Life Kit (NPR) — "Tips to Save Money Across All Parts of Your Life"
Host: Marielle Segarra
Release Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

In this practical and supportive episode, Life Kit host Marielle Segarra explores actionable strategies for saving money in daily life, with guidance from a range of financial experts and savvy contributors. Recognizing the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck, Segarra and her guests break down realistic ways to cut spending—from groceries to group dinners—while encouraging listeners to focus on intentional spending that aligns with their goals and values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cutting Grocery Costs with Strategic Shopping

• Buy filling, versatile ingredients
  Beth Monsell (Budget Bytes) recommends ingredients like cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, lentils, and beans as affordable staples for bulking up meals while keeping costs down.
  • “Cabbage is so versatile because it can go with so many different flavors and there's a lot of different ways you can prepare it, and it's so filling.” — Beth Monsell (02:38)
• Reduce expensive ingredients
  Monsell suggests halving costly meat in recipes and bulking them with cheaper staples such as beans, pasta, or extra vegetables.
  • Example: Chili with half the ground beef, double the beans and/or veggies (03:13)
• Plan your shopping and stick to your list
  Making a recipe plan and shopping list, then checking your kitchen before you go, helps avoid unnecessary purchases and waste.
  • “Having a plan before you go in is absolutely essential... I can get in and get out and get on with my day.” — Beth Monsell (03:46)
• Shop strategically for deals
  Kevin Curry (Fit Men Cook) highlights the best times for discounts, usually Fridays before the weekend and at end-of-day for bakery markdowns.
  • “The most important day…is right before the weekend. So I usually go on that Friday… that's when you start seeing a lot of the deals.” — Kevin Curry (04:18)
• Ask for discounts and use grocery apps
  Apps like Flash Food and Too Good to Go can help you access steep discounts.
• Utilize food banks if necessary
  Food banks are a resource for anyone needing a little extra help, not just those in dire need.
  • “It's a bridge to help people through tough times… Maybe you just need an extra, a couple of items to help get you through, you know, till your next paycheck.” — Beth Monsell (05:32)

2. Making Big Moves on Fixed Expenses

• Cut housing or transportation costs for greater savings
  Rather than focusing on small day-to-day expenses, journalist Kristin Wong underscores the importance of adjusting major, fixed expenses like housing and transport.
  • “If you get a roommate or move to a cheaper place, those major decisions are going to save you so much more money... but they give you more bang for your buck.” — Kristin Wong (06:28)
• Personal Example
  Wong paid off student loans quickly by living with her mom while working.
  • “I paid it off so much faster and I saved so much money.” — Kristin Wong (06:47)
• Other tips: Take public transit, move closer to work, shop around for better car insurance annually.

3. Curbing Impulse Spending

• Set spending parameters
  Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista) shares her personal strategy of budgeting a set allowance for impulse buys.
  • “I give myself a weekly, if not monthly, budget of where I can buy things within that budget.” — Tiffany Aliche (07:59)
• Loved, liked, wanted: the spending hierarchy
  Aliche teaches to prioritize spending on "loves" (long-term joy), and avoid “wants” (instant gratification).
  • “A love is long-term joy... Likes are short-term joy... And wants are just instant gratification...” — Tiffany Aliche (08:42)
• Employ a buy list with a wait period
  Paco de Leon recommends keeping a list of wanted items and waiting a day or a month before purchasing. Often, the desire fades.
  • “It feels good enough to just put it on the list… It's like the spell has broken and now I can think clearly.” — Marielle Segarra on this technique (09:08)

4. Setting Social Boundaries Around Money

• Be upfront in social situations
  Chef Kiki Araneta and author Otegha Uwagba encourage open discussions about finances: negotiate how to split bills, be honest if something is out of budget.
  • "You need to manage expectations and be very clear... who’s going to pay up front.” — Kiki Araneta (11:06)
  • “I either opt into the occasion as a whole or I opt out... just be quite honest about it.” — Otegha Uwagba (12:15)
• Practice saying no
  Saying no (e.g., to group gifts or pricey outings) is a muscle that gets stronger with use. Offer alternatives if you can't contribute money.
  • “I can’t do that right now... I am so sorry. I’m happy to help in other ways.” — Stacey Vanek Smith (13:23)
• Understand that money is personal & emotional
  Money means different things to different people—be kind and don’t take disagreements personally.
  • “Money is this, like, stand in for so many things for people… and it gets tied into feelings of security, freedom, possibility…” — Stacey Vanek Smith (13:45)

5. Avoiding Fees and Unexpected Expenses

• Set up autopay for bills and credit cards
  Economist Neil Mahoney recommends autopay, but only if you maintain a buffer to avoid overdraft fees.
  • “Set up autopay so that… things are already in place… you're going to save yourself the $35 fees.” — Neil Mahoney (14:48)
• Compare banks and shop for better rates
  Yaneli Espinal suggests considering credit unions and major banks that reimburse ATM and maintenance fees.
  • “Fees definitely going to be lower and better at credit unions in general compared to major banks.” — Yaneli Espinal (15:20)
• Do your research before every big purchase
  Compare expense ratios and avoid unnecessary charges on investments, insurance, and financial products.

6. Lowering Medical Bills

• Request financial assistance or negotiate
  Many hospitals offer "charity care" or financial assistance. Even if you don’t qualify, you can often negotiate for a discount by calling the billing office.
  • “Ask them for the settlement amount... often they'll give you a discount of 20 or 30%.” — Marielle Segarra (16:20)
• General principle
  “You have not because you asked not.” — Brian Vines, Consumer Reports (17:12)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “You might not realize you already have some of those things on hand… Take that list to your kitchen and just double check for each one.” — Beth Monsell (03:46)
• “The most important day (for deals)… is right before the weekend. So I usually go on that Friday…” — Kevin Curry (04:18)
• “You have not because you asked not.” — Brian Vines (17:12)
• “Saying no is a muscle… the more you do it, the easier it gets.” — Otegha Uwagba (12:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:16] Grocery Savings: Ingredients and strategies (Beth Monsell, Kevin Curry)
• [05:53] Cutting fixed costs: Housing and transportation (Kristin Wong)
• [07:59] Impulse spending controls: Budgetnista’s ‘like-love-want’ system (Tiffany Aliche, Paco de Leon)
• [10:54] Social boundaries in spending: Group dinners, gifts, opting out (Kiki Araneta, Otegha Uwagba, Stacey Vanek Smith)
• [14:30] Avoiding fees: Autopays, banking tips (Neil Mahoney, Yaneli Espinal)
• [16:01] Lowering medical bills: Financial assistance, negotiation (Marielle Segarra, Brian Vines)

Episode Recap

• Takeaway 1: Save on groceries with versatile and affordable ingredients; make and stick to a plan.
• Takeaway 2: Focus on big fixed expenses—housing and transportation—for impactful savings.
• Takeaway 3: Tame impulse spending by setting budgets and using buy lists with wait periods.
• Takeaway 4: Be honest with friends/family about what you can afford; exercise your financial boundaries.
• Takeaway 5: Avoid fees and interest charges by using autopay, shopping banks, and researching financial products.
• Takeaway 6: Don’t be afraid to negotiate or seek help on medical bills.

Tone and Guidance:
The episode is empathetic, proactive, and nonjudgmental—acknowledging economic challenges while offering accessible solutions and encouraging listeners to make the best financial choices for their situations.

For further resources, the hosts recommend Life Kit’s episodes on building a financial self-care routine and guidelines for lending money, available at npr.org/lifekit.