for me.

[Jen]

Well, I mean, it is scientifically proven and I don't know who the scientists are, but looking forward to the vacation is always feels better than the actual vacation, especially if you're taking your kids on that vacation. So there is something to be said for like that dopamine hit of anticipation. Like the anticipation of buying something is always better than the actual purchase. And so if we can create that, replicate it with things that don't cost money, we still get to have that feeling without the guilt that comes from straying from our budget.

[Jill]

Yeah. So if life is feeling like a slog, incorporating this, asking ourselves that question, I think can really help. What am I looking forward to? If there's nothing that you're looking forward to, pick one of these.

[Jen]

We just gave you a list. Yeah.

[Jill]

And look forward to it, I would

[Jen]

say, especially the connection part, like meeting up with a friend last week. And this costs money, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but last week, Kai, my six year old, his looking forward was a trip to Chick Fil A to play in the play area. They're like one of the last places that still has play areas.

[Jill]

But you got free Chick Fil A sandwiches. Okay, so I was free for you.

[Jen]

We went to Monster Jam and everyone there got a free Chick Fil A sandwich. So we had two free Chick Fil? A sandwiches that we went and used there and they got to play in the play place.

[Jill]

That's cool.

[Jen]

So, yeah, we did spend money though because we had to buy our kids food too. Right, Right.

[Jill]

No. Yeah.

[Jen]

Thank you so much for listening. We'd love to hear your little luxuries in the comments, the albums you're listening to. Whether you use Sunrise or Sunset Girly. Like, let's go. Let us get to know you better. And if you have read our book Buy what yout Love without Going Broke, it's also Something you can listen to the audiobook while you take a walk. So many, so many ways to indulge. But buywhatyoulovebook.com is where you can check that out and either order yourself a copy or figure out how to get it at your library if it's not already there. And then leave us a review on Amazon like Lori did. It's five stars. It says. I thought this was a great quick read with lots of relatable advice. I've read many books and articles on similar topics, but garnered fresh tips from these ladies. We'll have to check out more from them.

[Jill]

Oh, thanks Lori and thank you all for listening and for watching. If you are with us on YouTube. YouTube. Please subscribe to the channel so you get all the updates on all the new content we're putting out. Leave a comment Just inter interact with us in all the free ways. That's luxurious for us. Thank you.

[Jen]

Frugal Friends is produced by Eric Sirianni.

[Jill]

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

[Jen]

Well, it is Atlas's third birthday this weekend. I said he was three but I was lying. He's not three till Sunday. So we're going to my in laws who have a U pick farm and we are going to. They, they're having a craft fair that day so there's going to be bounce houses, pony rides.

[Jill]

He is gonna think that this is all for him.

[Jen]

So we are not doing anything special for his birthday. Right. I got some cupcakes that I'm gonna bring to daycare later today and there she's gonna have a little party there and then we're gonna have another, you know, quote unquote party at my in laws which is not really for him but we're just piggybacking off of it. And then I got a little cookie cake for Sunday in the nursery church that they can because that's his actual birthday and might be his last time in the nursery. I don't know, I don't know how graduation works for three year olds when they go into the preschool class. So yeah, that's, I love it. It's going to be a birthday weekend.

[Jill]

He is gonna, he'll not know the difference. He will think everybody is just celebrating him all weekend long.

[Jen]

I told him this morning, I was like we're gonna have a birthday party. He's like birthday for me, for mommy, for daddy and Kai. And I was like oh that's like after he was like today's PJ's tractors milk. I was like, you know how to live.

[Jill]

Yes.

[Jen]

You live hard and you rest hard. I have never met anyone more on the extremes of life life than Atlas, Ronan Smith.

[Jill]

I think I'm gonna steal that. I am definitely going to, at some point this weekend, just be like PJ's Tractor Milk.

[Jen]

You should.

[Jill]

I'm gonna demand it.

[Jen]

It's a lifestyle. It's a life.

[Jill]

Eric's gonna have to figure out what I mean by it.

[Jen]

I mean, see what he comes up with. Yikes.

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