Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: George Kamel

Host: George Kamel, Ramsey Network
Episode: 11 Frugal Habits That Made Me A Millionaire
Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energetic and humor-filled solo episode, personal finance expert George Kamel dives into the 11 practical and sometimes quirky frugal habits that helped transform his life from negative net worth to millionaire in less than a decade. Kamel blends proven money-saving strategies with personal anecdotes, pop culture references, and his signature punchy delivery to demystify personal finance and encourage listeners to develop their own wealth-building habits. The focus: spend less, save smart, and enjoy life without falling into common money traps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Always Ask: How Can I Pay Less? [01:11]

• Research before buying.
  Before purchasing anything, George urges listeners to question whether they're getting the best deal, suggesting methods like searching for promo codes, negotiating, thrifting, buying used, or opting for refurbished/open-box items.

• Quote:
  "Ask yourself this question before you buy anything: Is this the best option, retailer, and price that will help you build wealth?" — George [02:00]

2. Shop at Budget-Friendly Grocery Stores [02:05]

• Shop smart, shop cheap.
  George advocates making lower-priced stores like Aldi a first stop, emphasizing that switching stores can shift your entire grocery budget.

  • Aldi stat: 36% cheaper on a typical list; nearly $4,000 annual savings for a family.
  • Tips: Shop sales, stick to a list, eat before you shop, choose generics.

• Notable Humor:
  "You really gotta go for it [at Aldi], like a supermarket sweep." [02:45]

3. Re-shop Insurance Annually [04:09]

• Don’t remain loyal to insurance companies at your own expense.
  • Use an independent insurance broker to find the best deals each year.
  • Even longstanding policies may not be competitive anymore.

4. Buy Used When You Can [05:15]

• Secondhand = big savings.
  For items where “new” isn’t necessary, turn to Facebook Marketplace and similar platforms.

  • Example: Bowflex dumbbells for $80 used vs. $260 new.
  • Baby gear: cribs and recliners bought secondhand.

• Quote:
  "For real, when we had our first baby, Facebook Marketplace was our go-to, because baby stuff is craz." — George [06:36]

• Memorable Moment:
  George pokes fun at sellers posting mirrors with awkward body parts visible in the photo, and reminisces about buying a crib from a renowned banjo player. [06:23]

5. Choose Affordable Hobbies & Entertainment [07:35]

• Think low-cost, high-enjoyment.

  • Prioritize hobbies you can start cheaply; upgrade only if you stick with them.
  • Categories to consider: creative, active, at-home, social.

• Quote:
  "Start as inexpensively as possible, because you’re likely to give up the hobby after you realize this really isn’t for me. Taylor Swift makes sourdough, but you don't even like sourdough bread. You’re gluten free. What were you thinking? You almost killed your family." — George [08:30]

• Dry humor warning golfers that “high cost, low enjoyment” is a trap. [09:45]

6. Don’t Sleep on the Kids Meal [10:41]

• Order kids meals at restaurants for savings and portion control.

  • Example: Five-piece grilled nuggets kids meal at Chick-fil-A, with fries, drink, and swap toy for ice cream.
  • Hack: Kids meals often come with drinks; adult meals don't.

• Memorable Line:
  "Bonus points if you have kids, and if you don't have kids, just try to look like you’re under 12... that's ethically on the line." [11:15]

7. Split Entrees When Eating Out [12:22]

• Stretch pricey restaurant meals into multiple servings.

  • Works at fast-casual (Chipotle, Cava).
  • Load up on ingredients, split with your partner or save half for later.

• Quote:
  "You spend $11 on the bowl, you split it in half and make it two meals. That’s $5.50 a bowl. That’s actually reasonable." — George [12:52]

8. Don’t Miss Out on a Good Coupon [13:30]

• Modern couponing = digital and easy.

  • Use apps like Rakuten, ibotta, City Saver for deals; don’t overlook email signups for freebies.
  • Tip: Leverage ChatGPT to quickly find promo codes.

• Quote:
  "Now this is not extreme couponing and this is not your grandma trying to save 12 cents on milk... These days we've gone digital." — George [13:39]

9. Rotate Your Subscriptions [16:26]

• Avoid paying for unused services.

  • Only keep the streaming subscriptions you're actively using—cancel the rest, then rotate as your favorite shows move platforms.
  • Stats: 42% forget to cancel subscription services they no longer use; average adult spends $1,080/year; $200 wasted.

• Shoutout:
  "Shout out to CNET for doing the Lord’s work. Cause who’s trying to sign up to do the subscription survey?" — George [16:47]

10. Budgeting [18:15]

• Budgeting is non-negotiable.

  • Use tools like EveryDollar app to proactively assign every dollar a job before the month begins.
  • Prevents unplanned or impulsive spending.

• Quote:
  "If you don’t make a plan for your money, someone else will." — George [18:21]

11. Travel During Off-Seasons [19:20]

• Travel off-peak for biggest savings.

  • Avoid major breaks and holidays; aim for January–early March, late April–mid-May, or September–mid-November.
  • Off-peak = cheaper hotels, flights, less traffic, shorter lines.

• Encouragement:
  "If you can be flexible with your travel, you’re going to save big—and that’s what frugal people do." — George [19:56]

Notable Quotes

• “Ask yourself this question before you buy anything: Is this the best option, retailer, and price that will help you build wealth?” — George [02:00]
• "For real, when we had our first baby, Facebook Marketplace was our go-to, because baby stuff is craz." — George [06:36]
• “Start as inexpensively as possible, because you’re likely to give up the hobby after you realize this really isn’t for me. Taylor Swift makes sourdough, but you don't even like sourdough bread. You’re gluten free. What were you thinking? You almost killed your family.” — George [08:30]
• “If you don’t make a plan for your money, someone else will.” — George [18:21]
• “If you can be flexible with your travel, you’re going to save big—and that’s what frugal people do.” — George [19:56]

Episode Flow & Tone

Throughout the episode, George maintains a spirited, comedic, and sometimes self-deprecating tone, using pop culture (Taylor Swift, Nacho Libre, Dungeons and Dragons), relatable anecdotes (buying used baby gear, hacks for dining out), and direct, actionable advice. The overall message is that frugality isn’t about deprivation—it’s about strategic living, optimizing everyday decisions, and putting yourself on the path to financial freedom with humor and creativity.

Key Timestamps

• [01:11] Habit #1: Always ask, “How can I pay less?”
• [02:05] Habit #2: Shop at budget-friendly grocery stores
• [04:09] Habit #3: Re-shop insurance
• [05:15] Habit #4: Buy used
• [07:35] Habit #5: Low-cost hobbies
• [10:41] Habit #6: Order kids meals
• [12:22] Habit #7: Split entrees
• [13:30] Habit #8: Embrace digital coupons
• [16:26] Habit #9: Subscription rotation
• [18:15] Habit #10: Budget, always
• [19:20] Habit #11: Travel off-season

Final Thoughts

George Kamel wraps up with encouragement to apply these habits, promising they’re not about “being cheap,” but about living with intentionality and freedom. The episode offers both the philosophy and tactical steps for anyone wanting to get serious about frugality, punctuated by laughs along the way.