Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - Our Ultimate Guide to Budget-Friendly Travel

Episode Date: March 13, 2025

📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan. Is dragging yourself to the airport at 4 a.m. for a $90 round-trip flight worth it? In this episode, Rachel and George weigh in on travel budget hacks you can try to save big on your next trip. Next Steps: 🏅Help us make the show better! Please fill out a quick survey. 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour    📱 Submit 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.  💵 Start your free budget today. Download the EveryDollar app! Connect With Our Sponsors: 🔒 Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. 🌿 Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth. Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍸 Seabreeze Recipe: Difford’s Guide 1 2/3 ounce Ketel One vodka 2 1/2 ounce cranberry juice 1 ounce pink grapefruit juice Instructions: Select and pre-chill a Collins glass. Prepare garnish of lime wedge and shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into ice-filled glass and garnish with lime wedge. 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

Today we're talking about the latest travel hacks and also owning up to our travel tendencies. I know two people that have lost their TSA. I've heard flight attendants say this, never drink coffee or tea on planes. It's been proven through the travel industry that the cheapest times to book on travel is. 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 happen to money experts talk about what you're talking about.

So everything from pop culture, current events, and money. All right, George, well, as we're talking about traveling, what are we going to sip on? We're sipping on a sea breeze, which feels appropriate. Oh, yeah, sea breeze. You know, that was a song. Was it? Back in my day. I think that was, like, when I was, like, in college.

Back in your day? Tyrone Wells or something. I mean, I think I had it on a legit burnt CD. Wow. If you know about a burnt CD, you know. Cazade. Seabreeze, look it up. Ooh, I just got that warm, like, nostalgia feeling.

I feel nostalgic thinking about a burnt CD with handwritten. songs on it. Gen Z will never know. It's a good song. You listen to that album. I wonder where he went. Where did he go? Is he still making music?

Okay, well, anyways. Hey, stick around until the end. We're going to give you our rating for this drink and reveal the cost per glass. That's right. So here's the latest in travel hacks. Oh, I can't wait. This one is a game changer.

I saw an ad for the service called trusted house sitters. And immediately I felt like I was Kate Winslet, little Cameron Diaz, a holiday. They exchange homes. I rewatch that this Christmas. She's got a bob like me, Cameron. Oh, I didn't think about that. I mean, wow.

You are. I felt good. The Cameron Diaz of Ramsey. So blonde. Who am I? Do I get to be one of the guys? You know what just came to my mind was Gru from? Gru?

I was expecting, like, yeah, I could see you as a Hugh Grant type. I don't know why. Gru? It just came to my head. I don't know. You're so like a. You're like Gru meets Groot. It's just kind of a...

I don't know. All right. I'll give you that. Thank you for that. You're welcome. Take it all back, Rachel. Well, apparently, people with pets who travel for weeks at a time, they're matched with trusted sitters who come to live in your house and care for your pets for an extended period of time.

So you can do this. I have a friend who does this. Okay. They'll go to Europe and stay for free and, you know, watch someone's pet while they're there. Okay. What would be more of a scary situation? You being, you going into a stranger's home and watching their dog or having a stranger come stay at your house and watch your dogs.

I trust myself more than a stranger. Call me egotistical. That's fair. So I'd rather be in someone's house. Yeah, yeah. It's probably a better way to make money than to actually use the service. Like to have a stranger come in.

I don't know. But I would trust a stranger who loves dogs more than a family member who does not like dogs. I would rather a stranger who loves dogs. You know what, that's fair. We had a great dog sitter when we had the puppies. Sorry, everyone that gets mad at us because we had puppies, but we had the puppies.

And we had to go on fall break. And those puppies, y'all, were like two weeks old. And we got, it was a recommendation from our vet. There was a tech vet, and she was so sweet, young in her 20s. And when she pulled up, she had all these dog bumper stickers on her car. That's how you know. That's who I want watching my dog. Seriously.

And she was fantastic. And we didn't really know her, but we did have a wreck from someone we knew. Yeah, and they're a vet tech. So, like, they've got some experience. She knows what she's doing. They know how to deal with puppies. It was fantastic. Love that.

So I would do this. I like this deal. Yeah, it's pretty good. As long as they're vetted, you know, I want some reviews. Yeah. I want a service that's backing this, maybe some insurance. Yes, I think so. That's good. Well, George, you and I, I'd say we're opposites in life, in some things.

That's fair. We have some similarities as friends, but our travel, foretates, if you will. We're different travelers, I think. Yeah, I'm living more, I guess, nomatically. But you also are simpler in a lot of ways. Yeah, you're looking for... Simpler-minded, some would say. You are...

So terrible. You're looking for coupons. You're going discounted. Like you are wiggling your way through to save every little dime and pinn. Well, I just feel like especially post-COVID, travel is meant to screw you over. Travel is meant to just squeeze every dollar. The enemy isn't travel. But I feel like everything, like hotel is more expensive, flights more expensive, rental cars, more expensive.

You can't travel for less than a thousand bucks these days. No, you can't. And it is pretty, it does make my stomach hurt because we've been looking for an upcoming week with the kids and stuff. and when you're looking for like a spring break or a summer, probably a prime time. Put a fork in me, I'm done. To travel, y'all? To travel and not even going anywhere crazy. But it was like going up from like 800 to 1,000, a person round trip.

And we were like, mm-mm, mm-mm. I mean, is that how crazy? That's insane. Wild. Thank you. You're coming to my side. I have a gauge. I have a gauge.

Okay. But also I think it's part of enjoying life. And if you're looking for shortcuts in every little decision, it kind of takes the fun out. So that's what I think about you, George. I get it. You're more of a free spirit traveler. You don't want to think about it. You just want to have a great experience.

I am constantly in a state of anxiety while traveling. And I'm always just looking out. Always, you know, someone's going to steal a dollar from, I don't know. Okay, let's go through some of our travel traits. You ready? Carry on or checked bag? Left my own devices, I'm going checked. Wow.

I just don't have to worry about shoving it all in there. I don't know. I had four and a half hours. toiletry, going to jail now. It's too stressful. Winston did get his hair product removed TSA from Montana two weekends ago. And I bet it was pretty nice hair products. And he was pretty, yeah, he wasn't very happy about it. He's got a little CBS now. It's like a gel. Yeah. So it wasn't even liquid.

What is this motion? You know how you pull it up? It's like, yeah. All right. Do you know the brand he's using? I think it starts with an I, Imperial IMP. I don't know. I was on Amazon. Oh, all right. Go Winston. Yeah, I am carry on all day, every day, even with the kids. Wow. When's the last time you had a check bag? Like a week trip? You're not taking a check bag?

You know what? Well, okay, so I say all of that. Yeah, because most of our trips, we don't go a week. So that's another one of my hacks. I'd really go for a short amount of time and go real nice and go for four nights, then stretch it out for a week and all that. But we did go for a week, and I think I did check one. Yeah, big bag.

But we usually travel for four nights. And if that's the case, carry-ons all day. And you know the secret carry-on trick, y'all? That is chef's kiss. Well, don't gate keep. Okay, going back, just listen to some C-Breeze and then pull out your Vera Bradley Duffel because those things will fit so much in there

and they are clothed. It counts as a carrier? Yes. It is a dream to travel with. And it's a throwback. It's like vintage these days. Yeah, and there's a bonus. Nobody's going to steal it.

Nobody wants to be seen with that. I'm looking with that thing and they're like, I need that Vera Bradley. I'm so glad. Is that trend over? Are we done with Vera Bradley? I don't want to offend anyone. Oh, we got some nose.

I don't know. Oh, it's going. It is bad. And those are the same people calling the cyber truck ugly? I'm sorry. Can we trust your taste? Okay, TSA pre-check? All day long.

All day. Because I'm all about efficiency. So this is one, 80 bucks for like five years? Are you kidding me? All day. Now, here's the thing. If too many people use it, the TSA pre line becomes longer than the normal line. That is true.

But to not have to take off my shoes and laptops and deal with the riffraff. It's a dream. Because it's never a first time traveler going through TSA pre. They know what they're doing. Yes. Like, these are my people. Let's get through. I know two people that have lost their TSA because of situations on accident.

John Deloney is one of them, y'all. He doesn't have it for a year. It got revoked? And Savannah, who helps us with this show, revoked. Okay, I need to know what it would take to get my TSA pre-revote. John, I think he's. left a hunting knife in his bag. Oh, that makes sense. And I want to say Savannah had her dad's bag, or borrowed it from her dad and had it in her bag and forgot about it.

Yep. So if you have a weapon, you could lose it, which would be so heartbreaking to lose TSA Precheck. Wow. Okay, do you do Clear? You see the Clear people? I've never done clear. I think clear is a rip-off personally. Go in, too, because I keep seeing them around. I'm always like, hey, you clear people. If I was like, if I was traveling for work a lot, I would find Clear to be helpful. But as often as I travel, it's not worth it. It's much more expensive than TSA Pre. I want to say like $100 to $200 a year. Oh, okay, yeah. In a lot of cases.

And you get to skip to the front of the TSA preline. Yeah, which usually you can just... Which is fine, you know? Yeah. I guess in a real busy airport, that'd be helpful. You know what? Scared me early on with it. Now TSA like takes your video.

Oh. But Clear, you'd have to like, they did an eye scan. And I, you know, I mean conspiracies. I was just a little nervous. I was like, I don't want some of have my retina. Can I be honest? The Clear people always felt a little pushy. It felt like an Apple store.

It's like, well, there's five of you. You don't need to be hassling me about it. I see more than that. I was at Targeting yesterday. And there was someone outside of electronics trying to get me to switch my cell phone carrier at Target. She was like, ma'am, ma'am. And I was like, I don't know. It's a work phone.

I didn't know they could do that at Target's. Yes. And I lied to her and she said, do you pay for internet? And I was like, no. She was like, you don't have internet. I just kept walking. I wish you said, my husband makes all the decisions in the house. Just kept going.

Just play trad wife all the way. All the way. I don't know what's going on. So yeah, we're both TSA pre. Yeah, TSA pre. All the way. No clear, but TSAH were pre. Yes.

Plain drinks. You drink it on the plane, George? I will say if it's free. So I used to have the Southwest coupons. This really bothered me. Did they take those away? They took them away. And here's what happened.

I had like nine left. And either they didn't ask for them or they expire, whatever. I tried to use them and they went, we don't do those anymore. I was like, okay, salty Southwest. Oh, no. So I can't, they're done. And now I'm not paying 10 or 12 bucks a drink.

I don't think it's worth it unless it's, free. Okay. Or unless I'm really desperate, which in which case I'm like, maybe you shouldn't if you're desperate for it, you know what I mean? Well, plain drinking is some of my favorite drinking. And I'm like, no one's bothering you? I never pay for Internet either, so I got no, you can do free texting, so I will

try on my texting. What do you mean no one's bothering you? My children, I love my children. I don't know, but they're not like, mom, mom, da, me, but they're, they've got their stuff, I've got mine, and you're just in this peaceful tube in the air with a cocktail. And it's just great. It really is. I love flying.

I do. I respect that. You ever do anything else than a vodka soda? I'll do a champs. Champagne. All right. Yeah.

A little sparkling wine on Delta. Yeah, that's fine. I guess in a special occasion I would. If it was like an anniversary trip or something, you know. I don't know. I'm not saying I would. You know what's funny too? You could walk through an airport at 6.50 in the morning,

and there are people at the bar just. It's a dark time. Drinking a beer. I'm like not even like a Bloody Mary or a mimosa. They're like, beer in it. Yeah, I don't know what it is about a beer that early feels different. I don't know. It's just funny to me that airports, there's like no time, you know, just whatever. It's a maritime law. So no, I do pay for it. Winston will not. He refuses. He thinks it's a rip-off.

Thank you, Winston. He will not. He's like, no. But he's doing drinks are a rip-off anywhere you go. So actually, on a plane, it's cheaper. That's true. That is true, yep. There we go. Yeah, okay, what's the most expensive airline for drinks? Oh, my gosh. What would you guess? If I'm going to guess? Which is so opposite than what you would ever think. I feel like Delta would get you. You won't guess this. Guess two more real quick for fun.

Frontier. No. Am I close? Is it a budget airline? Yeah. Spirit. No, it can't be spirit. It is spirit airline, shall I have the most expensive drinks on average $10.61 cents.

What? The cheapest is Southwest. Look at you get on Matt of Southwest. I don't buy that. There's $6.67. Who did this? Spirit Airlines and allegiance. No, because the budget airlines, they charge you.

you for everything and they up charge you. That's how they make their money. To be fair, if I was on a spirit flight, I would have to drink. Like, you're like, this could be the last on a spirit flight. I get why they're like, people are going to pay whatever. Trust me. Oh my gosh. Well, that's true. Isn't that crazy? God bless. Okay, do you buy anything at the airport? Try to avoid it, but if I'm with my wife, things will be purchased. What does she buy? What is what do you like? Like, I'm the guy who's like, I'm not buying a $9 water at the airport. I'll bring the empty one. I'll fill it at the little filter station.

But that's the one thing I will buy is a bottle of water. Me too, George. Other than that, if I really need a meal, I'll do it. I'll try to find something affordable. Maybe Whitney and I will split it. But I just feel like everything.

It's like you could spend $90 just waiting for your plane to arrive. Totally. Yeah, I'm the same way. I will always have a bottle of water. I have this weird fear that you get like stuck on a plane on the taxiway and they can't serve you or do anything. And you're like, oh my gosh.

I don't know why water feels like my escape. That's a real fear. It's like my, water is my... I will pay for good coffee in an airport because I have a distrust of airplane coffee. I've heard things. I have too. The water filter. Don't want to start any theories.

It is so sad. I heard a flight attendant say this. Never drink coffee or tea on planes. And that's from a flight attendant. I know because they never change the water filters. So the water coming out is like. This is how scurvy comes back. I'm telling you.

I don't have any proof. I don't know what it takes. Even getting it. Okay, that's funny because I will not pay for good coffee at airports because you know what happens to me? I get eight sits in and then I got on my carry-ons. any hands. Get my Vera Bradley.

And I'm like, I, I gotta, I don't know what else to do with it, you know, and I end up throwing it away. Wow. So I don't get, yeah. Yeah, I do bring a little baggie with different snacks. Do you? I do have a snack bag at all times in my bag. Not because of Mia, but because of you.

No, Mia has her own. Okay. But yeah, yeah. We don't, we don't do the same snacks yet. I think eventually we'll have a crossover, which will be really special for us. But I'm not really into, like, yogurt melts. You know what I mean? It's not my thing as an adult.

Yeah, I want a little dark chocolate, something a little refined. Okay, all right. A little something salty. I got it. You know, I always have a big bar in my bag. I do have, this is my travel must-haves. Neck pillow. Ah.

Eye mask. It's an inflatable neck pillow, so it's easy to travel with. I love inflating on a plane because no one's going to bother you. They see that guy, like, don't even start a conversation with them. George, you really use a neck pillow? Yeah. On every flight? I wouldn't say every.

Okay. Yeah. I've never used a neck pillow in my life. Churchman with a neck pillow. Never used one in my life. You're just going to stand there holding your own head up? You're an insane person. Okay.

And then an eye mask? Eye mask. Got my AirPods Pro. We're not talking about like an international flight here. We're talking like Nashville to Dallas. I don't say I always use it, but I always carry it. Okay. I would always get loan better.

I know, I did Georgia. Can I have your charger? I'm the Boy Scout. You are a Boy Scout of traveling. No, you have, you do carry a lot of things. Yeah. It's very helpful. Okay, but one thing that I never travel without, though, is Cozy Earth joggers.

Oh, that's your go-to for airport travel. Yes. Whether I'm wearing them or I pack them for the hotel, it's what I always do, because Cozy Earth has literally the best products. Winston just wore their hoodie the other day. Looks great. I think I saw that in Insta story. I was like, he's an influencer.

Maybe so. I should have linked it. I know, but no, for real, cozy-earst quality products. They're amazing. Their clothes are like, I'm on a high of the clothes right now. They're just good quality.

Soft, that bamboo, so, like the pajamas and everything. They're so soft. I have a robe, too. I mean, it's, literally, it's amazing. Wear that on the plane. See if you get any looks. It's with the eye mask and the pillow.

Their sheets are amazing. They're blankets. I mean... Wish I could take that on the plane. What if we did? But I'd have to burn it after because of all the plane germs. Yeah, that's true.

I have issue with that. If it touches anything, it's over. So I keep that at home. Keep the blanket at home. But yes, Cozy Earth has amazing quality products. It is truly, if you're living your best life, you want the boozy experience, get it. And we can make it bougie frugal

because you can use promo code smart money at checkout and get up to 40% off. So go check it out. Go to cozyEarth.com slash smart money and use the promo code. Okay, so since a lot of people loved our past travel episodes, we have an updated list, though. If you're traveling on a budget, right,

what are some good hacks? good things to implement to make your vacation worth up. That don't involve trying to get enough credit card points. My least favorite hack. That's right, boo. Just spend 50 grand in three months and you'll get a million points and you can use that to redeem it. Stop, just stop.

You're exhausting. Because here's the one part of life. If you're going to have points and stuff, not credit cards, but just in general, travel is great. Marriott Bonvoy. I have a Bonvoy account. Southwest. Like, we get free.

Rapper awards. Yeah, we get a lot of free tickets and stuff for the kids and things. I don't know. It's just, there are some great programs out there without debt. So take advantage of them. Do your frequent flyer miles, even if you don't fly that much, just have an account with these airlines, because it is. It adds up. Okay.

Let's do it. All right. First and foremost, you love this one. Costco Travel. There's also Travel Aero Extension and SkyScanter. Yes. Tell us, George. Okay, so SkyScanter basically aggregates from all of the travel websites in existence.

Okay. So it's kind of your one-stop shop, and you can search, like, an entire month. And just go, give me the cheapest flight for the month, and it will pull all the different airlines, the best prices. And so I like, that's a good go-to to kind of start your research. Okay. Can I tell you where I research?

Yeah. And then give me the no-no. Expedia. Okay. It's fine. You know, you could do worse. Okay. I wouldn't book through them personally.

No, no, I don't book through them, but just research. That's what I use. But you like this one better. Well, SkyScanor will include Expedia. It will also include a thousand others. Oh, okay. So it's just sort of like I want to know I'm getting the best possible deal. So that's a good one.

I do love Costco travel. I've done a honeymoon and an anniversary trip through Costco travel. Had a great experience. They include a bunch of bonuses and goodies and credit for the resort and, you know, gift card to Costco, all kinds of stuff. And I like their travel agents. They're very nice. And I say, hey, here's my budget. Tell me like, out of these three locations, give me the best resorts.

And they'll go, boom, boom, boom. Save me hours of time. researching. Yeah, yeah, that's true. So they know all the things. And then Travel Aero is an extension that I use that basically will see through the price line deals, because with Priceline Express, you get a good deal, but you don't know what hotel you're booking. Yes, it's like a gamble. And so Travel Arrow is a little extension that lets you see through that to go, hey, it's the Kempton Eventi. Yeah. I truly don't know how it's legal, but they're still around. Yeah, they're doing it. Take advantage while we can, right? Yeah. And I've used this multiple times. I've

help John Deloney save hundreds. That's what I heard. Looking a hotel for him and his family. And so this is a go-to when I want a great hotel at a reasonable price. Because I know it's a five-star in Midtown Manhattan. Yep. Great. And then I can use travel arrow.

It'll show me, oh, it's the Kempton Eventi. Great. That has great reviews, and I'm saving big money. Even when I pulled up to the front desk, they were like, how did you get this rate? I was like, I'll never tell. Watch SmartMoney Happy or maybe you'll know. All right, tell us about e-dreams.

Okay, E-Dreams popped up because of a wonderful team member that made this drink today, Eboo. And so SkyScanter pointed her to E-Dreams. I personally have never used E-Dreams, use at your own risk. Sound sketchy, probably is sketchy, but she claims it worked great and saved her a lot of money. And what does it do, is scan for hotels? It's just a sort of a discount airline searcher thing. Airline hotels all of it. I don't know how they do it, but they're undercutting all of the competition somehow.

It's amazing. Check them out. So, again, you might have a terrible experience. At me with that. Don't blame us. It's a risk you're willing to take. How about strategic trip timing? This one's simple.

This is at my alley. I think this is very true. I always do this. I'll go a day before and after and see what the flight times are. Sometimes you can't help it. You've got to fly in on this day. You're not going to have great luck.

But if you can sort of look around and go, all right, I'm going to fly early in the morning. I'm going to fly late at night. I'm going to fly on a Thursday instead of a Friday. You can save a lot of money. Going off season to popular destinations. Sunday is very different for airlines. Like you will save money if you just go on a Sunday, then a Saturday.

It's crazy. So, yeah, that's why I do like Southwest website. I guess a lot of them do it. But you can change it so quick the days. Yes. And price compare. But you're right, too. The high season is real.

Like, we are looking at some hotels. If you want to go to spring break, you're not going to get a deal. And I was like, there's no way these are the prices. And then for fun, I went to October, half the price. Half the price. And I'm like, man. You can't change the school. Seasonality is real, and they take advantage of it.

Could have homeschooled. They could have solved all of this, Rachel. Could have been a world schooling. Have you heard of this? You just travel with your kids around the world and it takes the place of school. Sounds awesome. Yeah. Way more cultured.

Way more socialized. They probably know seven languages by the time they graduate. For sure. Are they learning? Like, for real? They're learning things. You know what? Not learning the Pythagorean theorem, but who cares?

All more power to you. All more power to you. Think about it. Okay. but also really knowing, because I think it's been proven through the travel industry, that the cheapest times to book on travel is Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Saturdays. So to book on those days, and to use fair comparison websites, again, you can shave off $30, $40, $50 from your total, which is amazing. That's a good one.

And a lot of these sites, if you're having to input a lot of personal info, especially the ones that you don't know all that well, it can be scary. We're just putting our info out into the world. I will pop that in with confidence because I use Delete Me. And Delete Me is amazing because it goes through all these websites that have your information out there. Because again, when we put our names and our addresses and our work and like all this stuff out into the Internet, people get that information unbeknownst to us and then they sell it to data brokers. And the data brokers end up selling that information to other companies. And our information, they're making money off of us, people.

Disgusting. And we get spammed, scammed, all of it. So get our information off the Internet. where we don't want it. And again, DeleteMe helps us do that. And it's fantastic, you guys. It's a great service. You can get plans as low as $9 a month.

And it is a subscription worth having in today's world. Yeah. Super affordable. Go to join deleteme.com slash smart money and you'll get 20% off. I just got my parents on this. They're stoked on it. I love it.

So great. Now I don't have to worry about them getting scammed. Stay safe. Get your loved ones on this. Okay. Next is one of my favorites. Rebooking flights. Oh, yes.

for me. And I will go through. Again, I say Southwest because it's usually what we fly. 99% of the time we're flying Southwest. Same. And if you see the rate goes down, you can go back and rebook it and they credit your account. So then when you go to fly again, you got like 120 bucks sitting right there in the account that you get to use for the next flight. And you don't even have to cancel. You can just go to like reschedule it and it'll recheck it. And if it's lower, it'll show you, hey, you're going to get negative 70 bucks back as a credit. And if you have a bunch of people traveling. This can be hundreds and hundreds of dollars. It adds up so much. And we use that all the time. I mean, I will. I'll go through like,

if we book something, I'll re-look at it probably three times every week until the trip. Just check it every week. I do. I'm like, it's kind of fun. Or if they drop a sale, they're like, oh, they just dropped a sale. Maybe it's my flight's on sale. Yep. It's so great. So rebooking flights will save you some money. That's a good one. All right, how about this one? So we get a lot of flack because we say, hey, you don't need a credit card. And they go, Rachel, what about renting a car? Everyone needs, first of all, every major, rental car company has a debit card policy. Yes, we use Hertz and Enterprise, y'all. So you can do it. There's plenty of ways to do this, but there's also an alternative called Turro. Have you heard of Turro?

I have heard of Turrow. So you can actually rent Rachel's car because she posted her car on Turro for rent, and they handle all of the pieces, the insurance, all of that. Yeah, it's like an Airbnb for your car. Now, I've never used it. I wonder, is it cheaper? Do you know price comparison? A lot of the times it's cheaper. Than a rental car. Depending on the type, you know, you can get like crazy luxury cars and depending on the timing in the city. But a lot of the times it's cheaper than all the fees that these rental car companies take on. And you can easily use a debit card to rent a car with no issue.

There you go. So, again, none of these are sponsored. A lot of people think, well, she mentioned an app. No affiliation. No. Use it your own risk, but we're saying this is one to check out. It's an option for you. Okay, how about going?

Oh, yes. This is formerly known as Scott's cheap flights. They changed their name to going. You can find deals 40 to 90% off normal prices with great itineraries, great airlines. And so the free version, they'll send you, like, U.S.-based airfare. Sometimes it's like a mistake deal, and it's like, hey, they get this while it's good. Oh, funny.

Like, do you remember when the gas pumps? There was, like, one gas pump that, like, two cents or something crazy. And everyone was, like, line it up. Is that kind of what it is, like where the airline messes up? Yeah, it's mistake fairs, and then they'll just send you the best deals on the internet. And you let them know, hey, here's my home airport, here's the places I want to go, and they'll send you notifications to you. based on what you said you want.

And with the premium, they'll have international deals. And so if you're a big traveler, this is a must-have. It would be worth it for sure. Okay, how about Schwab? Okay, this one I found because a lot of people said, I can't believe you're using a debit card when you travel. You're getting dinged with all these fees. My credit card doesn't, blah, blah, blah.

And so I found Charles Schwab, if you have their investor checking account, which is free to open, and you fund it with any amount of money, they'll send you a debit card that has no international fees. That's right. I'll refund all ATM fees. You can use your card anywhere you go without foreign transaction fees. And so this is one that I have

in case of international travel. And it doubles as a safeguard because you can transfer whatever amount you want for that trip to that account. So that's not your checking account. Yeah. If there was fraud, your checking account isn't exposed, just that one account. I like it. It's like an extra safety net

when it comes to your money. So that's just my retort to anyone who says you can't do it. I got so much. I got half some hacks. You do. Hacks on hacks on hacks. I know. Mine's just be loyal to one. Just be loyal in your rack-up points.

It's such simple. You know, just stick with what you know. Do you ever have friends who brag about the lounges because they have the whatever credit card? Y'all, I went in a lounge. With a friend? Did anyone recognize you? And it was like, how'd you get in here?

No. But our friends we traveled with, y'all, 100%. They had some... And they have, like, a guest pass. They could take you in. They had two guest passes. And then, yeah, they even asked, like, are you allowed to come in here?

And I was like, yes, I'm allowed to come in here. And they, we went in with them. I've only done it once, though. So, and you know what? I'm not saying this because we're Ramsey people, for real, though. It was fine. It was. It was fine.

The bar of the airport's low. So anything above that is, wow, this is nice. Fine. Like, not like, it changed my life that they were like the most gracious, wonderful people. It was very crowded. Yeah, you could get a drink, but then like you had a drink. but then, like, you had to kind of, like, I don't know, figure out up at the bar

because they had some that were, like, on tap, some not. We tried to order food. I don't know. It was like, it was just a little crazy. It was not as, it was great, right? Because you get free stuff in that sense. But it didn't feel like room service level. No.

Everything at my bed can call. Not our experience. Okay. But, yeah, I think I have a big bucket list item, George. What's that? I keep seeing now, because of my algorithm, probably on Instagram, travel an international, like, big suite on the airplane. Oh, like the little apartments.

This is what made me think the little apartments. And then the lounge is there. They have like masseuses. Have you seen this? Especially in other countries, like Dubai and stuff. Like the lounge is there for the first. It looks like a five-star hotel. So that's your new...

That would be amazing. I'm guessing that's, you know, is that five to ten grand a ticket? I don't know. It's got to be. I'm just dreaming. A girl can dream, George. But I feel like you'd be going to Dubai just for the plane experience. I might, and then I might come home.

That's how much I love a play. Just go get a massage. I know, but wouldn't that be so, I don't know. Do you not just, doesn't that just not stuff make you feel so good inside? Yeah. Boogey travel like that. I want to experience it. But again, I'm not willing to pay $5,000 for a massage in a tube.

I know. You know what I mean? Mediocre food. I'm good. Ooh, or the bars in the plane. I have a bar at home. home with a full-sized bathroom. Okay.

So, humble brag. Humble brag. Oh, can I give you one last one? Okay, go. This one pops up a lot. Okay. If you're a Southwest traveler, I often find they have gift cards on sale at Costco or Sam's Club for a $500 gift card for $430.

Okay, so you're saving. $70. So, hey, if you know you're going to travel, go ahead and get the gift card. Why not? Pay cash, put it in the budget, and then you have the money. So good. So travel is one of these things. I feel like it could be a double-edged sword.

Because I feel like sometimes if you're in a season of sacrifice and you're not able to travel, how you want, when you want, all the things. Like, it could be hard because you're seeing people posting travel. And you're like, especially if you love to travel. You're like, man, that's like a sacrifice we're making in the season of our life because we're trying to get out of debt. You know, we're trying to save up. We're trying to be wise about it.

Like, oh. So it can be hard. That whole comparison game when you see other people travel, right? And then on the other end, the positive thing about it. And we talk about this, Arthur Brooks talks about this, but having experiences with people, you love is a way to bring joy. So a way to make your money actually cause joy in your life as experiences.

And that can look a lot of different ways. But I do think experiencing things outside your norm with people you love, it is. It's very exciting. And that could be, again, driving an hour and hiking and going camping, like doing something that or like a big fun trip with friends or family. But I do think this is a place that I personally value and enjoy. For you, it's a better use of money than just like. another thing. Then just buy another purse or something. Like, seriously, I would rather,

which Winston and I are so opposite, because, like, we were just talking about this trip, and we're looking at how expensive everything is, we can wash it. And he's like, okay, we could take this total and, like, redo the playroom furniture upstairs. Like, we could take it and, like, do stuff with it. Something more practical. More practical versus, like, four or five days, you know, somewhere. But I don't know, there's just something about experiencing life that, I don't know. It's the yolo part of you. Personally, not everyone does, but that is a place I enjoy. Is it more for the kids at this point or is it really for you? That's for me.

Okay. I love it. I appreciate your honesty. Having them with us is fun too. Yeah. But I just love it. That's some of the best memories you have as a kid is traveling. Yeah, like we went to Denver randomly.

We randomly just picked Denver. And they still talk about it. Like we did this like dinosaur hike. I don't know. It was just like the most random little trip and our kids still like talk about it. So I don't know. I think it's fun. Dinosaur hike.

I think it's fun of life. But in order to do it, yes, being in control of your money, knowing where your money is at, how to plan for it. Budgeting is one of the best ways to do that. Every dollar helps us. We always have like a travel line item, especially if we're leading up to it. And the hard thing about travel in the budget

is you have to usually put down a deposit for the hotel. There's some expenses. If you're buying airline tickets, you're buying them like right then, not right later on. You can't wait until last minute. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So be budgeting that, but that allows you to be in control. And then it is kind of nice because once the trip actually comes,

then you are probably paying for the food, like things in the present. But you can plan for it. And every dollar helps you do that. So make sure to check it out. You can create your free budget. We'll put a link down below. But it's a great way to make travel

have a level of peace because you have planned for it. And that's the most beautiful part. Don't go into debt for those people. We're paying. I'm watching you. I don't have access to your every dollar budget, but just no, I'm judging you.

If you're using credit. Yeah, and it's easy with every dollar because you set up a sinking fund line item for travel and you can add $500 every month so that 12 months later you have six grand to spend on this vacation. So it's not a big surprise. It's not impulsive. Everything's done with intentionality.

Yep, I love it. Okay, so let's talk about the C-Breeze before we get to guilty charged. Okay, let me give it another second opinion here. Okay. I'm going to be honest. It's not doing much for me. Okay, I'm going to say my number and you say yours. All right.

One, two, three. Four out of ten. Four? Four. George. I've never been so proud to give a low rating. I know, y'all. I just don't, it's just not, not working.

It's not the bartender's fault. No, no, no. It just tastes, you know what, it's a little elementary for me. A plus. You need a little complexity. Yeah. Because what's in it. Here's what's in the sea breeze.

Vodka, sweetened cranberry juice, and fresh pink grapefruit juice. I think the tartness of the cranberry, the bitterness of the grapefruit, it needs something to sweeten it up. And the vodka really doesn't have a taste. And the vodka is tasteless here. So the drink comes out to two. $0.40 if you want to make it at home, be my guest. I'm not going to stop you. It's a free country. Just know, this is a 4 out of 10, so don't DM me saying this drink was terrible.

Oh, my gosh. But it's an easy one. You probably have these ingredients at home. Yeah. Give it a try. That's true. All right. Now it's time for Guilty as charged. And this is where our producer Kelly gives us a new guilty-as-charge question every week, and if we're guilty, we take a sip. Was there a time that you tried to be frugal, and it backfired? Oh, gosh. Oh, that's a good one. Rachel's never tried to be frugal, so I don't know that she's going to...

Let me think. Let me think. Okay, I'll say this. I think the ones that have backfired the most is... Because you can't save money, but when we travel with the kids, we would take a late flight or early flight. If you take a 6 a.m. flight, y'all, you have to leave your house, or at least here, like, where we are in Nashville. 345, 4, but the time to get there, they're a disaster, or we've done a late-night flight.

We did, I don't know why we did this, like at 8 p.m. or something, by the time we did a two-hour flight landed, we had to drive an hour. It was like midnight when we got there, and the whole next day was ruined because they were exhausted, I don't know. So I'd say the hacking of like, with kids, adults, we can handle it. Like, we can suck it up, figure it out.

But the family experience early morning or late-night flights, it's the hack that backfired. Okay, I can think of a very particular time because I think my wife is still mad at me for this one. Oh my gosh, I can't wait. We went to New York City, saw the Thanksgiving Day parade a whole bit, freezing cold, and I decide, I'm not spending another $50 on an Uber to get...

We can take the subway and the bus line or whatever that's free to get to the... It'll be an adventure. Yeah. So this is post- Thanksgiving meal. We paid a lot of money for this gluten-free meal. This is my boogey frugal. As we paid a lot of money for the gluten-free meal,

we were full after three bites, have 19 pounds of food and I went, I paid good money for this. I'm lugging it back to Nashville. So I'm lugging this, all of our stuff and this food on ice from the hotel hoping it stays good through subways and buses.

Oh my gosh. And Whitney is just like, why are we doing this? And this is not a joke and it's kind of disgusting. But at some point, we wield our luggage through a puddle of blood. And I think there was someone nearby coughing what I imagine was

some sort of disease? I don't know. So I lysoled the wheels when we got home. But that was the last time I think I'm allowed to take the subway with my wife. I think she was done after that. She was like, do you see why we should have Ubered? George. I mean, we're talking lugging luggage up, you know, flights of stairs through a subway.

Oh, with food on ice, because you're so frugal that you have to bring your food home to Nashville. for $50. I don't know. It was probably even more. $50. $5,000? We'll talk about it. $50, George.

But, you know, $5 versus $50 after an expensive trip. But you're on babysat seven. That's my thing, George. What are doing? I need to do better. I should have done it for Whitney. I really should have. For Whitney, for your soul.

So my lesson, I learned my lesson. When I'm with my wife, we Uber. When I'm by myself, you have a little, you have a time of your life, little guy. Do what you want to do. But when you're with your wife, like give her a great experience. Don't make her regret all of this. Don't leave a sour taste in her mouth. That's fair.

But I did eat that food for like four days straight. Went all the way back to Nashville. Oh, my gosh, George. Well. Fugality can backfire. Y'all, happy travels. Happy travels. Hope you enjoyed this.

And make sure to leave a review. And for more financial hot takes that people love to hate, catch our Airbnb episode. You can click here or the link in the description. if you are listening on podcasts. And make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an all new episode next Thursday. Smart Money Happy Hour.