Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel - We Call Out Your Cringe Money Behaviors

Episode Date: October 9, 2025

💸 Uncover extra cash in your budget with the Money Finder Challenge. https://ter.li/sxaau7   Is one generation building wealth better than the rest? Or are we all financially “cringe” in our own way? From Gen Z to boomers to millennials and their Gen X parents—today, we’re calling everybody out, and you don’t want to miss the fun.   Next Steps: 🎥 Watch our video Is Gen Z Financially Doomed? Let’s Talk About It 🍸 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 budget and track expenses with EveryDollar.   Connect With Our Sponsors: Check out the FAIRWINDS credit union exclusive account bundle. Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.   Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Blackberry Vanilla Mocktail Recipe: Yummi Haus   1/3 cup blackberries 1 ounce lemon juice 1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tbsp raw honey 1 can ginger ale   Instructions: Combine blackberries, lemon juice, vanilla and honey with a splash of ginger ale in a shaker and muddle. Pour through a strainer into glasses filled with ice. Fill remainder of glass with ginger ale, garnish with additional blackberries or lemon wedge, and enjoy!   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 are reclaiming the word cringe from Gen Z because every generation has money behaviors. They cannot stand. I make a more boomer with that one. One point for the boomers. Have you ever spontaneously spent something over $1,000? I did. This was recent for you? Last night.

Hey guys, I'm Rachel Cruz. I'm George Camel. And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Hey, is saying things in unison considered cringe? No, I love it. Really? Yes. People love it out there.

Like, I know they do it at home. Yes, well, Smart Money Happy Air. And then, you know what? I got a comment, a DM recently. I forgot to tell you. And they said, why have you stopped saying cheers to George? Because we'll be like, this is Smart Money Happy Hour. And then we cheers and we move on.

I thought there was something in the edit that they told us. They may have. And I don't know. They're cutting it out. So here, let me just say, this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers.

George. That's what I would say. And I used to say something quirky about the drink to add some Pinoche and pomp in circumstance, but then I heard they're, hey, we're not, that's not I'm going to make it in the edit. So I stopped. I know. Just say you guys know, we don't have any decision-making power around here. Every word is piped in through a chip in our brain.

We never know what's going to make the final cut. We should do an uncut episode one time. I think the people think the episodes are already uncut. Imagine the stuff you don't see. We have a great team. We're just the puppets. The best editors. They just, they're fantastic.

No strings attached. That's right. Instinct reference. All right. Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. Everything from pop culture, current events, and money. We should do one on cop culture. I think that's actually intriguing to me.

I was like, no one's ever talking about cop culture. There's a whole zeitgeist around that. Don't have some coffee. A little stereotypical. Oh, man. But I have been like, have you ever seen like an out of shape cop? You're like, yeah, I could do that job. You know what I mean?

But then most of the job is paperwork I found out. Like, they're not actually chasing criminals. Well, you know, I was laughing because there was a mean. This is probably so illegal, but it just was funny. Like a Instagram reel. And it was like cops pulled me over because I was on my. phone, but here they are. And it's a guy in his car with like a laptop. And he's like talking on a phone and he's like doing this and like shooting like the speed. You know what I mean? Like how multitasking

they have to be when they're driving. They probably do it when they're stopped. But I do think about that. How often are they just like Googling license plates on their little laptop while driving? I would get the T of the person in front of you. Oh, I'd be every license plate. Any interesting car, what a nice car? What do they do? Who are they? Terrible car? What are they doing? Yeah. Then Google them, figure it out. I don't think they Google, but maybe. Google the person? I think they have better means of finding it.

Like, the license plate will tell you more than a Google search. Yeah, but if you get the name of the person that owns the car, Google the name of the person and be like, oh, they're the CEO of this healthcare company. That's not in their database, probably. Sure. Right? Yeah, you make a great point. Hey, if you're a cop, let us know.

That's what you do. That's 90% of your job. We appreciate your service. Anyways, we're sipping on today a blackberry vanilla macktail. So this is one that kids of all ages can enjoy. And I don't want to give it away. This might be a top five for me. It's really good.

High praise from Rachel Nicole Cruz. We're going to give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass at the end of the episode. So stick around for that. You're not going to want to miss it because she loves it. Yeah. High rating. Cats out of the bag. All right.

So when something is considered, quote, cringe, you know, like, I mean, a bad example. Well, Fender Bender on the Interstate. It's annoying, harmless, nobody's hurt, but you just can't look away. Yeah. So what's cringy to you in life? Because to me, it can be less bad than an interstate. Yeah, mine are like things that really don't affect me, but I take personally. Okay.

Good example. Crocs in public. Okay. Now, do I have issue with Crocs as a shoe? Sure. The design is flawed, but I've heard they're very comfortable. and if you're in the medical field. Totally understand wearing crocs at work.

For sure. But if you're a grown adult in public, just musying around, I don't think you should be wearing crox. Shouldn't have the crocs on. Yep. Children, you get a pass. Yeah. Under what age, 10? 12.

12. I'd say teenagers, if you're still doing crocs, it's ironic. When you're going under freshman year of high school, retire the crocs. Because all the kids, that was like a cool thing. They would wear Birkenstocks or crocs with like high socks. I think that was like a thing. What are you, Dr. Seuss?

I think I'm Burks and Crocs with socks that rocks Oh with a fox With socks With socks

Always with socks Oh man Yeah that one just bothers I don't have any like Science behind it But if you're also Adults wearing the gibbets And the crocs

The little like gems and charms I put in it Yeah I'm like listen You can't do it Just therapy's cheaper That's funny What's ailing you

Do you know what kind of bothers me What's that? Is when people wear athleisure to like something other than running errands. Oh. So stay with me here. The airport. Oh.

Call me old school. But I see people in like legit pajamas walking around. And a little bit is like. Now we're not talking like nice a nice athleteure. Like you're talking about straight up. Yeah. Like if you're like joggers and like a nice like sweatshirt or something. Yeah.

Like I get it. But like I'm like the paj. Like the borderline pajama look like y'all. And again, there's the high level. So there's a really. bougie style that was like a monochromatic sets that was silk and that was like a deal like a fancy fancy you know people have that on like celebs but i'm talking like full on like pajama pants at the airport apart of me's like you're an adult you're an adult like you've got to like wear clothes i don't know

like wear normal clothes i expect that behavior like midnight at walmart sure wear the many mouse sweats go for it yeah i know you're in good company so i don't know whatever it is but i'm like man well let's play a quick game and uh everyone watching and can play along at home. Quick game of cringe or nah. I don't know what nah means in this scenario. Neh. Ne.

Is it ne? Nah. No. So nah meaning like, no, it's not cringe. Is that what teenagers do that? No. Yeah, or nay. Nay.

Is it nay? No. All right. Our resident Gen Zer just basically said that you're being cringe right now. Sorry. Okay. All right. All right.

This is a quick react. No discussion. here, just go for it. Okay, top of mind. PDA. We're talking the same side of the booth couples, holding hands, kissing in public, cringe? Um, I mean, the same side of the booth is more quirky than cringe to me. Uh, holding hands and kissing doesn't really bother me. I will say we were in Miami. Oh. On a vacation and. Yeah. A lot of public romance. Just, yeah, a couple next to us. Just going. I mean, just, yeah. They were just, they were just. They were just. like, yeah, on the same chair, all the things.

And you're like, all right. Can I defend the same side? They were very comfortable and great. And I just like, you know, maybe you have something I don't. There's a level of like a lack of shame that I envy in those people. I mean, seriously, it's just like, man, good for y'all, you know? Okay, same side table booth. Can I defend?

Oh, are USA? Because I'm guilty. Oh. So Whitney and I, for example, split fajitas. The table is six feet wide. So if we sit across from each other, this is a whole situation to try to like... So now we're like, well, let's just sit on the same side of the booth because the table's gigantic at some of these restaurants. Yeah.

So we just go same side. Wow. Yeah. She doesn't want to look at me. You know what I mean? You know, okay, can I say this? A square table, I could go same side with the edge between us. So we're both kind of looking the same direction.

You know what I mean? You're at the corner, like you're kind of catty corner. Yeah. We did that. We did that. That makes sense. but a booth. Sorry, George.

All right. I tried. Specifically Mexican restaurants. They have the biggest booths I've ever seen. Oh, this is a great one. Loud phone calls in public. Yeah, that's a hard thing for me. Okay, this is a boomer thing, y'all,

and they have it on speakerphone. If you have it on speaker. And you're listening on speaker phone the entire conversation from someone. And is it an important conversation? No. And it's in the airport. I was listening to this man. I mean, for 20 minutes.

Talk about his whole flight situation with the, I mean, it was. And I heard the other guy giving him tips. on what to do. I mean, it was a whole thing. And I'm like, this is bizarre. Like, that's bizarre to me. But you don't have enough self-awareness that you're sitting in a crowded gate and you are literally on speakerphone talking.

Yeah. Is that a while? No, I think every generation can get behind that one. The boomers are guilty of this. Yes. And the text, the text sound on the, every letter? Do, do, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. How many dots do we need?

Yes. Yes. You made your point. You're not happy with us. I get it. Now, I am a voice texter, voice to text, but I try to whisper it. So I'll be, like, walking in the parking lot at work, and I'm like, hey, just so you know. And I'll, like, give the message in my phone, but I will say it out loud. Okay, that does bother me. That is Princeton. Hey girl messages.

Les me. Hey girl. I like it all the time. It's giving like MLM pitch. Hey girl. Like, hey girl. Yeah. I don't know. How do yours continue after that? I'm like, hey girl, I do. That or ladies. Who is that being sent to?

Like a group of friends? I'm like, ladies, what are we going to do tonight? You know, I'll be like, my porch tonight, you know. I'll like, what's the equipment of that for guys? Like, would I be like, boys? I don't know. It's the game plan. I don't know.

Does not bother me, but I do. I am a hey girl for sure offender. Wow. What else you're supposed to say? Like, hi? I hope this finds you well Okay, I know. Hello. Reclining in the airplane seat.

Is that cringe? Oh my gosh, I've changed my stance on this one. Your OG stance was, it's okay to recline? I would always recline. And now you think it's cringe. No, I don't think it's cringe for, I don't judge other people, but I now don't do it because I realize it's a hot topic issue,

a hot button issue. I never knew people were so opinionated about it. They made the seats to recline. So I was like, that's what I would do. I would recline. And so I don't get mad if other people do, but now I think I am the unhealthy part of Rachel's too scared of people who are going to think.

Or maybe you're a selfless person who goes, hey, maybe this person wants the four inches they have and they don't want it to go down to one. Yeah, we flew American that Miami trip I was telling you about. We flew Southwest down, Nashville to Miami, Southwest, back American. I'm not going to bash American, but I'm going to bash American. Their rows are horrible.

Tiny? And I didn't pay for the extra, whatever, whatever. whatever. Like you can, I think there's like three different, yeah, three different levels. And Winston, I'm like, we'll just sit in like row 32. We're fine. And I got back there. I was like, oh my gosh. Like it is significantly lesser in the Southwest. Wow. Significant. I could kind of feel it. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but I kind of was like, get me out of this. This is pretty, pretty tight. Yep. Woo. Wow. Okay. We don't really opinion. We're already. Yeah. See? This is my hot take.

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So go check them out. Go to fairwinds.org slash Ramsey or check out the link in the description. So let's talk about generational money cringe. Everyone likes to make fun of Gen Z for being judgmental, calling out the cringe. But I think every generation does this in different ways. Yes. Just less publicly. Yeah.

Gen Z, boomers. They all. We all. Gen X, who are often forgotten and love to let you know that we forgot about them. I know,

Jen X, sorry. We didn't forget about you. You're just not as interesting. The boomers are out here doing egregious things. Be more egregious and we'll pay attention.

Yeah. They did slip under the radar, though. They're just out there working, trying to survive. Yeah, is that funny? Boomers are flaunting their homes

they paid with a bushel of raspberry. So they're going to get more hate. So the team pulled chat GPT to find common money habits each generation thinks is cringy. And we're going to kind of unpack these together to see if we agree or disagree, you know? Let's start with the boomers. Mm-hmm.

Talking about how much money you make, boomers do not like that. Yes, they would say that's cringe. Genzy is all about transparency. Yeah, so boomers would say talking about how much money you make is cringe. Poor etiquette. They would never use the word cringe. They don't know what that means, but they would say it's poor etiquette. Mm-hmm.

What do you think? Would you agree with the boomers on this? I would lean probably more of that. Unless I had a friend and we were in the exact same position, in life, like we're both in marketing, we both do social media, we're both teachers, like whatever the thing is, like if we have a equal playing field of a job, I would totally want to know what that person's making over there, right? What about same company versus you work at different companies?

I think it's easier if you work at a different company. Yes, for sure. Same company? Feels risky. It does. Yeah. Because I don't know. Someone's going to be resentful.

Well, and if someone's there longer, they're probably going to be making more. if there was a certain need at the time for the company to get X-level marketer, maybe they're going to pay more for it. Well, what I found is that the newer hires come in at a much higher salary than, you know, I started as. So that's upsetting to me that I've been here four years and the new hires making that much day one because of the market or whatever it is, their experience. And so I guess it rarely doesn't backfire.

Usually it causes you to feel less than or better than, and neither one is healthy, in my opinion. Yeah, I think that's fair. So you're more with a boomer on that. One point for the boomers. Okay. Next. Aering your dirty laundry or oversharing about your private financial struggles or goals.

Oh. They would say that's cringe. There's a big spectrum here. So the boomers were taught to value image and reputation and sort of carry yourself with a certain level of dignity. And I think to them putting your business out there is over the line. Right. Right. So airing dirty laundry.

And I do think it is like bizarre to them, the emotion that we were. are willing to put out to the world. Yeah. You know what I mean? Boomers would never launch a GoFundMe for their personal struggles. Number one, because they wouldn't know how. They would just struggle to figure it out. But number two, they would see it as like, ooh, I don't want to let people know that I'm

struggling. Yeah. So there's a level of I respect that it's okay to ask for help and to admit you're struggling. But I do think there's a time in place for it to the boomers credit and online publicly airing your dirty laundry, quote unquote. I make a more boomer with that one. Yeah. I'm okay to do it, but do it like with your friends.

Don't do it for the world. Should we title this episode? Are the boomers right? W.W.w. Instagram.com, right? Like, it's the worldwide web. If you go to Instagram.com, you're a boomer. I'm just making the point that it's the internet.

Can I share a very boomer move that your dad is guilty of? Oh, I cannot wait. Instagram.com. He does on his laptop. I have never seen someone scroll the desktop version of Instagram. And Dave and I

hosting the show and I'm like, oh, there's, yeah, it's a website. Like, I forgot. It's also a website. He's probably like

HTTP going to be fair, much better viewing experience. Oh, really? It's great. Yeah, I'll tell you this. He doesn't like my posts.

He is on it awfully a lot to not interact. Yeah, I do get nervous because he follows like 40 people, myself included. So like naturally my stuff shows up

in his feed. And when I'm next to him, I'm like, is he like it? Is he into it? What's he thinking? What's he thinking? So great. All right. Accepting financial help from relatives.

This is big cringe from the boomers because they would say, not very bootstraps of you. I'm going to disagree with that one. I think it's okay. If it's not like an entitled situation and you're like creating harm to the situation. But I don't know, George, I just know a lot of people today that I'm like, it's families and they're working hard. They need to replace a car. The parent has the money. It's like, hey, I'll buy you the new van.

I think that's great. That does not make me mad. Yes. So I am. I guess the caveat is if it's stunting that person's growth. Yeah, if it's to the detriment of the kid or the person, for sure. That's where we start to say, like, that's not good. But if you want a gift a car, even a down payment, cover the cost of college.

Yes. I don't know why. Set your kid up. Yes. I don't know why. I just think that's great. That does not bother me. All right.

Next step. Selfish spending, spending money on self-care. therapy, massage appointments. It feels frivolous to them. Yes. Lawn care, house cleaner, mani petty. So anything that you could do yourself. Now, I don't know how to give yourself a massage.

That feels difficult. Yeah, I am an outsourcer. Like, we never had anyone cleaner house when I was growing up. Sharon never did. And now me working, three kids, all of it. I'm like, yes, please. Let's outsource all the help we can get.

Yes, 100%. And that just doesn't bother me. And I'm not picky about it either. Some people will outsource and then they're picky about the outsourcing. And they're like, well, they didn't do that. I don't know. I don't know.

They didn't clean it how I would mow it. They didn't clean it how I would claim it. Yeah, that's cringed to me. I'm like, listen, they did it. I don't know. I'm just not picky with that. Yeah, if you have the resources to trade your precious time that you could spend doing something that's more important to you or that's more beneficial to you, absolutely do it. Yep.

So boomers, that's a negative point for you. There you go. We've docked your pay. Yes. That's how they know. They understand that word. Dock your pay. Which means you won't have.

have that extra pay to buy cozy earth products because cozy earth is incredible. Their products, you guys, the quality is outstanding, whether it's shirts, joggers. Now, you know what, that's an athleisure. I would wear. That's classy athleasure. Yes, I would not consider cozy earth being like an airport outfit. I would do it. That's quiet luxury is what it is.

Because they do. I'm like, it just looks so good. It is like, it's so nice, you guys. It is wonderful. So from the bedding to the clothes, all of it, fantastic. I got an olive shirt with the matching olive joggers. Let me tell you, I feel like a pro athlete when I wear it. I might as well be going to warmups right now.

Just might as well be going to my game. Exactly. Just look fantastic. So it makes me feel rich inside, regardless of how I actually am outside. So true. And we can help you with that because we're offering you guys 40% off when you use the promo code, smart money at checkout, or just go to cozy earth.com slash, smart money. Use the link in the description. Make it easy on yourself. But look good at the airport.

We're cozy earth instead of your mini mouse pajamas. Amen. Hallelujah. All right. Ready for this. Money habits that Gen Xers think are cringe. Relying on TikTok for financial advice. Gen Xers. I love this one. So they think it's cringe. They think it's terrible. They will find that same video on Facebook three weeks later and share it with everyone they know. Just saying. And I'm like, yeah. Look what it is. Saw that three weeks ago. Appreciate it, bro. Thanks, man. Yeah. Anything new or flashy.

I would agree with them. They don't understand. It feels risky. It's just a platform. Yep. Next, quiet quitting or job hopping every couple of years to increase salary. Gen Xers would say that is cringe. Yeah, they value the loyalty, the simplicity.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You got good benefits. You've been here 15 years. Yep. Save the course. Yes. And you're going to be retiring soon if you're a Gen Xer. That's true.

Retirements around the corner. So stay with it. You're good, right? They're like a don't rock the boat. Like they had some struggles. Yes. And so they're going, why mess up a good thing? That's right.

Next, only earning freelance income. They love their 401k match and corporate health insurance. Yeah, very few Gen Xers are out there just kind of winging it, doing freelance work. I know. They don't have the risk tolerance that I think like Gen Z has. They like a little bit more of the structure. They want to live in the structure. They feel safe in the structure.

That's where they want to say. They love a benefits package. More than anyone. Next, not having a college degree. Well, and they were like the first one in their families to graduate some of them. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Since it worked for them, they're big on like, well, everyone should go to. What do you mean you're not going to get a degree?

Yeah. You're going to be a YouTuber? What does that mean? You need to have a stable job. Like, they were very much about stability. Yes, for sure. You needed a backup plan. You didn't get to go chase your dreams.

Yeah, so they look at the Gen Zers who kind of are like, ah, college, I don't know, we'll see. And they're like, what? No, you got to go. wild behavior. You got to go. All right, George, millennials, we're up next. You ready? Money habits, we think are cringe? Yes. Things that are happening that millennials are like, I'm an expert on my own opinion. Let's see what I think about these. I'll start us off. Okay. Toxic work environments that don't pay well or treat employees fairly. Yes. I agree with that.

I think life is short and millennials realize we don't have to live the life of the Gen Xers and boomers by just settling for a job we hate with bad leadership, with bad values. We can, actually do more mission or work that we care about. Yes. And I think we were the first generation to have that. It's a luxury. Let me say that out loud. It's a luxury to even get to explore that.

And our parents set us up for that kind of life. And for that reason, you should go find somewhere that isn't toxic. That does pay you well. That does treat you well. Yeah. And just to stay in it, to say in it. We're kind of like, don't do that. No.

You got options out there. So go fly. Go find it. All right. Next up, lack of transparency around money. So millennials were the first generation to appreciate salary transparency. pay equality. They expected equal partnership and money and marriage.

And they were the first ones to make the pre-n up a little more normal. Oh, yes. To go like, I've got to protect me. I'm looking out for me. Yep. No, I can see all of that. Yeah, and I think especially just talking about money in general. So whether it's salary or not, I feel like we were the generation that we were, we were fine with it.

More open talking about it with our peers, with friends, with family. Yep. And I think it is how you grow up, too, of what's acceptable, what's not. not and what you see is normal or not. Because you get put in a situation that's totally different. Like we have some friends and his whole family. They own businesses. Sell them.

It's like this whole thing. And he was like, oh, yeah. We like, almost to a fault, he would say, became unhealthy. We're like, they would all get together for Christmas. And talk shop. And all the brothers are comparing what they did here and they sold it for this. You're not doing this. You know what I mean?

Like it started to become like a one-upper game. That's not good. We don't want that. But I do think it's kind of how you. grew up in how you saw life. But I think creating a normalcy about talking about principles of money, values, asking for advice, hey, do you think I should do this? Before that, it was just so you're in a kind of a vacuum, just hoping you're doing the right

thing. Going so isolated, totally. To bring people in. I think it's great. So I'd rather us err on the other side of the spectrum. All right. Next up, on money habits, millennials think are cringe, quote, irresponsible spending. They want their spending to reflect their values.

So they want to donate to causes they believe in. they'll boycott companies they don't align with. Yes. Spending an environmentally conscious way. I feel like this was a new thing for the millennial generation. Well, Tom's came out. Oh, yeah. You know what I mean?

There was a lot of, like, we're going to give one for anyone you buy. There was like a big trend of that more so a few years ago. I feel like that we saw a lot of those companies come up. Well, they wanted to make you feel good about your spending. That isn't selfish. Right. It's actually selfless to buy our product. And those are the ones that will be like, all right.

Target doing something we don't like, they will not go in that target. And if you shop at Target or you mention Target, they will get on you. And you're like, wow. Whereas the boomers, they don't, they don't get on. Yeah, I don't even if they know what's going on. No. They do. I'm just kidding.

Boomers. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I can't wait. Here's what I do it because I know the boomers are going to leave the comments. And I appreciate that. No, we love the boomers. They have.

And we have, what I love is like the 60s folks. There's a lot of that watch the show. Yeah. And they love it. So we appreciate you. You all are great. The best. You all are great.

It's fun to just generalize and stereotype once in a while. So just let us have this, guys. Yes. Okay. Next, taking all of their financial advice from boomers. Cringe. I think it's so crunch. This one, okay, here's the thing.

Boomers have a lot of wisdom to give the other generations, but the context is usually left out, which makes the millennials rageful because they go, you should be buying a house, renting is a waste of money. And you go, have you seen the price of house? And they go, well, I had to work four jobs when I was young. I'm like, we get it. But also math. Yes.

Like income has gone up this much. Yeah. But housing has gone up three or four X that. Right. There's a legitimate math problem here. And I think boomers tend to go kind of pull stuff, pull yourself up by the bootstrap, suck it up. You're going to be fine. You had it easier than I do.

And I don't like that comparison game. Nobody wins. Yes. It's good. Well done, George. That's me summing up the entire thing. You tell them. Everyone can have it difficult in their own way.

All right. Next, the Gen Ziers. Uh-oh. Here are money habits that they think are cringe, not taking advantage of digital income. So everything from like, you know, crypto to making money online, be it like TikTok or Instagram, right?

So they're just like, yeah. They're less about trading their time for money and more like how do I trade a one-time thing I did or a skill to kind of flip. that online and make quote unquote passive income. Yeah, and make that money. And they are more creative, more inventive. They're not afraid to learn new skills, especially ones that pertain to the digital world, very resourceful. Like, they will figure it out. And that's why I think they're going to be one of the greatest generations. Yeah, they know what they're doing. And the amount of time that you have to

put in for things, they're going to, they learn to work smarter, not harder. Yes. And they kind of find that path. Not always, but a lot of the times. You know what worries me, though, about Gen Z? what they have lived their entire lives online yes that means their information is out there their names email addresses phone numbers it's all out there and not just them george all the generations if you are online your information's out there that's why we love and use delete me because delete me will go in and remove your information from these data brokers that collect that data and they sell it off they make money off of you and delete me goes in and helps remove that which we love 100%. And this actually happened to me a while back. My parents somehow got my information tied to some of their like real estate properties. So I started getting inundated with all these spam calls and texts because I was on these data broker sites. And so when I got delete me, I input it all my information and it was like, boom, removed, boom, removed. And it reduced all of the risk in my life. And it just helps keep you protected online and my family. My kids, my wife.

Well, what's to me is after I filled out everything, it was like pulling up and it. showed me old addresses that I had lived at that they had found on the internet. Yeah, it's like, hey, have you lived here? You're like, yes. No idea. Yes. It's crazy, the information that's out there. So sign up for Delete Me. If you go to join DeleteMe.com slash smart money, you get 20% off and it comes out to less than $9 a month. So make sure. That's a deal. Check it out. Gen Z and beyond. Check it out. Everyone needs this. This is a multi-generational tool that we all need. And we'll put the link in the description as well. All right, something else they think is cringe, blindly following the traditional American dream.

Oh. So they question, like, do I need to really go to college? Do I need to get into the corporate world and climb the ladder? Like, right? So they kind of are questioning the means of it. Do I need to own the house with the white picket fence with 2.2 kids? They're rethinking everything. Yes.

I mean, they are, if you use the word reconstructing, their ideas of life. And they're like, what are we going to do here? Which makes sense. I mean, they were born into a time that is pretty wild and ever-changing, and things are very expensive. And so their goal is not necessarily to get a stable job that can afford them a house because they're wondering if that's even in the cards for them. Yes. And so I understand it. And I still think that there's a new American dream out there that is achievable, which is living a life with no debt so that you have options and flexibility and margin to do the things you really want to do.

And if that's travel the world, good for you. Yes. And I will say this, too, on the Ramsey show, we get calls from people in their early 20s. And they're making like $170,000. I mean, they're crushing it. Crazy. And you're like, what are you doing? And yeah, and they're usually doing something non-traditional.

So even coding, which now is like this is more traditional. But like, they'll be a coder or they'll start this business or that. And like, very entrepreneurial. They're very creative too. Because I think there's a lot of options out there and they take advantage of it, which I love. So great. Good for them. Yes.

All right, next up, they think this is cringe. Living above your means to impress others. Love this about that. They value extreme authenticity. They see through the fake because they've lived their whole lives watching these social media facades. And they're starting to go, that ain't it. I want to do me. I don't need to live someone else's life to impress anyone else.

Yeah. Whereas previous generations, there was a little bit more of like, I want to keep up with the Joneses. Yeah, that tagline went through so many generations where now they're like, yeah, we're good. Joneses are everywhere. And you don't even know if it's real or not. That's right. You're like, is that, did you just rent out a private jet to take a photo? Mm-hmm.

So now there's a subset who are chasing that, and that's unhealthy. But I think the majority of them out there, they're kind of done with it. They're done. They're done. They're done. They're done. All right. Last but not least, anything that takes too much effort or time.

I know what I was saying. Work smarter, not harder. Very much convenience culture. Make it frictionless. They value efficiency and logic and common sense. which means like going into a store and dealing with customer service and shot that's just too much.

It's simply too much. We'll just go online. Avoid all human beings and just do it online. Which I get. I think that's the way society is going. Is anything that takes too much effort or time? We're out. Yeah.

But I think Gen Z is definitely pioneering the work smarter, not harder. Yes. And I'm not mad about it, but we do need the grit, the perseverance, because I do think on the other side, that can produce a lack of patience. A little bit, yes, of this like.

Oh my gosh. Yeah, it's like, come on. Have you experienced the Gen Z stare in customer service? I get it a lot. I don't know if that's a me thing. Yes. I saw a thing about like millennials helping you versus a Gen Zer. And it's funny. We're like overly like, yeah, this and here's the options. Like what do you? And the Jinzier is like, it's right here. You can just like read the board. Yeah, very judgmental. And even when they don't know, they make you feel like the dumb one somehow. Because they'll just stare long enough. They're like, I guess I should leave.

I know. This happened to me at a Home Depot, which you know, I don't darken the door of a Home Depot often. Wow, you went at a Home Depot? I tried not to go in. I did the curbside pickup, right?

Yes. I'm out there for 20 minutes. And I'm like, hey, I'm here. Nothing. So I guess I got to go in. I find the first employee I can find, and it's a young Genese guy. Okay.

And he looks at me, and I'm like, hey, like, I finally got this thing, but it's missing the handle. I need that to, like, spray the, like, weed control. And he just goes, I don't think you got that one.

I was like, no, I did. Look at the photo of the item. It's right here. And he goes, oh, okay. Yeah, you can just go grab another one. I'm like, I don't know where this item is. Like, that's why I did pickup. And he was like, uh, oh, I guess I can go get it.

Like, it was just that level of just, he hated this entire thing and I hated the entire thing. I'm like, you work here. Yes. This should fall on you more than me. This is your job. This is what you're supposed to do. Yes. So anyways, I was very frustrated by that.

ears. It's not. But I have a friend and she employs some people. I was actually just talking to her today. The kids went back to school and I was talking to her on the way to work. And she were talking about perseverance because one of my kids got in a class. She didn't have a lot of friends. It was like kind of this thing. And I'm like, it's okay, this is a good perseverance. Like,

yours may a lot of times in life that things don't work out well. You're going to get a crappy professor in college. You're going to get, you know what I mean? Like you're going to be in situations in life and it's not going to be perfect. And you've got to figure out how to do it. Anyway, so she was saying, she was like, yeah, a lot of the Genesey's actually like, can't do hard.

Like, you can't, like, they, anything gets one of the, they're, and she's like, oh, my gosh, I need, like, that grit, that perseverance, right? It's not all of them. Yeah. And this also applies to other generations. I've had terrible experiences with customer service with Gen X and Boomers. Oh, sure, sure. That we know, I know.

They just don't know how to do it and they're uncomfortable. But the last point, though, the fear is, if it takes too much effort or time, can create someone that can't, like, do it. Yeah. I just want some resourcefulness. Yes, that's right. That's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So that's what we don't want. but I don't think most Gen Zeres are like that because they're great. We love a Gen Zier. We love a Gen X or and Boomer and Malino. And Belino, we love them all. We have to say we love them all. All right.

So I'd say take away of this episode, George, every generation has their pros and cons. I think they all have something to offer us. All of them do. And some of them I think we all can look at and be like, eh, we think you're cringe in this area. Yes. Even millennials.

And there's also, in every generation, there's the ones that kind of suck. And they're the ones that are amazing. you're inspired by. Yes. Whether the Gen Z or boomers. And financially, there's the ones that still struggle all the way to their boomer years, right? And then some that do great, vice versa.

So your age and all of that, I'm going to say it doesn't matter. It's your habits, how you view money and all of it that's going to sustain you long term. And that's why it's so important. I think to have a plan, to have a direction to know what you're doing with your money. That's why the Ramsey plan and the baby steps is there. That's why it was built to be like, hey, here's a path to go, walk the path. So regardless of your age or generation. And there's something to learn from every generation.

So I always try to ask questions and gain wisdom regardless of what age they are, what their experiences. They can teach you a lot. But if you have terrible social skills and bad customer service, I'm out. George is done. I'm out. Not going to the Home Depot. All right. Before we spelled the tea on our guiltiest charge segments, what do you rate it, George?

Let's see. Let's see. Let me give it another second opinion. I'll go seven out of ten. I think I'm going to go 10 out of 10. Wow. Like I would genuinely drink that at dinner. I mean, I'm enjoying it.

Okay. So, it does have a richness to it that I think has been rare in the mocktail world. This is a blackberry vanilla macktail. It costs $2.76. That is prite. Did we use organic blackberries in this? I don't know. Hey, that's my own.

It's a boozy drink. That's my way I like it. She likes it. It's got blackberries, lemon juice, vanilla extract, raw honey, and ginger ale. Delicious. I love it. So recipes in the show notes, give it a try this weekend. Fun for the whole family.

All right, George, now it's time for guilty as charged. And this is where we ask each other a guilty-as-charge question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. All right, George. You ready for this one? Yeah, I am. Have you ever spontaneously spent something over $1,000? Oh, wow.

Yeah, it's going to take me a minute in the Rolodex. I did. Well, this was recent for you? I'm guilty. Last night? Last night? Okay. Riddle us the tale.

What happened? Was it worth it? I don't know yet. Is Winston okay? I don't know when this is, I know, I had to, like, ease in. I'd be like, huh? Because it's a trip. It's next weekend.

Can I just tell you, though, all of this is, like, what I thrive on. Because I don't get to be spontaneous in life anymore. I got work schedules. I got kids schedules. I mean, yeah. I mean, you're just like to take off within like a seven-day notice, almost impossible. But that adrenaline rush fuels you. But the Holy Spirit allowed this to happen.

Who brought in the Holy Spirit in this? I was like, oh my gosh, literally that whole weekend, I was like, we genuinely don't have a lot for kids. Now, this weekend, the weekend after that, it's packed. Birthday, oh, sports, I mean, all of it. But for some reason, it's an open weekend. And so I. The Angels smiled upon you. So I bought, with two of my girlfriends, girl, hey girl,

um, backstreet boys' tickets to the sphere in Vegas. Oh, my goodness. Okay, that, that does feel like once in a lifetime. Oh, my gosh. So we all had dinner last Friday night. And someone brought it up. And they're like, well, let's try to go like in September. I was like, y'all, no, they was only through the summer because I wanted to go.

I mentioned it on this show like a few months ago. I wanted, when I heard they were doing it. the residency at the sphere. I was like how I want to go. But this summer, I mean, I didn't, it just time flies. Yep. And my friend was like, let's try to go in September. I'm like, no, it's, they literally end.

And it's like August 20th. And she was like, what? And we dropped it. And then Sunday afternoon, I got a DM actually from someone. No joke. I didn't end up buying their tickets. Sorry. But she was like, heard you want to go to the Bass Street Boys concert.

Me and two friends can't go anymore. Like, here's some tickets. They're on resale. on ticket master but if you want to i'm like here there not to give she didn't give them to me yeah but it would be like you can buy them and that just sparked the flame george i was like in your mind is that the holy spirit working in your favor i texted my two friends and i was like guys there's these tickets we don't buy these specifically but should we try to go and one was like i don't know if i can swing it and then one was like i'm in i'm in i think i'm in i've talked to winston but i think i'm in i can figure it out

and yeah so we're doing it and the third friend we opted to She ended up, yep, coming back like two hours later, she said, I'm very stressed. I have a lot of anxiety about this, but I'm going to say yes. We're like, yes. We're three or more gathered. That's, I think, that's in second hesitation. I know. I'm so... Dad jokes. We got them. Dad jokes. I'm so excited for you, genuinely. So we're flying out on like a Friday afternoon. We get back by Sunday afternoon. It's 48 hours. And I play some craps.

Wow. When in Rome. Or a nickel slot. I've never done a slot. Oh, yeah. I did some nickel slots. Those are my favorite. You really get the bang for the buck there.

Because you could kill an hour and spend 20 bucks. I'm like, that's a good hourly rate. I think that's fun. Yeah. So, guys, I'm going to have an envelope with cash. And I'm like, here's money. And if I want to do like the knuckle slots, here it is. And when the money's gone, I'm done.

Right? I'm not doing any one. That is a principle I've seen you live by and I respect that. Yes. Yes. But I did it. Living your best life. And Winston, what was his responsibility?

response to all this because like I want to know what the proper response should be from a spouse. Yeah. I mean, he, I don't do this a lot. So yeah, he was like, yeah, let's figure out a couple of things. Okay. He wasn't reluctant. He had no pushback. He was like, all right, we'll figure it out. At first, there was like kind of, well, make sure that this and this. And so we had to, yeah, do a couple things away. Does he get like a guy's weekend? See, that's, can I say this? I'm a really awesome wife. Because anytime there's a guy's weekend. Can we vouch, we have your daughter here. Can you vouch for that? Is she a great wife? whenever he has a guy's weekend come up,

I always, I'm like, do it, do it. And then when he's on the guy weekend, I'm like, don't text or call unless you want to check in. But I'm not going to be like checking in. Where are you? What are you doing? Just go. Yeah, just you go. Complaining about him being gone and how hard it is at home.

I mean, that's awesome. That's an awesome wife. So anyways. And it's not like a scorekeeping thing, but also. Kind of is. That's what I was kind of getting at. You present it. So question, if I text Winston, I was like, hey, bro, Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, you win.

Hey, oh. Would he go? There's a Backstreet Boys meme. And it's like, we're going to Vegas. Send him that one. I would love a spontaneous boy's trip with Winston. Oh, do you go to the Sphere with Winston? That's what I'm saying.

Oh. Or what would Winston's version of this be where he would be like, yes, I'm in? Like, what is his band or his experience? He would be, was it a hunting trip or is it? Yeah, it would be more so camping. one of his friends bought a lake house and they were redoing it and took out everything

like a complete reno they had not renovated it yet there was nothing, it was gutted and they went and brought air mattresses and slept in the house that's what's up that and then bands he has weird

he likes bands that no one's ever heard of have I heard of them there was one I remember we were talking about it and you text me and I was like oh yeah I love that band the young no it was like

the young oh shoot I can't remember young and the restless anyways Young the Giant? I don't know. Head in the heart.

Anyways, he would do that. He would do like a music, yeah. All right. Music thing. I'll find one for Winston because I feel like he deserves this. Okay. Boys trip. Boy's trip.

I will not go camping. Okay, what's yours? Anything over $1,000 spontaneously? Only house stuff where I can justify it easily, like boy math it, you know. Figure it up. But nothing that's so spontaneous because I'm very much a planner. I know. Yeah, yeah.

So my wife convinced me, but I probably wouldn't come up with the idea to go spend that much money. spontaneously. Yep. No, I hear you. But remember, you got to cash flow this in the budget. This is not your permission to go into debt to do something crazy. No, of course not. I just want to put that out there.

Thanks, Dad. Making sure we're all responsible. Core memory. All right. Well, if you guys have any fun, guilty-starch questions, make sure to DM us. And if you enjoyed this episode, you're going to love our episode. Is Gen Z financially doomed? Let's talk about it.

That is coming up next, and we'll also link it for you. And make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an all-new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.