Financial Audit with Caleb Hammer

Episode: Illegal Immigrant Exploiting The System | Financial Audit
Date: January 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Caleb Hammer sits down with Sarah, a 24-year-old American who recently moved from the U.S. to Tecate, Mexico. They dig into the logic (or lack thereof) behind her move, her financial situation, and the realities (and misconceptions) of cross-border living and LGBTQ+ safety. The conversation veers between playful banter, hard financial truths, cultural commentary, and some unexpectedly raw admissions about debt, family, and life choices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Move to Mexico?

• Sarah's Stated Reasons:
  • Mainly for financial benefits—lower rent and cost of living.
  • Her girlfriend, a Mexican citizen, refused to move to the U.S.
  • Disillusionment with America’s political and cultural climate, especially regarding LGBTQ+ issues.
  • "I've always wanted to move out of America. I'm, like, really happy about my move." (00:03)
• Caleb’s Pushback:
  • Challenges Sarah’s logic about safety and progressive values, referencing statistics contrasting U.S. and Mexican LGBTQ+ violence (07:43).
  • Questions the sustainability and long-term logic of moving primarily for short-term savings while retaining a U.S.-based job (07:11).
  • "Your logic is flawed." (09:36)

2. Living and Working Arrangements

• Sarah’s Situation:

  • Lives in Tecate, Mexico, just over the border, commuting to San Diego for her commission-based sales job ("design consultant—selling closets," 01:47).
  • Sometimes stays in San Diego to save time on commuting.
  • Her rent in Mexico: $500/month for a two-bedroom with a patio—"now I can put all that money I was paying towards rent towards my debt." (07:26)
  • Pays the rent; her girlfriend covers utilities (20:50).

• Potential Legal and Tax Implications:

  • Sarah is currently an "illegal immigrant" in Mexico, pending marriage and subsequent legal residency (15:21–15:40).
  • Caleb warns about possible double taxation—U.S. and Mexican authorities (16:04).

3. The Argument: LGBTQ+ Safety and Progressive Values

• Sarah:

  • Feels safer as a lesbian in Mexico than in the U.S., referencing personal experiences and her conservative family background (05:21).
  • Cites American political shifts as threatening, particularly for trans people (04:49, 05:03).
  • Argues that Mexican society, despite being traditionally Catholic, feels less overtly hostile to her.

• Caleb:

  • Counters with data: Mexico has more reported LGBTQ+ hate crimes and violence than the U.S. (07:43, 11:04).
  • Points out that while the U.S. isn’t perfect, it’s statistically safer and more progressive for LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • "Well, your feelings are incorrect. Like it doesn't matter just because… Every statistic says gay people, trans people, are more at risk there." (09:07)

4. Financial Audit of Sarah’s Life

Income & Job Realities

• Makes roughly $3,000/month (net varies: "lowest month $2,500, highest $7,000"; average $3,000 for budgeting, 10:21).
• Commission-only job, sometimes lacking enough client appointments (09:51).
• Believes she can easily get another sales job in San Diego if needed (13:54, 25:45).
• Host questions the overconfidence, especially with economic downturn concerns (25:46).

Debt & Spending Patterns

• Payday loan remains unpaid for a year; does not recall what it was for (34:25, 35:59).
• Multiple high-interest loans and credit cards:
  • "You can't tell me you'd be stuck in a payday loan cycle. You're choosing to buy your bullshit spending."
  • Owes $4,500+ to her dad for back car payments and flights (53:05).
  • Other unpaid debts: old apartment rent, credit cards (maxed out and over the limit), personal loans with predatory rates, Klarna and Affirm buy-now-pay-later schemes (62:38, 83:29).

Spending Breakdown

• Extravagant daily spending on coffee, energy drinks, delivery food, and online shopping persists even while behind on bills (39:47–78:54).
• “Dutch Bros this month was only $140… That’s your payday loan.” – Caleb (78:30)
• Frequent referencing of “bullshit cash app spending.” (41:15)

Financial Consequences

• Credit score is "the lowest you've had on the show," at 427 (48:42).
• Caleb remarks: "Congratulations. World record breaking—of how horrible someone is. And I don’t think you give a shit." (49:02)

5. Interpersonal Dynamics—Family & Relationships

• Sarah borrows significant sums from her father; host calls out this enabling behavior (54:49).
• Rapid-fire lesbian relationships; plans to marry a girlfriend known for less than six months (15:11, 27:26).
• Self-admitted U-haul lesbian tendencies (moving rapidly and drastically for romance) (25:14–25:31).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Lighthearted/Roasting Exchanges

• Caleb: "You are a creature of the night." [on maxed-out credit cards, 63:02]
• Sarah: "I am the boobs and she’s the masculine one, so you’re the femme, obviously." (17:48)
• Caleb: "Your logic is flooded. If it’s from Mexico City, stretching income, beautiful place, I get it. But you’re going to Tecate." (09:36)

Financial Reality Checks

• Caleb: "Of your total debts, $26,649.77. It’ll take you 22 years to pay off if you just do minimum payments." (89:02)
• Sarah: "Well, I don't know… I honestly don't understand because I don't have credit cards." (55:55)
• Caleb: "No, you just need a better job. You need a real career. Career." (88:29)

On LGBTQ+ Safety and Statistical Contradictions

• Caleb: "Mexico is one of the most dangerous places outside of the Middle East for gay people." (07:43)
• Sarah: "I feel safer in Mexico. And yeah, I mean I’ve never had an issue, and I’ve had a lot of people be homophobic here in America..." (06:30)
• Caleb: "Your feelings are incorrect… Every statistic says gay people, trans people, are more at risk there." (09:07)

On Logic and Life Choices

• Caleb: "You cannot guess the future. You cannot be confident in everything. You cannot say, I will have this job forever… Your credit score is already 427." (48:42)
• Sarah: "No, I feel more of a need to [pay debts] now that I’ve moved…because now I actually have like, more money…" (72:14)
• Caleb: "The people who think benefits that count for honestly pennies on the dollar are more important than the actual money that is being made are why those companies are able to pay." (70:20)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:03 — Sarah introduces motive for moving ("America sucks.")
• 01:47 — Explains job as design consultant; discusses U.S.-Mexico work/life split
• 07:43 — Caleb cites statistics on LGBTQ+ violence in Mexico vs. U.S.
• 10:21 — Sarah’s variable net income; budgeting at $3,000/month
• 15:21 — Illegal immigrant status in Mexico, plans for legal residency post-marriage
• 25:14 — “Chronic condition of being a U-haul lesbian…”
• 34:25 — Start of deep-dive into payday loan and debt spiral
• 39:47–42:41 — Detailed audit of January spending and Cash App outflows
• 48:42 — “Credit score is 427.” World record low for the show
• 53:05 — Owes $4,500+ to her dad; discussion of parental enabling
• 63:02 — Multiple credit cards over limit/late/fee-laden
• 78:30 — $140/month “only” on Dutch Bros while behind on debts
• 89:02 — $26,649 in debt; 22-year payoff at minimums
• 90:00 — Host suggests bankruptcy might be the only rational financial move

Tone and Atmosphere

• Caleb maintains a tone blending incredulity, tough love, and characteristic sarcasm. He frequently challenges Sarah’s worldview, financial choices, and sense of logic, while retaining moments of dark humor and banter.
• Sarah is affable, self-deprecating, and sometimes defensive, openly acknowledging her own irresponsibility and the chaos of her financial life, but resistant to deep behavioral change.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a case study in how feelings, unproven convictions, and impulsive life changes can kick financial discipline to the curb, especially when bolstered by family safety nets and a lack of critical introspection. The conversation swings from statistically grounded reality checks (mostly from Caleb) to emotion- and experience-driven rationalizations (from Sarah), providing a clear portrait of why "moving for savings" can be a band-aid—not a solution—when deeper financial patterns go unchallenged.

Caleb’s parting advice:

• Cut unnecessary spending immediately.
• Stop romanticizing drastic life changes as "solutions."
• Get a second job or—preferably—a higher paying, stable job.
• After three months of behavioral change, consider bankruptcy if debt remains overwhelming.
• “Your logic for leaving America is stupid... You are not a smart individual.” (71:09)

For Listeners:

If you’re contemplating an international move "for financial reasons," take a long, hard look at your underlying financial behaviors and debts. A change in location won’t fix what a change in mindset and discipline must address.

Notable quote to end:
Sarah: "I have a lot of confidence in myself."
Caleb: "We'll see if you live between now and the follow up." (86:45)