Podcast Summary: Financial Audit – "Septum Piercing Freak Makes Financial Audit History"

Host: Caleb Hammer | Guest: Dom

Date: July 23, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Caleb Hammer sits down with Dom, a 30-year-old budtender from Los Angeles, whose personal finances are described as “historic” for all the wrong reasons. Dom presents with over $46,000 in debt, a history of financial avoidance, and treats much of her situation lightly—aggravating Caleb and pushing the conversation into both comical and critical territory. The episode thoroughly explores lifestyle, income, debt, and the psychological factors driving Dom’s financial struggles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dom’s Background and Career Path

Current Job: Budtender (cashier) in LA, earning $18/hr plus tips, bringing in ~$4,500/month.
Education: Degree in Chicano studies, minor in film from UCLA, no relevant career utilization.
Lifestyle: Lives at home with parents (since age 28); boyfriend also lives at home with his parents.
Additional Work: Occasional native gardening work for extra cash.

“So you went to school for four years… and now you’re a cashier again.” – Caleb (06:13)

Timestamps

[00:51] Dom introduces herself: 30 years old, LA resident, budtender
[01:35] Earnings outlined: $18/hr, plus at least $1,300/mo in cash tips
[06:36] Degree details: Chicano studies major, film minor

Debt Situation and Spending Habits

Total Debt: $46,220.04 (includes credit cards, personal loans, car loan, student loans, overdraft)
Types of Debt:
- Student loans: ~$8k
- Credit cards (multiple, including a Nordstrom and a Sears card): Balances between $1,000–$5,600 each
- Personal loan: Nearly $8,000 (used to pay off other debt, but balances build back up)
- Overdraft loan: $3,000 with nearly 18% APR—never before seen on the show
- Car loan: ~$7,400 (for a VW Beetle)
Minimum Monthly Debt Payments: $1,819.17 — 40% of income
Retirement Savings: $292 at age 30

Timestamps

[12:43] Total debt revealed: $46k
[24:13] Discovery of a $3,000 overdraft line of credit, record for the show
[40:44] Multiple credit cards nearly maxed out; 30%+ interest rates
[84:32] Minimum payments tally: $1,819.17/mo

“You have a $3,000 overdraft loan. It is a joke. It is disgusting.” – Caleb (27:08)

Avoidance, Rationalizations, and Caleb’s Confrontation

Dom repeatedly downplays the seriousness of her financial situation, at times laughing or treating it as a joke, which intensifies Caleb’s frustration.

Avoidance Behavior: Avoided facing debt since college; didn’t know the true numbers until show prep.
Excuses:
- “I’m just a girl.”
- “It’s not as bad as some people.”
- “Other people have more debt.”
Magical Thinking: Manifesting/positive thinking used as a coping mechanism.

Memorable Quotes

“I’m being positive about it.” – Dom ([00:08], [25:45])
“You’re living at home for two years and still spend $1000 more than you make. What is wrong with you?” – Caleb (35:15)
“You should be doing everything in your life to try to turn this around for the sake of your own life.” – Caleb (27:44)

Attempts at Budgeting & Efforts to Change

Budget Attempts: Stop online shopping, live at home
Spending Patterns: Consistent overspending on food, clothes, tattoos ($2,000 last year), gifts, subscriptions, pet care, and impulse items.
Business Aspirations: Wants to start a Chicano-themed athletic/leisure clothing brand, but lacks commitment, savings, or unique market positioning.
Actions vs. Words: Caleb points out Dom rarely follows through on expressed intentions to change habits.

“Your words mean nothing. Your actions are so beyond counter what you say you want.” – Caleb (42:08)

Psychological and Social Factors

Parental Enabling: Living at home allows avoidance of responsibilities; her parents provide considerable support with low rent and utilities.
Relationship Dynamics: Both Dom and her boyfriend are in similar financial/living situations, enabling each other’s lack of progress.
Cultural Factors: Dom rationalizes late independence through cultural and family closeness.

Specific “Firsts” and Show Highlights

Historic Overdraft: First time a guest has had a $3,000 overdraft loan.
Quiz Segment: Caleb invites Brandon to quiz Dom on Chicano studies. Dom passes about half the questions, undermining her claim of expertise in her field ([15:28]–[17:32]).
Brutal Honesty: Caleb repeatedly expresses disappointment and uses tough love, refusing to coddle or minimize the reality of Dom’s choices.

“You’re a failure. You can turn it around, and I hope you do. But to think that this is anything other than a failure would be doing you a disservice.” – Caleb (36:20)

Actionable Advice and Final Recommendations

Immediate Steps:
- Radical lifestyle change: No spending above budgets; cut all non-essentials.
- Track every dollar: Use a budgeting app like Dollar Wise (provided free).
- Automate all minimum payments: To avoid late fees.
- Pet Insurance: Consider for expensive vet bills.
Entrepreneurial Caution: Do not pursue entrepreneurial ventures until debt is under control and finances stabilize.
Independence: Strongly urged to move out for personal growth, even if it means sacrifice.
Education: Offered budgeting and personal finance courses by the show.

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------|-------| | 06:13 | Caleb | “So you went to school for four years… and now you’re a cashier again.” | | 12:43 | Caleb | “You’ve accumulated $46,220 and 4 cents of debt.” | | 24:13 | Financial Audit Assistant | “You have a 3,000. Shut the…” | | 27:08 | Caleb | “You have a $3,000 overdraft loan. It is a joke. It is disgusting.” | | 36:20 | Caleb | “You have been a failure. You are a failure. You can turn it around, and I hope you do. But to think that this is anything other than a failure would be doing you a disservice.” | | 42:08 | Caleb | “Your words mean nothing. Your actions are so beyond counter what you say you want.” | | 84:32 | Caleb | “Your minimum payments…that’s 40% of your income because of your spending. Because if you’re undisciplined, because you just want to spoil yourself and be bougie and all this stuff and get worthless degrees… 40% of your income goes to debt.” | | 88:12 | Caleb | “Hammer Financial Score…0.5 out of 10. Basically the worst you can get besides collections.” |

Summary Table: Dom’s Financial Snapshot

| Category | Total / Status | |-------------------|-----------------------| | Age / Location | 30 / Los Angeles | | Occupation | Budtender / Cashier | | Income | ~$4,500/month | | Debt (Total) | $46,220.04 | | Student Loans | $8,813.40 (4% APR) | | Credit Cards | $13,000+ (multiple, 30%+ APR) | | Personal Loan | $7,942 (16% APR) | | Car Loan | $7,463 | | Overdraft Loan | $2,908.81 (18% APR) | | Retirement Savings| $292 | | Minimum Payments | $1,819.17/month | | Living Situation | With parents ($250 rent) | | Emergency Fund | $0 | | Hammer Score | 0.5/10 |

Final Thoughts

This episode epitomizes a combination of millennial financial struggle, avoidance, and the hard realities of consumer debt. Caleb’s approach—a mix of comedy, stern reality checks, and actionable suggestions—highlights both the causes and consequences of chronic overspending and avoidance. Dom, while lighthearted and often dismissive, faces a pivotal choice: continue justifying and deflecting, or follow through on advice and fundamentally change her life trajectory.

For listeners in a similar position:

Face your numbers honestly
Automate payments, cut non-essentials
Seek education/resources
Embrace responsibility, not excuses

“You say what you want, but then everything you do literally only does the opposite and takes you further away from it.” – Caleb (42:08)

Key Segments (Timestamps)

00:51 | Introduction and background
12:43 | Total debt and avoidance
15:28 | Chicano quiz segment
24:13 | Overdraft loan shock
36:20 | Confronting failure and future
42:08 | Words vs actions
84:32 | Budget and minimum payment analysis
88:12 | Final financial score

End of Summary