The Self-Care Industry Is Making Us Broke

Frugal Friends Podcast: The Self-Care Industry Is Making Us Broke

Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: May 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Jen and Jill tackle the booming, often overwhelming self-care industry and its surprising impact on our wallets and well-being. Through candid discussion, sharp critiques of viral trends, and plenty of humor, they expose how modern self-care—especially as portrayed on social media—has shifted from a tool for true well-being to a marketing juggernaut pushing over-consumption, impossible routines, and impulse purchases. The hosts offer a refreshing, grounded perspective on what real self-care looks like and practical advice for practicing it without breaking the bank.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Absurdity of Mainstream “Self-Care” Trends

Timestamps: [01:11]–[05:52], [11:10]–[14:35]

Jen and Jill play and dissect viral “self-care” video clips, notably one recommending an hour and a half of daily walking plus 30 minutes of strength training, clean eating, and “15,000 steps per day.”
- Jen (sarcastically): “You just have to…just an hour and a half every morning at the gym plus 30 minutes of strength training...and you’re going to be, most importantly, hot.” [03:10]
- Jill: “It’s so crazy though, because self care is actually supposed to not exhaust you...”
They highlight the rise of the “everything shower” trend—a marathon of beauty products and elaborate routines that make self-care seem like an endless to-do.
- Jill: “We think the more we do the better the results…But then we associate self care with taking a lot of time, and if we don’t have the time...it can put a really big barrier in place.” [14:02]
Underlying theme: Complicated self-care rituals, promoted online, signal that we must spend more time and money for results, fueling unrealistic standards.

2. The Commodification and Marketing of Self-Care

Timestamps: [10:04], [14:35]–[16:37]

Self-care has become synonymous with consumption. Jill and Jen point out that influencers and brands increasingly sell products as “essential” for self-care.
- Jen: “People who are normalizing that kind of rhetoric are playing into the over-consumption piece of it.”
Even simple acts of self-care (a peaceful shower or waxing) end up feeling like chores under the pressure of social media expectations.

3. Retail Therapy: The “Pick-Me-Up” Trap

Timestamps: [19:30]–[23:42]

They examine the cycle of using shopping as self-care—citing videos where buying makeup, clothes, or even small trinkets is framed as emotional revitalization.
- Retail Therapy Commentator: “Retail therapy stops working at some point…instead of making you feel better, it makes you feel worse because now you’re like, I know I didn’t need this.”
Jill warns that retail therapy can create habits and coping mechanisms that drain finances and clutter homes.
- Jill: “It didn’t actually hit the mark. It wasn’t actually self care, it was self-sabotage. And now we’re back in this cycle…”

4. Rethinking What Self-Care Actually Means

Timestamps: [08:29]–[10:04], [24:27]–[27:45]

Jill’s concise definition: “Self care is self…that. It starts with that foundation of knowing who you are, what makes you tick, what works when you feel in a funk…It must be rooted in a good understanding of who we are and what we need.”
They advocate a holistic, personalized approach that considers emotional, mental, physical, relational, and financial health—not just aesthetics or trend-following.
The “basics” matter most (hydration, sleep, movement, setting boundaries, etc.)
- Wellness Advocate Clip: “Wellness looks very different when you’re broke…it’s silence in the morning, meditation…going to bed earlier, drinking more water…Maybe we just need to be.” [24:08]

5. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a Self-Care Filter

Timestamps: [25:30]–[31:07]

The hosts introduce Maslow’s hierarchy as a framework for identifying unmet needs instead of reflexively spending:
- Jen: “Every purchase we make fulfills some kind of need… If you can understand this hierarchy, you can make much more informed decisions about the purchases that you’re making, what the insecurity or gap is behind them, and then figure out what you can actually do to solve the root of the problem instead of spending money.”
Examples: If you lack sleep or hydration (physiological needs), fix those rather than “treat” the problem with a shopping spree.
Self-actualization is often misunderstood; many use shopping or “creative” shower routines to try to meet this need for fulfillment, but there are better, cheaper alternatives.

6. Practical, Low/No-Cost Self-Care Alternatives

Timestamps: [31:07]–[34:12], Lightning Round [41:22]–[44:44]

Move your body in ways that feel good (walk, stretch, nap).
Tend to safety and stability through financial decisions (save money, pay debt).
Connect with friends or supportive communities.
Engage in esteem-boosting activities (learn, create, organize).
Practice creativity at home, e.g., redecorate, try new recipes, rearrange furniture.
Hosts and listeners share their own self-care wins, like dark chocolate, a regular sleep schedule, or walks outdoors.
- Jen: “Steps have been like more integral in my life…I take a 20-minute walk in the morning…that sets me up for a good day.” [41:49]

7. Frugal Wins: “Bill of the Week”

Timestamps: [34:27]–[38:44]

Listener Liza bought popular brand-name lip gloss for her daughter by snagging new, discounted items on Poshmark, using the “Make an Offer” feature for even deeper savings.
- Jill: “Either buy the name brand lip gloss now or pay $200 an hour for their [therapy] later…”
Emphasis: Self-care (and parenting) doesn’t require paying premium prices—savvy shopping is empowering and budget-friendly.

Notable Quotes and Moments

Jill (on retail therapy): “It didn’t actually hit the mark. It didn’t actually resolve whatever I was dealing with. It wasn’t actually self care, it was self sabotage.” [22:22]
Jen (on why we overspend on self-care): “When you haven’t defined self care and figured out what it looks for you, then people on the Internet can sell you.” [10:04]
Jill (on over-complicated routines): “We make things more complex because we associate things that we don’t understand with being of higher intelligence when really it’s this complexity that leads to everything showers and just…everything.” [13:25]
Wellness Advocate Clip: “Wellness isn’t matcha lattes and pilates studios…Maybe we just need to be. If you have breath you have life, and that’s one of the wealthiest things you can have.” [24:15]

Timestamps for Essential Segments

[01:11] Satirical breakdown of “hot-girl” self-care routines
[10:04] The commodification of self-care, why people fall for it
[11:10] “Everything shower” and product overload critique
[19:30] Retail therapy as a false solution
[24:27] Back to basics—true affordable self-care
[25:30] Using Maslow’s Hierarchy for better self-care decisions
[31:07] Practical alternatives to spending in the name of self-care
[34:27] “Bill of the Week”—frugal parenting win
[41:22] Lightning Round: Hosts’ favorite mindful self-care habits

Tone & Language

Conversational, witty, and self-aware.
Honest about their own struggles and wins (“I don’t know if I care about myself or hate myself, so I’m running a marathon.” [04:34])
Empathetic, validating listeners’ experiences and encouraging a nonjudgmental approach.
Directly challenge the industry’s messaging and call out monetary motivations behind self-care trends.

Final Takeaways

Self-care is foundational and personal—it shouldn’t cost a fortune, become a chore, or create more stress.
Don’t let social media, marketers, or influencers tell you what you need: define your own needs and ways to care for yourself.
Check your motivations before spending in the name of self-care; make sure it truly serves you, not just your momentary mood.
Simple, mindful alternatives work—and often work better—for long-term well-being and financial health.

Want more? Subscribe to Frugal Friends for more down-to-earth, practical wisdom on saving money, spending with intention, and creating genuine, sustainable well-being.

Frugal Friends Podcast: The Self-Care Industry Is Making Us Broke

Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: May 1, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Absurdity of Mainstream “Self-Care” Trends

Timestamps: [01:11]–[05:52], [11:10]–[14:35]

Jen and Jill play and dissect viral “self-care” video clips, notably one recommending an hour and a half of daily walking plus 30 minutes of strength training, clean eating, and “15,000 steps per day.”
- Jen (sarcastically): “You just have to…just an hour and a half every morning at the gym plus 30 minutes of strength training...and you’re going to be, most importantly, hot.” [03:10]
- Jill: “It’s so crazy though, because self care is actually supposed to not exhaust you...”
They highlight the rise of the “everything shower” trend—a marathon of beauty products and elaborate routines that make self-care seem like an endless to-do.
- Jill: “We think the more we do the better the results…But then we associate self care with taking a lot of time, and if we don’t have the time...it can put a really big barrier in place.” [14:02]
Underlying theme: Complicated self-care rituals, promoted online, signal that we must spend more time and money for results, fueling unrealistic standards.

2. The Commodification and Marketing of Self-Care

Timestamps: [10:04], [14:35]–[16:37]

Self-care has become synonymous with consumption. Jill and Jen point out that influencers and brands increasingly sell products as “essential” for self-care.
- Jen: “People who are normalizing that kind of rhetoric are playing into the over-consumption piece of it.”
Even simple acts of self-care (a peaceful shower or waxing) end up feeling like chores under the pressure of social media expectations.

3. Retail Therapy: The “Pick-Me-Up” Trap

Timestamps: [19:30]–[23:42]

They examine the cycle of using shopping as self-care—citing videos where buying makeup, clothes, or even small trinkets is framed as emotional revitalization.
- Retail Therapy Commentator: “Retail therapy stops working at some point…instead of making you feel better, it makes you feel worse because now you’re like, I know I didn’t need this.”
Jill warns that retail therapy can create habits and coping mechanisms that drain finances and clutter homes.
- Jill: “It didn’t actually hit the mark. It wasn’t actually self care, it was self-sabotage. And now we’re back in this cycle…”

4. Rethinking What Self-Care Actually Means

Timestamps: [08:29]–[10:04], [24:27]–[27:45]

Jill’s concise definition: “Self care is self…that. It starts with that foundation of knowing who you are, what makes you tick, what works when you feel in a funk…It must be rooted in a good understanding of who we are and what we need.”
They advocate a holistic, personalized approach that considers emotional, mental, physical, relational, and financial health—not just aesthetics or trend-following.
The “basics” matter most (hydration, sleep, movement, setting boundaries, etc.)
- Wellness Advocate Clip: “Wellness looks very different when you’re broke…it’s silence in the morning, meditation…going to bed earlier, drinking more water…Maybe we just need to be.” [24:08]

5. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a Self-Care Filter

Timestamps: [25:30]–[31:07]

The hosts introduce Maslow’s hierarchy as a framework for identifying unmet needs instead of reflexively spending:
- Jen: “Every purchase we make fulfills some kind of need… If you can understand this hierarchy, you can make much more informed decisions about the purchases that you’re making, what the insecurity or gap is behind them, and then figure out what you can actually do to solve the root of the problem instead of spending money.”
Examples: If you lack sleep or hydration (physiological needs), fix those rather than “treat” the problem with a shopping spree.
Self-actualization is often misunderstood; many use shopping or “creative” shower routines to try to meet this need for fulfillment, but there are better, cheaper alternatives.

6. Practical, Low/No-Cost Self-Care Alternatives

Timestamps: [31:07]–[34:12], Lightning Round [41:22]–[44:44]

Move your body in ways that feel good (walk, stretch, nap).
Tend to safety and stability through financial decisions (save money, pay debt).
Connect with friends or supportive communities.
Engage in esteem-boosting activities (learn, create, organize).
Practice creativity at home, e.g., redecorate, try new recipes, rearrange furniture.
Hosts and listeners share their own self-care wins, like dark chocolate, a regular sleep schedule, or walks outdoors.
- Jen: “Steps have been like more integral in my life…I take a 20-minute walk in the morning…that sets me up for a good day.” [41:49]

7. Frugal Wins: “Bill of the Week”

Timestamps: [34:27]–[38:44]

Listener Liza bought popular brand-name lip gloss for her daughter by snagging new, discounted items on Poshmark, using the “Make an Offer” feature for even deeper savings.
- Jill: “Either buy the name brand lip gloss now or pay $200 an hour for their [therapy] later…”
Emphasis: Self-care (and parenting) doesn’t require paying premium prices—savvy shopping is empowering and budget-friendly.

Notable Quotes and Moments

Jill (on retail therapy): “It didn’t actually hit the mark. It didn’t actually resolve whatever I was dealing with. It wasn’t actually self care, it was self sabotage.” [22:22]
Jen (on why we overspend on self-care): “When you haven’t defined self care and figured out what it looks for you, then people on the Internet can sell you.” [10:04]
Jill (on over-complicated routines): “We make things more complex because we associate things that we don’t understand with being of higher intelligence when really it’s this complexity that leads to everything showers and just…everything.” [13:25]
Wellness Advocate Clip: “Wellness isn’t matcha lattes and pilates studios…Maybe we just need to be. If you have breath you have life, and that’s one of the wealthiest things you can have.” [24:15]

Timestamps for Essential Segments

[01:11] Satirical breakdown of “hot-girl” self-care routines
[10:04] The commodification of self-care, why people fall for it
[11:10] “Everything shower” and product overload critique
[19:30] Retail therapy as a false solution
[24:27] Back to basics—true affordable self-care
[25:30] Using Maslow’s Hierarchy for better self-care decisions
[31:07] Practical alternatives to spending in the name of self-care
[34:27] “Bill of the Week”—frugal parenting win
[41:22] Lightning Round: Hosts’ favorite mindful self-care habits

Tone & Language

Conversational, witty, and self-aware.
Honest about their own struggles and wins (“I don’t know if I care about myself or hate myself, so I’m running a marathon.” [04:34])
Empathetic, validating listeners’ experiences and encouraging a nonjudgmental approach.
Directly challenge the industry’s messaging and call out monetary motivations behind self-care trends.

Final Takeaways

Self-care is foundational and personal—it shouldn’t cost a fortune, become a chore, or create more stress.
Don’t let social media, marketers, or influencers tell you what you need: define your own needs and ways to care for yourself.
Check your motivations before spending in the name of self-care; make sure it truly serves you, not just your momentary mood.
Simple, mindful alternatives work—and often work better—for long-term well-being and financial health.

Want more? Subscribe to Frugal Friends for more down-to-earth, practical wisdom on saving money, spending with intention, and creating genuine, sustainable well-being.

wavePod

Summary

Frugal Friends Podcast: The Self-Care Industry Is Making Us Broke

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Absurdity of Mainstream “Self-Care” Trends

2. The Commodification and Marketing of Self-Care

3. Retail Therapy: The “Pick-Me-Up” Trap

4. Rethinking What Self-Care Actually Means

5. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a Self-Care Filter

6. Practical, Low/No-Cost Self-Care Alternatives

7. Frugal Wins: “Bill of the Week”

Notable Quotes and Moments

Timestamps for Essential Segments

Tone & Language

Final Takeaways

Transcript

Summary

Frugal Friends Podcast: The Self-Care Industry Is Making Us Broke

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Absurdity of Mainstream “Self-Care” Trends

2. The Commodification and Marketing of Self-Care

3. Retail Therapy: The “Pick-Me-Up” Trap

4. Rethinking What Self-Care Actually Means

5. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a Self-Care Filter

6. Practical, Low/No-Cost Self-Care Alternatives

7. Frugal Wins: “Bill of the Week”

Notable Quotes and Moments

Timestamps for Essential Segments

Tone & Language

Final Takeaways