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Frugal Living

Frugal Living

By Jim Markus

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad's Deals, features interviews, stories, tips, and tricks. Looking for the Frugal Living show notes and episode transcripts? Check out Frugal.fm for everything you need.
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Having a Kid is Expensive

Frugal LivingApr 20, 2021

00:00
19:60
Frugality Has Never Been More Important

Frugality Has Never Been More Important

Keynote speaker and well-being consultant Leanne Spencer discusses the importance of frugality (and why that doesn't mean what you might think).

Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals. Looking for more information about living a frugal life? We've recently talked about mortgages, inflation, Black Friday, and rain barrels.

Nov 29, 202208:21
How to Avoid Burnout with Leanne Spencer

How to Avoid Burnout with Leanne Spencer

Keynote speaker and well-being consultant Leanne Spencer shares practical tips about how to avoid burnout. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals

Spending more time in your backyard? Check out our suggestions for easy (and frugal) backyard projects.

Nov 22, 202214:41
How to Make the Most of Retirement with Madonna Hanna

How to Make the Most of Retirement with Madonna Hanna

Some people worry they won't know what to do during retirement. That's not the case for Madonna Hanna. At 67 years old, she's more active than ever.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin. Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Related: Check out our recent interview about the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement.

Nov 01, 202218:36
Frugal Food: Cheap Healthy Meals with Lynne Bowman
Oct 18, 202216:34
Skip the Restaurant, Eat at Home

Skip the Restaurant, Eat at Home

In this episode of Frugal Living, inspirational chef Tina McDermott shares her enthusiasm for home cooking. We discuss practical recipes, including a $10 dish that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. 

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us at FrugalLivingPod on TikTok and Insta. We also look for discounts on the things we love. This year, that means we checked out the latest indoor Halloween decorations and deals on outdoor Halloween decorations. Plus, we talked about how to pay less for streaming services.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Oct 04, 202215:47
How to Save the Planet

How to Save the Planet

Continuing our conversation from Grow Your Own National Park, Professor Douglas Tallamy describes how to make an ecological impact in your own backyard with specific, frugal advice. He also shares memorable tips from Bringing Nature Home, his book about the importance of native plants to native wildlife.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Looking for more ways to improve the food web outside your house? Learn everything you need to know about rain barrels, including the truth about whether it's legal to collect your own rainwater.

Sep 27, 202218:44
Grow Your Own National Park with Douglas Tallamy

Grow Your Own National Park with Douglas Tallamy

Professor Douglas Tallamy talks with Jim about the Homegrown National Park movement, which invites everyone to contribute to local conservation efforts. The conversation centers on what regular people can do to protect their local environments. . . and what it means when many people share the same effort.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the Grow Your Own National Park show, at Frugal.fm. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals. Looking for more ways to save the world? Learn everything you need to know about rain barrels, so you can save your water instead of paying someone to take it away.

Sep 20, 202220:12
How to Organize Like a Pro
Sep 13, 202219:38
How to prep for the end of the world

How to prep for the end of the world

Jim talks with Survivor Steve, an anonymous survivalist, about the frugal aspects of being prepared. Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Please stay tuned for episodes on decluttering and frugal environmentalism in the coming weeks.

We also recently reviewed the best indoor Halloween decorations this year, the best outdoor Halloween decorations, and how to pay less for streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and Starz.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm.

Sep 06, 202215:42
Is real estate really an easy way to make money?
Aug 30, 202218:15
Meal Prep like an Expert

Meal Prep like an Expert

How do you save money and stay healthy? Today's interview highlights the expertise of Kara, the dietitian from Cheesy Nutrition, who might just change the way you think about meal planning.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. This episode's sponsor is Highlights, where you can use the promo code FRUGAL15 for an extra 15% discount.

Aug 23, 202227:58
100 Days 'Til Black Friday

100 Days 'Til Black Friday

Bonus episode! With only about 100 days until Black Friday, we discuss how a supply-chain issue called the bullwhip effect could lead to some of the best deals of the year.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals. Interested in other shopping events? We recently discussed a rumor about another Prime Day this year.

Aug 14, 202204:55
Is it safe to invest in crypto?
Aug 09, 202216:14
How do you find your dream job? (Part 2)
Aug 02, 202220:12
How do you find your dream job? (Part 1)

How do you find your dream job? (Part 1)

Career coach Juliana Rabbi talks with Jim about how to find a dream job. The discussion includes how to negotiate a remote role and how to move from one career field to another. 

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast  community? You can find us on social media @frugallivingpod.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. This episode's sponsors are Aosom and Highlights.

Jul 26, 202223:54
How do you live as a digital nomad?

How do you live as a digital nomad?

Isabel Leong talks to Jim about her life as a digital nomad, including how she supports herself in different countries.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. This episode's sponsors are Aosom and Highlights. Looking for travel advice you can use? Read our advice on how to avoid travel surcharges this holiday season.


Jul 19, 202220:51
Frugal or Fiction: You can make so much money from real estate

Frugal or Fiction: You can make so much money from real estate

In the first ever Frugal or Fiction episode of Frugal Living, audio editor intern Genny uncovers the truth behind real estate influencers. Can you make a passive income as a landlord? What do you need to know to become a real estate investor?

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media @frugallivingpod.

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm. This episode's sponsors are Aosom and Highlights.

Looking to expand your financial knowledge this year? Learn everything you need to know about Series I bonds (including why they're such a popular investment for frugal-minded people this year). We also discuss what's an HSA and what higher mortgage rates mean for home buyers.

Jul 12, 202220:07
How do you make a living doing what you love? (Part 2)
Jul 05, 202221:03
How do you make a living doing what you love? (Part 1)

How do you make a living doing what you love? (Part 1)

Kevin Carroll joins Frugal Living to talk about starting a successful game company. This is part one of a two-part interview. Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media @frugallivingpod.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. This episode's sponsors are Aosom and Highlights.

Jun 28, 202223:54
Why is everyone talking about HSAs?

Why is everyone talking about HSAs?

Marc Bautis returns to talk about health savings accounts and why they're so popular among savvy investors.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media under the name FrugalLivingPod.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. This episode is sponsored by Aosom.

Jun 21, 202220:45
How do you beat inflation?

How do you beat inflation?

Casey Runyan, VP and Managing Editor at Brad's Deals, joins Jim to talk about how to beat inflation. If you can't fight high gas prices, where can you save money as prices rise? Casey shares travel tips, cooking tips, and more of the best ways to fight inflation at home.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm.

Want to better your financial situation this year? Here's everything you need to know about Series I bonds, a simple breakdown to answer the question, "What's an HSA?," and what higher mortgage rates mean for home buyers. We also breakdown how the bullwhip effect could mean stronger clearance deals this Black Friday.

Jun 14, 202223:22
Bonus: Is Prime Day the new Cyber Monday?

Bonus: Is Prime Day the new Cyber Monday?

Michael Ahene joins the show to discuss the history of Amazon's Prime Day, how it caught on, and what to expect from this year's sale.

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less   and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad's Deals, features  interviews,  stories, tips, and tricks. Want to join the Frugal Living  podcast community? You can find us on social media @FrugalLivingPod on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Jun 13, 202208:47
Can worms save the planet?

Can worms save the planet?

Cathy Nesbitt talks to Jim about vermicomposting, the decomposition process by which worms transform food waste into valuable soil amendments . . . for free! The conversation describes worm composting, gardening, and more.

This week's sponsor: MKF Collection. The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Looking for more frugal ways to save the planet? Find out everything about rain barrels, or try these frugal backyard projects (one of which may also improve your local food web).

Jun 07, 202218:59
Why do we have credit scores?

Why do we have credit scores?

Sean Trainor and Angel Radcliffe share their insights into the history of credit scores, what goes into a credit report, and how to improve a credit score. For more information, check out Sean's article on the history of credit scores at Time or the book Creditworthy, by Josh Lauer.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, and Linkedin.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. Like Frugal Living? Check out Brad's Deals for a curated collection of deals every day.

May 31, 202216:01
How do you invest during uncertain times?

How do you invest during uncertain times?

How do I invest for inflation and what does it mean to invest during turbulent times? In this episode, Jim talks to Andy Wang, financial advisor and host of the Inspired Money podcast.

This week's sponsor: MKF Collection. The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Looking for more information on frugal finance? We discuss the bullwhip effect (and what it means for deals this Black Friday), the benefits of Series I Bonds, especially during periods of high inflation, and why some investors love HSAs.

May 24, 202222:02
Bonus: Where do you find free movies online?
May 10, 202221:22
Bonus: May the Fourth Be With You
May 04, 202217:39
What is the FIRE movement? (Part 2)

What is the FIRE movement? (Part 2)

What does it mean to have Financial Independence and Retire Early? Jim chats with Diania Merriam, Chief Economeist of the EconoMe conference, about financial freedom (and frugality!). This is part two of a two-part interview.

This week's sponsors are Aosom and MKF Collection. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

May 03, 202228:59
What is the FIRE movement? (Part 1)

What is the FIRE movement? (Part 1)

What does it mean to have Financial Independence and Retire Early? Jim chats with Diania Merriam, Chief Economeist of the EconoMe conference, about financial freedom (and frugality!). 

This week's sponsors are Aosom and MKF Collection. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media @frugallivingpod.

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Apr 26, 202225:47
How do you pay off $50k in debt? (Part 2)

How do you pay off $50k in debt? (Part 2)

Tiffany Grant, host of the podcast Money Talk with Tiff, chats with Jim about extreme couponing, negotiating lower bills, and paying off $50,000 in debt. This is part two of a two-part conversation.

This week's sponsors are Aosom and MKF Collection. The show is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, and Linkedin.

Find the full show notes, including a transcript of the show, at Frugal.fm. The show is made possible by the team at Brad's Deals.

Apr 19, 202221:17
How do you pay off $50k in debt? (Part 1)

How do you pay off $50k in debt? (Part 1)

Tiffany Grant, host of the podcast Money Talk with Tiff, chats with Jim about extreme couponing, negotiating lower bills, and paying off $50,000 in debt.

This week's sponsors are Aosom and MKF Collection. Frugal Living is brought to you by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Apr 12, 202222:56
How do you start a successful business? (Part 2)

How do you start a successful business? (Part 2)

Frugal Living host Jim Markus continues his talk with Ted Lau, the CEO and founder of Ballistic Arts, about how he started his business. The discussion specifically focuses on how a frugal-minded person might use the same principles to find success in their own business. This is part two of our two-part discussion with Ted.

This week's sponsor is Aosom! We're also sponsored by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Apr 05, 202220:59
How do you start a successful business? (Part 1)

How do you start a successful business? (Part 1)

In this episode of Frugal Living, Jim asks Ted Lau (CEO and founder of Ballistic Arts) about email marketing. We start by answering the question, why does everyone have my email address? The conversation expands to cover an even more interesting subject. How did Ted start a successful business? This is part one of a two-part interview on the topic.

This week's sponsor is Aosom! We're also sponsored by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin.

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Mar 29, 202217:58
How do you pivot a startup?

How do you pivot a startup?

Jim Markus talks with Ruben Seyde, a cannabis entrepreneur, about his dynamic journey in this burgeoning industry. The show highlights how a frugal entrepreneur starts one business and deftly pivots into a more profitable direction. Find more about Ruben's company at DeliveredInc.co. You can also check out the sponsor of Frugal Living, Brad's Deals.

This week's sponsor is Aosom! We're also sponsored by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living podcast community? You can find us on social media: TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin

The full show notes, including a transcript of the show, are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Mar 22, 202223:04
What's the best deal you can get with $5?
Mar 15, 202216:43
What's the state of travel in 2022?
Mar 08, 202221:28
Does camping have to be expensive?

Does camping have to be expensive?

Heather Saulsbury joins the podcast to talk about the frugal aspects of camping, hiking, and foraging. You can find her at PNWbushcraft. We end this episode with a quote from the Terry Pratchett book, Men at Arms. Frugal Living is sponsored by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living community? You can find us on social media:

Our full show notes are located in the blog at Frugal.fm.

Mar 01, 202222:39
How do you deal with clutter? (Part 2)

How do you deal with clutter? (Part 2)

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Jennifer  Howard. She wrote the book Clutter: An Untidy History. The discussion continues an exploration of the history of clutter and the way it still impacts our lives. This is part two of a  two-part interview.

Frugal Living is sponsored by Brad's Deals.

Want to join the Frugal Living community? You can find us on social media:

Our full show notes are located in the blog.

Feb 22, 202224:10
How do you deal with clutter? (Part 1)

How do you deal with clutter? (Part 1)

Jennifer Howard wrote the book Clutter: An Untidy History. In this episode of Frugal Living, she talks with Jim about real-world clutter problems and the robust history behind the stigmatized issue. This is part one of a two-part interview.

Frugal Living is sponsored by Brad's Deals. 

Check out the full transcript and blog at Frugal.fm.

Feb 15, 202223:49
What can you learn from a financial advisor? (Part 2)
Feb 08, 202223:56
What can you learn from a financial advisor? (Part 1)
Feb 01, 202223:08
The Financial Gym with Shannon McLay
Nov 16, 202121:11
Gardening with Megan Gilger
Nov 09, 202121:06
Frugal Environmentalism with Lauren Ferree

Frugal Environmentalism with Lauren Ferree

Lauren Ferree talks with Jim about environmentalism and what it means for frugal people.

Nov 02, 202119:13
Entrepreneurship with Sarah St John

Entrepreneurship with Sarah St John

Sarah St John, host of the Frugalpreneur Podcast, joins Jim to talk about drop shipping and starting a business.

Oct 26, 202119:01
DIY Kombucha with Shannon Zhou

DIY Kombucha with Shannon Zhou

Jim interviews Shannon Zhou, Co-Founder of Virgin Leaf, about kombucha (and starting a business doing what you love).

Oct 19, 202121:34
Financial Literacy with John Schmoll

Financial Literacy with John Schmoll

Jim interviews John Schmoll, the founder of Frugal Rules, about his journey to financial literacy.

Oct 12, 202123:22
DIY Home Repairs with Ashley French

DIY Home Repairs with Ashley French

Jim interviews Ashley French about home repairs and DIY Projects.

Oct 05, 202120:20
Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant (Part 2)

Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant (Part 2)

Jim talks with Jamila Souffrant of The Journey To Launch Podcast about what it means to earn financial freedom. This is part two of a two-part interview.

Sep 28, 202117:40
Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant (Part 1)

Financial Freedom with Jamila Souffrant (Part 1)

Jim talks with Jamila Souffrant of The Journey To Launch Podcast about what it means to earn financial freedom. This is part one of a two-part interview.

Sep 21, 202122:08