Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - Date Nights from $0 to $10,000? We’ve Got You Covered!

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

📈 Are you making these four common investing mistakes? Get our free Investing Guide and find out.   Is it actually possible to plan a quality date night at any budget level? In this episode, you’re going to find out! George and Rachel are looking at real-life, real-budget scenarios and creating fun date nights on the spot.   Next Steps: 🎥 Watch our video Men vs. Women: Who Handles Money Better? 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour    📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Leave us a voicemail with your question at 877-306-1517 or 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.  💵 Sign up for EveryDollar today to create a free budget.   Connect With Our Sponsors: Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle. Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.   Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Ragg’s Rye-Tai Recipe: Gastrohub ·        3/4 ounce lemon juice ·        3/4 ounce pineapple juice ·        1/2 ounce orgeat ·        1/2 ounce amaretto ·        2 ounces Elijah Craig rye whiskey   Instructions: Add all ingredients to a tin, and whip shake. Pour drink into glass, then add a GENEROUS amount of crushed/pebble ice until it’s pouring over. Add a couple dashes of angostura bitters to the top of the ice mountain. Garnish with some clean pineapple leaves and a pineapple chunk and cheers!   Explore More From Ramsey Network: 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💰 George Kamel 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights  🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🪑 Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman 📈 EntreLeadership   Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a cheap date? And is that a dig or a new badge of honor? Today, we're talking cheap date nights. Those quirky moments in life that you just, that bring laughter. It's what you need. That's what you mean. I like it. They're in crippling debt, Rachel.

I'm trying to help this couple of out. $40. Why are you taking back your idea? Don't pin this on me. Hey guys, I'm Rachel Cruz. I'm George Camel. And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Well, this is the show where two friends who have to be money experts talk about, which you're talking about.

So everything from pop culture. current events and money. And as we get started, let's talk about what we're sipping on. It is a rye tie. Oh, instead of a my tie. Very clever. We're going to give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass at the end of the episode. So stick around for that.

All right, George. We've been married, Winston and I, for about heading on to 16 years. Wow. When this episode launches, we'll be close to it. What about you guys? You guys are... We're heading towards eight. Towards eight.

Beryling, I would say, towards 16 years. eight. Do you date barreling? Yeah. What does that mean? It means we are, it's rough and tumble, and we're speeding our way through. All the way through. I mean, you're having babies, moving houses. It's a lot. Y'all are doing a lot. But do you feel like y'all's date nights have changed

over the years? Like, when you think about, like, when you were like dating to newly married, to now? It feels like we were constantly, like, when you're first dating. Yes. Every night's a date night. Yeah. And now that we're married with a kid? Yeah. I'm talking about, like, not frequent. like types like the quality of the dates.

Do you feel like, or y'all were both professionals like when you guys were dating? Thank you for saying that. You're welcome. You're so professional. We were both working professionals. Yes.

So you all had like actual salaries and income coming in. Yes. Did you feel like you had better date nights or no? I would say the quality has increased but the frequency has decreased. Yes. And that's a reality.

And I feel like we're not trying, no one's trying to impress anyone anymore. Yeah. So it's just like what, okay, What's your go-to spot versus let's go somewhere fancy and get dressed up? Oh, yes, and trying to, like, make it all creative. Yeah. See, we started dating, we were, like, college students.

Oh, so you guys were, like, broke? Just, what were you doing early on for dates? We went to Chili's a lot. So, like, UT Knoxville, I'm trying to picture the local Chili's. So there was a place in Knoxville. I think it's still, it's just changed so much since we've been there. And it was called the strip, and it was the road right outside of can't, like, the campus line was, like,

literally right behind it so they could have bars and all this stuff on the streets. It was built for the college essentially. 100%. But it's like where like Firehouse Subs was and like there was a place called Sunspot. All the girls know that place. That tanning? No, but there was tanning. That was the generation of tanning beds.

That was before spray tents. What happens at Sunspot? Oh Sunspot. It's where I had hummus for the first time. I'm sorry. It was like a hip, it would be like considered like a hippie spot. from 20 years ago. But they have tanning beds?

No, separate. No, no, no, no, no. Separate. Scared me. I was like, how did this pass code? I'm eating hummus in the tanning bed. No. No, there was a tanning salon on the strip.

Anyways, I'm saying, I'll say say there was a Chili's on the strip. This is where I'm getting. And the, yeah, we'd get chips and salsa and waters. And then we'd get the chocolate molten cake. Oh. Like, that was like what we ate. Chips, salsa, and cake. So apps and desserts, water, that's a cheap date.

Yeah, we did that a lot. And then Wednesday, I thought of this the other day, he made up a thing called hammock hunting. So he had one of those outdoorsy hammocks from like REI, like camper hammocks. All hammocks outdoorsy? No, there's some like... Indoor hammocks? No, there was like fru-fruit hammocks. Oh, got it.

This was like the kind you like roll up and put a sack. Like a camping hammock. Yeah, and he would like go around Knoxville and find like a fun, cool, spot because it's kind of mountainy like i don't know knoxel's kind of like oh there's two trees pretty close together that's our spot and we totally yeah we'd go hammock hunting i didn't know if you ever wanted to know who invented hammock hunting Winston cruz what did you do what was y'all's first dates oh gosh i mean probably like splitting a chipotle bowl i feel like that's as romantic as it gets it's actually very economical that's smart that's smart yeah we weren't making much money yeah

but we had love there you go that's all you're you It gets you far. That's all you needed. Yeah, well, the way I look at it, making out is free. And so if you're looking at options on a spectrum, fine dining to a little kissy kiss. In this episode. Hammock hunting. Not safe for homeschoolers.

Just want to make that clear. We just got edgy a little. I mean, it's date night, right? There's romance involved. We can say it. Hope so. If not, there shouldn't be a second date. Some people kiss.

I don't want to be the first one to tell you that. We don't want to spoil it for everyone. Two people love each other. Oh, my God. That's a good one. Well, there's a dozen relationship experts out there that say, just because you're married doesn't mean you should stop dating your spouse. And what does also happen in relationships is conflict, obviously. And financial stress is one of those places. That is very real when it comes to some conflict. Date nights cost money, turns out. And so do babysitters. That's the part they don't tell you. Oh, that's another great one. Sometimes the babysitter was more expensive than the actual date.

I know, I know. Do you pay babysitters differently depending on like their age? Like, if you're a baby sitter, like, if you're a baby sitter, like, if you're a baby sitter. I'm not. Like, if you're a baby sitter. I'm not. Like, if you're if they're like a young working professional versus a high schooler? They, I mean, the high schoolers charge less. That's the nice part. But I also have less trust in them to be fair. And you've got little, like little, little little ones. Yes. So, yeah, that's fair.

But I feel like no one told me, in my mind, babysitting was still $10 an hour. And in reality, it's 20, 25 an hour. And so that adds up. If you're gone for four hours, you go downtown, a little two-hour dinner, you race back. That's still like four hours right there. 100%. 100 bucks. Oh, yeah.

We have a babysitting line item in our every dollar budget because of it. Because stuff happens and you're like, okay, got to get a set of it. That did help me stomach it. To have it in my every dollar budget to just say babysitting. Then I went, no, no, no, we planned $200 this month for babysitting. I don't need to feel like I got scammed here. We're getting to that stage where like you don't have to have a babysitter anymore. I cannot wait.

We're almost there. And that's crazy. That's a good life. Well, in a survey of more than 2,000 people in long-term relationships, 44% worry that discussing finances will lead to disagreements. Okay. Interesting. They don't even want to talk about it because they don't want to go there. It's like a minefield.

Which is such like a counterintuitive thing because going there in the hard conversations is where you create intimacy and like deep connection. And it's where you figure out, oh, I should actually marry this person or we are not compatible. Compatible with it. Yeah. But I'm like, that's how you decide. Don't stay shallow people. Get in there.

Just brush it under the rug and hope for the best. Just cross your fingers. That's a strategy. Yeah, that's what I have learned. The places in marriage are like, oh, I don't want to bring that up. That's what you need to bring up. That's the exact thing, because then it does create. It will come back to haunt you.

And it could create a little friction, a little tension. But through that, is where intimacy is created. Don't you miss the days when you didn't have a fight and you could like, you had a scoreboard? Like, we haven't fought ever. You know what I mean? Like when you're first dating. Yeah. I don't think we had a single disagreement for six months.

That's impressive, George. Because you're trying to just, you know, be very agreeable and winsome and charming. Yeah. I turn that down real quick once things got serious, once I put a ring on it. You said. Once you put a ring on it, then the real George came out. Listen, an engagement is the true test because you turn into completely different people. I'm not going to say true colors because marriage and weddings turn you into something that you really aren't.

It's the most stressful thing to plan. Yeah, yeah. And so it just brings out a lot of strong. There's a lot of pressure, a lot of opinions. Do you have a lot of fights in that? I wouldn't, we were aligned. I feel like you are an opinionated guy though. Like a dude like Winston, I feel like was kind of like, sure.

Get the flowers. Or like, well, have you got three bids? He's like, I don't care. I don't know. I feel like you would have opinions. Yeah, my opinions are more on the financial side. Okay. The Middle Eastern and me goes, I'm not getting hosed by this vendor.

And you're going to get in there. Have we got three bids and pin them against each other? We're going to bring them all together, have them fight it out. I just did that with painters. And boy, oh boy, what a bloodbath that was. What? It got serious. Yeah.

Stop it. I didn't pin them. But I got a few bids. And you told Harry, you said, hey, Chuck over there charged me this. Hey, Chuck, did you lie at all? No, I didn't lie. I just said, hey, you're, you know, we got it covered. Found a better quote.

Appreciate your time. And then they come back. Were you doing that on purpose to like try to see if they were lower the rest? But it does work. It does. If they want the job. Yeah. They might be willing to negotiate.

So that's the haggler and me. Wow, George, you sound like a delight. I'm exhausted. Let me just... I know I'm not on the table, but never marry me. It's not a life. I know I'm not available. You want to sign up for it.

But just don't do it. Just don't do it. So like you said, it's through this financial transparency, this intentionality that couples are able to build intimacy and trust, which is what the entire relationship is built on. And you grow closer when you prioritize money and dating together as a couple. Yeah, for sure. And I think the creativity in dating your spouse,

and all of that, you know, there's some fun ideas out there. And so we're going to go over some of them because a lot of people are looking to save money. You have a budget for the date nights and it's not a free-for-all, right? You're like, okay, we have a certain amount. How can we be creative about this? We're going to dive into some more creative ideas in Georgia's marital advice, which is priceless. The way you said that was condescending at best. Before we dive into that, we have a new sponsor, George, on the show.

Yes. Which I'm really excited about. It's not every day. you get a new partner to help keep the show alive. But this is Fair Winds. So Fair wins is incredible because they are a credit union. They are not a bank. And where you keep your money is really important.

And more people are realizing this than ever. Because when you work with these massive banks, it's so hard to build relationships, get a person. You're just a number. It's really difficult. Yeah. So if you're budgeting and saving and working your way out of debt, your bank shouldn't be working against you.

It should be working for you. it should be on your team and make your life easier. And so that is why we love fair wins. Because again, they are not a bank. They are a credit union, which means that they are owned by the people they serve. I love that. Give the power back to the people.

And here's the best part. They're not going to let you experience terrible junk fees with your account. That's right. And they're online so you can access this from anywhere in the country. It's the best. Yeah. And their whole mission is showing people how to win with money, not making money off of your debt.

And so they've partnered with us at Ramsey. to support people who are serious about taking control of their finances, and they have a custom smart checking and savings bundle designed specifically with Ramsey fans in mind. So it's simple, practical, lines up with the baby steps. Yeah, so it's super easy to get started. You guys, Winston and I did it, and it was honestly way more easier than I was expecting.

Like, even when we were doing it and signing up for our accounts. You might say it was a breeze. So head to fairwins.org slash ramsian open your account today. All right, George, we got a few scenarios in the old fishbowl. Love it. We've got a good use out of that fishbow. That was worth the investment. I love the fishbowl because it kind of keeps you on your toes.

You never know what's going to. It's like an improv. You got to stay with it. Do you want to go first? Sure. All right, here's our first scenario. And we're going to try to give the people some good advice. Here's the scenario.

An empty nestor couple has been married for 30 years. They've been consumer debt free for 10 years and they just pay it off the house. Amazing. Together, they bring in $9,500 of income. next month with minimal cost of living expenses now the house is paid off how should they celebrate take a trip a shopping spree what do you think i'm going trip all day i'm going both wow mr spender over here well i mean look at this during baby step seven paid for a house making 10 gs a month yeah let's live it up so well let's wait like two to three months save up

some of that yeah and then just go and enjoy yeah because it sounds like they have a lot of expendable income. So let's say they save up 10 grand. Here's my pitch. Okay, go. They go to Paris and they buy her a Louis in Paris. Oh my gosh. Look at this guy. Combining the shopping spree with the trip. That's fun. You know what? I think getting a piece of something, a jewelry, a purse, something that's going to last a long time to mark moments in life. I think it's really special. Yeah, because then you use the purse, but it's reminding you of that amazing trip. George, you win this one. I don't say that very often. And can I say, I want to do this with Whitney. That's why it was on my mind.

Not any time soon, sweetheart, but one day. Don't get any ideas. Don't get your hopes up, Whitney. But that sounds fun. That's so great. Okay, it's going to Europe. Are you all like itching to go? Very much so.

You are. I feel like everyone's going. Do you feel like that? Well, our friends just went to London, had an amazing time. Another friend went to Italy. It looked incredible. And so now I'm just kind of jonesing, as they say. That's so funny.

I don't have that itch. Where do you want to go? The beach. Oh, okay. Any beach. Yeah. Just give me some ocean and a... And a right tie.

I was like, I can't remember what it was called. And a book. And a book. You're not as like adventure. Like you want to just chill. I know. Good book. Good scenery.

You're not looking... And I'm going to be honest. And I think it's the kids that are holding me back, George. Wow. Hey, kids, when you watch this episode one day, know that you're holding back your mother from living her best life. I feel like going like on a 10 day, that's hard. I mean, that's hard.

I know people do it a lot with kids. That just feels like a lot. Empty nesters, you could go away for two or three weeks. So that's what I'm saying. So when we dropped Charles off at college, I'm out of here. I'm out of here. Ola! Where are you going?

I don't know. I'm going to go to a different country and I'm going to just enjoy it. One that speaks Spanish, I assume. Ciao. I'll go to Italy. Okay. Perfect. Some bonjour thrown in there? Some bonjour.

Yes. I will. Al-a-a-a-a-ecom. See? We are not going to the Middle East, apparently. Take me there. I'll go anywhere I'll go anywhere

I would love Morocco I believe it you know where I want to go Dubai oh really yeah wouldn't that be cool okay

I feel like that would be fun I feel like it's just like Middle East from Miami when the real housewives went I was like that looks super cool I feel like there's not as much culture there no as other it's just a melting pot of you know rich people

essentially I'll be like this Rachel's like sign me up well it was my Amazon sunglasses was doing this you could You can take your way through Dubai. I could see that.

I could pretend. That's fun. Okay, I think we got it. They need a long getaway for the empty nesters. Wow, are we living vicariously through these empty nesters that are on baby except seven, maybe. All right, let's go back to the beginning, George, with this scenario. Screw-oh. Take that plane and go back in time.

Oh, it's a plane. I didn't think planes made that sound when they make a U-turn. I don't know. An engaged couple is a month away from their wedding. They're cash-filling it responsibly with a little help from their parents, but they're feeling lost in the details of wedding planning and want to reconnect before the big day. They have a budget of $100.

Any ideas? 100 bucks. Oh, you're not going to like mine. I'm so simple. Or low maintenance, whichever you want to call it. I know mine. Have people said you're low maintenance? I don't know.

I just, well, what I want to say is pretty low maintenance. You're going to say don't spend it. No, no, I'm going to, they definitely need a break. Okay. Like wedding planning is super stressful. Yes. You're probably just on the, there's a lot of fear and stress and unknowns. They want to reconnect.

They need to go have fun. Yes. So more than just a dinner. I think they need to do an experience they've never done before and take a little risk with it. Yes. Like a group on. Like go trapeze swinging or something. A group on for trapeze.

That's as risky as it gets. I know how funny would that be. Go roller skating. I would make sure to get life insurance before doing this, by the way. Yeah, that probably is true. Yeah, don't break a leg. Oh, how horrible it's. that'd be like a meet-the-parent situation.

I would not do something too physical. You're right, I take it back. Yeah, don't do that. Mini-golf? Yeah, safe. Very few mini-golf injuries. Super safe. I probably should Google it now.

There's like, there's a thousand mini-golf injuries. No, I want to do top golf. That's, I think that's more fun. Really? Yeah. He's a swing it as hard as you can. I don't know. Yeah, but then you have to be able to hit the ball.

With put-put, it's just short range, so anyone can do it. I guess. But there'll probably be like a bunch of kids running around. Yeah, but top golf is stressful. to me. Wow. There's loud music, you know what I mean? You got, people, everyone's watching you. I feel like mini golf, no one cares. If you're bad at mini golf, who cares? Okay, that's fair. But if you keep hitting the air at Top Golf, I'm not going to lie too. I'd go get, I'd use that $100.00. Go get a cocktail before. A little app. A little appetizer and a cocktail. Go have fun. And then go to Chipotle after.

I like that. Oh, new idea. You ready for it? Mm-hmm. Low-key dinner, maybe fast, casual, because you have $100. and then go to your favorite bookstore, you both pick a book for the honeymoon that you have to read. You would love reading a book on the beach. I do, but I want to pick my books. Yeah, you picked the book. You used to go through an entire book that someone else gave you. No, no, you get to pick the book. No, I thought you said you pick the book and exchange it.

No, that's weird. Like, I thought I picked a book for Winston, he picks a book for me and then we switch. Oh, that would actually be cute, but again, you would hate that. Oh, but you're just saying you just go buy a book. I would say a couple that loves and trusts each other. This is good for them. for the cruises. Low maintenance, Rachel has to have a certain book.

When I read, it just feels like really precious time and I want to make sure it's a book that I've like researched that I've got recommendations. You're one of the people who says give up on the book if it's not good, right? No. You're a see it through kind of gal. I must see it through it kind of gal.

Wow. And it's unfortunate sometimes. Sometimes I should put it down. Do you think the author knows or cares that you didn't finish it? No, it's more about me and like finishing the check mark of. Oh, okay. Like a personal challenge. Yes, as the achiever in you. Get through it. Get through it. I respect that. My other caveat

that I would personally do is go get to like a mall massage. You know the guys in the mall? Yes. And it's cheaper. You don't have to do a full 60 minute. You can get a 20 minute, 30 minute. So the only thing with that though, is you're not reconnecting with the fiancé. I don't think we need reconnect. That's what they said they needed in this situation. That does what they say. What they really need is a massage. They want to reconnect. They can go next to each other. They can talk if they would like. You bother everybody, though. And not if you're in the face chair.

Yeah, that is annoying. The guys don't care, though. They don't care. It sounds relaxing. What else is relaxing? Living in cozy earth pajamas, which I have for every night. I would say the last four months of my life

have been in cozy earth. I'm in cozy earth pajamas with cozy earth sheets. How cozy can you get? How cozy can you get? No, it's amazing, though. They're athleisure wear, their pajamas, they're bedding. Everything about it is, like, great quality, so comfortable and so soft. And the socks.

That's some of a wins and some. I love the no-shows. What can I say? You and Winston's both. We're keeping it alive. Is he a no-show guy? Uh, we're his no-shows. Yeah, his were no-shows.

Yes. Yes. Honored. And it says cozy and then earth on the other foot. That is cute. Sometimes I mix them up by accident. Oh, that's what I was going to ask. It says cozy or earth and cozy or earth-and-cozy.

Uh-oh, what do you do you? I'm OCD, so I have to switch it once I realize I did that. I know, but they really have incredible, incredible quality and a great selection, do. Of anything you're looking for, you guys? Yes. And these are luxury goods, may I add, high quality. And so they're pricey, but we want to give you guys a sweet discount of 40% off when you use the code, smart money at checkout. So if you're in the stage of life where you're ready to get some quality in your life and sleep cool, live cool, check them out.

CozyEarth.com slash smart money. Use the promo code Smart Money. We'll drop a link in the description. All right. Your turn. All right. A couple in their early 40s has kids age 4, 7, 11, and 14. God bless.

They are working on baby steps 4, 5, and 6, so they're out of debt with the emergency fund, but they feel like there's no end in sight when it comes to saving for kids' college funds, not to mention one will need a car in two years. One of them just received an unexpected $250 bonus from a client, and they want to invest some or all of it in a date night. What should they do?

I love this. Well, a babysitter alone is going to cost you $250 for those kids. No, they've got a 14-year-old. They don't need a babysitter. Okay. Hey, if you trust the 14... Now, if it's a girl, that's 14, I trust them. Okay.

A 14-year-old boy depends on the boy. Depends on the boy, that's fair. I just want to put that out there. $250, that's a nice date night then. Yeah? You know what's crazy, though? If you live in a larger city, like in Nashville, and you go to a nice restaurant, it can be $200.

That's gone. Yeah. That doesn't include parking. Oh, geez. The valet. Think about the valet. Unbelievable. You got to tip well.

Okay, so what would you do? I'd go out. Yeah, I would probably research, like, the latest and greatest restaurants in my area and choose the one that I would never go to normally, but just know, like, imagine this was money that never crossed my hands and someone gifted it to me. I know. I think that. With $250 bucks, I would do this. And in Nashville, you could throw a rock and hit one of these restaurants.

I know, isn't that wild? A lot of great restaurants. Yes. Okay, I'm with you, George, on it. Yeah, I think go to the hoity-to-y restaurant. It was $2,500, obviously, then... Don't spend it all in one night. That's right.

Then I would be like, all right, let's think about... Because by the time you do a nice dinner out, let's say it's like $100 or $150. And you got $100 bucks, and you got $100 left. You know, and we love compound interest. We love all of it. But the truth is, $100. one time, like, it's not a maker break. Yeah, it's not a maker break at that point.

One other thing they could do, which this $250 is not enough to do this necessarily, but staycation where, like, Whitney and I stayed at a Nashville hotel. Oh, that's fun. For just one night, so we did a date night into the hotel stay and just came back the next morning, and it was wonderful. And so great. Kind of be a tourist in your own city.

Yes, I like that too. So if you can make that happen, I don't know, if you can find a cheaper hotel. Or like an Airbnb for a night or something? Yeah. Love it. done check all right next situation oh a married couple 15 years is expecting their second child while saving for the $1 $1 emergency fund babysat one they've decided to opt out of Christmas this year with a few exceptions of

a small gift for their three-year-old but their budget is zero what can they do to invest in each other as they embark on the babysat's journey in the new year so this is the free category yes Also, I know you could opt out of Jesus's birthday. I would opt out of Christmas. If I'm down, I'm supposed I'm a second baby. But they're opting out of buying gifts for the family and each other and all that stuff. I'm down with that. I think that's great.

A little reset. I think that's very healthy. Really healthy. So what could they do for free? They got a baby on the way. Go hammock hunting. Hammock hunting. I don't know many pregnant women.

They're like, put me in that hammock. That's where I want to be. It's true. That's true. Free. Okay, I'm going to say it. This is so simple. But it could be them.

We've been married 15 years, and if we had a 3-year-old and I was pregnant, like have a night with no devices and get the cards out and play a card game. Oh, that's fun. Like, that's what I would do. Because you easily, I know her. If I'm pregnant, 15 years married with a 3-year-old,

all you want to do is just at the end of the night, check out. You're like, oh, exhausting. Absolutely exhausting. Don't take them on a walk. That's not what they're into right now. Yeah. We're not going to go hiking. So yeah, like what's like a game just outside

after the three-year-olds in bed and not get on the phone? I think that's the key. Put down the technology and just hang out. I love that. Can I tell you what I did with Whitney? This was free and very entertaining. Yeah. We were at Whole Foods and I was like,

let me get like a pint of ice cream. Like a little treat. Sure. So spending like four or five bucks. But they had the special cart for people. for people that can't walk. And so she's facing me in the cart as I push her around the store.

And it was the, we had the best time. It felt like I was doing something illegal, but I was like, no, that she's very pregnant. She cannot walk. Totally. She's got some, you know, conditions here. And so we just pushed her around and she had a great time looking at all the items.

It was so fun. I took videos of it, like an influencer. Like I'd place it on the... It was the best. We laugh so hard. Oh, I love it. Because you're just staring at each other the whole time. Like, imagine like a baby in the cart, but it's your wife.

With a baby inside of her. Exactly. Oh, my God. So technically there was a baby in that cart. That's so good. So you can do that for free. You don't even have to buy anything. Just find a fun cart.

See, I'm not going to lie, George. Those quirky moments in life that you just, that bring laughter, it's what you need. That's what you need. I like it. That's so good. It doesn't have to cost money. Oh, my gosh. Just costs you some creativity.

Yeah. Well, one thing that costs a little bit of money, less than $9 a month, is a Delete Me subscription. That is worth it. Put that in the budget. It is. So Delete Me is incredible, you guys. It is a company that goes in and removes your data, especially from online data brokers that go and collect data.

And these data brokers then sell your data to other companies and other people. And that means your name, your address, your kids' names, your phone number, all of that is leaked out to all these different companies, and you can get spammed, you can get scammed, especially like fishing and all of that. Oh, yeah, with the pH. With the pH. Let's make it very clear.

And it's really, yeah, it's just, there's so much happening with our information online. So the more your information is removed, the better off your life is, and that's where Delete Me comes in. Exactly. And the report is amazing. Every few months, I get the report,

and so far they've removed me from over 240 of these data broker sites, saving me 94 hours of time. And for that, I am grateful. So go check them out. They're giving our listeners and viewers 20% off when you go to join deleteme.com slash smart money or click the link in the description. Beautiful. All right.

I'm really enjoying this drink so far. I like it a lot. Okay, you go next. All right. A young couple in their mid-20s has been married for three years after dating for two years in college. They have different financial goals. One wants to pay off their student loan debt before having kids. the other doesn't feel like debt is an issue.

What kind of date night could also lead to a helpful discussion slash compromise about money goals. This is the old Trojan horse date night. Oh, what are you doing? Hey, you want to go out to eat? So let's talk about your feelings about debt. Let's get down to the bottom of it. The old bait and switch.

Or like, hey, let's stream something. Oh, is this a Financial Peace University class happening? Oh, look at that. That's what's on Netflix. That's crazy. Oops. Yeah, this is the tough. one. Do you just be honest and say, hey, we need to talk about this, but to do it, let's go out

somewhere out of the house to talk about it. Yeah, I would. But don't sneak it on them in the middle of the day. No, no, especially if you know your intention is going to be talking about it. So I think I always like a heads up on hard conversations. Like if there's going to be something and it's like, hey, I want to talk about something. Do you have like the mental capacity to talk through something that could be kind of, I'm like, do I, do I not? And like, I don't know. So like the heads up is really helpful. Helps you emotionally and I would say. Yeah, yeah.

And just to say we have a lot of life ahead of us and there's like a subject or two I want to chat about. Are you good with that? I don't know. I think the heads up is nice. Do you or do you like a... 100%. Yeah, I like the heads up and I like the...

I like as much clarity as possible. So don't just tell me, hey, I want to talk about something serious and then leave it at that. Oh, that's true. That's scary. That'll drive me insane. Yeah, that's fair. Totally.

So just tell me, hey, I know we... We haven't been on the same page about money. Here's what I'd like to do. Let's get out of the house. Let's have some fun and let's talk through it and see if we can find a game plan that works. Yep. That makes me feel a lot better.

In fact, I was at a coffee shop. I had a day off. Went to a coffee shop and there was a couple next to me. And he had an iPad with this every dollar budget. No. And they were like working through their budget and it was the most romantic sweetest thing. Stop it.

Really? Yep. I didn't want to say anything. You should have encouraged them at the end as you were leaving. I didn't want to be creepy and be like, hey, I see you using every dog. Mind if I take a peek? I just feel like, hey, I overhe me talking about money and like, good for y'all. Not a lot of cops do that.

That's really awesome. You know good, that would have felt to them? I think we did chat at the end and they were like, oh. Okay, so you did. Yeah, I think he was like, hey, like, I saw you next to us. I didn't want to like be weird. Like he didn't want to be weird and I didn't want to be weird. So he recognized you, George.

That's what happens. How'd you feel? The ego go, nope. My head exploded. I'm just kidding. I'm kidding. My target demo is guys doing their every dollar budgets and coffee shops. I'm like, yeah.

Let's get those meetups happening. Because that guy's not sports betting. For sure. He's too busy planning his unborn child's 529 plan. 100%. 100%. I love it. That's great.

Are we on to the last one? All right. This is it, George. All right. Make it a good one. Don't screw it up. A couple is in the middle of baby's up too, so they're getting out of debt and they're paying off $150,000 in student loan debt.

and they have $25,000 to go, but they're feeling weary, discouraged, and kind of numb toward one another in the middle of the grind. They need a date night to reconnect, but don't want to spend more than $40. Thoughts. Oh, well, the word reconnect was there. So I feel like we can't do something passive,

like go to the movies. Yeah, we need to, like, look at each other and talk about how hard this is. Here's an idea. Happy hour. Oh, that's good. Yes. Very affordable.

Yes. Find a place that has like $5 drink specials or something. Sports bar. Sports bar. Really? Yeah. I really love a sports bar these days. I know, and I love it. It's like sensory overload.

Have you been to a Buffalo Wild Wings? Yes. What is going on in there? I don't know. But there's like... Why do I need to watch seven things at once? Because there's a lot of sports happening. But then you get mozzarella sticks.

You got nachos. You just want bar food. I like the food. Like the food is just, it really is. And so I'm saying I was to say, there's a place called Jonathan's here in Franklin. And we went and they had a great happy hour. I want to say like their apps,

part of their apps, they had like a separate menu. But like their beer and wine, buy one, get one free. Like it was just a great value for what we were going to spend. And we went at like five because we have kids and we're like going to eat early. I thought, where have we been sleeping on this place? That's a good one. That's a great genre of restaurants to get some bang for your buck.

And also it's lively, it's loud, get some energy around you, you know. Like a silent, like, mm-hmm. Yeah, you don't want to sit in your feelings too much. And it's just like the ambiance that's like, mm-hmm. You know, it's like really silent. Is that the sound that's happening? You know, there are those restaurants. Oh, where it's like you feel bad talking?

Yeah, it's just really like, I don't know. Yeah. So the loud and the cheering. What about like a fast casual, but it's a sit-down? I know. I'm going sports bar. Like order at the counter. No, I'm going to sports bar.

Yeah. They're in crippling debt, Rachel. I'm trying to help this couple out. $40? You haven't you can give her $40. at a happy hour? Is your idea? Why are you taking back your idea?

Don't pin this on me. I'm just saying you can do a happy hour at places that aren't to sit down with a server. Chipotle does not have happy hour. I never claimed Chipotle was the place to go. Mojo's Taco, a great local Nashville spot. Order at the counter, sit down. They bring you the food.

Bada bing, batta boom. That's fair. That's fair. You tip less. Fair. I'm trying to save him some money here. All right, George. I hear you.

And I still love the hack. Always skip the dessert. Skip the dessert and go get your favorite pint of ice cream. Are you hearing my excitement in my restaurant versus your restaurant? I cannot tell you what it does to my body to hear random chanting and cheering and hooting and hollering. It's like a mild panic attack every time that happens. Like why? I love it.

We're not wild animals. Why are we hooting and hollering like this? It's so exciting. At 18-year-old children. So exciting. Who did this for a scholarship. Oh, L-S-V-O-L-S, go, let's go. When the entire restaurant's screaming that,

does it not just, like, bring you to heaven a little bit? I would ask for a refund if that happened, any restaurant I was in. I was like, hey, this was not the vibe. Reset. All right, well, good thing we aren't married, George. Good thing. Winston, bless your ministry.

Does Winston hoot and holler at sports? No, no, no. I do. Okay, there's always one in any marriage. I feel like Winston's very. He would be bothered by loud people. Yeah, he does. Yeah, yes.

He would be more on your boat than mine. And I'm a, I'm a vocal reactor. So I'm like, oh, you love. I'm a gasper. That makes sense. You live for the drama. Yeah, it's very exciting. Get too close to a car, you know.

Oh, you're that person. At every turn on the car, you have to make a loud sound. Sometimes is always like, do you know how long I drove without you in the car? Like I've driven You know Sometimes you miss a parking spot How many wrecks has Winston been in? That were his fault

I don't know if he has been in a wreck Then I don't think you need to warn him Yeah I know I think he's got it under control I know I know I did do that once But then I actually hit a card Yeah

And I told her I broke my leg Instantly I said My leg I was totally fine But my brain told the rest of my body, hey, bro, your leg is gone. It's disappeared.

It's somewhere back there. Stop it. Are you serious? Yeah. Fenderbender. And I made her late for her nursing exam. Did she tell you to slow down at any point? I think it was one of those that you hit the red light and you're like waiting for the person to go right.

And they had plenty of time. So I thought, surely they turned by now. Oh, man. was clear to take a right on that red, and they had not moved. And I just decided to go right into them. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine. It happens. That's why I drive used cars, less concerning. So what I liked about these scenarios is they were very realistic, and they all knew their numbers. Yes. Very aware. Very aware. And I think that's the key. That's where the budget comes in. It's like the opposite of a Hallmark movie. Realistic and aware.

Oh my gosh. That's what I would hope for from the next Hallmark movie. Yes. Well, so yeah, there's just something about when you know what you have, you can spend it, whether it's going to Paris and buying a Louis or going to the sports bar on Happy Hour. But you know what's going on. So your capacity to enjoy the situation is so much greater

because there's not guesswork involved. So that's what I loved about it. And what I loved is nobody mentioned going into debt for any of this. They did it with the cash they had on hand. They chose reality and went, here's where we're at. We're $150,000 in debt. We can't go take a trip right now,

but we can't afford to go split an entree at our local, fast, casual spot. Go to that Chipotle. Live it up. I just saw a hack. Some lady got a chicken Chipotle bowl and made like 12 tacos out of it. I believe it.

Big brain thinking right there. Yeah, that's pretty good. That's pretty good. So, yeah, get creative. You don't need to lose all intimacy and connection just because you can't afford a crazy date night. Totally. So don't let that stop you.

and honestly chat GPT a great way to go hey here's my budget here's what I'm thinking here's what we live give us some options under this amount that is so true use technology to your advantage

yes that's so smart that really is and creative things that you just want to thought of yes that it will give you and I do think of rewiring your brain

to try new things new experiences creates like new connection that is like a scientific thing I remember less parrot yes used to talk about this

and he said there were studies done and when you actually do something physical like we laughed about the trapeze thing, but I feel like he even talked about that. But yeah, playing mini-goy, I don't know, doing something that is different, it actually creates this whole new experience, and it's actually very bonding. Yes. That's why, you know, on The Bachelor, do you want to... I won't claim to have seen it, but I have seen it. I'll be honest. I haven't seen it in a few years, and I was a diehard, as you know, for... I watched it for like 15 years straight, and then I've

gotten off the wagon. But that's why they said, if they ever did a, like, a skier- day, like bungee jumping or something together, they actually created a deeper bond with that person they were on the date with, doing like something kind of scary and like adrenaline was created. Yeah. Then someone they just like went on a picnic with. So something to be said. So forget your picnic, boys. Yeah, go bungee jumping.

Get reconnected. Skip the basket. Go for the bungee. That's what I always say. Okay. I feel like we made an episode today. We did it. All right.

Before we get to our guilty as charged segmental, Let's talk about our rye tyes. It takes me forever to think about the name of it. The rye tie, R-Y-E-T-A-I, it costs $2.83 per glass. It's got Orgyte, which is like an almond liqueur. It's got pineapple juice, lemon juice, rye whiskey. This one's 100-proof, and Angostura bitters. Very nice.

So a Mai-Tai is the normal. What's in a Mai-Tai? Do you know? I want to say rum, pineapple juice. Okay. So they switched the rum for whiskey. So that's why it's rye. Rye tie instead of my tie.

Nailed it award. Goes to you today. Thank you very much. I've never heard of this drink, but I would make this at home. I'm going 10 out of 10. I think I am too, George. And mixologist Michael did tell us to drink it fast

because it's got that little tiny sonic ice in there. I like that ice though. Okay, but I will say it does remind me of summer. So I would want water involved. Like out of a pool or at the lake or the ocean. I don't know if I would just drink it at a restaurant though.

I would need to be sitting outside. Yeah, the pineapple throws me. Outdoor seating required. Outdoor seating required. Love it. Are you an outdoor or indoor if they give you the option? Even on a really hot day? Yes.

Wow. I love it. I love it so much. Okay. I don't want to sweat while I eat. That's what Winston says. Yeah. I feel like Winston and I are oddly similar.

Wouldn't you like to sit outside? Yes. if the weather's decent. And now with a baby, we've got to think about can the baby handle the heat because I can handle the heat just fine.

But can Mia, the little babe. So you're 10 out of 10? Yeah, I am. No notes, Michael. I think it's great. Well done, Michael. Get the recipe and the show notes. Give it a try this weekend.

If you're of age, drink responsibly. I mean, I don't need to add that, disclaimer, but I feel good doing it. That felt right. That felt responsible. I feel like better than everyone. I feel like you own something

that you just need everyone to be like, Okay, listen. I said what I said. Yes. And for you teetototlers, just get a mocktail version. You can skip the rye whiskey. You'll be fine. There you go.

We've not gotten a lot of hate, though, recently. No, people understand. Like, we'll do a mocktail after this, and we'll live to tell the tale. All right, now it's time for guilty as charged. And this is where we ask each other a guilty-as-charge question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. All right, are you ready, George? All right.

Have you or someone else? ever planned a bad date night that totally backfired. Oh, gosh. I feel like my trauma response would make me delete that from my brain, men in black style. 100%. But I do. I'm tempted to call my wife and tell her,

hey, what was the worst date we ever had? This would be fun, shall we? Please. Okay, go. You go first. Here's my caveat. Whitney has never answered a phone call for me in her life. Okay, how about this?

So the chances of her answering today. I swear she has a setting on her phone that screens my calls only. Like, there could be a spam call and she'll answer for fun. All right, call Winston. Okay, am I going first? Yep. Okay. Hey, babe.

Hi. Hi. We're in a smart money happy hour recording. Oh, this feels familiar. Oh, yeah. We're calling you. All right. It's a guiltiest charge question.

I couldn't think of one. So George is going to call Whitney as well. But... You're asking me. Both of us, but are we guilty? Have you or me ever planned a bad date night that totally backfired? I didn't have a gift card in my back pocket. That's true.

Yeah. Where was it? We went to the restaurant with the gift card. And we never used it. And Winston never swiped. He left. He was like, I didn't use the gift card. I was so caught up.

So sweet. Can you tell us the restaurant? I'm not sure. I'm not sure I've blown anything up. I've got a decent track record, but... I know. I can't think of one either. I'd have to really be trying, like, way outside of dinner.

It'd be like a food poisoning situation or something that went bad. Date night with kids at our age is just, like, pretty low bar. True. So you can't really mess it up. Yep. Okay. I agree. All right.

So I'm going to say, not guilty. Huh. That feels good. All right. You're the best. Love you. Bye. Bye.

Bye. Bye. Here you go, George. Okay. Okay, I got one and it's almost too damning on my part that I'm almost unwilling to share. And here's what Whitney said. I said, can you answer the phone live for Smart Money Happy Hour? This is the classic Whitney response.

Would love to not, but I will, L.O.L. Okay. She's not made for the spotlight like me. Do it. Well, I thought, okay. She doesn't need the affirmation of strangers like I do. like I do. Hello.

Hey, Ben. Hey, girl. Hey girl. Hey, girl. Okay, so here's the question. I need you to answer honestly, unfiltered. Have I ever planned a bad date that totally backfired? Planned a bad date?

I feel like our first date was the worst date. Oh, my gosh. So it would be because, basically, Basically, George kind of just tried to back out last minute. And so, like, if he don't even want to go, I think he thought I didn't want to go. So he was giving me a way out. But by doing that, I was like, okay, so you don't want to go. So it was like a weird thing.

I was a grown man at this point for context. I was not 17. All right, continue. But I think it's because we work together. So you're trying to just, like, give me a way to not be weird. Pretty awkward dating your coworker. I think we can all admit that. Okay.

And then we did live on opposite. parts of town and so it was going to take longer to get there and so like last minute you were just like can you meet me there and I think I had car problems or something because I had to have a friend come get me to take me to the date when I was expecting you to come pick me up so oh my it just started off really like I was like wow this guy's awful but the date was amazing like we talked for four hours and then George ended up being nice and drove me home so wow it made up for it But it started off rough. Yeah.

Like, I'm surprised I even went. Okay, no, I think we've heard enough. Thank you. Love you. Thank you. Love you so much. Whitney. Bye-bye.

Okay. I'm surprised I even went. You got your money's worth out of that one, guys. So, yeah, I am the worst. Hey, so you didn't even go pick her up. Listen. It's all water under the bridge. Would you have done it differently today?

100%. Okay. So it really was like an ignorant. I also asked her out over Snapchat for the first time. So I wasn't batting a thousand, guys. I was on the struggle bus trying to get the plane off the ground. You know, rejection, right? Yeah.

You're buffering rejection. But once the plane was off the ground, smooth sailing. We didn't land upside down. No doors flew off. It was great. I was very charming. We had great conversation. Okay.

Yeah. There you go. That's what we need to know about me. Okay. There you go. Well, I think you're guilty. I think I am. No, no, Winston's crushing it.

So guilty. That was fun for at least everyone but me. So good. Oh, you guys. Hashtag vulnerable. Hashtag, live authentic. Hashtag authenticity. That's right.

To be your next tattoo. So feel better, guys. Especially the single guys out there just know I did it worse and there's still hope for you yet. There you go. That's good. If you guys have a guilty-starch question, make sure to DM us at Rachel Cruz and at George Camel. We get them. We get some DMs and I love it.

I love it. And I screenshot them and I send them to our producer and say, deal with it. This is so good. Well, if you enjoyed this episode, you're going to love our episode, Men versus Women, who handles money better. We'll make sure to link it for you or click right here. And it's going to be great. So make sure to subscribe to the channel as well.

So you don't miss an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.