Episode Overview

Title: 40 Easy Frugal Swaps That Save You Money With No Extra Work!
Podcast: Frugal Friends Podcast
Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: September 9, 2025

In this episode, Jen and Jill present 40 practical “frugal swaps”—easy, low-effort changes you can make to your daily habits to save money without sacrificing comfort or convenience. The swaps are structured by category, including kitchen and food, beauty and fashion, tech and subscriptions, household, and financial behavior. The tone is approachable and humorous, emphasizing sustainability and intentional savings while acknowledging that progress isn’t always perfect.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Frugal Philosophy ([01:25])

• The episode isn’t about deprivation, but about simple, sustainable, “no work required” swaps that enhance comfort and savings.
• Jill: “The goal isn't to give up comfort, but to be able to make some of these sustainable swaps in a way that are going to work for you both now and for the long term.” (01:42)

Kitchen & Food Swaps ([05:03])

1. Frozen vs. Fresh Fruit:

   • Use frozen fruit for longevity and reduced waste, especially in smoothies and baking.
   • Jen: “Using frozen has really helped. It’s pre-chopped, which gets over the barrier to entry to me actually meal prepping.” (05:03)

2. Lower-Cost Protein Options:

   • Swap chicken thighs for breasts, ground turkey for beef—recipe-friendly and less expensive.

3. Premium vs. Cheap Kitchen Tools:

   • Invest in durable items like hardwood cutting boards for long-term savings.

4. Make Coffee at Home:

   • Can save you up to $1,200/year; make it enjoyable with a “special cup” or favorite syrup.
   • Jen: “Get a special cup and it makes it even more delightful… I get my favorite cold brew for my favorite coffee shop on the weekends.” (08:04)

5. Generic Brands over Name Brands:

   • Try generics for most groceries; switch back if the taste/quality isn’t there for specific items.

6. Meal Planning Over Dining Out:

   • Planning ahead curbs impulse takeout and lowers grocery costs.

7. Permanent Coffee Filters:

   • Swap disposables for reusable ones—though Jen admits it’s “messy” for her personally.

8. Silicone Storage Bags:

   • Swap out plastic sandwich bags for reusable silicone—dishwasher safe, eco-friendly.

9. Glass Containers over Plastic:

   • Longer-lasting, microwave/bake safe.

10. Reusable Utensils:

    • Carry your own to reduce waste.

11. Beeswax Wraps vs. Plastic Wrap:

    • Durable, reusable, environmentally friendlier—but only switch if you’re a frequent plastic wrap user.

12. Bulk Foods & Refillable Containers:

    • Buy shelf-stable foods in bulk for savings.

13. Loose Leaf Tea Instead of Tea Bags:

    • Higher quality, less plastic.

Beauty & Fashion Swaps ([16:53])

14. Durable Fabrics over Plastics:

    • Switch to wool, linen, hemp, or raw denim; be wary of misleading online listings.

15. Drugstore & Generic Skin Care and Makeup:

    • Jen: “All of my skincare, all of my makeup is drugstore brand… and it’s so good.” (18:22)

16. Secondhand or Buy Nothing Groups:

    • Seek secondhand items first, especially furniture and wardrobe staples.

17. Repair Instead of Replace:

    • Learn basic mending or repurpose damaged or thrifted textiles.

18. Capsule Wardrobe over Trend-Chasing:

    • Build intentional, versatile wardrobes that feel “complete,” minimizing shopping temptations.

19. Reusable Beauty Products:

    • Menstrual cups or razors—although both hosts humorously admit this swap hasn’t worked for them personally.
    • Jill: “Tried both. Didn’t work. Sorry.” (23:11)

Tech & Subscription Swaps ([23:41])

20. Library Apps (Libby/Hoopla) for Books/Audiobooks:

    • Free, wide selection, with options to request new titles.

21. Library Apps for Albums:

    • Hoopla offers full, new-release albums ad-free.

22. Single Streaming Service at a Time:

    • Rotate subscriptions to avoid piling monthly fees.

23. Buy Refurbished Tech:

    • Get reliable devices with warranties at lower prices; prefer reputable sellers over unknowns.

24. Low-Cost Phone Carriers:

    • Highlight: Mint Mobile, Visible—can save $20-$50/month.

25. Print at Library/Office vs. Home:

    • Save on costly ink and printer maintenance.

26. Free Project Management Tools:

    • Businesses can thrive without paid SaaS tools.

Household Swaps ([29:43])

27. LED Bulbs vs. Incandescent:

    • Long-lasting, significant energy savings.

28. Reusable Water Bottles:

    • Ditch disposable plastic; if taste is an issue, use water filters or flavor enhancers.

29. Cloth Towels/Old T-Shirts for Cleaning:

    • Creative, eco-friendly replacements for paper towels.

30. Dryer Balls vs. Dryer Sheets:

    • Reduces static, eco-friendly, and can infuse essential oils for freshness.

31. Cloth Napkins Over Paper:

    • Easy to DIY from old T-shirts; thrift store finds are great too.

32. Borrow Tools/Books/Equipment:

    • Leverage libraries and tool banks before buying.

Financial Behavior & Habit Swaps ([34:00])

33. Cancel Unused Gym Memberships:

    • Look for free, online, or at-home workouts before committing to pricey memberships.

34. Grocery Pickup Over In-Store:

    • Reduces impulse buys and can surface cheaper options.

35. Remove Saved Payment Autofill:

    • Add friction to impulse shopping by deleting stored card information.

36. Delete Tempting Apps:

    • Cut apps (think DoorDash, shopping platforms) that over-notify or encourage unnecessary purchases.

37. Always Shop With a List:

    • “Let Trader Joe tell you what to buy once a quarter, not weekly,” jokes Jen. Planning = savings.

38. Stock Up Strategically:

    • Only for essentials you consistently use; loyalty/cashback apps can help.

39. Automate Savings First:

    • Set automatic transfers so you save before spending, not the other way around.

• Jen: “You can always move the money back out, but we want to automate saving first.” (42:22)

40. Unsubscribe from Promotional Emails:
    • Out of inbox, out of mind; use services like Unroll.me to manage offers.

• Jill: “It is better to get emails like the ones from us… rather than people trying to tell you you need this now.” (42:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jen, on effortless swaps: “We will never tell you not to get your daily latte… but I get my favorite cold brew for my favorite coffee shop on the weekends.” (08:04)
• Jill, on sustainable clothing: “People are out here lying…” [about fabric labels on Amazon] (17:57)
• On menstrual cups & reusables:
  • Jill: “Tried both, didn’t work. Sorry.” (23:11)
  • Jen: “We do need more women to use menstrual cups.” (51:10)
  • Jill: “No, the weight of the world is not on our shoulders during our most annoying time of the month.” (51:17)
• Jen, on progress over perfection: “Stop trying to be somebody that you are not in this season. Just… be happy with who you are and say I can't get to a gym right now, but I'm not going to let that stop me from moving.” (34:28)
• On the importance of automating savings:
  • Jen: “That habit has to stop. We have to swap it for automation for first. Take the effort out of it. Because you can spend—your spending will grow to the size you allow. Will always. It's like a goldfish.” (42:22)
• Listener Debra’s “Bill of the Week” ([44:57]):
  • Got a free $70 voucher from Levi’s after a zipper broke on jeans purchased on Amazon:
  • “I looked up online that Levi's has a policy… so I did that and they just approved my claim. So I got a free voucher of $70 value to get a replacement new pair of jeans.” (44:57)
  • Jen: “Amazon, Temu, Shein. They're not gonna stand by their product. Levi's. They do.” (46:18)

Lightning Round: Frugal Swap Fails ([49:32])

• Jen: “Currently using a lot of paper plates in disposable containers… the dishes were just, like, overwhelming me. That’s a swap that I’m failing right now in this season.” (50:22)
• Jill: “Menstrual cup. Tried it, I don't… it did not work for me.” (50:59)
• Supports the idea that these swaps are not absolutes; life happens, and not every swap will work for everyone.

Personal News ([53:51])

• Jill announces a major (secret) frugal swap:
  • “We sold our house. We are no longer homeowners. And no, we did not buy another house… We swapped home ownership for renting… It was so far the best financial decision we've made.” (53:51–56:11)
  • Both hosts highlight the emotional and financial relief, with touches of humor about third-floor apartments and not having to worry about hurricanes.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:25 – Introduction & philosophy of frugal swapping
• 05:03 – Kitchen and food swaps
• 16:53 – Beauty and fashion swaps
• 23:41 – Tech & subscription tips
• 29:43 – Household swaps
• 34:00 – Financial behaviors & habit swaps
• 44:57 – Listener “Bill of the Week” (Levi’s voucher story)
• 49:32 – Lightning round: Frugal swap fails
• 53:51 – Jill’s big announcement: selling her home and becoming a renter

Tone and Take-Away

Jen and Jill keep it conversational, supportive, and real. They stress that the swaps are a menu, not a mandate, and encourage the audience to “pick and choose” what works for them. They also acknowledge that sometimes convenience and mental bandwidth have a place in frugality (paper plates for sanity!). Above all, the episode is about aligning spending with values, making frugality enjoyable—and giving yourself grace along the way.

Resources Mentioned

• Frugal Friends Annual Finance Planner: frugalfriendspodcast.com/planner
• Library Apps: Libby, Hoopla
• Unroll.Me: unroll.me

For more swaps and regrets to learn from, check out the episode, “50 Things We Regret Buying,” referenced in the lightning round.

Hosts encourage listeners to submit their own “Bill of the Week” at frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill