Shows / The Frugal Feast

The Frugal Feast
The Frugal Feast
Big life. Small budget.
Who says living well has to cost a fortune?
The Frugal Feast is the podcast for anyone who wants to get more out of life without spending more money.
Each episode serves up practical tips, creative ideas, and real-world strategies to help you stretch every dollar while still enjoying the things that matter most.
From grocery shopping hacks and easy, budget-friendly recipes to saving on entertainment, travel, home essentials, and everyday purchases,
The…
Episodes
The Frugal FeastThe Secret Menu of Savings: How to Haggle Your Way to Lower Bills
In this episode, CJ sits down with frugal living expert Michelle Rogers to unlock the surprisingly simple skill of strategic haggling. Most of us never think…
The Frugal FeastThe Thrifty Thriver's Guide to Family Fun: Free & Low-Cost Weekend Adventures
Are you tired of hearing 'I'm bored' on weekends, but worried about the cost of family outings? In this episode, Michelle Rogers shares her playbook for…
The Frugal FeastThe $0-Boost Side Hustle: Turn Trash into Cash with Upcycled Crafts
Feeling the pinch of a tight budget? In this episode, Michelle Rogers reveals the surprising art of upcycling—turning trash and thrift-store treasures into…
The Frugal FeastThe $5 Gift Closet: Never Pay Full Price for a Present Again
Ever panic-bought an overpriced gift because you forgot a birthday? In this episode, Michelle Rogers shows you how to create a smart gift closet stocked with…
The Frugal FeastThe Hidden Cost of Convenience: Why Your Time-Saving Purchases Are Draining Your Wallet
In this episode, Michelle Rogers joins CJ to uncover the sneaky ways convenience is costing you more than you think. From pre-shredded cheese and bottled water…
The Frugal FeastThe Utility Bill Audit: Slash Your Recurring Monthly Costs Without Sacrificing Comfort
In this episode, CJ and Michelle Rogers dive deep into one of the most overlooked areas of household budgeting: the recurring monthly bills for electricity…
The Frugal FeastThe Swap-Stop Solution: Host a Clothing Exchange Party and Refresh Your Wardrobe for Free
In this episode, CJ and Michelle Rogers dive into one of the most fun and social ways to refresh your wardrobe without spending a dime: the clothing exchange…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Wardrobe Rescue: Create More Outfits Without Buying Clothes
A crowded closet can still feel like it has nothing to wear—and buying more only makes the budget tighter. CJ interviews Michelle Rogers about a practical…
The Frugal FeastThe $10 Hospitality Blueprint: Host a Memorable Gathering on a Tiny Budget
Hosting friends or family can feel like a luxury when money is tight, but a meaningful gathering does not require a full spread, expensive décor, or a packed…
The Frugal FeastThe Borrow-and-Swap Circle: Get What You Need Without Buying It
What if the best way to afford something was not to buy it at all? In this practical interview, CJ and Michelle Rogers explore how a small borrowing-and-swap…
The Frugal FeastThe Cost-per-Use Conversation: Buy Cheap, Buy Once, or Skip It?
What if the cheapest option in the store is quietly costing you the most? In this practical interview, CJ and Michelle Rogers introduce the cost-per-use test…
The Frugal FeastThe Quiet Bills Plan: Make Irregular Expenses Feel Predictable
Car registrations, school supplies, holiday gifts, annual subscriptions, and routine medical costs can make a budget feel impossible—not because they are…
The Frugal FeastThe One-Grocery-Trip Three-Meal Challenge
What if one carefully chosen grocery item could become three completely different dinners? In this practical interview, CJ and Michelle Rogers demonstrate a…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Fix-It Interview: Save Money by Learning Which Home Repairs to Handle First
A dripping faucet, loose cabinet handle, or sticking door can feel too minor to address—until it causes damage or leads to an unnecessary service call. In this…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Emergency Plan: Handle Surprise Expenses Without Panic
A flat tire, broken appliance, medical bill, or last-minute family need can make a carefully managed budget feel useless overnight. In this practical…
The Frugal FeastThe Free Fun Field Guide: Build a Month of No-Cost Outings
Entertainment is often the first category people cut when money gets tight, but a smaller budget does not have to mean a smaller life. In this practical…
The Frugal FeastThe Pause-and-Plan Purchase Rule: Beat Impulse Spending Without Feeling Deprived
A tight budget can be undermined by small, emotional purchases that seem harmless in the moment but quietly accumulate. In this practical interview, CJ asks…
The Frugal FeastThe Pet Pantry Plan: Lower Pet Costs Without Cutting Care
Pets bring companionship and comfort, but food, supplies, grooming, and unexpected needs can quietly strain a limited budget. In this practical interview, CJ…
The Frugal FeastThe Use-What-You-Have Challenge: Stop Rebuying Your Own Supplies
How often do we buy something we already own because it is buried in a closet, tucked behind pantry staples, or forgotten in a drawer? In this practical…
The Frugal FeastThe Open-Table Formula: Host Memorable Gatherings for Less
Hosting friends or family can feel like a luxury when the budget is tight, but connection does not require a fully stocked table or a picture-perfect home. In…
The Frugal FeastThe Borrow-Before-Buy Habit: Get What You Need Without Owning It
What if the smartest purchase is the one you never have to make? CJ and Michelle Rogers explore a practical borrow-before-buy system for items people use…
The Frugal FeastThe Wear-It-More Wardrobe: Cut Clothing Costs Without Dressing Smaller
Clothing expenses can quietly drain a tight budget through duplicate purchases, forgotten items, rushed replacements, and clothes that wear out too soon. In…
The Frugal FeastThe Recurring-Cost Reset: Find the Quiet Charges Eating Your Budget
Small recurring charges can quietly become one of the largest leaks in a tight budget: memberships used once a month, overlapping services, automatic add-ons…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Flavor Matrix: Turn Five Staples Into Fifteen Dinners
What if your grocery list could be short without making dinner feel repetitive? In this practical interview, CJ and Michelle Rogers develop a Frugal Flavor…
The Frugal FeastComfort Without the Cost: A Room-by-Room Energy-Saving Reset
A comfortable home does not have to mean an unpredictable utility bill. In this practical interview, CJ talks with Michelle Rogers about a room-by-room…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Errand Loop: Finish More, Spend Less
A short trip to the store can quietly become several trips, extra fuel, convenience purchases, and an afternoon lost to running around. In this practical…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Gift Closet: Celebrate More, Spend Less
Unexpected birthdays, classroom celebrations, thank-you moments, and holidays can quietly wreck a tight budget when every gift becomes a rushed purchase. In…
The Frugal FeastThe Frugal Fix-First Ladder: Save Money Before You Replace It
A broken lamp, wobbly chair, clogged drain, or temperamental appliance can turn into an expensive impulse purchase—but many household problems have a low-cost…
The Frugal FeastThe Secondhand Safety Scan: Buy Used Without Buying Someone Else’s Problem
Buying used can dramatically lower the cost of furniture, kitchen tools, clothing, kids’ items, and everyday equipment—but a bargain is only a bargain if it…
The Frugal FeastThe Household Money Map: Preventing Expensive Surprises Before They Happen
Unexpected costs often feel unavoidable, but many become expensive because we lack a plan, a record, or a reliable first step. In this practical interview, CJ…
The Frugal FeastThe One-Hour Price Hunt: Save Hundreds by Researching Smarter, Not Harder
Tired of buyer’s remorse and missed deals? In this interview-driven episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers walk listeners through a tight, practical 60-minute…
The Frugal FeastLibrary Living: Unlocking Your Public Library for Free Food, Fun, and Tools
Public libraries are not just for books. In this episode CJ interviews Michelle Rogers about the surprisingly wide, often-overlooked ways libraries can replace…
The Frugal FeastPantry Relay: How Neighborhood Meal Swaps Save Time, Money, and Food
Tired of cooking the same three dinners or throwing away leftovers? In this interview episode CJ sits down with frugal living pro Michelle Rogers to blueprint…
The Frugal Feast30-Day Tiny-Save Challenge: Micro-Swaps That Save Big
The Frugal Feast presents a hands-on episode: a 30-Day Tiny-Save Challenge where CJ and guest Michelle Rogers map out 30 micro-swaps—one small habit to change…
The Frugal FeastMake It Taste Expensive: 3 Flavor-Boosting Tricks That Stretch Every Dollar
Cheap ingredients don’t have to taste cheap. In this interview episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers break down three high-impact, low-cost culinary…
The Frugal FeastCancel the Package: Replace Subscriptions with Free and Cheaper Habits
Subscriptions are small, predictable charges that quietly eat your budget. In this episode CJ interviews Michelle Rogers to map a practical, friendly process…
The Frugal FeastFive-Staple Weeks: Eat Well for a Week with Only 5 Pantry Staples
Tired of expensive grocery trips and decision fatigue at dinner? In this interview-driven episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers show listeners how to build a…
The Frugal FeastDate Night, Not Dollar Night: Memorable Low-Cost Experiences at Home
Tired of pricey nights out but still want meaningful time with loved ones? In this interview episode CJ and Michelle Rogers walk listeners through three…
The Frugal FeastSkill Swap & Save: How to Trade Time, Not Money
Swap your way to savings: this interview with frugal strategist Michelle Rogers explores how trading skills for services replaces paid costs and strengthens…
The Frugal FeastPaws & Pennies: Budget-Friendly Pet Care Without Sacrificing Love
Pets bring joy—and expenses. This interview episode with Michelle Rogers breaks down realistic, no-nonsense ways to care for dogs and cats on a tight budget…
The Frugal FeastClean, Cheap & Confident: DIY Personal Care and Household Essentials
This interview episode teaches listeners how to replace costly household and personal-care products with low-cost, time-tested DIY alternatives that actually…
The Frugal FeastBlock Party on a Budget: Host a Neighborhood Celebration That Costs Next to Nothing
Bring neighbors together without breaking the bank. In this interview episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers walk listeners through planning a memorable block…
The Frugal FeastLibrary Loot: Hidden Freebies Your Library Already Owns
Your public library is more than books — it’s an underused money-saving powerhouse. In this interview episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers walk listeners…
The Frugal FeastThrift Flip Starter Kit: Turn Thrifted Finds into Cash and Style
The Frugal Feast dives into the profitable, creative world of thrift flipping. CJ interviews Michelle Rogers to uncover how to spot high-value pieces at thrift…
The Frugal FeastLow-Cost Energy Wins: 3 Simple Habits to Shrink Your Utility Bills
This episode teaches listeners practical, easy-to-adopt habits that reduce utility bills quickly and sustainably. CJ interviews budgeting expert Michelle…
The Frugal FeastSplit, Freeze, Feast: Turn Bulk Buys into Two Weeks of Budget Meals
Stretch a single bargain grocery run into two weeks of tasty, inexpensive meals using smart bulk buys, no-fuss portioning, and freezer-friendly tricks. In this…
The Frugal FeastSubscription Diet: Slash Monthly Fees Without Missing What Matters
Most households quietly lose dozens of dollars every month to underused subscriptions. In this episode CJ interviews Michelle Rogers to walk listeners through…
The Frugal FeastDollar-Store Gourmet: 3 Budget Upgrades for Food, Home & Fun
Michelle Rogers joins CJ to show how dollar-store staples can become surprisingly useful tools for feeding a family, improving your home, and entertaining kids…
The Frugal FeastPantry Remix: 3 Dinner Stars from What You Already Have
The pantry often hides the cheapest, most versatile ingredients that can turn into satisfying meals with zero extra spend. In this interview episode CJ and…
The Frugal FeastSwap & Save: The Power of Community Barter for Big Budget Wins
Everyone needs things they can’t afford and has things they don’t use. In this interview episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers break down how community barter…
The Frugal FeastUnit-Price Detective: Outsmart Grocery Pricing Tricks to Save More Every Trip
The Frugal Feast digs into a practical, interview-led lesson on decoding grocery pricing so listeners can save reliably every time they shop. CJ and Michelle…
The Frugal FeastEmergency Frugal Kit: Build a 30-Item Home Survival Kit for Under $50
What if one small kit could stop impulse runs, stretch meals, and cut emergency expenses for months? In this interview-led episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers…
The Frugal FeastFrugal Family Rituals: Low-Cost Traditions That Build Joy (and Save Money)
Families and households often spend most on entertainment, gift-giving, and special occasions—yet connection and meaning don’t require big budgets. In this…
The Frugal FeastWeekend Income Sprint: 3 Zero-Startup Side Gigs to Boost Your Budget
Short on cash but not on time? This episode walks listeners through three practical side gigs you can start with zero startup cost and minimal…
The Frugal FeastThrifted Capsule: Build a 10-Piece Wardrobe for Under $100
Tired of overflowing closets and a tight budget? In this interview-led episode CJ sits down with frugal-shopping expert Michelle Rogers to show you how to…
The Frugal FeastFix It, Save Big: A Frugal Home Repair Toolkit
Most homeowners assume repairs mean a pricey contractor. In this interview CJ and Michelle Rogers debunk that myth and build a frugal home repair toolkit…
The Frugal FeastPlay More, Spend Less: The Ultimate Frugal Game Night
In this 9-minute interview, CJ and Michelle show listeners how to turn one night a week into big fun with a tiny budget. You’ll get three proven, low-cost…
The Frugal FeastSubscription Sleuth: Audit, Trim, Replace (and Save)
Subscriptions are convenient—and quietly expensive. In this interview-led episode CJ and guest Michelle Rogers walk listeners through a practical, step-by-step…
The Frugal FeastTiny Tweaks, Big Savings: 10-Minute Fixes to Slash Monthly Costs
The Frugal Feast presents a fast, practical guide to tiny, repeatable habits that save real money every month. In this 9-minute interview CJ talks with…
The Frugal FeastBackyard Bounty: Grow, Preserve, and Stretch Your Grocery Dollar
Turn your yard, balcony, or windowsill into a money-saving kitchen with simple, low-cost gardening and preserving techniques. In this interview CJ talks with…