Hey Friends!
Every November, everyone in your inbox, on TV, and TikTok feed suddenly agree on one thing: you need more stuff.
Holiday marketing has kicked into overdrive, playing a very specific game with your brain chemistry.
And spoiler: we’re the ones being played.
Today on the podcast, we’re diving into parasocial intimacy, engineered complexity, and false empowerment.
These are just some of the strategies marketers and influencers use to get you to spend money you don’t have.
Get the full picture on YouTube or wherever you listen to Frugal Friends.
📌 Here’s what they should be influencing to buy!
I was talking with a friend who told me she had life insurance through her job so she was covered.
I hear this so often, and the truth is you’re probably not covered as well as you think.
🧾 Employer-provided life insurance coverage typically ends when you leave your job
Group term life usually isn’t portable; it ends if you quit, get laid off, or retire.
Some plans offer “conversion” options to keep coverage, but that usually means switching to an individual policy with much higher premiums.
💸 And it offers very limited coverage amounts
Typical employer policies only cover 1–2× your annual salary, which may not be enough to cover a mortgage, debts, or dependents’ future expenses.
Most people need 5–10× their income in coverage, so you’ll often still need a separate individual policy to fill the gap.
Don’t let November end without comparing rates at a few life insurance companies. Our favorites are Ladder, Ethos, and Fabric (and yes you should apply at all 3 so you know you’re getting the best coverage and rate for your situation!)
⭐ Ladder offers flexible, term life insurance designed for simplicity and transparency. You can “ladder” coverage up or down as your life changes, keeping costs affordable. **
⭐ Fabric by Gerber Life offers affordable, easy-to-apply-for term life insurance online, designed for young families who want straightforward coverage, digital tools, and a trusted brand name. **
⭐ Ethos is an online-first life insurance platform that simplifies buying coverage by offering fast, mostly no-medical-exam term and whole life policies. **
On the Pod
Did you catch our Black Friday episode!?
Don’t think we forgot about the most impulsive shopping day of the year! Last week we reacted to the scams (big and small) that Black Friday is bringing and answering the question, is Black Friday officially a scam? Don’t miss it!
🎧 Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
👉 Watch the episode on YouTube
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! I hope your pie is as delicious as your pants are stretchy,
Jen
**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.
