Podcast Summary: "11 Things Broke People Say"

Podcast: George Kamel Show (Ramsey Network)
Host: George Kamel
Date: October 17, 2025
Episode Theme: Busting the Common Excuses People Use When Living Beyond Their Means

Episode Overview

George Kamel, a personal finance expert and co-host of The Ramsey Show, dives into the subtle and not-so-subtle phrases that people use to justify overspending and money mismanagement. Drawing from an article on Youm Tango, George provides both insightful and humorous commentary on the 11 most common sayings of people who are secretly struggling financially. The central thread through all these excuses is the importance of delayed gratification and living below your means.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction: The Hidden Reality of Financial Struggles

• [00:05] George sets the stage by highlighting that half of Americans are living beyond their means, masking their financial instability by using certain “dead giveaway” phrases.
• Injects humor by riffing on horoscopes and pop culture.
• Key Tone: Sarcastic, playful, direct.

The 11 Things Broke People Say

1. "I deserve it."

• [01:29]
  • Used to justify impulse purchases, from fancy dinners to luxury cars.
  • George’s Take:

    "What you really deserve is freedom and options and margin and breathing room. And that only comes with delayed gratification."
    (01:58)

• Insight: Immediate gratification leads to long-term stress, not the freedom people truly want.

2. "Money comes back."

• [03:34]
  • The myth of financial karma—assuming everything will just "even out."
  • George’s Take:

    "If you're a paycheck away from homelessness, I hope you’re not using a phrase like, well, money comes back, we’ll be all right. Where's it going? It’s not coming back, bro."
    (04:12)

• Insight: Hope is not a strategy; form real financial habits now.

3. "I’d rather enjoy life now."

• [05:27]
  • Emphasis on YOLO (you only live once), at the expense of future security.
  • George’s Take:

    "Enjoying life now means regretting it for six months after that because you realized you got 27% APR on that card that's now maxed out."
    (06:56)

• Insight: The mindset behind this is often cynicism and resignation, especially common in younger generations faced with difficult economic realities.

4. "I’ll pay it off later."

• [09:25]
  • Pushing debt into the future assumes future-you will be dramatically more responsible.
  • George’s Take:

    "The problem is: you go with you into said future… The mountain is just getting bigger."
    (10:00)

• Insight: Consistently deferring debt payments entraps you in a cycle of mounting financial anxiety.

5. "I work hard, so I deserve nice things."

• [11:28]
  • Ties emotional reward to spending, regardless of actual affordability.
  • George’s Take:

    "You can work really hard and still not be able to afford a thing. ... Your effort doesn’t always mean you’re going to get the thing."
    (12:14)

• Insight: Hard work is valuable, but it doesn’t entitle you to overspend.

6. "It’s an investment."

• [13:35]
  • Rationalizing purchases as "investments" (self-care, tech, vacations) even when they aren’t.
  • George’s Take:

    "This idea that you're just going to invest in everything because it makes you feel good? Don’t agree."
    (14:20)

• Insight: Be clear about what actually counts as an investment versus what is just spending.

7. "We’re doing better than most people."

• [15:02]
  • Using comparison with others to justify personal spending habits.
  • George’s Take:

    "Comparisons, I have found, are never healthy because it does one of two things. Either you think you’re better than someone—not great—or it makes you feel like you’re beneath someone—also not great." (15:55)

• Insight: Focus on your own goals; comparison is a recipe for financial stagnation.

8. "I spend a lot less than other people."

• [16:30]
  • Deflects guilt by shifting the focus to “worse” spenders.
  • George’s Take:

    "If you’re having to say that out loud, you’re probably just feeling guilt and shame. So release the guilt, release the shame, and instead, just spend less if you feel like you’re spending too much." (17:05)

9. "I’m gonna get a raise soon. Don’t worry."

• [18:10]
  • Future windfalls are used as an excuse for current overspending.
  • George’s Take:

    "What really happens… you just end up spending more. You didn't actually create a new habit, you just ended up spending that extra piece of pie."
    (19:20)

• Tip: Stick to a budget—even with new income, or you’ll succumb to lifestyle creep.

10. "It’s not a big deal."

• [21:03]
  • Minimizing concern to avoid judgment or guilt.
  • George’s Take:

    "Imagine it is a big deal. Imagine that debt is robbing you from your income, from your peace, from your joy." (22:01)

11. "We’re investing in a lifestyle."

• [23:26]
  • Likely said in an attempt to impress or create an admired image.
  • George’s Take:

    "If it’s a lifestyle of big payments to make other people like you, you’re just around the wrong people. ... You need therapy. Not a nicer car or nicer clothing or a nicer house." (24:04)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On “I deserve it”:

  “What you really deserve is freedom and options and margin and breathing room. And that only comes with delayed gratification.”
  (01:58)

• On borrowing from the future:

  “You go with you into said future… The mountain is just getting bigger.”
  (10:00)

• On using comparison:

  “Comparisons, I have found, are never healthy because it does one of two things. Either you think you’re better than someone—not great—or it makes you feel like you’re beneath someone—also not great.”
  (15:55)

• On investing in a “lifestyle”:

  “You need therapy. Not a nicer car or nicer clothing or a nicer house.”
  (24:04)

Core Takeaways

Common Themes Across All Excuses

• “Instant gratification plus making yourself feel better emotionally about the purchase” is the pattern behind these phrases.
• Many excuses are rooted in emotional coping—guilt, shame, anxiety—rather than sound financial reasoning.
• The ultimate antidote: Delayed gratification—saying “no” for now so you can say “yes” to true freedom later.

George’s Final Word

“Delayed gratification is basically saying no for now so you can say heck yes later. It’s like a superpower that lets you skip the impulse buys, dodge the debt traps, and actually build a life with options.”
(25:06)

Important Timestamps

• [00:05] – Introduction
• [01:29] – "I deserve it"
• [03:34] – "Money comes back"
• [05:27] – "I'd rather enjoy life now"
• [09:25] – "I'll pay it off later"
• [11:28] – "I work hard, so I deserve nice things"
• [13:35] – "It's an investment"
• [15:02] – "We're doing better than most people"
• [16:30] – "I spend a lot less than other people"
• [18:10] – "I'm gonna get a raise soon"
• [21:03] – "It's not a big deal"
• [23:26] – "We're investing in a lifestyle"
• [25:06] – Summary and advice on delayed gratification

Conclusion

This episode uses humor, pop culture, and blunt honesty to dismantle the most common, self-defeating money mantras. George’s overall message: Stop making excuses for overspending. The willingness to choose delayed gratification—not emotional rationalization—determines your financial health and freedom. Don’t justify yourself into stress and stagnation—choose margin and options with smarter habits today.