Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - $175,000+ Salary Earners Call Themselves “Poor”!

Episode Date: October 19, 2023

The upper class is playing the victim—and we’re not buying it. Listen as Rachel and George channel their inner Kourtney Kardashian and give six-figure earners the sisterly wake-up call they need. Plus, how much margin does the average American have in their budget compared to someone with a $175,000 salary?   In This Episode: ·      The meaning of “poor” and why the wealthy feel this way ·      George’s history with nonslip pet ramps and Rachel’s iconic Kristen Wiig impression ·      The ultimate budget showdown: $59,000 vs. $175,000 (who runs out first?)   Helpful Resources:   ·      Booking a flight with Going is the best and simplest way to pay less to travel more. Sign up for free today at Going.com/smartmoney. ·      Start making memories. Go NOW and get Tapple at Walmart or wherever you buy board games! ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today. ·      Do you have a Guilty as Charged question for Rachel and George? Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it. ·      Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices   Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy     This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Citrus Smash Recipe from A Pinch of Adventure   Ingredients: ·      1 tbsp lemon curd ·      1 tbsp simple syrup ·      Club soda or seltzer ·      Fresh mint leaves ·      Sliced lemon ·      Ice   Instructions: Put about six mint leaves, four slices of deseeded lemon, simple syrup and lemon curd in a highball glass. Muddle together. Add ice and pour over club soda. Garnish with fresh mint and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey guys, I'm Rachel Cruz. I'm George Camel. And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Cheers, George. Cheers. Wow, that'll put some hair in your chest. It's good. That's delicious.

It's a good mocktail. That is a mocktail, and it's delicious. Well, this is the show where two friends who have to be money experts. Talk about what you're talking about, everything from pop culture, current events, and money. And today, we are delivering a bit of a wake-up call. Rachel? Yes, we are. Some people need it.

Let's do a little, like, acting. Are you ready, George? Getting character? I don't know that I can play this woman. See if you can deliver this well. Try it. Try it. Try it.

Oh, my gosh. My earring's gone. It's $75,000. My diamond earring fell out in the ocean. Ken, there are people dying out there. That was a brilliant, Oscar-worthy Courtney Kardashian- Is that good? Are you laughing at me?

Are you loving at me? You're with me. The dead tone you were able to capture was just gospel gorgeous. Your Kim Kardashian was pretty great. My Kim K was mediocre. It was fine. I mean, it's a hard one. It was a hard one.

That was an Egot right there. So yes, if you don't know the famous Kardashian scene, Kim lost her earring because her second husband, Chris Humphreys, pushed her into the ocean and Bora Bora. She lost an earring. She really freaked out. And then Courtney was like, Kim, people aren't dying. There are her payball. There are people dying.

So, anyways. And then Rachel's like, they're so relatable. I just love it. We've all been there. So, guys, all that's to say, this episode, we're going to give some of you who we feel like are a little Kim Kardashian-esque in your attitude, a wake-up call. So get ready. Yep.

This is about people who by almost all stretches of the imagination are rich, are feeling poor. They identify as poor, Rachel. That's a new way to say it. Now, I know what some of y'all are thinking out there. How am I like anything, like a Kardashian and Bora Bora? Yeah. Well, it's the idea of the attitude of complaining about something that is just very nice, aka people's salaries that are upwards of $175,000 a year, but they're sad and complaining in life because they feel like they are poor.

And here's the stat. According to a recent study, a quarter of people making at least 175K year, which happens to be the amount unique to be in the top 10% of all tax filers said they were either poor, very poor, or, quote, getting by, but things are tight. Yep. That's according to Bloomberg. And we understand geography plays into this. Like, there are certain things we get.

Entitlement plays into this. You're still doing pretty great. So we're going to talk about it on this episode. Yeah. And no matter how much you make, I think there's a lot to be learned from this episode. Yes. So stick around. Stick around.

George, what are we sipping on this episode? This is a mock take. and it's called the citrus smash. And I got to say, without giving too much away, this might be one of my top mocktails we've done on the show. It's really good. So stick around until the end if you want the rating, the review, and the recipe. We're going to be dishing it out.

Yep. Okay. So, George, we usually take a very compassionate route because we are a big believer at Ramsey that people matter. And everyone's story is different. How people got to their situations are different. So we never want to shame people, guilt people. Like, we try to bring hope.

That's what we do on the side of the microphone. phones. We want to bring hope to people, regardless of your walk of life, we are here for you. But sometimes, Rachel, tough love is all I got to give. It's the only kind of love you're getting from me. Isn't that a J-Lo song? Nope. I think you're thinking of, what's love? Love don't cost a thing. Yeah, yeah. Maybe that's it. Maybe there's a song out there called Tough Love. I don't know that J-Lo wrote it. I'm not sure J-Lo has ever actually written a song to be truthful. That could be a hot take. We're not sure about that.

So if you're making six figures and you feel like I'm just getting by, we need to talk. Because inflation is real. But $175,000 a year is not poor. And here's the wildest result of this study, George. A share of people making more than 500,000 up to a million reported feeling the same feelings of poor. And get ready for this. Very poor. I just want to meet these people.

people. I want to meet them. Where are they giving their money to? And what's funny is I'm like, you know, from the net worth standpoint, George, this isn't bragging, but this is just, these are your hosts. We have a net worth, you and I, of over a million dollars. We've worked the baby steps, our net worth, including house and everything, equity, all of the things. So with that and play, like people that, and we don't make a million dollars a year. That's a very different thing. Yeah, net worth a million. Yeah, net worth a million a year. And these people in the study, some of them are making a million dollars a year and still feeling poor and very poor, which is kind of a slap in the face to a lot of people in America.

To actual poor people, for starters, let alone other countries, which America is vastly more wealthy than every other country. So there's that. Let's just give a definition, shall we, of. Is this Webster's? Where are we pulling this from? That's a great question. Who knows? I only trust Webster's.

Merriam-Webster's, to be exact. I think there was a marriage there, and there was like, I don't know. Of the dictionary. Well, it used to be web. Now it's Merriam-Webster's. Oh, my gosh. So poor, according to this definition, is lacking sufficient money to cover basic needs such as food and shelter. I would agree.

Yes. So from a census standpoint in the United States, poverty is measured by comparing a person's income or a family's income to a set poverty threshold. That's a minimum amount of. income needed to cover that individual's basic needs. So the current poverty threshold for a household of one in America is $14,580. The family of four, it's about $30,000. So according to the U.S. Census Bureau, they estimate in 2021, 37.9 million Americans live in poverty, which translates to about 11.6% of the population. Is that surprised you? I feel like that's more than I thought. That is more. I mean, 37.

I think more than one out of 10 people are in poverty. Yeah, 38 million Americans, yeah, that are considered that poverty line. That's serious. And so one person household, 14,580, compared to a one person income of 175,000, that is a far cry from actual poor poverty. Because in my mind, if you say I'm poor, we're talking poverty level. That's right. Now, you can joke about it of like, I'm broke, right? We all say that.

Right. But this is actual poverty. True poverty, yes. According to pewresearch.org, if you're making $175,000 a year with four people in your family in Nashville, Tennessee, you're considered upper class, along with 20% of this region's population. So in Nashville, it's that, and I understand in San Francisco with, you know, living situations or Miami, New York, the standard of living is higher, right, than here in Nashville. But still, but still, $175,000. And that shows me, I'm like, George, this is like clearly, clearly the definition of it's not an income problem. It's a you problem. It's not an issue.

It's an ish me. You like that? Use that on Winston tonight. Well, really, you have to flip it to put it on Winston. I'm going to say. You have to say it's not an issue. It's not an issue. See how he takes that.

Sounds like. I think he'll be. so impressed that he just gives up. It sounds like Ishmer. I don't know. It sounds like a biblical. Ishmael. That's how I roll. Okay, so if this survey of people making 175 grand can teach regular people anything, it's that being rich and feeling rich are two very different things.

So you don't need to make over 175 grand before you can be rich or feel rich. We did our millionaire study, and we found the third of millionaires, actual net worth millionaires, never made more than six figures in their life. I mean, under that. Absolutely. And that's what we believe at Ramsey all the time is like, regardless of what you make, your money habits are huge. So anyone from any walk of life can choose to say, hey, I'm going to put a set of principles

in my life to win with money and not spend everything I make, right? I mean, there's a part of investing and saving and all of that that you're like, yeah, regardless of what you make, getting to the point where you can do that to help yourself build wealth is key. And we believe anyone can. We've talked to these people, George, at every income. level. They've had every debt level, but they've got out of debt. They're able to get out of debt. They're able to get out of debt and invest for the future and have a great life.

That's right. Yet people who make 200 grand call us and they're in debt up to their eyeballs stressed out and they can't build wealth. That's exactly right. Yep. It's backwards. We actually did a millionaire study and we found the five top careers for millionaires was engineer, teacher, accountant, management, and attorney. So some of these, I mean, especially teachers, I mean, they're making way under 100 grand. So, and they're doing it. I mean, it's people with average jobs that are deciding, hey, I'm going to take control. That's why it's not an income problem. It's a you problem.

Now, does the income help if you have great habits? Absolutely. It accelerates, right? But bad habits and a great income. It magnifies it. I mean, it's crazy. Well, think about teachers and engineers. These are people who they follow curriculums.

They follow a process. They're not trying to impress people. Like, teachers aren't driving into the high school in like crazy luxury SUVs trying to keep up with the other teachers, you know? They're just trying to get through the day. Right. And so they don't have crazy lifestyles. And so they're just investing in their pension plan.

The ones we talk to. I'm sure anyone. Sure. There's some balling teachers out there. Well, I'm just saying it is, you know, regardless if you're the engineer, the teacher, or the salesperson, right? It's all about what you do with money. It is so much, so much about your habits. And that's the positive thing and kind of the negative thing because it's a little scary.

It keeps you accountable. Yeah. But I just want to encourage those out there who aren't making $175,000. Yes. That you're like, well, if they feel poor, I feel even, you can be very much okay. You can have actually more of a net worth than those people making $175,000. That's true. That's a much better scoreboard.

They have tons of car loans. They have tons of student loan debt, obviously credit card debt. I mean, they are spending and going out. I mean, they're doing all this. They're probably living like they're making $300. Right? Well, lifestyle creep is real. You make more money.

You're going to spend more money. Yeah. And the more you make, the more people around you feel like. like, wow, you should be driving a nicer car. You should have a nicer house than that. Yes. So what do you do? You take on more debt and more debt, and it just compounds.

Yep. Okay, so to really paint this picture, I want to play a game with you, George. We'll have a game. Before we do that, I want to tell you about a game that we love, which is Tapel. It's less than $20, and it's a game that you play with two people, up to eight people, and it's so fun. So you're going to love it and just go to Walmart or wherever you buy board games and start playing. And also, if you want to see how George and I play it, we'll add a link to the episode that we actually played it in. Hint, I do not play well.

Rachel is amazing. It's a great game, y'all. It's really fun. So make sure check out Tappel. We love it. It's awesome. Good times. So good.

Now to a much more amateur game that we invented, Rachel. This is a budgeting game. Producer Lindsay is going to serve as our umpire. That's what I think happens in sports. And explain the game. Which I'm horrible at. Is that what umpires do? I don't think they explain games.

but you're the umpire. No, and I don't even know what an umpire does. You're the head coach. Great. Calls the shots. Okay. So here we go. You're the referee.

This is a game of chance. Oh. Okay. So George in this game, you make an annual salary of $59,428. Okay, I'll take it. You need to remember that number. Which is currently the average salary in the U.S. According to Research by Forbes.

Okay. After removing your taxes, four walls, tithing, And the four walls include housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, in case anyone doesn't know that. Okay. Leaves you with $1,100 left in your budget. Let's get our phones out. We're going to need our calculators.

So the main bills are paid. Uncle Sam took his cut. Yeah. You have $1,100 left in your budget. Okay. Rachel, in this game, you make an annual salary of $175,000 because this is what people say they, Yes, you're one of the stats. This doesn't feel fair.

But okay. After removing your taxes tithing in four walls, you have $3,800. left in your... Okay. A lot more margin than I do, Rachel. Okay. So we're just going to see how this plays out. But you have a pile of cards in that fishbowl, and there's a bunch of different

random expenses in there. Okay. So you'll take turns drawing cards and subtracting whatever you pull out, like that number... That expense is zero. From your remaining monthly budget. The first person to get to zero dollars left loses the game. Oh, so whoever runs out of money first is out. Yes.

Wouldn't that obviously be me? We're going to see because, I mean, we're trying to make a game, George. We're trying to see, right? Because people are identifying as poor here. Yeah, we'll have you go first. So you're going to have to read it out loud and then make sure you deduct. Here we go. Okay.

Cleaning supplies, negative $75. Okay. All right, I got a bottle of water at the airport, $8. Hurtful because I would bring my own empty bottle and fill it. But okay, I'll go with it. There's probably a lot of people who don't do that. that. Okay, I have a Netflix subscription of 20.

Must be nice. You got the ADHD plan there. I have prescription medication for 150. I'm not doing well. But people have medication storage. That's true. Okay. I was convinced to buy a new air filter.

That's real life for you. Oh, that's relatable. Valvaline sud. You need no air filter. Oh, for your car? Oh, for the. The car. I never fall for that.

All right, I got it. You know they're using a different filter to show you. It's not even yours. Oh, stop. It's a scam. Conspiracy. Conspiracy theory. Wendy's dinner?

$30? You knew we had to throw that in there. I don't know that I would know how to spend $30. Yes, if you have a family. Rachel, didn't you say you spent $30 a dollar? Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's not cheap anymore.

All right. I've got a YMCA membership for a family four with $120. All right. I've got a hair appointment, $150 bucks. Whoa, George. I better get a perm for that. That sounds right with, you know, hygiene, homie over here. Daddy's getting a perm.

All right. I got kids tutoring for $250. Well, Charles has been struggling with math. Now this I can get behind. I got a relaxing petty with foot massage, $100. Clear coat, or are you going to color? I'm going clear coat. Yep, maybe friends. We'll see.

All right. This is pretty fun. A last minute New York trip for my friend's birthday, a negative $600. Whoa. Yeah, that was an expense. Bulk aluminum foil from Costco, $25. That sounds on par for Kirkland. I literally own that, so yes.

Oh, my gosh. I have a car payment for a Hyundai Sonata, 2017, for $3.50. I'm clipping that part out to tell people, Rachel Cruz. has a car payment. I have a volcano candle from anthro. Who doesn't love those. This is really on par for you, by the list.

Those are the best candles. $35 for this volcano candle. Was it worth it? Yes. Are you ready for this one, George? An adjustable non-slip pet ramp. I was hoping to get that one. For $70.

Been there. Been there. A snake plant for the entryway, $90. That also sounds very on par for you. We do own a snake plant. It's fake. All right, I got a credit card minimum payment for $400. Ouch.

Mm-hmm. Homegirl will be spending. Keep going. Oh, no. What is it? That emergency, $500. That sounds on par, too. This literally happened the other day.

Oh, no. It was more than $500. Wait, a vet emergency? Yeah. It's okay, guys. All of is doing okay. But that really takes me down. Where are you at?

I'm down to pennies, y'all. I'm down to $12. Okay, let's see you're at. Can I put my Venmo out there? We all donate. Support your boy. Okay, I have child care for a thousand, so I have 175 left.

I'm getting nervous. Must be nice. Keep going. student loan payment $300. You're in the negative, George. I am now in negative $288. Wow. All right, Rachel, keep pulling until you hit a zero.

Let's see if you do. Let's keep going. Okay, so I got therapy for $300. That's a very on-par. On brand. Surprise traffic ticket in the mail because I rolled through a red light, $75. And you still have money left? I still have money left.

Impulse Target purchase, $100. $100. Wedding gift, $150. Oh, shoot, I messed up my calculator. Taylor Swift tickets, 900. I'm done. About time. Yeah, I'm a little negative. That took me a little negative, but it's great.

I mean, you still were able to buy Taylor Swift tickets and a lot more. Oh, I was able to live a great life. Sorry, George and your high-maintenance dogs over there. Really took you out. Yeah, look at all my life, George I'm so poor, help me, I'm poor I shouldn't have got the anthro candle This is not a lot

Right, it's main to anyone? Mine went like that She can't go in first class Remember that Kristen Wigg? Oh, yes I'm poor Hey there, grandpa Your name's stove

He's like, no, it's Steve What are you in a point? It's the funniest movie Anyways, I'm so poor, George Not expecting a Courtney Kardashian impression and a Kristen Wig impression in one episode. You all are blessed. This is a free show.

Let me remind you. You get this for free. Okay. What did I learn? Oh my gosh. That was a lot, George. Okay. So I'm holding way less cards than you.

You put them all back. But I had probably... I probably had about half the cards, maybe a little more than you did. Yeah, and I was going to T. Swift. And you weren't. And you had some high expenses. Yeah, you had child care. Child care.

I was going to therapy. I was getting tutoring for my kids. Credit card payment. Yeah. And you're still making it. I know. So here's the deal. In real life, you know, there are some unexpected expenses.

But for the most part, we can predict them. They're not forced upon you. You can choose, like, these were kind of forced upon us. Because it's not just necessarily a game a chance. Part of it is to a degree, but mostly we can control, you know, some of our expenses and look to see, okay, what is it really worth? So, yeah, that 175 case salary. It went a lot further.

Ain't bad. you still had a good life. Now, here's what was interesting. It was kind of scary not knowing what expense was coming next. Yeah. But what's even scarier is that people feel that anxiety every day as they live their life not doing a budget. Yes. Not knowing what's happening.

And of course, emergencies are going to pop up. No one's like planning for that vet appointment this month for $500. But you can plan for the child care, right? If you're choosing to do therapy or tutoring for your kids, all these things, like those kind of things you can plan for. percent of those were planable. Yes. Or choosing to say yes or no to, right? Yeah.

And that's where the budget comes in the play where, yeah, you're predicting as much as possible. You're giving yourself a plan so you know what's coming for your income to go further and actually know what to do with it. I mean, it is. So you're not just like getting thrown these things and like having to figure it out. It's already figured out for you. Yeah. So this was a fun, no stakes game of chance for us because there were no stakes involved.

But in real life, how you spend your money is not a game of chance. and you can avoid a lot of this anxiety versus, you know, pulling random expenses from the deck, a lot of people live their life like that. They're just kind of floating through life, not knowing what's going to happen next, hoping they have enough money to get through the next month. And so we always tell people,

do a budget so that you have freedom and peace with your money instead of wondering where it's going. Yeah. Freaking out when that emergency hits. Have an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses. Yes. Get rid of your debt so that you have margin to cover all of this. Yes.

That, it really does change everything. Yep. Yeah. And if you're making $175,000 a year and you feel like you're still holding a bunch of these like wild card expenses at the end of the month, like I did, just know that you don't have to live like that. Like you can choose, because some of that felt so out of control, you can choose to say no to stuff, right?

You can choose to live below your means and not have this feeling poor mentality because you feel that because you don't have, because like, just like my example, I went a little in the red after the Taylor Swift ticket. So yeah, obviously you're going to feel stressed because you don't have any money left. But with that amount of income, you can say no to a lot of this. Still have a great life, right? You need some contentment in the midst of all of this. That's true.

But to have that margin, it gives you a level of peace of mind that other things just, they won't bring you. And if your income is more like that 60K that I was trying to live off of, this applies to you too. Yes, for sure. You're in control of every single dollar coming in. You can work to increase your income through side hustles for a season as you pay off debt. And I do this example at our live events using our every dollar budgeting app. And I show people someone who makes 70 grand household income on average, brings home $4,800 a month take home pay.

There are $1,000 in the hole every month. And I show them with some simple sacrifices how that can turn into $2,000 positive every month. A $3,000 swing by making some sacrifices, getting out of debt, freeing up those payments, and it's so eye-opening to go like, oh, that's someone making $70. Imagine making double that and still feeling like, I don't know, Rachel. I don't have any money left. What's going?

Oh, my gosh. So in the future, before any of us complain about feeling poor, let's just promise that we're going to take a second. And, you know, look at the big picture. Make a list of five things that you're grateful for that you can actually afford, right? So if you start to feel that tension to actually see, what can I afford that I'm thankful that that's what my income's going to. And make a list of five non-material things that you're grateful for. So things that don't have a price tag to them. Winston Cruz.

Because that... He's on my list. I hope he's on yours. He's on your list. He's on my list too. No, but really, I'm like, it's the things in life that can't be taken away that I've realized is like, that's where your time and energy need to go. We spend so much time and energy and money trying to like get all this stuff, live the certain life. It's exhausting.

It's not, it is not where true, I don't think, joy and peace comes from. That's really good. Thank you. And you have the contentment journal, which walks us through all this. So great. Yeah, 90 days of contentment. I know it sounds hokey at first when you're like, write down things you're grateful for. When you really think about it, if you can cover food, utilities, basic housing, and transportation, you are incredibly blessed.

Yep. If you have your health and you have family and people that you love in your life, you're incredibly blessed. That's right. And so once you do that, you're like, I don't need all this stuff. I don't need to go out again. I don't need to, yes, I'll miss out on the Taylor Swift concert and I'm jealous because Rachel went to two and I've been to zero. But I still have a great life. Yes, absolutely, absolutely.

Thanks for that reminder, Rachel. So good, George. I'm grateful for you. Oh, you're on my list. I never say it. I never say it. I only say it when we're live on this podcast so I can get brownie points. It worked.

It's a friendship. It worked. It works. It's a transactional friendship. Get you one. Only on here. All right. Well, it's almost the end of the episode and we close out every episode with guilty as charged.

And that's where our producer, Lindsay, gives us a new guilty-as-charge question. every week and if we were guilty we take a sit. Do you ever get nervous about these? Some of them I'm always like, oh my gosh, can I remember something? I don't know. It's pressure, but it's fun. It's a mix of vulnerability and memory. I appreciate you guys opening up your hearts to us. Thank you.

I really do. Have you ever downplayed your wealth to fit in with a group? Oh. Downplay my wealth. Like how much you make? You know what I mean? Have you ever done something to where you're like, ooh, to fit in with a group? That's a fun question.

Especially as like working in the money industry, you know? Like you guys being money experts, you know, do you feel that? I'll say this, not as much about the income, but our house situation when we built and moved in a 19 and like other people like that we got to know that didn't know us before the house would like make like kind of just not not rude comments but stuff about like they knew like if they found out that we paid cash for it. Like that's a very, I understand like that's a very. Like, that's a very, very rare thing. And I'm very aware of that. So, like, if anything gets brought up about a mortgage or something, I don't really say anything. Oh, yeah.

Do you know what I mean? Like, I never put in. I never put my two senses. That makes sense. I like, I downplay. Yes, yes. I get a little bit insecure in a sense where I'm like, oh, gosh. You don't want to be the person that's like, this is how you do it.

Well, also, it's partial because. I'm, like, way like, yeah. You're modest. You're not trying to, like, flaunt. You know what I mean? No, yeah. That's not your personality. No, but I downplay that, I would say.

Probably the most. I feel like I'm the same way on a much, you know, lower scale. But I don't bring it up a lot of my friends. You know, like we both drive a Tesla. Mine is very old and I'm very, like I scrimped and saved to pay for it, and I waited until our house was paid off to buy it. And it's like an old, like almost anybody out there. Do you think he's just to find this right here?

I'm explaining why. Like, it sounds like I have a Tesla. It's really old and it's terrible. You know what I mean? And like, Tesla drivers can be pompous and obnoxious and ostentatious. Yes. You're the exception, Rachel. I feel like Mercedes people are much more obnoxious.

Sure. All luxury car drivers can be obnoxious. But I just, when you say that, people put you in a box in their mind. People, like, people drive Tesla's to me. I'm like, you're economical. Economical? I don't know that I think that range. They plug in their cars.

They plug in their cars. No. There is a base model of $30,000. I was. I'll say I never judge any of you who drive Tesla, but I don't think I would say, you're just so economical. Well, you don't have to pay for gas. It's economical. That's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking you're saving money.

But we were all thinking, this is a very expensive vehicle. Okay, wasn't the base Tesla $30,000 though? That's true. It is. Which, again, it's, I get, it's not a $6,000 car. Right. That's fair. But it's not a 90th out. No, Tesla just feels luxury.

Just because it's like, you know what I mean? It feels very sleek and like. Sure. You know what I mean? Compared to like a Honda accord. Well, of course, yes. But to me, I think there's like a whole other echelon of way nicer cars than a Tesla in my head. Yeah. No, there aren't Ferraris.

No, no. I mean, like, she's Lamborghini. She has a point. The Lambos. Mercedes, a BMW are nicer cars to me than a Tesla. Good to know. Don't you think, can I get a vote in the room? A Mercedes or a BMW is nicer than a Tesla.

No. What? It just depends. It just depends. I don't know. Okay, a range rover, nicer than a Tesla. Okay, so the range rover, but a Mercedes? Oh, I look at a Mercedes, and I think that's way nicer than Tesla.

I see him as the same. Well, there's Mercedes that are cheaper than a Tesla. There's Mercedes that are way more expensive than a Tesla. See, I put Beamer Mercedes, even Lexis. Lamborghinis. Oh, my God. Lambeaus. Ferraris.

I'm learning so much today. That. And I put a Tesla in like a, I put it in the echelon below that. Like in my head, that's why I'm like, it's not like, there's nothing wrong. Next time I tell people I drive a Tesla, I'm going to say, I'm just economical. I'm not going to tell you. Yes. I can probably think Tesla and BMW is at the same level.

Let's ask the people what they think. Let us know. I would be so curious because in my head, it's not at all. That's fair. What do you think? What? If you see a BMW, a nice BMW, do you really think that your car is as nice as them? because I think their car is way nice.

Mine isn't. No, but when you just think of Tesla, do you think... I think Tesla is not technically a luxury brand, but it is a luxury car. That's how I'm going to say it. Okay. Wow. Who's thought? I can get there.

Think about it. Get back to me. I just don't, yeah. It's so, I don't know. Yeah, no, I think there's way nicer cars than Tesla's in my head. Rachel's car sucks. What were the hands that were raised when you saw? earlier when you asked the crew. A lot of people thought that a Tesla was as nice or nicer than

a, yeah, than the BMW or Mercedes, which they did majority back here. Yes, which I, I guess I'm like, shoot, I don't want to be that person. It might be because you guys have a test. That's like, and like, I don't want to be that person, but I am. Oh, dear God. This might be the first time. No, Rachel. No shame. This is the first time in history Rachel's been out of touch, y'all. Y'all! I just, I see. Oh, my gosh.

If a Mercedes pulls up next to me tonight, I, I'm. I'm still going to say, you've got a nicer car than me. I still believe that in all my hearts. I say you do. You should just keep going on with that. This is a great argument. But when you or you pass me in my Toyota, I'm like, they have a nicer car. I love a Toyota.

My Odyssey, great car. That's a sick hit. I love my Toyota. They last, but I'm just saying. And that's what I think when I'm in my Honda is. A new Odyssey is more than a new Model 3 Tesla. So technically, the Honda Odyssey. That's true.

Just saying. Wow. Wow, it's a great point. Pound for pound. The Odyssey is nicer than a test. See, y'all, thank you, George. Really coming to my rescue. You're welcome to my rescue.

But back to your question. Downplay, I don't consider myself, like, I'm still so frugal that, like, my life has not changed that much. You know what I mean? But are you quieter, like, Rachel was saying, like, you're just not. Like, we paid off your house, though. Yeah. And y'all didn't have a mortgage, right? And if someone started like talking about their mortgage.

Like friend, you wouldn't come in and be like. Never. Be like, well, we don't have a mortgage. That's right. That's right. But if they were like George, would you feel like, oh, man? Yeah, I would consider that downplaying. What if they asked you?

Like, if a friend was like, hey, you know. If it's a true friend and they ask me, I'll tell them. Like my, my, I'll make something up. My car loan is this. Well, you don't have one. If Lindsay and Jordan are over and they want to talk money, I'll talk. But not me. I'm not about somebody else.

Rachel. So the answer is yes. You've downplayed it. The answer is yes, but only out of modesty. Well, it doesn't matter why, but have you down? Because I don't want to make anyone feel like shame. Well, that's same. Just like I didn't need to make Rachel feel bad about Tesla.

I love how wound up Rachel is over this. I think we need to save up and get you a Mercedes. Get Rachel and Mercedes. We need to start to go fund me to get Rachel and Mercedes because her economical car is not cutting it. Driving that trash around town? Get out of here. Oh, Lord, all right. That was too much fun.

That was tough. That was tough. Okay. So, who finished her drink first? George did. Well done, George. I got a lot closer to the lard. Mm-hmm.

What would you? Wish I was joking. What would you rate it? I'm going to give this an 11 out of 10. I've never done that. Lindsay. Did you hear that? Oh, my gosh.

Cue the confetti. You've redeemed yourself. Yay. Great job. You had a negative score. Oh, believe me. I know. I thought it tastes like dirt. Yeah, so this is... Sorry to the person who invented it. It could have been me.

It was good. I don't know. Since it's not written on my sheet, will you tell us what's in it? I'm so sorry. No, you're the producer. You made it. I feel like you burned it. Actually, how about you guess? This would be... Okay, I got it. Sparkling water, mint, lemon. Yes. That's what I got. Okay. What about you? Anything you would add? Those are right. Well, I saw the ingredients out there.

Well, then why aren't you doing this? Well, additional. There is fresh mint. Freshment. Okay. Lard. Lemon curd. Oh, it's not lard.

In my head, I was like, I saw it and I was like, they put lard in this. There's lemon lard. Okay, I'm taking back over. I'm taking back over. Restar. Simple syrup. Lemon curd. Lemon curd. Lemon juice, mint leaves, and seltzer water. Oh.

Lemon curd. And how much you think this is over $4 or under? I think the lemon curd alone has got to be a few bucks. I'm going to say $2.75. Wow. I'm going to go $3.15. You're closer, Georgie. $1.60 a glass.

Wow. That's way less expensive than I was expecting. That's crazy. It's really good. It's really good. If you serve this at a party, your guests will never leave. Yep. They're going to love it, y'all.

That's so good. What was your rating? Oh, I'm going to go 10 out of 10. Wow. It was delicious. It was delicious. Thank you. If you all don't go.

make this at home this weekend. What are you doing with your life? We gave you a home run drink. And it's a mocktail. Which the mocktail lovers, we meet them. They're like, so thankful you all do mocktails. I know. And it's so good. This is how you say thank you. Go make it. That was fun. So you can get the recipe in the show notes if you want to give it a try this weekend. So if you guys will leave a review, hit that subscribe button, do all the things to help the algorithm because we want to get this show in front of more people so they know that money can be fun. It can be enjoyable and you can take control of it. So, Make sure to check out us next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.