Are These Social Obligations Worth the Money?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

Episode: Are These Social Obligations Worth the Money?
Date: January 22, 2026
Network: Ramsey Network

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Episode Overview

In this engaging and entertaining episode, Rachel Cruze and George Kamel dive into the world of social obligations and the hidden costs—monetary, emotional, and energetic—that come with them. They take a comedic yet honest look at events we’re often “expected” to attend—showers, birthday dinners, weddings, kids' parties, and more—and debate which ones are truly worth the hassle and expense. Through personal stories and sharp banter, they address setting boundaries, social pressures, group gifting, and why it’s okay to say “no” sometimes.

The conversation is peppered with nostalgia, relatable anecdotes, and actionable financial wisdom for navigating social seasons without breaking the bank (or your spirit).

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Exhaustion of Obligatory Social Events

[01:02-02:09]

• Social Energy Drain: Both hosts address the pressure (financial, emotional, and social) of feeling compelled to attend events they might rather skip.
• George: "It feels like as we made this list, I felt the cortisol levels."
• Rachel: "The people you're around really dictate what's going to happen."

Social Pressure Example:
George tells a “Friends” reference—about feeling forced to chip in for someone he barely knows, highlighting how these pressures are everywhere.

2. Drawing Boundaries and Owning Your “No”

[04:18-04:44]

• Rachel and George admit they usually give in to social obligations—about 75% of the time—but advocate for the value of drawing boundaries.
  • Rachel: "I'm gonna say 75% give in, 25% draw a boundary."
  • George: "If it's my wife's thing, I'm part of the package. If she's asking me, she wants me there. That's a hint, guys."

3. The Event Audit: Cost, Value, and “Delete From Society?”

[04:59+]
Rachel and George go through a list of common social events to discuss their financial and emotional tolls, hot takes, traditions, and etiquette:

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Showers: Baby & Wedding

• Sprinkles vs. Showers:
  • George confesses he didn't get the meaning of "baby sprinkle" for years, to Rachel's amusement.
    • George: "I'm afraid to admit how long it took me to realize where the name Sprinkles came from." ([05:34])
  • Both agree the costs can balloon out of control—balloon arches, themed goody bags, signage.
  • Host(ess) Gifting Etiquette:
    • Rachel: "If you are throwing the shower, that is your gift. You don't need to get another present." ([07:35])
  • Wedding Showers = More Intense:
    • More people, longer events, higher expectations.

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Birthday Dinners

• Mutuality Rules:
  • George: "If they dip down on my birthday dinner, I dip out on their birthday dinner." ([10:00])
• Men vs. Women:
  • Rachel notes women seem to have more of these, while George prefers low-key, smaller dinners with people who can afford the price point.
  • Cost transparency: Sometimes birthday dinners can cost upwards of $150–$200 per person at a nice restaurant.

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Weddings (Especially as a Participant)

• Weddings have “leveled up” in intensity and cost: travel, Airbnbs, bachelorette trips, and more.

  • Rachel: "Now everything involves travel, Airbnb."
  • Day-of expenses (hair, makeup, tux, dress, gifts) can surpass $500.
  • George: "Let me tell you, zero tux rentals are tuxes I would want to wear ever again. It’s like a trash bag." ([12:36])

• Gift Expectations:

  • $100 is now seen as “the minimum” for a wedding gift.
  • Rachel: "You'll get lambasted if you give less than $100."

• Setting Limits:

  • Rachel suggests, “Plan for what you can join, communicate if you can’t make every event—good friends will understand.”
  • Pro Tip: Attend the main event if you can’t afford all the pre-wedding mini-events.

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Kids’ Birthday Parties

[16:14-19:45]

• Shift from simple home parties to elaborate, outsourced celebrations (skating rinks, trampoline parks).
• Rachel recounts her vivid childhood memory of a “free” birthday activity: Dad shaking an inner tube in the garage for the kids to fall off ([17:49]).
• Modern expectations can easily spiral out of control: inviting every kid, feeding siblings and parents, elaborate decorations.
  • Rachel: "House parties, people go all out. More bounce houses and balloon arches and photo areas...like a wedding reception."
• Hosts acknowledge: For some, party planning is a creative outlet—and that’s okay—but it’s also okay to opt out and keep it simple.

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Housewarming Parties

[23:12-26:27]

• Shared nostalgia and suggestions for practical, appreciated gifts: a nice bottle of wine, fancy candle, or coffee table book (not to mention Winston Cruz’s famous baseboard critiques).
• Rachel: "Let’s bring back the housewarming parties, and let’s all bring a gift to it...a candle, a cozy blanket, even a soap dispenser!"
• George: “A party I can get behind. No expectation.”

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Gender Reveal Parties

[28:18-31:35]

• Evolution from private doctor’s office phone call to elaborate themed events, driven by social media.
• Both hosts share their own fun and “ridiculous” gender reveal stories involving egg-smashing games, confetti cannons, and smoke bombs.
  • George: "The good news is gender reveals don't cost you a lot other than a little bit of time. Because there’s no gift at the gender reveal."
  • Rachel and George both love “giftless parties”—just bring yourself!

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School Events & Group Gifting

[31:35-34:28, 39:36-40:44]

• Field trips, teacher gifts, and the unsung (and unpaid) hero: the homeroom mom/dad.
• Rachel is all for thoughtful teacher gifts and group gifts when there is a genuine need.
• Group Gift Dread:
  • George: "This one might be the most dreaded. I think we saved it for last." ([39:36])
  • Group gifts are great if they relieve work and are for a real need; awkward when they feel obligatory or overused.
  • George: "When there's a real need, like someone's going through something, happy to do it—never feels like an obligation." ([40:06])

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Reunions: Family and Class

[34:49-39:30]

• Rachel’s family is famous for “Reedy dogs” at Reedy reunions, while George finds reunions less appealing—unless approached out of 'dark curiosity', not nostalgia.
  • Rachel shares: "My grandpa owned a gas station and made these famous Reedy dogs for our family reunions—still does!"
• Cost: Mostly travel; no gifts required—hooray!

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4. The Art (and Necessity) of Boundaries

[42:16-44:53]

• Both admit setting boundaries gets easier with age and circumstance (like parenthood).
• George: “The older you get, the more comfortable you are saying no. You just care less about what other people think.”
• Social event FOMO should be balanced with energy, time, and money.
  • Rachel: "The boundary conversation—sometimes it goes too far where people are so, like, 'I have to protect my peace, I'm gonna say no to everything.' Be an adult, live in society. Show up for your friends even when it’s not convenient."
  • Pro tip: If travel or expenses are expected, plan ahead and budget—don’t act surprised.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Fake Out Excuses:
  • George (re: canceling on dinners): "Pro tip: If I ever say, 'Babysitter's sick,' you know what's happening." ([03:05])
• Shower Overload:
  • George: "If I see one more balloon arch..."
  • Rachel: "The signage alone can get out of hand. You gotta go to a FedEx just to get this party started." ([06:18])
• Birthday Reciprocity Rule:
  • George: "If they dip down on my birthday dinner, I dip out on their birthday dinner. I don't make the rules." ([10:00])
• Modern Wedding Reality:
  • Rachel: "Now everything involves travel, Airbnbs, and bachelorette trips. It’s a lot."
• Living Room Economics:
  • George: "You ever do the math on how much it costs just to live in your house? This is costing me $48 a day... Like a hotel. So why would I leave?" ([45:19])
• Boundary Wisdom:
  • George: “Show up for people and you'll find that they show up for you in return.” ([44:18])
• Giftless Parties FTW:
  • Rachel: "We love a giftless party. Invite us to those more giftless parties." ([31:35])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05 — Introduction to Social Expenses & Obligations
• 04:18 — Setting Boundaries: When Do You Say “No”?
• 05:13 — Showers: Baby, Wedding & “Sprinkles”
• 08:41 — Birthday Dinners: Costs & Social Rules
• 10:56 — Weddings & Wedding Party Financial Realities
• 16:14 — Kids' Birthday Parties: More Extravagant Than Ever?
• 23:12 — Housewarming Parties: Lost Tradition?
• 28:18 — Gender Reveal Parties: Origins & Opinions
• 31:35 — School Events & Teacher Gifting
• 34:49 — Reunions: Family & High School/College
• 39:36 — The Group Gift: Stress or Convenience?
• 42:16 — Social Boundaries: Why it Gets Easier With Age
• 45:19 — The Cost of Staying Home
• 47:00 — Guilty as Charged: Have You Bought Something Because of a Celebrity Endorsement?

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Tone & Style

Unfiltered, light-hearted, and deeply relatable. Rachel and George mix forthright money talk with plenty of self-aware humor and nostalgia, never missing a chance for a friendly roast or to poke fun at themselves. Above all, they encourage honest conversations about money and relationships, all while keeping things practical—and fun.

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Conclusion

Rachel and George offer listeners permission to set healthy boundaries, spend only where it matters, and not feel guilty for skipping obligations that drain their wallets or energy. Their collective message: Be intentional, plan ahead, communicate with your friends—and never underestimate the value of a “giftless party.”

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To hear their verdict on the “Smoked Rosemary Negroni Sour” and the “Guilty As Charged” stories, check out the last fifteen minutes of the episode!

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Like this? Don’t miss their other episodes, including: “Date Nights from $0 to $10,000.”

Transcript

[A]

If you've ever not wanted to attend another gender reveal and you feel like a terrible person for it, this is your safe space. Today we're talking about social expenses we all dread.

[B]

I feel like this is your, like, perfect episode.

[A]

Okay, this is petty, but if they dip down on my birthday dinner, I dip out on their birthday dinner. This one might be the most dreaded. I think we saved it for last week.

[B]

How are we feeling about that? Hey, guys, I'm rachel cruz.

[A]

George. I'm george camel, and this is smart money happy hour.

[B]

Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. So everything from pop culture, current events, and money.

[A]

Before we get to the content of the day, we're gonna sip on a smoked rosemary Negroni sour.

[B]

It's delicious.

[A]

That's a lot of words for a lot of flavor.

[B]

That's a lot of names.

[A]

So stick around till the end. We're gonna give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass.

[B]

Yep. Okay. George. I feel like there's nothing worse than feeling like you have to spend money on something that you really don't want to go to. Where you're like, oh, my gosh, my social energy, my financial energy, everything's going to the same.

[A]

It's all gone.

[B]

And when you start mapping it out, there's a lot of these things in life.

[A]

Feels like as we made this list, I. I had. I felt the cortisol levels. Because even if you're in a great place with money, I just hate feeling like this event on my calendar is going to cost me something I know socially, financially, emotionally, mentally, especially depending on what it is and who I will be with.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

The people you're around really dictate what's going to happen.

[B]

Yeah, you can get sucked into some situations. You know, I always think about Ross on Friends when he moved in. And I think it's like the. The building maintenance guys retiring and they're all, like, chipping in. Like, he's like, I don't know him. And they're, like, not going to give to his retirement party. Wait, what? And he's like, I. I don't know.

[A]

The guy, you know?

[B]

And then he feels like he has to chip in.

[A]

There is a social pressure to it all.

[B]

Yeah. Cause there is. Or it's something like that. Or even you get sucked into, like, going to dinner with people that you kind of don't want to go with.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they go to and they pick, like, a nice restaurant and you're like, crap, we're about to drop some money. We're going to drop some money and be with people we genuinely want.

[A]

You would not choose to be with otherwise.

[B]

Does that happen to you a lot?

[A]

It does. And here's what I found. Usually it's just me having a bad attitude, and we come back home and I go, I'm glad. You know what? I'm glad we did that.

[B]

Oh, okay. Have you had one that you didn't feel that way?

[A]

There's been times I want to get up and leave early. But you can't because you're stuck in a restaurant and you can't fake an emergency. I wish I was good at that.

[B]

Or like, I love the.

[A]

Do you roll your ankle under the table somehow?

[B]

Yeah. Or I see movies. They're like, if the single gal's out to her date and she has the friend that texts her and she's like, I gotta go. I'm so sorry. You know what I mean? Like, you need an out. Maybe the babysitter could be the out for you. Next thing.

[A]

That's a legitimate out.

[B]

She's sick. We gotta go home. Yeah. Cut the date.

[A]

Hey, we couldn't get. We couldn't get the babysitter last minute.

[B]

Sorry. Oh, and you just cancel on the front end.

[A]

Cancel it.

[B]

Oh, that's pretty dirty.

[A]

Pro tip. If I ever say that to you.

[B]

You know it's happening. I know. I'm with you. I feel like most people, I enjoy. We can't. I have one dinner in my head that happened a few years ago. That was.

[A]

I thought we had fun. I thought the camels and the cruises had a good time, but apparently that.

[B]

One dinner with the camels. Yeah. It doesn't happen often, but it did. And I thought, wow, that was not fun. Yeah, that was not. Well, usually enjoyable.

[A]

It's Whitney's friend. And then the husband's also there.

[B]

Yeah, that happens.

[A]

I'm having to make small talk with the guy, and we have nothing in common.

[B]

Yeah. And say he's like an outdoorsy hunter. You know what I mean?

[A]

My greatest fear is the outdoorsy hunting types. I had this conversation with my neighbor and we had to fake talk about sports.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Cause he was like, you watching the game? I was like, yeah, yeah. Big game, huh? Yeah.

[B]

Who are you going for?

[A]

I just. Here's my line. We got to see how the coaching plays out this season. It's. It gets you out of everything. Like, hey, you're right. He's right.

[B]

The. The. Do you know the d. The defensive Line.

[A]

I literally asked, what channel is it on? I asked him what channel the game was on. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to definitely throw it on.

[B]

Yeah, what channel is it on again?

[A]

He didn't even know. He's like, dude, if you just, you're not going to know.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Oh, embarrassing.

[B]

That happened.

[A]

So when there is an obligatory social engage, feel like you have to attend. Do you, Rachel Cruz, draw a boundary or do you give in and just suck it up?

[B]

I'm gonna say 75% give in, 25% draw a boundary.

[A]

I think it's a good ratio.

[B]

How about you?

[A]

I'm probably similar to you.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah. And it depends if it's Whitney's thing. It's, you know, if it's on my wife's side. I feel like I just, I go, yeah, you're.

[B]

Yeah, you're part of the package.

[A]

Yes. If she's asking me, she wants me there. That's a hint, guys. You're going to go there.

[B]

Yes. Okay, so do you want to go through. I feel like this is your like perfect episode. Going through different common social events and how they drain your time and your wallet.

[A]

I think we could delete these from society and everyone would be better.

[B]

Would be okay.

[A]

Kind of how I feel about most of these. So as we go through these guys, as you're listening or watching, be sure to drop your hot takes in the comments. There are no right or wrong answers. It's just our opinions here.

[B]

So yeah, we'll throw them out.

[A]

Yeah, there's some financial advice thrown in there that is right, but the rest is just opinions.

[B]

Okay, should we start off with the big umbrella, if you will, of showers? Ah, not to be mistaken with rain showers. No, no, we're talking about baby showers, wedding showers, sprinkles, you know, all of it.

[A]

I'm afraid to admit how long it took me to realize where the name Sprinkles came from.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Yeah, they're like, we're doing a baby sprinkle. I was like, what is that? And they're like, you know, shower and then a sprinkle.

[B]

It's like a light, it's a light shower.

[A]

Why are we letting white women in charge of all of these? We need better marketing guys.

[B]

Oh my gosh. I know, but it's the flowers, the plastic wear, the napkins, food, drinks, signage, balloons, the arch.

[A]

If I see one more balloon arch.

[B]

I mean, yeah, you're Venmo and 300 bucks to your sister in law to, you know, keep it moving, keep it shaking.

[A]

It adds up fast.

[B]

It does. Okay. I feel like I'm out of the shower phase.

[A]

Congratulations.

[B]

I am.

[A]

You've made it.

[B]

I haven't had one.

[A]

Well, you've graduated. I haven't been invited into the kids birthday phase.

[B]

Yeah, we'll get to that one in a little bit.

[A]

Juicy D. I've attended a lot of these lately, and, you know, the signage alone can get out of hand. You got to go to, like, a FedEx just to get this party started. Yeah, that's too much work.

[B]

It's a lot. It's a lot.

[A]

And there's. Everything's themed. There's a little, like, grab and go bag at the end with something special. Oh.

[B]

You get like a. Like a treat bag. Like a child's birthday. Okay. See, I've not been to one of.

[A]

Those, and it's all very cute. I just want no part in it. So I'm not anti. I'm like, if you want to do that, if that's your gifting, is you want to go to Hobby Lobby and have at.

[B]

That's the thing is I think creative people. This is like their place to shine.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

They love it because you're putting together this look and all the theme.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

They like, really genuine. It's like they're. Yeah. It's their gifting. They enjoy it. People like. I think me and you are like the. Like, we don't.

[A]

We're not that crafty.

[B]

Not that crafty. Don't.

[A]

What we bring is some. Some social presence. We're going to elevate your party.

[B]

We will bring the energy and keep the conversation.

[A]

We'll make sure drinks are in hand and everyone's having a good time.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Conversation keeps going. We'll carry the conversation. You carry the signage. We carry conversations.

[A]

Here's the hot take. Should people in the wedding party or the people throwing the baby shower, should they also have to buy a gift from the registry?

[B]

I know. I think, like, etiquette wise would say yes, but I think that that's kind of crazy. I think that is your gift.

[A]

Thank you for saying it out loud.

[B]

I do. I think that could be your gift.

[A]

Let me free you all. You don't have to get them a gift. Now here's what I found. The person who the shower was thrown for.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Generally they'll get the hostess a gift.

[B]

Now I would say that's. That is fair. I think having a hostess I am a fan of.

[A]

That doesn't have to be big.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

But just.

[B]

Hey, here's Would you prefer baby shower or wedding shower?

[A]

Oh, gosh. I think a wedding shower is a little more out of control. Oh, baby shower is a little more, you know, usually it's the ladies. The guys don't have to attend.

[B]

True.

[A]

A wedding shower feels like a bigger event.

[B]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

So I don't know. Yes, I'd rather go to a baby shower. I think you can get in and out faster. Baby shower is kind of a, you.

[B]

Know, stop in, drop in. Yes. The wedding shower, it's like a party that's like from this time to this time. Yeah. Okay. Fair.

[A]

You gotta stick around longer.

[B]

Yeah, that's fair. That's fair. I don't know. The new love is kind of fun to be around.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Of a wedding shower for a wedding shower. I don't know. The excitement, getting some homegoods.

[A]

That's true. I like the newlywed type. Games they play. We did that. You do like to hold up the. The shoe or the heel.

[B]

Cute. Cute. Yes.

[A]

Who's more likely to. That part's fun. I can get. I can get down with that.

[B]

I know, but expensive. Expensive. All right, next up, we got birthday dinners.

[A]

This is.

[B]

I love a birthday dinner.

[A]

There's a lot of birthdays, though, when you think about it. Everyone that you know was born, so that's a lot of dinners is all I'm saying.

[B]

A lot of dinners.

[A]

You know, every single one of them is going to have a birthday this year.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That's stressful.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And how many will then have a birthday dinner that you get invited to? At least 10.

[B]

That's what I'm trying to think. I'm trying to think. Yeah, I know. My friends were kind of fickle with the birthdays. I feel like it's. I think because everyone's about to turn 40 or has, and the 40th is usually like a bigger thing.

[A]

Yeah. You just had a big celebration.

[B]

But the 39th birthday, I feel like sometimes it comes and goes for people.

[A]

No get togethers with the gals. Yeah.

[B]

Like, I just feel like sometimes it's. I had a friend, she just turned 42 and it was like on a Tuesday.

[A]

Oh, forget about it.

[B]

Well, yeah, like, it's just like. It's just.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, you kind of just keep living. You know what I mean? I've done that on birthdays for myself even.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Sometimes it's like a big fun thing and then sometimes it's not.

[A]

Well, some years you're just not in the mood and I think, you know, that's okay. To not.

[B]

I think I've got to do a big bloop. I agree. I agree.

[A]

So, yeah, usually a birthday dinner, but.

[B]

I love a dinner out.

[A]

I think three, five, maybe 10 people max. I think beyond 10. Don't go out.

[B]

When do you. When do you not go to a birthday dinner? Yeah.

[A]

Okay, this is petty, but if they dip down on my birthday dinner, I dip out on their birthday dinner.

[B]

Wow. That's the rule.

[A]

I don't make the rules.

[B]

Quit.

[A]

Just.

[B]

Whoa. That's what we like to call that.

[A]

And you ditch me? I ditch you? Yeah.

[B]

If you do this, I'll do that.

[A]

I don't get invited to many dinners. I want you to know.

[B]

Stop.

[A]

Whitney goes to way more. I feel like this is more important for girls.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They go out.

[B]

I would say probably more social. Yes.

[A]

But for my. My birthday went to a very fancy place in Nashville.

[B]

Thanks for the inv.

[A]

Three other guys. It was a guy's thing.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Whitney set it up for me as a surprise.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And we had a great time.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So I'm. I'm not anti birthday dinner, but I do feel like we had to choose the right guys who we knew could stomach the price point of this dinner. You're probably talking, I don't know, 150 bucks per person.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

200 bucks per person after drinks and tax and tip and all that. So it's not cheap. So I don't. I. I understand guys not wanting to opt into that and say, you know what? That's too much for us right now.

[B]

Nothing but respect 100%.

[A]

But that can get out of hand.

[B]

All right, let's go to the. The big daddy of them all, the wedding. So, man.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And especially if you're in the party, how many have you been in?

[A]

You're pretty popular.

[B]

Okay. Again, this was all, like 15 years ago.

[A]

You can name them all. Sally, Nancy, Brenda.

[B]

Probably seven or eight.

[A]

Debbie. Debbie.

[B]

Oh, when Debbie got married in 2010.

[A]

Eight weddings. That's a lot. I've probably been in at least four or five.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. And again, I hate to. I feel like I'm. I'm making. I'm making it sound like, oh, I'm so old, and I'm not. But I'm telling you, 2009, 2010, 2008. That was a different era of weddings, of what it is today, of being involved.

[A]

Oh, your involvement wasn't as intense.

[B]

No, like that. Like, I think I went on one bachelorette trip in all of that. Like, everyone just had, like, a night out on the town.

[A]

Yes. Now everything involves travel, Airbnb.

[B]

I mean, seriously, like, and I think there was like two wedding showers. One from the groom side, one for. I mean, we may have hosted a friend. Like, it was very, very low key. Like, it didn't feel like, like today when I hear people talk about being in weddings, I'm like, holy crap.

[A]

Well, the time commitment, the financial commitment, it's a lot.

[B]

It's a lot you added up.

[A]

Let's do hair and makeup.

[B]

Well, this just the day of hair and makeup, Nails, bridesmaid's dress, alterations, tux rental. Yeah, gotta order the tux. Shoes, jewelry, tie. I mean, that's almost like 500 bucks for just the day you're renting it.

[A]

Right? The bridesmaid dresses or you buy.

[B]

No, you buy.

[A]

And then you never wear them again.

[B]

No. And if you wear a long one, which is what I did, you can shorten it. It can be a great cocktail dress. You try to really sell people on that.

[A]

And let me tell you, zero tux rentals are tuxes I would want to wear ever again. It's like a trash bag, you know, you're at like a men's wareh just wishing for another life. The 68 year old man tells you, I don't trust you when it comes to fashion. So I'm sorry.

[B]

And here you are doing my measurements. You know, what's the point of measuring.

[A]

If this is how the tux is gonna look at the end?

[B]

That's rough. Okay. Did a lot of the wings you were in have the bow tie tux or like the tie?

[A]

That's a good question. Left my own dividing.

[B]

I don't think we had any bow tie weddings.

[A]

I may have been a bow tie guy. I think my wedding. I was the bow tie guy.

[B]

Were your groomsmen bow tie guys?

[A]

I think so.

[B]

Okay, that's great. I like a belt top. I do too. I think it's classy. I think it's pretty.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Very, very nice.

[A]

This is a big expense, especially with wedding gifts. Because now the question is, do you have to up it with inflation? I feel like now a hundred dollars is the minimum for a wedding gift.

[B]

Now to get like a nice gift.

[A]

It used to be like 50 to 75 bucks for like a decent wedding.

[B]

Gift, and now it's like a hundred is what you're saying.

[A]

I feel, personally, correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like it's probably true. You'll get lambasted.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

If you give less than $100, you.

[B]

Know, we got Most of our gift cards from. And now it's nowhere to be found. Bed, Bath and Beyond. That was like all of our gift cards.

[A]

That was the Mecca for newlyweds.

[B]

Man, that was a dream place.

[A]

I might still have some silverware now.

[B]

It's. I think I. I know. So crazy.

[A]

That's a good one.

[B]

Expensive though. You guys have stuff that you never use.

[A]

100%. It's probably gone by now.

[B]

I think we've.

[A]

After like three moves, you eventually sell it, get rid of it. Regifted.

[B]

Yes, I know, but it's a lot.

[A]

You just.

[B]

Okay, so from financial perspective, where's your boundary if someone is. Doesn't have all this money? Right. Just to throw around.

[A]

Yeah. What do you do for a wedding specifically?

[B]

Yeah, I'm thinking if you're going, I think you can get around a hundred dollar gift. And I think, I don't think it has to be a hundred dollars if you're the guest. Now if you're part of the wedding party and there's all these expenses, I think you do have to kind of like plan out, hey, this is how much money I have to spend. And I may have to draw a line somewhere.

[A]

I can't go to every single little thing.

[B]

Yes. Yeah. Especially if you're like having to travel for it.

[A]

And if it's a multi day thing, if it's local sometimes, if it's like a weekend, you can say, hey, I can't make it Friday night. I can come by Saturday.

[B]

Oh, that's smart. Yeah.

[A]

So if it's a multi day event, try to come to what you can.

[B]

Cut it in half if you need to.

[A]

Yeah. But I think if you have the right friends, they'll understand.

[B]

Yes, that's always my hope.

[A]

So give people grace too. Don't be mad at everyone because they didn't show up to every single thing.

[B]

Yeah, that's right. Yeah. It's not a personal. Personal slight on you. That's just where they're at. Yeah. Oh man, that's stressful. You know what else is stressful?

[A]

What's that?

[B]

Knowing your data's all over the Internet.

[A]

You're adding that to the pile.

[B]

Yeah, I'm gonna add that to the pile. Isn't that crazy to feel like if you are signing up for coupons, newsletters, all of it, your data is then out there and can end up on sketchy data broker websites.

[A]

I hate feeling exposed like that.

[B]

Yes, but delete me. We love them, George. We love them. They come in and their privacy team goes onto these Data broker sites and removes your data so it doesn't continue to spread throughout the Internet. We love them.

[A]

So it's super simple. You go on there, you fill out all your information. They go, cool. This is the stuff we're gonna scan for against the data broker sites. And if they find it, they remove it. And they even send you a report showing you exactly what sites they removed you from, how much time they saved you. And it really is the best peace of mind money can buy is to have the subscription.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

So highly encourage everyone to check it out. It's a great way to protect yourself, your family, your kids. You can go to joindeleteme.com smartmoney and get 20% off their annual plans. We'll also drop a link in the description down below.

[B]

Yep. They're amazing, you guys. So make sure to do it to protect your online privacy. All right, let's go to kids birthday parties. This is the season of life. I'm in, George.

[A]

I feel like every weekend another kid was born on that day.

[B]

It is wild.

[A]

Are we done with trampoline parks? Can you tell me that?

[B]

No, no, no. They are in full fledged full now. We went to a rock climbing birthday party and that was fun.

[A]

That was fun.

[B]

Charles loved it. Yes.

[A]

Is it safe for the kids?

[B]

Well, they have like, like harnesses.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

And like people that work there and like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was great.

[A]

So it's actually safer than a trampoline park.

[B]

Kind of.

[A]

There's no harnesses to the trampoline.

[B]

Yeah. No. No trampoline park. There's just.

[A]

It's just a waiver that says, hey, your kid could die. I know.

[B]

And you can't sue us.

[A]

It's wild.

[B]

We all just sign away. We're like, sure. Okay. So. Okay. I've realized for me as a mom that outsourcing the location does not bother me because I know how nice it is when you can do the skate center or the gymnastics play, not whatever house.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you like now from a price standpoint, you're still paying a good bit to get that party room or whatever. But it's kind of nice to have everything somewhere. Everyone comes to this third party location and you don't have to do all the crazy decorations. I think it's the house parties that people go.

[A]

They're actually more bounce houses and balloon.

[B]

Arches and photo areas and tables set like a wedding reception. I mean, like when we were kids.

[A]

It was just like a table. Maybe you had a little tablecloth that was birthday themed with balloons on It. And there was a cake and maybe some pizza.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But there was no way. I don't remember doing, like, an activity.

[B]

No. I have a vivid memory. It was our old. I moved out of this house when I was in kindergarten, so I had to have been five or less. Five years old or less. One of my birthday parties, we'll say I was 4. I remember being in the garage and we had an inner tube, and my dad. It was attached to a rope, and dad would just shake the inner tube and all the kids would sit on it and fall off.

[A]

Just on the garage floor.

[B]

Yes. And then we'd just do it again and he'd shake it and we'd all fall off. And that's what we did. That was my birthday party.

[A]

I can just picture Dave being like, oh, we gotta think of something for the truth.

[B]

True story. I mean, I'm not kidding. That was it. And it was. That was it.

[A]

And they had a great time.

[B]

I think so. I mean, we were four. Yeah. That's all we knew, you know, Antioch, Tennessee, Living it up in the garage. That was it.

[A]

That could be a new sport. They invented that.

[B]

I know. I know. So, yeah. And again, I never wanna put like a. This is always when we talk about money, George. Always. My. Like, conflicting is like, we could say something stupid, but someone may value that. And I don't want to say it's stupid because they value travel, sports. You could say that's stupid, but people value that. Birthday parties that are basically as much as a wedding reception, people value that. Right. Like, we could say it's stupid. I don't know.

[A]

Because then it's like, you got to invite every kid. There's 30 kids at these parties. There's so many kids running around.

[B]

I think so.

[A]

And then you got to also feed the adults that are there. Yeah. So you just double or tripled your number.

[B]

Yeah. Yes.

[A]

And then the siblings. Well, can I bring the sister? Okay. Now the sister is here.

[B]

Right, Right.

[A]

It feels like it can get out of control real quick.

[B]

It's. Yes, it is. It is. Yep.

[A]

And a lot of waste. I feel like kids can be wasteful.

[B]

Oh, can you. Okay.

[A]

Once they touch something, it's. Just throw it away. You know what I mean? Then they drop it on the floor. Gross little knock it over.

[B]

I know. And then it is. I'm always like, God, do people feel like they have to do this? Like, the extravagance of something, you know? Do you feel like you have to do that? Like, I don't know. But again, Some people enjoy it. That's like their outlet, their creative outlet.

[A]

Or the kids comparing their other friends birthday parties to theirs. Is there almost a measuring up?

[B]

Well, okay, so a little bit. But it's not about the decor or, like the food quality. It's always the place, like, oh, so and so had it here. Do you know what I mean? It's not the aesthetics that they're, like, comparing. It's like, oh, well, she had a skating birthday party. I want a skating birthday party. You know what I mean?

[A]

It's more like I was at the roller skate center recently. Yes.

[B]

That's a birthday. That's one of the cheapest birthdays for Whitney, your wife.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, that's fun. What happened? What's that situation?

[A]

We went and I skated. Okay. And I realized I'm good to never do this again.

[B]

Did you have all your friends?

[A]

Yeah, she had like three or four friends there. And then me and one of the other husbands were there too. We didn't fall. Yeah. But let me tell you. Wait, hold on. I didn't. Weird energy in the roller skate centers.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

It is.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, so I just want to make sure I get this right. Whitney was like, hey, I just really want to go roller skating.

[A]

Her friend Maddie. You know Maddie?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

She decided I'm gonna throw her this birthday at the skate center. So she sent a little invite and we all went and we had a time.

[B]

Did you have a party room?

[A]

We didn't. They looked into it and then I'm glad because that party room was so depressing. It was like a jail cell with a night.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

We've done two birthday party.

[A]

How were they even charging?

[B]

But it's the cheapest place to do a birthday party. I get one. It is the cheapest out of all the places. It's the cheapest.

[A]

When all the food they have can be made in a microwave. I get why it's cheap.

[B]

I know, I know. Well, that's fun, George.

[A]

But it was fun. It was nostalgic. And I realized there's a lot of adults who have staked their entire personalities on being a roller skater.

[B]

It's a lot when the adults are like, slide, swipe and kiss.

[A]

They're trying to impress me.

[B]

You're like, all right, you are a 32 year old man out there on rollerblades just going around that circle.

[A]

Great people watching go around that circle. And I'm also bad at it. So when you're bad at something, it's less enjoyable.

[B]

That's rough. That's rough.

[A]

Yeah. There's an idea for you guys.

[B]

All right. Engagement parties.

[A]

Oh, I forgot about engagement parties.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

What happens at those? So the couple, he just proposed and then they're all partying right after.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. That's fun. I would think. A lot of shamps and some excitement. Celebratory. Great. I love new love.

[A]

Well, that feels different, because you don't get a gift at the engagement party.

[B]

No, I think I'd rather do an engagement party than a wedding shower.

[A]

Hot take. I think we should swap it. All right.

[B]

I think we should love an engagement party. Yeah.

[A]

And it just happened. The love is so fresh.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's fun. And you get the story. That's all. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're not. Yes. Okay. I'm here for pro engagement parties.

[A]

A little banner. And it feels like the decor is very minimal at these parties because they're.

[B]

Kind of the center of attention. The story of what just happened is the main theme, not what's going to happen.

[A]

No balloon arch needed. Just love.

[B]

Celebrating the past versus the future.

[A]

That's beautiful. Who should be paying for the engagement party? That's the question.

[B]

The dude?

[A]

The parents?

[B]

Well, ideally.

[A]

But we can't leave it to the parents.

[B]

Yeah, I don't wanna leave it to the parents. Okay, ideally, the parents.

[A]

And if the parents. But if not, if you wanna chip in, that's great.

[B]

That's the dude. He's got the ring and the party. Cause she can't know about it. She can't plan it.

[A]

Please do not ask her to plan an engagement party.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Dead giveaway, guys.

[B]

All right, Chad, get on your savings plan. It's coming your way. Housewarming parties.

[A]

That's a fun one.

[B]

I don't go to many of these.

[A]

I don't think they're as much of a thing anymore.

[B]

They should be. Should we bring them back?

[A]

I'd like to. Well, I just.

[B]

I love a tour of a home. Parade of homes. So fun.

[A]

I've been to that.

[B]

Let me walk me around.

[A]

I gave you around the tour of my house. You did?

[B]

And I loved it.

[A]

We had a great time. That was essentially my housewarming.

[B]

You know what? Our friends just moved in this past weekend. We all went to the new house. It's like, right down the street from us, which is so fun. It didn't feel like a housewarming. It was just like a. We're all getting together and she's like.

[A]

Your first time at their new house.

[B]

But I love a tour. And you Know how I love to bring with a tour.

[A]

What's that?

[B]

Winston Cruz.

[A]

Is he impressed by the tour or is he a good commentary?

[B]

Commentary after. He is very picky on design and architecture. He looks at baseball. He is scaling the whole thing.

[A]

Can Winston secret shop my house?

[B]

Oh, I should.

[A]

He would.

[B]

And he. If you.

[A]

He would roast it, he'd be like agreeable gray in this room.

[B]

No, no. It's not even. It's not even color.

[A]

It's how the quality.

[B]

His baseboard expectations are very high.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

He loves a big baseboard.

[A]

And he. Does he like it to be ornate or minimalist?

[B]

No. More. More character. He said a lot of homes feel cold. A lot of the new builds, very cold.

[A]

Wow. So, yeah, I think he'd be proud of our baseboard game.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

We really did you up it. We swung for the fences with the baseboard. I know.

[B]

That was when we built. He was like, we're getting large baseboards on the first floor. And I was like, okay. It was like a non negotiable Wow. I know. His like, his little. He has the critic side of it.

[A]

Okay. It's a new show. It's a housewarming party that takes a turn when Winston shows up.

[B]

I think so.

[A]

And he's like, the food inspector.

[B]

Cause I just walk through and I'm like, whoa, Whoa. Beautiful.

[A]

Rachel's impressed by everything.

[B]

I love a light fixture. We leave, and I'm like, what'd you think? And he's like, did you notice the so and so didn't have the closed door and the doors didn't match? And I was like, no, not. He's like, builder grade. He's like, builder grade.

[A]

The bronze knob with the nickel faucet. Are you kidding me?

[B]

Wow. But he'd say, you could do it on a budget. That's his thing. He's like, there's like, so many architecture things that, like, don't have to cost a lot now. The bigger baseboards maybe, but, like, there's small things you can do to create some, like, I don't know. He's. He has opinions.

[A]

Hgtv. Call up Winston Cruz. Get this show.

[B]

I'm kidding.

[A]

You can get a nice bottle of wine. You can get, you know, a little cheese.

[B]

That made him sound terrible. He's very encouraged on people's homes. I was like, he just destroys.

[A]

Well. And he's in the real estate world, so I feel like it makes sense that he cares. He's built buildings before, so he cares about materials.

[B]

And he notices.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So funny. Okay. Yeah. But let's bring back the housewarming parties, and let's all bring a gift to it. But you're right. A nice bottle of wine. Or. You know what? I love a good soap dispenser. Give me a cute thing with a little plate with, like, your dish soap, hand soap, and, like, adorable.

[A]

A really fancy candle that you would not buy for yourself.

[B]

Yes, yes.

[A]

Maybe go three wick. Maybe Woodwick. Who am I to judge?

[B]

Get a couple friends together, get one nice candle. They would appreciate it at homeowners. I know.

[A]

And a coffee table book. That's always a fun thing.

[B]

Get ready to spend 50 bucks, though.

[A]

They ain't cheap. They know their worth.

[B]

They are expensive.

[A]

But that one is a party I can get behind.

[B]

I think so, too. You know what else you could buy?

[A]

No expectation.

[B]

Like a great cozy blanket from Cozy Earth.

[A]

Now you're speaking my language.

[B]

That's a great housewarming gift. Cozy Earth has good products for the home. Bath towels, bed sheets, maybe. Kind of weird to get someone bed sheets, but, hey, I wouldn't be mad if someone got me Cozy Earth bedsheets. Listen, I'd say thank you.

[A]

Cozy Earth bed sheets. You're gonna say, how did you. How did you even think of something this quality and luxury for you, this wonderful? You don't deserve this. But I do deserve it.

[B]

Yeah. There's.

[A]

Everyone deserves great sleep.

[B]

I know. So.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Whether it's the. Yeah. It's the quilts, it's the throw blankets, the pajamas, the socks. The socks I've been wearing out this winter.

[A]

Got mine on as we speak.

[B]

And I always make sure it says Cozy Earth. My pairing.

[A]

I am ocd.

[B]

I never want to switch it. I like to see the Cozy Earth.

[A]

Yeah. I'm glad you're with me on that.

[B]

So good. But there are new sheets. They have some of this new. It's the bamboo.

[A]

Are you talking about the Baja Collection?

[B]

The Baja Collection. Have you seen it?

[A]

I have stocked the Baja Collection, y'.

[B]

All. It is unbelievable.

[A]

It makes me want to go to Cabo and just be eating a taco, sipping on a mar.

[B]

It's, like, right there. I know, but it's that bamboo material. But the pattern is beautiful. And also the towels. They have those bamboo towels now, which I just got some. So soft.

[A]

It's the little things in life.

[B]

It's incredible. A washable.

[A]

Can I read this? I think this is from their website.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

Inspired by the serene colors and dramatic textures of the Baja cow California landscape, the Baja Collection brings a lively yet Elegant blend of texture and pattern to your top of bed. Your top of bed. I might as well. Summer in Martha's Vineyard.

[B]

That's the other side. That's East Coast.

[A]

So I know. I just feel so.

[B]

You're right with copper.

[A]

Great job, team. So go check it all out. Cozyearth.com smart money and use our code smart money to get 20% off. And if you get a post purchase survey, mention that you heard about it on Smart Money happy hour. We appreciate that.

[B]

Beautiful. All right, gender reveals.

[A]

Oh, boy. We're back. We're back into cringe territory.

[B]

Oh, are we?

[A]

I just feel like back in the day, you went to the doctor and they told you and you went, oh, how nice. And then you go home. What happened to that?

[B]

I know it changed. I can tell you when. Cause it was my kid, I swear. During my kids social media. Charles 2019, pregnant with Charles. 2019 was the first time I felt like, oh, I need to do something about this.

[A]

You can't just keep it to yourself.

[B]

Cause before we took it to a bakery and we just had them put a pink cupcake or a blue cupcake, and we went out to dinner and we opened the box to see what color the cupcake was. And then we FaceTimed the parents after in the car, FaceTime the family. Everyone knows we're gonna see, you know. But that was it, Charles. I was like, oh, my gosh. People were doing stuff. Yes. That was 2019.

[A]

People wanna know what's Charles gonna be.

[B]

I know. So you know what I did? Now I look back, I'm like, actually, it was pretty funny. I have a video. I'll try to find it and maybe y' all can play it in this episode I did with our family for Easter. This is so random. Are you ready for this? I colored six blue eggs, six yellow eggs, hard boiled all of them but one blue egg, and made my whole family stand outside. And they all had to take an egg and hit it on their forehead. And whichever one broke that color was at the.

[A]

That is wild.

[B]

I know what it is.

[A]

God bless Sharon, because out of all people, it was the right person because she could handle that. I know. I would go home immediately and shower.

[B]

Well, it just was like, on her.

[A]

Forehead, but doesn't matter.

[B]

Anyways, that was my dream. Why did I do that?

[A]

Literally egg on my face.

[B]

What was your gender reveals?

[A]

We did a, you know, the old backyard thing for the first one.

[B]

Did you do, like, smoke?

[A]

We had a hundred people in our. In our home. Good night, George. Someone bumped the microwave on and just left it running, and it melted the COVID inside, so that was stressful. I just smelled burning plastic.

[B]

No, George.

[A]

I couldn't get my grill working. It was one of those pellet grills, and it ran out of pellets.

[B]

Were you making food for this gender reveal?

[A]

Yeah, it was an attempt.

[B]

Y' all do the most.

[A]

I know. So that was fun.

[B]

Was it smoke? Was it a balloon? What'd you do?

[A]

The first one we did the, like, confetti thing, and it's still in the backyard. It's just a confetti cannon.

[B]

Oh, a cannon.

[A]

Yeah. The second time, we did smoke.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Went to a park. Much smaller group. Highly recommend. 10 minutes. We were all smoked.

[B]

Did you know the gender before the party?

[A]

We didn't.

[B]

Oh, so y' all found out with the people?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Oh, that's funny.

[A]

I think that's the key. I don't like it when the couple knows.

[B]

Yes, I agree with that.

[A]

I want the couple to be not in the loop with everyone else.

[B]

Yeah, we want to be part of it.

[A]

There's one trusted outside party that knows.

[B]

Yes. Okay. That's fine.

[A]

I prefer it that way.

[B]

Is that most gender reveals, the couple doesn't know.

[A]

I hope so.

[B]

Most people don't know, and they find out with the group.

[A]

Maybe if you're real type A and you have to be, like, a planner, you got to know.

[B]

Well, I knew to do my eggs. You know what I mean?

[A]

Who else is going to boil eggs at midnight?

[B]

Who else is going to boil those eggs and dye them?

[A]

The good news is gender reveals don't cost you a lot other than a little bit of time. Cause there's no gift at the gender reveal. I don't think.

[B]

No, no, no, no, no.

[A]

So this is one of the cheapest party.

[B]

We love a giftless party. Invite us to those more giftless parties. That's a good one.

[A]

When you just have to bring yourself.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. All right, kids, school events, field trips, Valentine swap, Christmas programs, Chipping in for the third grades quarterly, you know, spa gift card.

[A]

All the things I'm less mad at this one. Field trips make sense. You know, I don't expect the teachers to be funding this, so, you know, I'm happy to chip in.

[B]

Yeah, totally.

[A]

We had to pay $3 for little Mia to get pizza at her little school party day. I was like, back in my day, it was a dollar a slice.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

And now they're charging $3 a month. They even use a promo code when they order I know.

[B]

Were they even looking for a deal? Unbelievable.

[A]

But anything for our little Mia. So. Yeah, I'm for school.

[B]

Yeah, I think they're fine.

[A]

Do they get out of hand as the kids get older? Does it get more expensive?

[B]

No, it goes the opposite. Or at. Our kids are in public school, so really only the homeroom moms are the ones that do. What is a homeroom mom, George? You know what a homeroom mom is?

[A]

I don't know. If I just didn't grow up, they.

[B]

May call it homeroom parents now. Maybe that's what they call it now.

[A]

Is it a volunteer?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you gotta be on it like this, mom.

[A]

I feel like these people should be paid.

[B]

They should. We end up getting homeroom mom gifts sometimes to hear from them. Because they do everything. They really do.

[A]

Are they in the classroom?

[B]

No, but they're the ones that usually do the parties, do the teacher gifts. Yes. They're the liaison. Yes. From teacher to parents. So there's always a group me now of the kids class. And then they got. I mean, some of ours, y', all, they're amazing. They got like, QR codes for the teacher's favorite thing. QR codes for like. Like, we have, like, a Friday store our kids do at our school. So it's like, things to fun.

[A]

I mean, where's the homeroom dads at? Why are the dads at.

[B]

I know. I think it's homeroom parent now. But no, it's all moms. And these moms, we know who they are every grade. And you kind of pray your kid gets in the class with that kid. Cause that mom will be the homeroom mom. So you're. Yes. Rebecca. Go, girl, go.

[A]

It's gonna be a good year. Yes.

[B]

Denise. Denise Whittemore. Always a homeroom mom for one of the kids.

[A]

Denise would be a great homeroom.

[B]

She's a great homeroom mom. You got charts, you got communication. Everyone venmos her, you know, like, whatever the price is.50 bucks right at the beginning of the year. So she coordinates the Teacher Appreciation Week.

[A]

They should be called teacher liaisons. I mean, let's give them some panache.

[B]

I think that's good. I think that's what they are. Yep. So they do it all as the kids get older. It's the preschool years that's a lot. The moms do everything.

[A]

And then teacher gifts, which I think we should make even more of a thing.

[B]

100%. Yes.

[A]

I don't know what we're getting teachers these days, but it's not enough.

[B]

You know what I got whatever it is. Yeah. It's not enough. I always love the jewelry.

[A]

Oh, that's fun.

[B]

So since we're after Christmas. Yes. So there is a place I always love to. Bauble Bar. I always love their jewelry. And they have, like, these great bracelets with birthstones. And so I got each teacher their birthstone bracelet.

[A]

That's cute.

[B]

And then some stackables. Isn't that nice?

[A]

Stackables?

[B]

Well, just, like, multiple bracelets.

[A]

So, like, go with it.

[B]

I love a birthstone these days. I don't know. There's something kind of like.

[A]

What's your birthstone?

[B]

Diamonds.

[A]

I feel like you planned this, April.

[B]

I know. I was born in, like, the perfect year.

[A]

What's mine? Emerald.

[B]

What are you?

[A]

May.

[B]

May. Is that ruby? No, emerald. Oh, green.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You're so wicked. Thank you, Emerald City.

[A]

I'm in Elphaba. Took the Buzzfeed quiz. Wow. That's fun.

[B]

Oh, man.

[A]

All right, next up, reunions. This one. Do you look forward to a reunion? I feel like you do because you have good, fond memories of your past.

[B]

I've never done a college. Okay. No, I've never been to a high school reunion. Isn't that terrible? No shade to the Brentwood high class of 2006. But I, like, heard from other friends after. They're like, yeah, I was just at, like, a bar. Like, everyone just showed up where Denise is 20 year. They did it at, like, a hotel downtown. And you had to pay, like, 150 bucks to attend. And there's, like, name tag. It's like, was nice. So I hope that's my 20 year.

[A]

And I want something a little fancier than just like.

[B]

Yeah, then like, a loud bar. Cause I'm like, I don't even know if I remember who you are. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, it's a lot, but I would love it. It made me a little nervous.

[A]

Yeah, it kind of feels like a. Like a first date.

[B]

Feels like a little. It feels like a little.

[A]

Plus your past trauma.

[B]

Yeah, it all is right there.

[A]

Oh, yeah. You used to beat me up. Yeah, I remember you, man. What's up? How you been? You just got out of prison. Now that makes sense. I assume that was your future.

[B]

Yeah. Did you have.

[A]

That's how I would feel. Did you have denim high, class of 07? Never been to a reunion.

[B]

Okay. And not interested.

[A]

I would go, but more of at a dark curiosity and less of like a let's relive the glory days.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You Know what I mean?

[B]

Sure, yeah. Yeah.

[A]

But I think a Where are they now? Is one of the most fun, especially if you bring your spouse and you're telling them all the stories.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

I know, I know.

[A]

But I do feel like a part of it is a flex of, like, look at me now, haters, you know? Yeah, I'm married.

[B]

You didn't think it was successful? Look at this. Like. Yeah, totally.

[A]

Family reunions. You guys do those? We do do one every year.

[B]

Every year.

[A]

The Reedies.

[B]

The Reedy reunion. Look at you.

[A]

Reedy dogs.

[B]

George, you know our family so well.

[A]

Yes. It's. Can you explain the Reedy dog to people that are not aware?

[B]

Yeah, so my papa owns.

[A]

You have to explain that one Papa.

[B]

That's a Southern papa mammal.

[A]

That's a grandparent.

[B]

Yes. My papa owned a gas station, like a convenience store with. With gas pumps. Like a gas station. Growing up, that was his job. And so in the gas station in Madisonville, Tennessee, he coined these hot dogs. He, like, would steam these hot dogs, and then he made chili and homemade. Like, everything was homemade and they were called Reedy dogs. So people would come all the time to Madisonville to this gas station, and he had tables and stuff.

[A]

World famous Reedy dogs.

[B]

Yes. They became, like, a thing, like, mostly kind of through the late 70s, 80s, 90s.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That was like the back when you.

[A]

Could trust a gas station hot dog.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But, yeah, the Reedy dogs and cigarettes were the number two sellers at this store. But all my cousins that lived in town, they worked it in the summer, like, so we always just got to a visit. But yeah, and then pap. All day up. They closed the store. All of it. But. But. So the Reedy dog, they still have the steamer from the gas station. So they bring it every union, and they still do Reedy dogs.

[A]

That's beautiful.

[B]

Isn't that funny?

[A]

Are they that good?

[B]

Oh, they're so good.

[A]

What's the secret?

[B]

He makes his homemade chili. It's like a homemade, like, concoction.

[A]

All of his hot dogs. Yes. The hot dog is fairly.

[B]

And then you do sauerkraut mustard. It's like a whole shebang.

[A]

I'm in.

[B]

I know. It's great. Yeah, we've got, like, golly, it's probably 60. We got. Mom had. Mom's one of five married. Everyone had, like, three to five kids. Most of them were all married. And then now we all have three to five kids. No, two to three kids.

[A]

Is this, like, 100 people?

[B]

I was gonna Say, I mean, it had to have been, what, 70? I mean. Yeah, It's a lot.

[A]

That's wild.

[B]

I know. But the question is, do you keep it going when papaw.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

And I think my mom's generation will keep it going. And all of his cousins are like, do we keep it going?

[A]

It'll dwindle over time.

[B]

Stop that. Jeez.

[A]

Is it gonna grow?

[B]

Well, it looked.

[A]

I guess you need more coming in than there are going out so far.

[B]

That's the. That's. That's what's happening.

[A]

All right.

[B]

But it may turn the corners.

[A]

Oh, gosh. So you know you're getting old.

[B]

I know, right?

[A]

Oh. You ever hang out with old people and they just talk about how, like, their friend's health, like, who's dying all the time. Why is that?

[B]

My parents are conversation slowly turning into that. She's like, did you hear? And I'm like, I don't want to hear. I don't want to know. I don't want to know who had a stroke. I'm sorry. It makes me sad. Don't tell me. I don't want to know.

[A]

Old people find some more fun conversations. I don't know.

[B]

I don't know. Reunions. Family reunions. For you.

[A]

We don't do them as much anymore, I think everyone's just so scattered.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Nobody's together, so it's hard. Usually it's like one side, like my dad's side. We'll all get together if it's a wedding or a funeral. That's usually when the family reunions kind of naturally happen. Sadly, yes. Or happily, if it's a wedding.

[B]

Wedding, wedding, funeral. Any cost in those?

[A]

Travel. I mean, travel is always the big cost of just, you know, flights, transportation.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Some lodging, potentially, but usually no gifts, really, so that's nice.

[B]

Yeah, that's right. That's a giftless party.

[A]

You don't have to get your family a gift at the reunion.

[B]

Yeah, it's true.

[A]

Just avoid drama. That is the gift you can bring.

[B]

Yes. I would say that's fair. That is fair. All right, last but not least, the group gift.

[A]

This one might be the most dreaded. I think we saved it for last.

[B]

How are we feeling about that? I.

[A]

It depends if it's gonna help me out, because someone's already thought of it. They're running with it. They're gonna get.

[B]

There's a little bit of me. I'm like, the Venmo's great.

[A]

Happily, will Venmo 20 bucks to make this happen.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And I'll take partial credit on the assignment.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

But sometimes there's people. You're like, why are we getting this person a gift?

[B]

Yeah. What is. Yeah. What is this for now?

[A]

When there's a need, a real need, like someone's going through something, happy to do it.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Never feels like an obligation.

[B]

100%.

[A]

We did this recently for a friend of ours.

[B]

Yes, I know.

[A]

And that was really fun. So thank you for orchestrating that.

[B]

You're welcome. I did. I had help, but.

[A]

Yes, but you led the charge. You were keeping us up to date.

[B]

You collected well. Thank you for giving to us.

[A]

First time I've ever had to venmo you. It felt weird.

[B]

Yeah. And you were very generous. Thank you, George.

[A]

You're so welcome.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

It's. Cause it didn't feel like I had to.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You didn't make all the difference.

[B]

Yes. 100%.

[A]

When it comes to any of these.

[B]

I know.

[A]

It's your motivation. It's like the ball's in your court versus, hey, you have to do this thing. Well, now you've already taken the joy out of it.

[B]

Yes. Yes. When it feels. Yep. Well, you know, it's not an obligation, George, for me.

[A]

What's that?

[B]

Is when I am about to buy something and I get to whip out my Fairwinds Credit Union debit card.

[A]

That's an opportunity.

[B]

Do you have what you do?

[A]

I have one on my person.

[B]

Yes. Show it. Debt is normal. Beware, y'.

[A]

All.

[B]

It's my favorite debit card to use. Because Fairwinds Credit Union is incredible. We love them. And the fact that they've come alongside Ramsey and partnered with us to give you a great banking experience. US 1. I just transferred some money into the account actually, this morning. Cause I was like. It does. Cause I'm like.

[A]

I got the direct deposit set up. So I wake up and it's Christmas morning in there.

[B]

I love it. It's so great, y', all, because to have a credit union that is working with you and supporting you in your financial goals, even, like, saving, getting out of debt, all of that. Like, they are so behind Ramsey and we so appreciate that. And so they actually have a smart bundle where you get a no fee checking account, a high yield savings account, and that debit card all together. And it's amazing. Yeah. We set it up in the Cruise household. We use it. I was actually looking through our Fairwinds, the app. It's so easy to use. And I was looking through our transactions, and it's literally like, Rachel, Rachel Winston. Rachel Rachel. Winston. Winston. Yeah. Winston loves it, too. He's using it all the time, so. It's so fun.

[A]

Yeah, it's so great. Check it out. I've got mine loaded in my Apple Pay, so my Fairwinds card.

[B]

You know what? I've not done that yet.

[A]

Load it up there. That way if you're like, oh, gosh, I don't have the card on me. Yes, you're still ready to go. Go check it all out. Go to Fairwinds.org Ramsey or use the link in the description to sign up for the bundle today.

[B]

All right, all right. What's all the teaching? We are so. Are we so antisocial or realistic?

[A]

I don't know. Maybe I'm just getting old.

[B]

I think we're realistic. I think we're feeling what you're feeling.

[A]

It's a lot of. It's a lot of boundary conversations as you get older. There's just. You feel like there's more things you can say no to.

[B]

I agree. Oh, that's a good question. Yeah. The older you get, the more comfortable you are saying no.

[A]

You just care less about what other people think.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you care less about the expectation others put onto you. I used to take a coffee meetup with almost anybody.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And now it's gotta be like life or death for me to meet up for coffee.

[B]

Yes, totally.

[A]

For you to pick my brain or something. You know what I mean?

[B]

Pick my brain.

[A]

I reserve that for, like, a friend I haven't seen in two years.

[B]

Right, right.

[A]

Yes. We'll get coffee.

[B]

Yes, totally.

[A]

So I have gotten more selective, especially being a dad now your time just, you know, you feel like your time is just worth something and it matters more. And you want to put your energy towards things that will not drain you.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I think that's okay to say out loud.

[B]

No, it is. It is. And again, the boundary conversation, I think sometimes it goes too far where it's like, people are so, like, I have to protect my peace. I'm gonna say no to everything. Like, there's a part. You have to be an adult and, like, live in society.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And be. Yes.

[A]

Show up for your friends, even when it's not convenient.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I know you don't wanna go to the birthday party at the skate center, but show up for our girl Whitney.

[B]

For Whitney. Means a lot. Right? Yeah. So there is a part that, like, you play in someone's life that I think is important. But again, in the same breath, I'm like, I think you still have to be Able to say, okay, I can't say yes to everyone. Cause I think the people pleaser, I think, is a bigger population than those not. Like, I think people have to work more on saying no. Right. Versus, like, saying yes. I don't know, maybe I'm an extrovert.

[A]

Thinking that, but I think the pendulum swings for me. I'll say no to a whole lot and then I'm like, you know what? I need to say yes more. I need to get plugged back in. Because you do need community. It's healthy for you to have people in your life and they're not gonna be perfect.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

Y going to have this perfect friend group that only energizes you.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That only gives you everything you need is also ridiculous.

[B]

Yes. 100%.

[A]

So show up for people and you'll find that they show up for you in return.

[B]

That's right. And to be smart financially with it. Right. And so, again, I think if they are good friends, if you're not able to put forth the financial expectation, whatever that is, communicate that, talk about that. And hopefully if you're that good of friends with them, they know beforehand. Do you know what I mean?

[A]

They're not going to be in shock.

[B]

You lost a job or something. And then they're like, oh, we're going to go on this trip. You're not able to go. They're gonna know and be like, oh, yeah, totally. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I feel like there's like a obvious information that is being shared amongst good friends that they're gonna kind of know where you're at, have a pulse on how you're doing.

[A]

And if there is something that's coming up in the future, just save up for it in your budget. Create a line item, a sinking fund for, you know, Cabo Destination wedding, 2027.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then start saving. Don't act like everything's a surprise and everything's stressful just because you weren't proactive about it.

[B]

That's right. Yeah. Yep. So be looking ahead, too. So it's good. Yeah. Some boundaries around our energy and finances.

[A]

I want to stay home now. After reading all that, we're tired.

[B]

Just tired.

[A]

You ever do the math on how much it costs you just to live in your house?

[B]

What do you mean?

[A]

It's shocking. Add up everything you pay for. So add up your rent, your utilities, the food and the. And you go, this is costing me $48 a day to just to stay in my own house, like a hotel. So why would I leave.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

I'm paying for this privilege already.

[B]

Just get the biggest.

[A]

This is how I justify being a curmudgeon. Oh, my God.

[B]

Unbelievable. All right, before we spill the tea on our Guilty Charge segment, give us the details on the drink. George.

[A]

This is the smoked rosemary, Negroni sour. And it. It's hidden. It's a really good one.

[B]

We're doing. Yeah, I think pretty even. And we're pretty even.

[A]

I'm going nine out of ten on this one.

[B]

Y'.

[A]

All.

[B]

I may go ten out of ten. I think I would order this at a restaurant. I don't know if I would pick it out of a. On a menu. Like, Negronis aren't my go to on the menu, but I like it better than a regular. There's something about the sour or something.

[A]

That I'll tell you what's in. You'll find out. It's got gin, sweet, vermouth, campari, rosemary syrup, lemon juice, egg white, and orange juice. So the egg white creates that nice little foam on top. It's got the orange juice in there, the lemon juice, that really helps balance it out. Yeah, the Campari has that kind of bitter, that really deep red color in there. That's nice sweet.

[B]

And the rosemary feels winter to me.

[A]

It is a great wintertime day, I think.

[B]

I just like. Yeah, it's a good cocktail.

[A]

Total cost, $3.48.

[B]

Beautiful.

[A]

So not cheap, but also way cheaper than what you'd pay for this at a nice cocktail bar.

[B]

100%.

[A]

Get the recipe in the show notes. Give it a try this weekend if you're of age.

[B]

All right, now it's time for Guilty As Charged. And this is where we ask each other a new Guilty as charged question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a segment. All right, you ready, George?

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Have you ever been influenced by a celebrity to buy something?

[A]

Oh, gosh. Is the. Does the Flex Seal guy count as a celebrity?

[B]

The what?

[A]

The Flex Seal guy who does the as seen on tv. Flex Seal. Have you seen those old ads? It's like the ShamWow guy back in the day. Yeah, it's called Flex Seal. And there'll be like, a hole coming out of a boat, and he'll just slap some Flex Seal on.

[B]

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

[A]

That is the only product I've been like. Like, I want that.

[B]

I need that. It's a bucket. With what? And he's just like, yeah. He's like, look. No more driven. Yes, that's.

[A]

So those are the true influencers in My book.

[B]

Okay. My. Okay. I. From the celebrity standpoint. Okay. I have three.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I know. The most recent was probably Kendall Jenner's, the 808 tequila. It was at a restaurant. I was like, I'll try that. That was my most recent. And then my two old school ones. Never forget. Jessica Simpson had the white Louis Vuitton with like the rainbow color. And I got a knockoff wallet from New York City and I was like in the eighth grade of that white material. But it's like the colored. Yeah, I got that. And then I did get Britney Spears blue perfume with. It's like a. Shaped like a crystal. And then it had the rope with like the little squeezer thing, you know, old school with the tassel.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

God, what was that? I can't remember what that. Curious Savnos. Curious. Let me show. I gotta show you because it's beautiful, man. That was. That was the old school.

[A]

So really female pop stars is what influenced that.

[B]

That is Jessica Simpson and. Oh, yeah, there she is.

[A]

What about Taylor Swift there? She influenced you at all? Oh, that is a beautiful. Some beautiful packaging.

[B]

See that? I know. Keep going.

[A]

Mine. This is the one that just has living in my brain rent free. You tell. I have not bought it, but the Rock released a hair care line. The Rock, famously, is bald. Why is he releasing a line of shampoos?

[B]

He's brilliant. I don't know.

[A]

I don't know. But that's.

[B]

I love Dwayne Johnson.

[A]

You're gonna buy it. I do.

[B]

I just think he's wonderful.

[A]

If he's. I mean, Teremana. His tequila became a bajillion dollar brand.

[B]

He's. And he's older than we think. He's older than me.

[A]

Is he 50?

[B]

Yeah, I think he's. Yes, I think. For sure. Oh, for sure.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Hold on. I got this. I guess I know how old is Dwayne Johnson?

[A]

I love that she calls.

[B]

Oh, 50. 53. Okay. But man. Yeah, there. I mean, I usually don't go for like the huge.

[A]

Yeah, but Dwayne, you're not. You're not a fan of the bulky types. I'll let Winston Cruz know. Like describing.

[B]

Winston's a great. I'm. Yeah, Yeah. I like Winston's look. But yeah, there's. I don't know. I just think he's great. I don't know. Do I enjoy. He just feels like a good human being too. You know what I mean?

[A]

Sure. Like, if you met him on the street, he'd be a nice guy.

[B]

Yeah, I think he'd help.

[A]

He would be helpful.

[B]

He'd be a very nice person. That or like, you're in trouble. I don't know. It just feels like he's like, I.

[A]

Would do the same. I'm just not huge and muscly.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I would also help you.

[B]

But he goes, like, fast and furious and then Moana and you have. Wow.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So many facts. Such range, such rains. Dwayne.

[A]

All right. You're very influenced by him. We did buy the Kardashian popcorn cloud.

[B]

With a K. Oh, how was it? Yes, that's Courtney or Khloe's.

[A]

I wanted to hate it, but it was good. Would buy again. Is it worth, like, $7 a bag? Absolutely not.

[B]

Yeah, like Kylie Jenner makeup. Not going.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Not feeling that one. Yeah, I don't need it.

[A]

I will return it. Sorry, Whitney. Christmas is too late.

[B]

Oh, my gosh. All right, well, if you have a guilty as charged question, make sure to DM us RachelCruise and GeorgeCamel. We see them, we screenshot them and send them to our producer, Jenna. We really do see them. And actually we did one and someone messaged me, and she was like, you used it? And she had messaged me back in August.

[A]

Oh, that's nice.

[B]

And we had used hers, so we should probably start doing it.

[A]

So I apologize to whoever that was. We'll try to track down.

[B]

We should. That's a good point. I know.

[A]

Submitted by blank.

[B]

Yes, that's actually. That's a great idea. Now, if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our episode. When it comes to tips on social experiences, our episode date nights from zero to $10,000. We've got you covered. We'll put a link for you and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.