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Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
people share things they never Buy to save Money.
Podcast Narrator/Intro
Welcome to the Frugal Friends podcast where you'll learn to save money, embrace simplicity,
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
and live a richer life.
Podcast Narrator/Intro
Here are your hosts, Jen and Jill.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Hi, dermatologist here.
Former Chef with Social Media Presence
Stop overpaying for skin care.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Stop being gimmicky on the Internet. Welcome Frugal Friends. I'm Jen.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I'm Jill.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And y' all have loved our series of how what people are doing to save money what people are doing to save money on groceries. And so this one we wanted to do on what people don't buy to save money. But we wanted it to be around what experts don't buy. So experts in their field. So like cooking, skin care, health care, design, fashion, what they don't buy. Because you can listen to Jill and I talk all day about the things that we don't buy. And you have. Thank you. Right. So let's hear from like people who actually are experts in their field.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
But first this.
Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities
Hey Frugal Friends, I know you are conscious consumers and values driven spenders and
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I would like to appeal to to
Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities
you today on that. I have the opportunity with a few friends to run the Disney World Marathon in January and we are doing it to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Now, if you are unfamiliar with Ronald McDonald House, it's an organization that does something incredibly simple and incredibly powerful. When parents are faced with the unimaginable, a child sitting sick in the hospital far from home, Ronald McDonald House steps in and gives them a safe, warm place to sleep, eat and breathe, do laundry, shower, store their stuff. And it's just steps from the hospital. And we want to raise $3400 which is the cost for a family to Stay there for three weeks. And how you can help is by heading to frugalfriendspodcast.com and donating to help us not just run the Disney World Marathon, but helping these families stay together. And for every donation of over $25,
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
we are going to send you one
Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities
of these frugal, not cheap, bags, because that's what you're doing when you are donating to Ronald McDonald House Charities. So, again, frugalfriendspodcast.com run. And I look forward to seeing how much the Frugal Friends community can raise for this amazing organization and showing you fun behind the scenes as I train for the Disney World Marathon in January.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Thanks.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
So I would appreciate anything you can spare. And again, every donation over $25, we will send a frugal, not cheap, bag, too. And I appreciate you giving me and my friends the opportunity to run the Disney World Marathon week. And hopefully I don't die out there because 26 miles is a long, long distance.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Have you ever ran that distance?
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
No. No.
Stylist Expert
Okay.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
No, I knew that.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
13.1 miles.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I know.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
That's been my. Yeah, I've done half of that.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Right. I didn't know that. You've never done a full marathon.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
No, I've never. So this will be my first marathon and really happy to be doing it in support of Ronald McDonald House.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Frugalfriends podcast.com run.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Okay, our first category is going to be what Chefs Don't Buy. And I love this. And I want to say I think this is one of the most important categories because we talk so much about food, groceries, meal planning, cooking at home, and you all love to hear us talk about it. You can't gobble up enough content about it. And we're glad.
Interior Designer Expert
Thank you.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Reasonably so. Because we love to eat. Yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
But I think what can come with the territory is, oh, I need all the gadgets. Especially if we are new to the kitchen and we are just so susceptible to the influence of whatever the Internet is going to tell us that we need, or we think buying this gadget is going to be the thing that motivates us to be in the kitchen. And it's all just wrong. But don't take it from us. Take it from a chef.
Professional Chef and Cookbook Author
These are things you should not buy for your kitchen that are absolutely not worth the money. I'm a professional chef and a bestselling cookbook author, and I have bought all of these things, so you don't have to. Let's get into it. First thing is going to be One of these milk frothers.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I loathe this tool.
Professional Chef and Cookbook Author
This thing was like $70. It doesn't ever work the way I want it to. The blenders that have the blades going
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
all the way up, these blenders do
Professional Chef and Cookbook Author
not use suction to blend what's inside. Never going to get a creamy consistency. I had one of these blenders for such a long time and it was the most frustrating thing ever.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Don't do it.
Professional Chef and Cookbook Author
Buy a Vitamix instead. This is going to be controversial. And I honestly think that the carrot white pans are not worth the money. You can't cook with high heat. And as a chef, that's literally all I want to do is cook with high heat. And I just don't feel like they'll withstand the test of time. They're beautiful to put on the countertop. You don't cook that much. They're a great option. They are expensive. I want to purchase cookware that's going to last for a decade. This is not it.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Unfortunately, she doesn't tell us what is it?
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Well, we already know what. It's stainless steel. It's your Calphalon and your. What's the other really nice one?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
All Clad.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
All Clad. It's your calphalon and your All Clad. Man, like you cannot get around it. Yeah, and calphalon's a little less expensive than All Clad. That's what I use. And you only need the triple ply. You don't need the quad or then or the five.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
So many recipes do call for a lot of times medium high heat. But so many of the pans that we have, especially the more aesthetically pleasing ones, are made for your low and slow. And that's a great cooking technique as well. But we want to be able to have pans that do the spectrum of cooking and not just look nice on our counter. And here's the thing, unpopular opinion, but we don't need a whole matching set. I can tell you I use three of my pots and pans on a regular basis. I don't need everything else that came in the 15 piece set. And each of those things also don't need to match. Yeah, you need to have a matching lid with your pot and pan. But other than that, if you can find a good pan at the thrift store, have at it. Also Vitamix. I didn't know the suction part of the Vitamix. All I know is I am.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I have that blender that showed a picture of. I own that blender.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
And guess what? You don't use it.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I don't use it that often. Well, I don't make smoothies that often.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Like, because it doesn't make good smoothies.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Because it doesn't make good smoothies. That's why I don't use it often.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I am not sponsored. We are not sponsored by Vitamix, but I am a person.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Vitamix.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
If you're out there, disciple of them, call up.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Okay, we have another chef. One chef part two. And get ready just as good.
Former Chef with Social Media Presence
Here are some things you should absolutely never buy from your kitchen and what you should buy instead from me, a former old chef with a social media presence and some latent anger issues. Number one, a home deep fryer. These are supremely stupid for a variety of reasons. The first of which is that they are basically just a bucket that uses a solid state element to heat up oil. Do you know what element you have in your house right now that is probably more powerful and more reliable than the cheap one in this deep fryer? The elements in your stove. Number two. And I can already hear the comments section heating up. Being angry with me over this. 1. Is any sort of press or grill that is specifically designed for one item. Supremely stupid would be something like a quesadilla grill. Three, is any slicer or cutter designed for a single purpose. Like these are salad scissors. These are equally as stupid and they are called herb scissors. You could literally have a slicer for every fruit and vegetable you could think of. I mean, what is this doing for people that you can't literally do with three other tools you already have in your kitchen?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I love it. I do not agree or support his anger any more than I already do.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And all of us drop in the comments. What. What small appliance you have that is sitting in your pantry that you never use, or weird storage or tool. We all have it. Like we all do.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Similar to how we are against single use plastics, single use items, throwaway stuff. I think same thing in the kitchen. He underscored it. Single use anything is so ridiculous. The. The specific appliances, the. The cutters, the fridge things, the stuff to specifically store your avocado. It's wild. We don't need it.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
It's just like when you are on social media and you see the beautiful aesthetic pots and the people who literally switch out their KitchenAid mixer from season to season when a normal person only uses their KitchenAid mixer twice a year to make two pies a year and that's how much you should use your KitchenAid mixer. No, I'm Kidding. That's how many times I use mine. And I love my KitchenAid mixer, but I only use it twice a year for mashed potatoes and a pie. But we get the delusion that, okay, they use it, so I must buy it because I do not know as much about the kitchen as they do and it seems easy for them. So I will buy it to make it easier for me in the kitchen. In reality, these things are in these social media profiles to get you to buy them because even if it's not a paid ad, these influencers will do like, will see how much of a product they can get to sell to prove to other people or to prove to whoever makes that product that they can sell. And then that will lead to a paid like a brand deal. So it doesn't always have to be paid to be incentivized by the creator. The creator solely exists for you to make purchases based on what they say. Don't let them believe like anything different. It's how they get paid. Brands would not put money behind these influencers for out of the kindness of their heart. Like, they do it because they think,
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
except for me with Vitamix.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, they, they do it because they think people, their followers will convert to paid users or some kind of user. We do the same thing. Like we don't do the show out of the kindness of our heart. We love this show and we think that more people should listen to it because we're trying to get people to buy less. But ultimately we cannot do this. If you got without you guys supporting our sponsors like we have and do lose sponsors when our audience does not convert for them.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
No, that's not on you. Really.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I mean, it's hard to find sponsors on a show that is telling people
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
not to spend money. Yeah, but. But do know that when we have brands, we do think that they're good.
Sponsor Representative (Quince/Policygenius/Butcherbox)
So if they could solve a problem
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
for you, it helps us.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And always use our links. If you hear some, please, but plug
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
for the library again, because library is so great, you can. A lot of libraries will have baking supplies you could rent out. So if you were tempted to get some random type of cake pan or, or the pasta maker or attachment for your KitchenAid, that kind of thing, your library might have it. And if you're just doing it for this one dinner party or your kid's birthday, check it out before you buy the thing yourself. Okay, next category is stylists. What stylist won't buy?
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Oh, I like this one.
Stylist Expert
Okay, guys, I've seen Other people do this. We're going to do five things that I would never buy as a stylist. Number one is anything sheen. Number two is anything that you were buying because it's just a trend or you've seen it all over the Internet. If it doesn't fit in with the rest of your wardrobe, are you fixing
Professional Chef and Cookbook Author
feel the need that you're going to
Stylist Expert
have to purchase multiple things in order to wear that?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
It's probably not right.
Stylist Expert
Just skip it. Number three, anything from websites that look like it's too good to be true. Most of the time it is too good to be true. If you have any sort of gut check of like is this a scam site? Or the price for this item seems like it's too good. The photos look fake or they're the exact photos that you've seen on Pinterest. Don't buy it. Number four, buying something that you don't like but you think you have to wear just because it's been told that it's good for your body type, which basically just means it's something that makes you look the skinniest as possible. And that's, that's not what we're going for. I mean if that's what you want to do, great, but it doesn't take into account anything that you actually like or your personal style. So you shouldn't be buying something just because again, you've been told that you should wear this certain thing for your body type. And number five is this. If someone tells me that these are a slay, I'm going to need you to show me an outfit with them with you wearing it to prove the
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
point for our audio listeners. It's a sandal. It's like a closed toed leather Rockport sandal that she says at the end no one should ever have.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Rackport men's Darwin fisherman sandal. And I think that tells you everything you need to know about it without even seeing it. Those are quintessential 90s dad sandals, I think.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I don't hate them. I'm not going to lie.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Don't hate them. If you're a dad from the 90s, I think you should wear them. They've got four and a half stars, 3,000 reviews. So I'll push back on her with that one. But all the other ones valid.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I like everything she had to say about, especially the one about if you're going to need to buy multiple other things to make this one item work. I have had so many experiences, experiences of that there Was this one shirt in particular that I got on clearance. I think I got it for $2.50.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
How it always. You get it at the thrift store or on clearance?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, yeah, that was, that was the gateway drug. And it was this long sleeve baby blue sheer top. And I thought, this is gonna be my foray. How do you say that word? Yeah. This is gonna be my entrance into wearing something a little more cool and edgy. And then I get it home and I have nothing to wear it under. And I'm not one of those girls who's just gonna wear a bra and a sheer top. I. I am not that person. So I never wore.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, I never.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
No, you never saw me in it. No one did. And then I put it at the thrift store and that was me not helping the environment.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. I mean, it happens to all of us. I really. The one where she was like buying something because it fits your body type. I thought buying immediately correlated it to your colors. Like buying something because it's in your, like, color type. Because now, like so many people have gotten their colors done. We've gotten our colors done. And there's. There are colors in my swath. What is it called?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Swatch.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
In my collection.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Swath of.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Swath of swatches. There are just.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
There are colors in there I just don't like, like. And I'm not going to wear them just because they quote, unquote, look good on me. Like yellow.
Stylist Expert
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Pretty much any yellow in any shade. Yeah. I'm not going to wear.
Stylist Expert
Right.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Well, I think it can be a good guide. But then I think not buying something that you do love and you would wear just because it's not your colors would also potentially be a mistake.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Or getting rid of stuff that you do wear all the time just because someone says it. Yeah. Isn't your best color.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. So that one spoke to me.
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Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
category is what interior decorators won't buy. And I think this will help a lot of us with our overspending on decor at TJ Maxx Ross Target, where we're going to have our own tip as well. It's like Jill's classic tip, but let's hear from the experts.
Interior Designer Expert
First, I want to talk about this article and this one, and why I decided I'm never buying new furniture again. As someone who's in the interior design industry, I mean, maybe I will, but I'm going to try not to. So we all have heard about fast fashion, but about 9 billion tons of furniture is being thrown away into the landfill every year. And most of that is furniture that was just made in the past 10 to 15 years. So this is our first red flag. Because how many of you have pieces of furniture from your grandparents and pieces of furniture that you bought five years ago that don't look so good? So the New York Times article talks about Crate and Barrel and how Crate and Barrel is fast furniture. And in the comments of the article people are pretty pissed about that because it's not cheap and that brand has a pretty good reputation. So how dare you call it fast furniture. The Vox article, I think actually addresses this really well. It's saying that the quality of things that we're buying has really decreased in the past 10 years. And we as consumers are conditioned to think that, you know, we need the newest, hottest things and upgrading our stuff is best practice. And you know, we're trying to keep up with trends. We have expectations for how much things cost, but material costs have skyrocketed. So something's gotta give and they end up using lower quality materials. So the Crate and Barrel of today isn't the same as she.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, I mean we've talked so much about this phenomenon of getting so much less for the same amount or less for more money. Speaking of Crate and Barrel, my sister was just sending me photos the other day of comforter. She's getting some stuff they just moved and stuff for her kids room. And she liked this one Crate and Barrel comforter that said it was 100% cotton. But then in the reviews, people were showing pictures of the tag saying 100% polyester. So brands can also just lie.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
That happens all the time. People like across the board, especially on Amazon saying it's 100% cotton and people get it and it's 100% polyester. Yeah, yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Insane. I mean, so check the tag and get your money back. But I don't know what to tell you about where to buy from anymore.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
But yeah, definitely not the fast furniture. The stuff that just isn't gonna last. And because it looks like fast furniture then we feel as though, oh yeah, we should be swapping it every three to five years.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. Because it's not looking good. Just keep what you have. Keep what you have until it literally is falling apart.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. Take the stuff from your grandparents house.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I have, my coffee table is my grandmother's.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, I mean, you know what, make sure you have their permission.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
My grandmother is dead, so.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
And get from the thrift store, consignment stores. There are so many places that have pre owned things that are going to be solid wood, real metals and stand the test of time.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
This is one of those places where you can spend more to get the quality and it will last forever. Right. Like we're saying that for secondhand consignment stuff type stuff. You can't say that anymore for, for new stuff like the Crate and Barrel
Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities
and the West Elm.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
It's just you cannot say it anymore. For new items, you can only say it. You can't even say it for just cars anymore. Like it's. So the furniture, I feel like is. Is that one. One of those last places where you really can spend more to get a lifetime piece?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. And to underscore this concept, we got this next video.
Thrift Store Home Decor Expert
There are five things that I would absolutely never buy new. Number one, lamps. Thrift stores are loaded with brass and ceramic lamps. Absolutely beautiful and great quality and really unique. Number two, picture frames. They were incredibly expensive. And shopping for them secondhand, you can change the look to make them fit into exactly what you want. And again, thrift stores, there's no shortage. Number three, curtain rods. You're going to put curtains and drapery in your house. Hit the thrift store first. Secondhand marketplace guarantee you will find curtain rods for a fraction of the price. Number four, mirrors. Again, this is something that's a little pricier when you buy it new. And you can find really unique, beautiful pieces that are excellent quality secondhand. There is again, no shortage of these when you're at the thrift store. And number five, again, something I see all the time when I'm junking baskets. They're so easy to clean up. I have an entire video on how you can clean them up. If you want the link to it,
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
let me know in the comments.
Thrift Store Home Decor Expert
But you can literally transform any basket into something that you want. So before you go buy things new, those are five things that I would definitely save from a landfill. And save your pocketbook.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
That's so good. Like just putting a parameter on something being like, okay, lamps. Lamps are so expensive. So dumb.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Lamp shades are so expensive. If even just lamp shades, if that's all you need, go to a thrift store.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, frames, baskets, mirrors.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I can co sign literally every single one of these things. Yes.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Busting at the scenes. Don't buy them new. Refuse to buy them.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
New curtain rods are so expensive. If you have ever moved and needed to hang new curtain rods, you know, how in the world are they? $80 for one. For one. That's what you're going to pay. At least new. And that's, that's at a Ross or Home goods, who knows at these other stores. So yeah, no, go to the thrift store.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, go to the thrift store. Do not buy them new. You just you got it, you got to put a it. And if you have any other like if you're a home decor girly, let
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
us know in the comments.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
If there if you have any other ideas to add to that list, I
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
would add pots, planter pots. They are so expensive and I have such luck at the thrift store. Maybe you're going to have to hunt a little longer if you're needing a big pot. They do exist though, but certainly your medium size to small ones. You do not have to pay full price going to Home Depot. Plus they're going to be so lame. They're going to be so boring. So much more fun when you can find them at the thrift store. Yes, just literally everything find used really. But those are, those are the heavy hitters.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I'm going to say we saved the best for last. This is my favorite one. Here's what doctors won't buy because It's a waste of money.
Doctor/Medical Expert
These are products that I avoid as a doctor because they are either unnecessary, harmful or both. First is supplements that are not a third party tested. In one recent study of sports supplements in particular, the investigators found that 40% of supplements that they looked at did not actually contain the active ingredient that they reported that they contained. 89% did not report the correct concentration and actually 12% contained FDA prohibited ingredients. And it's not that I'm against supplements. We know that carefully selected supplements in the right people can be health promoting. But because supplements are not FDA regulated, I always look for supplements that have third party testing. Second is plant based skin care. As someone who has sensitive skin, I am sorry if this bursts your bubble. A lot of products are greenwashed these days and they claim that because they only have natural or plant based ingredients they are less likely to cause skin issues, irritation or other health problems. But the opposite is actually true. In studies of these types of products they found that the majority of them actually contain at least one known irritant that is known to cause contact dermatitis which is a type of inflammation of the skin. Obviously an extreme example is poison ivy. It is natural, it is a plant, it will your skin. Do you remember one time I got a plant based facial at this super high end spot. It was really fancy, wonderful experience but my skin looked like I had a terrible sunburn for four days. And last number three is alkaline water or any product really that claims to like balance your pH. Please remember this, your own body regulates your pH and very tightly between 7.35 and 7.45. Even very small variations outside this range will be close to immediately corrected by your two main organs that regulate pH, which is your lungs and your kidneys. Plus, you have to remember that the highly acidic environment of your stomach will neutralize pretty much any substance that you put into it in like normal quantities. So unless you have kidney disease or lung disease, your body has your PH covered. You don't need to buy a special product to help you.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I love her so much.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I. I don't know her, but I love her and I trust her with my life. And. Is that what you're supposed to do with doctors online? But, like, it's just reiterates why we don't ever read ads for supplements. I don't care how helpful it has been for you or for anyone. Like, we're just. We're just not gonna do it.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
We've turned down so much money, greenwashed
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
products, like a ton of those, which is like the plant based skin care. It sounds great. It's like ESG funds. Like, for a while we thought ESG funds were, you know, so great and sustainable and heading in the right direction and then come to find out later that it was all a sham for, you know, rich people. But I digress. Everything's getting greenwashed. Yeah. And then also the pH water. We just had Airbnb guests check out and they left behind two huge plastic jugs of alkalinized water. And I was like, you should have just gotten some Zephyr Hills gallons. Would have been a lot cheaper. Would have done the same thing. Yeah, well, but I don't know if they had kidney or lung disease, so.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Right. Yeah, we don't. We don't know. I think here we go. A little bit of optimism and hope for us. Because, yes, while everything is getting worse and the place feels like it's burning and nearly every episode we put out feels like it's ruining one more thing for you.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Do you hate that for us or are you like, with us? Please let us know. Like, can you. Can you just please let us know? Like, stop. Or like, I'm with you. I hate it here too.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Like, the more we know, it seems the more things get ruined and that. That's really unfortunate. It does. But we can't stop it.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
That's the point for us.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You know, if we stay blind, then we play in to it. But if we can find this balance between knowledge and avoiding nihilism, I think we can find happiness.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
But What I was going to say.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Well, things.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
No, you're good. While things are, you know, burning all around us. The good thing is the free way is probably the better way that one of the silver linings in this burning, chaotic, upside down, disheartening, disappointing environment that we're in is that we don't have to get all the products. We can opt out and we are probably making better decisions for ourselves. We can do the lymphatic drainage, whatever. We can be on that train with our own little thingies. We can do our own face massages and not need to buy something for it. We can be hydrated with the water that comes out of our refrigerator. We can have all the dopamine and belonging that we need with friends in our community. Like, we can opt out. We can choose to not spend money and we could live better lives than if we were to think that I've got to have a 15 step skincare routine and special water and all these supplements. The basic, simple way is probably better. And that feels hopeful to me. Less is more. Except for when it comes to this part of our episodes.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
The pill of the Week.
Cridelio Quattro Dog Parasite Protection Announcer
The pill of the week.
Podcast Narrator/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.
Listener Sharing Bill of the Week Story
Hey, Jen and Jill. I have been listening to the podcast for many years and I love it. It keeps me motivated to stick to my budget and keep hitting my goals.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I wanted to share a little story
Listener Sharing Bill of the Week Story
for my Bill of the Week about a time I had a really bad haircut about five or six years ago. I spent around $300 on it and said never again because I didn't even like it. So I went home, I learned how to cut my own hair and now I always have a haircut that I love. It even prompted me to learn how to cut my husband and my son's hair. And I've calculated it saved me probably $5,000 over the last few years. No shade to the amazing hairdressers out there, but this is one bill that I am so happy that I don't
Interior Designer Expert
have to pay anymore.
Listener Sharing Bill of the Week Story
Have a great day,
Stylist Expert
girl.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I need to see a picture of this haircut. Actually. Yes, I cannot like, cannot and will not and maybe could, but should not.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I don't know if you can base this off of the sound of somebody's voice, but you sound competent. You sound like you would give yourself a good haircut. You sound like someone I might trust with a pair of scissors.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You don't sound like you have a bowl cut and that now your entire family has a bowl cut and you are a family of bowl cuts.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Can we base that off of someone's voice? You're identifying it exactly. Not picturing bowl cut, but like if
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
you were all bowl cut like heads. That's so cool. Honestly. So, so legit and unhinged and I would want that maybe more. Oh, man.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
If you do have a picture, I don't even know, could you send it? Send it to us in a dm.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
If you have. If you have anybody's family and everybody has bowl cuts, send that picture to us, please.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
It's amazing to me the number of Frugal Friends listeners who tell us that they cut their own hair. They have learned to cut their own hair. That's next level. We're not out here thinking that that's what you got to do to be a frugal person. But I am amazed at how many of you are doing it. And so if that's you, help me out. I gotta know who are you following? Who's teaching you? Who getting these skills from?
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Is it.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Are you just watching the one ponytail girl who pulls it up in a ponytail and is that the cut we're all doing or are there more skills like show me the vids they have me the lace hair.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Do they have curly hair?
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
We. I don't know.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Because I don't know. I feel like curly hair can hide a multitude of sins, but you cut a centimeter too much.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And you got a bowl cut.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Subscribe to us on YouTube and then. And then also comment with your secrets. That'd be great.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
We won't be able to see your comment unless you're subscribed.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, what she said. Well done. Thanks for sharing your bill about your bad haircut turned into you becoming a hairstylist. Well done. If you are listening and have a bill that you want to share, if it has to do with diying even the most insane thing or your name is Bill or you have anything bill related. Frugalfriends podcast.com bill can't wait.
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Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Okay, before we get into the lightning round, I did tease to the people that you have a rule for home decor. Oh yeah, you did tease and I thought I totally forgot. Okay, let's talk about that.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
So what you got to do is if you are shopping the home decor stuff and you think you like something because it looks so good, you take that thing and you march your cute little self to the trash can aisle with that thing you thought was so cute and set it up on the shelves in the trash can aisle. Is it still cute?
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Is it still like it? Instead of between two ferns, it's between two trash cans. It's the trash can test.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Does it pass the trash can test? And. And passing the trash can test means it's still cute. I still want it standalone. It's adorable. This will add so much character to my home. And not. And not passing the trash can test is. You know what? Yeah. Taken out of the decor aisle, surrounded by other aesthetically pleasing things, this does not look like anything remarkable that I want to spend any amount of money on.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
This bust of Abraham Lincoln. Seems strange now.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Now you put your baby up there and you're like, oh, that baby is still cute. Between trash can. I'm gonna take that one home. Right. And then you leave. Abraham Lincoln. I haven't been in Target for a while, so I don't know, like, what decor they have right now, but it's always, like a weird fake plant. Abraham Lincoln and a wooden circle like this.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yes, yes. Always with the wooden circles.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. And so that is put a trash can on top.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
You know, our other hot take is just decorate with what you already have. Just don't buy anything new and use what you already have. Shop your own house into it. All right.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. The lightning round. What's something you're an expert in that you see people waste their money on? Obviously, we are finance experts.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Can you believe it? That's a crazy thing to say. I mean, it's not that crazy, but it is. Okay. Yes. I'm going to own it. I'm a finance expert.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You had a personal finance podcast for eight years. Yeah. Don't undervalue yourself.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You have receipts.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Thank you.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You're an author.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Thank you. Okay, so here's what I would say is not having a high yield savings account. You are wasting money by not having a high yield savings account. All high yield savings account is going to do is like, attempt to keep up with inflation. We're not talking. We're making tons of money on it. But if you've just got cash sitting in a checking account or sitting in a regular savings account, you are missing out on. I mean, it varies, but 3, 4% that your money could be making annually, and that. That's just a waste.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And that's how much the cost of living is going up annuals. So if you don't want to have to add more to your emergency fund every year, keep it in a high yield savings account, because then that. Like that. I'm studying trusts Right now. So that corpus. Oh no, I can't think of the basis the, the amount of money that you put in there originally. Principal. Amount, Principal. Okay, I, I had that word. I was like, is that right? I'm so confused right now. That stays there. That buying power exists even with inflation. So 100%. Yes.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Again, I use the one at CIT. They typically have the best APY offered. So frugalfriendspodcast.com CIT but if you also want to just be able to explore and bounce around high yield savings accounts to be sure you're getting the highest raisin is a good option for you. Frugalfriendspodcast.com Raisin.
Sponsor Representative (Quince/Policygenius/Butcherbox)
We'll link both in the description.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yes. Okay. For me it is my ever present favorite investment fee that people are still wasting their money on because they don't care. It's the 12B1 fee.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
You love to talk about this.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I love to talk about the 12B1 fee. Do you know what the 12B1 fee is? No. Okay, I'll tell you. So when you go to a commission based investment advisor and you're like, oh, I don't have a lot of money and I just want somebody else to invest it, manage it for me because I don't want to think about it. You are paying a 12B1 fee 100%. Like if you're paying your advisor and you know you're paying a 1% assets under management fee and that's it, that's a flat fee, then you're not paying this. But if you're, you know, just like paying a guy every time you invest, they take a little off the top. You are definitely paying this fee and it is an advertising fee for the mutual fund. So you are paying their advertising fee to get more people into their ecosystem. They're not paying the marketing, you're paying it with your money that should be being invested in your ira. But no, it's going to their firm to market their their fund. So that's a 12b1 fee in a nutshell. And I am not paying for you to market your fund, sir. I am contributing to my IRA and that's where I want the money to go. And that's why you should only be using fee only advisors, not commission based.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
So you know what's going to happen when we become CFPs is we're not going to charge you a 12v1 fee. We're not even going to charge you
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
1% assets under management because we're not going to do that. Manage your assets.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
We're going to be. We're going to help you attainable for the common person. That's right.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
We're going to help you manage them. Tell you how to manage them.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, we will. Thanks for being here, everyone. And thank you for reading our book. And for those of you who have left a review of our book. Buy what you love without going broke. Like this one from Ellie. Five stars says fantastic book. Really insightful view into how we often spend unconsciously, probably subconsciously is what they meant but. And how we can make some simple shifts to make our spending aligned with our values. The chapter on manufactured desire is mind blowing. Plenty of practical advice, all given in a way to help you create the right solution for you in your season.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I don't know about you, but I make some of my worst spending decisions when I'm unconscious.
Interior Designer Expert
Messages.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
So thank you, Ellie. And if you're still with us, Please subscribe on YouTube. Even if you're on audio, you could just hop over to YouTube, press subscribe and then head back over to Spotify or Apple. It helps so much in helping us spread this message further and wider so people don't waste their money on things that are crap. We hate that.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. See you next time.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Bye. Frugal Friends is produced by Eric Sirianni.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Okay, actually real talk. Oh, Eric did buy me an apple slicer for Christmas.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Oh, I actually own an apple slicer.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I will say that I ever would have bought for myself and I was tempted to return admit. But the thing is I return. We both return every single gift we get for each other. And it was so thoughtful because I do eat an apple a day. Literally.
Sponsor Representative (Quince/Policygenius/Butcherbox)
You do.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You actually do eat an apple a day.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
I don't mind cutting it up but he was just thinking this is going to be such a help to you. Honestly, most of the time I forget I have an apple slicer and I still just use the knife life. But when I do remember, it's. It's convenient. Yeah, it is a one use slicer.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah. We've had an apple slicer for a long time and we actually do use it for the kids. But sometimes I don't use it. Sometimes I will just use a knife.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And sometimes it gets weird with the core like.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, so.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
So it's not great. But Travis, if he's cutting an apple exclusively, he will use it. He refuses to use a knife. So if I got rid of it,
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
he would be like, where is the apple slicer? Yes, the apple slicer kind of scares me too. Like on a plate, I can slice an apple with a knife, but the slicer, you have to press down so hard and it's hard to understand the right amount of pressure to put on it that I'm convinced that if I were to do it on my ceramic plates, I would break them.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You would?
Sponsor Representative (Quince/Policygenius/Butcherbox)
Oh, yeah.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
You need a lot of effort to get through the apple. Yeah.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
So there's that too.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
Yeah, but you know.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
So we're not perfect.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
We're not. I'm close.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Right. And I'm a robot.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
So you're like 99% perfect.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
No, you are.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
I'm 98%.
Jill (Frugal Friends co-host)
Oh, wow. And once we pass the CFP, we'll be 100%, both of us, just perfection.
Jen (Frugal Friends co-host)
And everyone will have to listen to how much we think that we will be insufferable more than we already are.
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Episode Title: People Share Things They Never Buy to Save Money
Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni | Backyard Ventures
Release Date: June 12, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode centers on items that experts in various fields—culinary, fashion, home décor, and healthcare—actively avoid purchasing, and why. The focus is on smarter, value-based decision making to help listeners save money and avoid waste. Jen and Jill integrate expert advice, personal anecdotes, and their signature blend of empathy and humor.
Segment Start: 04:52
Professional Chef and Cookbook Author’s Don’t Buys:
Former Chef with Social Media Presence’s Don’t Buys:
Hosts’ Reflection:
Segment Start: 13:51
Stylist Expert’s Don’t Buys:
Jen & Jill Comment:
Segment Start: 20:26
Interior Design Industry:
Thrift Store Home Decor Expert’s Never-Buys-New: [24:45]
Jill's "Trash Can Test":
Additional Pro-Tip: Planter pots at thrift stores are a steal and more interesting than new!
Segment Start: 27:31
Doctor/Medical Expert’s Don’t Buys:
Jen & Jill React:
Segment Start: 33:43
Listener Bill of the Week:
Hosts’ Response:
Segment Start: 41:24
Casual, witty, candid, supportive, and action-focused. Jen and Jill keep things light-hearted—laughing at their own foibles—while still delivering practical, sometimes hard-hitting truths from experts and their own experiences.
Opt out of pressure and hype—choose less, but better. Prioritize quality, buy secondhand, and use your own judgment (and maybe the Trash Can Test!) before reaching for your wallet. The simple route is usually the frugal and freeing one.