Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Episode Title: I Asked People the Most They’ve Ever Spent on Christmas — The Answers Are Wild
Host: George Kamel (Ramsey Network)
Release Date: December 22, 2025

George Kamel takes to the streets of Franklin, Tennessee, aiming to uncover how much people really spend on Christmas gifts, from wild splurges to creative thriftiness. With wit and snark, he elicits honest stories, laughs, and candid confessions about Giftmas excesses, boundaries, family pressure, and the logic (or lack thereof) behind holiday spending.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. People’s Most Expensive Christmas Gifts

• Mulberry Laptop Bag (00:13)

  • Gift worth about $900, even more expensive than the laptop itself.
  • UK luxury brand; humorous confusion over fashion brands: "Is it a cousin of Burberry?" – George.
  • Cultural banter about “chavy” versus “cheugy.”

• Gaming System for Kids (01:04)

  • $500–$600 on a PS5 for three children.
  • Parent sees it as a "ridiculous waste of time," but acknowledges kids’ enjoyment.
  • Quote: “Thank you for calling it stupid. Do the kids know that you call it stupid? Oh, yeah.” – George (01:11)
  • Parent: “I just think that's a dumb waste of time. Go outside.” (01:35)

• Jewelry for an Ex (01:47)

  • Hundreds spent; regret on both money and recipient.
  • “Doesn't that make it so much worse? It does.” – George (01:52)

• Sending Mom to Vegas (02:02)

  • Siblings pooled $600 to send mom to Vegas; mixed experience but no regrets.

• Purse or Jewelry for Ex-Girlfriend (02:18)

  • Close to $900; friends express disbelief at the spend.

• Gaming Computer for Husband (02:40)

  • $800 total, split with brother.
  • “He's probably gaming right now, as we speaketh.” – George (03:03)

• Eagles Concert Tickets for Parents (03:14)

  • $600 total, paid in cash – no debt.
  • “Did you go into debt for it? You pay cash? … Straight cash.” (03:20)

• Cowboy Boots for Husband (06:27)

  • $300 boots to “get him that way,” aiming to coax husband into being a cowboy-boot guy.
  • “What level of cowboy boot was this? … Very intermediate.” (06:45)

2. Christmas Budgets, Boundaries & Strategies

• Set Budgets Per Person (04:04)

  • Several interviewees allocate different budgets per recipient.
  • Often more is spent on parents, with unspoken family caps.

• Sibling Spending Escalation (04:27)

  • “Last year my brother spent 100 on me, so I have to spend 100 on him this year.” (04:42)
  • Commentary on how family gift-giving can ‘escalate’ over time.

• Thriftmas Tradition (05:15)

  • One interviewee spent ~$50–60 total by buying all gifts from thrift stores.
  • Created experiences instead of only things; games sometimes hilarious for being ‘terrible,’ leading to memorable moments.
  • “It was just good memories versus just a thing that you opened.” (06:03)
  • “We had a fun time and some of the games were terrible, but it made it even more funny.” (05:55)

• Homemade Gifts & Caps (09:49)

  • Some set a fixed $100-per-person cap and favor homemade presents, especially for family.
  • “Most of the time I'll make something. So for anything family, I'll just hand make it.” (09:53)

• Opting Out Altogether (07:09)

  • One couple doing “no gifts” while saving for house renovations.
  • “We're painting the house in January, so we're bumping that up.” (07:17)
  • Agreement among extended family: gifts only for young nieces.
  • “...going to have to calm myself this year. ...Nobody needs anything.” (07:34, 07:53)

3. Attitudes Toward Debt & Financial Habits

• Pride in Not Using Debt (03:20)

  • Several reiterate paying for gifts only with available cash—no credit card debt for Christmas.

• Reluctance Toward Debt (07:00)

  • “Do you do debt at all? We try not to.” (07:02)

• Looking for Value & Memories

  • More value placed on memories, experiences, or practical gifts rather than just price or “stuff.”

4. Humorous & Relatable Moments

• Fashion Confusion:
  • Playful banter about designer brands and slang is recurring, e.g., “Is it a cousin of Burberry? The Mulberry. They’re a bit chavy...”
• Gaming System Irony:
  • Parent: “Even though it’s for three children, I just think that's a dumb waste of time. Go outside.” (01:35)
  • George: “Outside. Bad. The sun's scary.” (01:40)
• Sibling Gifting One-Upsmanship:
  • “He keeps setting the bar higher.” – George (04:42)
• Thriftmas Laughter:
  • “Some of the games were terrible, but it made it even more funny.” (05:55)
• Bank Rating Grievance:
  • George asks, “How would you rate the relationship with your bank from 1 to 10?” (07:55)
  • “A two.” “Take that, Chase, you scumburgers.” (08:10)
• Homemade Gift Goodness:
  • “Golly. They don't make people like you anymore.”
  • “Oh, they come from New Zealand.” (10:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with timestamps)

• On Regret:

  • "Doesn't that make it so much worse? It does. When they become the ex and you're like, how much did I sink into this relationship?" – George & Guest, (01:52)

• On Sibling Spending:

  • Guest: “Last year my brother spent 100 on me, so I have to spend 100 on him this year." (04:42)

• On Thriftmas:

  • “It was just good memories versus just a thing that you opened and like, ‘oh, it's what I asked for. Cool.’” – Guest (06:03)

• On Banking Relationships:

  • George: “How would you rate the relationship with your bank from 1 to 10?”
  • Guest: “Two.”
  • George: “Take that, Chase, you scumburgers.” (08:10)

Practical Takeaways

• Set a clear budget before gift shopping (“Set the expectations, set the budget, communicate early…” 10:08)
• Thoughtful or creative gifts can be more valuable than expensive ones
• Avoid debt for gifts—plan within your means
• Consider experiences or handmade items to make Christmas personal and memorable
• Don’t be afraid to opt out or scale back if your family is on board

Conclusion & Final Host Advice

George Kamel wraps up by stressing the importance of setting boundaries and budgets for the holidays. He reminds listeners that Christmas should be about thoughtful spending and togetherness, not debt or one-upmanship. “You can have a great Christmas without spending a bunch of money. ...You’ll have a great Christmas without paying for it come January, come February, come March." (10:08)

Teaser: The episode closes by teasing the next topic—the $20 billion card debt hangover from Christmas—and encourages viewers to check out that discussion next.