You’ll Stay Broke If You Keep Avoiding These 11 Money Tasks

Podcast Summary:

Podcast: George Kamel (Ramsey Network)
Episode: You’ll Stay Broke If You Keep Avoiding These 11 Money Tasks
Date: December 12, 2025
Host: George Kamel

Episode Overview

In this episode, George Kamel dives into “Scary Hour,” a viral TikTok productivity trend focused on tackling tasks we avoid out of fear or anxiety. George creatively connects this idea to personal finance, highlighting 11 crucial money tasks people habitually put off. Drawing on humor, pop culture, and his signature snark, George’s mission is to help listeners get proactive with their money and break through their financial fears—one hour at a time.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Scary Hour Concept (00:05 – 01:46)

Introduction with Humor: George opens with a playful monologue about scary tasks and bad haircuts, immediately setting a laid-back, comedic tone.
TikTok Inspiration: Shares a clip of a TikTok creator explaining “Scary Hour”—an hour dedicated daily to confronting tasks avoided due to anxiety.
- Notable Quote:
  - “Scary Hour is the only reason anyone in my life thinks that I am a functioning adult. The way it works is... you set a timer for one hour and... only do things that you've been avoiding because of anxiety.” - TikTok Voice (00:56)
George’s POV:
- George applauds the TikTok creator, praising the meta-humor of avoiding tasks by making a TikTok about avoiding tasks.

Applying Scary Hour to Money (01:46 – 02:10)

Contextualizing the Trend: George explains how financial tasks are some of the most commonly avoided scary things in adulthood.
- Memorable Quip:
  - “When it comes to money, that list can get real long.” (01:46)

The 11 Money Tasks to Tackle During Your Scary Hour

1. Check Your Credit Report (02:11)

Key Insight: Even if you don’t care about credit score, you need to check for errors, late payments, and identity theft.
- Advice:
  - “Go to annualcreditreport.com and pull your credit reports from all three credit bureaus… And never pay for this.” (02:30)
- Joke:
  - “If someone's out there buying pallets of Tickle Me Elmos in your name... you should know about it. And if it's you, report yourself to the police.” (02:41)
Actionable Steps: Dispute any errors you find; checking the report won’t harm your score.

2. Audit Your Subscriptions (03:00)

Key Insight: Most people have forgotten subscriptions slowly draining their bank accounts.
- Fact: “42% of people have stopped using a subscription service but forgot they were still paying for it.” (03:36)
- Joke:
  - “Make sure that Ghost Detector Free trial you signed up for in 2021 isn't still charging you $12.99 a month. All to detect no ghosts. What a waste.” (03:07)
Advice: Cancel anything unused for over 30 days.

3. Calculate Your Debt (03:58)

Key Insight: You can’t fix what you don’t measure; most people don’t know how much debt they have.
- Action Item: List every debt, from credit cards to car loans and “payment plan for your tasteful above ground pool.”
- Memorable Moment:
  - (Clip of a “tasteful above ground pool”)
  - “Is he okay? I think he's violating that above ground pool.” (04:26)

4. Knock Out Your Lowest Debt (05:07)

Key Insight: Many people have enough money to clear at least their smallest debt—just do it!
- Quote:
  - “Respectfully, my mia, what are we doing? Get rid of that thing asap.” (05:16)
- Debt Strategy: Advocates for the debt snowball method and links to a free calculator.

5. Roll Over That Old 401(k) (05:46)

Key Insight: Don’t leave retirement money stranded at old jobs.
- Joke:
  - “Millions of people leave their jobs every month… and a ton of them leave retirement cash just sitting around, collecting dust, getting knocked with fees and growing even slower than a vegan steakhouse in Branson.” (05:48)
- Advice: Do a direct rollover into a new employer’s plan or IRA.
- Tangent: Entertains with a humorous rant about plant-based meats and vegan steakhouses. (06:15)

6. Make a Will (07:37)

Key Insight: Wills aren’t just for the wealthy—everyone over 18 should have one.
- Quote:
  - “Without having a will, you kind of already have a will. The government's gonna figure it out for me. The state will make all the decisions for you.” (08:13)
- Joke:
  - “Do you really want to delegate such a big decision to the government? The same people who still refuse to ban daylight savings time? No, thank you.” (08:25)
Resource: Links to a simple online will-creation tool.

7. Track Your Spending (09:35)

Key Insight: Most people underestimate spending; tracking brings clarity and control.
- Quote:
  - “You might think you're spending 100 bucks a week on groceries, but then you actually look and it might be more like 200 or even 300.” (09:45)
- Joke:
  - “Yeah, those trips to Circle K for that all you can eat sushi special adds up quickly. And the colon remembers. It never forgets.” (09:53)
Tool: Recommends the EveryDollar budgeting app.

8. Move Savings to a High-Yield Account (10:30)

Key Insight: Earn more on your savings with a High Yield account; regular savings accounts pay next to nothing.
- Quote:
  - “If your emergency fund is sitting in a bank earning .01%, that is not a savings account. It's a hostage situation.” (10:31)
Recommendation: Suggests Fairwinds Credit Union and mentions Ramsey debit card.

9. Review Your Insurance Coverage (12:05)

Key Insight: Insurance is boring until you desperately need it; regularly review policies to fit your life stages.
- Quote:
  - “Insurance is about as exciting as watching Mitch McConnell watching paint dry. Now on C Span.” (12:08)
Resource: His free Coverage Checkup tool helps quickly find gaps.

10. Get Routine Car Maintenance (13:18)

Key Insight: Preventive maintenance saves from expensive, budget-ruining car emergencies.
- Joke:
  - “Replace the air filter that you've been ignoring since the Obama administration. Thanks Obama. I was distracted by his charm. Forgot to change my filter.” (13:38)
Advice: Create a sinking fund (monthly budget line item) for repairs and maintenance.

11. Declutter Your Home (14:15)

Key Insight: Clutter costs time, money, and mental energy. Decluttering frees up space and cash.
- Quote:
  - “The more stuff you own, the more space it takes, the more money it costs, and the more it stresses you out subconsciously or consciously.” (14:17)
- Action Steps:
  - Sell, donate, return, or toss.
  - “Crank up the chumbawamba, and start tossing. I get knocked down. I get knocked down again. You're never gonna knock me down.” (14:27)
- Joke:
  - “It just feels good to walk into a room that doesn't look like a T.J. Maxx exploded it. Or worse, a Ross Dress for less.” (14:54)

Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

On facing financial fears:
“The mess won't get any better by keeping your head in the clouds.” (04:42)
On small debts:
“Ditching even one small balance can give you some momentum and some hope.” (05:28)
On insurance:
“When something goes wrong, like an unexpected medical bill or a car accident, insurance is the only thing standing between you and a financial dumpster fire.” (12:15)
On decluttering:
“Clutter tricks you into thinking you need more stuff, so clearing it actually helps you spend less.” (14:47)

Notable/Entertaining Moments

Haircut Banter & Great Clips/Sports Clips Jokes (00:05 – 00:30)
- Sets the playful, irreverent tone
Plant-based Meat Rant / Vegan Steakhouse in Branson (06:18 – 07:16)
- An entertaining tangent in the middle of practical advice
Circle K All-You-Can-Eat Sushi + The Colon Remembers (09:53)
Chumbawamba Song Reference (14:26)
- Amping up the declutter motivation

Important Segment Timestamps

Explaining Scary Hour: 00:56
Task 1 (Credit Report): 02:11
Task 2 (Subscriptions): 03:00
Task 3 (Calculate Debt): 03:58
Task 4 (Knock Out Debt): 05:07
Task 5 (401k Rollover): 05:46
Task 6 (Make a Will): 07:37
Task 7 (Track Spending): 09:35
Task 8 (High-Yield Savings): 10:30
Task 9 (Insurance Coverage): 12:05
Task 10 (Car Maintenance): 13:18
Task 11 (Declutter): 14:15

Tone and Language

George’s style is snarky and peppered with jokes, pop culture, and internet slang, but always with a foundation of practical, actionable advice. He debunks financial myths, injects humor into otherwise daunting topics, and delivers motivating, clear steps for listeners to take control of their finances—Scary Hour style.

Takeaway

If you keep avoiding these “scary” financial tasks, you’ll stay stuck or broke. But if you dedicate just one hour to facing them head-on, you’ll gain momentum, hope, and, ultimately, freedom.

Final Motivation:
“Scary Hour isn’t just a TikTok trend—it could be the secret weapon you need to finally get your money on track and build the life you actually want.”

Podcast Summary:

Podcast: George Kamel (Ramsey Network)
Episode: You’ll Stay Broke If You Keep Avoiding These 11 Money Tasks
Date: December 12, 2025
Host: George Kamel

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Scary Hour Concept (00:05 – 01:46)

Introduction with Humor: George opens with a playful monologue about scary tasks and bad haircuts, immediately setting a laid-back, comedic tone.
TikTok Inspiration: Shares a clip of a TikTok creator explaining “Scary Hour”—an hour dedicated daily to confronting tasks avoided due to anxiety.
- Notable Quote:
  - “Scary Hour is the only reason anyone in my life thinks that I am a functioning adult. The way it works is... you set a timer for one hour and... only do things that you've been avoiding because of anxiety.” - TikTok Voice (00:56)
George’s POV:
- George applauds the TikTok creator, praising the meta-humor of avoiding tasks by making a TikTok about avoiding tasks.

Applying Scary Hour to Money (01:46 – 02:10)

Contextualizing the Trend: George explains how financial tasks are some of the most commonly avoided scary things in adulthood.
- Memorable Quip:
  - “When it comes to money, that list can get real long.” (01:46)

The 11 Money Tasks to Tackle During Your Scary Hour

1. Check Your Credit Report (02:11)

Key Insight: Even if you don’t care about credit score, you need to check for errors, late payments, and identity theft.
- Advice:
  - “Go to annualcreditreport.com and pull your credit reports from all three credit bureaus… And never pay for this.” (02:30)
- Joke:
  - “If someone's out there buying pallets of Tickle Me Elmos in your name... you should know about it. And if it's you, report yourself to the police.” (02:41)
Actionable Steps: Dispute any errors you find; checking the report won’t harm your score.

2. Audit Your Subscriptions (03:00)

Key Insight: Most people have forgotten subscriptions slowly draining their bank accounts.
- Fact: “42% of people have stopped using a subscription service but forgot they were still paying for it.” (03:36)
- Joke:
  - “Make sure that Ghost Detector Free trial you signed up for in 2021 isn't still charging you $12.99 a month. All to detect no ghosts. What a waste.” (03:07)
Advice: Cancel anything unused for over 30 days.

3. Calculate Your Debt (03:58)

Key Insight: You can’t fix what you don’t measure; most people don’t know how much debt they have.
- Action Item: List every debt, from credit cards to car loans and “payment plan for your tasteful above ground pool.”
- Memorable Moment:
  - (Clip of a “tasteful above ground pool”)
  - “Is he okay? I think he's violating that above ground pool.” (04:26)

4. Knock Out Your Lowest Debt (05:07)

Key Insight: Many people have enough money to clear at least their smallest debt—just do it!
- Quote:
  - “Respectfully, my mia, what are we doing? Get rid of that thing asap.” (05:16)
- Debt Strategy: Advocates for the debt snowball method and links to a free calculator.

5. Roll Over That Old 401(k) (05:46)

Key Insight: Don’t leave retirement money stranded at old jobs.
- Joke:
  - “Millions of people leave their jobs every month… and a ton of them leave retirement cash just sitting around, collecting dust, getting knocked with fees and growing even slower than a vegan steakhouse in Branson.” (05:48)
- Advice: Do a direct rollover into a new employer’s plan or IRA.
- Tangent: Entertains with a humorous rant about plant-based meats and vegan steakhouses. (06:15)

6. Make a Will (07:37)

Key Insight: Wills aren’t just for the wealthy—everyone over 18 should have one.
- Quote:
  - “Without having a will, you kind of already have a will. The government's gonna figure it out for me. The state will make all the decisions for you.” (08:13)
- Joke:
  - “Do you really want to delegate such a big decision to the government? The same people who still refuse to ban daylight savings time? No, thank you.” (08:25)
Resource: Links to a simple online will-creation tool.

7. Track Your Spending (09:35)

Key Insight: Most people underestimate spending; tracking brings clarity and control.
- Quote:
  - “You might think you're spending 100 bucks a week on groceries, but then you actually look and it might be more like 200 or even 300.” (09:45)
- Joke:
  - “Yeah, those trips to Circle K for that all you can eat sushi special adds up quickly. And the colon remembers. It never forgets.” (09:53)
Tool: Recommends the EveryDollar budgeting app.

8. Move Savings to a High-Yield Account (10:30)

Key Insight: Earn more on your savings with a High Yield account; regular savings accounts pay next to nothing.
- Quote:
  - “If your emergency fund is sitting in a bank earning .01%, that is not a savings account. It's a hostage situation.” (10:31)
Recommendation: Suggests Fairwinds Credit Union and mentions Ramsey debit card.

9. Review Your Insurance Coverage (12:05)

Key Insight: Insurance is boring until you desperately need it; regularly review policies to fit your life stages.
- Quote:
  - “Insurance is about as exciting as watching Mitch McConnell watching paint dry. Now on C Span.” (12:08)
Resource: His free Coverage Checkup tool helps quickly find gaps.

10. Get Routine Car Maintenance (13:18)

Key Insight: Preventive maintenance saves from expensive, budget-ruining car emergencies.
- Joke:
  - “Replace the air filter that you've been ignoring since the Obama administration. Thanks Obama. I was distracted by his charm. Forgot to change my filter.” (13:38)
Advice: Create a sinking fund (monthly budget line item) for repairs and maintenance.

11. Declutter Your Home (14:15)

Key Insight: Clutter costs time, money, and mental energy. Decluttering frees up space and cash.
- Quote:
  - “The more stuff you own, the more space it takes, the more money it costs, and the more it stresses you out subconsciously or consciously.” (14:17)
- Action Steps:
  - Sell, donate, return, or toss.
  - “Crank up the chumbawamba, and start tossing. I get knocked down. I get knocked down again. You're never gonna knock me down.” (14:27)
- Joke:
  - “It just feels good to walk into a room that doesn't look like a T.J. Maxx exploded it. Or worse, a Ross Dress for less.” (14:54)

Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

On facing financial fears:
“The mess won't get any better by keeping your head in the clouds.” (04:42)
On small debts:
“Ditching even one small balance can give you some momentum and some hope.” (05:28)
On insurance:
“When something goes wrong, like an unexpected medical bill or a car accident, insurance is the only thing standing between you and a financial dumpster fire.” (12:15)
On decluttering:
“Clutter tricks you into thinking you need more stuff, so clearing it actually helps you spend less.” (14:47)

Notable/Entertaining Moments

Haircut Banter & Great Clips/Sports Clips Jokes (00:05 – 00:30)
- Sets the playful, irreverent tone
Plant-based Meat Rant / Vegan Steakhouse in Branson (06:18 – 07:16)
- An entertaining tangent in the middle of practical advice
Circle K All-You-Can-Eat Sushi + The Colon Remembers (09:53)
Chumbawamba Song Reference (14:26)
- Amping up the declutter motivation

Important Segment Timestamps

Explaining Scary Hour: 00:56
Task 1 (Credit Report): 02:11
Task 2 (Subscriptions): 03:00
Task 3 (Calculate Debt): 03:58
Task 4 (Knock Out Debt): 05:07
Task 5 (401k Rollover): 05:46
Task 6 (Make a Will): 07:37
Task 7 (Track Spending): 09:35
Task 8 (High-Yield Savings): 10:30
Task 9 (Insurance Coverage): 12:05
Task 10 (Car Maintenance): 13:18
Task 11 (Declutter): 14:15

Tone and Language

Takeaway

If you keep avoiding these “scary” financial tasks, you’ll stay stuck or broke. But if you dedicate just one hour to facing them head-on, you’ll gain momentum, hope, and, ultimately, freedom.

Final Motivation:
“Scary Hour isn’t just a TikTok trend—it could be the secret weapon you need to finally get your money on track and build the life you actually want.”

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Summary

Podcast Summary:

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Scary Hour Concept (00:05 – 01:46)

Applying Scary Hour to Money (01:46 – 02:10)

The 11 Money Tasks to Tackle During Your Scary Hour

1. Check Your Credit Report (02:11)

2. Audit Your Subscriptions (03:00)

3. Calculate Your Debt (03:58)

4. Knock Out Your Lowest Debt (05:07)

5. Roll Over That Old 401(k) (05:46)

6. Make a Will (07:37)

7. Track Your Spending (09:35)

8. Move Savings to a High-Yield Account (10:30)

9. Review Your Insurance Coverage (12:05)

10. Get Routine Car Maintenance (13:18)

11. Declutter Your Home (14:15)

Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

Notable/Entertaining Moments

Important Segment Timestamps

Tone and Language

Takeaway

Summary

Podcast Summary:

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Scary Hour Concept (00:05 – 01:46)

Applying Scary Hour to Money (01:46 – 02:10)

The 11 Money Tasks to Tackle During Your Scary Hour

1. Check Your Credit Report (02:11)

2. Audit Your Subscriptions (03:00)

3. Calculate Your Debt (03:58)

4. Knock Out Your Lowest Debt (05:07)

5. Roll Over That Old 401(k) (05:46)

6. Make a Will (07:37)

7. Track Your Spending (09:35)

8. Move Savings to a High-Yield Account (10:30)

9. Review Your Insurance Coverage (12:05)

10. Get Routine Car Maintenance (13:18)

11. Declutter Your Home (14:15)

Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

Notable/Entertaining Moments

Important Segment Timestamps

Tone and Language

Takeaway