Frugal Friends Podcast

Episode: 80% of People Don’t Do This When Grocery Shopping (and it's an easy fix!)
Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Guest: Sarah Conklin (Frozen Pennies)
Date: November 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode zeros in on a grocery shopping habit that most Americans skip—reverse meal planning—and its powerful potential to save households thousands each year. Jen and Jill invite money-saving pro Sarah Conklin (Frozen Pennies) to detail her simple, practical system for slashing grocery costs, wasting less food, and resisting impulse buys. The discussion is lively and personal, blending relatable stories and actionable advice for frugal-minded listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Grocery Dilemma in America

• Current Stats:
  • 4 in 5 people overspend on groceries by ignoring a crucial step.
  • Median grocery spending in the US: $200 per person, per month; $504 per household.
  • 30-40% of the US food supply is wasted, costing the average family up to $1,500 per year in food that is bought but never eaten.
  • Impulse spending and takeout due to wasted food adds approximately $50/person/month in extra costs ([11:00]-[13:00]).

Personal Grocery Spending Honesty

• Jen:

  • Averages $772/month for 2025, despite using many frugal strategies.
  • "Last month I spent 615 because I do use this method, but my average for 2025... is 772 per month." ([07:06])

• Jill:

  • Varies between $250-$800/month; emphasizes that she prioritizes not wasting food over minimizing grocery bills ([09:06]).

• Relatable Reality:

  • Both admit to challenges: "I spend a lot of money on food." ([07:37])
  • There is no shaming; it's about transparency and gradual improvement.

Introducing Sarah Conklin (Frozen Pennies)

• Who is Sarah?
  • Financial coach for midlife women, spends just $450/month for a family of three ($150/person), even less than Jen and Jill ([01:58], [15:26]).
• Her Approach:
  • Shops every two weeks, splits grocery budget between regular runs and bulk buys at BJ’s ([15:26]-[16:03]).

Reverse Meal Planning—The Game Changer

Sarah Conklin's Explanation ([18:54])

What Is Reverse Meal Planning?

• "Instead of starting with recipes and then shopping for ingredients, you flip it around. You start by checking your pantry, cupboards, fridge and freezer to see what you already have on hand. Then you build your meal plan around that." – Sarah Conklin ([19:16])

Example from Sarah:

• She found bone-in chicken wings, ground pork, cube steak, egg noodles, gravy mix, and a half-bottle of BBQ sauce at home.
• Meals created included BBQ chicken wings, cube steak with mushroom gravy, and a breakfast pork casserole. Total new purchases: carrots, peas, mushrooms, potatoes, peppers ([19:30]-[21:14]).

Advanced Tip:

• Stockpile planning: "Start buying more of the items you use most often when they're at their lowest prices... You're simply replenishing what you've already eaten." ([21:06])

4 Steps to Successful Reverse Meal Planning

Step 1: Inventory ([22:10]-[23:29])

• List what needs using up—at least 20 items across fridge, freezer, pantry.
• Highest priority: fridge (perishables), then freezer (older items), then pantry.

Step 2: Meal Plan Around That Inventory ([23:29]-[25:06])

• Match ingredients to recipes/meals you can make.
• No need to start from scratch—let what you have dictate the menu.
• Use ChatGPT or similar AI for inspiration:
  • "Here's everything that I have on hand. Make me five lunches and five dinners... listing out even down to garlic and condiments..." – Jill ([24:22])
• Jen's tip: Use overlooked items like spice blends or salad dressings/sauces as inspiration.

Step 3: Fill in the Blanks ([27:06]-[29:07])

• Make a grocery list only for essentials not already at home.
• Keep the list lean; this is where major savings occur.
• Add restock items during the week as they run out, not just during planning.

Step 4: Follow Through & Grocery Shop Only What’s on the List ([29:07]-[30:42])

• "Gamify" it by sticking strictly to your list; allow yourself very few, if any, impulse items.
• Fewer shopping trips = fewer opportunities for impulse spending.
  • "If you are shopping every other week... that's 26 opportunities you have taken away for you to impulse buy at the grocery store." – Jen ([30:02])
• Online shopping helps cut out tempting displays and unplanned purchases.

Tips for Making It Sustainable

Budgeting ([31:43]-[32:22])

• Set and honor a clear grocery spending limit.

Shop for Sales and Stockpile ([32:22]-[34:19])

• Buy in bulk or on sale when possible, especially non-perishables.
• Build your own “store” at home, replenished as needed.

Use Technology Smartly ([25:06]-[27:06])

• Photos of pantry/fridge/freezer can speed up the inventory process.
• AI tools can generate meal ideas and shopping lists rapidly.

Meal Prep for Success ([35:28]-[37:48])

• Make/prep meals in batches:

  • "I've always been a huge advocate for meal prepping. Like a bodybuilder... When I'm doing some cooking, I do as much of it as possible in one fell swoop." – Jen ([35:28], [35:52])

• Divvy up portions in advance to avoid accidental overconsumption and extra takeout meals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Once reverse meal planning clicks, grocery shopping feels less like a financial burden and more like a strategy you're winning at." – Sarah Conklin ([21:12])

• "The fewer times you are shopping, the fewer times you have available to impulse spend." – Jen ([30:02])

• "It's really the follow through—sticking to that grocery list—that saves the money." – Jen ([29:07])

• On Using Technology:

  • "ChatGPT has been really helpful with this... Here's everything I have on hand. Make me five lunches and five dinners." – Jill ([24:22])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Episode Setup & Stats: [01:01] – [13:00]
• How Much the Hosts Spend: [06:10] – [09:04]
• Food Waste in America: [11:00] – [13:11]
• How Reverse Meal Planning Works: [18:18] – [21:14]
• Step-by-Step Reverse Meal Planning: [22:10] – [30:42]
• Tips for Sustainability: [31:43] – [37:48]
• Meal Prepping & Final Advice: [35:28] – [38:12]
• Fun/Personal Section (Weirdest Groceries, Spending Confessions): [44:59] – [51:05]

Listener Call-In: Bill of the Week ([41:07] – [43:41])

A caller thanks Jen & Jill for their advice, sharing how a quick call to her internet provider revealed a missing 20% billing discount and led to an additional $10/month savings per bill.

“Thank you, Jen and Jill, for reminding me to call them and saving me some money.” – Caller ([41:53])

Final Takeaways

• Reverse meal planning is a simple but rarely practiced method that can slash waste and grocery bills—potentially saving a family of four nearly $4,000/year.
• Start with what you have, plan around it, shop minimally, and prep meals in advance.
• Use digital tools (apps, AI, cameras) for inventory and planning efficiency.
• Shopping less often (every other week or online) drastically reduces impulse spending.
• The hosts' transparent, humorous, and practical approach makes frugality feel achievable and fun.

Resources Mentioned

• Emergency meal list/free resource: frugalfriendspodcast.com/meals
• Sarah Conklin (Frozen Pennies): Find her article and more tips at frozenpennies.com
• Ultimate Meal Planner Spreadsheet (with code): see episode description
• Jen & Jill’s book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke (BuyWhatYouLoveBook.com)

For Community & More Tips

• Drop your weirdest grocery purchase and best money-saving tip in the YouTube comments.
• No spending shaming—just encourage, share, learn, and save together!