Podcast Summary: George Kamel – "22 'Broke' Habits Rich People Can't Stop"

Episode: #22
Date: January 14, 2026
Host: George Kamel, Ramsey Network

Episode Theme & Purpose

In this episode, George Kamel brings humor and candid personal finance wisdom as he breaks down a viral BuzzFeed list: “poor people habits”—quirks and behaviors that often emerge from growing up with less money but linger no matter someone’s net worth. George separates which frugal hacks are worth keeping and which are better left behind, weaving in jokes, pop culture, personal anecdotes, and practical advice throughout. Ultimately, the episode aims to encourage listeners to distinguish between smart money habits and limiting, unnecessary frugality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Frugal Habits vs. Poor People Habits

• Many "poor" habits are actually practical, sustainable ways to save or reduce waste.
• Some go too far, sacrificing time, hygiene, or dignity for negligible savings.

2. Analysis of BuzzFeed’s Top “Poor People” Habits

George reviews each habit, providing verdicts and commentary:

Washing & Reusing Freezer/Sandwich Bags

• "[If] you have to wash the bag, just throw out the bag. If the bag is dry and didn't have something heebie jeebie in it, reuse the bag." ([01:18])
• Verdict: Reasonable to reuse, but don't risk hygiene for pennies.

Licking the Bowl after Melting Chocolate

• "If you're cooking something...and there's no, like, raw ingredients...I'm all for licking the bowl." ([02:14])
• George finds this harmless—if done in private!

Making Everything from Scratch Due to Tight Budget

• Praises the transformation from necessity (oil crash-induced hardship) to preference and entrepreneurship.
• "Is this a poor people habit? Absolutely not. [It’s] a real flex to be making food from scratch with quality ingredients." ([03:18])

Picking Coins off the Street

• "I'm not above squatting for a nickel...But like a New York City sidewalk—not." ([05:16])
• Only worth it in certain "clean" environments; makes a distinction between being frugal and risking for minuscule gain.

Watering Down Mouthwash/Soap to Extend Products

• "Bro, I don't think you understand how mouthwash works." ([06:18])
• Warns against diluting products at the cost of effectiveness and hygiene.

Wearing Underwear/Undershirts Until They’re Shreds

• "Surviving off of shreds of underwear. What's going on here?" ([08:21])
• Jokes about the extremity and suggests it's an unnecessary form of deprivation.

Always Filling Up on Free Bread at Restaurants

• Humorously connects this with the previous habit, painting a vivid character.

Always Buying Secondhand or at a Discount

• Defends this as wise, eco-friendly, and smart stewardship rather than a sign of poverty.

Asking "Do I Really Need That?" Before Every Purchase

• Appreciates minimalism and delayed gratification: "You can live on a lot less than you think." ([13:21])
• Redirecting extra money into retirement savings is applauded.

Repurposing Plastic Bags, Including Chip Bags

• Draws the line at using bread or chip bags as trash liners: "I'm out on shipping bread bags, bro." ([14:45])

Refusing to Buy a Brand-New Car

• Smart financial move: "Depreciation on cars is insane." ([16:02])

Buying Lightly Used Goods (Even with a High Income)

• Again, defends this as pragmatic, though draws the line at used shoes unless nearly new.

Never Throwing Away the Last Sliver of Soap

• "Amen...that last sliver of soap is so frustrating." ([19:03])

Extracting Every Bit from Bottles & Tubes

• Commends the tenacity but says he personally won't “do surgery” on containers. ([21:15])

Saving 'Useful Garbage' for Crafts

• Questions if this is frugality or hoarding: "I’m not gonna call it a poor people habit. I’m gonna call it like a hermit hoarder habit." ([22:42])

Repairing Old Sandals Instead of Replacing

• Salutes the instinct but admits, "I'm not crafty enough to be gluing sandal straps together." ([24:08])

Making Unplanned Leftover Soups or Casseroles ("Bubble and Squeak")

• Recognizes this as a classic "poor person" habit with some risk if leftovers are too old.

Cutting & Scooping Moisturizer Tubes

• Similar verdict to the other bottle hacks—admires the effort but personally wouldn’t bother for three more uses.

Walking/Biking Instead of Owning a Car

• "I don't think this is a poor people habit at all. I think this is a healthy habit, financially and physically." ([29:14])

Brand-Name vs. Bargain Q-tips

• Mocks the idea of agonizing over penny saves on cotton swabs.

Home Haircuts to Save Money—Even After Reaching Affluence

• Jokes about the persistence of old habits and hopes for mental healing from past deprivation.

Hoarding Cardboard Boxes "Just in Case"

• Sees this as lingering trauma rather than sound planning: "Time to get rid of the boxes and free yourself..." ([33:45])

Reusing Every Jar (No Need to Buy Mason Jars)

• Praises the sustainability, only objecting for aesthetic/OCD reasons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reusing plastic bags:
  "I just feel like there's a higher chance of dying from dysentery from the bacteria that grows inside of that bag than there is of me saving a buck." – George ([01:08])

• On licking the chocolate bowl:
  "Is it in public? Who's melting chocolate in public? That's another question I have for you people." ([02:20])

• On the woman who overcame hardship:
  "Started with… oil crash… stay at home mom, husband loses job, I make food from scratch. Now I own a restaurant and I'm down 220 plus pounds. That's impressive." ([03:38])

• On extreme frugality:
  "Get you some Fruit of the Loom, some Hanes, some generic brand. You'll survive. But surviving off of shreds of underwear. What's going on here?" ([08:34])

• On home haircuts:
  "I've rarely seen a homemade haircut where I go, can't tell that's homemade. Cause usually I can tell." ([31:45])

• On leftover soups:
  "How long has it been sitting out? Has it been six days? And now you're gonna put this beef in a soup and eat that for another four days? You're asking for it..." ([26:15])

• On old Q-tips:
  "I still have the same pack from 1997. They come in packs of 7,000. What are you… cleaning the ears out every day?" ([30:57])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | 1 | Introduction/Theme | 00:05–01:05 | | 2 | Freezer/Sandwich Bags Reuse | 01:05–01:58 | | 3 | Licking the Chocolate Bowl | 01:58–02:35 | | 4 | Making Everything from Scratch | 02:35–03:55 | | 5 | Picking Up Coins | 03:55–06:15 | | 6 | Watering Down Mouthwash, Soap | 06:18–08:10 | | 7 | Underwear and Free Bread | 08:21–09:25 | | 8 | Buying Secondhand and Checking Sales | 09:25–12:00 | | 9 | “Do I Really Need That?” Minimalism/Delayed Gratification | 12:00–13:21 | | 10 | Repurposing Plastic (Chip, Bread) Bags | 13:21–14:45 | | 11 | Never Buying New Cars | 14:45–16:02 | | 12 | Lightly Used Goods | 16:02–17:15 | | 13 | Soap Slivers and Extreme Frugality | 19:03–21:05 | | 14 | Squeezing Out the Last Drop; “Useful Garbage” and Crafts | 21:15–22:42 | | 15 | Sandal Repairs and Brand Loyalty | 24:08–25:50 | | 16 | Bubble & Squeak, Leftover Casseroles | 25:50–26:21 | | 17 | Biking, Walking Instead of Driving Cars | 28:18–29:41 | | 18 | Brand Q-tips vs Bargain; Mental Calculations for Small Savings | 29:41–31:07 | | 19 | Home Haircuts from Childhood to Adulthood | 31:07–32:00 | | 20 | Box Hoarding Due to Childhood Instability | 33:45–34:30 | | 21 | Reusing Jars—Sustainability/OCD | 34:30–35:14 | | 22 | Final Thoughts: When to Let Broke Habits Go, Healthy Upgrades | 35:14–End |

Tone & Style

George keeps the tone light, irreverent, and deeply relatable, combining practical personal finance wisdom with self-deprecating humor and pop culture asides. He points out when a money-saving habit veers into unnecessary deprivation, but never shames—always urging listeners to make smart, intentional choices based on their current financial health.

Takeaways

• Extreme frugality may be necessary at times, but it's important to evolve habits as your situation improves.
• Not all "broke" habits are bad; many are smart, sustainable ways to reduce waste and build wealth.
• Letting go of deprivation is part of giving yourself permission to enjoy the benefits of financial improvement.
• Evaluate each habit for practicality, health, and whether it truly adds value—or just preserves old anxieties.

For Listeners

If you want to laugh, learn, and reflect on your own money quirks, this episode will help you see which money-saving moves are worth keeping and which to retire as you level up your financial life.