Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - How Barbie and Other Toy Brands Brainwashed Us All

Episode Date: August 3, 2023

If you learned to navigate adulthood in a plastic car with pink and blue peg people, this episode is for you. Rachel and George reminisce about the 90s toys and games that taught us how to handle our money. In this episode: ·     Rachel reveals which Barbie she wasn’t allowed to play with ·     What a “kidult” is and why toy execs love them ·     What Monopoly and the Game of Life got right (and wrong) about money   Helpful Resources: ·     Booking a flight with Going is the best and simplest way to pay less and travel more. Sign up for free today at going.com/smartmoney. ·     Get your finances organized, make a plan, build your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smartmoney to get started today. Use code SMARTMONEY to get a free two-week trial and $15 off your premium membership to EveryDollar. ·     Enter The Ramsey Cash Giveaway for a chance to win $3,000! https://bit.ly/SMHHgvwy ·     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: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/compa...   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: The Barbiecore Pink Drink Ingredients: ·     1 ounce whipped cream vodka ·     2 ounces Sprite ·     1 ounce dragon fruit juice ·     A dash (or more) of edible glitter Instructions: In a champagne glass, add the whipped cream vodka and Sprite. Pour in the dragon fruit juice until your glass is 3/4 full. Sprinkle a little glitter on top for maximum sparkle! 💖 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. Well, the glitter stops the cling in real life, but we are taking it. Are you sure we can drink glitter legally? Look at this glitter. George, I'm so excited about this episode. Well, you guys, this is Smart Money Happy Hour, the podcast.

We're two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. Everything from pop culture, current events, and money, and what is going on in pop culture and current events, like right now in life. What are we seeing everywhere? Barbie. So we're talking about it because that's what apparently you guys want to talk about. But we're also going to weave in some nerdier stuff like Monopoly and Richie Rich and MASH, not the TV show, although that is a great show. Yes. Well, we're going to talk about all things 90s, you guys, from the motivations, the motives behind the things that we loved, the movies, the games, like there's so much 90s in this episode.

So many toys, so many games, so little time, and it's all making a comeback. What is everyone's obsession with the 90s? Big deal. Just simpler times? I don't know. Less technology. But there's such great stuff. And I don't know if we're at the age, I guess, of like being able to really love it because we were 90s kids.

Like the 80s came back for a hot second. And I could pretend that I was like the scrunchy girl and all that. But I was really so young. This is my prime. The 90s were everything to you. We are living in the prime. And also, I think with technology getting so advanced and it's all going to AI, there's something special about the tactile games and toys we used to play.

Yes, I know. Well, George, we sip on a very special cocktail every episode, but this cocktail is just, I can't. This is, I guess, called the Barbicore Pink Drink. I mean, look how fun. And this has been influenced by TikTok. I think someone sent this to us. Yes, they did. And I said, you guys need to try this.

And I saw it, and I sent it to Michael Reddish, our resident bartender. And I was like, Michael, this should happen. I mean, y'all, we have to make a caveat on a disclaimer. Our faces are going to be covered in bright pink glitter, but I'm doing it for you. But we also have this. So we got a little wet white We got a little wet white Golly

There's going to be glitter for days I'm going to be finding it in the laundry But hey This is a fun drink And it is a mocktail Right maybe? No George We spiked it

We spiked the Barbie Corpink drink For sure So we're going to give it a rating Reveal the recipe If you'd so dare to make this at home With edible glitter And we're going to give you the cost per glass Which I imagine is $14,000

based on how the glitter and glam to this drink is a lot It's a lot and we're here for it Okay, so by the time this episode premieres, the Barbie movie will be out, and it is starring Margo Robbie, who I think is just one of the most beautiful human beings on the planet. And people would... Which is one of the most beautiful human beings on the planet. And as a film buff, Rachel, I can tell you, it was written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who is famously directed Lady Bird in 2017 and the Little Women remake in 2019. Did you watch that one? No, I haven't seen either.

I watched Lady Bird. Little Women wasn't really my speed, but I was famously directed. I heard it was amazing. People talk about, yeah, how great she is, and I believe it. And the budget for this movie is $100 million, according to variety. That's a lot of budget. Is that a lot for a movie? It sounds like a lot. I don't know.

But like the trailer, have you seen it? Epic. Oh my gosh. I can't wait. I just can't wait. There's so much to unpack. So I love the trailer, and I will be seeing that movie in theaters. And a poll of 500 people from Film Threat.com asked,

why would you like to watch the Barbie movie? And here's what people said. Yes, 30% of people said they're head over here. for Margo Robbie. Wow. Nostalgia. I'm totally obsessed with Barbies was 24%. The memes have me hooked 18%.

Because I've done a great job on social media. It's everywhere. The Let's Be Real. It's just because of Ryan Gosling was 13%. There we go. And I've been blown away by Greta Gerwig's previous movies. That would be you. Would you be the 13% there?

Yeah. I would say I'm in the opposite format. I'm going to go Greta Gerwig, then Ryan Gosling, then memes, then nostalgia. I mean, Margo Robbie's great. but I'm not head over heels. That's an aggressive term. I'm more of a Ryan Gosling fan personally as an actor.

Yes. I think I would be in the second column. Just I was totally obsessed with Barbies. Yes. My girls have Barbies. I mean, it was just, yeah. And then this is like a brand association thing where it's kind of carried down generation to generation.

Because Rachel love Barbies, now you want Amelia and Caroline to love Barbies. Some people get mad at Barbie. I'm not mad at Barbie. But Barbie used to be the only thing out there. Now there's like a bajillion, like American Girl Doll and all these different. Are they into Barbie? right now? Do I? Yeah, they like Barbie and American Girl. I mean, they're into all the, all of it.

Do they co-mingle the universes? No, no. Oh, okay. Good to know. Yeah, it's very separate. I'm learning. It is. It's like this American Girl doll time, now it's Barbie time. Yes. Well, what was your take on Barbie growing up? Like what in the family? Was it a big thing? Yeah, we were a Barbie family. Mom and Dad were not. I know some parents are against Barbie. Mom and Dad were not. We couldn't play with one Barbie though. What's that? There was one Barbie. She came, she was like a shopping Barbie and came with a credit card. Oh my gosh. So Dave Ramsey's like, over my dead bodies, you're going to be a credit card in her hand.

He was telling the story. He was telling the one that I was like, I'm not going to buy that for them. Was that confusing as a child when you were a little girl like, Daddy, I want the shopping Barbie? And he was like, no. No, I don't even know if I even knew it existed. I just think there was probably an option for them at Christmas to buy different Barbies and sell that one. And that was not a good day for Dave. They're like, well, my Barbie played with credit cards.

So I want to play with credit cards. He sounds like Dave Ramsey. He sounds like my dad. I'm very, I don't like the marketing to, Children. That bothers me. There is. Because I think it was master.

I think it had like an actual logo of a card. Sure. They paid big money. Oh, that makes sense. No free lunch. That little credit card on her hands. So do you think girls learned maybe bad money habits and ideas from Barbie? Like it's a very kind of material girl, material world culture.

I mean, I don't think the reason I love clothes today is I don't think I blame Barbie on that. That is a thank you. Now, mall madness. Maybe I blame it on that. It's Mall Madness. The game? Do you know? Oh, yeah.

If you think I was playing Mall Madness as a team. A fantastic game. So that was more my life. I'm a man of business and leisure. I was playing roller coaster tycoon. Mall madness. Get out of here with that. I know.

It was my... I was owning the mall. I was owning the mall. I actually owned it. Owned the stores there. Well, Barbie is responsible for a whole lot of credit card swipes, Rachel. Oh, really? They have sold now one billion toys since Barbie launched in 1959.

That's pretty wild. That's a lot. And Mattel is hoping for another billion starting with this movie. So, yeah, and that's like the new trend right now is that people, they're using toys as intellectual property. So it's worked for the Hasbro Toy Company. So look at Transformers, G.I. Joe, My Little Pony. And this is kind of the whole kid adult culture. There's also the Lego movie, which was astoundingly successful.

Super Mario Brothers. It's all coming back. Yes. Is Hollywood getting lazy? Are they just like cashing in on this trend? They're cashing in on us. Makes sense. have money now. Back then, we couldn't afford the toys. Now we have...

Well, here's what's crazy. When they take a toy like that or a brand and create TV shows and movies and all of that, Hasbro saw an 8.8 rise and profit with all their content. That's one way to spike the profits. Okay, there's one that apparently failed, though. Battleship. Okay, who thought they made a movie out of Battleship? I think they did back in the day. Obviously didn't do well. Apparently, Rihanna and Liam Neeson were in it? Yes. First of all, weird choosing of actors for that movie. Like, why is it taken plus umbrella? Who thought, like, yeah, battleship, that's what it needs.

A little bit of taken, a little bit of umbrella. All of them together. Little Rieie. Little Leely. I don't think he likes being called Little Leely. But Rod Tomatoes, critics gave it a 33%. But that's pretty good. One out of three critics was like, good movie.

When you look at it that way. I mean, not terrible. So again, movie execs, business people, they know they're adults. So cadults is what you were saying earlier. It's that mix between kids and adults. It's like, kid adults. It's like going back to our childhood as we are adults. So it's very much the like childhood vibes of what we knew.

We covered Disney on this show and it was kind of the Disney adults out there. So it's still this, they're just grasping for this nostalgia of a simpler time. Well, with all the products from video games, toys, books, movies, of it, they buy nine billion in toys annually. So take that in for a second. That's wild. That's about a fourth of all toy sales. And 59% of Jinzirs and millennials consider themselves cadults.

Who did this poll? There's no way that six out of ten are like, sign me up for that. But I could see how like, if someone was like, would you get excited about a Barbie movie? I would say yes. And if that's considered a cadult, then I would be that then. Yeah, I wouldn't want to know how they define it. I mean, it's just a childhood spirit? I think so, because even like the bracelet, like even these bracelets.

Oh, yeah, those are coming back now. Taylor Swift did the little bracelets. Oh, yeah, it's a whole, like, thing now. Yeah. It's kind of like limited to meets adulthood or something. I don't know. Well, 67% of Gen Ziers and Millennials said they would try to buy a replica of something from their childhood if given the opportunity. Now, that I can get behind.

Yeah. Like if they sold vintage Game Boys that look like the old school ones, I'd probably buy one. Yeah, because it's just fun to, like, relive it. Yeah. Uh, I don't know if I would I, I don't know. A replica of something from your childhood. I think you would do it. Again, more in like the fashion sense.

If it was like really cute, then that's probably where I would go. More clothing. Less than like toys. Yeah. That's fair. Do you know what I'm saying? Well, 65% realize they can now buy things for themselves that their parents would never let them buy. Now this is a thing.

So we've talked about revenge travel. This is kind of like a revenge toy spending of like mom and dad would never let me buy this. Now I can buy it all. Do you know the one thing that we never got and they actually? bought it for the grandkids for Christmas one year. What? Was like the power wheels car, like the car that you would drive?

The Barbie one? They had the Barbie one. The Barbie one was like, dang, they got money. Yes. If I saw a kid with that, I was like, they got a trust fun already. I know. I mean, that might have as well been a range rover.

You know what I mean? That was the nicest vehicle a child couldn't drive. It was so cool. Yeah. We never had one of those. Would you get one for your kids? A Barbie? Yeah.

You would? Sure. Hey, Amelia, Caroline. They have a frozen jeez. But they have a frozen Jeep from Papa Dave and Mimi. Oh, it's Frozen themed. They bought it for them. I'm like, well, they never bought it for us as children,

but they bought all the grandkids power wheels when you're for Christmas. Well, Dave's famous quote is, if I knew how great grandchildren would be, I would have been nicer to my kids. Yeah, to their parents. They don't even claim me as his kid in that quote. Bless it. To their parents. That's what you are.

To their parents. That's exactly what I am. You're not his kid. You're just their parents. 100%. Oh, yeah. I love that. And 54% who realized they can now afford what they could

have as kids admit they often or always buy those things as adults. That's still some fighting words. Strong statement. I'm trying to think of something that I buy now that my parents denied me as a kid. I don't remember getting like denied a lot because I kind of knew. You know what mine is? Not to ask. Well, it's yours. Snacks. Oh, yes. We were not a snack family. Mom was always like, nope, no snacks. You're going to eat your dinner. And she had, well, Sharon is a picture of health. She's a big cook and like all the things. So when we built our house, one of my things was in my pantry. a shelf that I have plastic containers organized and have

snacks for all the kids my children and they can rate it anytime well I mean like there's boundaries obviously like if we're making dinner we're not going to go have snacks but like if they wake up from their nap they can have a snack I'm like yes and you my child get what I never got that's so sweet options how about how about for you is there anything you were denied

that you you know my mom was a big cook so I'm going to go in the food category as well and say like sometimes I'll have a little bite of dessert before the meal. And I feel like, wow, it's what would not have happened in the camel household. Oh, yeah. You can't ruin your appetite from Mama Camel's grape leaves and, you know, hummus and all that, to bully. Can't have that. So it's usually food. I'm an adult now and I get to make my own decisions. Yeah, toys, I don't really remember. My parents were, you know, we were middle class and we weren't broke, but we just, it was reasonable. It was all like, all right, we'll get that

eventually. Yes. Christmas, your birthday. Are you ready for the next brand that's coming back? What's that? Barney. Okay. This was announced on July 5th, and it's like a, again, like how Barbie's kind of like, it's PG-13. It's not like a G movie, right? Don't tell me they made Barney inappropriate. I think it's, I don't know if it's inappropriate, George, but I think it is geared more to adults. So I hear.

That's weird. It's a dinosaur. Mattel-Exek said the movie will be surrealistic. Oh, surrealistic. Surrealistic. So surreal. butistic at the end. Here's the quote from the Mattel exec.

We're leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids. It's really a play for adults. Not that it's R-rated, but it'll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being 30-something growing up with Barney, just the level of disenchantment within the generation.

I don't even know. Who's in these marketing meetings? I'm not sure. This one's weird. Why did they choose Barney to represent all this? I don't know. I mean, like, I feel like, go back to American Girl. Like, that feels more like wholesome. Like, an American Girl doll movie, like, that feels more than Barney.

Like, yeah, I don't know that I personally feel disenchanted, but I can understand that people out there just are, again, they're grasping for the simpler time when life was simple and beautiful and they could have the things they wanted. Okay, if I made some, if I, okay, which of these movies would you watch, though? Okay, ready? Hot Wheels, light bright, mall madness, dream phone. Flip decks, dream phone, for sure. What is Dreamphone? Did you not have dream? Well, yeah, I guess you were a tight.

Is this a female thing? It probably was, yes. Yes, you had a hot pink telephone, and you had to, like, dial, and it would be, like, Bobby, and there's like a car to Bobby, and you dial the number and see if the picture. Is that a boy? Yes, yes. So you're trying to, is it kind of like a flirty, like, let's get on a call with Bobby. Let's see what Bobby's up to. Yeah, but Bobby isn't real.

It's like a, you know, it's like a. That's even more sad. I know. It could be a good movie. So you call a fictional guy. I don't know. Okay. Yeah, the recording on the phone.

The only one I really played with was Hot Wheels and Light Bright out of this whole list. Yeah. And Light Bright. How do you make a movie out of Light Bright? I don't know. Isn't it just pictures out of light? Great game. You just...

Okay. I'd be impressed. If they could make a whole movie out of Light Bright. Figure it out. Figure it out. I had to watch that of a dark curiosity. I know. So what's tricky about turning toys into movies is that, again, there's no, like, plot built in, right?

They kind of have to like... Force it. Force it. Force it. Figure it out. So Kevin Hart is currently set to start in the Monopoly movie. Oh. That Hasbro, yes.

Has been trying to make for over a decade. Is he like the Monopoly man? Apparently. Well, director Tim Story has been quoted in interviews saying that they're trying to find the right hook. But it's still being developed. If a guy with last name Story can't find a hook for the story, you're in trouble. We're in trouble. But I will say...

I love Jumanji, the remake they did with The Rock and Kevin Hart and Jack Black. So I have faith that Kevin Hart could pull this off. Okay, but Jammany wasn't a real game. It was a movie based on a game, but this is like a real movie. But then it became a game? Because you could buy the Jumanji board game. Yeah, but it didn't like suck you into the board game. Like it's not like...

Well, not in real life, Rachel. It was a fictional idea. Thank you for clarifying that you will not get sucked into the Jemangi board game if you buy it. parents across America were worried about this. You cleared the air. Well, I will say I am a big fan of Monopoly, which is one reason I would watch it. Well, the money lessens from Monopoly. Number one, cash is king.

That's right. Having cash with Monopoly, it's key. So to win Monopoly, you've got to be the last player, obviously. And that means that you have cash. And when you're out of cash, you have to sell your assets at a deep discount for what you paid them for. Or if you have a mortgage, you can mortgage off your money. assets, you know, to get all of it. So it's a, there's a debt element to... It's kind of like what we do on the Ramsey show is we take calls. I'm like, you got to sell the

house. You got to sell the house. Yeah, don't, don't get a key-life. Don't take the equity out of your home. Don't do that. If they made a modern version of Monopoly, it would be hilarious to see all the terrible decisions people made in the game. Let's put another mortgage on the house for fun. It's real. Why not? And also, a great lesson is to be patient and have a plan. You know, Monopoly, as we said earlier, it's a long game. In a lot of ways. And it's just like life. You got to play the long game. You need a proven strategy to win.

You can't just buy every piece of property you land on. You have to be strategic. Yes, yes. And making sure that you're looking at everything from your assets, cash, all of it, to stay in the game longer. Okay, another great board game that really has to do with life. Life. The game of life.

Do you remember the game of life? That was one of my favorites. Was it with the car with the little people? Yes. It's a good one. I don't know why. Maybe I was like such a realist that I was like, this is realistic. This is the car I got.

I know, but that's like the job. Yes, your kids. And you always wanted to be like the doctor, the lawyer. You always wanted to make more. You got to make more to win the game of life. I mean, they taught us that early on. There was probably an element of it. And there was so many versions of this.

There was a Super Mario edition, Target stores edition, Jurassic Park Edition. Yes, yeah, I didn't get all those. So let's call out some money lessons from the game of life. There's a lot of them in there. This is probably the most tactical money lessons that I learned growing up. Yes. For sure. one lesson from the game

college pays off in the long run because in the game if you go to college you're going to make more money yeah you gotta take the long route though versus going short right but according to stats I think it's that men make on their lifetime the median average of $900,000 more

with a college degree oh then high school grads yeah and for women at $630,000 so it seems really high I wonder if those numbers are changing because I feel like our world is changing with college since COVID and everything Yeah.

I don't know. I just feel like... Well, and people are going further into debt for college, which changes the ROI on it, the return on your investment. That's right. That's right. You go $200 grand for a film degree, which I almost did. Yep. You're not going to get ROI on that.

No, you're exactly right. So some things to remember for college. Yeah, get scholarships, grants, stay in-state. Take that in-state tuition. Be working. Like, there's smart ways to still do this so that the ROI pays off with your degree. So you come out financially. not in a hole because, man, the student loans, it's terrible.

It's a killer. And we take calls on the Ramsey show and people are like, I have a college degree or a master's degree and I make $40,000 a year. And then kids with no college degree call in. Like, I make $90 grand as a welder and I'm 19. That's right. Already in the workforce crushing it with no debt. That's right. I'm like, would you rather be?

That's amazing. Very, very different depending on the person situation for sure. All right. Next is that you need car insurance and homeowners insurance. You know, not many board games teach you about insurance in a fun way. And so I think for that, thanks, game of life. Thanks, game of life. Thanks, game of life. So you've got to decide upfront in the game if you want to pay $500 bucks to cover auto collisions. The max later can be up to $25,000. And if you land on a certain

space, you're forced to buy a home with the option to buy insurance for disasters. Oh, man. What a good lesson. Yeah. So, I mean, I feel, I mean, you have to, I mean, homeowners insurance, car insurance, it's a must. You got to have it. And you got to have enough. A lot of people are underinsured. Yes. And I learned that the hard way, getting in a wreck back in 2013 and I was underinsured on my dad's insurance and it was scary. So since then, I've made sure I've got plenty of coverage. Okay, next is life insurance pays major dividends. So in the game, you have to shell out $5,000 up front, which could be your entire salary. But if you land on the right spots during the game, you get random payouts of like $25,000, $100,000.

I wish life insurance worked like that. The random payout means somebody died. And you were the beneficiary. So not exactly like a woo. Not the game of life. More like the game of... That's sad. Game of death? Game of Thrones.

So when it comes to life insurance, there's only one that we recommend. There's a lot of crappy life insurance types out there. The only one you want is term life insurance. That means it's for a set term. You want 10 to 12 times your income. And it's super cheap comparatively to whole life insurance, which is a scam. That's right. Yeah.

Because, I mean, ideally, as you're working the baby steps, if you have no debt, even no house payment on baby's up six you're investing you got money in your 401k and everything like if something were to happen then technically you know your spouse or your family could take that and the asset of your home that's how real life works in the game you get the payout which makes no sense you're not the beneficiary from your own death no you can't take it with you no not at all okay last uh lesson from the game of life so again thank you game of life is that you need cash for unexpected expenses so in the game you can get hit with randomized charges that you don't choose, like a boat repair, your dog ruining, a neighbor's flower bed. These are very realistic. Things happen with boat repairs. I constantly need my boat repair. It's very expensive.

Sell the boat. I feel good about this one. That's a good lesson to learn that you need cash for unexpected expenses. It didn't say you need a credit card because that's what most people do is they go, well, Rachel, why do I need an emergency fund? I have a credit card. That's right. Tell it to Barbie.

Tell it to Barbie. She doesn't care. She's definitely got a trust fund. She does not seem worried at all. She's not in real life like we are. Yeah. We're out here. So get an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses once you're out of debt.

That will allow you to cover those unexpected boat repairs. That's right. Yes. Okay. The game of life probably should not be translated into a movie. It's heavy. It sounds very fun. You just watch people just going to their jobs that they hate, not making enough money to pay off their debt.

That's too real. And people die and they get much. It's terrible. Yeah. When I die, I hope they write me a big check, Rachel. For you to use. Gosh. Okay, but there were movies in the 90s that were around money.

Actually, quite a bit of them. First one always comes to mine, Richie Rich. 100%. McCulley. McCallie. In 1994 Classic. Oh, McDonald's in his mansion. Oh, that's right.

Roller coasters, everything. I mean, McDonald's made a lot of money for that? That's a good question. Oh, product placement. I didn't even think about that. There's no way they just did that for free. for McDonald's. That's great. We should look that up. So again, Richie Rich's parents are rich. They go missing and he has to go look for them. And in the meantime, he be friends, I would say, quote, unquote, normal kids that don't have mansions and roller coasters at McDonald's. Yeah, like just normal people like that, middle class folk. And he, you know, he's quickly realized that those friendships make his life better than all the stuff you could have.

Now, were they friends with him because of the money? I think at first they actually didn't want to play with him at first. Do you remember in the baseball field and stuff? How do you have such an amazing memory? Well, my kids have watched my kids. We go back and like we watch all these movies. Oh, that's right. That's your thing. Speaking of nostalgia, you love showing your kids old movies. Oh yeah, from like the 90s.

Again, good relationships. That's true wealth. Yes, it is. Beautifully said. Okay, next great one. Blank Check. Yes. Did you ever see this one?

Love Blank Check. Oh, my gosh. Oh, 1994. What a year. Lots of money movies. For kid-related, rich people's stuff. We just wanted it all. So we wanted it. So the main character Preston Waters, what a name, first of all. He ends up with a blank check in a biking accident and cashes it in for $1 million. Which in hindsight, if you can write a blank check, shoot for the stars. Now, when you're a kid in the 90s, a million dollars is unlimited money.

For sure. Today, the listeners are scoffing going, that might get them four years in retirement with inflation. I know. It's right. It doesn't go as far. It doesn't go as far. So again, he was able to cash the check partially because he was lying and also because of the crooked bank owner. Yeah, who needs integrity, Rachel? Just commit fraud. Yep, all right there. So Preston's parents become pretty hostile about the money in this movie because he's like 10 years old, right? And they're like, where are you getting all of this? So. Well, you know, I don't want to go too deep here, Rachel, but it reminds me of the book, the book of Proverbs. 1311, wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will prosper. And another version says, whoever gathers it dishonestly. So we could argue that this was kind of foreshadowing for our friend Preston. Preston should have had Proverbs.

Yeah, what happened in the movie? I don't remember the ending. So he ends up spending the full million dollars in just six days. So let me tell you They literally took that plot from Proverbs And they're like, let's make a movie out of this Well, he buys a castle and renovates it He buys it for $300,000 What a dream that would be today

I have a castle for 300 Yeah That might get you a town home in Sheboygan If you're lucky If you're lucky Those 90s though It'll really you can reach for the stars There was a lot of product placement too in this movie

So a truckload of chips a hoy shows up and also a truck of something unidentified from Sharper Image. Oh, I did love sharper image. Yes. I love just going to that store in the mall and just playing with the electronics. Seeing it all. And the massage chairs may like one day. Yep.

So he gets a limo driver, new clothes, ice cream go carts, computers, giant water slide, all of it. Most of that still sounds awesome even as an adult. I know. Can we be honest? Yes. Oh, for sure. But he spends it in six days. He needs a budget.

He could have been way more strategic. He could have invested 90% of that. And lived on it forever. And he would have been fine. Yes. Lived on $100,000. He could have spent $100,000. Oh, easily.

And enjoyed it. Maybe not at castle level, but. Six days. It's pretty quick. Goodness gracious. But that's kind of representative of America. I mean, we see a lot of sad stories of lottery winners who do this. Yes.

And after taxes and family and they buy a few nice things, the money's gone. They just blew it. You know what Preston's life reminds me of, Rachel, in this movie? A Game of MASH. Remember this one? Yes. So this is how it's played. You got home options of mansion.

apartment, shack, or house. Great options. Then you have the other categories if you're choosing, a partner, job, number of kids. That was always a fun one. Car, and you pick half the things in each category. Your friend picks the other half so that they're not all good options. Then you draw the spiral line and count through the list.

And then go boom, boom, boom, boom, cross them out. That was fun. And then you see your future. So pick a color. Did you make that? I'm very impressed that you still know how to do that. But you know how to make it. Oh, yeah, yeah, I can make one.

I just didn't today. You could be like a million dollar check if you know how to do. how to make that. I'd be like, I give up. And I can make a boat tie with your dollar bill. Wow. Okay, so let's ask the fortune teller a question. Okay. Let's just, I'm going to read out a few. You get to pick it just for fun. Okay, will we ever have a Ramsey movie? Will we become billionaires? Do that one. Do that one. That's a fun one. Will smart money, happy ever ever go on the road? Love that one. Will George ever buy a curing? I don't need a fortune to tell me that one. Will Rachel ever pronounce AI correct? Outlook, not looking so good.

Do the billionaires one. Will we become billionaires? That is the question I want to know. Oh, gosh. Okay. Orange. O-R-A-N-G-E. Pick a number.

Two. One, two. Is that a five in there? Yeah, there's a five. Okay, we'll do the five. Fingers crossed. Y'all, I just made us billionaires. Is this how crypto works?

Because I feel like I can get behind this. You just get to decide. Just get to pick. That's amazing. You want me to do one for you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I'm really nervous. Okay, I'll pick one of these questions.

Origami Live is very direct. Okay, well, smart money, happy ever go on the road. Okay, great. You get blue, green, pink orange. Go blue. Let's do pink because we're all in pink. Barbie mode. Okay.

P-I-N. Nope, no. Each. P-I-N-K. I'm too sure. Did I not do it right? Six. How are you supposed to do it?

Six. Every girl that, like, like, it's right. It's right. So open on the line. letter. And then go to the next one. I. N. No. Open. In. K. I told you this is stressful. Okay. Seven.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Let's go number one. Number one. Okay. This is Smart Money Happy Hour. Going to go on the road. Most likely. So now we are billionaires We're most likely going on the road I love where this is going The Fortune Teller

That's fun Yeah, so good Go make this at home This will entertain your kids for hours With no screens I know, there's a local pizza place in Nashville And their kids' menu turns into that You fold it

This would be great for date night Of like you just choose a restaurant And it's like most likely Yes, no Or you just have like We're going to get Mexican tonight Yeah, there you go. Another billion-dollar idea.

Guys, this is all free. All free. All free ideas. Okay. Well, George, that was fun. That was fun. Going back in the 90s. There's a lot of money lessons in our childhood that you never picked up on.

I don't think I didn't really learn from them. Like, you know, back then you're not thinking about getting term life insurance. Oh, I know. You're just like, all right, is this game over? I want to go play with my friends. Yeah, totally. 100%. 100%.

It's almost the end of the episode, though. and we close out every episode with Guilty as charged. And this is where our producer Lindsay gives us a new Guilty as charge question every week. And if we are guilty, we have to take a sip. Okay, Lindsay, what is it this week? Okay.

What adult thing would you be willing to spend a lot of money on? Because they just said it's that, what, was it, six out of ten people? Right? We'll spend a lot of money on, adult things. Yeah. So what would you be willing to spend on? Like, let's a next one. How you give it a number?

Like over 200 bucks or what? I'm thinking like, let's just say the thing you'd, like you would spend on it and then how much would you be willing to spend on it? Oh, okay. I feel like I start with a number first. Go for it. That's just me. I'm going to say 300 bucks is my max. Okay.

Emotionally to spend on nostalgia. Okay, so what would you do? Probably, you know what I've actually been intrigued by is the Nintendo Switch? It's kind of the new version of the Game Boy, but updated, and that intrigues me. Okay. And I can play like, you know, Mario Party and stuff on there. Yes. So I'm going to go like video games for me.

Okay. $300 bucks, max limit. Mine would be some kind of like experience where I could like go meet the cast of step by step or something. Like, do you know what I'm saying? That's a very specific dream. I love that though. What if you went and ride roller coasters with them? Oh, like on the whole thing and like did the whole open.

What if you could pay to have a lot of? the opening intro of a sitcom that you loved. That is a brilliant idea. And you're in it. Well, the question is so many. How much would you spend on that? For like a ticket to do that. $500 for a race.

Like real talk. And I'm saying even like even friends. Like if I could be in the fountain, like like do the whole thing. You get to recreate it with your friends. She's going more. Oh my gosh. We should play the Who Wants to be a Millionaire music where it's really intense. I might go upwards of eight.

800 or $8,000. I love it. 100. Not thousand. But 100? If I was like, I could pay this and I could have a group of people and we go experience something from the 90s. Yeah. And they remake a sitcom.

I don't think I would quite go to a thousand. Okay, but, okay. That's why it's. 950. Getting a little close. She would do it. 800, though. Like, no problem.

I kind of feel like I would. If your friends were in, you'd be like, all right, I'll do 950. Because it's even better than a concert, right? And like, like, because like a concert, you know, it's just you, you know, sure with friends. but if you could pay for a group of people to go together and do it. Wouldn't that be so fun? I hope Hollywood's listening to this idea. I don't think anyone in Hollywood.

Mattel execs, they're listening. They're going, what are Rachel and George saying about the Barbie movie? Okay, that would be it. That's really good, actually. Your idea was way better. And that is, I like an experience. It's right off the cuff too. I loved it. Because I think our generation is kind of done with stuff.

I know. We want more experiences. Like, like, caboodles, remember all the, but you could get those for like probably 20 bucks. on Amazon or something right now. You know what we should ask. We should say anyone listening or watching should say what show they would want to start in. Oh, for the intro.

So in the review, you gotta leave. That's good. I think mine would have to be friends. Okay. The fountain and like the whole bit. That's a good one. Or step by step and roller coaster. That's a great one.

Yeah, the roller coaster, getting to be on that roller coaster, it'd be a dream. And they all scream, you know. It's very fun. All right. We did it. All right. George, you may have sipped more sparkly glitter juice than you.

My stomach, I'm not sure how it's, I don't know. It's just messy and I, it's not, it's not the best cocktail, but it's a fun. It's a 10 out of 10 on the fun scale. Your girls would love this. If you made the mocktail version, your girls would be like, oh my gosh, you're the best mom ever. Oh, yeah, but I wouldn't because look at all this right here. Yeah, this is, we need a whole cleanup crew. This is terrible.

So. What would you rate it? By taste or the whole experience. Whole experience. You got to take it all into consideration. You know, I'm going to go 8 out of 10. It went down some points in taste. It's not my favorite tasting drink.

Sure. It went down because of just the inconvenience of what is happening right now. Okay. But it goes up. But it goes up with all the fun. For the aesthetic. I mean, this, when you can swirl a cocktail and glitter starts spinning around. That's every girl's dream.

That's up some points. And every guy's nightmare. But we're having a good time. I'm going to rate it 7 out of 10. Yeah. I think an amazing presentation. Flavor actually decent. Yeah.

But just too, it's just bright. I don't like bright. I have sensory issues, I think. Like even just looking at you right now, I'm like, can we turn off the highlighter? We dim this down. And my wife is going to hate this because she loves bright colors. And I'm always like, I like more muted tones. Mutuals.

Yeah. That's just me. That's a guy. I don't know. Maybe it's a guy thing. Or, okay, but what was in it, George? What was in the drink? Wouldn't you like to know.

obviously microplastics. Other than that, dragon fruit juice is the main ingredient. That's what gives it that vibrant pink color. Okay. It's got whipped cream vodka, which gives it that kind of vanilla flavor. Does it help? Okay. And then it has Sprite and a dash, I would say more than a dash, of edible glitter.

Yeah, definitely not. Who invented edible glitter? Who was like, guys, we can make people eat this. That is so funny. So the cost breakdown actually very reasonable. $2.75. cents. Oh, wow. That's shocking. Yeah. So if you're doing like a Barbie themed party, this would be really fun to make, though. That would be fun. Are people doing that? I don't think I would do the

REM's glitter because it would be messier, but if just the drink had the glitter, that's a different story. You could even like a big punch bowl. Yeah. You can stir it and get all the, that could be fun. That's fun. You can find the recipe in the show notes and let us know what you think. That's right. So you guys, thanks for watching and listening and make sure to leave us a review. Maybe we'll pick someone out and give them a Oh, can I call one out? People are really angry that we didn't know the Genesis catalog. And they called it out in the podcast.

Wait, wait. Say again? The band Genesis, Phil Collins. They were like, I can't believe Rachel and George didn't know Genesis. I'm going to unsubscribe. No, they didn't. They were so offended. No. Shoot, Phil Collins.

We're so sorry. Sorry. I know Phil. I'm not as familiar with Genesis. Don't hold it against me, guys. Man. They can't feel the love tonight. I'll tell you that much.

So listen, we read them. Obviously, George has recently. I've not seen those. I've not been on recently, apparently. You got to get on that. But we like to read the reviews. We like to know what you guys like, what you think about the podcast. And it helps with algorithm stuff and get into the universe for people to find the podcast.

And hopefully show them that money can be fun. It can be. We make it fun. We try. I don't know if we do a good job or not. I have some confidence. I know. Well, George.

This was fun. This was great. So we'll see you guys next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Act. Smart Money Happy Hour. Twitter goes everywhere.