Jen Smith
Contributor
With nearly a decade of experience as a personal finance writer and author, Jen Smith is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom through practical strategies and simple living. She’s the founder of Modern Frugality, a resource for debt management and frugal living, and co-host of the Frugal Friends Podcast, part of the iHeart Podcast Network.
Jen began her personal finance journey by paying off $78,000 of debt in just two years without a six-figure income. She has since written three personal finance books, including the Amazon best-seller The No-Spend Challenge Guide, and her expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Woman’s Day, and more.
Jen has also written for several prominent platforms, including Investopedia, The Penny Hoarder, and The Balance, covering topics such as retirement, investing, and frugal living.
Outside of her professional work, Jen enjoys life as a mom and continues to embrace creative and frugal ways to enrich her family’s life.
Education
- Florida College of Integrative Medicine: M.S. in Integrative Medicine, B.S. in Health Sciences
- University of Central Florida: A.A.
Media Mentions
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn to learn more or check out her latest articles on DollarSprout.
Capital One Shopping vs. Honey: Which Extension is Better?
I used to love the chase of finding the best deal. I’d research all the stores online and visit the ones that I could in person, looking for flash sales and clearance deals. I’d meticulously read reviews and ratings and look at pictures to see if those reviews were authentic. Then, when I was sure…
How to Sell Services Online Like a Pro
When my husband and I were paying off our student loans, we didn’t have big incomes. But we did have time. We took on as many side hustles as possible to make extra money, but quickly realized that not all side hustles are created equal. We wasted a lot of time doing gigs that paid…
19 Profitable Digital Product Ideas to Sell Online
Looking for a way to scale your business and increase your income without being needed at the office all day? Digital products could be the solution you’re looking for. There’s an endless number of digital product ideas that could help you establish your own business, take your business to the next level, or just help…
6 Ways to Make Money Renting Out Your Space
When my husband and I bought our house, we found we had way more space than we needed. We knew we’d grow into it, but it felt like a waste to have two empty rooms collecting dust for a few years. So we decided to rent out one of our spare rooms on Airbnb. In…
8 Tips to Negotiate Your Salary for a New Job
The first time I ever negotiated for a higher salary was equal parts empowering and terrifying. I’d just been offered a great opportunity to advance my career. Because I still had my other job that I enjoyed, I felt comfortable enough negotiating for more money. So I went out on a limb and asked for…
How to Prepare for a Job Interview in 9 Simple Steps
For some reason, I can remember every job interview I’ve been on in my adult life. Maybe it’s the profuse sweating or the responses that I swore sounded better in my head. For many like I, interviews are the most stressful part of looking for a new job. You never know what you’re going to…
Money Can’t Buy Happiness — But, How It’s Spent Still Matters
When my husband and I were spending every extra penny of income to pay off our student loans, I assumed the financial freedom that came with being debt-free would allow me to be happier. I would dream of starting a family, buying a home, and taking trips to places I never thought I could afford….
I Tried the “No Spend Month” Challenge. Here’s How It Went
If you’re in the process of paying off debt, it doesn’t take long to realize how life-altering it can be. Whether it’s giving up takeout or skipping a weekend getaway, these little things make a huge impact when we start to cut them out. That was hard for me to grasp. When my husband and…
Marrying Someone with Debt? Red Flags to Consider Before “I Do”
Netflix’s reality show, Love is Blind, had some standout moments. One of the most significant was the look on Matt Barnett’s face when his new fiance, Amber Pike, revealed she had $20,000 of student loans, no job, and no degree to show for it. To many watching at home, Pike’s reveal wasn’t breaking news since…
How to Improve Your Finances Based on Your Enneagram
The quest for self-discovery is a never-ending journey. The more we know ourselves, the more we have to look at not just our good qualities, but our negative ones as well. A tool that many find helpful is personality profilers. These tests can narrow down the number of feelings, mindsets, and motivations and help us…