Ranking People’s Wealth Habits, From Fake Rich to Quiet Wealth

Summary

Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

Episode: Ranking People’s Wealth Habits, From Fake Rich to Quiet Wealth
Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Ramsey Network

Episode Overview

In this lively and unfiltered episode, Rachel Cruze and George Kamel dive into the light-hearted but telling world of "wealth aesthetics," ranking common money habits as Fake Rich, New Money, or Quiet Wealth. Through candid stories, playful banter, and cultural observations, they sort everyday financial behaviors and trends into these categories, unpacking what motivations and realities lie behind each. Packed with both relatable moments and sound advice, this episode aims to help listeners cultivate mindful money habits—emphasizing substance over show.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The New Language of Wealth

[02:16 – 03:04]

• Rachel and George riff on the explosion of modern terms for financial lifestyles—“stealth wealth,” “quiet luxury,” “old money aesthetic,” “loud budgeting,” and “fake rich”—noting how these labels help (and sometimes judge) people’s money choices.
  • “I feel like we come up with new terms to judge people on. Not us.” – Rachel [02:39]
  • They poke fun at the performative nature of some trends, calling out how perceptions around money have become more nuanced and public.

2. What Defines New Money, Fake Rich, and Quiet Wealth?

[03:05 – 04:16]

• The hosts clarify the categories:
  • Fake Rich: Flashy, Instagram-friendly lifestyle, often for appearance’s sake.
  • New Money: Chasing the latest trends, easily influenced by what’s “in.”
  • Quiet Wealth: Understated quality; wealth isn’t broadcast, but experienced personally.
• “Someone who is quietly building wealth...I don’t need to impress you. No logos, but the quality is true, casual, fantastic.” – Rachel [03:18]

3. Game: “Which Wealth Habit Is It?”

Throughout 04:27 – end
Rachel and George pull common money habits from a “fishbowl” and debate which wealth category they fall into.

Notable Habits & Moments

a) Always Having Trendy Accessories

[04:27 – 06:10]

• Rachel: Accessorizing with the latest “it” items is typically more “fake rich”—low-cost signals for a high-end lifestyle.
• George: “You want the look, which tells me it might be more fake rich.” [05:40]

b) Leasing a New Sports Car Every Year

[08:43 – 10:58]

• Both agree: “Fake rich. That one’s like all of the telltale signs.” [08:51]
• George rails against leasing: “You’re basically prepaying all the depreciation and then giving the car back.” [10:07]
• Memorable: Rachel associates bright-colored sports cars in Nashville with leased vehicles and possibly financial overextension.

c) Owning Authentic Art

[11:13 – 14:51]

• Quiet wealth habit: Spending on curation and original art is a private indulgence, appreciated at home, not for show.
• “If you use the word curate and you mean it, you are quiet wealth.” – George [11:30]
• Amusing detour: Rachel demonstrates how to fake art appreciation at a gallery. “I can pull it off, though. Give me an hour.” [13:09]

d) Celebs on the Subway

[16:01 – 18:10]

• George and Rachel place “celebrities riding subways in ball caps” firmly in quiet wealth. Secure people don’t need limos.
• Amusing story: George’s subway adventure in NYC ending in chaos: “We step off the subway and step over, like, a puddle of blood...” [17:29]

e) Buying Front Row Concert Tickets on a Credit Card

[18:14 – 21:03]

• Tends toward “fake rich,” as true wealth prefers suites. Rachel: “Uber-wealthy...prefer service over closeness.” [18:43]
• They reminisce about suite experiences at concerts and sports.

f) Extravagant Annual Europe Trips

[21:15 – 24:32]

• Generally “new money” unless kept off social media.
• George: “If you post about it on Instagram, it’s new money.” [21:34]
• They discuss how true quiet wealth seeks unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

g) Getting a HELOC for Home Upgrades

[25:54 – 27:41]

• Labeled “new money”—having enough equity and income, but leveraging it for lifestyle improvements.
• Strongly caution against using equity for non-necessities: “Please do not take out a HELOC to build a pool or do the renovations. It really just puts you at double risk.” – George [26:45]

h) Grocery Shopping at Erewhon

[27:52 – 30:32]

• Signature “new money” move. “It makes Whole Foods look cheap. Like a discount grocery store.” – George [28:19]
• Rachel unfamiliar (“I don’t know what Erewhon is.” [27:59]), but amused by the LA-centric pricing and culture.

i) Owning Your Home—Paid Off

[32:11 – 34:10]

• Archetypal quiet wealth. “That’s a quiet wealth trend right there.” – Rachel [32:28]
• Big advocacy for paying off the mortgage early and not carrying a mortgage into retirement: “Make a plan.” [33:47]

j) Working in the Same Job/Industry Long-Term

[34:18 – 36:19]

• Quiet wealth: Prioritizing consistency over chasing big titles or pay jumps.
• “There’s something a little flashy about being like, oh, I’m going to this next job for the promotion...” – Rachel [35:51]

k) Season Tickets to Local Sports Teams

[36:55 – 39:12]

• Could be quiet wealth (if paid in cash and for joy), or fake rich if financed to impress.
• “If you’re a Titan...Season takes of the Titans and you have for six plus years...That should count for like ministry.” – George [37:09]
• Story: Dave Ramsey giving up season tickets during tough times—“I paid him for too much bad football.” [39:22]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Wealth Aesthetics:
  • “It’s not as simple as broke or rich anymore. Today we’re deciding what kind of rich your expenses say you are.” – Rachel [00:28]
• On Quiet Wealth:
  • “Art to me is quiet wealth. When you spend money on nice things that no one knows what it really is, except for, like, a small part of the population.” – Rachel [11:36]
• On Leasing Cars:
  • “Leasing is one of my least favorite financial habits. Because, number one, it’s just dumb.” – George [10:07]
• On Motivation for Spending:
  • “Spend with healthy motivation. Don’t spend to try to impress people.” – Rachel [41:26]
  • “Spending your money on things that truly bring you joy...but do it for you and not because you feel like someone else will be impressed by it. And always do it with cash.” – George [41:58]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | Wealth Aesthetics & Labels | Trendy new terms for money habits | 02:16–03:04 | | Defining Categories | “Fake rich” vs. “new money” vs. “quiet wealth” | 03:05–04:16 | | Fishbowl Game Start | Ranking wealth habits (accessories) | 04:27 | | Leasing Sports Cars | Especially bright colors! | 08:43–10:58 | | Buying Authentic Art | Quiet wealth in action | 11:13–14:51 | | Celebs on the Subway | Security is quiet wealth | 16:01–18:10 | | Front Row Concert Tickets | The difference between "fake rich" and "quiet wealth" | 18:14–21:03 | | Extravagant Europe Trips | New money exposure | 21:15–24:32 | | Using a HELOC | The risks of leveraging home equity | 25:54–27:41 | | Shopping at Erewhon | LA’s luxury grocery life | 27:52–30:32 | | Owning Your Home | The ultimate quiet wealth habit | 32:11–34:10 | | Career Consistency | Wealth through stability | 34:18–36:19 | | Season Tickets | When loyalty = quiet wealth | 36:55–39:12 | | Key Takeaways | Reflection on “quiet wealth” aim | 41:15–42:26 |

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Product/Drink Segment (for fun & color)

Today’s Drink: Frozen Coconut Lemonade

• Rated 9/10 by George (“zesty, creamy, flavor’s there, $2.56 per glass.” [43:13])
• Rated 8/10 by Rachel (“a little too lemonade…if it’s sour, that’s what this is. Sour Patch kid.” [43:15])
• “Would I make this at home? The answer is probably not. But only out of laziness.” – George [43:44]

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Guilty As Charged (Relatable Habits)

[43:57 – End]

• George and Rachel confess their own “cheap millionaire” and “bougie” habits:
  • Rachel on hair extensions: “I spend, as my husband calls it, highway robbery on my hair.” [45:08]
    (Full explanation of extension methods—a hilarious and educational tangent [46:00–49:10])
  • George’s turn: Orders water at restaurants as a cost-saving move, but pays for a laundry service to buy back his time—“That has saved a lot of marital fights.” [50:10]

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Takeaways & Advice

• Aim for quiet wealth: Build assets and habits for yourself, not to impress others.
• Know your motivation: Purchase experiences or items that truly bring you joy, not for external validation ([41:26]).
• Always use cash for big discretionary expenses, and don’t take on debt for lifestyle.
• Consistency—in work or financial choices—pays dividends over time.

---

Concluding Vibe

Rachel and George keep things both sharp and lighthearted, using humor and genuine stories to get listeners thinking about what really matters in money habits: intention, not image.

“Let’s shoot for quiet wealth, George.” – Rachel [42:25]
“That’s what I’m aiming for.” – George [42:26]

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This summary captures the spirit, wisdom, and wit of the episode, giving you everything you need to feel "in" on the happy hour—even if you missed a sip.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, guys, Rachel Cruze here. Listen, we need your help. We have a survey coming out around Smart Money Happy hour and we wanna make this show even better in 2026. But it's up to you to help us.

[B]

So here's how you help us. Text the word smart to this number, 33789 or go to ramseysolutions.com smart to take the survey. And no pressure, but we need to beat a world record here. So take it asap.

[A]

Help us out and you could win a hundred dollar Amazon gift card.

[B]

Who knows if you want to help us out and get a chance to win an Amazon gift card while you're at it, go take it. The survey closes April 10, so time is of the essence. It's not as simple as broke or rich anymore. Today we're deciding what kind of rich your expenses say you are. And of course, we do it all with love. I'm calling that new money right there. Okay, looks like we found the target demo for Airwalk.

[A]

I need more. I'm shopping there. This is the content people want. Hey, guys, I'm rachel cruz.

[B]

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

[A]

Cheers.

[B]

Cheers. I've been transported.

[A]

Oh, delicious. Woo. Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. So everything from puppies. Oh, dad gumma. That sour really got me. Hold on, let me do that again. I felt it this time. I think I got some lemon in that sip.

[B]

So zesty.

[A]

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

[B]

And before we get to the meat of the episode, let's talk about the drink. Today we're sipping on a frozen coconut lemonade.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And when I say this is zesty, I'm talking zest.

[A]

Zesty has the punch we need.

[B]

So stick around till the end of the episode. We're going to give you our rating and reveal the cost per glass. All right, let's get into this. Rachel. It seems like every week there's a new trend about people's financial aesthetic or vibe. And we've covered some of these on the show.

[A]

You know, I'm, I'm going to say it's a Gen Z thing and they give the new words, the new terms that the world uses.

[B]

That's kind of their thing.

[A]

Yeah, there's always like the stealth wealth or quiet luxury. Like there's always these old money aesthetic, old money aesthetics kind of the Martha Stewart vibe. Yeah. There's like these terms.

[B]

Loud budgeting.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We can't just call it budgeting anymore. It's loud budgeting.

[A]

It's loud budgeting. Cause we're talking about it.

[B]

Proud.

[A]

Proud.

[B]

You got fake rich that's, you know, very flashy lifestyle, very Instagram showy. So these are all fun.

[A]

Yeah. And again, I feel like we come up with new terms to judge people on. Not us.

[B]

Could never be us.

[A]

We would never, ever judge.

[B]

I don't do this show just to vent my frustrations about society and culture. No, nay, no.

[A]

But there is the labeling and the perception is very real. I think people are more keen on it. They're. They're getting into it. I feel like people now, it's. It's more obvious. And so we're here to. To talk about it.

[B]

Yeah. There's major differences between someone who has new money versus someone who is fake rich versus someone who's just quietly building wealth. They're subtle, but they're there. So we're going to cover the differences by playing a little game with this fishbowl.

[A]

Oh, yeah. So before we dig in, though, George, kind of the categories are new money, fake rich, and quiet wealth. So think like loud designer print. Like, think like Louis Vuitton or Gucci and it's all over. Versus, like a real cashmere sweater. So you got probably, I'd say, like fake rich. Right. I'm going to go fake rich or new rich versus quiet millionaire. You know, the person that's like, I don't need to impress you. No logos, but the quality is true, casual, fantastic. You know, if you go investing, I think about the Crypto Bros. And they're

[B]

like, that's new money.

[A]

You get on this train. New money, you know, versus just like the classic investments, you know, just the steady S and P in real estate. You know, it's classic, boring, but that is.

[B]

Never goes out of style.

[A]

Yes, I think that's it. But there's a lot of financial decisions that we make in our lives and that we see other people make. And I think they could be into each of these categories under a full agree, which is where the game comes in.

[B]

And, you know, some of these are choices, and some of these are terrible choices. So there is a range. It's not all bad, it's not all good. So we're going to sort of categorize it based on the one we choose. Let's kick it off.

[A]

I want to. I'm going to go first. Let's see what's our first done? Always having trendy accessories.

[B]

Oh, like a laboboo on your purse. That feels like a perfect example.

[A]

I think so. Yeah. And so this is a low cost way to signal that you own new things, but very little cash actually is required for this wealth symbol.

[B]

Oh, wow.

[A]

Yeah. So you're into all the. All the little trinkets in life. You got all the little things. Maybe not big, nice stuff. Right. But yeah, enough there. So would you say that's quiet luxury. Would you say that's fake rich or new money?

[B]

I'll say new money because I feel like new really signals I want the latest and greatest.

[A]

Okay. Yeah.

[B]

How about you? I may go fake rich if it's, like, cheap accessories.

[A]

Well, it could be nice stuff, but you're going into debt for it. Oh, so all the. All the effort is for the appearance.

[B]

Do you say they're going into debt?

[A]

I don't know. I just made that up. George, this is a money shop.

[B]

Well, that's the big qualifier there.

[A]

No, it doesn't say, oh, very little cash.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Well, that is actually required for this wealth symbol, so.

[B]

Got it. So these are not expensive.

[A]

I can see both.

[B]

Yeah, but it's sort of like you want the look, which tells me it might be more fake rich. Yes, that's what I'm not necessarily going to debt. But you're trying to put on this kind of aura that I have money, I'm good.

[A]

Yes. Like, look at me, everything's fine.

[B]

I imagine this person doesn't leave the house without being very, like, kind of made up.

[A]

Put together.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yes. Yeah. You're not going to see them in a. Yeah, I was gonna say a Lululemon sweatshirt, but that's a little bit made up.

[B]

But they're not going to. They're not going like the grocery store in. In sweats.

[A]

Yeah, Right, right. Yeah.

[B]

What's the most casual you would leave the house knowing that you might, like, get recognized by someone?

[A]

Oh, I'm usually pretty work. Rachel is put together. I would say out to dinner Rachel put together. Oh, yeah, Daytime Rachel. Oh, we don't. We don't know. We don't know if she lives on, you know, if she has a home.

[B]

Okay, what is your.

[A]

We don't know.

[B]

Give us some inside scoop. What is your tell that you have? Like, this is what I do when I'm unshowered and my hair's not done. This is my move.

[A]

Oh, I've got Uggs on. I got the slipper. Uggs with a cute Little band around it. We've got leggings and we've got, like, an oversized sweatshirt.

[B]

That's the tell.

[A]

But I will say low pony. I got my band.

[B]

Are we doing a low pony?

[A]

Yeah. Or up in the clip. Oh, low pony or clip. And now with my new hair.

[B]

That's right, actually. What can't you do?

[A]

And I'll say that it adds to. To the oomph of even the casual outfit.

[B]

People noticed Rachel. They were like, wow, suddenly your hair got super long overnight.

[A]

I change my hair every, like, nine months. So just. It's like a rebirth. Like a baby. The term of a.

[B]

Don't love that comparison.

[A]

Growing a human is how often I change my hair. So it might be here in nine months. It might be here in nine months. We don't know now.

[B]

Is that a personality thing?

[A]

Yeah, I need a. Like, I got a little, you know, itch to scratch tattoos.

[B]

Are you going full Bob brand? Full Bob for the summer?

[A]

Who knows? Well, no, I just got these, so I've got these for at least through the summer in my head.

[B]

Is it a lease? Do you have to give it back?

[A]

No, emotionally. Emotionally, I've committed renting these. I've committed to these for. Yeah, through the summer. I'm gonna say mid September. Something else is gonna happen, okay? So just mark it.

[B]

I'm calling that new money right there.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

She's trying to chase every trend. If the gen zers say, we' chopping off her hair, she says, how? How low? I know how high.

[A]

No, you know what? I chopped my hair before the. Before Hailey Bieber did. Let me just say that.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Seriously, I went short. And then she went short.

[B]

Hailey Bieber did it because of you.

[A]

She possibly saw my Instagram and thought, she's cute. I like her hair.

[B]

Checks to see if Hailey Bieber's following you. And she doesn't.

[A]

Oh, man, that's good. But, yeah, there's that. So because I'm enough of a mom, I gotta have the long sweatshirt, you know, I can't.

[B]

I would say your mom can't be

[A]

bebopping along with, like, all. You know what I mean? Like, the workout gear that the girls wear. I can'. Doing that. Like, I'm a mom of three.

[B]

You're not trying to fake it Like, I just came from a workout.

[A]

Yeah. No, no.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Even though I do work out three times a week.

[B]

True facts, proof or didn't happen. All right, next up, our next money habit. Leasing a new sports car every year.

[A]

Oh, wow. Fake rich. Fake rich.

[B]

Yeah. That one's like all of the telltale signs.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

A sports car especially.

[A]

Especially a sports car. I judge hard. Like, isn't it funny? Like in Nashville now, George, do you feel like the money's just gotten more and more in Nashville? Like, I feel like you see crazy cars and if I see an orange sports car, I automatically think you have a payment.

[B]

Oh, wow. So the color now denotes the payment.

[A]

Is it that or green? Like, you'll see like a crazy green, like Lamborghini or something. I don't know why I automatically think, like, because either they're not. They don't. They have to have a payment. Or for some people, they're like gazillionaires and they still just have debt because, like, they literally can handle the payments and it's nothing to them. You know what I mean?

[B]

They'd rather not part with their cash right now.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah. So I'm like, you're either in. You're either like beyond wealthy and, like, truly do have the billions or whatever, or you're like, it's extreme. I'm almost there. But I can, like, I can afford, you know, that payment, which would be a lot on, like a crazy foreign car. I get it. But I do think they lease it.

[B]

But look at the cars people are leasing. They are the fancier, nicer, they are always flashier cars.

[A]

They're not leasing a Honda Civic.

[B]

No.

[A]

Let's just be honest. Like, that's not happening.

[B]

But this is. It's a tough one for me because leasing is one of my least favorite financial habits. Because, number one, it's just dumb. You're basically prepaying all the depreciation and then giving the car back. So you owe nothing. At the end of this, you just paid pretty massive payments for the pleasure. And they go, well, Rachel, I didn't have to deal with the maintenance. Like, it's. Well, if it's a brand new car, you probably didn't have that much to deal with.

[A]

No, not in like the first two, three years. No.

[B]

That's a tough one for me. And I ran into someone the other day. Eleven hundred dollar lease payment on her Jeep Wrangler.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

And she was a teacher. That one was an ouchie.

[A]

Well, that's another. That's a. I wouldn't think a Jeep Wrangler leasing you.

[B]

You wouldn't. But the ladies love the nice cars, too, so I'm not just going to lump the guys into this.

[A]

Thanks for not serious.

[B]

But I will say the guys. It screams like midlife crisis. You know what I mean?

[A]

For sure. Yeah.

[B]

If you're. If you're of that age now, if you're like, old, you know, if you got white hair, I'm like, good for you, man.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know what I mean?

[A]

Do what you gotta do.

[B]

He's in his last chapter.

[A]

When you're a pro, it's like, I can't. I can't sit down, Chris, too much.

[B]

Just sit down, Sit down.

[A]

Oh, man. Oh. Owning authentic art. So rather than a one size fits all aesthetic from Hobby Lobby and Target, people who have curated art from their travels, from real artists. Very chic.

[B]

I'll say this. If you use the word curate and you mean it, you are quiet wealth.

[A]

Yeah. You're quiet wealth. Art to me is quiet wealth. Because, I mean, everyone pretty much would know a Louis Vuitton symbol, right? If you like. So it's like, okay, people are going to know that about me, so I'm going to go. But when you spend money on nice things that no one knows what it really is, except for, like, it probably is part of the population.

[B]

No one sees it's in your house.

[A]

Just appreciate it. Art. How sophisticated. George.

[B]

Very fancy.

[A]

Okay. I watched a. I don't know. I am going to tell you what it is. Don't judge me and. Or I'm not recommending it necessarily. It was really good, but I don't necessarily recommend it. It's called the Beast in Me with Claire Danes.

[B]

Is it a show?

[A]

Yes, on Netflix.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Not safe for the kids out there.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's why I was like, if you watch it, don't judge me. But also, if you like, if you can handle crazy. It's crazy. But the wife of the writer in the show owns an art gallery. Or like, he owns an art gallery and she was part of it. But anyways. But they're like. Well, like super wealthy in the show. Anyways. But they're like. And they have art gallery parties. I'm sure there's a name for that. Oh, yeah, Whatever those are called.

[B]

They're just called art galleries.

[A]

Yeah, but there's parties with, like, the champagne and people are in, like, it

[B]

looks like I have a gallery coming up.

[A]

A gallery? Yes. Or a showcase or what? I don't even know the terms. I don't even know the terms. But, man, how fun would that be to go to a party like that, dress me up, give me a glass of champs, and put me in an art gallery that I don't know what I'm looking at.

[B]

And you're just looking at the art.

[A]

I can pull it off, though. Give me an hour.

[B]

That's content right there.

[A]

I don't think anyone would know.

[B]

I think they'd tell pretty quickly.

[A]

No, no, no. I just would do this.

[B]

As long as you don't talk.

[A]

The more words you say, it's the face.

[B]

You just have to say, like, wow.

[A]

And if I could tear up, like, on cue. Cause it's making me so emotional.

[B]

Wow. Like, it's really triggering something deep inside of you.

[A]

Just. It moved me. That's what I'm gonna say.

[B]

This is a moving piece. You have to say everything's a piece.

[A]

Yeah, this is a moving piece.

[B]

Well, I'll tell ya, you know who's a very talented artist who has, like, made it in that world? Selling out galleries? Michael Reddish's wife. So our mixologist, our previous mixologist, Michael Reddish, his wife, very talented Vicki Reddish. And she was the featured artist at one of these showcase galleries and completely sold out. And these are the fancy champagne. 100%.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

And I'm like, there's a reason I'm not invited, because I'd be like, do you guys have any that are, like 70% off, that are this big?

[A]

I know.

[B]

So, like, a print I could get of this, Maybe a screensaver option. But I will say, if you're gonna get some art and you want to get quality, you gotta go with a true artist versus, like, the print or, like, the target version. But, you know, get what you can get with the money that you have. Don't go into debt for it. But as I get older, then, like, I want to be that guy. I don't know if I can become that guy, but I want to.

[A]

Sure. You should get Whitney, and I'll get Winston, and we'll go to an art gallery show. I'm sure they have.

[B]

There's one. Well, there's one she loves out of Memphis, and a family member of hers owns a bunch of pieces, and they're like, really high. Thousands and thousands of dollars for a piece. And it hurts my soul every time. She's like, we should get one. I'm like, that was more than my first car, so I don't know why I do that. Put a pin in that for now.

[A]

Oh, man, that's good. So, you know, an investment, though, that is worth it for me. It may not be art, but it is Cozy Earth products.

[B]

That's. That's luxury, that's attainable, and you use

[A]

it, you know, it's on you, like whether you're sleeping or the coat, the blankets. It's one of my favorites because it's still a little chilly here in Nashville. So I got my basket full of all my cozier throws. I love them. The kids love them. It's fantastic. The pajamas, the robe, the pants. I mean, all of it. It's just, you could be head to

[B]

toe, decked out, cozy.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And even they're. They're like sheets. They have a 10 year warranty, 100 night sleep trial. And so there's really no risk. And the thing is, you're probably not gonna return it because it's that good.

[A]

Because it's that wonderful. Literally. I was with a bunch of girls and we were talking about. Someone asked, like, I think it was about sheets. And like three of them were like, we love Cozy Earth. And I was like, I love Cozy Earth. I love it too.

[B]

It feels like an inside secret that if you, if you make the purchase, you're like, I get it now, Rachel.

[A]

I get it. Yes, I know.

[B]

So join the club, guys.

[A]

Yes. So go to cozyearth.com smart money and at checkout, use the code smart money and get 20% off. All right, next up. Is it me? No, I was. Art, you go next.

[B]

Is it me you're looking for? Okay, here we go. You're gonna love this one. Celebs that wear ball caps and ride the subway, they're just like us.

[A]

They're just like us.

[B]

So I've seen like Keanu Reeves does this. Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Hanks. A lot of, you know, they're just trying to be normal people enjoying their

[A]

lives, just riding around.

[B]

Yeah, that's quiet wealth.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

That's a very. That's. You're secure.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

You don't need to be dropped in a limo everywhere you go and have

[A]

a drive or even an Uber. Like, let's go down down a slot there.

[B]

You know, there's something about being amongst the people. And famously, Dave Ramsey will not ride the New York City subway.

[A]

Wait, famously?

[B]

Oh, yeah. Because I shared on air. I think about this because I decided on our trip that my wife and I were going to take the subway.

[A]

I will say New York, Chicago feels doable to me. Boston, like there's. There are cities that the system works. New York is very confusing. So I don't know if he'll do it. Not for the cleanliness of the.

[B]

I think it's a mix of danger and cleanliness.

[A]

Danger and. Or confusion. But yeah. Did you write it you wrote it with Whitney.

[B]

I did, but I think it was the last time for Whitney, because it was. We almost witnessed a fight. Like, they gotten a woman, got another woman's face because she thought she was looking at her. She was not looking at her. You know when you're, like, dazed and you're just sort of looking off? She thought that was a stare.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

She took it as a threat.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

And the fight had to be broken out.

[A]

Oh, no.

[B]

We step off the subway and step over, like, a puddle of blood from someone who's, like, coughing up and clearly.

[A]

Oh, my gosh, George.

[B]

And as I'm rolling the luggage through it, Whitney was like, see, we should have done an Uber. But I was like, let's get the authentic experience. We're gonna save 50 bucks.

[A]

And I think when you live in New York, you can do that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think there's a part, like, when

[B]

you're in it, you get desensitized.

[A]

When you're in it, you're in it, and you are. You're good. That's why they can all do it. But when you're from Nashville, you know, and you go visit New York City, just Uber and Nashville folk, you know?

[B]

Well, we don't have public transportation, so when you do take it, you're like, whoa, this is wild.

[A]

We have buses. Give us some time.

[B]

Doesn't take you very far.

[A]

Yeah, not really.

[B]

That's a good one, though. I like that celebrities are riding the subway.

[A]

Me too. Well done, y'. All. All right. Buying front row concert tickets on a credit card.

[B]

I always assume the front row people are either, like, super wealthy or went into a lot of debt.

[A]

I know one or two ways.

[B]

Are you with me?

[A]

Yeah. And actually, I kind of think I probably judge more on the, like, fake rich side of that, because I feel like the uber wealthy. Get the boxes.

[B]

Oh, I didn't think about that. They're in the suite.

[A]

Yeah, they're in the suite.

[B]

Lobster rolls.

[A]

Yeah. With all the service, they prefer service over closeness.

[B]

They prefer a private bathroom. Yeah.

[A]

You know, and I. I'm in that

[B]

camp you'd rather have.

[A]

I don't think I need a. I don't think I need a front row.

[B]

Have you been in a lot of suites? Like, do you remember a concert that was like, you were living the suite life?

[A]

No, it'd be more like a sporting event, which would.

[B]

Oh, that's more your.

[A]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then we don't go to a lot of concerts. Yeah. I don't know. If. I don't know if I've been to a concert in a box before, to be honest. Oh, CMA Fest. Oh, my gosh. No. Taylor Swift. Lord.

[B]

Well, how do you forget that one?

[A]

Sorry. My friend Alison had an extra ticket. That's when I first went to Taylor Swift, and I. Yes. She called me, and I was on an airplane, and I screamed, and Winston was like.

[B]

I mean, that's like. You won sweepstakes.

[A]

Yes. And it was the Nashville Rain show of Taylor, if we can remember that. And I was covered, you know, And I thought, this is the way to live.

[B]

Blessed and highly honored.

[A]

This is the way to live. Yeah.

[B]

Covered with a hedge of protection that.

[A]

But I would say. Yeah. More sporting events, which is great. Like, I don't.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I will say, have you ever been

[B]

front row at anything?

[A]

Have I been front row at anything? Nothing that comes to mind. And I'm. And I'm going like, Disney on Ice. Not front row. I mean, I'm going to all the. All the things.

[B]

It's not something you care about.

[A]

Hot Wheels, Monster Truck Live. Not front row. Or Sweet Poor Chuck.

[B]

Chuck Cruz.

[A]

Yeah. All of the things. I. I know. I don't think so. Basketball games, football games. I don't think I've been front row.

[B]

Wow. Have you, like, a comedy show for this? We went to a comedy show at Bridgestone, and for some reason, the front row was available, and they weren't like. Because it's comedy. It wasn't, like, massively overpriced. It was, like, a normal price.

[A]

Totally. That you could do it.

[B]

So me and my buds went, okay, that's a fun one. But concerts, I'm not paying it. Like an arena show.

[A]

But I don't want to be at the top either, so I don't know where that puts me in the, like, snobbiness. Like, I need. I need the middle.

[B]

Well, especially at Bridgestone, the nosebleeds are not a good experience. The sound is echoing.

[A]

Yeah. There's a point that, like, it's not worth it, so I don't know what that means.

[B]

But at the Ryman Auditorium, if you come through Nashville, not a bad seat in the house. So that one. I don't mind being further back.

[A]

Okay. Oh, that was the Amy Grant, Vince Gill concert. We sat in the balcony.

[B]

Very nice.

[A]

Not front row.

[B]

Look at you.

[A]

Look at me. I'm way more low maintenance.

[B]

A woman of culture. That's a good one. But please don't go into debt for any concert, let alone front row seats.

[A]

Front row seat Ken Coleman.

[B]

Good show.

[A]

It's a good show if you want to check it out. All right. Going on extravagant trips to Europe multiple times a year.

[B]

People do this, apparently. I guess that's a new money thing. It could also be quiet wealth, but I feel like it leans new money.

[A]

I'm gonna say new money. Europe feels.

[B]

How about this? If you post about it on Instagram, it's new money.

[A]

That's it. New money. Instagra. No one knows you went old money. That's good. Stealth wealth there. Yeah. The European thing feels new money to me. Okay, Just stay with me. Okay. Okay. You've done well. You've got two kids in middle school, and you're just like, oh, my gosh, we're living that 40th world life. We're in our 40s, and we're doing well, and we're gonna just go to Europe. Like, I feel like those people go to Europe. They don't go to Thailand or a safari in Africa. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, all the big world traveling you can do, I feel like Europe and probably because it's the closest.

[B]

Yeah. And it's a good start. Like, it's not too adventurous.

[A]

Oh, yeah. I'm not. I mean, I haven't been here with my kids. I'm not boo booing it.

[B]

It's like New York City, but in a different font.

[A]

But it feels. Some parts, it feels more doable for new money. But I feel like if you have, like, multi millions, you're doing, like, big trips elsewhere. Does that make sense?

[B]

Yeah, I'm tracking with that. And, well, Europe has such a gamut. You can do Europe as a backpacker, or you can do Europe with the most luxurious experiences and find out.

[A]

That's a great point, too.

[B]

Food and Michelin Star everything. So there is a way to do it cheaply. I went on a trip in college. It was technically a mission trip.

[A]

Thank you for serving the Lord in Italy.

[B]

But, Rachel, these people had never left Alabama, let alone went to another country. And so they were just like, that's the Eiffel Tower, y'.

[A]

All.

[B]

You know, it's like they. It was really hard to be a mission. We did, like, seven or eight cities across two or three weeks.

[A]

And what'd y' all do, like, street ministry?

[B]

We were staying in hostels.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I don't know if you've ever stayed in a hostel. It's bunk beds with strangers all around, group bathrooms. Oh, no.

[A]

Did y', all, like, tell the gospel in the hostel? Is that your Mission trip.

[B]

That was the goal. Was the goal achieved? I'll never tell. You know, we planted seeds. That's what I say. We planted some seeds.

[A]

Well, it's like the. It's like the mission trips you go to, like, the Caribbean when you're in high school. You're like, we're going to the Dominican Republic. And you go for, like, three days and do actual work at an orphanage, and then you go to a hotel.

[B]

Well, the work ahead of it was really nice. We read, like, a Tim Keller book called, like, Life on Mission or something, and it was all about how to live missionally.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And it was great. And we raised funds and support through the church.

[A]

I bet you did. People paid for you to go to the show.

[B]

And then I went to Tower at 20 years old.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

Just eating pizza and gelato.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Not a Europe trip. Sounds so fun. Like, we haven't done that.

[B]

I'd like to go back. I haven't been since.

[A]

Yes. I mean, we haven't. Mom and dad, they took us before we all had kids. So. Yeah. So it's.

[B]

Would you go with your kids at a certain age?

[A]

At a certain age, yes. A lot of people are taking their, like, little kids now, and I just don't have the. I don't know. I have no desire to do that. I'd rather go to, like, where the kind of appreciate and go to the beach. Do you know what I mean? I'm like, let's go take a nice trip where they're going to, like, play and enjoy. I don't think that. Yeah. They would not have appreciate it. No. I think they would see the Eiffel Tower and they'd be like, cool. And then we'd move up.

[B]

They'd be bored to tears by a museum.

[A]

I think so. Yeah. Even though Amelia. So this is sweet. Mom and dad take every grandchild when they're 10 years old on a trip. That's so funny. So Amelia and Lydia, the two cousins, turn 10 together, basically with, like, two months apart. So they're gonna go and mom and dad for Christmas and said, girls, where do y' all want to go? You can pick anywhere in the United States. So we'll take you to, like, you know, wherever you want to go. Amelia said Washington, D.C. so they're going to Washington, D.C. that is. So I say, I'd say maybe Amelia would appreciate a European museum. Maybe I'm not giving my kids enough time.

[B]

Is she wanting to go there because of, like, the memorials and the museums?

[A]

She wants to see the museum. She wants to see the White House. The Lincoln Memorial. Yeah. She, like, has, like, a couple things she wants to see in person. She said, I know, so sweet.

[B]

It is a fun place to visit.

[A]

Oh, I love dc.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

For sure. And to see the White House makes

[B]

you appreciate America in a different way.

[A]

Yes, for sure. Yep. So maybe I should. Maybe we should take our kids. I don't know.

[B]

Where would you pick at 10? I. That's a tough choice.

[A]

If I was like, fifth, I'd probably go New York.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good one.

[A]

Or like la. Let me see. Hollywood. You know what I mean? Like, like my kids haven't been to California.

[B]

Something that would have been in a movie.

[A]

Yes. You're like, yes.

[B]

Now we're talking. Somewhere Mary Kate and Ashley would go.

[A]

Yes. Wherever they would be, will be. All right. All right, next up,

[B]

getting a HELOC for home upgrades.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

This one feels like a blend of new money.

[A]

I was gonna say kind of is new money to me for some reason.

[B]

Well, the new money part is you have to own a house which is already kind of.

[A]

Right. Like you're doing well at that point to get a heloc.

[B]

Yeah. At any level, they're not giving broke people a HELOC. So people that have HELOCs tend to make a great income.

[A]

Yes, exactly.

[B]

So you're adding another mortgage.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

To your house.

[A]

Yep. So I'm going new money on that one.

[B]

Yeah. This is a. This one's tough. There's very few things that I would ever tell someone to go backwards and use your house like an ATM for. The only time it, like, I'm like, okay. Is if, sadly, if you go through a divorce and you need to pay your spouse their share.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And you need or want to stay in the house doing a cash out, refinance or a heloc.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Is sometimes the only way to give them that lump sum.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

But other than that, which is a very rare scenario, please do not take out a HELOC to build a pool or do the renovations. It really just puts you at double risk because if you miss payments, they can foreclose on your house.

[A]

On your home. Exactly. So you're adding on so much financially.

[B]

And variable interest rates on most HELOCs.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So the rate and payment can go up and up over time, which is even scarier.

[A]

And if you follow the baby steps, if you can. If the HELOC is less than half of your mortgage, then we say to put that in baby step two. So if you're paying off your consumer debt, you can put it there. But if it's more than half of your. Right. So if your mortgage is 300,000 and the HELOC you pulled is like, you know, 175, just go ahead and put that in baby step six, pay it off with the mortgage. But if it's less than half the mortgage, then you can put that in

[B]

baby step, treat it like a consumer.

[A]

Some people have like a $40,000. He lock right on.

[B]

And some have $200,000.

[A]

That's right. Yeah. So depending on your mortgage and what the HELOC is, is when you pay it off.

[B]

But those stress me out.

[A]

That's a tough one.

[B]

And people who use HELOCs to try to pay other debts off.

[A]

Well, I was going to say that's it too. Don't use your house equity to spread out other debt. Yeah. To substitute it, basically.

[B]

Not the move.

[A]

Not the move. Oh, my gosh. I don't even know what this word is. You read it. Shopping at where?

[B]

Oh, shopping at Erewhon.

[A]

I don't know what Erewhon is.

[B]

It's a grocery store in like LA, California. It's where they have the Hailey Bieber $20 smoothie. What?

[A]

Hailey Bieber has her own smoothie?

[B]

Looks like we found the target demo for Airwalk.

[A]

I'm shopping there.

[B]

It's like a hilarious thing.

[A]

I'm going to Europe. I am. New money.

[B]

I'll say this. It makes Whole Foods look cheap. Like a discount grocery store.

[A]

Gross.

[B]

That's how expensive everything is at Erewhon.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Like take Whole Foods and double or triple the cost of everything there.

[A]

Good night.

[B]

There is like a TikTok trend where someone makes like $100 peanut butter sandwich just by buying ingredients from Airwalk.

[A]

Oh, stop it.

[B]

They're like the peanut butter, the jelly, the bread. $100. It's that level of insanity.

[A]

Oh, my gosh.

[B]

But people go. I went when I was in California. I was like, I want to see.

[A]

Is there like restaurants in it and stuff?

[B]

No, they have like, kind of like.

[A]

It's like a true grocery store grab and grab.

[B]

Like more like a Whole Foods.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

So they have foods that you can get there, like in the California.

[A]

Do you feel like Whole Foods smells bad?

[B]

Not that I've experienced. Maybe if you go near the seafood section.

[A]

Okay, I'm getting a yes from Kelly. Okay.

[B]

What does it smell like?

[A]

I don't know. And I don't go in a lot. Number one, I do deliver My groceries. But if not I go to Aldi or Publix. But when I would go into a Whole Foods back in my organic day where I just thought that's where I could only shop, I always feel like it smelled interesting. Like I'm gonna really take a good

[B]

sniff next time I'm there.

[A]

It has a very distinct smell to me, so I automatically think, ew.

[B]

But no other grocery stores had this smell?

[A]

No, no. It is a very specific smell. Comment below.

[B]

Is it like kind of smell?

[A]

If you're watching, I'm curious. You smell this? Yes. It's like a.

[B]

Like a musk. It's like a farming musk.

[A]

It's good adjectives. That's it. I think you smell it and don't even realize that because you're describing it. Does that Erewhon smell like that to you?

[B]

No, I don't remember what Erewhon smelled like. I was too distracted by the prices. I think I got like the cheapest thing there and I still spent like 10 so much. It was that level. It like stressed me out just to be in there and people were, I mean they were buying $25 soups. I was just like, okay. I guess everybody has money but me. Just like a little, you know, you can like scoop it into thing and eat it.

[A]

It's 25.

[B]

It's just like insane prices.

[A]

Oh my gosh.

[B]

So yeah, that one. That feels like a new money to me.

[A]

And is it like nice inside? That's my big thing.

[B]

Yeah. No, it's nicely appointed.

[A]

Yeah, it should. As it should.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know like our airports, you know when you go international and you're like, oh my gosh, there's like some nice or like crazy rich Asians. The movie.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I remember seeing that airport in, you know, Singapore and you're like, there's a butterfly garden in there. So you're like, this can't be done right. We can have it.

[B]

Yeah. America, step it up.

[A]

Nice airports and nice grocery stores. What are we doing?

[B]

Europe had like self cleaning public bathrooms.

[A]

What is happening? Why? What? What?

[B]

Why don't we do that? The McDonald's in France. Beautiful. With a brioche bun. And tell me. Wow, this is so much.

[A]

No, I don't even want to hear it. Why? Why are we so behind?

[B]

We can do better.

[A]

We're so ahead and so behind. How?

[B]

Amen. We're focusing on the wrong things.

[A]

I think we are too. I think people would be happier with nicer, nicer airports. You know, we just need to do better, George. Better Airports. Now, one place that I know we're

[B]

doing better, taking control of our digital privacy.

[A]

Amen. Hallelujah. Yeah, with Delete Me. Because your subscription with Delete Me actually guarantees that a team of people go in and scrub the Internet of your data.

[B]

Hundreds of these data broker sites.

[A]

There's all these websites, and it's like sketchypeople.com or like findyourperson.com. it's weird. It's these weird websites and your home address, your phone number, your name, your kids names, your spouse's name. I mean, everything. It's bizarre, the information that's out there and they go in and take it all down. They delete me from the Internet, AKA the name.

[B]

Delete you.

[A]

Delete you from the Internet.

[B]

There we go. Yeah. And they send you a custom report every few months showing you exactly what websites they removed you from, how much time they've saved you. And it really is doing the Lord's work to remove our information from the Internet. In an age where we enter our information in boxes all day long.

[A]

Constantly. Constantly.

[B]

So go check it out. You'll get 20% off their annual plans. Join DeleteMe.com SmartMoney or use the link in the description.

[A]

All right, next up. Ooh, Owning your home.

[B]

That's it. That's.

[A]

That's it.

[B]

That's the habit.

[A]

You own your home and bonus points if you sign up or refinance to a 15 year fixed rate mortgage and pay it off early.

[B]

Now we're talking.

[A]

So you own a home, you're working to pay it off.

[B]

Quiet wealth.

[A]

Quiet wealth. That's a quiet wealth trend right there.

[B]

It's not a thing you're like, most people don't like, post on Instagram about.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, it's not a thing you're flexing unless you're like in the Ramsey tribe and we're all celebrating with you.

[A]

Right.

[B]

It's not a thing you bring up at, you know, dinner.

[A]

Yeah. And no one ever knows your payment

[B]

on a mortgage this month.

[A]

Yeah. That's the crazy thing about a house is like, you could be struggling to pay that payment, but no one necessarily knows unless you tell them. Or it could be like, oh, no, we're paying double the payment to get it paid off early. And no one knows. They just see the house. Or you could be renting the house and no one knows. Right. Unless you're talking about.

[B]

I think about that often. Even just like on my street. Just like, we don't know. They could be in, you know, a crippling debt to pay this mortgage.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Or they could, it could be paid

[A]

off or they could have millions and millions and millions. And they're being smart and they're like, yeah, I don't need to go buy a 16 acre farm. I'm gonna just. Yeah.

[B]

Live simply.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's kind of the millionaire next door type mentality.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So that's, that's a good one. I'm a big fan of that one. I think everyone should do it in their lifetime. And please don't go into retirement carrying a mortgage. That always breaks my heart.

[A]

It's hard.

[B]

You're like in your 60s still paying off this mortgage, which tells me you did a 30 year, you got the HELOC, you rolled it into another 30 year.

[A]

Or you just kept paying just a payment a month, minimum payments, no aggression towards paying it off early. It just is what it is.

[B]

Make a plan.

[A]

And what's wild, especially a 30 year, if you pay it in 30, the amount of money that goes to interest that you actually end up paying versus just the purchase price of the home of when you bought it, especially with

[B]

current interest rates, we're talking 100,000, 200,000, $300,000 just in interest on top of

[A]

the actual bank you took for loan. And the money like it is wild. That is some quiet luxury. When you own your home, you pay it off early.

[B]

Simple life.

[A]

We love it. Oh, two more. I thought there was one bonus. Sneaky, sneaky.

[B]

Ooh, this is a fun one. Working the same job or in the

[A]

same industry long term, that feels quiet wealth to me.

[B]

Yeah. There's something that isn't like you're not job hopping constantly. You're not chasing the next huge paycheck or bump. And I mean, I guess I live this accidentally. I've been here 13 years. I guess that's.

[A]

Look at you long term. Yeah. Because some people chase the like, oh, I can make five grand more here and they'll job hunt.

[B]

You see that a lot in the startup world and in tech where it's like, well, I'm jumping from Netflix to Apple.

[A]

Yes, yes. Yeah. And so I wouldn't say it's necessarily bad right or wrong. I don't know.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know if I have a strong opinion about it, but they're. But when you talk to people, especially like the boomers right now that are retiring and they've been at their job for 30 years or whatever it is, and they've got a pension, they've got stock, I mean they've got this whole package, because when they retire, they are going to do great. And that longevity helped with that. And again, I'm not saying that's for everyone, but that feels. Yeah. Quiet wealth.

[B]

To me, there's a consistency to it that tells me you've probably been Investing in your 401k for a decade or two or three.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And we saw this with teachers. They are the third most likely career for millionaires in our millionaire study. And teachers, what do they do? They're usually in that school system for a long time and they've been investing into that.

[A]

How about this, George? I don't know if it's true or not. I'm just. This just popped in. Yeah. Not a lot of ego involved when this is this person.

[B]

Oh, interesting.

[A]

There's something a little flashy about being like, oh, I'm going to this next job for the promotion, whatever. I'm not saying that's bad. Like, that's great if you're progressing in your job.

[B]

I do think loyalty is. There's a flashy and rewarding.

[A]

Yeah, there's something about the. Like, it's not about me always. And maybe you see your work more as like, I work to live versus live to work kind of thing. But there's. There's not a lot of ego if you're not, you know, it's like, oh, well, the company didn't do what I wanted, so I'm going to go find my thing. Does that make sense?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I don't know. There's something along that. That's interesting.

[B]

Well, sometimes you're sort of chasing that next title and you want that promotion and that's fine and great. But I think if you've been at the same company a long time, you've naturally progressed and you're a little more secure without needing another title.

[A]

Right. Right.

[B]

Now that's assuming that you're treated right. You're getting 100% crushing it. Now, if you're phoning it in at your job.

[A]

Yes. You're doing it out of the laziness. That's one thing. Yes. But I don't know. There's something there, George. All right, I like it. All right, last. This is the bonus question. You ready? Ooh. Having season tickets to your local sports team.

[B]

That's an interesting one. This one I could put in two categories depending on if. If you paid cash or you went to debt. But I think quiet wealth. If you're just a true fan and if your team is terrible, I have so much more respect for you.

[A]

Oh, Titans.

[B]

If you're a Titan.

[A]

If you're a Titan.

[B]

Season takes of the Titans and you

[A]

have for six plus years. I. I don't know if you're smart, but that's unbelievable.

[B]

That should count for like ministry.

[A]

That's.

[B]

That's such a noble thing to do. It's easy when it's like the hot team that crushes it.

[A]

You know what? To me, that's back to the consistency standpoint. I'm going to go. I'm going to go quiet wealth.

[B]

Because you're like, I just like the team. I'm gonna go to the games.

[A]

Yeah. Cause I mean, rarely, unless you're again in a market that it's been like. I don't know. I was gonna say the Chicago Bears, aren't they gonna move? Have you heard this rumor?

[B]

I haven't. I haven't been keeping up with the sports news.

[A]

Okay, that's true. You're probably the wrong person. The word on the street is, I think Ohio. They're looking at Ohio down below the border. I don't know. The border.

[B]

Are they keeping the name?

[A]

Anyways, I don't, I don't know. But I was gonna use Chicago Bears as a example of like a very classic team. Like, hard to get season tickets to because they've been around for so long. They may not be the best every season, but like, yeah, the Bills, I would say the Bills are like that. Like there's just these like nostalgic teams. So that could be easy to get season tickets and keep those because it's just exciting. But when it's just your run in the mill, you know, the Browns.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

Browns, Titans. I don't know. I'm just thinking of teams that are like. But here's what's so mediocre.

[B]

But season tickets, they're specific seats. And I don't know who I'm going to be sitting next to for the entire season.

[A]

Great point.

[B]

And I've been to a Titans game. The people around me ruin the game. Lot of expletives and yelling. And I'm like, there's a seven year old with his dad here, dude.

[A]

Ain't that crazy? Yeah. People don't care. They're so unwell.

[B]

Can you emotionally regulate yourself, Brad? Just a lot for me. So that's why I never get season tickets for a thousand other reasons. But you see the price tag. You're like, it's thousands of dollars for season tickets. For most teams.

[A]

Absolutely. I would. For the Voles.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

If Winston came and was like. And again they're kind of hard to get, but.

[B]

Yeah, a lot of.

[A]

But it was like, if we like, that would be an investment and I would do it.

[B]

Well, and you gotta travel for that.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Go drive a few hours to go

[A]

to a Wall Street.

[B]

I know it's not even like local. Local.

[A]

No.

[B]

But you're alma mater.

[A]

I would do it. Go. Balls.

[B]

Why don't the Ramses have a suite that I can then join and eat some, you know, lobster?

[A]

Well, I will say Dave had some great seats in like that area, but

[B]

he just wasn't going when I was.

[A]

Yeah, when I was in college, like back in the day. And then they went through a rough season and then Dave was like, dave or the team? Probably both. But Dave. Yeah, dad was like, I pay him for too much bad football. And so he dropped him.

[B]

That's logical.

[A]

Yeah. But that was probably, man, maybe eight years ago. Yeah. So they're. They're gone.

[B]

Well, if they get good again, get the sweet Dave. I'll be there.

[A]

Okay, George, that was fun. And I feel like you can kind of figure out. Yes, the like, you know, the quiet wealth. You got the new money.

[B]

That's where I want to land.

[A]

I realized I know like all the spectrum. But you know, regardless of where you are financially, having a bank that is for you is so big that puts

[B]

you on the path to quiet wealth.

[A]

It does. And that's where Fairwinds Credit union comes into play. Because they are so helpful, not only from the customer service perspective, but the actual banking experience that you have with Fairwinds is so easy to get to even sign up for an account. And you can do their smart bundle, which is a checky account, and you'll get the debt as normal Beweird debit card, which we love. You get this. You get a high yield savings account, like to sign up for everything. It took me like 10 minutes. It was so fast. And then the app is so easy to use. And you can change money within their checking account and the savings account like it is, it's so seamless. It's wonderful.

[B]

And I was just meeting with the team and I was shocked. They are actively working on more ways to serve the fans. To where they saw my YouTube video where I said, hey, make sure you use a debit card with no international fees if you're traveling. And they said, yeah, let's add that. And so now if you travel to Europe and take the kids, no fees on those transactions. And they'll even refund you for two overdrafts. As like a. Almost like accident forgiveness.

[A]

Yeah. It's like, it's okay.

[B]

That's amazing. So they're actively wanting to see you in. Go check them out. Fairwinds.org Ramsey to get the smart bundle or click the link in the description.

[A]

Yeah. George. So whatever category you fall into, I think always remembering and even some of these examples, I think spend with healthy motivation. Don't spend to try to impress people. Like, if you want the season tickets to the game, you know, do it because it brings you joy and it's great. Or the trip to Europe. Don't feel like you have to post it on social media.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Like, you can kind of actually know your motivation if you think, is somebody going to see this purchase or am I doing this to fulfill something? So the motivation to spend is really big. I think always having a plan and knowing where your money's going helps with some of that. If you haven't checked out EveryDollar. EveryDollar is a great budgeting app. Check it out. We'll put a link down below. But yeah, those would be some. Some of the things that I think about in these categories.

[B]

Yeah. And I think spending your money on things that truly bring you joy and that might be experiences with the people you love through travel, it might be a beautiful piece of art on the wall, but do it for you and not because you feel like someone else will be impressed by it. And always do it with cash. That's a good way to avoid regret when you got payments on that thing every single month.

[A]

So good. Well, you know, just put it. Let's, let's. Let's shoot for quiet wealth. George.

[B]

That's what I'm aiming for.

[A]

Yeah. If we had a. Had a target out there, that's where we're going. I love it. All right, well, before we spill the tea on our guilty as charged segments, let's give the details of the drink and our rating. What do you think?

[B]

I mean, I'm going 9 out of 10 on this frozen coconut lemonade. I'll say it was better while it was still very frozen.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

As it sits, you know, it sort of gets a little too liquidy, but it's still. The flavor's there. It's creamy. It's got that nice lemon zest. So it's got the fresh lemon juice. You need that. The lemon zest, which I think adds a lot. Coconut milk and sugar. That's it. It comes up to $2.56 per glass. And this is one you can make for the kids, especially as the weather gets warmer, make one of these bad boys, everyone's happy.

[A]

Okay, I think I'm gonna go 8 out of 10.

[B]

Mmm.

[A]

It's a little too lemonade.

[B]

Is it sour for you?

[A]

It made me do this a couple times.

[B]

Like, I want it to taste like a sour patch kid.

[A]

I know that. That's what this is. Sour. Yes, a sour patch can. Sour Patch kid. And then I'm gonna be honest. The. The whole blender, which. God bless our team for doing it.

[B]

Yeah. I told them, I said, if you pull out a blender you really love,

[A]

I just don't know if I'm a blender kind of gal. For the drinks. I don't know if I have the effort. That's a downside.

[B]

Would I make this at home? The answer is probably not.

[A]

I know.

[B]

But only out of laziness. Let me make that very clear.

[A]

I know. That's it. Yeah. For no other reason but that. No other reason but that. It's a fun.

[B]

It's like an art project with the kids.

[A]

Yeah, that's a.

[B]

Kids love a blender. Just be safe.

[A]

Just be safe. 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 sip. All right, question. George, are you guilty of having an overly bougie or overly cheap millionaire habit?

[B]

Oh, that's interesting. I mean, yes, in both categories. What if we combine them?

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Of like, here's the cheap thing I do, and yet I do this bougie thing over here.

[A]

Okay, that's good. I buy really cheap jewelry. Like, I have a few nice pieces.

[B]

Are those cheap?

[A]

Bobble bar. Okay, this one is not. But what's crazy is I've had this since college, so I get. This doesn't count because I've had it for so long. But a lot of bubble bar, a lot of Target, a lot of Amazon, you know? So I'm not. I'm not spending. I mean, I don't see myself spending more than. I mean, I'm not kidding. If it's over $40 for a piece of jewelry, I'm like, there's some pause.

[B]

It's really gotta be worth it.

[A]

But then I will spend, as my husband calls it, highway robbery on my hair. Especially this. This lady, she. She ain't cheap.

[B]

I still don't understand the science behind this.

[A]

I spent so much, y', all, like, to the point that I was like, I don't know if people should know this like, it's.

[B]

Well, I know that generally, if a woman walks into a salon, we're talking 300 bucks.

[A]

Oh,

[B]

that's for, like, maybe, like, cut color, if you're lucky. Yes.

[A]

Okay. My normal was that when I didn't do extensions.

[B]

The extensions. That's a whole nother ball.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. It's like.

[B]

Can I ask, are the extensions made from, like, horse hair of, like, a stallion that was, like, won the Kentucky Derby?

[A]

It's real hair hair. It's women's hair.

[B]

So you can donate your hair.

[A]

Women grow out their hair? Yes. It's like a thing.

[B]

And if they cut, like, a certain.

[A]

Which is a very. Yeah.

[B]

And it has to match your hair.

[A]

No, they color it.

[B]

But then how does it.

[A]

Different textures, everything. Oh, you. Do you want to know. Do you want to know this?

[B]

Yes. I think every man out there is, like, what is happening?

[A]

So we have different.

[B]

Is it literally like, surgery?

[A]

You ready?

[B]

I mean, they're, like, gluing it to your scalp.

[A]

No. Okay. Okay, George, listen. There are different categories of extensions, okay? You got your temporary ones, which are your clip ins. They just got a little clip, and those look great. So a lot of women on TV will do it.

[B]

And the clips are hidden through, like, layers.

[A]

Okay. So you just, like, stick it and clip it in. You got the halo, which is like a fishing wire with fake hair all around. And women put it, like, right here. And then you can't really tell because you put the top layer of your hair over.

[B]

Isn't that like a wig?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, kind of. But it's. But you take it off at night.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Okay. Those are temporary. Then you got more permanent ones. So you got tape in extensions, which are, like, two sides tape, kind of what you're talking about. It's almost like hot glue.

[B]

It's like, to your scalp.

[A]

To the. To the hair. So you have a piece of hair, and you do a. An extension behind it, an extension in front of it. You tape it well, that. Those are hard. Tape ins are rough. And I did do those a few years ago, and they. They're. They were terrible for my hair. Okay, so you got that. You got tape ins that are popular. You got the K tips, which are little strands of hair, and then they take a bead, and they take one of your strands of hair and loop it through, and then they pinch the bead with, like, a tool. So you have your strip of hair with another fake strip of hair, and they do it all around.

[B]

That's all These little beads. It would take forever for.

[A]

Yeah, 100%. Okay. So then those are. And then you got the sewn in extensions.

[B]

That's what you.

[A]

And I'm gonna say not to. Not to sound all braggy. They're the nice ones. These are the most expensive and probably the healthiest for your hair. So what they do. Are you ready?

[B]

When you said sewn, I just threw up in my mouth.

[A]

No, no, I know. I'll explain it. Okay, so this is the content people want. This is the content. Okay. So what it is. The extension looks like a strand of, like, a strand of hair. Like, it's like it's all attached up at the top and there's, like, hair down, right?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

It's like a. Like a. Like a curtain.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got a curtain. A curtain of hair.

[A]

Okay. So she takes my hair and parts it up so there's like a part like this.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And then she. The bead I was talking about. Remember the bead? So she does like, maybe five beads. Like a bead. A bead. A bead. A bead. And puts a string through that bead.

[B]

Got it.

[A]

The beads. Okay. And then she takes the strength of hair and she sews the hair that has, like, a strip that's connected to the string that's in my head. So she sews them in. Does that make sense?

[B]

With a needle, like a sewing needle?

[A]

Yeah, but it never touches my scalp because it's the string that's attached to.

[B]

She's literally doing, like, sewing.

[A]

Sewing, yes.

[B]

In and out, in and out.

[A]

Sewn in extensions. Yes.

[B]

How do you get them out?

[A]

Well, so then they say it and sew it. So they grow. Because your hair grows. So it grows with your hair. So every seven to eight weeks, they gotta take them out and move them back up. So you gotta do the process all over again. Or if you're done with them, they'll just take them out.

[B]

I'm learning so much today.

[A]

So. Yep. So that's it. Thank you.

[B]

No one's ever explained it to me. They don't teach you this stuff in school.

[A]

You're welcome.

[B]

So, guys, if you're probably YouTube it. Why it took nine hours and why it was a thousand dollars. Now we know. It was like they did a surgery.

[A]

It's. Oh, my gosh. That's a lot. Wow. There you go. Okay. Have you gotten. Have you done your guiltiest charge?

[B]

I can't beat that. But here's. Here's my kind of go to the overly cheap millionaire habit is I order water at restaurants almost always. I just feel like a drink. It's overpriced. I don't need the extra calories. Yeah, water's great.

[A]

I'm fine with tap water.

[B]

And then I have a. Currently a laundry service. That's right, because once my dog became cripple and we had an infant and toddler, we found the service, they were a cleaner. We didn't use them for house cleaning, but we found out they do laundry. And I think it's 40 bucks a week and you can give them two giant bags of whatever you want. And it comes back folded in bags.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

Like three days later.

[A]

That's unbelievable.

[B]

And that has saved a lot of marital fights.

[A]

I'm so glad of like you left it in the washer to get your laundry done.

[B]

Yeah, you know what?

[A]

Well done, George.

[B]

You deserve it. You know, again, I don't have many hobbies.

[A]

You deserve it.

[B]

And so I trade that fun money into. This is fun.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Not doing laundry all weekend long.

[A]

This is what I want to put my money. Well done, George.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

It's good.

[B]

I'm buying back my time, guys. That's how I spend my money.

[A]

I love that. Well, if you have a guilty as charged question for us, make sure to DM us at Rachel Cruz and at George Camel. We love getting them. And if you love this episode, check out the episode. Are these common money habits broke, average or wealthy? We will link it for you and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.