Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - Ranking the Worst Financial Habits (and Admitting Our Guilt)

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

💻 Figure out your next financial move with Ramsey’s Get Started Assessment.   If you can’t be the best, why not be the worst? Or at least that’s what some people must be thinking to justify their spending habits. Stick around for a bracket battle of bad money habits. Next Steps: 🎙️ Catch our episode We’re Here to Judge Your Guilty Pleasures (With Love). 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Leave us a voicemail with your question at 877-306-1517 or send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.  💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.   Connect With Our Sponsors: Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle. Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. Get 20% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.   Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Pisco Sour Recipe by: Liquor.com 2 ounces pisco 1 ounce lime juice 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1 egg white Instructions: Add pisco, lime juice, simple syrup and egg white into a shaker and dry shake (without ice) vigorously. Add ice and shake again until well chilled. Strain into a chilled glass and serve!  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 playing Battle of the Bad Money Habits, Brackett style, and that is the sportiest we're ever going to get on the show. You're welcome. Oh, I do that all the time. For this example, let's just say that the people asking for money are terrible people. Wow. And then they have King George over here in his house. No, you did not pull the curig out of the trash.

I prefer the taste. No, you didn't. Yeah, I did. Hey guys, I'm Rachel Cruz. I'm George Camel. And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Cheers. Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about.

So everything from pop culture, current events, and money. And let's talk about what we're sipping on as we get into it. This is a Pisco sour. Pisco. And you have a mocktail edition, I understand. Yes, I know. I just didn't feel like the old alcohol today, George. Well, they doubled it for me.

in lieu of yours. So it should be a fun show. Stick around till the end. We're going to give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass. You don't want to miss that. That's right. Well, you know what they say?

If you can't be the best, be the worst. Is that like your life motto, George? I try to live by it. You love that. As someone who could never be the best at anything. Be the worst.

Come on, George. I'm here to inspire the people. Yes. Okay. So if you can't be the best, be the worst. Worst, you know, money decisions, money habits, if you will.

Do you have one in mind? that you just cringe and you think that is a bad, whether it's like a money decision, money, just like a thing, right? And you're like, no. The one that worries me that is like widespread is buy now, pay later. I've just never met someone who's ever put anything on four payments through Klarna or after pay or a firm who I was like, oh, they're doing pretty good. They're on a good trajectory. And now it's become everything.

You can put a hot dog from Costco on payments. It's out of control. How about you? Any cringe money? money habits that you're seeing? You know, one that just came to mind because I'm watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. We assume that.

And there's a new cast member. And I always say to like say the name because I don't know. What if she sees this? And I make her feel bad about herself. I'm not that kind of woman, George. You think you're the first person to critique a real housewife? But I... But she talks about her money a lot of like, oh this. Oh, I spent $10,000 this. I like I like she's just so is it the the braggadocious nature yes and it's funny because some of the

older cast members like they'll do like the cameos of them like monologues you know when it cuts to and they're all like it's so tacky like you just don't do that you know but she's just it's a lot so that that's what I was thinking about I thought man that is gross we don't like when people have to drop how much money they make or how much they spent on this and then they have 13 of those you know what I'm saying yeah it's like I'm really trying to show you you which makes me think you don't really have the money. Yeah. Do you know what I'm saying?

Well, when a real housewife is calling you out for being tacky, you know you've gone too far. Yeah, right? So that's it. Yeah. So maybe that's it. That's my cringe. I don't know if that's like a money. It's not really a money purchase or decision.

Well, the money have it behind it is like flexing about how much you spend on things. Or like call out of like, oh, my Chanel back. Like, you don't need to say it. Like we see the two Cs. You don't need to like say it. We know what that means. We know. So, yeah.

I thought it was Charlie Chaplin, but I guess I'm mistaken. He had a luxury line, people don't talk about it. Wait, what? I'm just kidding. I'm joking. Wasn't he like the silent actor? That's what makes it funny. He's the last guy you would think would drop the luxury handbag line.

Good memory, though. I'm impressed. Thank you. I got real nervous. At first I thought it might be like an athlete, but then it's coming from George. You think I knew an athlete? No, that's what I said. It's not coming from George.

Unless they were in Space Jam, I do not know this athlete. Oh my gosh. I know. Well, speaking of sports. Big month for sports. A lot of people talking about their brackets. Yes. So there is a whole bracket world. Do you do that bracket? No, like there's a workplace one that goes around, you know, where you can, I don't know, squares or whatever and you can do $5. Oh, yeah, yeah. I've never found it interesting. And I'm like, I'd rather save my $5.

But you wouldn't even, like, log in and, like, do like a... I wouldn't even know what to log in, too. Okay. Where are we signing into? I think like ESPN.com. I think. Okay. The only reason I do it, my nephews do it.

So we do, and we usually are on a trip with Winston's family during this time. And they're all like a basketball family. So this is how you connect with the youth. I think so. Yeah, who do you get your bet on? What's funny is, if you don't know a lot about basketball, you actually have better odds than those people that actually know because there's so many upsets in the tournament.

So it's actually kind of better to be, that's why I have to tell myself, even though I have for one. That's good. I'm often upset by sports as well, so I understand. And I feel like, can I just say, a lot of fair weather basketball fans out there who like jump on it, you know? Yeah. Like they don't really care, but they're like, I guess I should care. Because of the bracket, yes.

Yeah. Well, so as much as we love brackets, we decided to do our own this episode, you know, in the spirit of where we're at in March. And we decided to do the two, two, well, how does the bracket work? Two against two, there's two bad money decisions. Yes. We have to vote or figure out which is the worst. And then we move it. Yep.

And then the same thing keeps happening. You keep moving and moving and you go against each other until you have the worst financial decision. What do we call it? Yeah. No, you nailed that explanation. I think that was the clearest explanation of how brackets work known to man. Add that to the Wikipedia page for brackets verbatim. Like put that on text editors.

Like make that a whole. I want to see it all in writing to show Rachel. And she has a communication degree. This is crazy. Oh, my gosh. That is a difficult thing to explain, but you're right. You start with a lot of options, and they face off, and there's a winner, and it goes to the next face off and the next face off. Yours was so precise.

Until you're down to one winner. And clear. I'm a man of brevity. Oh, man. It's going to be fun. I can't wait. We're going to take turns defending the bad spending habits for 15 seconds and eventually agree. Maybe not defending, but maybe roasting, and whatever the worst roast is, I think should get the title for worst, and then we move on.

Okay. And let us know in the comment section if we are missing the mark, if we missed any in general, we'd love to for you guys to play along with us. All right. First up, man, man, this is, the ladies are getting thrown under the bus here in this first one. We'll get to the guys. The guys will come. Okay. Manicure every three weeks, $50 plus tip. For each manicure. Every three weeks. Okay. Yeah. And if it's dead.

Yep, it's going to be more expensive, but you got it, okay? Just that range. Or Botox every three months for $400. Which is worse? That's tough. I mean, the problem is, financially speaking, which one is worse? I guess three weeks, 50 bucks. That's tough.

That's tough on the math there. Yeah, but if the nails break, you got to go back. Like, there's, you know. Yeah. How long does the Botox only last? last every three months? Like, it runs out? Yeah, three to four months.

And then what happens? Your face melts again until you have to re-shoot it? Oh, my gosh. Okay. Re-injected it. Okay? I'll just be so transparent. But I got what's called baby Botox because it was only like, I think it was like 14 or 16 units

where some people get like 50 to 60. Oh, you can like micro dose Botox now? I'm learning along with everyone watching at home. Okay. That's it. So it's measured in units. I got a micro dose of Botox, yeah. But I do mine here because my 11s are bad.

Oh, okay. When you said 11s, it's two marks around the nose. But here's the thing. Do you want to, how deep do you want to go on these? How much time do we have? I am totally new to this world. So I have hooded eyelids. Okay, so stay with me.

So if you do hooded eyelids and if you do, the Botox up here, if they go up here, that brings it down because it relax. It basically paralyzes your muscle so your forehead doesn't move a ton, right? Okay. And then that, but I have hooded lids. So I got a, so I get a couple up here just to kind of like raise the eyes a little bit because it slumps and raise it. So it works against each other. Oh, I never heard of the hooded lid.

Yeah, I really want a upper blef when I turn 45. I'm already. I'm sorry, what was a blef? I know, George. What is a blef? We're getting deep into the. I have so much to learn. You know, yeah.

And I don't, you know, I color my hair, I get my nails done. I do a couple things. And some people are like, oh my gosh, you shouldn't have to do anything. You're beautiful. Sure. And I want to, you know? I like having a... It's your American right.

But I still can move my eyebrows because I got to be expressive on this show. It's not like one of those, wow. If I'm like, wow, she got Botox, that's always a bad sign. 100%. Like a haircut. You never want to be like, wow, they got a haircut. You know?

Really? You want it to be a little bit... Now, unless you got a chop, like the women, they get a chopped off. It's going to say, the bob is in and some people went long to short. Maybe cologne is a better example. If I'm like, wow, you're wearing cologne. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's how I feel, yes.

all that to say, which is worse. I'm going to go Botox. I think people do a worse job at Botox than nails. Oh, a worse job. Just like in general, I just think you can mess up this really fast if you do just like too much. You know what I mean? Yeah. So for the love of beauty and the money, I'm going to go Botox.

Because I think you will eventually end up doing more and more Botox and it will get more and more expensive over time. Where the nails pretty much, unless they just like raise their price. You're fine. Yeah. Well, yeah, Botox, is there like a, all right, I'm just going to stop doing it? Sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Nothing bad will happen.

Like, I've gone like a year or two without it. Yeah. Okay. Yes. Well, nails, you could learn to do that yourself. Botox, you need like a medical life. If you're doing DIY Botox, gosh, send us picks. We want to see.

Dark curiosity. Okay, I'm about Botox. You? Yeah, you sold me on Botox. At first I said nails because it's a financial habit where you're trying to, you know, you're really trying to flex. Whereas the Botox may have more. merit to it? I don't know. It feels crazy to say that. And I think it could get more expensive because I think

some people can get addicted to it. And then they're like, ooh, let me do my like, crow's feet here. And then let me do my smile. Let me, like, I feel like you just keep going. You can get out of control. Yeah. Yeah. And it is hard to go back. Your nails are like, okay, cool. I can have new nails in a month. Sure. All right. Let's, uh, let's move on, George. Okay. Next one. Sports betting with all your extra income or buy now pay later payments robbing you monthly. These are two of my least favorite things coming together. These aren't you? Well, here's a stat for you.

Statistic Consumer Insights. 41% of U.S. adults have used Buy Now Pay Later services in the past 12 months. So I think overall, more people are probably using Buy Now Pay Later, and it's become, you know, billion-plus dollar industry. But then so has sports betting. Yeah. The issue I have with sports betting, I think it's more addictive than Buy Now Pay Later. I was going to say that too.

While being more widely accepted because just a social thing you do with your friends, it's entertaining. Yeah. So it's easier to justify sports betting. It's just, bro, we're just having fun, bro. It's not a big deal. Yep. Buy now, pay later.

I don't think anyone is like, well, this was a really smart financial decision. Sure. So I'm going sports betting personally. I would too, because I think it can go, I think it's a slippery slope. And I just feel like you get more in more trouble of sports betting. I don't know why.

It feels like a darker hole that you'd fall into. Yeah. Than buy now, pay later with Abercrombie jeans. You know what I mean? Sports betting. That's got to take the cake. My favorite is that we're going to have sports betting versus Botox coming up. Get ready.

Guys versus now, I assume some girls are doing sports betting and maybe some guys are getting Botox. Who am I to judge? It's 2026. That is true. I know. And you know what else is possible? What's that?

Buying things online that you love. With cash. That's why I love to. With money you have. With money you have. And that's why we love going to cozy earth.com and getting some cozy earth products. It's just amazing. I spent so much of my work.

weekend in my cozy earth stuff. I really did. Oh, yeah. The pants, the socks, I've been wearing the socks a lot, the sheets. I mean, all of it. It's just, it's amazing. And they have stuff for men and women, including betting with 10-year warranty. They have, like, a sleep trial so you can sleep on it for like 100 nights and get your money back, hassle-free on anything you get from them. And so they're quality people making quality products. Yes. And it truly, you're bringing some luxury into your home, and we all want to live like that, and they make it affordable, thanks to our discount. Yes, I know. We have an amazing discount, actually up to 20% off. If you put in smart money, use the code when you check out, or you can go to cozyearth.com slash smart money and shop there because, I mean, honestly,

for me too, the gifts, I give it for gifts a lot. Like, I'll go in. And so they have so much on that website, you guys, from bedding, clothes, beauty, all of it. So make sure to check it out. All right, George, battle number three. Leasing a new car every two to three years, $600 a month. or door dashing your dinner three times a week at $150 a week. What's a worst financial decision? That is tough. These are such different worlds. Here's the thing with leasing a car.

It's really hard to get out. So I think as far as like a little prison you've created for yourself, leasing a new car is a worse habit as far as zero's on the end. Yes. So that one is the winner in my book right now. Now door dashing your dinner three times a week, that's a sign of just sloppiness and laziness. You don't know how to cook.

You're too tired to cook, whatever it is. That's a more fixable problem than getting out of your lease and getting out of the habit of, well, I need to have a brand new, really nice car all the time. Yes, I know. I think the car thing can, I think that's more dangerous financially overall because it continues. It gets a hard cycle to stop.

If you called the Ramsey show and said, hey, I'm on this car lease, help me get out versus I door dash three times a week. Help. Great. We can solve the door dash problem pretty good. Quick. Yes. Delete the app and stop door dashing. Yep.

Yep. I'm with you, George. Okay. I think we agree. Car leasing wins as far as the worst habit. Yep. Okay. The car lease.

Moving on. Bracket battle number four, constantly asking family for financial help. That's one habit. 48% of parents have given money to their adult children in the last 12 months. Guessing you're in the 52%. Do it, Dave. Have you hit up Dave and Sharon? Dave.

Can you get me? Vimmo me. 100 bucks, please. I don't know what that voice was. I'd be like, hey, props for the accent, give it 20 bucks. Hey, Dave. Hi, Dave. Hey, Dave.

And next up, borrowing from next month's budget or planning your next vacation while you're currently on vacation. Oh, I do that all the time. Borrowing from next month's budget. So the borrowing is that, like, you're using money. Future money you don't. Have yet. Have yet?

I'm going to say that, oh, man, I think I'm going to say the parent one. And the only reason is it's the consistent, consistently, that word is big in that sentence. I think every now and then, right, people can travel and the parents have the financial means and they want to, you know, help in a situation. It's not terrible, right? But it's the consistency that like starts to create possibly enabling bad habits, not great boundaries. I don't know, it starts to get, it could get messy fast. If you're relying on family and there becomes a codependence. Yeah, so go with me here. Are you ready?

Okay. Borrowing for next month. if you have an income that's consistent, like you have like a salary job, you know that money's coming. So if you're not going into debt for it. Yeah, Barley is in quotes here, meaning you're not technically going into debt.

Into debt. You're just thinking like, okay, I'm going to spend $400 on clothes this month where I'm supposed to spend $300, but I have the extra hundred and I'll just take it out of next month. Or replenish it next month, essentially. Yeah, not a good habit, but asking family for financial help

it's a much darker, sadder state of affairs. Yeah. Okay, I'm going to go family. Yeah. And the other thing is we get calls around this, whether it's the person enabling and giving the money or the person asking for the money. Usually it's from the person who's been doing the giving,

and they're like, how do I make this stop? I know. Because you give them an inch, they take a mile. And so here's the rule around this. George, not always. They're going to be coming back to Bank of Rachel. And so here's the thing. If it's a one time they're in a rut

and you want to help them out, Right, gift the money, never lend to family or anyone for that matter. But if it's a unsustainable situation and you're just going to fund the difference in perpetuity, that's a very dangerous place to be. And it ruins the relationship. Can let me ask you this, George, baby step seven are over there? You're going to be like, if Mia asked you, your daughter. I don't have to say, need.

Okay, but go with me. Money, please. Can I just say it? Go with me. Hold on, go with me. Okay. Me as a teacher. Okay.

An honorable profession, may I add. Her husband is working at a nonprofit that helps foster children get placed. So they don't have to be in the foster care system. They're in like a different, you know, like whatever. Okay. And they're awesome. They're responsible. They are mature.

They understand the fields that they have changed. are not going to pay a lot, right? Like, they know that, but it's where they feel like they're called. And then they have King George over here in his house. I'm just asking him. Just asking the question. One of my many houses. Is it ever?

Am I add? Which one am I in? You never find me. Is there ever a situation where you're like, you know what? We're going to help pay for Mia's little Mia for to go to private school. You don't like private school. Shoot, that's a bad example. I never said I don't like.

Like, like, I'm going to, you know what I mean? Like, I have two healthy adults. Yes. You've done well. You've chosen a great profession. I'm happy to spoil the grandkids. Yeah. But like, you know, you're helping them out.

And I don't know. Is that so wrong is my question. I think this spirit and intent and where they're at financially matters a lot. If they're going into debt for to live a life they really can't afford, that's one thing. Yes. But if they're just, hey, they don't make a lot. They're happy. they're debt free but it's just you know

I want to be able to bless them. The money's like really tight and like $1,000 extra would be like life changing to them. Yeah, if she came to me with a need and it was like hey we need this thing we need to get new washer and dryer ours is out. I'd be like all right I'm happy to cover that. Yes. They were in a rut. But if it was like every week money please you know okay but here's the thing they're not asking but you got George over here who's making millions in his mutual fund. Wow thank you. I love this reality. Would you I just say like, yeah, an extra thousand bucks a month.

Well, I am also in the boat of... For Mia and Jared, you know? Please don't do Jared. And this is not a knock to Jared's. I just don't want my Mia with any Jared. A lot of great Jared's out there. I just made him a name. Well, you've really pushed a button.

Here's my thing. I'm just trying to see it. There's a, like, where... Yeah, there's some wiggle room here, and I am of the mentality that I want to give inheritance when it really helps them while they're young. Yes. versus when I'm 85 and they're 60.

Yeah, 100%. I agree with that. Where they don't need it. So I would, you know, there's gift tax where you could give 18 grand per parent. So they could get $36 grand a year as a gift from me. Yes. I'm open to that, actually. As a way to set them up with some clear boundaries.

George, you're like the grinch, but your heart has grown. But only if they've been great stewards. Here's the caveat. Only if they've been great stewards with the money they have. No, I agree with that. I agree with that. We're not going to be funded some crazy entitledness. Because that's the thing.

The spirit behind it is really big. I don't know. And I will spoil the grandkids. But I will say for this example, let's just say that the people asking for money are terrible people. Wow. And they just are terrible financial habits. Terrible with their money. And they're constantly asking their parents.

So we'll go on the more unhealthy side of this argument for the sake of it. That was a great. Thank you for really bringing the best out of me there. You really forced me to realize I would do that. Unbelievable. Okay. Ready? Yep.

fancy coffees three times a week for $21 a week. So it's $7 a pop. Yep. Or for getting to cancel a streaming service for six months at $9.99 a month. Ooh. Okay. So the subscription... I'm going fancy coffee.

Subscription is less per month. Yeah, canceling a streaming subscription, I don't think, is a, like, moral failure on your part of, wow, you're terrible with money. Now, there's a forgetfulness there. There's a lack of intentionality. The three coffees a week, I think, is just a harder habit to bring. I agree. That's a lifestyle shift. And again, I'm just not a big coffee person.

Do you know what's happened, George? You got a nice coffee maker finally? Because Winston cares about standards and quality and being classy. And guess who still, who went back? No, you did not pull the curing out of the trash and went, I like the curing better, actually. I prefer the taste. No, you didn't. Yeah, I did.

Is it on the counter or is it like in a dark corner somewhere? Into like a little cabinet. Good. And I, so we had two curags. We had like the one in our bedroom. That's where we make our coffee every morning. Oh, okay. And then we had like a small one in our kitchen.

So we kept the small one because you can do hot water through it. And the kids, like when they do like hot chocolate and stuff, we'll use that versus like boiling water. So we have the nice one in our room, actually, which is kind of funny. But that's what we've decided. It's what the queen demands. So, yeah, but when I get a coffee. to go. I always go back to my cure egg, George. I just kind of like it. And to be clear, the coffee maker Winston got it for you. Didn't get four, I mean, it kind of got it for him.

Sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it was in a sense, he was trying to upgrade your life. Yes, he was. He was. And get you away from the cheap, terrible coffee. Yes, I know, but can you believe that? And you still prefer. I know. And I told him, I said, this is my toxic trait, but when I get coffees to go, it will still come out of this cure egg. Is it too strong for you from the juror? I don't know, but the beans That's what was crazy The machine you can put your beans down Oh like the strength

Okay Put your beans down You can adjust the strength It's got a picture of beans And I'm like go down Been go down Okay So maybe that's what it is

You just like a weak cup of coffee And that's okay I don't I think I'm a medium girl I'm not like a Like I've drinking some hotel coffee And you're like oh that's water brown water. We don't want that.

But I'm definitely not like my parents. There's is like motor oil. They want sludge. It is so gross. So I'm definitely not that. So I think I'm medium to light. Okay. Yeah. Well, that's a bracket for another day.

I'm saying that that's the worst habit. Yeah, I think coffee wins regardless of your terrible taste. I know. I thought, when am I going to confess this to George? I will say, as much as I love coffee, I am anti-7-dollar latte. because I found what you're mostly asking for is milk. You're a grown adult saying, hey, can I have some hot milk? And maybe you can put a little bit of coffee in there.

I don't want to taste it. Put a bunch of flavoring in there, so I don't really taste the coffee. And a lot of sugar. Tons of sugar. Now, if it's a high-quality coffee shop, it's less sugar, it's higher-quality ingredients. But I'm still going, just get a coffee. Like, if you want to taste coffee, taste coffee. And if you want a sugar, just go drink sugar.

Drink a juice. Go drink a juice. Go drink a juice. drink of juice. But regardless of where you're buying your coffee, George, if you're out and about, you should really be opening your wallet and seeing the Beware debit card from Fairwins. Absolutely. That'll make you make better financial decisions. Because if you're banking with Fairwin's Credit Union, you guys, they give you the Beware debit card. It's blue. It's beautiful. Love it. And what's so amazing, too, is their smart

checking and savings bundle is amazing. So their checking account that you sign up for, it's fee-free, so you're not paying fees, you get the debit card, and then you get the savings account, the high-yield savings account with it. And so so many Ramsey listeners have shifted to Farrow-Wen's credit union because they do. They are for you and your money goals, and to have a banking system behind you and that is massive. Yeah, and here's what I love. For the first time in my life, my high-yield savings account can directly transfer to checking. So if there's an emergency, I don't have to wait a day or try to wire it. It can just, whoop, right, in checking, and then use my debit card to cover it. It's so nice. So I love that. Really cool features and a slick app. You can sign up

in minutes. Just go to fairwinds.org slash Ramsey. Get the smart bundle today. All right. Next one. Overbuying groceries, aka no plan, no meal prep. You're just overbuying or browsing the dollar aisle just for fun. Ooh. I guess is browsing the dollar aisle? Is this like a daily endeavor for this person? Or is this a once in a while? treat. No, I'd say if you go into the store, that's where you're probably heading. I've done both. The worst habit, I think, is over buying groceries with no plan. That's a harder habit to create than stopping the dollar aisle shopping for me. Yeah. Now, the whole, like, I'm going to buy things because they're on sale. That is its own person that could be a very toxic trade. I know. That's what I'm

thinking. And what's crazy is the dollar aisle isn't always just a dollar. Like a target, it's like three to five dollars and stuff. I was actually at Dollar Tree. Just a few weeks ago. Yes. And let me tell you, very few things are a dollar, a dollar tree, so don't fall for it. Inflation's really gotten to us. Golly, I could go either way on this one for some words. I don't know why. Groceries make me feel safe. I like having a lot of groceries. So if I over buy, I don't know why I can justify it. It makes you feel safe? Yeah, when you open your fridge and it's just full. Oh. Oh. Oh. That just feel so. Or your pantry is just like. Well, can I tell you what I've realized, and I knew this in my heart, but I was shopping the aisles and not the perimeter.

So this is a life hack. If you are shopping the aisles, you are mostly buying processed foods and junk food. George, yes. And if you shop. Well, I knew it in my head, but I realized I was going straight for the aisles, straight for the snacks. I'm a snack guy. I'm shocked, though, because you're a very, you eat very healthy. Well, thank you for saying that.

And the blood work shows that on my physical, but I just, I'm not, I don't run straight to the, you know, meats and the fruits. The produce. Yeah, exactly. You're like, give me a banana. It's not my first stop. It's sort of a last, like, I should probably get a banana. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's fair. That's fair. But the good news is my daughter loves to shop for herself now, so she has a little card, and she'll, you know. She's at Trader Joe's just throwing carrots and celery and broccoli. I'm like, who in this family is going to eat that? Put that back. Put that back.

But she just loves it. So it forced me to actually shop the perimeter more because it's more fun for her. Yes. She can't reach stuff on the aisles, you know? Yeah, especially Trader Joe's because you've got to go up over sometimes. Exactly. It'd be tough. So, um.

That's still tough. I think if you back out and go, hey, the dollar aisle person is the person who's just buying things on sale because they're a good deal, that is a pretty terrible money habit. I know. I make a dollar.

Wow. I'll go with you on this one for the sake of the bracket. You're amazing. But I do think the dollar person is more cost conscious. They might be the person couponing their way into, you know,

paying $3 total for their groceries. But it's stuff they didn't really need. That's it, though. Maybe they give it to the food pantry. In that in that is like I'm getting crap I don't need where it feels like at least at the grocery store you're buying food to like that's a survival technique, you know? Okay. Fair. So.

All right. Next. Spray tans twice a month, $50 a spray tan. Or hair highlight appointment every eight weeks, $300 plus tip. Whoa. Tell me this. Do you tip when you get a spray tan? Is that a thing?

I don't get, um, you know, I don't really get spray tans. Does anyone know if you're supposed to? to tip. You are? Because it's a service provided. If they're individually doing it. If it's a person doing it. I know. I've gotten a self-tanner. That's amazing. The self-tanners have come a long way, George.

Yeah. Since 2008 with Jorgans, you know. Is it like a lotion now essentially? You know, all different kinds. Mine is a foam. You have like a mint. And it actually is amazing. And it was not orange. I don't know. I haven't used it yet this year, so don't judge.

I was going to say. Don't judge the fair. fairness, but, um, hair highlight, I don't know, the highlights, yeah. I imagine spray tans are worse for you than hair highlights. I don't know. From a chemical standpoint. Maybe unless you're doing your roots. Oh, does that get into your skull and into your brain?

Possibly. Versus into the skin, which is a pretty porous, I mean, that's tough. Here's my question. I don't want to say hair lights. From a woman's perspective. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Why are we doing the constant hair highlights? Because, George, you get grayed.

You see that? Is it for the grays, though? For me. For me? Yeah, I get my roots done. But for those that are just getting highlights to get highlights. Oh, oh, oh, because they want to lighten their hair. They don't like the color of their natural hair.

They want, I don't know. Either way, I would say both of these people need to be happy with what God has given them. Boo. Listen. Boo. I'm pale and I'm not complaining about it. You don't see me getting spray tans and hair highlights. I try to make do with what God gave me.

No, George. you just buy weird technology crap for your car. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, aggressive language here. That was aggressive, I'm sorry. I will say the hair appointments blow me away. It is so expensive. Her appointment more than the spray tans.

Ah! You pick, I don't know. Eight weeks, I mean, that's either way you're spending a lot of... Do people get spray tans consistently all year long? Is that a thing? I think some girls do. Twice a month? Okay, some, some.

Yeah. I want to just say spray tank because I don't do it. It's an easier one for you to... It feels better just to be like, that's a bad habit. $50 for $20 a month versus... Essentially $200 over two months or $300. Okay, you asked about the Botox. Can you go without and be fine?

Yes. Hair highlighting, that's tough. You've got to keep up. You've got to grow it out. And even if it's not gray, your natural color comes back. You're right. I'm going hair high. That's a hard season.

Hair highlights, you're a recurring customer. Spray tans, you'd be like, I'm not doing it for the summer. Hair highlights, you've got to keep it up. I know, y'all. With really any hair, any hair dye, anything like that, eventually you're going to be like, well, this looks terrible. I either got to... Would you ever dye your hair as a dude, or when gray's come in,

are you going to just own it? No, I think gray is a great look. Silver Fox look. Yeah. That's Winston, little salt and pepper on the sides. Yeah, I'd love to go full Steve Correll or, you know, Jeff Goldblum. Oh, yeah. I think for the guys it's easier.

For the women, it's harder. There's more societal pressure. Some women can freaking pull off the gray hair, though, and it's beautiful. And you're like, you look so classy and beautiful. It just won't be me for a while. You'll get there. Yeah. All right, last bracket battle for our first round here,

buying lottery tickets at every gas station stop, which people do this. According to government data, which the government's track in this guys. Be careful. In 2023, Americans spent $320 on average on lottery tickets. A month or a year? That's per a year, I assume. A month would be wild.

I'm sure people do that. I don't know. But I think per year. Okay. That's about 30, you know, talking 20, 30 bucks a month. Yeah, because you get the scratch-offs for like a buck or whatever. Or the power ball, it's at $1.7 billion. Someone's got to win it.

Or $4.99 on Fortnite skins or other childish in-app purchases. Oh, we're going. Not my words, them fighting words, but yes. Oh, I'm going Fortnite. What is a worst money habit? Yes. video games? Versus like buying a powerball ticket

because you might actually win a billion dollars. We're going to be split on this. I'm going to support the gamers out there and go, listen, a lot of guys... You're a grown man. It's not about do I agree with it or what I do it. It's what is the worst financial habit. Remember that.

Here's the thing. A lot of guys here, they're doing well for themselves, they're debt-free, what they like to do in their spare time, they play video games. That's fine. You go on Marco Polo and talk to your ladies all night. or read weird books. You know what I mean?

That's not a helpful thing. I don't read weird books. They just may have murders and kidnappings, but it's fine. That's normal compared to the guys connecting over some Fortnite. So therefore, I go, if you're doing it with extra fun money and you want to purchase some in-app, whatever, fine. Gambling on any level, I think is just a worse habit because what you're saying is, well, this is my only hope

for a lot of people playing the lottery. That's it. You know what? And it preys on low-income neighborhoods. I got you. Do you not care about the low-income neighborhoods, Rachel? Oh, my gosh. I know.

Well, your son-in-law helps him work at a nonprofit. Here's my thing. If you can buy Fortnite skins, you're doing pretty good in life. Okay. All right, George, you did. That was a very well. You're welcome gamers. That is.

That was good. Okay, that's good. Okay, I'll do it. I'll do it. Lottery. Yes. Okay. That's fair.

And here's an idea. What if you ditched all the lottery tickets and instead you put that money to good use and got a Delete Me plan to protect you online. Yes, oh my gosh. Stay protected while you're online, why you're making all those in-app purchases, your info's out there.

And these creepy crawlers out there, these data broker websites, they are packaging it and they're selling it to spammers and scammers, which leads to fraud and scam and spam. Yeah, it's unbelievable. I remember when I first signed up with Delete Me that you put in all your information, right?

And then they start feeding you your own information. Like, was this a past address? So, like, you didn't give them. And you're like, yes, it was. That's the first condo. Winston and I lived in when we got married. I was like, that is so weird. How does the internet know this?

So you start clicking and they're like, are you related to this person? And you're like, yeah, that's Winston's aunts. You're like, that's weird. Like, how does the internet know all this stuff? So, like, that's the information that they're able to get to and get it off these sites, you guys. So it is real. It's powerful.

And their team is doing it. Like, they are looking for your information to remove it. And again, you, yeah, when you are harder to find, you're harder to be falling for a scam, you know? Yes. And it makes a great gift. I got this for my parents because as they get older, I just get more concerned about, you know,

them falling for one of these scams and having fraud occur. And so it's a great thing to get for your whole family. They have family plans and you can get 20% off any of their annual plans when you go to join delete me.com slash smart money or you can always use the link in the description. All right. Round two, George. I'm going to read these out.

Okay. And we'll go quick. What do you think? Yes. This should be easier now. Botox or sports betting? I think sports betting is a much bigger problem worldwide. I have not seen the numbers on people going broke because of Botox.

I think it's true. Car lease versus asking family for financial help. I think Carlees. Overall, yeah. Because you think you're making a smart decision. Yes. And the family one, the hard one for that is like relationally, you don't want to lose that. Like there could be some conflict in that.

And you could lose the relationships. Like, that's a really big deal. Well, and it's as much on the people giving the money as it is on the person asking for it. Yeah, it's like two parties involved. Carly's. That's when it's fully in your control. Yep. Okay, we'll go Carleys.

All right. Getting fancy coffees or browsing the dollar aisle just for fun. I'm going to say coffee. Yeah, there's just not a lot of dollar aisles out there. I'd be shopping them if they existed. I'd have a great time. We're going coffee. Okay.

Hair highlight appointments every eight weeks or buying lottery tickets. Oh, those got matched up. Mm-hmm. I'm going lottery tickets. I'm going gambling. I just don't think highlights are the problem in 2026. George, I love you more and more. We're not even doing baliage anymore.

Is it in? I think it's out. Balliage. I'm saying it. All right. Sports betting or car lease? Oh, that's what we're down to. Oh, man.

I think in... Okay, I'll say this. I'm gonna say Carlis. This year, I think sports betting is becoming an epidemic. But as far as dollars are involved, leases are one of those things where you are stuck. I know. And it's really hard to get out,

and there's a lot of zeros on the end. Because I do think, while there can be, like, obviously a lot of addiction and stuff with sports betting and it's not good, I do think, like, the bros will just do like, oh, yeah, put 20 bucks on this. I think it can be more flippant. Carleast, you're in a, you're in a, contract. And once you're in, you tend to like go, well, just let go and get another Carlis.

I know. So it becomes a habit. Carlease. Oh my gosh. We hate Carleys. Okay. What are we down to? Buying a coffee or playing the lottery. Lottery. Lottery. I mean, that's top tier. All right. Lottery or Carleys? What's the winner? What is the worst money habit? Oh my gosh. Here's what I will say. These are different categories of people. People who tend to play the lottery are lower income. People who tend to get car leases are higher income, but they are still broke. True. So that's the hard part is you've really got two different audiences for these products. I don't think people who have car leases are also getting scratch tickets. Yeah. But as far as overall, if you looked at America, I would say car leases, because you're trying

to live a life you really can't afford. Yes. Makes it somehow. And financially all the way around is not, like, I'm like, it's cheaper to get a car loan. It's like better, which is crazy to say, but you'd rather get a car loan than lease. When you think you're smarter, because, like, well, it's a lower payment. But I'm like, yeah, but you're just renting a car expensively while prepaying all the depreciation. I know, but then there are people that are wealthy and they're like, I just like a car every two years. It's my thing. So I'm going to just stomach it and go, whatever.

Yeah, and they're fine with it. I just don't want to deal with the maintenance or insurance, whatever. I think, is that, do you feel like that's less people and it's more people that can't afford a nice car and they got to lease it? Because the lease payment sometimes is even less than if you, like if it was like Mercedes and Mercedes. Yeah. You actually have a less payment with a lease usually than a car loan. That's what I'm saying, because you're not owning it. So you're like, there's no equity here.

Yeah. You're just renting it. That's right. So it's a real flat. Like it's like a... Yeah. Well, I've just rarely met someone with a lease, but otherwise is perfect with no debt and doing everything great. So...

I'm going lease. For the sake of this episode, I'm going to be. Loing lease. Me too, George. Oh my gosh, the car lease of the worst financial habit. Wow. Golly. What a journey you took us on. What a game. What a tournament. We just play, George. Why don't they do sports but for financial people? I know. I would be really into it. I'd be be really into it. I'd be on my TV right now. You know, I put the jersey on. Be all in the game. Be all in the game. Okay, so if you had one good financial habit that would win your bracket, What would you say? What's the best habit for someone to be in?

The best habit overall is paying attention to your money. And the only way I know how to do that is using a monthly budget. Okay. Where you list all of your expenses, you're tracking your transactions. That is when you're in the most control of your money instead of feeling like life happens to you and you're out of control. Yes. How about you? I would say, yeah, I would agree because I use every dollar our budgeting app. And I look at it every day. It's like a financial habit I'm in. I love it. I was actually doing, I was actually doing my budget up there in our, like,

our area where all of our desks are. And yeah, Haley walked by. She was like, you're doing your every dollar budget? I was like, I am, actually. I am for next month. Tracking those transactions? I know. I'd say that, but paired with the habit

of living on less than you make. I think that's huge. When you can have margin at any capacity, I think that's like a massive habit. Yeah. And the good news is, if you can't afford it, you know, if you can't buy it, And full, you can't afford it.

Well, people think I need to make a certain income to have that margin. And the truth is, people who have margin do it at any level of income. Oh, yeah. And they scale their life down if they don't make as much. And as you make more, you don't just spend all of it either. And so that's lifestyle creep. That's what you want to stay away from. And a lot of these habits point to lifestyle creep.

It's the, I deserve it, or I work so hard, I just want to get the door dash because I had a tough week. And it's those things where you go, this is why you don't have any money left over. It's true. So overall auditing your budget is really important too Of just going where can I do better? Because once you do the budget, what it will show you is Oh my gosh, I had no clue I was spending that much on XYZ

And so I think a little bit of conviction is good A little bit of that guilt of Now I don't want shame, I don't need baggage here It's just a reality check Because you're living in reality when you're looking at your numbers Versus just like some fantasy world Feelings and vibes. I'm just like living out here, yep

All right, so go check out every dollar If you want that tool we mentioned to get control your money, it is the best one out there. We'll put the link in the description, or just go to every dollar.com. All right, before we spill the tea on our guilty as charged segments, what are we drinking, George? This is a Pisco sour, and you have a mocktail addition.

Yes. Lord only knows what's in that, but... You know, the top is... This is hitting. It is actually good, though. I think mine has sparkling water in it. Versus... I don't know.

Well, what's in it? Tell us. Pisco, which is... some type of liqueur. I don't know what is in it that makes it Pisco, but it's got a nice tart, citrusy sweetness to it. Did you ever see the Emperor's New Groove? It's been a long time, probably when I was six.

Cusco is like one of the, but Piscoe, Cusco, I don't know. And again, I'll get roasted. I don't know if it's pronounced Piscoe. Maybe it's Pisco versus Pisco. I was trying to, okay, our audio engineers has information. for me. Oh, very South American. Grave juice from Peru and Chile.

Oh, in Chile. So cultured. What can I say? So cultured. Okay, so it's got Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white. So very similar to what you'd find in like a whiskey sour. Yes.

But you're trading the whiskey for the Pisco. I really love it. It's one of my favorites. It's got a nice, that sour tartness from the lime juice. The egg white adds kind of that nice, foam. Because you usually don't like an egg, right? I like egg white in a sour. I thought you didn't. And a sour and egg white really hits. And the total

cost is $3.60. And this is one I, I would not be on my radar. Like, it would not meant I order a restaurant, but if you gave it to me, I'm very happy. So get the recipe in the show notes. Give it a try this weekend if you were of age. What is your rating on this drink? I know. Well, to be a

mocktail, I'll be honest, it tastes like a cocktail. Wow. You know what I mean? Even without the sharpness of the alcohol. I'm not sick. Will you do a comparison for me? I feel like that was a trap. That is really nice. Isn't that good?

Yeah, it's no authentico, but it hits. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, for a mocktail, you know, I'm going nine out of ten. Mine is a ten out of ten. Mine, the only thing I would, it's fine, but the egg whites are a little bit chunky on top. Yeah, and it's got kind of a film on yours that didn't occur with mine. That's right. That's what knocked yours down a peg.

Yes, one notch. But it was like, it tasted like I'm having a cocktail, though. Well, the presentation really matters too. And the team did a great job with this one. Great job, y'all. So check out the recipe in the show notes. Give it a try this weekend if you're of age. Or will we put the mocktail recipe in the show notes as well?

I guess we will. We will. You can make your own, pick your own poison there. There you go. Love it. All right, now it's time for guilty as charged. And this is where we ask each other a guilty-charge question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip.

All right, George. Is there anything we discussed today that you know you're guilty, yeah, but refuse to quit. I just can't quit. Oh, my gosh. I mean, I would, let's go into the hair category because I kind of roasted the highlight people. Yeah, but you're a very specific haircut. But if you broke down the math, I probably spend as much or more than a woman who's getting

highlights every eight weeks. And I broke down the math for the sake of this. Oh. I can do math in my head. I get my haircut every two weeks. Okay. So that's what? About 25 haircuts a year.

Okay. And they're about after tip $58 a pop. Oh, man. So that adds up. You're talking almost $120 a month. Yeah, you're getting up there, George. So Whitney, and she has every right to go, hey, you don't get to say a word about what I spend on my hair. Yeah, because she does hers probably every eight weeks.

Like, yeah. Even less than that. Maybe every three months. Yep. And she doesn't do the, like, fancy. She's usually just getting a haircut. Yeah. Which I love.

Yes. Go Whitney. How about you? Any of these that you're guilty of? I mean, yeah. That you are not quitting anytime soon. I'm not going to quit anytime soon. Almost all of them. I mean, there's a lot of them. I'm not going to lie. Not going to lie. But you know the one you said?

The vacations? Yes. Yes. I am notorious of planning a vacation on the vacation. I need a vacation on the books. I need a trip. Vacation sounds big. Yeah. You need something to look forward to that is you leaving the house. house and ditching your family.

Overnight. No, my family can come. Oh, okay, good. Oh my gosh. Unless it's Backstreet Boys. In Vegas. That just happened. For the second time, without your family. Just want to make that clear. And having Winston, he's doing a guy's trip for his 40th this month. Where's he going?

I didn't get the invite. I know. I'm so sorry, George. It's fine. I know Winston actually has friends that he likes. George. He likes you. He's got his crew, though. Are they doing like hunting or something manly? What are they? Montana. I knew it.

And I agree for this. This is so Winston. He's like, I just want to get a VRBO, go to the local grocery store. We can get peanut butter and jellies and beer, and I just want to sit and look at the mountains. Wow. And do at least like one thing a day, like outdoors.

One activity, otherwise just chilling, staring at God's creation. Super low maintenance, don't need anything. And I thought, wow. Just like an extra in yellow stone. You're going to a man that just, yeah, doesn't need a lot, you know. Only if his wife didn't color her hair, you know, we'd be the most low maintenance people. He could go to Montana once a month.

It wasn't for your habits. That's great. What a fun trip. I know. He is very excited. Your trips, I feel like, need to be a little more. I need a hotel. Yeah, and you want, you know, sand, sea.

Sea, I don't see you as a mountains person. You know. You could do like a lodgy cabin with a vibe. Yeah. And I enjoy skiing. Yeah, yeah. Big Skier family. I can go there, but I prefer beach.

And Winston's... Son. Not a beach guy as much. No. Cold. He wants to be cold. That's more manly. I think we can all agree on that.

That's so great. Oh, man, George. I know how we got off on that, but that's about habit that I'm probably not going to break. Let's just plan the trip. Well, it's more like you're wasting time on the trip planning the next trip. Yeah, or you're just so excited. No, but you're just so excited about life, you know? You aren't kind of in a...

Look what life can bring us. In a peak dopamine rush on vacation. I know. It's the best. That's great. It's sort of like you're pre-ordering the next vacation. Yes, that's right. You got it on auto ship.

You don't have to think about the next one. It's it. It's like a subscription. It's like a trip subscription, you know. That's so great. Man. Subscription vacation? Great.

What a great business. Every three months, we'll send you on another trip based on your personality and profile. We got to find us your body. decent people, you know. They'd pay for that. Yeah, if you're spending $500 a month. They'd fall for that. Sign up for Rachel's vacation subscription. Oh my gosh, yes. I love it. It's like you just described timeshares, but for millennials.

It's fine. It's like a time share. It's fine. Oh my gosh, God bless. All right, you guys. Well, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to leave us a review and make sure to check out our episode. We're here to judge your guilty pleasures with love. You can click right here. We'll put a link down below. Also, DM us with your guiltiest charge questions. We love to get them at Rachel Cruz and at George Camel.

And make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an all-new episode of. Smart Money Happy Hour.