Frugal Friends Podcast
Episode: What ACTUALLY Works to Save Money in 2026 | New Save Money Tips
Hosts: Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni
Date: December 23, 2025
Overview
In this lively and insightful episode, Jen and Jill focus on what truly works to save money in 2026, sharing 13 innovative, tech-forward, or recently trending money-saving ideas. They set out to go beyond tired, recycled advice (like making coffee at home) and present strategies and tools that many listeners haven't tried—or even heard of—before.
The tone is fun, conversational, and supportive, with the hosts frequently ribbing each other and sharing real-life experiences. Their goal: to empower listeners with actionable tips, a sense of humor, and a reminder that there are always new ways to gain control over spending.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Auto-Track Price Drops (05:22)
- What’s new: Modern browsers (like Google Chrome) now have built-in features that auto-track price changes on most shopping sites, not just Amazon.
- How it works: The Chrome shopping bag icon shows 90-day price history. Many retailers honor price drop reimbursements if prices drop within a couple of weeks of purchase.
- Extensions mentioned: DistillIO lets you select any part of a webpage (like a price) and get notified about changes.
- Application: Works especially well on big-ticket items like flights, hotels, and cruises. Tools like Google Flights and niche cruise alert sites now provide direct price-drop alerts.
"The technology has made this price drop auto tracking really more automated and robust ... you could check if the price drops even for a car." — Jen (10:45)
2. Never Pay Your Full Medical Bill Again (11:01)
- Nonprofit help: Dollar For helps determine eligibility for medical bill reduction or forgiveness, since most US hospitals (especially nonprofits) are required to assist based on income.
- Policy Update (2025): Households under 204% of the federal poverty level can qualify for free care; under 322% for discounted care (e.g., family of 4 with income of $103k).
- Tech tools: GoodBill and similar companies use AI to identify errors in medical bills and negotiate on your behalf for free (if they save you money, they charge a portion of the savings).
"[Dollar For] can help walk you through that process, help you to be able to negotiate your bill and really trim it down ... you can negotiate." — Jill (12:25)
3. Switch to Usage-Based Car Insurance (UBI) (16:33)
- For low-mileage/safe drivers: Progressive Snapshot was the original, now Nationwide, State Farm, and Geico offer similar pay-as-you-drive or pay-per-mile plans.
- Data-sharing: These policies collect driving data but can mean big discounts if you drive rarely, during the day, or safely.
"Now you can price compare ... If Progressive goes up for us, then I can go to Nationwide, State Farm, Geico and like see what their rate will be." — Jen (18:47)
4. Buy Refurbished Tech from Certified Marketplaces (19:33)
- Where to buy: Back Market, official Apple/Google/Amazon (carefully—choose "Premium Refurbished") marketplaces.
- Savings/Value: Save 30–50%, often with a warranty. Useful for laptops, tablets, kids’ tech, or backup devices.
- Sustainability/Repairs: Back Market even has a physical location in NYC for repairs, fighting 'planned obsolescence'.
"If you're buying anything for your kids, don't buy it new. They don't deserve it. They haven't worn it, worked for it. But also, refurbished." — Jen (23:10, in good humor)
5. Switch to Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) for High Yields (23:53)
- What's new: Online fintechs now offer high-yield savings and checking accounts (4–5% APY), not just for savings but also for daily spending.
- Caveat: Always check for the most up-to-date info, as these rates and account features change rapidly.
6. Debit Cards with Cash Back (25:26)
- Upgrade from the past: Debit cards like those from Discover, Upgrade, and STEP now offer meaningful cash back (1–2%) and special offers, closing the gap with credit card rewards for debit-preferred shoppers.
7. Grocery List Tools to Find Cheap Stores (28:02)
- App recommended: Flipp (with two “p”s) compiles local weekly grocery store flyers and allows users to compare prices for their shopping lists.
- Limitations: “Perfect” price-comparison apps are still mostly hype or fail to deliver, but Flipp is the best currently.
"The technology isn't there yet... [but] the Flip app right now is kind of our best." — Jen (31:40)
8. Switch to Community Solar or Virtual Solar Subscriptions (32:38)
- What it is: You “rent” the output of solar panels via a subscription—even as a renter, in an apartment, or for moderate electricity users.
- Typical savings: 10–20% off your power bill, especially useful for low-to-moderate usage.
9. Auto-Optimizing Credit Card Rewards (34:21)
- Cards like: Citi Custom Cash auto-detects your top spending category each month and gives you 5% back (no activation).
- Bilt Card 2.0 Update: As of Feb. 2026, pay mortgage via credit card and earn points (likely for a higher annual fee tier).
"You are going to be able to get points for paying your mortgage. My mind is blown." — Jill (37:09)
10. Virtual Used Car Inspections (38:34)
- For private sales: Platforms like iNeedAPPI.com let you hire a mechanic remotely (video call or on-site) for $20–$300 to inspect a used car before purchase, reducing buyer risk.
- Alternative: Sometimes driving the car to your own mechanic with the seller is also possible.
11. Leverage Rent Negotiation Tools (43:29)
- For renters: Tools like RentCast.io let you research current rent comparables in your area, strengthening your negotiating position with your landlord. Free and designed for landlords, but invaluable for tenants.
12. Participate in 'Library of Things' Networks (44:56)
- What it is: Nationwide explosion since 2020 of tool libraries, baby gear libraries, and peer-to-peer sharing (sometimes via sites like Huglo for paid borrowing, or MoochApp for creating a lending library with friends/family).
13. Card-Linked Local Dining and Shopping Offers (46:51)
- How it works: Link your card to offers (e.g., Rakuten in-store, Amex Offers, Chase Offers, Dosh), save automatically at local businesses—no more receipt uploads.
- Example: The InKind app lets you save at nice restaurants via card-linked offers.
"You can save 20 to 50 a month with zero effort, which I love." — Jen (47:06)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On New Tech:
- “This is our 574th episode of Frugal Friends. So we've talked about a lot of ways to save money... In this episode we are focusing on those new ways...” — Jen (02:26)
- On Medical Bill Negotiation:
- "His confidence that you can negotiate your hospital bill down 80% was so inspiring to me inside. I'm like, I could never. But...he's like, yes, I just will not give up until it is 20% of the original bill." — Jen (12:46)
- On Refurbished Tech Skepticism:
- “People are not talking about this one ... certified refurbished marketplaces... You're still going to spend 30-50% less.” — Jen (19:43)
- On Card-Linked Offers:
- "It’s what I hated about apps...you had to do so much legwork to save money. And I hate legwork. And this is very automatic." — Jen (47:06)
- Funniest Ongoing Gag:
- “If you're buying anything for your kids, don't buy it new. They don't deserve it. They haven't worn it, worked for it.” — Jen (23:10, jokingly)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [05:22] – Auto-track price drops: browser features & travel tools
- [11:01] – Negotiating medical bills: Dollar For & GoodBill
- [16:33] – Usage-based car insurance
- [19:33] – Buying refurbished tech
- [23:53] – High-yield banking-as-a-service
- [25:26] – Debit cards with meaningful cash back
- [28:02] – Grocery list/price comparison tools (Flipp app)
- [32:38] – Community and virtual solar subscriptions
- [34:21] – Auto-optimizing credit card rewards (Citi/Bilt)
- [38:34] – Virtual used car inspections
- [43:29] – Rent negotiation tools (RentCast.io)
- [44:56] – Library of Things networks (Huglo, MoochApp)
- [46:51] – Card-linked in-person dining/shopping offers
Lightning Round: AI—Friend or Foe? (53:45)
- Jen and Jill muse over how AI has helped (explaining complex finance topics in simple terms) and hindered (providing outdated or inaccurate info on savings tech), with some great banter about Microsoft’s “helpful” suggestions.
- "It gave me 90% wrong information for this episode ... I check when I use AI." — Jen (56:19)
Listener Bill of the Week (48:44)
- Lisa calls in to share her joy about paying for clear lens exchange surgery to improve her vision—echoing the show’s theme of spending where it really matters, after saving elsewhere.
Summary / Takeaways
- Embrace new tech for automated savings, but double-check sources before trusting AI or new apps.
- From healthcare and car insurance to groceries and travel, “set-it-and-forget-it” solutions abound—seek out the latest versions.
- Don’t neglect “old-school” approaches that are now upgraded with tech, like library borrowing or used tech buying.
- Keep your research current—financial tools, especially rates and app availability, change rapidly.
Resources Mentioned
- Price-trackers: Google Chrome, DistillIO, SkyScanner, Google Flights
- Medical bill help: Dollar For, GoodBill
- UBI insurers: Progressive, Nationwide, State Farm, Geico
- Refurbished tech: Back Market, Apple Refurbished, Amazon Premium Refurbished
- Banking: High-yield fintech banks offering checking/savings
- Debit cards: Discover, Upgrade, STEP
- Grocery apps: Flipp
- Community solar: State- and provider-specific options
- Credit cards: Citi Custom Cash, Bilt 2.0
- Car inspections: iNeedAPPI.com, mobile mechanics
- Rent negotiation: RentCast.io
- Library of Things: Huglo, MoochApp
- Card-linked offers: Rakuten, Amex/Chase Offers, Dosh, InKind app
For a Deeper Dive
- See their linked episodes on medical bill negotiation, refurbished tech, and used car buying for more details on each topic.
This summary captures all major points, mode, and energy of the episode, providing an at-a-glance guide for listeners seeking to update their savings game for 2026 and beyond!