Podcast Summary: How To Money – Friday Flight - Stealthy Skimpflation, Janky Job Markets, & Day-Trading Doris (#1101)

Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Joel & Matt
Podcast: How to Money by iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this engaging Friday Flight episode, Joel and Matt tackle some of the latest (and quirkiest) trends in personal finance and lifestyle economics. Key topics include “skimpflation,” surprising price drops in everyday sectors, where to get the cheapest groceries, the evolving and shaky job market, the rise of unretiring boomers—and why retirees should maybe day trade less. The hosts’ signature blend of practical advice, lighthearted banter, and real-world anecdotes makes for both an entertaining and informative listen.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Skimpflation: Sneaky Changes in Product Quality

• Definition & Examples
  • Skimpflation is when companies maintain package and price but lower product or ingredient quality to save costs.
  • Joel: “It’s like the same size steak but just like a lower quality.” (02:05)
• Shrinkflation vs. Skimpflation
  • Hosts generally prefer shrinkflation as it at least maintains quality rather than cutting corners.
  • Matt: “I kind of like the idea of shrinkflation over skimpflation...at least you’re maintaining the quality.” (02:38)
• Consumer Reactions
  • Joel warns consumers will notice and push back: “I think consumers are going to sniff that stuff out and be frustrated by it.” (02:14)

2. Affordability & Recent Price Drops

• Housing & Insurance
  • Noting a shift: homebuyers moving from bidding wars to getting 8% discounts; auto insurance rates dropping by 6% nationally.
  • Matt: “For years we were only talking about insurance rates going up...so it’s good to see that trend.” (06:43)
  • Joel: “Be loyal to your spouse, be loyal to your friends, be less loyal to your insurance company, because that’s how you’re going to save money.” (07:13)
• Food Products
  • Price drops on Lays, Doritos, and General Mills products, but hosts caution: “chips, cereal, those prepackaged goods...don’t really represent great value, even if prices are becoming a little more reasonable.” (08:18)
  • Matt: “Real foods, baby. That’s how you’re going to save money at the grocery store.” (08:39)

3. Best Grocery Stores for Value

• Consumer Reports Highlights
  • Notably, Costco beat out Aldi, Lidl, and Walmart for lowest price basket in several markets.
  • Matt: “Grocery prices can vary by more than 33% depending on where you shop, even within the same city.” (09:55)
• Quality vs. Cost
  • Whole Foods provides an upscale (and expensive) experience; Costco hits a “sweet spot” for both quality and price.
  • Joel: “Costco ... almost at that level of Whole Foods in terms of quality. But the price is so much better.” (12:04)

4. Food Delivery & Takeout Trap

• Costly Convenience
  • Apps like UberEats, Grubhub, etc., drive huge markups (70–120% higher).
  • Joel: “Advice is to go cold turkey. Avoid these apps completely... It’s just not worth it. Go pick it up yourself or make a nice little meal at home.” (15:24)
  • Shifting consumption: “Three in four restaurant orders are not eaten at the restaurant anymore... when you look at a new fast food restaurant being built, the dining room is tiny or non existent.” (13:40)

5. Job Market: Getting Janky

• Bread Hunters & AI Obstacles
  • New trend: job seekers paying headhunters (“bread hunters”) to find jobs (at steep prices and mixed results).
  • Matt: “They documented one bread hunter...charges job seekers $1,500 in fees every single month... and 10% of your first year’s salary.” (16:26)
• Ghost Jobs & Robot Gatekeepers
  • ~40% of postings are not for real jobs; AI screens out resumes before any human looks.
  • Joel: “It’s not a human looking at resumes. So you have to game the system... keyword stuffing.” (18:03)
  • Key advice: “Dig the well before you’re thirsty.” Network before you need a job. (19:38)
• Side Hustles vs. Gig Work
  • Matt: “If you find yourself continually in that cycle, we recommend a side hustle... something where you have autonomy... you can scale.” (22:24)
  • Baking side hustles (e.g. sourdough) can generate real income and résumé-worthy experience.

6. Retirement & Day-Trading Boomers

• Ludicrous Headline: Ban Day-Trading Doris!
  • Increasing numbers of retirees are actively trading—often to their financial detriment.
  • Matt: “It turns out once someone retires, they’ve got more time... But that does not translate to superior returns.” (26:32)
• Advice for Retirees
  • Develop diverse, meaningful hobbies; consider part-time work or volunteering instead of being glued to the market.
  • Joel: “Trust the process, trust the numbers... not being overly fixated on everyday, you know, movements in the market.” (28:23)
  • Personal anecdote: Joel’s dad enjoys volunteering for Meals on Wheels—boosting his wellbeing and social connections. (29:44)
• “Unretiring” Boomers
  • AARP survey: 7% of retirees going back to work, about half for finances, half for purpose.
  • Matt: “I think it can make a ton of sense for folks as they're looking for purpose, community, sense of belonging and overall life satisfaction.” (32:19)

7. Housing Market and Homeownership

• TrumpRX Pharmacy Launch
  • President Trump’s new drug discount website (limited selection, mostly brand-name GLP-1s). Useful primarily for uninsured, less so for those with standard insurance. (33:02–34:25)
• Presidential Comments on Housing
  • Trump stated: “I don’t want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people that own their homes,” a stance the hosts criticize for hurting wannabe buyers. (34:42)
• Home Buying with Friends: Caution Advised
  • Tempting in high-price markets, but fraught: differs greatly from renting, can get messy if a friendship falls apart.
  • Joel: “Rent with your friends instead and then save and invest more. Rent with your friends is great.” (37:58–38:03)
• New Mortgage Credit Rules & Credit Repair Scams
  • Fannie Mae drops hard 620 credit score minimum, now looks at holistic risk.
  • Joel: “Your credit score is a really important part of your personal finance hygiene... don’t pay people to repair your credit or file false identity theft reports.” (41:34–42:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Skimpflation:
  Joel: “It’s like the same size steak but just like a lower quality.” (02:05)

• On Shopping Around for Insurance:
  Joel: “Be loyal to your spouse, be loyal to your friends, be less loyal to your insurance company, because that’s how you’re going to save money.” (07:13)

• On Food Delivery Apps:
  Joel: “Advice is to go cold turkey. Avoid these apps completely... It’s just not worth it.” (15:24)

• On Side Hustles vs. Gig Work:
  Matt: “We would most definitely recommend instead to look to a side hustle, something that you can scale, something where you have autonomy...” (22:24)

• On Retiree Day-Trading:
  Matt: “Actively trading often leads to the reverse—to lower returns.” (26:48) Joel: “Trust the process, trust the numbers.” (28:23)

• On Networking for Jobs:
  Joel (crediting Jordan Harbinger): “Dig the well before you’re thirsty.” (19:38)

• On Credit Score Fixes:
  Joel: "Do not listen to the influencers... telling you that you can fix your credit score by filing one of these reports or that they can do it for you if you pay them money. That’s a waste of your money, waste of your time." (41:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Skimpflation defined: 01:13 – 05:51
• Price drops (Housing, insurance, groceries): 05:58 – 12:49
• Grocery store value and experiences: 09:44 – 12:49
• Food delivery inflation: 12:50 – 15:34
• Job market & bread hunters: 15:34 – 20:48
• Job networking & side hustles: 18:03 – 25:33
• Retiree day-trading & unretirement: 25:48 – 32:19
• TrumpRX pharmacy news: 33:02 – 34:25
• Presidential comment on housing: 34:25 – 37:04
• Buying homes with friends: 37:04 – 39:07
• Credit score changes & scams: 39:07 – 42:10

Tone & Style

The episode is conversational, analytical, and often playful—rooted in sound yet accessible advice. Both Joel and Matt use humor, personal stories, and expert references to make complex financial topics relatable and actionable for their listeners.

For Listeners

If you missed the episode, this summary will catch you up on why the quality of your chips may be slipping, where to get the best grocery deals, the dangers and opportunities in today’s job market, the ups and downs of retiring (and unretiring)—and why sometimes, the best financial advice comes with a side of real food.