Last updated: October 28, 2026
You should know how a guide gets from an idea to your screen. This page shows the steps. It also tells you what we do when we get something wrong.
Our mission
Frugal Journal helps people spend less and save more on a normal paycheck. We aim to be accurate, plain, and useful. Every guide should help you take one real step the same day you read it.
How an article is made
- Pick a topic. We choose topics from what people search for and from reader questions. We look for a clear need, such as “how do I start a no spend month?”
- Research. We read official and primary sources first. Then we read respected publications and well known experts.
- Draft. We write in short sentences and plain words. We build the steps so you can follow them without extra reading.
- Fact check. We check every number, date, name, quote, and rule against its source.
- Human edit and review. A person reads the article, fixes unclear parts, and approves it. Nothing is published straight from a tool.
- Images and formatting. We add images, credit them when needed, and check the page on a phone.
- Publish and review again. We publish, then revisit the article on a schedule.
Research standards
For money topics, we prefer sources such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Reserve, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the IRS, the FDIC, and the USDA. For food safety we use USDA guidance. We use data from banks, surveys, and news outlets only when we can name the source and date. We leave out claims we can’t verify.
When a guide shares a method, such as a savings challenge, we explain how it works and who it suits. If we haven’t tested something ourselves, we don’t say we did.
Fact checking
Fact checking covers numbers and statistics, dates, laws and rules, product details, names, and quotes. We write down the source for each. Time sensitive facts get a date in the article.
Human review
Every article is reviewed by a person before it goes live. The reviewer checks that the article is accurate, clear, and fair to the reader.
How we use AI
We use AI tools to help with research, outlines, drafts, and editing. We don’t use AI to publish automatically or to mass produce thin pages. Every article gets human review, fact checking, and editing before it’s published. Details are on the AI and Image Policy page.
Updates and corrections
We review evergreen articles about every 6 to 12 months. We review time sensitive articles sooner, such as tax and holiday posts. If you find an error, tell us at info@frugaljournal.com. We fix confirmed errors quickly. When a change matters, we add a dated note at the end of the article. We fix small typos without a note.
Editorial independence
Ads, affiliate links, and sponsors don’t decide what we write or recommend. We mark paid and affiliate content clearly. See the Affiliate and Advertising Disclosure.
Authors
Articles are published under the byline of Sarah Jenkins, the editor of Frugal Journal. We don’t claim degrees, licenses, or credentials we don’t hold. Our guides come from research and careful editing, not from professional financial credentials. That’s why the Disclaimer matters.
Contact the editor
Comments about our standards are welcome. Email info@frugaljournal.com or use the Contact page.