Frugal Friends Podcast

Budgeting. We're never gonna stop talking about it. AND on this episode we have THE Jesse Mecham, creator and founder of the famous budgeting app 'You Need a Budget'. For those still wondering whether or not they actually need a budget, and for all the rest who benefit from more reminders and tips; listen in!Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.Frugal Friends Workbook. Trying to calculate stuff but don’t have a calculator or app? Spreadsheets are here for you. Record all the stuff, have multiple sheets in one doc, and go crazy with those sums! be a lady in the streets but a freak in the spreadsheets.Budgeting with Spreadsheets: Notable Notes:We asked Jesse all about the 4 rules for successful budgeting: Give every dollar a job Consider the idea of trade offs (i.e. If i do this - I can’t do that) Recognize finite nature of your money and prioritize Budget based on your current money on hand Embrace your true expenses Look ahead to less frequent expenses Create sinking funds Roll with the punches Recognize that the future is not static Don’t anticipate perfection Change the plan as needed Recognize its a process Engage in high frequency of interaction with your budget Age your money  Budget the money you already have Let your money ‘hang out a little’ Live ahead instead of behind BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Jesse for sharing your bill about your electricity bill of $16!!frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a bill: This Bill of the Week is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers online counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples, and teens. Just answer a few questions and they’ll  assess your needs to match you with a licensed professional therapist that fits your needs and preferences. AND as a Frugal Friends listener you get 10% off your first month when you sign up at betterhelp.com/Frugal.BetterHelpLightning RoundOur latest budgeting flub and how we recovered took over costco run and didn't even know how much the total bill was!Jesse- not accurately estimating reno costs and timeline for fixing up the new houseJill- - forgot to adjust budget to reflect ebbs and flows of workJen Get more from Jesse and YNAB at:YouNeedabudget.comBONUS:Jesse's Book Recommendations:-The Wealthy Barber-Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin-See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've ever thought about living in an RV or trying the tiny house lifestyle, or even considered it short-term; this episode is for you! We're covering a lot of the basics regarding what should be considered before full-time RV-ing, where to park, and what to look for when purchasing an RV!Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.Frugal Friends Workbook. finding the lesser known, but far better solution. Like when the line for the restroom goes out the door and down the hall, but YOU remember that there was another bathroom on the 2nd floor. Or when your birthday falls on leap year so you’re a good 8 years younger than the rest of your friends. Loopholes; just makes sure they’re not illegal...Loopholes: Notable NotesWhat the Internet has to say:This article from Insider gives us a list of important things to consider about full-time RV-ingWhat Jen + Jill have to say: The bathrooms are tiny, it's true...but the water doesn't have to get cold 5-minutes into your shower! You can upgrade your water heater system! The cooktops and stoves are often tiny, but this is another thing you can upgrade if living in the RV full-time There is no privacy! You do hear everything inside, and depending on where you're parked, there may not be privacy once you walk out of your 'home'! More from the Internet:This article from A Small Life talks about the number one question that needs to be answered when living on wheels: where to park the RV?!More from Jen + Jill: If you have your own land with appropriate hook-ups or you plan to boon-dock; parking on your own property could be an option  RV parks + mobile home communities (sometimes only seasonal) Tiny house community online has some great tips (see link in article) Jill's favorite option: backyard living (+traveling) RVshare.com RVparking.com Roadtrippers.com overnightRVparking.com Walmart Thank you Jacqueline from St. Louis for sharing your bill about both hitting your sisters car AND setting up recurring payments by check through paypal rather than paying feeBILL OF THE WEEK - frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill If you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billPolicyGeniusJen- Shopping for insurance can seem like a daunting task, but Policygenius makes it easy and saves their home & auto customers an average of $1,127 a year. They find the lowest quotes from over 30 top insurers. So if you’re a homeowner, head to Policygenius.com right now to get started and make sure you’re getting the best rates on your home and auto insurancSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've talked about side hustles and selling our gently used items to bring in more cash and now we're introducing the idea of a side business! If this feels next level, it is. BUT we hope this episode helps give some sunlight and water to those seedling ideas that may be sprouting in your mind about putting your skills and talents to work in a way that benefits your budget big time!Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.Frugal Friends Workbook. Or SAPTOS for short. Searching for a way to make money on the internet? Every article you read will without a doubt recommend online surveys! You’ll spend hours trying to take surveys you won’t qualify for and more hours taking surveys you’ll get paid pennies for. And you’ll learn nothing about yourself. At SAPTOS we urge you, If you see online surveys as a suggestion for how to make more money, close the tab immediately.Society Against People Taking Online Surveys. A future episode will be about negotiating raises, job hopping, and making more in the workplace.Today is about what mindset shifts do we need to make and what strategies can we use to make more money.Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Hack The Entrepreneur gives us the top tips for shifting our mindset to think like an entrepreneurWhat Jen + Jill have to say: Decisiveness  Accountability  Humility Confidence Resilience  :More from the InternetThis article from Entrepreneur provides some unique ideas of ways to make the most of $100 from some of the top business leadersMore from Jen + Jill: Buy or flip - find out what it’s worth and best place to sell Test before you invest - test out your idea (ex of spending $100 on FB adds to see what the interest is) Don’t forget service“The best way to drum up business with a zero marketing budget is to service the crap out of existing clients.” Sell or service Utilize your expertise It’s never about the money Thank you Emily for sharing your bill with us about $6 packs of light bulbs that will also save you money on your electric bill!BILL OF THE WEEK - frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billThis Bill of the Week is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers online counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples, and teens. Just answer a few questions and they’ll  assess your needs to match you with a licensed professional therapist that fits your needs and preferences. AND as a Frugal Friends listener you get 10% off your first month when you sign up at betterhelp.com/Frugal.Lightning RoundHow we started our side business ventures selling road side plants!Jill- - t-shirt businessJen - this podcasJill See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever bought something to make yourself feel better? Or splurged on something only to feel instant guilt afterward? We may not always realize it, but our spending habits are incredibly connected to our emotions; recognizing this can unlock some strategies for seeing the financial progress we desire! We're thrilled to share our conversation with Leslie about identifying our own emotional spending habits, how to curb them, and ways to engage in healthy spending patterns.Sponsors:  B3 is Jen’s new course designed to help you stick to a budget in just one week. If you find yourself busting your budget every month then you’re definitely going to want to check it out. There are no money saving tips in here, just 5 strategies to think differently about budgeting so you can finally stick to it and do it long term. If you’ve tried budgeting and it just hasn’t worked for you then check out budgetbusterbootcamp.com to learn more and use the code FRIENDS to get 10% off!Budget Buster Bootcamp! whether you’re spending has gotten a little out of control OR maybe you’re being too loud at the store about how outrageous the prices are and your friend keeps shushing you - you gotta ‘reign it in’. Grab that situation by the reigns, and just pull it back a little.Reigning it in: Notable Notes:Leslie H. Tayne, Esq. is a New York debt settlement attorney with nearly 20 years’ experience in the practice area of consumer and business financial debt-related services. She is highly accomplished in negotiation and settlements, and has gone up against large national banks, credit unions, collection agencies and multiple creditor legal representatives. We're excited to share some of our top questions and learnings from our time with Leslie! What is emotional spending?Spending on items for emotionally charged reasons rather than out of necessity or intentionality How do you identify emotions that trigger spending?Track your spending! Pay attention to what is prompting spending and how you feel before, during, and after What are some alternatives to emotional spending?Identify healthy coping strategies for some of the common emotions that could lead to unnecessary spending How can you recover if you have made an emotional purchase? Being kind to self Write down what happened Decide how you want to move forward - perspective of learning from this experience Thank you Leslie for sharing your bill about your recurring purchases and how you negotiated EVERY.SINGLE.ONE.BILL OF THE WEEK - If you want to submit your bill of the week visit frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill to leave us a bill We also want to thank Philo for sponsoring our Bill of the Week! Philo is live and on-demand TV for just $20 a month. It’s a great way to get 60+ popular channels and can save you hundreds a month on TV—it’s the most affordable way to watch at a time when everyone could use  some entertainment in their life! Watch from your phone, laptop, tablet, or TV with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Android TV; Philo is TV for everyone! Sign up today at philo.tv/frugal and you’ll get 25% off your first two months. Lightning Round: Find out the different types of emotional spending from this Bustle article.What type of emotional spender are you!?The Instant gratification spender(This is Jen and Leslie! target, aldi, etc.)Shop to escape Competitive spenderTrying to create a “new” youBuy & ReturnSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We can often struggle to make big dents in our savings or debt payoff journey which leads to feelings of frustration and defeat. When the small spending changes aren't cutting it anymore, we might consider a no-spend challenge! We've explored doing this for a day, or a week, but on this episode we talk about challenging ourselves to not spend for an entire month! Join us as we explore how 'gamifying' finances can help us achieve the progress in our budgets we so desire! Sponsors:  B3 is Jen’s new course designed to help you stick to a budget in just one week. If you find yourself busting your budget every month then you’re definitely going to want to check it out. There are no money saving tips in here, just 5 strategies to think differently about budgeting so you can finally stick to it and do it long term. If you’ve tried budgeting and it just hasn’t worked for you then check out budgetbusterbootcamp.com to learn more and use the code FRIENDS to get 10% off!Budget Buster Bootcamp! Sinking funds are essential to afford big purchases like a home, a vacation, or new windows like we’re getting right now after months and months of putting it off because seeing all that money leave your bank account is really sad. But the energy you waste with paper thin windows from the 50’s is also sad so like there’s no joy here. Spending all the money you saved. I hate to see you leave but I love to watch you lower my energy bill.Spending all the money you saved. We also want to thank Philo for sponsoring our Bill of the Week! Philo is live and on-demand TV for just $20 a month. It’s a great way to get 60+ popular channels and can save you hundreds a month on TV—it’s the most affordable way to watch at a time when everyone could use  some entertainment in their life! Watch from your phone, laptop, tablet, or TV with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Android TV; Philo is TV for everyone! Sign up today at philo.tv/frugal and you’ll get 25% off your first two months.  Notable Notes:We're excited to share this episode from our archives. It was a much loved episode at the time, and we think it has some great reminders that are worth revisiting about how to do a no-spend month!Wrap-up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a copy of the Frugal Friends Workbook!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've all been there; lending to friends and never seeing that money again, 'splitting the bill' when you only got a salad and a water, standing up in a wedding without realizing all the hidden costs. Whatever the situation, setting financial boundaries with friends and loved ones can be tough, but necessary! Today we talk identifying our financial boundary lines and how to draw them.Sponsors:  B3 is my new mini course designed to help you stick to a budget in just one week. If you find yourself busting your budget every month then I made this course for you. There are no money saving tips in here, just 5 strategies to think differently about budgeting so you can finally stick to it and do it long term. If you’ve tried budgeting and it just hasn’t worked for you then check out budgetbusterbootcamp.com to learn more and use the code FRIENDS to get 10% off!Budget Buster Bootcamp! Yup, you’ve heard this sponsor before, and they’re back to remind us that ‘no’ is an acceptable answer AND a complete sentence.Saying NO: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This artcile from Holly Scherer dives into how to set healthy boundaries with your family What Jen + Jill have to say: What’s mine/what’s not mine - look at the situation simplistically How to identify our boundaries: Brene Brown defines it best as she describes boundaries are essentially “what’s okay and what’s not ok” More from the Internet:This article from Workable Wealth describes how we can set money boundaries with friends More from Jen + Jill: Identify the various types of 'financial frenemies' you're dealing with Have a strategy for supporting friends BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Ally for sharing your bill with us about duck bills!! frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill If you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billThis Bill of the Week is brought to you by BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers online counseling and therapy services for individuals, couples, and teens. Just answer a few questions and they’ll  assess your needs to match you with a licensed professional therapist that fits your needs and preferences. AND as a Frugal Friends listener you get 10% off your first month when you sign up at betterhelp.com/Frugal. Lightning RoundOur financial boundary stories  Jen- bridesmaid, bridal shower cost Jill - boating (speaking expectations), helping someone move Wrap-up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a copy of the Frugal Friends Workbook!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As frugal folk, we're always interested in finding ways to save money and spend less - which is why we are thrilled to have Lisa Rowan on the show to talk about some lesser known 'hacks' to both save and earn money!Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.The Frugal Friends Workbook! Yeah they exist. You might’ve forgotten what it’s like to not have just virtual friends but real friends do exist. They’re the ones that help you move, bring you dinner when you have a baby, and go to the beach with you. Real life friends, get em.Real Friends! Notable Notes:We were thrilled to ask Lisa all. the. questions. here's our top favorites: You have 47 tips alone for curbing mindless spending, what are some of your favorites? Reconsider whether memberships are worth it Do a no spend challenge Hit the gym - it has so many benefits for your wellbeing AND keeps you from spending that time spending money! You have a chapter in your book called 'Get Debt Free' but there were a lot of great credit building hacks in there. What’s your favorite from this chapter? Consider a goodwill letter to creditors - it can make a serious difference Claim your missing money - go to your states directory and look up your name What are your favorite tips to earn more money Get a mentor! Look within your career to find an advocate to help you advance in your career Side hustles - survive anything for a season How about planning for the future?You can start a 529 plan for yourself! AND it's not restricted by the state you live in BILL OF THE WEEK - Thanks Lisa for sharing your bill about getting all your money back for a cancelled trip!frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundAreas where we’re currently cutting back on spending and how: Lisa - perishable food waste - finding ways to maximum fresh foods i.e. making one pot meals, salad ingredients I like and know I will eat Jill - cutting back on take out Jen - cutting back on fast food   Get more from Lisa:lisarowan.comAND check our her book Money Hacks Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's no shocker that buying a home is a huge expense - which is why we are interested in ways to cut costs! On this episode we talk both buying and refinancing our homes and ways to save on both.Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.The Frugal Friends Workbook! Well we have a complicated sponsor today - but it’s quite fitting as we discuss home buying. Take stamps for example - what one would think costs 55cents and be used to mail a letter, when it comes to home buying this is nowhere near what the word ‘stamps’ mean! No no no - ‘stamps’ are hundreds of dollars, you never actually see them, nothing gets mailed anywhere as a result, but they are apparently necessary and there’s no circumventing them. High price tags on what should be low cost items: it’s all part of the home buying magic.Very High Price Tags on Seemingly Insignificant, low cost items: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from The Lenders Network lists off 7 ways to cut costs when buying a houseWhat Jen + Jill have to say: 1. Use an experienced LOCAL real estate agent 2. Get loan quotes from multiple lenders 4. Increase your credit score 5. Find a house that needs some work 6. Get the right type of mortgage loan 7. Purchase a home in the winter More from the Internet:This article from Mortgage Loan provides 6 ways to save when refinancing your mortgageMore from Jen + Jill: Pay  closing costs and points up front Don’t take cash out - this type of refinance is more expensive Improve credit score Shop around Have history with your lender - you can stick with them! Prepare for an appraisal (make sure everything is in working order!) BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Louisa for sharing your transportation bill - not buying gas for 44 DAYS!!! Congrats! frugalfriendspodcast.com/billIf you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billLightning RoundOther ways to save Jen- home insurance: shop around, check for rates reductions that the home qualifies for or on work that needs to be done soon. Jill- calculate if you save more by not putting 20% down. PMI usually costs .5% to 1% of loan. Factor in cost of renting, etc. Jen- Monetize your home - rent out the guest room on Airbnb Jill- consider purchasing in a lower cost of living area Wrap-Up:Thanks so much for listening! Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to frugalfriendspodcast@gmail.com. AND share our most recent episode on social for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!Thanks for listening! See you next week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether you're married, in a serious relationship, or 'surveying the landscape' we could all use some refreshers on ways to enjoy time with our romantic interests in a frugal and affordable way! On this episode we're exploring some of the costs we don't always consider, as well as some fresh ideas for inexpensive dates.Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.The Frugal Friends Workbook! Wondering what to do for a low key date night at home? Start a TV Series. You’ll avoid the “what are we doing tonight?” question for at least a month! Avoid the cost of restaurants and the uncertainty of events by getting sucked into a TV series with 7+ seasons. You’ll have even more fun by choosing a series that has a spinoff! TV Series, because eventually you’re going to have to stop scrolling the Netflix homepage and just watch something.TV Series: Notable Notes:What the Internet has to say:This article from Chime outlines for us some of the hidden costs of dating we often don't plan for, but should!What Jen + Jill have to say: Beautifying yourself - link to make-up ep Transportation - link transport ep Time is money - and we give this up as we date our significant other! Intimate wear Dating apps Birth control :More from the InternetThis article from And Then We Saved gives a comprehensive list of 98 frugal and fun date ideas!More from Jen + Jill: Ummmm we all know movies at home are an option...so let's get to the good stuff.. Build something together Find the best happy hour - make apps your meal Play ping pong (or tennis lol) Teach each other something….but be warned! Book club/read to each other Work out together Outdoor activities- check Groupon Breakfast date Talk about your future- Plan your financial goals Wash your cars Thank you Sherri from novia scotia for sharing your amazing yatze computerized opponent named ‘Bill’!BILL OF THE WEEK - frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill If you want to submit your bill of the week visit to leave us a billALSO sponsored by Grammerly! A free Chrome extension that helps keep your writing grammatically correct and error free! We love using Grammarly Premium for its plagiarism detector and have found its other features to be very useful! Because Grammarly is a sponsor of the show you can get 20% off Grammarly Premium, which will 100% make you a better writer whether it’s for work or personal. Just go to Grammarly.com/frugal to get 20%.Lightning RoundOur best and worst dates Jill - BEST = french town, yard sales, wineries Jen- BEST = our first date was the best Jill - WORST = learning to drive manual Jen- WORST = vacation in Bali WrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Having and raising children can be expensive! And with so many different products and precautions vying for our money it can be tough to know where to spend and where to save. We're thrilled to have Chelsea Brennan, founder of Smart Money Mamas and former hedge fund investor to talk about the important pieces to consider when having kids and the items most parents don't think about, but should!Sponsors:  Whether you’re new to budgeting or trying to reach a big financial goal and need something to motivate you, you’ll enjoy The Frugal Friends Workbook. It’s a digital workbook with 6 week-long challenges that will help you save money, simplify your life, improve money conversations, and more. It’s over 60 pages and can be completed on your own but it’s created to be gone through in pairs or small groups that’s why every purchase comes with two downloads so you can share or split the cost. Head to Frugalfriendspodcast.com/workbook to learn more and use the code TACOBELL all one word to get $10 off the regular price.The Frugal Friends Workbook! that feeling you get when you see literally ANYTHING that is tiny and overwhelmingly adorable that you grit your teeth, clench your muscles, and say weird things that you would never ACTUALLY do but somehow feels right to say. Cute aggression: you either understand it completely or you are entirely concerned by it - there is no in-betweenCute Aggression - Notable Notes:We asked Chelsea all about her insights and top tips on raising babies frugally! Here's our highlights: What are some costs new mom think they need to spend money on but really aren’t necessary? Basically everything… :)For real though, set up the nursery later - most infants will sleep in your room for the first few months anyhow! Consider if the thing you are about to purchase will actually cause anxiety Beware of educational development marketing - they want your money - not to make your baby smarter What are some costs new parents might not think about but are legitimately important?  Life insurance (for parents plan for 6-10x your salary) + Estate plan (particularly to name guardians) Trust and Will Haven Life Ladder Bestow (no exam necessary) Policy Genius Emergency Binder - by Smart Money Mama Baby emergency fund Consider night nurse/food delivery. etc. For the things we need, what are some ways to save money. Local buy nothing groups Borrow from friends FB marketplace Mom FB groups Thrift stores Consignment events  What should new moms be prepared for as far as medical costs for delivery and baby well checks? ACA often covers baby well checks CALL INSURANCE provider to learn about coverage Understand what your deductible is Recognize possibility of paying deductible 2x Options - what they cover (small perks) Call hospital and get range of numbers Select an office that has a set price Consider birthing center (if healthy/non-complicated pregnancy) BILL OF THE WEEK - Thank you Chelsea for sharing about your bill for your sit to stand desk!rugalfriendspodcast.com/bill If you want to submit your bill of the week visit fto leave us a billToday’s Bill is brought to you by See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.