
Store Loyalty Programs Are a Scam (And We All Fell for It)
From Frugal Friends Podcast by Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni | Backyard Ventures
May 26, 2026 · 46 min · Episode 618
About this episode
This episode explores the hidden costs of loyalty programs and how they influence consumer spending.
Loyalty programs promise discounts, rewards, and exclusive perks. But what if those programs are actually designed to study your spending habits and push you to spend more? In this episode, we unpack how loyalty programs work behind the scenes and why those “perks” might be costing more than you think. 🎙️ Get full show notes here! https://bit.ly/ffployaltyscams 📚 Our book: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ 💌 Want to save money and spend better in just 5 minutes? Get The Friendletter! Our FREE 3x weekly newsletter with freebies, deals, and savings hacks. https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/friendletter 📣 Submit your bill of the week and get a shoutout from us https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/bill-of-the-week/ 💸 Check out our monthly challenge community http://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/club 👉🏼 Subscribe for more on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/frugalfriends 💃🏼 Hang out with us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/frugalfriendspodcast/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
People in this episode
Hosts: Jen Smith, Jill Sirianni
Topics covered
- loyalty programs
- consumer behavior
- spending habits
- discounts
- rewards
- financial advice
Keywords
- loyalty programs
- discounts
- rewards
- spending habits
- consumer behavior
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Frugal Friends Podcast
Books & works: Buy What You Love Without Going Broke
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