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StitcherIf you’ve ever felt stuck or regretful about past financial decisions like not saving enough for emergencies or overspending on experiences, this episode is for you. Jen and Jill explore the emotions tied to those “what if” moments, from choices we wish we could change to opportunities we missed. Don’t miss this empowering discussion!
You will always regret what you don't do more than what you do.
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- Shaping the future. And you don’t even need to have another child or participate in more seminars. You just need to complete our 2025 Frugal Friends MEGA Survey! Let us know the type of content you want more of and help to shape the future of Frugal Friends by answering 10 multiple choice questions! Head to frugalfriendspodcast.com/megasurvey or in The Friendletter this week!
Survey: Majority of Americans Have Money Regrets in 2024
This article highlights a survey by The Harris Poll, revealing that 69% of Americans have financial regrets in 2024.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
A survey found that nearly 70% of Americans had financial regrets in 2024, with the top being not saving for emergencies and not saving enough for financial goals, a trend seen across all age groups. Interestingly, most regrets stem from inaction rather than poor spending choices. While overspending on entertainment, travel, housing, and vehicles ranked lower, these regrets highlight why saving feels difficult.
More Financial Regrets
The survey’s findings are supported by another study conducted by Bankrate.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
A Bankrate study backs up similar findings, with 77% of people having financial regrets. 22% regret not saving for retirement, 18% regret not saving for emergencies, and 14% regret taking on too much credit card debt. On top of that, 40% of those with regrets haven’t made much progress in the past year, and 45% blame inflation and high prices for holding them back. It’s a reminder that while some things are in our control, others aren’t.
One big issue? The all-or-nothing mindset where unexpected expenses pop up, people often feel like they’ve failed and stop trying altogether. But even small, creative adjustments (like a no-spend challenge or a short-term side gig) can help.
Tips for Coping with Regret
This article from Very Well Mind covers ways to deal with regret, including more than just financial regrets.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
Financial regret can be tough, but it doesn’t have to hold us back. The first step is practicing self-acceptance or acknowledging mistakes without letting them define us. If our choices have affected others, apologizing can help clear the air. Reframing regret is also key. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, recognize that every decision was made with the knowledge we had at the time.
Forgiving ourselves is just as important as learning from the past. Let go of guilt and focus on what we can control now. Taking action, even in small ways, can create positive momentum. Progress matters more than perfection and each step forward helps reshape our financial future.
Biggest thing you regret buying in 2024
Jill recently regretted buying Dermaplaning razors she never used, while Jen regretted buying sippy cups for her toddler.
Bill of The Week
Thank you Kat for sharing about a $108 lab bill that you no longer had to pay!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke and we especially loved this one from:
✰✰✰✰✰
Just like the podcast, I’m giving this book FIVE stars!
In this book, the Frugal Friends have taken the super complex world of finance and simplified it! Literally. There’s a whole chapter on simplification! Jen and Jill have done the hard work of deep diving into the psychology of our spending, our values, and how the world wants us to spend, and then have given us the lightning round and action steps to help us take control of how we spend. This is not just another book that will tell you not to buy coffee- this book will make you figure out if you even WANT the coffee. 😂
If you want to check out our monthly challenge community head to frugalfriendspodcast.com/club to see what challenge we have coming up next.
Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to reviews@frugalfriendspodcast.com. And don’t forget to share your favorite quote from the episode by using the hashtag #FrugalFriendsNote. 😉
