Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
StitcherBells are ringing, and the holiday spirit is here! But let’s take a moment to pause and take a quick check in because we might be giving more than we realize—putting our future more vulnerable for the next seasons to come. In this episode, Jen and Jill list the things to watch out for on your to-buy list, as they might cost you more guilt than holiday cheer.
This isn’t for the sake of deprivation but for the sake of identifying where your money is going to be best spent—because you don’t have to buy all of the things.
Sponsors:
- The one thing. The one thing that you SHOULD be adding to your haul list is Buy What You Love Without Going Broke! It’s our book that helps you define what you value and love and offers the solutions and tips to say no to what you don’t. It helps you make that no-buy list and make you stick to it and be free from the guilt and shame that comes after holidays when you’ve bought things that you don’t actually care about. So, pre-order our book and you’ll get access to our December and January live classes exclusive for pre-orders with benefits like full-year meal plan and 2025 spending plan.
Purposeful Giving Over Impulse Buying
This article by Erica Edman references factual statistics on holiday spending, including what Americans typically spend on and why they often fall for holiday marketing sales.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
Jen and Jill revealed that holiday consumption is increasing more than prices with Americans shopping more than in previous years, even going into debt for the sake of the holidays. Unsurprisingly, gifts remain the most popular purchase.
To counter this trend, Jen and Jill share their not-to-buy list. Jen begins by clarifying that it’s okay to spend money during the holidays—but what we won’t do is consume for the sake of consumption. But instead we are buying what we truly want, not what companies convince us we need. Jill adds that having such a list isn’t about depriving yourself of the holiday spirit but being intentional with your spending and ensuring your money goes to what truly matters—because not everything needs to be bought.
What Not to Buy This Holiday Season
Jen and Jill are all about skipping the short-lived and overly hyped products this holiday season. They’re saying no to new holiday decors, holiday themed products, one-time-use outfits like pajamas, gimmicky activities, Elf on the Shelf, and those brittle gingerbread house kits. Instead, they’re reducing waste with reusable alternatives for wrapping paper and advent calendars and focusing on thoughtful gifts for the people who truly matter.
This season, Jen and Jill remind us: the holidays aren’t about buying more—they’re about making what you already have count.
What are you most looking forward to this holiday?
Jill is looking forward to enjoying the simple luxuries of life, while Jen is excited about spending time on fun activities with her kids.
Bill of The Week
Thank you Nissa for sharing your life insurance bill through work!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews and we especially loved this one from:
✰✰✰✰✰
Phenomenal Friends
Love this podcast. It is like listening to two nonjudgmental friends talk about frugality and all things money. I work at 3am from home and this podcast keeps me awake in the early mornings when the rest of the world is asleep and makes me feel less alone. Thank you for all that you both do!
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. 😉
