Minimalism Isn’t Saving You Money Anymore (here’s why)

Summary

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Frugal Friends Podcast: "Minimalism Isn’t Saving You Money Anymore (here’s why)"

Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Episode Date: April 3, 2026

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Overview

In this lively and thoughtful episode, Jen and Jill dive into the modern reality of minimalism—why it’s no longer the surefire money-saver (or virtuous ideal) that it once appeared to be. Drawing on personal stories, internet voices, and candid audience submissions, the hosts unpack how minimalism has morphed from a tool for mindful living into an aesthetic, a trend, and sometimes even a source of new financial pressures. With humor and honesty, they unravel myths and offer practical tips on how to balance minimalism, frugality, and personal values in a consumer-driven world.

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Main Themes & Purpose

• Debunking the Minimalism Myth: The belief that minimalism automatically saves money is no longer true in an era where it’s been heavily commercialized.
• Minimalism vs. Frugality: Exploring the tension and synergy between these two approaches and why one alone isn’t a silver bullet for financial health.
• Personalization Over Trends: Emphasizing the importance of defining your own needs, style, and boundaries—rather than following influencer dogma.
• Emotional and Psychological Impact: How trauma and emotional baggage can fuel minimalist (or maximalist) tendencies, and why self-awareness matters.
• Avoiding New Consumption Traps: How decluttering, capsule wardrobes, and the "minimalist aesthetic" can sometimes lead to more consumption—not less.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Minimalism: From Lifestyle to Commercial Trend

[01:38 – 02:21]

• Jen and Jill both identify as minimalists—but stress that it’s changed:

  "Minimalism in the year of our Lord, 2026, is not what it used to be… it has been monetized and is now potentially doing more harm than good." – Jill [01:38]

• Capsule wardrobes and minimalist decor are now marketing ploys, encouraging people to buy new “essentials” each season.

• Social media has shifted minimalism from philosophy to aesthetic.

"Capsule Wardrobe" Consumerism

[02:43 – 05:47]

• Capsule Wardrobe Influencer shares,

  “The capsule wardrobe… started as a sustainable idea has actually been completely hijacked by consumerism. I was a shopaholic who kept buying every must-have on the list… All of these supposed essentials every year. I thought I was just one purchase away from finally having the perfect wardrobe — and by extension the perfect life.” [02:43]

• Jill reflects:

  "It still comes back to the issue of letting other people tell us what to get… rather than figuring it out for ourselves." [04:20]

• Trendy advice often promotes buying more, not less—now there’s a capsule for every season.

The Decluttering Dilemma

[05:47 – 09:14]

• Wardrobe Declutterer highlights the cycle of chronic decluttering and its hidden waste:

  “I’ve decluttered my wardrobe so many times… bags and bags of clothing constantly getting tossed out… I think it’s enabled me to fill my closet with more stuff… Not good enough. That’s contributing so much to waste.” [05:47]

• Jen (relating):

  “I, as a compulsive declutterer, get rid of important things. Like, it’s a problem for me.” [07:16]

• Jill elaborates:

  “If we haven’t dealt with our impulse spending… that space is going to get filled up again. That’s where this problem lies.” [07:39]

Insight: Decluttering alone doesn't fix spending habits and can justify more consumption if not accompanied by behavioral changes.

The Minimalism Trend Cycle

[11:21 – 12:34]

• Minimalism Critic:

  “Minimalism is a trend… but it’s a trend that’s sinister because it’s under the guise that it’s not a trend… And if people really like their funky clothes and fall victim to this trend cycle… they’re going to be like, ‘I miss my clothes. I miss who I was.’” [11:21]

• Jen notes thrift store donations often end in landfill, not reuse:

  “Taking things to a thrift store is essentially just making an extra trip to the trash. The solution is consuming less and consuming used.” [13:35]

The Psychological/Trauma Aspect of Minimalism

[18:06 – 23:58]

• Jen shares her personal backstory with minimalism as a trauma response:

  “Part of my minimalism is healthy… but part of it is a trauma response. When I see clutter, I have to clear the counters… I feel very disoriented when there’s a lot of clutter around.” [18:06]

• Minimalism Skeptic:

  “I used to be an ultra-minimalist. I mean, and that was just a trauma response to my own… my own story that I wasn’t dealing with. I was trying to run away from it.” [20:39]

• Jill offers context:

  “When we experience trauma… we can move towards healing by having an opposite experience… it’s not a problem to declutter, but it’s always helpful when we can understand the root of it.” [22:14]

Spending Paralysis — When Minimalism Backfires

[25:50 – 29:14]

• Minimalist Man describes how high standards for quality and scarcity lead to spending guilt and deprivation:

  “It’s super difficult for me to buy things even if I like them or want them… It helps me save money, but it’s also a curse because I never feel like I can afford anything even if I can.” [25:50]

• Jill identifies:

  “When frugality is a roadblock to actually spending the hard earned money on the things that you do value, that’s a problem…” [27:13]

• Jen stresses spending is a skill:

  “We try so hard to teach how to spend, to teach values-based spending, and that spending is a skill and not like an evil action.” [26:32]

Remembering What Really Matters

[31:37 – 33:18]

• Effy (ASMR Minimalism Encourager):

  “Don’t try to be a minimalist. For most of us, it is simply not realistic or sustainable… You might feel inspired to reinvent yourself… but please don’t fall into the trap… Because in two months time when the spirit has lifted, you will fall right back into old patterns… Not everyone have to be a minimalist.” [31:37]

• Jen’s takeaway:

  “Stop defining our identities by trends. Find what makes you unique and follow that.” [32:47]

• Jill:

  "You are allowed to have a limited amount of things. You’re allowed to have a medium amount of things." [33:18]

Real Minimalism vs. Performative Minimalism

[33:55 – 34:29]

• Jill summarizes:

  "Real minimalism that pairs beautifully with frugality… buys less, uses things longer, repairs, personalizes. It gives room for color and joy and gnome. And it allows you to keep what you love… It doesn’t demand that you get rid of it for aesthetic." [33:55]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Minimalism is no longer an idea; it’s an aesthetic.” – Jen [03:37]
• “You can’t buy minimalism, although these people think that’s what they’re doing.” – Jill [04:20]
• “Decluttering doesn't actually get us to that envisioned, idolized person… If we haven’t dealt with our impulse spending… that space is going to get filled up again.” – Jill [07:39]
• "Taking things to a thrift store is essentially just making an extra trip to the trash." – Jen [13:35]
• “Minimalism is a trend… but it’s a trend that’s sinister because it’s under the guise that it’s not a trend.” – Minimalism Critic [11:21]
• “Spending is a skill and not like an evil action.” – Jen [26:32]
• “Don’t try to be a minimalist. For most of us, it is simply not realistic or sustainable.” – Effy (ASMR Minimalism Encourager) [31:37]
• “You are allowed to have a limited amount of things. You’re allowed to have a medium amount of things.” – Jill [33:18]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:00 – Episode Theme Introduced: "Minimalism isn't saving you money anymore. Here's why."
• 02:43 – Capsule Wardrobe and the commercialization of minimalism
• 05:47 – Wardrobe decluttering: waste and overconsumption
• 11:21 – Minimalism as a community-enforced trend
• 18:06 – Jen’s personal trauma and minimalism connection
• 20:39 – Minimalism as avoidance/trauma response
• 25:50 – Minimalism causing spending paralysis/guilt
• 31:37 – Effy’s “Don’t try to be a minimalist” ASMR Encouragement
• 33:55 – Real vs. performative minimalism, values-based approach
• 39:08 – Lightning Round: How Jen & Jill practice minimalism themselves

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Host Reflections: Jen & Jill’s Personal Take

• Jill: Finds comfort in empty spaces, prefers to keep only carefully chosen sentimental items, feels minimalism helps her maintain clarity—though she admits some may see her style as lacking sentimentality or life.
• Jen: Declutters frequently due to cognitive overload (possibly ADHD), struggles living with family members who aren’t naturally minimalist, but works to find balance and appreciate the "beauty" in her surroundings.

  “Bless this mess. So, yes, I do what I can.” – Jen [44:41]

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Closing Takeaways

• Minimalism is not a one-size-fits-all solution: It can be part of a healthy financial plan if rooted in values and true needs, not trends or trauma responses.
• Frugality and minimalism must be personal: The fusion works best when you define “enough” for yourself—not influence-driven checklists.
• Spending is not evil; it’s a skill to cultivate: Values-based spending and creativity can help avoid both overconsumption and needless deprivation.
• Trends don’t define you: It’s okay to have things you love—guilt-free. Don’t let the minimalist “aesthetic” or influencer advice override your personal comfort and joy.

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Episode Highlights

• Notable Listener Moment:
  [35:05] Bill of the Week – Hannah calls in to celebrate paying off nearly $8,000 in student loans within a year.
• Memorable Banter:
  [31:09] – Jen and Jill invent the term “comparalized” (paralyzed by comparing yourself).
• ASMR Zen:
  [31:37] – Effy’s calming minimalist wisdom soothes listeners into self-acceptance.

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Final Word

Don’t be seduced by the beige. Minimalism won’t save you without intentionality behind it—and frugality thrives on making your own rules. Keep what you love, use what you have, and curate your life for you. And it’s okay to keep the gnome.

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Transcript

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[Jen]

Minimalism isn't saving you money anymore. Here's why.

[Frugal Friends 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 Jill.

[Minimalist Man]

I'm a 32 year old man who lives in a studio apartment. In any other era, I'd be considered a loser, all right? But now I'm called a minimalist. How much better is that?

[Jen]

Hey, Frugal Friends, I'm Jen.

[Jill]

I'm Jill.

[Jen]

And minimalism in the year of our Lord 2026 is not what it used to be. I don't know, a millennial alive though, who has not partaken in at least a declutter, if not full on wanting to be minimalist.

[Jill]

And here's the thing. I love the idea of minimalism. I think that it's so complimentary to frugality. And you and I both consider ourselves to be minimalist. But we do want to talk about how in many ways it has been taken to an extreme, it has been monetized and is now potentially doing more harm than good.

[Jen]

Yeah. And so today we are talking about the extra baggage that comes with minimalism. And we're hearing, hearing from people on the Internet, both real people who have tried minimalism and influencers who have kind of fallen out of love with it. So when we say extra baggage, this is what we mean.

[Capsule Wardrobe Influencer]

You know, it's a total marketing scam. The capsule wardrobe used to be obsessed with them having this minimal wardrobe where everything would work together. But what started as a sustainable idea has actually been completely hijacked by consumerism. I would know. I was a shopaholic who kept buying every must have on the list. The white button down, the beige trench. Guess what? In December of 2024, I gave most of it away. Thanks to the ultra fast fashion trend cycle, there's now a capsule for every season. All of these supposed essentials every year. I thought I was just one purchase away from finally having the perfect wardrobe and by extension the perfect life. I had no idea who I was, what I actually liked, or what worked in my wardrobe for my real life. So this year I'm building my own version of a capsule wardrobe. Not shopping from anyone else's must have list. I'm learning the actual basics of how to put an outfit together. I'm adding color and personality instead of just neutrals. And I'm trying to build something that's going to reflect my personality but last me for the long term.

[Jen]

Yeah, I have, I think this double edged sword kind of view of minimalism because of reasons like this. Like, I like having less stuff stuff and I'll talk about why a little later. And I like having organization and pieces that work like a closet that works in a whole instead of like a bunch of, of separates that don't go together. And so like I like the idea, but the marketing of it all, social media, has turned it into this thing where minimalism isn't, is no longer an idea, it's an aesthetic.

[Jill]

I couldn't agree more with this specific capsule wardrobe thing because the way, what it has become, I think where it started is fantastic. Figure out the clothes that you love, that are quality, that look good on you, that you're going to wear, how to pair them together. We don't need to buy into fast fashion. And it has evolved to people love it. How can we sell it? You can't, by minimalism. Although these people think that that's what they're doing. But it's, it's not even. It still comes back to the issue of letting other people tell us what to get and what's going to get us there, rather than figuring it out for ourselves. I love the kind of journey that this person took us on to realize I can still have a minimalist wardrobe. We're not against the word itself, but what it's become, it just needs to be for me, not what everybody else. Every influencer, every brand is telling me what a minimalist wardrobe is. Looks like the pieces that I'm missing.

[Jen]

No. Or the capsule for every season. That's. That's where you lost. It's supposed to be a capsule, but the capsules are all so beige. And I got my colors done. Beige doesn't. I mean, it's, you know, it's better than white, but it's not my best color. Yeah. So, yeah. Here's another similar example.

[Wardrobe Declutterer]

I'm not decluttering my wardrobe anymore because I don't think that it actually helps me. I've decluttered my wardrobe so many times over the past eight years. Bags and bags of clothing constantly getting tossed out. And I think it's enabled me to fill my closet with more stuff. Because, honestly, I'm pretty sure that part of me knows if I don't like it, I can just get rid of it later, even if it's being donated or sold or whatever. Not good enough. That's contributing so much to waste, so much to over consumption that I'm not tolerating it anymore. Like, I'm not. I'm not doing it. Obviously, the decluttering doesn't help me do anything but make room for the other stuff that I'm going to buy and then get rid of once again. So I'm just keeping it all, and I'm going to use it at some point. I have a lot of niche stuff, but I also go to a lot of little themed parties, so I'm sure it'll come into play. Which brings me to my next reason why I'm not decluttering my wardrobe this year. And that is I get rid of stuff that I actually end up needing. I'll get rid of something like, let's say this month. And then even if it's like eight or ten months later, oh, guess what? That thing you got rid of that you really thought you were never going to need ever again, that would have been perfect for this thing. That would have been the most perfect article of clothing that you could have possibly worn to this event that you now have to go to that you couldn't have dreamt up in the moment, but now it's relevant.

[Jen]

I hate that.

[Jill]

So relatable.

[Jen]

That is so, so real. I, as a compulsive declutterer, get rid of important things. Like, it's a problem for me. Not just things that, like, I haven't used but then would be useful later. Like, it is truly a problem for me. So I feel strongly about this one.

[Jill]

I am of so many, so many minds. Mostly just two minds on this. Because on the one hand I do think decluttering is a great thing to do. We can sell some of the things that we're no longer using, but it does form the problems. This is the other side. When it is only creating room for more things that us decluttering doesn't actually get us to the envisioned idolized person that we think we're going to be. We are still same. And we are. If we haven't dealt with our impulse spending or understanding our values or where our money is going, that spend space is going to get filled up again. So I think that's where this problem lies. Different from however, coming up with a system in your closet to determine whether or not you have worn that thing in the last year and getting rid of it. If you haven't, I know that I can have. I almost this past weekend threw out summer clothes. Not throughout tried tried to sell or donate summer clothes. We are not out of winter yet, my friends. We've not even entered spring. And I really had to stop myself and go, you don't know that you're not going to wear that this summer. Make decisions on your winter clothes. Sure, go for it, girlfriend. Not the summer stuff. So I'm, I'm here with it on this one, I think really understanding why am I decluttering this just to justify more purchases.

[Jen]

Yeah, I need to put a little

[Jill]

speed bump in for ourselves.

[Jen]

So I think for these first two videos, the kind of solutions I think we can marry minimalism and still save us. The minimalism is not. Is what? Not what's going to save us the money. But it can be beneficial if we couple it with some of the tenets of frugality. And so one of those is creativity. When we set up barriers like man made barriers, frictions, barriers to entry, then we give ourselves the opportunity to get creative in how we spend. So consumerism will say, okay, if I want to be a minimalist, I get rid of all of my stuff. And then I'm kind of left with just like I am one piece away from somebody else's perfect capsule wardrobe. Frugality says okay, I declutter what I really know I feel like I should get rid of, but I'm just holding on to it's my extra baggage. And then I can get creative with how I use the pieces that remain in my closet. And I have enough. Maybe I have a running list of things that I, you know, will purchase in the future when I see it on sale When I see it secondhand, etc. But I'm not creating somebody else's picture, I am creating my own and using my creativity, fostering my creativity. And then the second is to not focus on decluttering, focus on changing spending habits. Because we did not get a maximalist home or a cluttered home by the absence of minimalism. We got it by the presence of, of disordered spending habits. So that is truly what we should be focused on first. And then while we deal with that, we can declutter in the inner rim.

[Jill]

Beautiful.

[Jen]

All right, let's get into our next video.

[Minimalism Critic]

Minimalism is a trend. Just like any other fashion style on here. Like coquette, like whimsigoth, like maximalism. It's also a trend, but it's a trend that's sinister because it's under the guise that it's not a trend. This is the real me. Everybody should be a minimalist. And if that is, that's cool. There are people for every single trend. We're like, yeah, that is the real them. But not everybody is a minimalist. But everybody will get pushed the idea that they are a minimalist. I've always found minimalism a little bit sinister because it's the one trend that very earnestly pushes. Get rid of your clothes, get rid of your funky clothes, get rid of your fancy clothes, get rid of blah, blah, blah. And if people really like them and they fall victim to this trend cycle and they start throwing away their clothes, then in a couple months, maybe a year's time, they're going to be like, I miss my clothes. I miss my clothes because I miss who I was because I was in a trend cycle. And you know what? They're gonna want to buy those clothes again. They're gonna want their clothes back, so they're gonna buy. And this just contributes to over consumption like crazy. And it's the exact opposite of what it's claiming to be. And it just pulls its weight in the capitalist cog, all while claiming, I'm the sustainable option. I'm. I'm that eco friendly option. Not always. Sometimes not always.

[Jill]

Sometimes, not always. Again, the justification for purchasing more, I think really can happen if we're not to the root of why do we have these things and what version of our spaces is most beneficial to us? Because it's not the same for everybody. Personally, I do think that less clutter in general is going to be best for most people, but that doesn't mean that it's going to look exactly the same. And that doesn't mean that you can't be the person who really likes the clothing or who really likes the kitchen gadgets or who really likes a section of the home to have some really beautiful decor. We just really should steer clear of having all of those things because that probably more so speaks to what other people are telling you to buy or an impulse purchase issue more so than who you are and what makes you come alive.

[Jen]

Yeah, I've really disliked how minimalism has shifted into this aesthetic and went from this eco friendly sort of idea to just contributing to more secular, you know, waste. It's. I think nowadays taking things to a thrift store is essentially just making an extra trip to the trash. Like, most of the time, that is what it is. The solution is consuming less and consuming use. Like, these thrift stores will put the best of the best into their stores. Most of the stuff they do throw away. And so I think instead of claiming or pursuing minimalism, like, this is going to solve my problem with. What's really going to solve the problem is we're committed to shopping secondhand. We're committed to shopping less. And I also have been feeling social media just breeds homogeny. Right. Like it. It wants to make us all look and act and like the same. So this is just another example of that. A different shade of beige. And I think we also need to find and embrace what makes us unique, and that's going to make shopping secondhand a little easier. When we're not trying to replicate the outfits and the home decor that we're seeing online, we're truly in touch with who we are and what we like, and we can shop within that. And we don't care about somebody coming over to our house and it not being like, pretty social media perfect.

[Jill]

Isn't that just the truth? With every single trend, though, or every single opportunity to buy, it's having a better sense of who we are, what we want to spend on, what we're cultivating, what are our goals versus what everybody else is telling us it should be, what to buy, what our goals need. Need to be. It's the same conversation. It's just highlighting it here in something that might be a little bit more cloaked in. Oh, it's synonymous with frugality. Not necessarily. Not necessarily.

[Jen]

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[Jen]

all right, now let's talk about some of the deeper issues with minimalism. And this is kind of what inspired this episode for me. So my minimalism is in part like it does go well with frugality, right? If you do it in a healthy way. And I do feel like part of my minimalism is healthy because I feel like my my frugality is healthy, but part of it is a trauma response. When I was in college, well, my dad died right before I Went to college. And so my mom had some really rough years after that because he did most of the cleaning in the house. And so while I was away at college, I moved away. Two months after he died, my mom kind of let the house go into shambles. And so if I would come home, I just went to school two hours away. So I would come home, and it would look like a hoarder house. It would be disgusting sometimes. And so there were times where I would have, like, a day off of school and work, and I would just come home, clean her house as much as I could in a few hours while she was at work and then go back. And I know she hated that because that, like, fed into her guilt. And now I'm kind of sorry I did it. Like, I thought I was helping, but I think I was hurting. And. But it brings me back to that time. Like, it brings me back there. And so when I see clutter, I. I have to, like, clear the counters. I have to get rid of stuff. And having two young boys with, like, tons of trucks and cars and toys and blocks and Legos, it's hard for me. I feel very disoriented when there's a lot of clutter around. And so it is a trauma response for me to clutter, declutter, get rid of stuff. And sometimes in that decluttering, I get rid of important things. So being that is, my tendency is much easier for me to be a minimalist and talk about minimalism because I declutter and I don't reconsume. And so I've always had the sneaking suspicion that most influencers are good at what they do, in part due to trauma, some kind of trauma that they've experienced. And I think that with minimalist influencers and this video kind of confirmed it,

[Minimalism Skeptic]

I feel like the biggest con of the last 10 to 15 years of the minimalism movement is to get rid of everything or have this capsule wardrobe, because I'm seeing more and more videos. And, yes, I know it's my TikTok algorithm, but I'm seeing so many videos now about just how crap all of the clothing is and how you're paying these exorbitant prices for plastic. And I feel like the biggest chump right now because, like, I look at my closet now, having minimalized everything. If you know my story, I used to be an ultra minimalist. I mean, and that was just a trauma response to my own. My own story that I wasn't dealing with. I was trying to run away from it. I'm sitting here so flabbergasted and annoyed beyond belief that I listen, listened that I listened to the trend.

[Jill]

Oh, yeah, that's a tough one. We just, we can't, we can't get rid of everything and think it's going to solve all of our problems.

[Jen]

Yeah. And there are a lot. And I. It's in frugality, it's, it's in lifestyle influencing. Like minimalism can be seen as this solution to a lot of problems, especially if you're overspending. Then you decide, oh, I'm going to be a minimalist. That's the solution to the problem. It's not the solution. It's not. It's just another lifestyle like what the other girl said. Like, maybe it's your trend. Maybe you're all on that trend. Doesn't have to be your trend. And if it's not working for you and you're consuming more, probably isn't your trend.

[Jill]

Yeah, there are also issues with maximalism. Right. Like we are also not saying minimalism is not the way. So just get everything that you want and don't make any changes if there needs to be changes with the way that we are consuming and spending. Right. We're talking about the radical middle here and that it's not going to look like just one thing. What I also am recognizing here and want to weave into the conversation is the reality that when we experience trauma, the one of the ways that we can move towards healing and repairing is having an opposite experience from whatever that trauma was. So in some ways what you're describing, what she's describing, isn't the worst thing. You are showing yourself a different lifestyle from what your mom did in that time that was super full of grief and chaos. But that, that doesn't mean, it's not a way of ignoring. It doesn't mean that, oh, you are now managing, looking at the thing just because you're giving yourself an opposite experience. So it's, it's this both and it's multiple layers. So again, it's not a problem to declutter, but it is always helpful when we can understand the root of it, where it comes from, what's the purpose, it's serving. And are there also other ways of serving that purpose?

[Jen]

Yeah, and I think it's important to, to realize some of this because if it's hard to declutter, minimize all this stuff. Yet it seems to be easy for people on social media. There might be a reason behind that. It might not be your deficiency, it might be theirs. Like you might be normal, right? So like, I think that's important to know some of what's going on behind the scenes as well. And then like, also what she was saying, everything is crap. We've talked about skin, like quite a bit lately and how this shirt that I'm wearing, I literally. I've had this shirt for 15 years. It was used when I got. I got it from like my ex boyfriend's roommate. She was getting rid of the shirt and she's like, do you want it? And I'm like, sure. And I have had it ever since. I've had it for 15 years.

[Jill]

Insane.

[Jen]

And it's like held up. I don't do anything special in the laundry with it. So, yeah, like things that are, that are older are just made better. And so I think that's another reason, like shopping secondhand and really paying attention to fabrics, materials, stuff like that is more important than defining yourself as a quote unquote minimalist. Some people, I think, have taken minimalism to heart and it's not, it's. It's way easier for some of us, but for other people, for like this person we're going to look at right now, it can create problems where they weren't before. Actual spending problems Phase Minimalism ruined my Life part one.

[Minimalist Man]

So a big thing that a lot of minimalists do is they will only buy things if they absolutely want it, but they'll also only buy things of high quality so that it doesn't need to be replaced and so that it lasts a long time. Unfortunately, what this has done for me is made it nearly impossible for me to buy anything other than food. I have very few things and it's super difficult for me to buy things even if I like them or even if I want them. In a lot of ways, this is a blessing because it helps me save money, but it's also a curse because I never feel like I can afford anything even if I can ways Minimalism.

[Jill]

Minimalism has ruined my life. So dramatic. I love it.

[Jen]

But like, truly, I would say there's probably a good portion of our audience who considers themselves frugal and has this internal guilt that going to buy something because of things that they are told or this lifestyle identity that's been adopted. And which is why we try so hard to teach how to spend, to teach values based spending and that spending is a skill and not like an evil action because of stuff like this. Because you only get one life when

[Jill]

minimalism, when frugality is a roadblock to actually spending the hard Earned money on the things that you do value. That's a problem when you do know and could potentially otherwise spend guilt free on this thing. But misconceptions about minimalism or frugality, preventing, that's a rough one. That's a whole mindset to work ourselves out of and that every single time we spend. I know, I've struggled with this in particular. It has to be absolutely optimized. It has to be the best version of that thing. Something that's going to last me forever for the best possible deal I can find. In many ways that has helped me, but it has been a burden at other times too, that I can't just buy that thing and worry about the consequences later. So I, I understand it.

[Jen]

And, and this is, this is what

[Jill]

minimalism can do to us. It can make us feel bad for buying things. And as frugal people who believe in values based spending, we think, no, like you said, spending is a skill. So something making us feel bad for spending money, even that we've, we're intentional about, that's not a great outcome or can make us feel shallow for valuing objects, that it is morally superior to not need anything, to be content with nothing. When in reality, many of us have cards, pictures, trinkets, plants, you name it, in every room, things that are sentimental or bring back fond memories or just we love because they're so fun and cute to us. But minimalism would say, get rid of it.

[Jen]

Yeah, bestow it like your little gnome over there that is not suitable for work or video and she's gonna get it. Like she values this thing so much.

[Jill]

This is my one trinket that minimalism probably says, I shouldn't have you extreme.

[Jen]

Frugal.

[Jill]

Frugal people would probably say, why did you spend money on that? And I would say, people, because gnome. Look at how cute gnome is.

[Jen]

Oh, I mean, in addition to that, I think, yeah, I think we can also look at minimalists thinking that they're like maybe morally superior and, and having these experiences. But I can see minimalists spending more. Oh, there he is. There he goes. He's, he's with us now spending just as much or more on their experiences, on their travel, and then still not being at a financial place that minimalism was quote unquote supposed to solve. And I think something we've been saying recently is that there's like a cost to finding what you value. Is that with values based spending, there's going to be this margin of error where you're going to spend money on things you think you value and then it's going to turn out you really didn't. And that's okay. As long as we're being intentional with what we're buying. We can have this small cost and it's not a waste, it's not a failure. I think minimalism wants us to get it perfect and right and only buy the right things only by the necessary things. And this is how we can become paralyzed into not spending.

[Jill]

Whoa, did you just make that word up?

[Jen]

What?

[Jill]

Comparalized.

[Jen]

Become paralyzed.

[Jill]

Oh, oh, I thought it's like. Yeah, paralyzed by comparing yourself.

[Jen]

Oh, comparalized. Yeah, you made that up.

[Jill]

Here we are.

[Jen]

All right, in conclusion, this is the video I think we all we need to end on and. And definitely hone in because not only is the information on point, but the voice will soothe you into believing it.

[Effy (ASMR Minimalism Encourager)]

Effy, don't try to be a minimalist. For most of us, it is simply not realistic or sustainable. Quite the opposite. Around this time of year, before fall back to school, back to business, you might get the urge to reinvent yourself, get your life together. And you will see a lot of people on this app doing a full closet purge, donating half of their closet, reclaiming a newfound minimalistic fashion sense or lifestyle. No hate to these creators. Obviously you might feel very inspired by these videos. It's great that you want to live a million more simple life with less objects, but please don't fall into the trap of removing all of your clothes, telling yourself you're only keeping the timeless capsule wardrobe. Because in two months time when the spirit has lifted, you will fall right back into old patterns. You go on a shopping spree and you tell yourself that this time it will be different come January. And we have another purse. Not everyone have to be a minimalist.

[Jill]

And there's your ASMR encouragement.

[Jen]

It was. Thank you.

[Jill]

Full of hair brushing and everything.

[Jen]

She is the moment and I'm glad we all got to experience that too. Because you don't need to be a minimalist. That doesn't mean you need to be a maximalist. But I think we need to stop defining our identities by trends. I think we need to find our own identities and just be us. Doesn't need to be defined by a trend or a personality profiler or who you follow what you follow, find what makes you unique and follow that.

[Jill]

You are allowed to have a limited amount of things. You're allowed to have a medium amount of things.

[Jen]

You're allowed to have this thing and

[Jill]

recognize that just minimalism is a trend. I'm so sorry.

[Jen]

Mm. Minimalism. And again, we consider ourselves minimalism. Minimalists. And I think it works when it's values based. It's not aesthetic driven, it's not performative, and it does not cultivate a spending and waste cycle. And if it has done that for you, take it away. Yeah, take it out of your vocabulary. Take it. Take it away.

[Jill]

And real minimalism that pairs beautifully with frugality does indeed buy less. It uses things longer. It repairs, personalizes. It gives room for life and breath and color and joy and gnome. And it allows you to keep what you love. It doesn't demand that you get rid of it for the sake of a trend, for the sake of an aesthetic. And speaking of something that we don't need to get rid of.

[Jen]

It's perfect in the perfect amount.

[Jill]

The bill of the week.

[Frugal Friends Intro]

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.

[Bill of the Week Caller]

Hey, frugal friends. I wanted to call and share my bill of the week, or really Bill of the year. I started in January 2025 with $8,000 left on my student loans. I'm currently down to just around $1,000, which means by January 1 of 26, that dollar will be down to zero. It feels so amazing to say that I've been able to dedicate that much money in just one year to get that payment down to zero. Thank you so much for all you guys do and the information that you guys share that helped me to motivate myself to get that done. Thank you.

[Jen]

Yes.

[Wardrobe Declutterer]

Hannah.

[Jill]

This is thrilling. I have goosebumps.

[Effy (ASMR Minimalism Encourager)]

Wow.

[Jill]

Congratulations. $8,000 is not a small amount of money in a year, girl. Just for us people to be able. Cause you feel like you're us. To be able to pay off thousands of dollars worth of debt is such an accomplishment. It's so amazing. And I know that this was not without sacrifice and creativity and breaking of ha. And defining what you love and figuring out how you're still going to have fun in the midst of this. We know it's been a journey and you did it. Congratulations. Cheering you on. So thrilled for you. If you all are listening, have a bill that you want to share. If it has to do with paying down debt, becoming debt free, paying for things you don't mind paying for the ways in which you're not a minimalist and you love it. We want to hear about it. If your name is Bill frugalfundspodcast.com Bill leave it for us.

[Rakuten/Policygenius/Chime Advertiser]

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[Rakuten User]

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[Rakuten/Policygenius/Chime Advertiser]

Chime is not just smarter banking. It is the most rewarding way to bank. Join the millions who are already banking fee free today. It just takes a few minutes to sign up. Head to chime.comfrugal that's chime.comfrugal.

[Jill]

go for it.

[Rakuten User]

Okay, you guys know I cannot resist a rundisney race but paying full retail for the merch? Absolutely not. That's why I am obsessed with whatnot right now. I found the cutest pre owned pieces on whatnot for under $40. I couldn't believe it.

[Rakuten/Policygenius/Chime Advertiser]

Whatnot. Whatnot is the number one live shopping app in the US and and provide such a unique way to buy things secondhand or score great deals on the stuff already on your list. You're watching real sellers go live and you can bid on items in real time or just buy it outright. And the deals are genuinely unreal. I found a Lululemon shorts and bra set for a fraction of retail and

[Jill]

I may have snagged the most lovely

[Rakuten/Policygenius/Chime Advertiser]

little vintage ring from a jewelry seller.

[Rakuten User]

The sellers really care about what they curate and they'll show you close ups. Explain sizing, Answer every question. It feels like shopping with a friend who has really good taste. Finding deals this good on brands I already love and the items already on my shopping list has made Whatnot a platform we highly recommend.

[Rakuten/Policygenius/Chime Advertiser]

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[Jill]

And now it's time for the lightning round.

[Jen]

All right. How do you do minimalism, Jill?

[Jill]

My answer in the outline was with reckless abandon.

[Jen]

Yes, it was. Hence this this small. This guy.

[Jill]

Yeah, I I am I let's see, what do we say? For me, minimalism, it's very important to have empty spaces. I do pride myself on emptiness and I think it Creates.

[Jen]

I let that sink in for a second. I'm like, oh, wow, okay.

[Jill]

But I think it creates space for clarity, breathing. I do get overwhelmed by clutter. Clutter, to me, means a job. Maybe we want to dig into that with my own history, but to me, it's more to clean, more to take care of, more to repair, more to worry about. And less means less of all of those things, so. But I have been accused of being the lacking sentimentality and lacking life in my space. And it might be true, but to me, I do feel like, regardless of the trend, this has been a solid path I've been on for a while. And I feel like it's served me.

[Jen]

Yeah, but.

[Jill]

But did I just throw away all of my journals?

[Jen]

But I feel like if the people accusing you of that, like, knew you and your heart, you have a sentimental heart. Like, and I feel like there is joy. Like, you literally have flowers on your table and you have plants. You have a literal life in here.

[Jill]

Right? Yes. I figured out what. What I want.

[Jen]

The criticisms are without merit, in my opinion. Thank you.

[Jill]

Yeah, but I am a degree of minimalism where I don't have my high school yearbook. I don't have childhood journals. I don't. I choose what I want to keep. That's meaningful. But for me, I don't have to have all of the things. Like, my grandmother collected melt glass. I have three of her milk glass pieces that I utilize. I don't need to have her whole collection. That's not the way that I honor her.

[Jen]

Yeah. I feel similarly about minimalism. I do find, like, I do have a cognitive overload, and I can't focus when there's a lot of clutter. I feel like that might be, like, an ADHD tendency I have, too. So it's, like, not just regular cognitive overload. But, yeah, like, I want to have. And the problem is, because I live with three people who do not experience the same cognitive overload that I do, it is very hard to live in my house. For me, I do try, like, several times a week to just, like, maintain, and it always, by the end of the day, feels like I just wasted my whole day. Like, I did nothing. It's frustrating. It's a season, a long season,

[Jill]

and

[Jen]

it's, you know, where I am at, and I do what I can. So, yeah, I do a lot of decluttering. You know, every couple months is more decluttering and just trying to keep counters clear so that I can be focused.

[Jill]

When you have kids, it is a lot more Bringing in and taking out, bringing in and taking out. That is just the reality of young kids. That's how it goes because of school, because of activities, because they're growing. And I think, too, for any of us who might trend more towards minimalism, naturally it can be difficult when you live with somebody who is not the same as kids, a spouse, you name it. So, yeah. Yeah, I don't think that you're alone in describing that tension that can happen and needing to really work together to figure out what's a livable, welcoming space for all of us.

[Jen]

It's a balance with, like, between Travis and I, because he can live, you know, it doesn't affect him, but he does participate because he knows it affects me. So he will clean and he will declutter. His side of the bed, though the side I cannot see. If I walk over there, heaven, God help him. I don't know how he lives that way, but, like, I don't usually walk on that side of the bed, so. So there's that. And then I also have to participate by, like, just, you know, meditating on, you know, the goodness.

[Effy (ASMR Minimalism Encourager)]

Yeah.

[Jen]

Of this mess. You know, the. The fact that I'm like, I'm drowning in beauty. I am blessed enough to have this mess. Bless this mess. So, yes, thank you so much for listening. We'd love to hear your experience with minimalism. If you are a tried and true devotee, or if it has kind of bit you in the butt, we'd love to hear in the Comments over on YouTube, let us know. Or if you have any tips to help a recovering minimalist. And if you have not subscribed to the YouTube channel, we would ask that you do. 50% of you that watch these videos and these episodes are not subscribed, which is crazy. And it helps us spread this message farther and wider to more people. And it's free. And if you have and you want to learn more and dive deeper, our book, Buy what yout Love Without Going Broke is the way to do that. It is fantastic. Audiobook, ebook, paperback, hardcover, whatever you like. You can get it wherever books are sold or [e-mail] and if you have read it, could you leave a review on Amazon? It's so helpful when people are trying, don't know our show and are trying to figure out if they want to read the book. Like this one from Chris. It doesn't have to be this fantastic, but it could be. It's five stars, they say. This was by far one of the Best books I've read about budgeting and money management. A lot of books written by influencers are awful and they're clearly a cash grab. But this is great. There's an awesome mix of practical money tips and some of the psychology behind why we spend. The psychological concepts they explain are easy for the average reader to understand. My only complaint about this book is from listening to the audiobook. There are two of them and they alternate parts, sometimes a bit too much, sometimes almost every other sentence, and it's brutal. Other than that, absolutely fantastic read.

[Jill]

I love it.

[Jen]

I love the honesty. Chris.

[Jill]

Here's the thing. I love a five star that incorporates some of the things that just weren't for them. That's a beautiful review.

[Jen]

And I think we only do that in one chapter because typically we wrote. We haven't halved the book. So Jill reads the chapter she wrote and I read the chapters I read. And so it really only happens chapter to chapter. But. But in the first chapter in the intro, we do go back and forth because that's how we do. Right? Yeah.

[Minimalism Critic]

And it's.

[Jill]

It's kind of like a conversation.

[Jen]

But maybe the. Maybe the podcast isn't for you, Chris, but I'm so glad you enjoyed the book.

[Jill]

If you are still here with us by this point, that means you love us enough to subscribe.

[Jen]

Please. Yay. Please.

[Jill]

We would love it so much. Leave us a review on the book. Leave us a comment on YouTube. Follow us on the podcast. What is that called? Subscribe. Subscribe on YouTube.

[Jen]

Have a good day.

[Jill]

Bye.

[Jen]

Frugal Friends is produced by Eric Sirianni. When this. This releases in April. Wow. This April. And April is our anniversary month.

[Jill]

Yes, it is. We talked about.

[Jen]

Don't come out of here, Eric. We're still recording.

[Jill]

You can.

[Jen]

It's not our anniversary month. It's our Jill and mine.

[Jill]

Okay. Actually, Eric is involved in this anniversary.

[Jen]

He kind of is, actually.

[Rakuten/Policygenius/Chime Advertiser]

Here's the thing.

[Jill]

You can always assume when listening to the Frugal Friends that Eric is always here somewhere in the background.

[Jen]

Right.

[Jill]

The third one is listening and flopping over. Yes. What do you want to say, Eric, to all of us for our eight year anniversary?

[Jen]

Not this one, but it is. April will be.

[Minimalism Critic]

Do you want to take.

[Jen]

Do you want to take the mic? Okay, you talk. Okay, you wait. Wait. The people will wait. They'll wait for you.

[Minimalist Man]

I just want to shout out Goldie.

[Jen]

Oh, preach, Goldie.

[Jill]

I don't know if you can hear Eric, but he wants to shout out Goldie.

[Minimalist Man]

I was like, they must be like.

[Jen]

Normally it gets a little casual during

[Minimalist Man]

this, but it sounded real casual.

[Jill]

Oh, this is us. This is so casual.

[Jen]

All right, well, let's stop. Stop recording so we can be real again.

[Jill]

And yes, thank you to Goldie. Shout out to Goldie. She is the real one. She's been with us for years and years now, too.

[Jen]

The real one.

[Capital Ideas Podcast Host]

In a world full of noise, long term thinking stands out. On the Capital Ideas podcast, Capital Group leaders explore the decisions that matter most in investing, leadership, and life. It's a rare look inside a firm that's been helping people pursue their financial goals for more than 90 years. Listen to the Capital Ideas podcast from Capital Group, published by Capital Client Group, Inc.