Jocko Podcast Underground #191: Staying on The Path On a Budget is Surprisingly Easy

Date: November 24, 2025
Hosts: Jocko Willink & Echo Charles
Theme: How to maintain discipline, intense training, and proper nutrition on a tight budget; creative strategies for money management and personal growth.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on practical advice for young, driven individuals navigating challenging financial situations, especially those juggling work, schooling, and athletic or martial arts aspirations. Jocko and Echo answer a listener’s question about sustaining a disciplined lifestyle, high-level training, and nutrition while on a budget. Their guidance blends resourceful money-saving ideas, leveraging personal skills for extra income, and the value of relationships and bartering.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Listener’s Dilemma: Budget, Nutrition, and Training

• (00:38) A 23-year-old listener returns to college for engineering, works as an electrician, and is passionate about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA.
• He’s seen immense personal transformation through martial arts but now struggles to afford training and high-quality food due to a reduced work schedule while in school.

2. Nutrition & Meal Prep: Discipline for Both Body and Budget

• Bulk Buying and Meal Prep
  • (01:54) Jocko: “You got to get in the meal prep game… bulk buy, meal prep game, ground beef.”
• Simple, Cheap, High-Protein Meals
  • Echo’s go-to: ground beef and rice.

    "Ground beef rice. You can buy huge sacks of rice... Seasoning of your choice. Ground beef, some salt and pepper… I put spaghetti sauce… you can put whatever kind of sauce, soy sauce if you want. Whatever… But that's the base." – Echo (02:16)

  • Jocko’s additions: Onions for flavor, bacon for variety.
  • Canned Chicken as a Protein Source
    • “Tin chicken is one that has always been a friend of mine… you can get tin chicken at Costco… it’s a lot of protein.” – Jocko (02:43)
    • “40ish grams of protein…” – Echo (03:12)
• Discount Grocery Hacks
  • Leverage big box stores (Costco, Walmart), discount grocery outlets, and regional stores.
  • Buy soon-to-expire perishables at deep discounts, cook and freeze them for later use.
  • Farmers markets and butchers: Build relationships to get deals on bulk or leftover cuts.

    "Butcher has leftover cuts, dude, sometimes they want to get rid of... you come by, pay half price, you know what I'm saying? Build some relationships." – Jocko (07:20)

• Protein Powders and Milk
  • Cost-effective ways to hit protein goals.

3. Making Extra Money: Leveraging Skills and the Gig Economy

• Leverage Trade Skills
  • As an electrician, opportunities abound for side gigs, weekend projects, or ad hoc handyman work (Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, connections).
  • “You're an electrician, bro… you could hopefully make more money. Handyman activities, emergency work for other electrical companies.” – Jocko (04:44)
• Gig Apps and Flexible Work
  • Uber, UberEats, Lyft, Instacart – easy to start, fits variable schedules.
• Doorman/Bouncer Work
  • Echo shares firsthand experience: martial arts training can open lucrative opportunities in nightlife security.

    “You can do a few hundred dollars in tips… Friday and Saturday night, that’s 600 bones.” – Echo (06:15)

• Networking with Contractors
  • Large contractors may offer weekend or overflow work.

4. Gym Membership and Barter: Creative Savings

• Negotiate With Your Gym
  • Offer to help with cleaning, maintenance (especially as an electrician), or kids’ classes in exchange for a discount or free membership.
  • “Can I save 50 bucks a month if I sweep up, can I get a free membership?… Doing some electrical work around there.” – Jocko (06:37)
• Strengthening Relationships for Mutual Benefit
  • Not just at the gym, but also with butchers, farmers, and other suppliers.
  • Old-school bartering and relationship-building can yield consistent savings and opportunities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Backtracking:

  "Sometimes you got to backtrack a little bit." – Echo (00:27) "Which is no problem." – Echo (00:27)

• On Living Simply:

  “I'm okay living simply, but I'm struggling to afford training and quality food. My diet has been a key part of my progress…” – Listener’s message (00:38)

• On Hustling:

  “There’s a ton of side gigs you can do. Hustle. What do they call it? No, they don't call it hustle… Gig economy. We're doing little side projects…” – Jocko (07:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:38 – Listener’s question and scenario
• 01:54 – Introduction to budgeting and meal prep
• 02:16 – Echo’s bulk food recipes
• 03:12 – Nutrition hacks: tinned chicken, protein options
• 04:44 – Applying electrician/handyman skills for side income
• 06:15 – Doorman/bouncer work as a viable side hustle
• 06:37 – Negotiating gym membership through bartering
• 07:20 – Building relationships to save money on food
• 07:28 – Embracing the gig economy

Conclusion

Jocko and Echo reinforce that staying disciplined—physically, financially, and mentally—is always possible with strategy and hustle, regardless of budget constraints. Embracing simplicity, resourcefulness, and relationships can keep you on “the path” even when money is tight. Their advice is a blend of tough-love practicality and community-minded support.

For more focused, actionable guidance, or to explore the Jocko Underground community, visit jockounderground.com.