Lola’s Frugal Life Podcast

Have you ever taken the time to think about what your perfect week would look like? Designing your ideal week is similar to creating a roadmap for a life that aligns with your goals and priorities. It’s a practical exercise where the purpose is not to expect perfection. The purpose is to know what an ideal looks like.  From there you need to build in flexibility. While you can definitely dream big, it is important to make sure your ideal week is achievable. If the things you want to do each week do not fit into the time available, you may need to rethink how much you are trying to squeeze into your days. Maybe if you can't fit in doing two activities that you really love each week, you can do each one every other week. Or give up the one that isn't as much of a priority to you so that you can have time for what you love most. Your ideal week isn’t about doing more work—it’s about doing the things that you need to get done and also the things you want to get done and love to do.

Block scheduling or time blocking is a time management technique that involves dividing your day into dedicated blocks of time for specific tasks. This is different from using a traditional to-do list and can really help you get things accomplished. Instead of referring to a list as the day goes on to see what you might be able to work on next, you look at your list first and decide what you can work on when assigning a specific time slot for the task. This allows you to get a good picture of how much time you have in the day how much you can realistically expect to do and when you will do it.

Do you ever find yourself scrolling social media on your phone while waiting in line or sitting somewhere waiting for something? When we pick up our phones out of boredom, we can get in the habit of clicking first on social media apps. However, you can retrain yourself to click on other apps first and leave social media as a last resort, or for when that is really what you want to be doing. There is nothing wrong with checking your social media apps, but sometimes we just click right on them when we might feel better getting something accomplished even if it's just for a few minutes. Today I am going to share some ideas of things you can do on your phone instead of going straight to social media.

We all know that procrastination is no good.  Yet, most of us do it from time to time—sometimes more than others. Procrastination can increase our stress levels.  It can make us feel anxious knowing that there are important things we need to do that we are not getting done. Having things in the back of your mind makes it difficult to relax. It also makes staying focused on whatever you are doing difficult because the other undone things keep running through your head. While there is no way to guarantee you will never procrastinate again, there are things you can do to help minimize it when you feel like you need to get yourself moving on things.

Financial goals do require some level of sacrifice. However, just because we cannot do everything we want whenever we want does not mean we cannot enjoy life while setting and achieving financial goals. No matter where you are financially, someone will always have more. It is so important not to compare what others are doing, or what they have. Stay focused on your values and your goals while living within your means. Enjoying things you can afford will give you a much more satisfying life than living beyond your budget and ending up in a difficult financial situation.

FOMO refers to the feeling or perception that other people are having more fun, experiencing new things, or living better lives than you are. It often happens when you see these things in people you love or are close to, but it can also occur with those you might follow on social media. When you see others having exciting experiences, it can trigger a sense of envy and self-doubt. You might wonder why you weren’t included or why your life isn’t as exciting. FOMO can lead to feelings of sadness, guilt, or shame. You might question your self-worth or wonder if you are living up to your potential. Feeling left out affects your overall well-being. It can increase stress and anxiety, impacting your physical health. It's important to recognize when FOMO strikes and also to understand that social media often presents a curated version of reality. Instead of comparing, focus on your own growth and experiences. Celebrate your own path. Today we will talk about some tips to dramatically reduce fear of missing out in your life.

Budgeting is so important in being able to make sure that we are getting the most out of our money. Sometimes people think that if you are on a budget it means you are struggling. Budgeting helps you get the most out of your money regardless of your current financial situation. No matter your income level, it never feels good to not know what is happening with the money that you make. Using a budget allows us to see what we have available to spend and decide how we want to spend or save what is available after paying our bills. It also helps us decide if there are things we can cut back on to make room for something else. Sometimes we just get used to paying for something but might not think much about its value until we start digging into the budget. It is a great feeling to know that you are in control of where your money is going. If you don't like to feel like you are on a budget, call it your financial plan.

If by luxury to you mean having an enormous amount of money and all of the finest things at all times, then living a frugal life will not likely get you there. But due to the nature of a frugal life, it can help you enjoy more luxury in the simple things in life. Frugal living involves practicing gratitude and contentment. Practicing gratitude and contentment helps us find happiness and enjoyment from the little things in life. Because frugal living focuses so much on prioritizing your values, it naturally leads to a life where you feel more luxury in the smallest things. You begin to realize there is so much more to live than the constant pursuit of more that so many people get caught up in. Luxury isn’t just about expensive items; it’s appreciating small details and moments. Today I wanted to share my thoughts on how frugal living creates a luxurious life without all of the cost.

Making an effort to do a little extra to spruce up your home occasionally can make a positive impact on our lives. Refreshing your living space brings a sense of renewal. It prevents monotony in your everyday living. New colors, rearranged furniture, or updated decor can lift your spirits. Small changes, such as adding cozy cushions, decluttering, or organizing, contribute to a more comfortable living environment. Sprucing up allows you to make the most out of your home’s functionality. Repairing, upgrading, or reorganizing spaces can make daily life smoother. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a major overhaul—simple adjustments can make a significant difference! Today we’ll be discussing 10 tips to help you give your home a fresh look without spending a ton of money.

There are many ways to be smart about grocery shopping. Today I will share several tips on making sure you get the most out of your grocery dollars.

The reason I gave this episode the title of spending your money on purpose is because I think that often people think of a frugal lifestyle of one where we hoard our money or live very cheaply. The purpose of frugal living is not to live a life of sacrifice and be cheap about everything we do. It's about looking at the resources we have and being deliberate about what we do with them. It's making choices that are in alignment with what you value most. You make decisions with your goals and what you want out of life in mind. It takes work to be intentional and make sure that your money goes where you want it to go. Being frugal isn't about not spending money, but it's about spending your money on purpose. Knowing where your money is going and getting the most out of it. While we all have a limit to how much money we have available to us, we will always get more out of our money when we pay attention to what we are doing with it.

Decluttering is the process of removing unnecessary items from your living space. When we remove things that are not needed or useful to us it creates a simplified space for us to live in. It can help you create a more organized and peaceful environment, which can lead to a more relaxed lifestyle. When you declutter, you remove items that are no longer useful or meaningful to you, which can help you focus on the things that matter most. Decluttering can also help you save time and money by reducing the amount of time you spend cleaning and organizing your space and by making it easier to find the things you need. One of the most significant benefits of decluttering is that it can help you reduce stress and anxiety. A cluttered living space can make you feel overwhelmed and anxious, while a clean and organized space can help you feel more relaxed.

It takes hard work to establish great routines. Figuring out the right order and timing to do something to make it work best for you takes effort and often trial and error. But, once we have it figured out, a great routine makes a huge difference in the flow of our days. Unfortunately, routines can sometimes get lost when a change in our lives occurs. That can be something as simple as the holiday season. How we eat changes, and the time needed for shopping and other events often takes away time that we would have done certain routines. It can be difficult to get back to those routines when we lose that certain rhythm we had going before. But, all is not lost, it just takes a little bit of discipline to get our great routines, or even better ones put back in place.

New Year’s resolutions are a popular way to set goals and try to start better habits. Many of us feel some type of pressure to set New Year’s resolutions. Some of the most common resolutions are related to fitness, eating habits, finances, and mental health. With so many of us making resolutions, unfortunately, often many of these resolutions only stick for a few months, if they even last that long. So, with so many resolutions being set, why do we do so badly at keeping the resolutions that we set as a general population?

I share some of my favorite holiday memories in today's episode with you. It's fun to think back about past holidays and participate in our current traditions!

Mindset is our attitude or beliefs that influence how we think, feel, and act. Our mindset can be positive or negative, and it can change over time. While we usually are naturally inclined toward a certain mindset, we can make changes to our mindset to approach things differently. If we tell ourselves we can't do something before even trying, we are approaching the situation with a negative mindset. If you approach a challenging situation with a positive mindset, you may or may not be able to navigate the situation successfully. However, we will at least have given it our best shot and will know if we were able to deal with whatever we were facing. This helps us be open to approaching challenges in the future. Mindset impacts many aspects of our lives. Today we are going to talk about the ways it impacts our finances.

Gift-giving can sometimes be difficult when trying to find the right thing for certain people in our lives. We want to give gifts that people will enjoy and love. But, many of us who we buy gifts for already have the things they want or need. We don't want to give gifts that will collect dust in someone's home. And I don't mean it in a way that the person would not love the gift you got them. But, sometimes we all end up with too much stuff. Gifts that won't collect dust are consumable gifts that can be used and enjoyed. They do not require a permanent place in someone's home. So, if you feel like you are struggling to find the right gift for someone special in your life, consider giving them something consumable.

There is no getting around the fact that cleaning our homes takes a good amount of time. But, if you are feeling behind or don't want to spend so much time cleaning continuously, it can be a good idea to do a couple of cleaning tasks here and there when you find you have a few minutes free. Adding quick cleaning tasks to your day when you are able to, it leaves less to do during regular cleaning sessions. So, for a quick little episode today, I am going to share 20 different things you can do when you have 5 minutes to spare.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate and spend time with family. But, it can also be a time of stress and exhaustion. We can often end up with so many things to do. There is decorating, buying gifts, cooking meals, and attending events. It is easy to get caught up in just keeping up and not getting to really enjoy this time of year. With all this being said, the holiday season does not have to be stressful. By simplifying the holiday season, you can reduce stress, save time and money, and focus on the things that really matter. This will help make the season a much more enjoyable time for you and your family.

Procrastination is something that most of us experience at one time or another. Sometimes we might procrastinate because we overestimate the amount of time we actually have left to complete a task. For some tasks, we might think that we will be more motivated to do something at a later time than we are right now.  There are many reasons why we might procrastinate. But, if we allow it to become a major part of our daily lives it can cost us time and money.

Living within your means refers to a lifestyle where your expenses are fully covered by your income. It means that you are not accumulating debt due to spending more than what you earn. Living within your means requires self-control and discipline in managing your finances. Living this way helps you prioritize your expenses and budget appropriately. It is more than just controlling your spending impulses, it also helps you adjust your life so that you can more easily use your resources on what matters most to you. The goal is to have your expense aligned to or if possible even less than your overall income.