How a LOTTERY WINNER Spends Her Money

Summary

Frugal Friends Podcast: How a LOTTERY WINNER Spends Her Money

Episode Release Date: August 15, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of the Frugal Friends Podcast, hosts Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni welcome their special guest, Joni, Jen's aunt, for what they call a "spending intervention." Joni, a 56-year-old from Michigan, shares her journey of winning the lottery and how it has reshaped her financial landscape and personal life.

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Joni's Background

Joni opens up about her life before the lottery win. Divorced three years ago, she resides in Michigan, navigating the transition of her children moving out. Her household is shared with her beloved golden doodles, Stanley and Cole. Joni paints a picture of a woman in a season of change—balancing responsibilities as a pet owner while her youngest child pursues college.

Notable Quote:

• Jen (00:22): "Joni, welcome to the spending intervention."

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Winning the Lottery

A pivotal moment in Joni's life was winning the Powerball lottery a couple of years ago, shortly after her divorce. Despite not being an avid gambler, this unexpected windfall provided her with a financial cushion she hadn't anticipated.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (02:28): "It's strange because the thought behind the lottery is you're going to win the lottery and it's going to solve everything. But it definitely put me in a better financial situation than I had been previously. But it also, just because of that doesn't solve all your problems or make them all go away."

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Financial Impact and Goals

Winning the lottery significantly bolstered Joni's retirement plans. At 56, she was only two years away from retirement but lacked a robust financial strategy. Investing a substantial portion of her winnings, Joni aims to secure her future while also allowing herself the freedom to travel and create lasting memories.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (03:03): "I took almost all of the money and invested it and am hoping to get to that. And it's also made it a little cushion for me to do some things in life that I probably would be able to do right now and travel and make memories, because that's more important to me than spending money on items or things."

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Spending Habits and Generosity

Joni's spending is characterized by generosity and a love for food. She spends approximately $300 monthly on groceries and an equal amount on dining out. Her inclination to give more has extended to charitable activities and supporting her family and friends.

Notable Quotes:

• Joni (05:28): "I've always been a giver. I think I give more now."
• Jill (06:28): "Well, I'd like to start with some good things that we saw about it."

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Transition and Lifestyle Changes

Preparing for a major lifestyle shift, Joni plans to travel across the United States in an RV, aiming to simplify her life by eliminating storage units and unnecessary expenses. This transition is also a move towards self-empowerment, helping other women recognize their self-worth and value.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (14:00): "I'm going to be traveling the United States with an RV that's going to be my home. And I am starting a podcast and really pouring into women, their self-worth and their value and their sole purpose."

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Debt Repayment and Financial Management

Despite her lottery win, Joni addresses existing debts, including a $20,000 business loan taken before her win, and a remaining $5,000. She is proactive in managing and eliminating these debts, planning to sell business equipment to clear the remaining balance.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (17:38): "I have a $20,000 loan... I only have $5,000 left on the business loan payments."

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Relationship with Adult Children

Joni discusses the delicate balance of maintaining financial support for her adult children while setting healthy boundaries. Her eldest child recently moved to Nashville for a fresh start, and her youngest is still in college. Establishing financial boundaries is crucial to her as she transitions into her new lifestyle.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (27:17): "I am such an empath that I don't like to see my kids suffering... It's about creating boundaries and reteaching what financial support looks like moving forward."

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Estate Planning

Understanding the importance of estate planning, Joni reflects on her past and future approaches to wills and trusts. She emphasizes the need for clarity to prevent any misunderstandings among her children regarding her assets and responsibilities.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (31:27): "I want to create a trust that gives them clarity... so nobody has to question what you want after your passing."

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Coping Mechanisms and Habitual Spending

A lighthearted yet insightful discussion emerges around Joni's habitual spending on Diet Coke from McDonald's. Despite recognizing it as a comfort, she struggles with the cost and health implications, contemplating healthier and more economical alternatives like unsweetened iced tea.

Notable Quote:

• Joni (44:08): "I spend $2 and 11 cents at Mickey D's almost 19 times in 90 days... It's a habit for sure."

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Practical Tips for Single Individuals

The episode concludes with valuable advice for listeners who are single and managing finances independently. Tips include:

1. Meal Planning for One:

   • Adjusting recipes to single servings.
   • Freezing leftovers strategically.
   • Exploring local markets for affordable single-serving meals.

2. Sharing Expenses:

   • Splitting meals with friends to reduce costs.
   • Being creative with dining out to maintain social interactions without overspending.

Notable Quotes:

• Jill (54:06): "Most recipes are for four servings, so consider halving them or using a tool like ChatGPT to adjust."
• Jen (58:14): "Find two recipes that use the same ingredient differently to utilize leftovers efficiently."

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Conclusion

Joni's journey illustrates the complexities of sudden financial windfalls, emphasizing the importance of mindful spending, debt management, and setting healthy boundaries. Her story serves as an inspiration for listeners navigating similar life transitions, offering practical strategies to balance generosity with financial prudence.

Final Thoughts:

• Jen (61:34): "Thinking about what expenses you'll take on and how to continue showing generosity while living within your means is crucial."
• Joni (61:50): "It's such a vulnerable thing to do, and I so appreciate being here."

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Key Takeaways

• Invest Wisely: Even with a significant windfall, continuous investment is essential for long-term financial security.
• Set Boundaries: Establishing clear financial boundaries with family members prevents potential tensions and promotes healthy relationships.
• Manage Debt: Proactively addressing and eliminating debts contributes to financial stability.
• Plan for the Future: Comprehensive estate planning, including trusts and wills, ensures clarity and fulfills personal intentions.
• Mindful Spending: Recognizing and adjusting habitual spending can lead to substantial savings and better financial health.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Joni (02:28): "Winning the lottery doesn't solve all your problems."
• Joni (03:03): "I took almost all of the money and invested it..."
• Joni (05:28): "I've always been a giver. I think I give more now."
• Joni (14:00): "I'm going to be traveling the United States with an RV..."
• Joni (27:17): "I am such an empath that I don't like to see my kids suffering..."
• Joni (44:08): "I spend $2 and 11 cents at Mickey D's almost 19 times in 90 days..."

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This episode offers a deep dive into the intricacies of managing newfound wealth, the importance of strategic planning, and the personal growth that accompanies significant life changes. Whether you're seeking to save more, spend wisely, or navigate financial transitions, Joni's story provides valuable insights and practical advice.

Transcript

[Jen]

Welcome to the Frugal Friends podcast, where.

[Jill]

You'Ll learn to save money, embrace simplicity.

[Joni]

And live a richer life.

[Jen]

Here are your hosts, Jen and Jill.

[Jill]

Joni. Welcome to the spending intervention.

[Joni]

Thank you.

[Jen]

We're so glad you're here. Spoiler alert. This is my aunt, and I am so thrilled that you're here because you are my coolest aunt. I said it.

[Joni]

Of course I am.

[Jill]

Just because you won the lottery. No, I'm sure it was cool before that. Yeah. I'm excited to get to know all the cool things about you as we talk about your spending.

[Joni]

And I'm not your only aunt. Let's make sure that.

[Jen]

I know, I know. They all heard it. You are very cool.

[Joni]

Oh, yeah.

[Jen]

It's something to aspire to. Okay, so tell us a little bit about yourself. Give us a little bit of the overview, some of the. Some of the facts about your situation currently.

[Joni]

So I am 56 years old. I am divorced three years. I live in Michigan. So I am from the north. And I live. I am in a season where my children, adult children have grown and are out of the house. My youngest is in college. I have his golden doodle that I take care of Stanley. And then I just adopted another golden doodle in December. So I have Cole and Stella, so they're my at home with me. So I'm not an empty nester yet, but I am.

[Jen]

And you won the lottery.

[Joni]

I won the lottery.

[Jill]

How long ago was that?

[Joni]

A couple years ago.

[Jill]

Okay, that was after the divorce.

[Joni]

After the divorce. Which is God's way of taking care.

[Jill]

Of me and which is not something everyone should bank. I didn't bank on it either. It's what I. Strategy.

[Joni]

No, it's what you can say now after the effect. Right, Right.

[Jen]

And you're not someone who typically would gamble.

[Joni]

Well, I've never played Powerball. That's what I won. And so that was just a thing that I randomly did, so. No, it is not something that, you know, was. You would see, like, on my monthly expenses every month.

[Jen]

Not anymore, Ellie.

[Joni]

No, but it's strange because the thought behind the lottery, right, is you're going to win the lottery and it's going to solve everything. Right. And it definitely put me in a better financial situation than I had been previously. But it also, just because of that doesn't solve all your problems or make them all go away.

[Jen]

Right. What did winning the lottery mean to you? How did it impact you financially, would you say?

[Joni]

Um, actually, the way it impacted me financially was preparing me more for retirement. Um, I took almost all of the money and invested it and is hoping, you know, to get to that. I'm 56, so I was only 2 as we just. Only two years ago. I was only 54. Um, and really I did not have a great financial retirement plan. And this really amped that up. It's also made it a little cushion for me to do some things in life that I probably would be able to do right now and travel and make memories, because that's more important to me than spending money on items or things.

[Jen]

So for you, given all of the different facts that you just stated about yourself and kind of your awareness of what you're doing with your money, what do you want to see happen with your spending going forward? Like, what would you say are your goals?

[Joni]

I think one of my main goals is to be not so just, oh, I can get that. Oh, I can. Maybe just taking time. And I will tell you, like, I'm really proud of you guys because just since I've been listening to your podcast and I have changed some things about myself.

[Jen]

Yay.

[Joni]

Not, not one thing, but other things I have. But, but it really makes you stop and think before you spend money, I think. And I think that's kind of what I really want to get out of this. And going into season of my, you know, being 56, I started a non profit. I'm getting ready to retire from the non profit. Not retire in whole, but really paring down everything and really, where can I save money? Where can I, you know, instead of, instead of just buying this, I could do this instead. That's what I'm really hoping to get out of this.

[Jen]

Cool.

[Jill]

So, uh, we'll be transparent with the, with the viewers and listeners that we're not gonna say how much you won in the lottery, but you do, you know, on like a scale of like average lottery winners, was your winnings, like, average, lower than average?

[Joni]

I don't know.

[Jill]

No. Okay. And what was like, the one thing you splurged on after you won? So it doesn't have to be crazy?

[Joni]

What?

[Jen]

What?

[Jill]

Just you. You gotta do one, though.

[Joni]

You do. I mean, you get like this. To be honest with you. I will tell you. There's two things probably that I've done since I've won. I've always been a giver. I think I give more now. And the second thing is I travel and I am spending time with family and friends. And that's truly. I wouldn't say it's one thing like it's not an item I didn't buy anything crazy. I didn't go extravagant on anything. But I would think those are the two things, just things in general, that it makes my heart happy. And so I did it before I won this, but this just made it a little bit easier for me to do. And I like helping other people. I always have. And so if that is another way for me to be able to do it and give back more, it just means that much more to me. That means more to me than going and buying a luxury car or something.

[Jen]

Right. Yeah. Well, that stood out to us in your 90 day transaction inventory.

[Jill]

Well, I'd like to start with some good things that we saw about it.

[Jen]

Yeah. And so some of the really cool things is the giving and generosity. That came up a lot. Whether you were buying gifts for people or you're buying dinners out, food is obviously an important thing to you.

[Joni]

But so I wanted to kind of talk. I knew. I mean, I already knew, like, you didn't need to give me this because I know what I'm spending my money on. But I really wanted to take a moment to talk about that because as I was looking it over, I was like, oh, wow.

[Jen]

Wow.

[Joni]

Food is like a thing. But food's always been a big thing in my life. And so when people are in the season that I'm in, it's a really hard transition because I've been used to cooking for my family for 40 years, you know, and then you go from that to being an empty nester. Your kids are gone. And now I'm single, and the dogs don't really compliment me when I cook for them. So I just give them the same kibble all the time.

[Jill]

I just got a puppy and she is so ungrateful. Yeah, I can't.

[Joni]

They'll eat the same thing over and over again. They don't care.

[Jen]

That part's kind of nice. Honestly, I wish. I wish the people in my home were like that.

[Joni]

So food has always been a big thing for me. And it's really hard to transition from, am I going to the grocery store and buying food to cook? Because when you do, I don't know how to cook for one. And so I'm cooking and I'm making all this food and then I have to give it away. And I really can't stand throwing away food. So that's like my biggest thing. So a lot of times when you see I'll get invited to go out, that's the pushing the easy button, right? Yes. That is so easy to do. I'M just going to go do that instead of. Yeah, what else?

[Jen]

Yeah. So you're generous, though, in that way. You'll take people out to eat, and that is a big portion of where you'll choose to spend money. But on the good things that we saw, your spending both on groceries and on dining out was very reasonable, I would say, for someone in your situation. Across the board, you're kind of averaging 300amonth on groceries and about 300amonth on dining out, which isn't. Isn't crazy when it comes to kind of averages across the board. So even with the amount of times that you're going out, it's within range that there's not too much that we would say would really need to be honed in there.

[Jill]

Yeah, this definitely isn't like a spending on food episode. There are other things.

[Jen]

Yeah. But I also want to highlight the investing. The fact that despite having won the lottery, you are still investing monthly and.

[Jill]

A very good like amount, like a significant amount. So that's amazing.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Joni]

And that is something that I have to tell you. You know, I really feel like when I was growing up, that investing was not talked about in my family, and so it wasn't something I learned. And it was also something I didn't pass down to my children either, until recently. And so even though my oldest is 33, he's now at least talking about starting that investing. And that's what I did for Christmas, is gave the money to invest.

[Jen]

Nice.

[Joni]

Yeah.

[Jen]

Awesome.

[Joni]

So it's to change that shift of the culture that we have in our family that I didn't know, and I didn't do it on purpose, but I just didn't know myself.

[Jen]

When would you say you did learn? When did you start investing?

[Joni]

When I got divorced.

[Jen]

Okay. Yeah.

[Jill]

That's a really common thing for women. It's throughout marriage, we think that we don't need to pay attention to the finances as much or to be thinking. We're thinking so much of our children in the moment, we don't have the mental capacity to then think about retirement. And so I've heard that so many times where I didn't. I didn't learn this stuff until I needed to.

[Joni]

Well, I was also in a situation where I wasn't allowed to, too. So that's a whole nother ball game. And so when you're not allowed to have access to stuff or access to or question things, that's a whole different mindset, too. And so that's what I was coming out of. And I wasn't smart enough to invest, was the impression. Yes.

[Jen]

So, well, I'm glad that you're here now.

[Jill]

Clearly you are, because you're doing very well. So kudos on that.

[Jen]

Yeah. So those are some really fun things to see for us. So then to move into some of our other kind of specific observations. You already talked about it, so I think we can kind of go here. And I think a lot of our listeners will really resonate with this. On the transition piece, the fact that you are in a housing transition, you're kind of still in this life transition of having adult children, in the transition of being single. So there's a lot, lot going on that absolutely impacts finances, and some of that includes just the ways in which you're spending money. So a couple we can kind of begin to touch on is the certainly renters, insurance, but also storage units that you're paying for. So I'm curious for your perspective on how you see this transitional time impacting your finances, because you're spending almost, what.

[Jill]

$200 a month on storage, Is it?

[Jen]

Or between renters, insurance and storage, we've got a total of like $367.

[Joni]

Yes. So as we speak, I got rid of one whole storage unit, getting ready to get rid of the second storage unit. So that's that piece in that season that I talked about here. I got divorced here. I had, you know, at that time. And it's a. It's a hard time for women because you're like, it feels like everything is being kind of taken from you. So I was trying to hold on to things like, that's mine. I want that. And when I got it and put it in the storage unit because it didn't fit in my new house.

[Jill]

You'D.

[Joni]

Go back and I would open it up and I'd be like, I didn't even know I had that. Like. And so it became things. Right. And so, and I've had, I've had the storage units for three years. I also closed a business. So part of that storage unit is things from the business that needs to be sold and gone and everything. But when you, when you go back and you start kind of getting rid of those things, whether it's giving away, selling them, you know, donating them to places, it is so freeing. It is freeing. Like, I could not wait. I can't wait to get back. I'm almost. The second one's almost gone. And it's just freeing to get rid of the stuff that you just. It's just things it's just things.

[Jen]

So you plan to get rid of everything that's in the storage unit?

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jen]

Oh, did you know that when you got the storage units? Okay, no.

[Joni]

This is a decision. So in the last year I have been put on a mission. I am going to be traveling the United States with an RV that's going to be my home. And I am starting a podcast and. But really pouring into women, their self worth and their value and their sole purpose. Like, just seeing you guys doing what you're doing is so awesome. And you, you don't understand what you guys could mean to other people who don't think they could ever do something like that. And I've learned that in my season of where I'm at in my life and how important it is to, you know, really hold those things up. And so traveling in the United States and RV was not my plan, that was God's. And we fought a lot about it because I wanted to stay at like the Marriott. And he was like, nope, you're gonna get an rv. So that's not me. I'm not a camping girl. This is, this is out of my element for sure. But it was, I thought then I was gonna just put everything. I had two storage units. I thought, I'm just gonna fill them up. I'll even fill them fuller than they are now and I'll have everything when I get back. And it was, no, you're gonna let it all go. And so when I go back, my kids think I live like a college frat person now because I have no couch in my living room. I have no TV in my living room. I have one chair that my friend has bought and I've begged her to leave it at my house so I have something to sit on.

[Jill]

Oh, wow.

[Jen]

You are really just pulling the rug out from under yourself. Literally.

[Jill]

That's so true.

[Jen]

I didn't buy the mansion, I bought the vehicle with a bed, right?

[Jill]

Yes.

[Jen]

Amazing.

[Jill]

Have you purchased, purchased an rv?

[Joni]

No. So that is coming. I am planning on leaving in May and I'm. My brother's going to help me do that so that we can get a really good one that he can kind of help me equip with some security things and things like that. And negotiate. I'm not good at that, so I need him to help me negotiate.

[Jill]

Do you have a budget? Do you know like what features you're looking for at small?

[Joni]

I just drove a 27 foot U haul for the first time and I know I do not want anything that big. So I definitely am looking for enough just because I'm going to take the dogs with me. And so I need a big enough one at least to have a little room in there with them. But the budget is so crazy because I would like to pay cash for it. So I don't have a monthly payment when I'm traveling. And so I'm looking at a used. I've looked at new and new looks. Awesome. But new isn't probably what I'm gonna go for. So I would say 65,000 and less is what I'm looking for.

[Jill]

Okay. Have you looked at rates for loans in case you do end up going with.

[Joni]

No.

[Jill]

Okay, good. Okay.

[Joni]

No.

[Jill]

Committed to cash. And I like that.

[Joni]

I mean, that's what I would. I. That's what I feel like I want to do, so.

[Jill]

Good.

[Joni]

Yeah.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Jill]

Well, that brings us into the next thing we wanted to talk about was that we do see some loan payments, some business loans, and we wondered about those. Could you tell us about those debts or how much debt do you currently.

[Jen]

Have.

[Jill]

And how you're paying it off?

[Joni]

So I started a business with my son. He went into rehab for a year, and so we had to close the business because I was not able to operate it on my own at the time. We had a $20,000 loan. That's the loan payment that you're seeing. And then we bought. Both of us have our name on a piece of equipment, and I still have the piece of equipment, so I'm still making that payment, but I'm going to be selling that, so that's going to go away. And I only have $5,000 left on the business loan payments pay off.

[Jen]

Nice. Do you know what the interest rate is on that loan?

[Joni]

I don't.

[Jen]

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[Jill]

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[Jen]

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[Jill]

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[Jen]

Go to BradSteels.com or hit the link in our show notes to sign up. It's free, it's easy and it'll save you time and money wherever you go. Whatever they get into, from chill time to everyday adventures, protect your dog from parasites with Cridelio guattro. For full safety information, side effects and warnings, visit credelioquatrolabel.com consult your vet or call 1-888-545-5973. Ask your vet for Cordelio Cuatro and visit quattrodog.com I don't okay, so this was a loan that was taken out then before winning the lottery, right before.

[Jill]

Yeah.

[Joni]

So I just wanted to say that I was, we were paying it out of the business and this past year too has been a lot of, I don't think my best decisions in money management because you're in a time of healing and a time of coming out of trauma. And so I had a lot happen in a shorter period amount of time. And I feel like I'm just starting to come to the surface again.

[Jen]

I think that that can't be underscored enough with, with money management and really intensive life experiences. And even through like some of my own grief throughout life, I've noticed it has an impact on my money and in the moment I know it's happening and I don't care because these other things feel so much more important than, you know, some long term goal that I may have or my meal planning goal that I had. When you're going through something really overwhelming or like you said, traumatic or there's loss or grief attached to it, it will affect our finances like it affects all other parts of our personhood. And that's okay. Like it's okay to have these seasons of I know that I'm not making the best decisions and I don't have it in me to shift that. But moving towards, well, being, keeping the pulse on that and making the shifts. When we can find that we have some footing underneath us, we can make some of these changes which I'm hearing you say. Like I feel like I'm coming up out of this.

[Joni]

I do and I do feel like that. And it's, I think at the time you don't sometimes even realize that you're even making the decisions you're making because everything is so heavy that it's just like I can't even think about that. So, like, you're just on autumn auto, like, autopilot. Right. And then all of a sudd when, like, everything kind of starts to, like, calm down or you start to see out of, like, onto the horizon, you start then, oh, oh, I probably shouldn't have done that, you know.

[Jill]

Yeah, it is, it is traditional, like, wisdom to, if you're in a place of grief or a big life change, don't make any big financial changes for a year.

[Joni]

Don't.

[Jill]

And that includes paying things off, making big investments, taking out loans, anything like that. Waiting a year is usually the reference.

[Jen]

Absolutely.

[Jill]

So I will say that probably because it's a business loan, it's probably a little higher in interest rate. So compared to what you're earning in the market, especially the market that we are in currently, as of recording, it could be a good move to just get it all paid off now. So that might be something that you consider moving forward. So if that, if the 5,000 is all. Because we were looking at some car debt as well.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jill]

You have two cars, correct?

[Joni]

Yes. So one is paid off and then the second one is actually, I'm going to be selling it back to the dealership because I'm not going to need. I'm literally not taking a car with me on the road trip, so I won't need it. So I'm going to get rid of that also.

[Jen]

Nice. Do you think you'll get the money that you need to get out of the car, selling it back to the dealership? Great. It just could be worth for our viewers to consider whether private sale or selling back to the dealership is going to be most advantageous. So doing the math on that.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jen]

Correct. Is needed. Mm. I feel like it's also worth talking about. I remember before you and I started talking with you on camera about how a lot of times when people come into money, it can lead to taking out loans rather than utilizing the money that we've made, whether through the lottery or a windfall or an inheritance or something like that. That's not your situation now that we've learned that this business loan happened before the lottery win, but something also to pay attention to that we can see. For those who are not accustomed to having a lot of money and getting it and thinking it's a really good thing to invest this money, but then because they don't want to touch it at all, they're taking out loans instead, and who knows at what level of interest rate. So that's also something to keep in mind for any one of us who might come into a little bit extra money to compare what we can earn in the market versus how much the interest rate's gonna be.

[Jill]

Yeah, we saw that in our book. If you read buy what you love without going broke, our friends at price of avocado toast, same thing. Our friend Justin, he got a settlement from litigation and Katt had $600,000 and wanted to hold onto that for safekeeping. And so they ended up taking out car loans and student loans because they wanted to hold onto this money. And what happened was they just started spending it frivol. So then after three years, the $600,000 was gone and they had hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. So this is something that is not unique. But we. Yeah.

[Jen]

Okay, let's talk about the kids. How old are your children? My cousins.

[Jill]

Because you said you're boarding your son's dog.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jill]

In addition to your own dog. So tell us about your kids.

[Joni]

So my oldest is 33, just moved to Nashville for a restart. My daughter is 30, lives in Nashville. They're actually now living together. And then my youngest son is 19, he's in college.

[Jen]

All right, so they're all out of the house. Pretty much.

[Joni]

Yeah. You wouldn't tell that by my sponge, would you?

[Jen]

Well, I think that a lot of people will relate to this who have adult children. I'm seeing that there is some. Some phone payments, some. Of course, dinner's out there is storage, there's boarding of the dog.

[Jill]

So tell us about whose dog is it?

[Joni]

Well, it's really mine.

[Jill]

In it. Always the.

[Jen]

But the mom always is the one.

[Jill]

Taking care of the big gap though, between the 19 year old and then the 30 and 33.

[Joni]

Right.

[Jill]

So that. So we can talk about those children differently.

[Joni]

Can we? Can we really?

[Jill]

I think we can. I think we can have more empathy with more support for the 19 year old in college.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jill]

Than we can for the 30 and 33 year olds.

[Joni]

So I think that one thing that I have done even before I was doing this with you guys is I am such an empath that I don't like to see my kids like, suffering. Suffering, right. Yeah, it's really not suffering.

[Jen]

Well, let's be honest.

[Jill]

Inconvenienced.

[Joni]

Inconvenienced. And what I think I've learned is, and this is where I'm going on this road trip, Right. I'm starting a whole new chapter, a whole new season. And I can't continue to pay for the things that I have paid for or help them along the way, like I have. And they all know that now. And so it's like, mama's coming to an end. This is all coming to an end. And actually, I should have done it a long time ago because I think back to when I was their age. My dad didn't like, he. He did help me when I was in, like, college age. I didn't go to college, but college age. But beyond that, it was not. I did not get things just given to me. And so I feel like that's the piece that they got to go through the struggle. Right. And feel the pain to get to the next part. And that's not that they're going to be struggling, but, you know, I mean.

[Jen]

I think that's a reality for all parents, right. Because you are accustomed to providing for them. You're accustomed to being the one responsible for all of their needs. And that transition doesn't always happen super smoothly as they get into adulthood of, what am I paying for? What am I not paying for? How do I even assess what is good and right here? And I would imagine especially difficult to discern when you do have some means or at least the. The appearance of means. Right. That could be hard for a child.

[Joni]

Right.

[Jen]

And I don't know what. What they're saying to you, like, mom.

[Joni]

You won the lottery. Oh, yeah.

[Jen]

Why aren't you buying me a house? Yeah.

[Jill]

How has that changed the. The relationship or the dynamics, like, since the lottery win?

[Joni]

I think at first. Well, I. Wait, I did do one thing. There was one thing I did do. So Luke was a senior in high school when I won, and we were gonna drive to his senior trip down in Hilton Head, and I did buy us. We flew. I bought plane tickets. That's right. I was like, we're flying now.

[Jill]

Wow. You were flirting with your money. Now that we have all the facts.

[Joni]

Right, Right now that. I'm sorry I cut that from you, but really, my kids don't expect. That's never been there. I mean, I have a great relationship with my children, but it's more my own internal thing that I have to deal with. It is not them demanding, you know, you pay for this, you do this, blah, blah, blah. And it's just me. It's something I have to have boundaries, which Jill has taught me about boundaries. But they're good. And it's not a bad word to have. And I think so many people hear that word and they think bad, and it's not. But it's having the boundary then. And then it's reteaching. Right. Because now I've created this, now I have to create a new level of this is the new reality that we're gonna live in. And I have to create that and have those boundaries now going forward and.

[Jen]

Just flip the switch. Right. But with that it is also important to be planning for what you do wann to your kids. Right. There's a difference between like am I really going to be paying all their cell phone bills? But also I want to leave them something. So I think that they're. I'm curious if you've explored estate planning kind of how you're thinking about future giving to your kids.

[Joni]

So my investments are for like if something were to happen to me that would be to them that they would split that and then. Yes. So like when I get back from this road trip that I'm going on this mission, I'm calling it a mission.

[Jen]

Trip now if that makes you feel better.

[Joni]

It does.

[Jill]

We always need to justify the things we do first.

[Joni]

But then when I gonna settle, you know, where I'm gonna buy a house and where then yes, there will be estate planning that will come into that and it's going to look different than, than it looks right now too. But that is a big thing to think about too. You know, how much are you giving to your kids right now and then how much you know, and, and my girlfriend and I have talked about this and it's like I didn't get left. I did not. You know, both of my mom died when I was in high school. My dad passed away probably now 10, 12 years ago. We weren't given any type of inheritance or money passed down or anything like that. And so you know, I want to be able to travel enjoy. I want to be able to travel to see them. I want to be able to do that for the long haul. So I mean that, that becomes then you know, how much are you spending out of this investment that you have?

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Joni]

And how much are you going to leave them?

[Jen]

How are you considering that? I think that this could be a fruitful conversation especially for those who are nearing or in retirement stage of how much can I draw out of some of these investments to be able to just pay for some of the things I enjoy now how do I also make sure that there's more And I know there's a lot of strategy to that and there, you know, we can talk to a financial advisor about that. But from your perspective, what's informing you? How are you approaching that?

[Joni]

I feel like I am, I I do have financial advice from a financial advisor that I meet with regularly about my investments. And, you know, it's kind of like, I think you guys talked about it in your book. It's about, you know, compounding. Right. So if you're investing younger, I mean, and leaving it there. Right. It's compounding. And that's really what I'm trying to do right now. Yes. I am going to be at the age very shortly here where I could start drawing out of that investment on a yearly to take it out to live on. The longer I leave it in there, the better it's gonna look. Hopefully. But don't have all your eggs in one basket either. Right. And so you've got different investment types, different vehicles of means to do this. I kind of had to start my life over again after this divorce. And I'm not ready to retire. I don't like that word. So I feel like I can't even answer you because what I have right now, I feel like isn't the end all. I'm not done.

[Jen]

Yeah, yeah. So for you, it's important, it sounds like, to kind of keep as much in growing as possible, trying to make as much still monthly on your own before needing to really pull from that.

[Joni]

I mean, I feel like I still got a good, like 10 years left.

[Jen]

In me, at least, hopefully. Oh, my gosh.

[Jill]

Yes. Well, I love that. And I would still say to. Even though, you know, your life will continue to shift in different seasons, it is still wise to have an estate plan because we are truly not promised tomorrow.

[Joni]

Right.

[Jill]

And to be unclear is to be unkind. And you don't want to be unkind to your children after your passing. So a trust gives them. And because of your situation, you'll probably go with a trust versus a will. But it gives clarity where just having a beneficiary on a brokerage account does not. The trust is giving more clarity. So nobody has to question what you want after your passing. And you can always change it.

[Joni]

Now you're assuming I'm giving it all to my kids.

[Jen]

Right.

[Joni]

There are two dogs that are.

[Jill]

And you can't leave a dog as a benefit here. I don't, but that's a really important thing. People put their pets in their will.

[Joni]

Yeah.

[Jill]

And you don't get to do that if you don't have one.

[Joni]

Right.

[Jill]

So it is a good thing to have. We have a will, we'll have to.

[Joni]

Upgrade to a trust.

[Jill]

So, yeah, it's. Especially if you have real estate, you can put it in A trust. If you don't.

[Joni]

Cars.

[Jill]

Right. So that's up to you and your financial advisor which one you have. But you just never know. You don't want to make any big decisions while you're in grief. And you're gonna assume your kids are gonna be in grief after your passing.

[Jen]

Right.

[Jill]

So don't force them to make any vague decisions.

[Jen]

We're all gonna be in grief. Apparently. The ripe age of 66.

[Joni]

No, I mean, I got 10 good working years left in me. Not 10 years left.

[Jen]

Okay, okay.

[Jill]

Like 20 good retirement years.

[Joni]

I'm like, come on.

[Jill]

But yeah.

[Jen]

Never going to stop working. Don't even kid yourself.

[Jill]

That would be. That would be like the next move that I made.

[Joni]

And that is. So I did have a trust when I was married. We had a trust, and then that dissolved when the marriage ended. Right. And I. Yes. That's been the back burner thing. Like, I need to do that again.

[Jill]

It always is.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jill]

Those. And like, like power of attorney documents for, like, medical things.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jill]

Those are part of estate planning. Everybody should have those. They always get put on the back burner.

[Joni]

Yeah. We've said my daughter is the medical person. Like, she's the one to take care of me. My boys will probably push me down the.

[Jill]

That is the burden of the daughter.

[Jen]

We'll take care of you, Mom. We will take care of it. Okay.

[Jill]

You laugh, but it is the burden of the daughter, truly. And so that is something women financially need to prepare for. It's more. Yeah, yeah. It's to have a time like the. The flexibility for time investment. When that comes to. That's an important conversation.

[Joni]

Oh, man.

[Jill]

It is that I love having. Well, I hate having.

[Joni]

I was going to say you love that.

[Jen]

I. I mean, but what a gift it will be to your kids to have this conversation. Because oftentimes we talk about having conversations with our parents and how that can be a difficult conversation to enter into, you know, even for our listeners of the adult children needing to broach this topic with the adult parent and when the parent can be the one to initiate that. That is a gift.

[Jill]

So much easier. Yes. But I would also. So I would like to go through and talk about what we can cut out when we are cutting off the kids.

[Joni]

Okay, Jen. Oh, cut off the kids. Oh, okay.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Joni]

I think we're gonna go somewhere else.

[Jen]

We will get there. Yeah, you will get there.

[Jill]

The warm up.

[Joni]

This is the warm up.

[Jill]

Yeah. So obviously we see, like phone bills for. I see three phone bills.

[Joni]

So two will get caught. So it'll be down to one.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Joni]

And then obviously, the storage units are cut. So that's done, too. Yes.

[Jill]

Because one for your son.

[Joni]

Yes, One was for my son that I paid for for a year. Yes.

[Jen]

Now that he's moved. Yep.

[Joni]

That's done.

[Jen]

Yep. Okay. Okay. Nice.

[Joni]

That was a freeing day. That was awesome.

[Jen]

Yeah, I bet.

[Joni]

Yeah.

[Jill]

What other things do you think will you'll cut out here?

[Joni]

I'm trying to think. Well, so the dog stuff is still going to happen, because they'll be with me, though, so there won't. There's boarding on here. So, like, if I go somewhere, I have to board them. And then. And Cole is my new one. I just got him. He's a rescue. So that's just been since December, and I've probably traveled a lot more since. So that will be cut down because they'll be traveling with me. So that is a huge expense that won't happen anymore. As far as, like, having to put them to pay somebody to take care of them.

[Jill]

Have you considered pet insurance for either of the pets, or at least yours?

[Joni]

No.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Joni]

I'm not gonna say it because then I'm just gonna jinx myself, so I'm not gonna say it.

[Jen]

It's just. No.

[Joni]

I had a golden retriever that if he was alive, he'd be in my will for sure. But he was somebody. He was a dog that we always said we should have gotten pet insurance for him because he was sick all the time. Like, all the time. And so I don't want to say it, but yes, but, yes. I mean, I do know it's available, and I know that it could be very worthwhile to have.

[Jill]

We have had. I don't think we have had more people call in for their bill of the week then those people calling in saying, I am so thankful I had pet insurance because my pet just had an $8,000 vet bill I did not have to pay. I think that is the number one bill, maybe besides that paying that people don't mind paying. And it's very affordable. And when you get it, when your dog is young, then it is even more affordable.

[Joni]

I think with traveling, that is one thing that's on my, like, radar that I think I'm going to get. Just because we're going to be in different environments, in different places all the time, that there's a more likelihood that they could get into something, Something could happen to them. More so than just being at my house.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Jill]

Now, do you think you will make your son pay for the one Dog's pet insurance. Because it is technically his.

[Joni]

Technically, no. I don't know. I. I would think that depends on where he is with income. So he's a college student. He is working. He works on school campus right now. He does have an internship for the summer that he's going to get paid for. And when he. I want to back this up because when he did have his. He worked last summer also. He did pay his phone bill last summer, so.

[Jill]

And he could willingly adopt a dog. Like he didn't accidentally adopt a dog or end up with a dog. Correct. Like he willingly went into this.

[Jen]

He did.

[Joni]

He. Yeah. So yeah. He was in a senior in high school. It also is when I was going through my divorce. So I feel like it was like another thing, like another trauma. Right. Holding on to something. I don't know. She's like mine. So that's a toss up one.

[Jill]

Definitely. I mean, a conversation to have.

[Joni]

Right?

[Jill]

For sure. Because. Because that will be a dividing. Like if it's your son's dog and you pay for everything, whose dog is it? Who gets to make the decisions about the dog? It could be a source of tension.

[Jen]

Down the road and will he eventually get the dog?

[Joni]

And we've already talked about that. So I think that what you said is important to say because it could be a source of tension. But I think that if you can communicate. We have a pretty much open communication. I do with my children. So like we've already talked about, like if he gets an apartment at school, he's probably gonna take Stella and if he does, then she's yours to take care of. Then like it's not. It's not. She gets to stay with you and I pay all the bills for her. Right. Because it's a. It's a source of responsibility. A dog is a huge responsibility.

[Jen]

Yes, it is. It's like a kid.

[Joni]

You just.

[Jill]

You look at me.

[Joni]

It is. You could just cage them up. That's the only difference.

[Jill]

Right. And you can't put children ca. You cannot check.

[Jen]

You cannot. The child might crawl into the cage by their own free will.

[Jill]

They do. You do that, but you can't shut it.

[Joni]

No.

[Jill]

You can't keep them there.

[Joni]

You get in a lot of trouble for doing something.

[Jill]

How much they want to be there.

[Jen]

Okay, there's. There's one other category that happened quite a bit over the last 90 days.

[Jill]

How many?

[Jen]

Very specific amount.

[Jill]

How many? Do tell us the how many?

[Jen]

How many? It was more than 10. She's counted 100% more than 10. 19.

[Joni]

It was only 19 and 90 days then. I'm already cutting back.

[Jen]

Let me go 19 times in 90 days, you spent $2 and 11 cents at Mickey D's.

[Jill]

But here's the thing. I'll tell you that as we get further into the 19, what started as just $2.11 gets more frequently 4.22 and then 11 19.

[Jen]

So I just have a question with this unrelated, but how much does a fountain Diet Coke soda cost these days?

[Joni]

$2, which really makes me angry because.

[Jen]

It used to be a dollar. Okay.

[Jill]

I live in the past.

[Jen]

We've got a purchase right today next to us.

[Jill]

So 20.

[Jen]

This is very on brand. But tell us about $2.11.

[Jill]

Tell us.

[Joni]

So it is definitely something about getting Diet Coke like that. It's like soothing and it's comforting and it just tastes so amazing. It's just not the same to buy. So I have. I mean. And I've given it up. Up for a year. I went a year without you. Yes, I did.

[Jen]

How were you?

[Joni]

I was fine.

[Jen]

Okay.

[Joni]

And then, you know, it's like anything. You give it up and then you're like, you drink wine. I was like, oh, like, I wanted. I want it again, but I'm gonna probably give it up again because it's just like, I was like looking at this and you don't think. Because it's $2.11. What's $2.11? Right. I started looking at like, oh, my goodness. Like, now it's habitual. Now it's. If I'm in the car, I just think I need to have one. So it's a habit for sure. Yeah, but it's. It's. I would not stop at a gas station to go buy a bottle.

[Jen]

Yeah, I was going to ask you about that. Because you could just get cans or a bottle.

[Jill]

No, but this is the fountain at the gas station. Is it just fountain or is it just McDonald's?

[Joni]

Just McDonald's ones.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Joni]

And usually, like, my kids will. They get. So they're so, like, they'll try and like, we're just gonna stop at like the gas station to get one. And I'll. They'll get. I'll be like, it just doesn't taste the same.

[Jen]

Yeah, yeah. People say that.

[Joni]

I've seen those reels, little mini ones. So, you know, you try and, like, trick yourself. So, like, I'm just gonna buy little mini ones. And it does. Doesn't taste the same. It doesn't taste the same, right? No.

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Joni]

So if I'm not Gonna. If I'm not gonna get this, I'm just not gonna drink it at all. Then, like, that's kind of where I'm gonna be.

[Jen]

It is very on brand for you. I remember even when I was little, Aunt Joanie had a Diet Coke. That is the drink of choice. And now, to be fair, it is far less expensive than getting coffee out. I think a lot of people, like, you'll drink a Diet Coke in the morning. Like, you're not coffee.

[Joni]

I do drink coffee at home. I do not go through and buy, you know, the. The foo foo coffees. I don't do that. In fact, on here, it was kind of funny when I was looking. I. We have a coffee place up by me called Scooters, which we have them.

[Jill]

Down here now too.

[Joni]

Okay. Do you. And so there was a scooters on here. Did you see it?

[Jen]

Yeah.

[Joni]

I had to think what that was. I didn't even know what it was. I was like, scooters. I'm like, I don't think I ever went to a place called. Called Scooters. And then it. Oh, yes, it was an afternoon. And I was like, I'm gonna have a cop. Like, that was a special treat.

[Jill]

Right.

[Joni]

And once in 90 days is how. In fact, it's probably been once in about eight months that I've done that. Yeah.

[Jen]

Now, this isn't breaking the bank, certainly, but it does kind of lead to potential further spending. So, for instance, it did increase a couple of times. I think you said you were purchasing that for a friend then. But it also makes me wonder, at what other time are you out getting a Diet Coke? And now you're right by this other place, and we're going to maybe stay out longer or it's going to lead to another type of purchase. And so that's where we kind of want to be looking at the habitual, as you called it, spending. And what other types of spending ends up being attached to that. Because even if 211 is affordable, eventually every single day, 211. And then it's additional spending on top of the 2 11. Even for a lottery winner, it's not good.

[Jill]

And honestly, it's not the 211 that, like, gets me. What gets me is the aspartame in the Diet Coke and how toxic toxic it is to your kidneys and liver. And so we're not doing a health show. I'm not a health expert. And so take what I say with a grain of salt.

[Jen]

But.

[Jill]

But studies may suggest that aspartame is not good. For your kidneys or liver.

[Jen]

Who knew that the spiciest thing that we would be talking about in this show is the Diet Coke? I knew. I'm like, tread lightly, tread lightly. Here's the thing, though, we don't want deprivation. And I hear that you did give it up for a year. You were fine, you survived. You're here to tell them. But I think it is worth when we see some of these things that are just habitual, what can we replace it with? Because you called it habitual, but you also called it a version of a coping mechanism. Like, it's soothing to you. And that's important to have something that is comforting that you look forward to, that is hopefully low cost, easily accessible. And so I think it's worth thinking through if we are going to give up the Diet Coke. Not just a straight no, but. Where's the but? Let's do the but trick on this. The no but this. Is there anything like that for you? Like, if you were to think, I want something soothing, I want something refreshing, I want. And it might not even be edible. Like, what could be an alternative?

[Joni]

Unsweetened iced tea is for me, it's just not at the level. But definitely when I did it before, that's what I replaced it with. Was that.

[Jill]

Well, yeah, it doesn't have caffeine or aspartame, so it doesn't provide the same dopamine.

[Jen]

Hit tea might, but not.

[Jill]

Yeah, right, but it could be. Yeah, definitely a better alternative. For sure.

[Jen]

Is that something you're able to make at home? Do you make your own or do you have a specific. Only this place?

[Joni]

No, I could make my own. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. And being on the road, it's probably going to be easier to make that because you don't have to keep it cold. Right. It's unsweetened iced tea. So it just, I mean, you could add ice and just. Just added in. So it might be easier for me to have as a drink of choice rather than, you know, trying to pull my RV through every McDonald's. Although I did think that might be a really cool, like, thing to follow.

[Jen]

I don't think you'd make it. The clearance isn't high enough. I don't know. Gotta just send the dog through on a little remote control vehicle. Teach the dog how to order for you.

[Jill]

And if you, you know, give up the aspartame, think about how much money you'll save on potential kidney and liver disease.

[Jen]

So as we wrap up, she's really.

[Joni]

Trying to go There something.

[Jen]

I mean, I'm gonna, I'm. This is why I'm in the middle to protect the guests from Jen.

[Jill]

I mean, $2.11 doesn't worry me.

[Jen]

No. Yeah. I do think that it's worth considering now and keeping a pulse on some of these different spe things as you do enter into a new lifestyle, I think it can be easy for us to think, well, those expenses aren't going to be there anymore. The car's being sold, business loans gone. I don't, I'm not paying renters insurance, no more storage units. That's all done. And here we go into this new lifestyle. We don't have those expenses anymore. But thinking about what are the expenses I'm going to be taking on? I'm going to be transient, so there's probably going to be a lot more dinners out. Where am I going to be parking? What are the costs of that when I visit people? What that, what's that going to look like? How will, what kind of expenses am I going to take on? How will I continue to show generosity while also like living within my own means?

[Joni]

I think the food aspect for me is this is going to be a really good thing for me because not only the food, it's eating out, but for me right now where I am, it's a social thing too, right? So it's like, oh, we're gonna go grab dinner. Oh, we're gonna go grab lunch. That's not gonna be so much. It's not so social when you go by yourself, right. I mean, I can go eat at a restaurant by myself, but it's not as fun, it's not as social, it's not as like I'm using it as a twofold entertainment and getting something to eat. So I, I feel like my goal for this next venture is how creative can I be with feeding myself and not having to go to like it's $2.11. But I'm also not buying my dinner every there every night. Right. Because that doesn't really, it doesn't appeal to me. And so I'm looking at it as how creative can I be on the road and how can I feed myself for not. And not break the bank? Because. Yes. I mean, if you don't cook and you're on the road, you're going to be eating out then all the time and that's going to get really old. Right.

[Jen]

So keep following the frugal friends. I'm going to tips on how to be creative and still have fun.

[Jill]

But I think we can wrap up maybe with a few tips on cooking for one person, because I think that's a thing that a lot, like half of our listeners do not have kids. They are single. So this is something a lot of people want to know.

[Jen]

I think, first of all, there was a Sam's Club membership on here. You probably are already thinking about this, but. But definitely something that was probably needed when you had three kids in the house. Probably not something that's needed without them in the house. Especially if you certainly not needed when you're living. You're not gonna have room for 52 cans of crushed tomatoes.

[Jill]

Nope, nope. No, it's too heavy. Yes, yes.

[Joni]

No, it's true. Because, like, I buy dog food there, like, and I'll buy my paper towels, which I'm gonna get rid of. So, I mean, yeah, I'm not gonna need that. So I didn't even think about that. But that would be another expense that would go away for sure, right?

[Jen]

Yes, absolutely.

[Jill]

But so something we like is. So most recipes are, like, for four servings, and you may not want to eat something for four servings. So something that we like to do is. I mean, my family of four, I'll double something and freeze half of it. You won't have to double it. You could use. And you won't have a lot of freezer space. But this is something you could do once a week. So you can have something and then the next month have it again and not feel like you're eating the same thing over and over.

[Jen]

Also, ChatGPT, or your own math skills can help in cutting a recipe down. Like, some people will double it, but you can also half a recipe. So.

[Jill]

Yeah, chatgpt.

[Jen]

So good.

[Joni]

Well, we just talked. So we just talked about this. So I want to hear your answer to this, because I just had this conversation with someone who's another single person, and we were talking about cutting a recipe in half. I said, so what do you do when the recipe calls for a can of, like, garbanzo beans? Yeah, they don't sell it like a small can. Or sometimes even if you buy the smaller thing, it costs just as much as buying the bigger size. Right?

[Jen]

Yeah. There are certain things that I will freeze. So all freeze. Coconut milk, all freeze. Tomato paste. Really Nearly anything, specifically garbanzo beans. I think you could find another quick recipe to do with them while you're cooking the food that has that. So, like making toasted garbanzo beans that'll eventually go on a salad later on in the week. Or part of a quinoa bowl that you make. So I think that there are ways to be able to use the other half of the can either immediately or freeze it. You're a unique situation because you're not gonna have a ton of freezer space.

[Jill]

So that's why I think using it immediately. Just finding two recipes that have the same ingredients. Yeah. But are spiced differently or set up differently. One's over rice, one's a salad.

[Jen]

Yeah. Or that's the one you make the full recipe of. And then you can utilize the leftovers in a creative way or freeze the leftovers. There's also a ton of recipes online for, you know, one serving. So being able to take advantage of that. I think somebody on our Facebook group recently said that they love meal in a bowl. She actually has a recipe for the type of meal that she can make. Or a mug. A mug.

[Jill]

Okay.

[Jen]

Yeah. She like. Yeah, exactly. And so it's this kind of like, here's your protein, here's your base, here's your starch or carb. And how you put it all together. You choose the ingredients that you put into it. And she said, says for her as a single person, that's a big go to. So really could work for you if you only have space for one mug.

[Joni]

Well, the other thing too is, and I don't know if this is an age thing, but my friends and I just started like traveling together and so I'm a single woman. She's a single woman. And it's like when we go to eat something, at first we would order our own meals. And then finally I was like, do you want to split something? And she's like, well, I was going to ask you that, but I thought it might be weird. So like that, that's the, that's my season that I'm in. Like, we never had to do that. So is that weird to you guys? Or do you guys like, if you've.

[Jen]

Got a close enough friend to.

[Jill]

It doesn't even have to be close. You just ask, would you want to split something? If they say no, it's a no. And they say yes. You've both saved money.

[Joni]

Right?

[Jen]

Right. A lot of times it's such huge portions.

[Joni]

That's the whole thing. I mean, some of these, some of these things you get at a restaurant now there is no way you're finishing at all. Right.

[Jen]

And I think too, takeout is not always the worst option. Or pre prepared meals can sometimes be even less than takeout. So I think even for a Single person. When you've got a busy week happening, being able to go to the grocery store or even a nice local market that is selling pre prepared, single serving meals can be a really great option. Usually you can find them between five to seven dollars. That's way better than going out to eat. Sometimes even better than takeout, for sure. And then also having your list of your favorite takeout spots where you know that if you order this thing, the portion's gonna be big enough for you for dinner and lunch the next day. That's not the worst thing if it's only one person eating.

[Joni]

Yeah.

[Jill]

Yes. All right, so let's recap. Recap on the ways that we're going to improve our spending.

[Jen]

And like you said from the beginning, just wanting to be more mindful. So these are the things that we think can help in that.

[Jill]

Yeah. So first is really creating those financial boundaries like you've created emotional boundaries like Jill's been helping you with is really setting some of those physical financial boundaries between you and your adult children.

[Jen]

And I think like we just talked about being able to figure out creative, fun ways to feed yourself as a single person on the road. Also continuing to invest. And I think that's a beautiful thing. Even though you came upon a chunk of money and you invested the majority of that, the fact that you're still also investing is a great thing to kind of keep focusing on and I think important for all of our listeners to hear that even if you come upon a windfall and you invest all of that money, that doesn't mean that you have to stop there.

[Jill]

And we won't dive too far into this. But I think it's also smart that every year we go in to where our investments are held that we have the financial power there, not just the financial advisor. We make sure. Are my investments tracking with the s and P500? Am I above or below it? Am I tracking near it? Because if I'm below it, it makes sense. Sense to go elsewhere.

[Joni]

Yes.

[Jill]

Are the fees eating up so much of my investments that I'm not tracking with the rest of the stock market? So making sure that we're. That our financial advisor is working in our best interest like a fiduciary should. And, and that they're in investing bare minimum of what the stock market in full is doing so that. And then reevaluating maybe some of our renters insurance depending on, I don't know if you're going to keep the rental while you're in the RV or you're letting that lapse. Okay.

[Joni]

That will go okay. Yeah.

[Jen]

Okay.

[Jill]

All right.

[Joni]

My TV subscriptions are going away.

[Jen]

Amazing. Yeah.

[Joni]

Like you said, I mean, realistically, yes, there will be other things that will come into play, but hopefully that it won't be on such a monthly basis like this.

[Jen]

We'll be excited to track your journey, and as you have your own platform up, we'll be sure to link so other people can follow along with you. Listen to the podcast that you start. So that'll be in the link, in the description. This is such a vulnerable thing to do, and I so appreciate being here.

[Jill]

And so easy.

[Joni]

So easy. We did.

[Jill]

And we only attacked one part of your person.

[Joni]

Well, you did. Jill knew better.

[Jill]

Nice knowing you. I'm not gonna soften myself for video.

[Joni]

Remember when I said I was taking you to dinner tonight? I'm not.

[Jen]

I get it. Yeah. I get it.

[Joni]

All right.

[Jill]

We'll know for next time. Frugal Friends is produced by Eric Sirianna.

[Jen]

Yes, Mr. Gecko, you're a huge inspiration to us all. But who was your muse?

[Joni]

Oh, my dear old Nan.

[Jen]

She imparted many wise words to me. She would say, never let the fame.

[Joni]

Get to your head.

[Jen]

Always remember who you are and let people get more than just savings. With Geico's fast and friendly claim support. I lived up to her advice, and now anyone can file a claim anywhere and anytime.

[Joni]

I miss her so much.

[Jen]

So much. Did she go somewhere? Extended quilting trip.

[Jill]

Get more than just savings.

[Jen]

Get more with Geico.