Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - Most Ridiculous Things People Actually Pay For

Episode Date: June 22, 2023

Oxygen bars, PH balanced water . . . Are they scams, or are they for real? Food delivery every night? Are these ridiculous things to spend money on? Let George and Rachel be the judges. In this episode: ·      The bougie things Rachel and George (over)pay for ·      How to know if you’re splurging for the right reasons ·      What Rachel spent money on that made Dave threaten to pull her college tuition   Helpful Resources:   ·     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. ·     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 Bees Knees Ingredients: ·     3 teaspoons honey syrup ·     2 teaspoons orange juice ·     2 ounces dry gin ·     Juice from 1/2 a lemon (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) ·     Lemon twist (for garnish) Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the honey syrup, orange juice, lemon juice and gin. Fasten the lid and shake until it’s nice and cold. Pour the mixture into a glass, finish it with a fruit carving—err, twist of lemon—and enjoy!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey guys, I'm Rachel Cruz. I'm George Camel. And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Cheers, George. Cheers. Great drink for a bright day. Wow. You're very positive today.

Oh, that's delicious. Wow. So this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about, which you're talking about. Everything from pop culture, current events, and money. And what are people talking about? Yeah, well, today we're talking about the ridiculous things people are. spending their money on. That's right. And the guy who spends hundreds of dollars a month on the literal animals living inside his house and the female who seriously considered $1,000 Taylor Swift

tickets, we're going to judge you all for the ridiculous things you spend your money on. I know. It's hard, though. There's a lot, there's a lot of things in the world. Well, everything is so subjective. That's what I'm going to say. It's very, you kind of, you have your own opinions, people. So we're going to just dive into it all. Because we both like to spend and enjoy. The quote-unquote finer things in life. That's right. But some of it might be ridiculous and some things you spend money on are ridiculous. So we're going to talk about it all.

So we're breaking down popular trends right now that we can't believe people are actually buying into, literally. They're buying into it, Rachel. And we're going to expose some of the listeners hot takes. Yes. They submitted some to your Instagram. And it's going to be great. I can't wait. Juicy.

But we are sipping on a great cocktail on this episode. Some might say this cocktail is the bees' knees. Because it is. Because it's literally called the bees' knees. That's great. It's really good. We're going to reveal the rating, the recipe, and the cost per glass at the end of the episode. So stick around until the end.

Can we just give our resident bartender, Michael Reddish? Props on this one. On all of the fruit carvings that come with the drinks. It really adds a lot. People think you don't need to do the extras with the fruit. Fruit carvings. Is that what it's called? The peel, the fruit peel carvings?

They're like garnishes. The garnish. Well, to me. It's a fruit peel that's on the side of my glass. It's carved. I hope you know I'm going to call it that for now. I love your fruit carvings. Well, it's really good.

So stick around until the end to find out more about this drink. All right, Rachel, before we slip on our favorite pair of judgment jeans, mine are skinny. Let's share with the people a few things that we might be guilty of overpaying for. I think we should be vulnerable with the people. Okay. Are you ready? Overpaying for? Maybe.

I mean, on a consistent basis, I think I overpay for. I know I overpay for groceries because I get them delivered through a service. And you're okay paying a little premium for that. And you pay more for the food. Like the actual food items are marked up. And then you pay for the membership and you pay for the tip. Like it's just ridiculous. But I choose to do that.

You know a really boozy thing. People are going to get mad. They can't be mad. They've no right to be mad. Well, number one. Can I do a quick like flyover of a past episode that I saw comments on? Yes. before I get to this, people were mad at me at the middle class episode we did, and they're like,

Rachel grew up in a $5 million home in Franklin, the fact that she thinks she's middle class. I did not grow up in that home. They moved in that home when I went to college. So Dave and Sharon Ramsey end up living their best life when I'm gone. When I was in middle school in high school, I grew up with cheap parents. You were on the cusp of Bougie. You just missed out. Oh, yes. My brother, we could call him Boucher. growing up. I will defend my middle class status. So people are like, I mean, yeah, her dad's a billionaire. I was born when they were bankrupt. Like, we didn't just like overnight become like... They don't get to redefine your childhood. No, they don't, George. So they, I just had to say that.

I'm with you. We stand with Rachel. We fight. Golly. So I'm just going to say that. That I still stands. That I did not live the boozy lifestyle that they live today. So I'm going to just say that. I'm glad that. You. Because what I'm about to say is very booby-ish. So now... With that caveat. Okay. So when we bought our home, when we built our home, moved in in 2019, there were a couple of things that we had to take out of the plan because it was over budget.

But there were a couple of things we kept. And one of the things that we kept in and we have to get it refilled probably once a month in the summer is we have a mosquito system at our house. And now people are going to get mad because they're like, you're poisoning everyone around you. No, I think we can all agree mosquitoes should die. Yes. So it's a system that lines our back roof line and our fence line, and it sprays twice a day and, like, kills mosquitoes. Not a single mosquito in your backyard. Kills the mosquitoes.

And it works? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And it's like up a tree, like we have a, like all this. So, again, very bougie, and they have to refill the tanks in the summer to like the stuff. So we pay for that in the summer. and it feels silly. And people would go, that's ridiculous to spend on you.

Why would you? Yeah, just get, yeah, yeah, yeah. But anyways, it's boozy, but we do that. Wow, that's good. I love that. But I love it. That's good. Because I don't get bit.

They love me. The old mosquitoes. And you like clothes. People would say, like, it's ridiculous that Rachel spends this much money. But you have one of the Target and Amazon. You have some nicer stuff. Yeah, I don't think what I spend on clothes is ridiculous. I don't spend that much on clothes.

Okay. I shop a lot, but it's like my dog. Yeah, I mean, I get like the 60% of sale. Well, I saw you post from the, You post from the beach and you're like everything I'm wearing is from Amazon. It is. I know everything, like my whole thing, get up was like maybe under $100. Way to go.

From like beach bag, cover up, swimsuits, sunglasses, earrings, all of it. That's impressive. That's what I'm saying. I don't spend that much. People, so I spend it on mosquitoes. Selfless, the money I spend is on my dogs, Rachel. Oh, how much do you? What is that?

I mean, between. You know, it's just tried mobile dog grooming. So we don't have to take them to Petco and traumatize them. Now that's because my dog will shake with anxiety. You're just. dog is a short-haired dog. Well, it's for the bath. We're not getting haircuts done.

It's the bath. It's great. You know, nail trimmings, the bath, they're cleaning parts. I don't want to clean, all that stuff. I have guys that mow my lawn, things like that. People are like, that's ridiculous. Just mow your own lawn. I'm a fan of convenience, and we're at the place financially where we just decide what's

convenient for us, and then we do it. Because here's the deal. There's no shame and spending. That's part of the Ramsey plan is you live like no one else, so later you can live and give like no one else. So the idea of spending money when you are being intentional, it's in the budget, it's in the every dollar budget, you have line items, you know where your money's going, you're planning it, you're still investing and being generous, you're doing all the things, you can enjoy your money. And there's a lot of things that everyone would go, that's weird,

why would you spend that money? But if you like it, it's fine. As long as it's not making you broke and hurting your life, your relationships, you do you. If you want the Lego set, you want the Harry Potter collection. You want the American Girl doll house set. I don't know what you're into, Lindsay. I love being super girl dolls. I'm just saying, we all have our thing. Even if you're going into my house and they're just like,

it's so scary. Very creepy. Your doll collection. I don't want to be that person. I do have a problem with grown adults with doll collections. I draw the line. Basically just told everyone that's what I am, but I'm not this clear. I was saying, for example, if Lindsay

happened to be into that, no judgment. I just don't want to go to your house if that's the case, which I've been to your house. Yeah, and I don't have a weird. No weird dog legs. Just a little creepy. Okay. Enough about us, Rachel.

Yeah, let's go to the people. So selfish. Let's go to the people and all the ridiculous stuff that people tend to spend money on. Are we moving into tinted eyelash territory? Is that where we're going? I think we're happening. Yep. But, you know, George, you're going to be a girl dad.

So you're ready. You're going to learn all this stuff. She will not have tinted lashes. I can promise you that. Okay. But here's some, what people would say is ridiculous. is spending money on natural resources. Are you ready for this? What do you mean a natural resource? Oxygen. So there are oxygen bars like in nightclubs and casinos and shopping malls.

So apparently if purified oxygen, when administered into the nostrils, through a tube while you're sitting at a barstool. Why a barstool specifically? We're not sure. It's what the website says. So apparently the natural air we breathe contains around 21% of oxygen. But when you get pure oxygen, it reduces stress, boosts energy, and relieves hangovers. Sure. How do we know it's 21% oxygen? Who's measuring? Scientists.

I doubt it. This feels like made-up stuff. Well, I don't know. People are paying for oxygen. All of these wellness trends. They have not been scientifically vetted, and they're all marketed as like, it reduces stress and boosts energy by 1,000 percent. It's all a lie. Like, you could argue that most candy bars do the same thing.

I don't know. I don't know, George. I mean, a Red Bull vodka will reduce stress and increase your energy. Just saying. Okay. Water is also a natural resource that people spend money on. Electrolite water. You've seen that one?

Well, yeah. People are like, they, the water thing is, that's a little hard. It's confusing to me because you can get people with like really hardcore convictions about their water. Like your water out of your tap water. It's like, oh my gosh, no, it has so many chemicals and all this stuff. So people get purified water. people go pick up water from water stores. There's a water store?

Yes, George, that has pure water. Like spring water? I don't know. I feel ignorant even talking about it because I'm sure people watching or listening will know this. Because I almost fell for the trend of pH water. There were a few people from the company that would go to it. It's a store like in Franklin here. And it's a water store.

And they go and they get their like tanks of water from it. And that's the only water that they use because water. and our sinks and stuff, like, we'll kill you. Got it. Okay. That explains why people have survived from tap water for years. But I will say that when the marketing for water is out of control, because now there's all this pH, have you seen this? It's a 7 plus.

It's balanced pH. Yes. And then I found out your body adjust the pH as you digest it. Oh, wow. That's a scam. What a scam. And water already has electrolytes in it. So while you can add it, like Gatorade, you know.

Anyways, there's a lot. Now, I'm a sucker for sparkling water. So I will, we pay a lot just for sparkling water. We probably drink, you know, three or four a day between my wife and I. Topo chico, what do you do? Topo chico is great. LaCroix, Waterloo, Spin Drift. Those are the go-toes.

Liquid death, another go-to. Okay, it's good. Yeah. Another one is just fancy grocery stores. So, like, instead of going to like a Kroger, you go to a Whole Foods. Have you heard about the one beyond Whole Foods called Airwan? It's like the LA version of Whole Foods, and it makes Whole Foods look like a Kroger. Stop it.

It is insane. Give me all the details. What is it? So there's a viral TikToker who will buy everyday ingredients from Airwant. Like, I'm going to make a peanut butter and jelly. What? And then they spend like $1,000 on the ingredients to make this outrageous P.B.N.J. I don't understand.

Like, are real people shopping there, or is it like a flex from celebrities? I don't understand. I don't know. All of those just intimidate me. That's why I do everything online because it just makes me all nervous. When I walk into a place like that, it just makes me like, I don't know what I'm doing. I just don't know what I'm doing. I feel very out of place.

But you've been to a Whole Foods? Put me in a Kroger. Would you shop at a Whole Foods? I enjoy a Whole Foods experience, but I only buy stuff on sale and I buy like four things. I know. It just makes me, I don't feel comfortable there. They're not your people. Tomatoes a tomato, whether it's from Kroger or Whole Foods.

People are going to yell at you for that. I know. Well, it's a pesticide, and it's not organic. Relax. They have organic fruit at Kroger. Okay, experience eating. Go to the next one. So, like, the melting pot.

We mentioned this on one of our episodes. Oh, this was the destination for high school prom group in 2007. That's a very specific core memory. Oh, my gosh. But you've got to, like, cook your own food and stuff. Oh, yeah. Have you been a funky griddle? No.

That's where you cook your own food, like pancakes and eggs and all that at the table. And habachi, same kind of thing. Okay, I'm going to say this about, I mean, this isn't the same as that category. but we went to a really nice restaurant in Nashville and it was one of those it's like the 10-course chef Exclude like right it's that feeling and you pay out the wazoo for these things I think I've just decided John I don't think it's worth it I think you go to a nice steakhouse three different times

for the price that we paid for this like meal so I'm kind of over And you're like kind of a foodie I do enjoy yeah I don't understand why they I get there's an art and like it's beautiful and and there's There's a talent there for sure. But for me right now in life, I'm like, I think I'd rather go to a nice steakhouse three different times for the same price that I paid for that experience. Yeah. Plus, have you tried pizza?

It's affordable and delicious. Have you had Papa Drons? Banana pepper pepperoni. Change relax. Wow. Okay. There was a new habachi restaurant I tried with robots. That's experience.

Stop it. It's here locally. Stop it. And robots will show up at your habachi table. No. With like your suit, if you order a sushi dish. Is this the future? We're in the future. And then you hit a button, you take the dish.

It's in right here in Franklin. And you take the dish and then you hit send to kitchen. And the robot goes back to its home. No. What's it called? Takumi. Takumi. Wow.

That's nuts. We checked it out. Next up on ridiculous things people spend money on strollers. I know. How do I know this? Because we're stroller shopping, Rachel. It's a mortgage payment. Give me all the things.

I know George. one I want and it feels exorbitant. What is it? The up a baby. Yes! V2 Vista double stroller with the bassinet and then you have to get like 17 dongles to attach the cup holder. Can I tell you after three kids and eight years later, it has, it is as strong as ever.

It's fundamentally changed your life. The quality is unbelievable. Mark Carsey went through five kids, my three, and then my sister-in-law, her two babies. And it was great. Like it's, the quality's unbelievable. A ringing endorsement for the $1,000 stroller. No, it is. It's a lot.

It's a lot. It's a lot. But then it can go into a three-kid stroller. You got this. So you got your Rumble seat. I didn't even know what a Rumble seat was. And then another seat for the two. And then you get the skateboard thing attached at the bottom where a kid can stand in between the poles.

And you go, you got all three. As a former skateboarder, I'm here for that content. I know. So honestly. You're saying it's worth it. The $1,000 stroller worth the investment. Especially if you're going to have multiple kids. If it's one and done, maybe not, right?

But when I was a kid, we just had the little dinky, like, $10. You'll have an umbrella stroller too. And that one you don't need from Up a Baby. What is an umbrella stroller? Oh, the umbrella stroll. It's the quick, like, pop-out stroller. Like, you're talking about... Is there an umbrella on top of it?

It has, like, the thing over. Oh, so you didn't have this. I'm talking about the little rinky dink ones. That's a... Yes, I hear you. I hear you. I didn't have a fancy top to mine. Well...

I was unencumbered. Okay. Well, umbrella strollers these days have it. But up a baby has an umbrella show. you don't need to pay that much for an up-a-baby umbrella stroll. You can get one from like, you know,

you can get a cheaper version of that because you'll be... Bye-bye baby went by-bye. Bye-bye. I know. That's so sad. Terrible. So don't invest the umbrella stroller in a nice quality one.

You don't need that. But your big, nice one that she's going to be using... We're hoping someone gives it to us from the registry. Hint, hint, hint. To anyone in the room or watching. That was such a flex.

But really, we're kind of waiting. We're kind of waiting. We're like, fingers crossed, like, someone. like let's go in on the big on the stroller. Oh yeah, they're thinking it right now, George. You know? Anyways. Okay.

Next up on things that are ridiculous and I stand by this one. This is a just fundamentally, objectively stupid purchase. Lifted vehicles. Explain to me the lifted truck, Rachel. You're someone who would be apt to get a lifted truck. Why? Why? Is it the feeling of power and control?

I mean, what is the actual? I don't know. I really don't. I don't get it. off-roading in like seven feet of water? Okay, here's the question. If you had to, if your car either had to be lifted or low-rided, what would you do?

Probably low-rided, based on my height alone. I don't want to catapult into the driver's seat. How do you get up there? You need a tiny ladder. Yeah, I don't get it. And I don't get the bit, yeah. I mean, Winston has a truck, but it's a Toyota Tundra. Like, I mean, it's a pretty, like, classic truck, but I don't get the big, loud,

wheel, like what you're saying. I just don't get it. I'm with you. Your dad, Dave, loves a growing, big, scary, mean truck. I don't get it. Okay. It didn't run in the gene pool for you. No. We drive a similar vehicle, so it...

Yeah, we probably have similar thoughts on vehicles. We love a sedan. We just love a good electric car. I'm not trying to impress anyone. Oh, my gosh. But these car lift kids, they can run like anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000. Yeah, but again, if that's your thing... If that's your thing, get therapy, but yeah.

Do it. Do it. Therapy's cheaper. They're just saying. Dealing with childhood trauma. Okay. Designer sunglasses. Oh, you're saying it's ridiculous to spend.

Once you break a pair, sit on them, lose them in the lake. You never come back from that trauma, George. It is real and deep. So you're saying no to the ray bands. Yeah, I do have one, I say that. I have one pair of like aviator ones that I actually have had for a while. All my other ones are Amazon. Next one, very controversial, marathons.

What? Marathons, think about it. People spend a lot of money on the running gear, on the fee, which suffice it to say. A lot of times goes to a great cause. Nonprofits are putting these marathons on. But they can get pretty expensive. I don't know that world.

I trained for a half marathon. How'd it go? I trained for about a week. But I'm like, you can run for free. So what are we really doing this for? You know what I mean? I just think you should run because you want to run, but I don't know, the whole like doing it for like biting the metal and doing it for the photo,

it feels like a little bit of a flex. Mm. Yeah, when people have the stickers, like 26.4. Yeah. Here's what I always ask, Rachel, what are they running from? What are they running from? I think therapy's cheaper than most of these and would actually solve the root problem. Therapy's got expensive.

I don't know what your bill is. That's fair. Still cheaper. Okay. Last but not least. Ready? The KitchenAid mixer. Ooh.

This was a staple for every grown-up, every wedding registry, all of it. And I got a yellow one. Are you even married if you don't own a kitchen aid? I know. The KitchenAid mixer. And they're expensive. You've got a yellow one at home? They're like 300.

Mm-hmm. Do you use it? I mean, maybe like four times a year. Yeah, I can count on one finger. You know what? We do use kitchen appliance Vitamix. Oh. We use that a lot. What are you blending up at the cruise household?

We do it. We use smoothies. Okay. The kids love smoothies. I'll do a salsa, like a homemade salsa, and I'll put it in. Like, I do, I use my Vitamix a lot. I do want a Vitamix. It feels like, again, kind of a ridiculous, like, why are you buying a $400 blender?

Blender? I know, but I do use that one. KitchenAid mix or not as much. It's like the Peloton of Blenders. Yes, that's exactly right. Do you have a Peloton? I used to. Again, a ridiculous purchase that I then sold.

It's okay. That was the high to COVID, though. Yes, we got it during COVID. Late on the trend. Yep. Is it gone now? Or like the trend? No, people still use them.

I think the real people who are like, I'm going to use this, still have them. The people who did it to, like, ride a trend and be like, I'm going to be the guy who works out at home. Those people didn't survive. You had to have already been working out beforehand to make this. To make it happen. To make it happen. But yeah, we've got a KitchenA. We've got the Matt White.

Like, it looks like kind of like a little Storm Trooper. It's really cute. Again, it's decor. It sits in the corner of the kitchen. We're not baking up a lot of, you know, brownies these days. Oh, for the Kitchenie Mixer. I know. We get the gluten-free cookies that are the ready bake, and we avoid all of them.

I get it. I get it. I know. It's a lot to clean. It's a lot. There's a lot. All right, George, so those were some of our ideas of like, yeah, just some crazy stuff. And people may not think those are ridiculous. But it's fine. We're not mad. But they told us, didn't they? Yes. So via my Instagram, they gave us some great ones.

And the first one hurts my heart, but I'm going to just take it. Food delivery. A ton of people said that. Said this is a ridiculous thing to spend money on. Yes, and I know. I know. I know. They're like, Rachel, you can drive to the restaurant and just pick it up. and save a lot of money. Okay, groceries is one thing. I will say we ordered like Tzikis or something to the house and did like DoorDash.

Usually I do pick up food. Like if we're, I usually get it to go. And we did deliver it. And it was, it was stupid. I mean, I want to say, it was like $80 or $90, George. Wow. Like for just our family. And it would have been how much if you just picked it up?

Like 50? Yeah, 45. I mean, I swear, they mocked it up. They marked it up so much. And again, I think it's probably DoorDash and the tip. I mean, all of it. But when I got the bill, I was like, holy crap. So that, it was crazy.

I don't know if it's like the Middle Eastern frugal in me, but I can count on two fingers how many times I've used Uber Eats or DoorDash. I know. Because of how much it hurts my heart. I know. And sometimes you just, you got to do it. I recommend it as a way to make money for people who want to, you know, get out of debt or whatever, but I don't use it personally because of how exorbitant it is.

So unless it's in like an emergency situation, grocery delivery, or I'm just going to pick it up. Yeah, that's good. Okay. Next, a lot of people said tattoos. Ah. Again, these are not our words. These are your fighting words. So even a small tattoo can cost you $50 minimum.

Do you have a tattoo, George? No tats for me. Not trying to hide a sleeve anywhere up here. Do you got any? I do. Can you... The people want to know. I got one in college.

Do you regret it? Nope. Is it a butterfly? Is it a butterfly? Is it a Bible verse? Is it even more embarrassing than a butterfly? Wait, do your parents know? Yeah, dad threatened to pull my tuition.

Hold up. Dave Ramsey threatened to pull your tuition when he found out you got a tag. And it's like this big. This is good content. What's it at? So we were freshmen. Are you justifying it? Well, I'm just giving you a quick of the backstory.

Okay. And it was raining. I mean, I remember this. It was raining. And I had like eight of my girlfriends that we're all like, we're so bored. What are we want to do? And someone's like, let's go get tattoos. And someone's like, we should.

And I was like, why? Was there alcohol involved? No, no, completely sober. And I remember I called Denise, my sister. She started crying, begging me not to do my gosh. And then she had my cousin call me because, oh, yeah, Denise was. She started like the prayer text. She was like, yeah, we need to pray for Rachel.

She's like, this is the stupidest decision you've ever. I'm like, Denise, chill. We're just bored. We're just going to get tattoos. So yeah, I got... It's one of those things. No, it's like, it was like a little Jesus fish. Wow.

Very tasteful, very minimalist. It's like that big. I knew at 18, when it's raining and this is what we decided to do for after activity. What does the rain have to do with this? You're bringing up the rain is like, well, you know, it was raining, so we had to get tattoos.

I know. I don't remember. I just, yeah, we're just bored. Okay. Okay. Next one is new cars. Speaking of expensive. Yeah. This is crazy. I do think this is a ridiculous purchase for some. So we always say if you have a net worth of a million dollars, then you can take the financial hits of buying a new car. Because when you buy a new car and drive it off the lot and it's now considered used, it loses what, like 20? It's, yeah. 16, 20?

It immediately loses like 10 or 15 percent. Yeah. And then over five years. years, it loses 60% of its value. Yes. So it's a depreciating asset. Which means if you buy a five-year-old car, you're getting a 60% discount. Think about it that way. Oh, well done, George.

Love the math game. So, yeah, new cars, I am not a fan of that unless you're paying cash number one and you've got that net worth to back up. Okay, the next one is so funny. Getting garbage cans professionally cleaned. I've got the advertising for this in my mailbox. I didn't know this. Apparently, it can cost up to $35 a month if someone could.

come and clean your trash cans? Yep. It's a trash can. It's going to get dirty like the following week. That's funny. I don't think it's worth it because here's the thing. I looked into getting a new trash can when we moved into our house. Yeah.

Because we had the old owner's trash can. Oh, yeah. And it was like 70 bucks. I could just get a new trash can anytime I want for 70 bucks. Totally. I'll just do that. Why get it clean? Next is grass, long care landscaping.

People think that this was really ridiculous. I don't know. if we spend money on it so I don't know beautification some HOAs require it like I don't if we just didn't do anything and just let everything get overgrown

Oh sure yeah you'll get hit with the feet So yeah this one People spend a lot of money on it Some people are just like well just mow it yourself And do the landscaping yourself I don't have the green thumb I don't have the time I'm just going to pay someone to do it

Yep yep but it will save you a lot of money If you cut it out Oh this hurts my heart a little bit Taylor Swift tickets Shots fired at Rachel A lot of people said and my team, ladies back there, and Lindsay. Yeah, Lindsay.

You went to T-Swift. I know. Oh, I thought you were saying we were against it. They are against it. They're mad at the price of it. She's so good. I'm not mad at the original price. I'm mad at what people were willing to pay for second market.

I know. Second-hand tickets. I know. I know. Another ridiculous thing that the listener said is insane to spend money on. Long-term storage. That's what I can get on board. with. I'm a fan of that

hot take. It is so people that own those storage companies, they make so much money because we all have so much crap. And people pay hundreds of dollars a month sometimes. To put their crap in store the crap just in case we need the crap. Yep, get it out of here. One day we'll use the crap.

It feels like a Seinfeld bit. It's a lot. Okay, next is Sons. Oh. I don't know. I hear an infrared sauna is wonderful. It is. I know. That's what I've heard. I wouldn't say this is a waste of money. I don't think it is. That's like saying going to the gym is a waste of money.

Yeah. You know, I think there's a lot of health benefits. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm not mad at the old sauna. But you can also buy them fairly cheap. There's kind of like gangster versions you can get on Amazon for your house that are just like, you're like zipped up in this little weird container. Okay. It looks like very claustrophobic, but if that's you, you do you, boo-boo. You do you. Next is, oh no, this hurts a little bit. Golden Goose shoes and distressed jeans. People are very heated about the designer shoes.

that come dirty. That was a personal attack at you. And jeans that are already torn. Okay, I have one pair. I have one pair of golden gooses, and I wear them all the time. And they're worth it. I actually wore them to the Taylor Swift concert. Thank you very much.

Wow. I wear them all the time. They're comfortable. I mean, they're not like my on-cloud one. I mean, there's some tennis shoes that are obviously extremely comfortable. But I don't know. Okay. I did.

I bought them for my birthday. It was a birthday gift for herself, guys. Have some respect. Are you mad at all? those kind of shoes? I'm not mad about it, but if my, I'll say this, if Whitney was like, hey, I want to buy these sneakers, I'd like, how much are they? And she was like, $500. I'd be like, mm-mm, nope, we're going to not do that. So it would hurt my heart, but again, I'm not mad at someone else who bought them. Okay. But if it was my personal money, it would hurt.

Yeah. You know what I mean? That's fair. But you rock it. That's fair. You go, girl. I did. This is the one we mentioned at the top of the show. Ielash care. I didn't know you had to care for your eyelashes. Yes. Here's my thing about beauty, personally. Okay. Beauty is pain. That's what I always say. Is it, George? No, personally, if I have stuff done, I'm like, I don't want you to even know about it.

So, do I occasionally get like 10 units here and here and here? Maybe. Very minimal. But every now and then, yes. So again, any, I tent my eyebrows. I've gotten the... What's the natural color? No, they just make them thicker.

What's it called? Microblading. Oh, yes. Like, I've done that because you wouldn't really know. Like, I do things that, like, you wouldn't notice. So, like, an eyelash extension, you would notice me. Notice me. Again, they're not bad, but do you know what I'm saying?

Or, like, people that get, like, lip injections. I'm not mad at you for that, but you can tell. Oh, she's bad. Yeah, we can tell. And we can tell when we have filler here, we can tell, which is fine. Yeah, we've seen the cast of friends. We know what it looks like. Sweet Courtney, love her.

Love her. but she regretted it too she regretted all her face stuff so I just am more like I would rather go the net like where you can't really tell and it's like does you're not sure right I agree natural okay we're getting off truck well we let's go from judgmental to helpful Rachel what can we learn from all of this let's land the plane I know is listen it's your money we say it personal finance is personal so if you're at a position where you have the spare cash and the margin to be able to go and lift your truck, get your eyelashes, you go. You know what it comes down to for me?

It's number one paying cash and not going into debt for something. Not doing it when you're broke, but then also the big thing for me is motive. Are you doing it because it's uniquely like this is my values, my personality, I want to express it, or is it I want someone to like me? I want to fit in. I want it impress. That's where when it turns into a flex, it's very unhealthy to me. I think that's very fair. That's very fair.

Yeah, the question I always ask is if nobody sees this purchase, do I still want it? That's a great question to ask. And I think that shows motive. I think that's great, George, because there is something to say about there's a level of materialism that's like if I have this thing or this is part of me, I'm going to be happier. And that you're not going to be fulfilled when that's your motive.

You're just not. More stuff won't make you more complete. I think the minimal has said that. I believe that. But another piece of this is if you're not willing to save up for it and pay cash, you don't really want it that badly. If you're willing to just go into debt and just go, I'll put her on the card and worry about it.

out later. Yep. It's a bad, bad move. That's right. So one thing we always say is it's okay to have nice stuff. Just don't let your nice stuff have you. And that identity piece, George, I think, is a lot of what you're talking about with the motive and everything. And when there's payments, it has you. Oh, gosh. So yeah, it's, yeah, it has you through debt, the borrower, slave to the lender. That item really does own you at that point. And then, yeah, your identity, that piece. So that's good. So how do we avoid all of this? How do we do it the right way? Yes. Well, one of the things if it's a large purchase is we love a good sinking fund. Don't we charge? Love a sinking fund. Yeah. So just save up a little bit every month and then when it's there.

So it's 500 bucks. Save 100 bucks for five months. Now we can pay for it in cash with no ragrats. Or with no ragrats. I know you'd love that. So good. Thanks for bringing that one back. That I'd say budgeting too will help with the sinking fund but also just knowing where your money's going. We both use every dollar. Well and like you say, it's permission to spend. And so I find Budgeting is the best tool for me to never feel like, oh, should I have done that? It was planned for in the budget. You get a manicure and you have a manicure line item for self-care or whatever. You do that with no regret.

You don't go, oh, I shouldn't have done that. You go, great. I planned for that. I was intentional. Do you know what we put in our budget last month, George, and then another one this month. Two purchases you'll appreciate. One, Winston put it in the budget for last month. A coffee grinder.

Man after my own heart. Was it a conical burr grinder? I don't know. Ask him. it a barraza? I don't know, but it was in the budget. It was literally a line item for it. Said coffee grinder. Uh-huh. And then you know what's in our line item this month, something I wanted. We're going to buy it for the summer. Not coffee related. A pizza maker, oven. Wait, is it like the Oon? Joe Levitt? Yes, Joe Levitt, a guy

we work with has one. So I texted him this weekend and I was like, Joe, what kind of pizza oven do you have? So that's in the budget. So I'm like, I don't feel bad buying this pizza oven because we adjusted everything else. When it's in the budget, it's not impulsive anymore. It's right. I know. And it just becomes a plan. It is. But But it may have my identity, George. Well said. And Rachel, because we run this podcast, we talk about Every Dollar all the time. I was like, let's get a promo just for the Smart Money Happy Hour listeners to go check it out.

And the code should be Smart Money. You're brilliant. So right now, if you use promo code Smart Money at Every Dollar.com, you can get a two-week free trial and $15 off the annual premium version, which a lot of the features we talk about, bank connectivity, paycheck planning, financial roadmaps, all part of the premium version. So go check it out. And it's free to download. You don't have to do any of that, nothing to lose. We just want you guys to have a plan for your money. Love it.

And it'll help you, if you buy ridiculous things, to justify it because you have money. That's true. And that's what you can do. So we'll drop a link to the show notes if you want to check that out. Love it. All right, George. So it's almost the end of the episode. And we end every episode with Guilty as Charged.

This is where our producer, Lindsay, gives us a new guilty as charged question every week. And this week, Lindsay, what is it? All right. Have you ever entered a giveaway and, one. Ooh, that's fun. Ooh. A giveaway.

Does that count like a radio contest or something? Oh, man. Any giveaway or contest. Okay. I don't know if I have. I'm the king of free stuff. So I just wanted to give Rachel a chance. Oh, my gosh.

I got nothing, George. Give us everything. Kick. John Mayer tickets from a radio contest where I called in. No way. That was awesome. That is awesome. Whitney Houston concert tickets.

Here's the caveat. I submitted, you had to submit a YouTube cover. I submitted Rihanna's umbrella, an acoustic version that I did. I don't know if you had to submit a version of umbrella to win. That feels very specific and weird. For a Whitney Houston concert. Yeah. So I won this contest and then I was like, I'll just sell the tickets.

And I got a meal in the North End in Boston and Italian meal with a co-worker because I was like, I don't. And now I regret it. I'm like, I could have seen Whitney Houston. Are you kidding me? Yeah, that's unbelievable. What a sad life. A lot of regret. I know.

A lot of ragged I've talked to on this show about how I won a free wedding That was big That was a giveaway technically So I love free stuff Dang George won this one Well it's people like Rachel who go like You're never gonna win

Why even enter? And I'm like one less person To fight for the win Because we all should get cameras And video ourselves Playing umbrella to a guitar Rachel Rachel

Who has time for that? George The video was already recorded Rachel was already on YouTube And I will say it had like 180,000 use. It's a very popular cover back in 2008 or 7. Yes, and more stuff, but I think giveaways are one of the most awesome things and everyone should enter. Unless it's like the lottery, don't play the lottery. But if it's a fun giveaway for something that you might like,

and it doesn't cost you money, another caveat, go for it. You never know what could happen. Well, George, you're guilty. Go, go for it. Finish that off. Finish that off. Good time. Sorry. Well, make sure if you guys have a guilty as charged question for us, make sure to DMS because we will use them on the show. You never know. All right, so I think we both finished our drink. It was delicious. The bees knees.

Very balanced. So what is it? Give us the breakdown, George. Bees Knees has dry gin, lemon juice, some orange juice, honey syrup, and a twist of lemon. That's what this is called, Rachel. The fruit carving. Not a fruit carving, but a twist. But I love fruit carving.

I'm here for it. It costs $2.88. You can't beat that going out. So just make it at home. Yeah, get you a little. Pretty great. I'm going to give this a 10 out of 10. I may say the same. I think it was delicious.

It was light, easy. Bad to say about it. For a very judgmental episode, I have no judgment. And gin is kind of growing on me. I'll say that. Nice. Is it the juniper or you're acclimating to the taste? I think I am.

I think I enjoy a good gin cocktail. The herbal nature of it? Yeah. Okay, that's great. So again, you guys will have the recipe and the show notes, and it's almost closing time, George. Bad day. So if you don't want to miss a future episode of Smart Money Happy Hour,

make sure to subscribe. And if you will, please leave us a review. We appreciate it greatly. The higher ups in life appreciate how many reviews we get. We have good people. We all are great to us.

So you make us look good. We got a lot of shows on Ramsey Network. Ours is one of the highest reviewed with the most reviews. So let's keep that going. Thank you. We get all the brownie points. It means a lot.

It really does. And it helps with the algorithm for people to find the show. So, well, George, it's been fun. Good times. Appreciate it. Thank you guys for watching and listening. And join us next time

on a brand new episode. of smart money happy hour.