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The self-care industry is making us broke
05/01/26 - Friday

Hey friend,
Before we get into today’s episode, I’m asking for your help ❤️
I’m running the Disney World Marathon on January 10th (!!) and raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
My team’s goal is to raise $3,000, and we have until August 3rd to get there.
If tFrugal Friends has ever helped you save money or feel more confident about money, I’d be so grateful for your support.
Even a small donation makes a real difference for families who need housing and care during incredibly difficult times.
And if you’re able to give more, everyone who donates $25 or more will get a Frugal Friends “Frugal Not Cheap” tote bag!
Just reply to this email with confirmation and your address.

Now… let’s talk about “self-care.”
🎧 This week’s episode: “The Self-Care Industry Is Making Us Broke”
And listen, I love a good treat-yourself moment as much as the next person.
But somewhere along the way, self-care went from:
resting, connecting, taking care of your needs to
…buying things.
Face masks. Matching lounge sets. $8 coffees. “Healing” hauls.
And the wild part?
A lot of it doesn’t actually make us feel better!
Because what’s being sold as self-care is often just overconsumption in a cozy robe.
In the episode, we talk about how the self-care industry has turned our desire to feel better into a marketing strategy. One that tells us the solution to stress is… another purchase.
But if self-care is supposed to help us relax and feel more grounded, why does it so often leave us:
overstimulated
overspent
and still stressed
That’s the disconnect we’re unpacking.
And stick around until the end because we’re not just laughing at delusional TikTok videos. We’re going to explain how to practice real self-care.
It’s something we explored in our book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke, but haven’t seen talked about in this way anywhere else.
Because real self-care isn’t about what you buy, it’s about what actually supports you.
✨ Try this filter this week
Before you spend on something labeled “self-care,” ask:
👉 Will this reduce my stress… or just distract me from it?
👉 Will I feel better after this, or just temporarily different?
If it’s the second one, it might not be self-care.
It might just be really good marketing.
A tool we actually like (for when you are spending)
If you’re going to shop anyway, you might as well get some money back.
Rakuten** gives you cashback on purchases you’re already making online. It’s free, easy to use, and can take a little of the sting out of spending.
If you listen to the episode, I’d love to hear your take:
What actually feels like self-care to you lately?
Talk soon,
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.
