Here's the problem with most frugality advice: it makes you feel like a monk who's taken a vow of joylessness.

Joe Saul-Sehy and Neighbor Doug gather the roundtable crew—Paula Pant (Afford Anything), Jesse Cramer (Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors), and Andy Hill (Marriage, Kids, and Money)—to prove that frugality isn't about deprivation. It's about designing a life that feels good and costs less.

The conversation gets real fast: what's the difference between thoughtful frugality and soul-crushing penny-pinching? How do you cut spending without cutting joy? And why do some people thrive on frugal challenges while others just end up resentful and burnt out?

The crew shares their own tactics, from "shopping your fridge" (a shockingly high-ROI habit most people ignore) to the power of frugal sprints instead of permanent deprivation mode. They break down how to align your spending with your actual values instead of society's expectations, why raising income often beats shaving another $3 off your grocery bill, and how to turn frugality into something your kids actually want to participate in (no guilt trips required).

You'll also hear about the expenses each of them refuses to cut no matter how frugal they get, because smart money management isn't about eliminating everything; it's about keeping what matters and ditching what doesn't.

Plus: stories about mystery freezer leftovers, subscription fees that sneak in like cat burglars, and Doug's perspective on... well, whatever Doug decides matters that day.

What You'll Walk Away With:

• The difference between frugality that improves your life and penny-pinching that just makes you miserable

• Why "shopping your fridge" might be the highest-return grocery habit you'll ever adopt

• How to design spending around your actual values instead of just cutting blindly

• The power of "frugal sprints"—short-term challenges that work without long-term burnout

• How to involve your kids in frugal habits without making them feel deprived

• Why focusing on raising income often matters more than obsessing over tiny budget cuts

• Which expenses the pros refuse to cut—and why knowing your "worth it" list matters

This Episode Is For You If:

• You want to save money but refuse to live like you're broke when you're not

• Traditional frugality advice makes you feel guilty about things that actually bring you joy

• You're trying to cut spending but can't figure out where to start without feeling deprived

• You want to model smart money habits for your kids without making them fear spending

• You're tired of finance advice that assumes everyone should want the same lifestyle

Before You Hit Play, Think About This:

What's the one expense you refuse to cut, no matter how frugal you get? And what does that tell you about what actually matters to you? Drop your answer in the comments—we want to know what's on everyone's "worth it" list.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-save-money-without-making-your-life-miserable-sb1770/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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20 Years of Freakonomics

The Brian Lehrer Show

Outro

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