Jen Smith is a personal finance expert and the co-host of the top-rated Frugal Friends Podcast. After she graduated from college, she and her husband buckled down and paid off $78,000 of debt in just two years. 

They also made extreme lifestyle shifts that she doesn’t recommend anymore. She tried to side-hustle her way out of debt. She stopped spending on almost everything altogether, which wasn’t the answer. Why? Because she was miserable. 

She knew she had to find a middle ground between spending frivolously and spending nothing. For the last five years, the “Frugal Friends” podcast has become a journey to find how to get the things you love without going broke. 

She’s on a mission to help people spend in alignment with their values, empowering them to live for today while saving for tomorrow. Listen in for some great takeaways about Jen’s journey to eradicate her debt and how she helps others eliminate theirs.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…

• Learn more about Jen Smith and her journey [2:15] 
• Why Jen and her co-host launched Frugal Friends [7:18] 
• Is being “frugal” the same as being cheap? [10:26] 
• Frugality = being efficient with time and money [13:19]
• Get your copy of “Financial Planning Made Personal” [16:24]
• You can value nice things and still be frugal [18:32] 
• Why finding your own core values is important [20:37] 
• Budgets are the diets of the financial industry [22:03]
• The purpose of Frugal Friends “Bill of the week” [25:37] 
• Jen’s advice for those interested in podcasting [28:44] 
• What Jen did today that put her in the mindset for success [30:08] 

Resources & People Mentioned

• Get your copy of “Financial Planning Made Personal”
• The ONE Thing by Gary Keller

Connect with Jen Smith

• The website
• On Instagram
• On Linkedin
• On Twitter
• On Facebook
• On YouTube

Connect With Mitlin Financial

• podcast*at*mitlinfinancial(dot)com – email us with your suggestions for topics or guests
• If you would like to learn more schedule a call: https://mitlin.us/FitCall
• https://mitlinfinancial.com 
• Follow on Twitter
• Follow on Instagram
• Subscribe on Youtube
• Follow on Linkedin
• Follow on Facebook

Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset Show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest’s content linked on this site.

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Larry Sprung Host Mitlin

Lawrence “Larry” Sprung, CFP® is a husband, father, entrepreneur and mental health advocate.

Larry is the author of the Amazon Bestselling book “Financial Planning Made Personal” and the also host of the Mitlin Money Mindset™ a podcast that reminds you to ask yourself “What did you do today that brought you joy?®”

In 2004 he founded Mitlin Financial, Inc. naming the firm memory of Larry’s wife’s grandfather, Mitchell, and his mother, Linda. During his career, Larry has found that a lot of industry terms and concepts can seem confusing to outsiders. That’s why he works with the families he serves to break down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand concepts.

In recognition of Larry’s significant contributions to his profession, he has received quite a few awards. In 2021, Larry was named to the Investopedia 100 Top Advisors in 2021 and was even more humbled to make their Top Ten list for 2022.

Outside the office, one of Larry’s greatest passions is raising awareness for mental health. He spent over 12 years serving on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and sits on its financial and investment committees. With his wife, Denise, he has raised more than $1.7 million for the organization through the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. The fund was created in memory of his brother-in-law.

Larry values his family tremendously and his desire to do right by his wife and two sons drives who he is in and out of the office.