Frugal Rules was founded in 2012 with the goal of teaching people how to make smart money decisions to help them create a life of financial freedom. Through careful journalism and editorial planning, we put our readers first and are committed to producing accurate, straightforward and honest information that helps readers save more, make more and live financially free.
Our Vision
At Frugal Rules, our vision is to create a vibrant, thriving online community through high-quality journalism, where a symphony of expert writers lend their voices to the topics of Attacking Debt, Investing, Frugality, Financial Products and Tools, Financial Literacy, and saving money every day including through streaming services, by finding the right entertainment content for less.
Our Mission
Our mission is to, through journalism, help people learn to make smart money decisions that lead them to a life of financial independence so they can live the kind of life they want.
Our Guiding Principles
We spend countless hours researching, analyzing and testing products and services as part of our commitment to ethical, high-quality journalism, to help readers find the best options for the best price. We purchase and/or subscribe to the products and services we review.
Frugal Rules is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission when a reader signs up for a service with our links.
Editorial Standards
At Frugal Rules, our editorial team is dedicated to delivering top-notch educational content alongside independent and impartial product and service reviews. Our editorial standards serve as the cornerstone of our content creation process, guiding every step from conception to publication.
We firmly believe that every reader, listener, and viewer deserves access to comprehensive and accurate information. As such, we continually assess and update the content on our site, ensuring its relevance and accuracy.
Our commitment to editorial integrity means that our advice, recommendations, and reviews remain uninfluenced by any external factors, including products, services, or partnerships. We prioritize transparency in disclosing how we generate revenue.
Recognizing the diverse needs and financial circumstances of our audience, we tailor our content with their interests and concerns at the forefront of our minds.
It’s important to note that we refrain from offering personalized financial recommendations. Instead, our content aims to give readers information, context, analysis, and comparisons to empower them to make informed decisions that align with their financial goals.
Editorial Independence
At Frugal Rules, we prioritize editorial independence to ensure that our reviews of products and services remain unbiased and objective. Our mission is to empower readers by providing comprehensive insights into various options, facilitating informed decision-making.
Our commitment to impartiality is reflected in the thorough research, assessment, and comparison conducted during the review process. We consider factors such as product features, performance, and consumer feedback to deliver evaluations that accurately reflect the marketplace landscape and address consumer needs.
It’s important to note that our editorial decisions are entirely independent of any influence from our business partners or advertisers. They are strictly prohibited from influencing our content or reviews in any way, including offering compensation for favorable ratings or placements. At Frugal Rules, integrity and transparency are fundamental principles that govern our editorial practices.
Fact-Checking and Corrections
Ensuring the accuracy of our content is a core principle at Frugal Rules. We are dedicated to delivering information that is factually sound and reliable, empowering our readers to make informed decisions.
We maintain a rigorous fact-checking process to verify the accuracy of all our content. Additionally, we regularly update our content to incorporate the latest information and developments.
While our reviews aim to provide a comprehensive snapshot of products and services at the time of review, it’s important for readers to note the publication date. As products evolve and new features emerge and services change, we strive to revisit and update our reviews accordingly, reflecting the most current information available.
In the event that an error is identified, we promptly correct it and provide clarification within the respective article. We welcome feedback from our readers and encourage them to reach out to us at contact@frugalrules.com or through our Contact Us form to report any inaccuracies or issues they may encounter.
At Frugal Rules, our commitment to accuracy and fact-checking is unwavering, ensuring that our audience can trust the information we provide.
Originality and Plagiarism
Respecting intellectual property rights and upholding copyright laws are non-negotiable principles at Frugal Rules.
Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and we conduct regular checks to ensure that all our content is original and free from unauthorized duplication.
AI-Generated Content
In an era where generative artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of content creation, we at Frugal Rules firmly uphold ethical standards by abstaining from its use. Our decision is guided by several key considerations:
1. The current state of AI technology, while intriguing, has demonstrated significant inaccuracies, rendering it unreliable for producing content.
2. Ethical and legal concerns persist regarding the potential for AI-generated content to plagiarize copyrighted material without proper attribution.
3. There is a pervasive risk of bias in AI-generated content, which raises questions about its objectivity and integrity.
While we acknowledge the potential utility of AI in certain contexts, our approach remains cautious and selective. Here’s how we currently navigate the realm of generative AI:
- We do not and will not use generative AI programs, such as ChatGPT or Jasper, to create editorial content for our platform. Any past instances where such programs were employed are being rectified by replacing them with entirely human-written content.
- We refrain from using AI-generated imagery, including photos, graphics, and video. Our image providers have assured us of their commitment to avoiding AI-generated imagery, and any instances discovered on our site will be promptly removed.
- While we remain open to exploring the potential applications of generative AI for brainstorming and research purposes, we approach such endeavors with caution due to mixed reported results in other publications.
- Any use of AI tools for data mining or collection will be intended to supplement, not replace, human-authored editorial content.
All content creators at Frugal Rules are informed of our AI policies, and any violation, including the submission of AI-generated content, will be addressed with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
We commit to transparency regarding our stance on AI, and any changes to our policies will be promptly communicated and updated in this disclosure.
The owner of this site does not consent to the content on this website being used or downloaded by any third parties for the purposes of developing, training or operating artificial intelligence or other machine learning systems (“Artificial Intelligence Purposes”), except as authorized by the owner in writing (including written electronic communication).
Absent such consent, users of this website, including any third parties accessing the website through automated systems, are prohibited from using any of the content on the website for Artificial Intelligence Purposes. Users or automated systems that fail to respect these choices will be considered to have breached Frugal Rules’ Terms of Service.
Ethics & Privacy
Our commitment to ethical journalism means that our articles and opinion pieces uphold individuals’ privacy rights. Read our full privacy policy here.
Transparency
We maintain transparency regarding our ownership, affiliations, and any potential conflicts of interest, which are readily accessible to the public.
In the spirit of accountability, we promptly acknowledge and rectify any inaccuracies or errors identified within our content.
User Engagement
Creating a respectful and inclusive community is paramount to us at Frugal Rules We actively encourage user engagement through feedback forms, article comments, and our social media platforms. We value and appreciate reader input, which helps us continually improve our content and foster meaningful discussions.
Diversity and Inclusion
Embracing diverse backgrounds and perspectives is important to us. We are dedicated to promoting equity and inclusivity both within our team and through the content we produce.
