Reacting to the Most Unhinged GoFundMe Campaigns

Summary

Detailed Summary of "Reacting to the Most Unhinged GoFundMe Campaigns"

Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Episode: Reacting to the Most Unhinged GoFundMe Campaigns
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host/Authors: Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Produced by: Ramsey Network

---

Introduction

In the episode titled "Reacting to the Most Unhinged GoFundMe Campaigns," hosts Rachel Cruze and George Kamel delve into the intriguing and sometimes bewildering world of GoFundMe campaigns. They explore both the commendable acts of generosity and the concerning instances of scams and frivolous requests that have surfaced on the platform. The conversation is interspersed with light-hearted banter, personal anecdotes, and insightful commentary on the nature of giving in the digital age.

Setting the Scene

The hosts kick off the episode by emphasizing the importance of generosity as a core tenet of financial wellness, echoing principles from the Ramsey Plan. They introduce the topic of "Giving Gone Wild," setting the stage for an exploration of some of the most unusual GoFundMe campaigns.

George Kamel [00:05]: "You've heard that it's better to give than to receive, but we might have some caveats. Today we're talking about giving Gone Wild."

As they sip on their signature drink, the "Love Gun," they transition into the main discussion, highlighting both the positive and negative facets of online fundraising.

The Fine Line Between Generosity and Scams

Rachel and George acknowledge the dual nature of GoFundMe — a platform that can be both a beacon of hope and a breeding ground for deceit.

Personal Anecdote: Funding a Daughter's Education

George shares a personal story about creating a GoFundMe for his daughter's education, which unexpectedly attracted criticism and accusations of seeking unnecessary donations despite his stable financial situation.

Rachel Cruze [01:30]: "Yes. I don't know why you're surprised by this, George. Because you had donation gate at your daughter's birthday for people to fund his daughter's education."

George Kamel [02:00]: "It turned into people saying, I can't believe you're using social media to try to fund your daughter's education. Go fund yourself."

This anecdote serves as a segue into the broader discussion about the normalization of funding various life events through online platforms.

Scam Highlight: Scamanda

The hosts discuss the infamous case of Scamanda, a woman who allegedly faked cancer to garner donations, ultimately leading to FBI involvement due to wire fraud.

Rachel Cruze [04:14]: "She faked cancer, George. This woman faked cancer."

George Kamel [05:29]: "And if you're wrong, that's probably the worst thing to be wrong about."

They underline the severe repercussions of such deceitful actions and the harm they inflict on genuine fundraising efforts.

Spotlight on Unusual GoFundMe Campaigns

The duo reviews several peculiar and, at times, questionable GoFundMe campaigns, providing both critique and humor.

1. Booze, Drugs, Cigs

A campaign titled "Booze, Drugs, Cigs" seeks funds for the creator’s personal indulgence in recreational substances.

Rachel Cruze [07:46]: "This creator said that he's broke and trying to have a lit summer."

George Kamel [08:02]: "He just wanted booze, drugs and cigs, which I don't condone any of those things."

They debate the ethical implications of supporting such a campaign, ultimately questioning the purpose and benefit of funding personal vices.

2. Booking Wrong Plane Tickets

Another campaign involves a woman who accidentally booked the wrong plane tickets for her friends’ wedding in India, seeking $1,200 to rectify the mistake.

George Kamel [08:53]: "The campaign name. I booked the wrong plane ticket. LOL."

Rachel Cruze [09:22]: "She just said she booked the wrong ticket. So we're gonna, we're gonna give her the..."

They discuss the nature of the error and whether it warrants public fundraising, leaning towards skepticism about the necessity and transparency of the request.

3. Big Move to LA

A campaign titled "Big Move to LA" requests $3,000 to move to Los Angeles in pursuit of a career in the entertainment industry.

George Kamel [11:09]: "You needed research for that. You probably shouldn't be in the entertainment industry to Google."

Rachel Cruze [13:04]: "It's 3,000 bucks. Let's get a thousand dollar side hustle."

They critique the practicality of the request, questioning the sustainability and realism of relying on public funds for career moves without a concrete plan.

4. Get Brett to Yoga Teacher Training

A campaign seeks $650 to fund Brett’s journey into yoga teacher training, which Rachel and George find particularly questionable.

George Kamel [15:32]: "I am starting this campaign to help raise money for myself so that I may start my journey into yoga teacher training."

Rachel Cruze [18:22]: "This is what that. I'll be honest. That's usually my instructors, like, go to Warrior one Go."

They express doubt about the necessity of crowdfunding for personal professional development, suggesting that traditional income sources should suffice.

5. Burning Man Trip

The final campaign discussed involves a woman seeking $600 to attend Burning Man, which Rachel and George find hard to justify as a genuine need.

George Kamel [20:00]: "So here's the latest GoFundMe. I just pulled it up to see what he's up to. So let's help get Jeff off the streets."

Rachel Cruze [25:45]: "I would pay 600 for therapy."

They contrast this with more meaningful campaigns, highlighting the difference between frivolous and truly impactful fundraising efforts.

Celebrating Success Stories

Balancing their critique, Rachel and George also highlight successful and heartwarming GoFundMe campaigns that have made a positive impact.

Support for Rockstar Pizza Drivers

A notable success story involves a pizza delivery driver who performed a heroic act but only received a $2 tip. A police officer created a GoFundMe that raised over $45,000 in his honor.

George Kamel [30:00]: "He raised over $45,000."

Rachel Cruze [30:39]: "I like that it gives your faith in humanity a little bit."

This example underscores the platform's potential to amplify genuine acts of kindness and community support.

Jimmy Darts’ Generosity

Jimmy Darts, known for his philanthropic efforts, is highlighted for his consistent support of individuals in need through GoFundMe campaigns that often raise substantial funds.

Rachel Cruze [31:35]: "Wonderful guy. And so what he does is he'll go up to people in need."

George Kamel [32:08]: "He raises another 50 to $100,000."

These stories exemplify the positive side of online fundraising, where strategic and heartfelt campaigns can significantly aid individuals facing hardships.

The Importance of Thoughtful Giving

Throughout the episode, Rachel and George reiterate the significance of intentional and informed generosity. They advocate for supporting genuine causes and being discerning donors to avoid enabling unnecessary or deceitful requests.

Rachel Cruze [26:29]: "Studies show that you are a happier person when you give."

George Kamel [27:37]: "You just have to put some sacrifice in work for it, make some money and don't expect everyone else to fund all of your dreams."

They emphasize the balance between generosity and financial responsibility, encouraging listeners to integrate giving thoughtfully into their budgets.

Final Reflections and Recommendations

Wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the diverse landscape of GoFundMe campaigns, celebrating the platform's ability to foster community support while cautioning against its misuse. They advocate for fostering a spirit of generosity that enhances both the giver's and receiver's lives, highlighting the personal and societal benefits of mindful giving.

Rachel Cruze [26:32]: "It's the decent human thing to do. When you see people in need."

George Kamel [28:38]: "Let them get the benefit."

They also promote their next episode on dupes, counterfeits, and scams, encouraging listeners to stay informed and vigilant.

Notable Quotes

• George Kamel [00:05]: "You've heard that it's better to give than to receive, but we might have some caveats."
• Rachel Cruze [04:14]: "She faked cancer, George. This woman faked cancer."
• George Kamel [08:02]: "He just wanted booze, drugs and cigs, which I don't condone any of those things."
• Rachel Cruze [15:32]: "I am starting this campaign to help raise money for myself so that I may start my journey into yoga teacher training."
• Rachel Cruze [26:29]: "Studies show that you are a happier person when you give."
• George Kamel [27:37]: "You just have to put some sacrifice in work for it, make some money and don't expect everyone else to fund all of your dreams."

Conclusion

In "Reacting to the Most Unhinged GoFundMe Campaigns," Rachel Cruze and George Kamel provide a balanced exploration of online generosity. They celebrate the heartfelt and impactful campaigns while vigilantly critiquing those that stray into the absurd or fraudulent. Their conversation serves as a guide for listeners to navigate the complexities of digital fundraising, promoting a culture of thoughtful and meaningful giving.

---

Listen to the full episode here (Note: Link placeholder)

Transcript

[George Camel]

You've heard that it's better to give than to receive, but we might have some caveats. Today we're talking about giving Gone Wild.

[Rachel Cruz]

Some of the wildest GoFundMe campaigns. This creator said that he's broke and trying to have a lit summer.

[George Camel]

Get Brett to yoga teacher training.

[Rachel Cruz]

Hey, guys, I'm Rachel Cru. I'm George Camel, and this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Oh. 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.

[George Camel]

And before we get to giving Gone Wild, let's talk about what we're sipping on here. It is called a love gun.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's fun. Yeah, Love Gun.

[George Camel]

We're going to give you the rating and reveal the cost per glass at the end of the episode. So stick around for that. This is a good one. I'll just give you a little warning. It's good.

[Rachel Cruz]

You think that good. I'm just saying, so far, a little bland for me. I like the name better than.

[George Camel]

Just wait. It gets better.

[Rachel Cruz]

I can't wait.

[George Camel]

Okay, so we got to start by saying that generosity is very important to us. It's a major part of the Ramsey plan, and we believe it's the most fun that you can have with money. Truly more than spending, more than saving. But it can apparently be fraught with shock and scandal.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. I don't know why you're surprised by this, George. Because you had donation gate at your daughter's birthday for people to fund his daughter's education. Even though George has a full time job and he is fine financially, but he's having other people fund his daughter's education. Tell us about it, George.

[George Camel]

I don't know what character you were turning into, but I wanted to see where it was going.

[Rachel Cruz]

Just like this is you. I don't know. Tell us about it.

[George Camel]

I talked about this. We had a whole episode around financial faux pas, and I shared the story about how I set up. It was just a fun QR code for some family and a few close friends. And I thought, this will be fun. If they want to donate to her college fund on her first birthday, they're welcome to do so. It turned into people saying, I can't believe you're using social media to try to fund your daughter's education fund. Go fund yourself. And I was like, whoa, guys, that's not the intent here. I don't need your money. I just thought, hey, instead of buying my daughter crap that will send a goodwill, why not give her something that will actually help her future. Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

You're not asking strangers. You're asking your good friends and family to fund your.

[George Camel]

Yes. 10 people that were invited to her birthday party. Not you guys.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm kidding, George.

[George Camel]

But I posted about it for fun. I'm saying, like, this is the kind of dad I am. The nerdy dad who has a QR code to. It was more making fun of myself than it was soliciting donations.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. But the funny thing, ironically, is that it wasn't like a joke. You were being very for real. But you know, you're in good company because funding people's life events is now very normal.

[George Camel]

We've normalized it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Funding people's. Yes. Weddings or honeymoons or vacations. Like, this is what people do. But I will say there is a funding that is great. Like if there's a tragedy that hits, you know, that's. That's one place. The Internet is wonderful because you are able to get the word out and people are able to help on a bigger scale. Which is beautiful.

[George Camel]

Yeah. Medical bills or, you know, house fire, things like that. Those are legitimate needs. And it's a beautiful thing to get. Outsource it to community of friends and family and strangers.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. But it has gone bad. Like, there's been so many different scam stuff. Do you know one of my favorite podcasts last year, and then they turned it into a TV show, Scamanda. Did you ever listen to it?

[George Camel]

I heard about this. I think you probably told me about it if I'm gonna be real. M. What happens in Scamanda.

[Rachel Cruz]

Omg.

[George Camel]

Very great. It's a great name.

[Rachel Cruz]

Such a great name. Like, great title.

[George Camel]

Glad her name was Amanda.

[Rachel Cruz]

Just like Top Gun or Love Gun. What's this called?

[George Camel]

Love Gun.

[Rachel Cruz]

Love Gun. Okay. Not Top Gun, different Top Gun. Love Gun, Yes. She faked cancer, George. This woman faked cancer. And I don't wanna give it all away, but it first came out. Like her neighbor was like, oh, my gosh, something's not adding up. Cause the girl Amanda was like, oh, I'm getting a port done because of my brain leakage.

[George Camel]

She's posting videos from the hospital.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, you are jumping the gun. Top Gun. Love Gun over there. Stop that. No, listen. She first was telling this neighbor, like all this stuff. Like her brain was like. Had fluid in it, so she had to get a drink cause the cancer. But then she'd like go to the neighbor's house and tell her all and then go swim. And the neighbor was like, you just had a Major procedure done. Something isn't adding up. So this neighbor was on it from the top. She's like, something's wrong. And then for years and years and years and years and years and years, this woman was telling, like, church, family, family, friends, and would go check herself into the emergency room, y' all, and take pictures of herself with, like, an IV and different things. But anytime anyone was like, hey, I'll go to chemo with you, she's like, there was always an excuse, like, oh, no, you can't. They won't let you know. So no one ever, like, legitimately saw her. But later to. Then, here's what's crazy. So she goes online, and it becomes this massive, like, GoFundMe. All of a sudden, people are funding her life because she can't work, and she's married and all this stuff and kids. So sad. And so she ends up. They catch onto her because the neighbor, the first neighbor, contacts an investigator, basically reporter, and was like, hey, I think this woman is faking cancer. Like, you can't ever say that out loud. How terr. Terrible would that be? Right.

[George Camel]

And if you're wrong, that's probably the worst thing to be wrong about.

[Rachel Cruz]

Not good. You don't want to be wrong about that. But she, you know, told this reporter, and the reporter starts, like, digging into it and realizes, yeah, it is a scam. And they end up getting the FBI involved because of wire fraud. And when you give money, I guess, across state lines or something, there's like, a federal law or whatever. So she ends up. It's more the IRS that takes her down out of everything.

[George Camel]

Wow. Because she wasn't paying taxes.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, it was because of, like, the government agency of, like, of. Of wire fraud. And, like, it turned into that. So it's a great podcast.

[George Camel]

She got over a hundred thousand dollars in donations. And the husband's in on it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, he's got. Well, I. His name is Corey, and we're not sure. I don't think he was official. I can't remember if he was officially charged or not, but there's no way he couldn't have known.

[George Camel]

What about the kids? These poor, innocent kids.

[Rachel Cruz]

Were they in terrible terror?

[George Camel]

Were they old enough to know what was going on?

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, she had some. Yeah, she had a. Yeah, it's a big family tree, but it was wild George.

[George Camel]

Anyways, thanks for the spark notes on that. You saved me hours of my life.

[Rachel Cruz]

You're welcome. You should listen to.

[George Camel]

That's way more entertaining than actually watching it. So it's clear that with Scamanda, people were seriously misled about what they were giving to. But I've seen some bold GoFundMes that aren't hiding a thing. Here's an example. Someone from our team had a friend who made a GoFundMe to raise money for her twins college education. Both were going to expensive private universities. $0. That's embarrassing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, they didn't raise anything.

[George Camel]

No. Posted about it. Hey, we really need the help to send our kids to these very expensive private universities. No empathy from her friends on Facebook.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I mean I could see. I could see any. Our team found a list of some of the wildest GoFundMe campaigns and we're going to start with the first one. And I'll say with the caveat before we begin this again. The Internet is a beautiful, wonderful place that again, you get messages out about situations that are happening that you actually can give to, that are legitimate. Like it is. It is not. We're not bashing this. But like every great thing, George, there's always a downside.

[George Camel]

Every rose has a thorn.

[Rachel Cruz]

And we. This is what we do on the show is talk about the downside. So you ready for the first one?

[George Camel]

What's the title titled?

[Rachel Cruz]

Booze, Drugs, Cigs.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

And this creator said that he's broke and trying to have a lit summer.

[George Camel]

I think that's. He stole Kid Rock lyrics. I think that's literally the song of the summer from Kid Rock.

[Rachel Cruz]

He's trying to raise money for his booze, drugs and cigs.

[George Camel]

I love the honesty though.

[Rachel Cruz]

You're not getting scammed on that one.

[George Camel]

There's no limits. It's not like GoFundMe's like, hey, this has to be a legitimate thing. You're really going through something. He just wanted to fund his summer and he was very honest about it. He didn't try to lie. I need to go to college. No, he just wanted booze, drugs and cigs, which I don't condone any of those things. For all the children watching and my mom. Would I give to this? That's the question. I might. Just to say I was a part of history. No, not a lot. Not enough to enable, but like a dollar just to enough to show up on the side that shows. Like George Campbell donated $1. Would you?

[Rachel Cruz]

I think I'd scroll past it. But I appreciate the effort. You know, at least there's effort. You like rob a bank or something.

[George Camel]

That's true. You could be committing actual crimes. So that's always a silver lining with.

[Rachel Cruz]

Rachel it's not hurting anyone.

[George Camel]

Okay, here's the next one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

The campaign name. I booked the wrong plane ticket. LOL. That's what they named the GoFundMe. So a girl was having her wedding in India, but accidentally booked the wrong tickets for two of her friends and needed 1200 bucks to fix it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, stop it.

[George Camel]

How do you book the wrong ticket? Are there that many Indias?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh my gosh. What if she went to like Indiana instead of India? I feel like, how terrible would that be?

[George Camel]

Who married her? No offense, but if you. That's a big typo.

[Rachel Cruz]

That is bad. I wonder if the dates were wrong. Surely not the destination. She just said she booked the wrong ticket. So we're gonna, we're gonna give her the.

[George Camel]

Maybe a wrong date.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like, you know what I may give to that. That would be so sad that you were just trying to do something good for your friends. Probably trying to help them and try to get like, oh, let's all get tickets together on the plane or something. I don't know. Like it's so, it's so good hearted of her. And then she messed up a detail. And I get that I've messed up details, George.

[George Camel]

I would have contacted the airline first, but I guess she tried that to see if they could non refundable. Yeah, it sounds like that's the case. Twelve hundred bucks would I give to this if I knew her? I don't think I would give to a stranger's campaign. But if I was like a friend or family, I would consider that my wedding gift. I wouldn't get. I would say, hey, I'm going to give 50 bucks. 100 bucks, but no wedding gift.

[Rachel Cruz]

Are your wedding gifts 50 bucks?

[George Camel]

I don't know what people are doing these days. Nobody invites me to weddings, to be honest.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know what? That's fair. I haven't a wedding in a long time.

[George Camel]

I. I'm only friends with people that are already married. And the people that are single, they don't want me there, apparently.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, play matchmaker.

[George Camel]

I only get invited to weddings from strangers. Like fans of, you know, fan of Smart Money Happy hour will send one to the office. And I'm like, I'm. Are they trying to get free product? I don't know.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh my gosh.

[George Camel]

But I'm not going to travel to.

[Rachel Cruz]

Inspector Gas Portland to go to this wedding. Figure out all these things. George.

[George Camel]

But I would give 50 to 100 bucks if I knew the person.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, that's fair. All right.

[George Camel]

I would feel bad for a bride going Through a lot. A lot of details, a lot of stress.

[Rachel Cruz]

Whoopsies. That's so funny. Well, twelve hundred dollars online whoopsies aren't just a risk when you're booking travel, George. It can happen. If you fall for a scam. And there's phishing out there, there's harassment. So much of our information that's online now can be used against us. Where people are tricking us now. And they're getting. And they're getting good. That's why Delete me is a service that everyone needs.

[George Camel]

That's right. Personal data isn't just about spam anymore. There's a lot of just fraud. And these phishing attacks where they make you think they're a legit company, organization, government, whatever. And you click a link and next thing you know, you've sent them a bunch of money. And so to avoid them getting your information in the first place, Delete Me can help protect you against all of that. So they remove your personal info. They send you a report showing you here's where it was, here's where we removed it, and here's how much time we saved you. And I sleep better because of it. And they do this all year long in the background, site by site, listing by listing with a real person doing all of this.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. And then they send you the report so you know what's going on. You know the data, your data that's been removed from what websites? I mean, it's just amazing. Like, they are an incredible service, you guys. So we'll put a link down below for you to check out. Or you can go to joindeleteme.com smart money. And you can get 20 off the annual plan. And again, it comes out to just about $9 a month, which is amazing. So make sure to check them out. All right, you ready for the next campaign? GoFundMe. Someone out there titled Big Move to LA. One woman decided she's going to move to Los Angeles, but she needs $3,000 to do it. And she says, I promise I would not be asking if it wasn't absolutely necessary. In my research of the entertainment industry, I found that Los Angeles is the best location for me to be to launch my career.

[George Camel]

You needed research for that. You probably shouldn't be in the entertainment industry to Google. Where is entertainment industry? How to get job in entertainment industry. But good for her. I like that she promised she wouldn't be asking if it wasn't absolutely necessary.

[Rachel Cruz]

Promise.

[George Camel]

Like she doesn't have secret money laying around and she's doing this for fun.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

As people tend to do.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. No, this is a. This is what she absolutely needs. But just a big move to la. Help with the move. Would you give to it?

[George Camel]

I don't think I would because number one, this is the person that's on American Idol who's a terrible singer, but people in her life have lied to her. I think this is that similar person.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, you do.

[George Camel]

I don't know that they have true talent.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, gosh.

[George Camel]

So that's the thing I would want to see. Like, give me an audition video. Really sell it to me as to why I should invest in your career. Yeah, that's really. I'm buying a share in Rachel Cruz as the actor.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. Are you ready for this? This is so Ramsey. But this is what I think too. I'm like, it's 3,000 bucks. Let's get a thousand dollar side hustle.

[George Camel]

That's.

[Rachel Cruz]

Let's move in three months. We can. We can do this. Do you know what I mean?

[George Camel]

Like, what happens when she moves to LA and doesn't have a job and then goes, I need more GoFundMes now because rent is expensive.

[Rachel Cruz]

What do you do? I know we got to start this. This ball early, if you know what I mean.

[George Camel]

Yeah, I mean, I've seen La La Land. Go work at a coffee shop. Go, you know, serve tables a night. Do what you got to do for the dream.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes, I know. Yeah.

[George Camel]

Love that documentary.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. I think.

[George Camel]

I think Ryan Gosling, he's. That guy is going.

[Rachel Cruz]

Did you like it? I thought it was a little boring.

[George Camel]

Did I like it? It became my personality for six months. Really?

[Rachel Cruz]

See, my personality was the Greatest Showman.

[George Camel]

That was more realistic to you.

[Rachel Cruz]

I love the Greatest Showman. No such better music.

[George Camel]

You know what I liked about La La Land? The sad ending. I thought, now that is reality of la.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

Heartbreak. But silver lining, personal growth.

[Rachel Cruz]

Come on home. Or what's Hugh Jackman sing from now on? That's such a better song to end the movie than your sad, sad movie.

[George Camel]

I thought Greatest Showman was great. I don't think you can even compare the two movies.

[Rachel Cruz]

Why?

[George Camel]

They have nothing to do with each other. They're both about the entertainment industry.

[Rachel Cruz]

They're both musicals. George, what are you talking about?

[George Camel]

That's a. That's a thin thread.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's like Pearl harbor and Titanic, both terrible events in history. We can compare those.

[George Camel]

One was about a war. One was about a ship sinking. Just because they both involve ships doesn't mean they're similar.

[Rachel Cruz]

There's a love story. Something terrible and tragic happens.

[George Camel]

Who got painted nude in Pearl Harbor? Where's the through line there? End it there so I can end this conversation. So the key is, you would not give to this poor woman who's trying.

[Rachel Cruz]

To launch her big deal. No, I'm giving to the bride above if I need to give. So far, not to la. Sorry.

[George Camel]

I dislike skin in the game. Upload the audition tape. And if I'm like, wow, she's going places, I want to support this. I can say I was there when I was there when she was just.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's good.

[George Camel]

Trying to make it to la. And look at her now. She's Adele or whoever. Katy Perry.

[Rachel Cruz]

Hey, would you go? Oh, man.

[George Camel]

All right, next up, get Brett to yoga teacher training. My guy Brett asked for 650 bucks for yoga teacher training.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, no.

[George Camel]

What are they training them to do? Have you seen the instructors? Have you seen the things they say?

[Rachel Cruz]

They're incredible. Very flexible. George.

[George Camel]

All they do is just quietly tell you about your day and tell you to breathe in peace and exhale your target return. And it's very like, woo, woo.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's not. I mean, when's the last time you.

[George Camel]

Went to a yoga class?

[Rachel Cruz]

Four weeks ago. I don't go regularly.

[George Camel]

What was the instructor's name?

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't remember.

[George Camel]

She wasn't a great. I remember all the names.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, I. I like it. I like it. It's a great workout. Especially the flow. The flow classes. Vinyasa, where you're constantly. You're moving and all. Your warrior. But you're going. I mean, you can really. And then if you do hot yoga. That's crazy. Where it's hot in there and you're doing it, it's great. I used to do that a lot.

[George Camel]

I don't like to sweat on purpose.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

All I do, it's accidental.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you not do a sauna?

[George Camel]

I've done saunas.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Yeah, but that doesn't feel like sweat. That feels like there's a forced thing happening there. You know what I mean? It's like. I don't know where this condensation is coming from.

[Rachel Cruz]

What about yoga for you? Have you ever done yoga?

[George Camel]

Yeah, I did it once and it was a terrible experience.

[Rachel Cruz]

Was it?

[George Camel]

Because they never told me what I want. Instruction. When you say yoga instructor, tell me what to do, all she did was suggest things. Perhaps you find your arm leaning over your head. There's a chance you find yourself surrendering to your pelvis. I'm like, what do you. You. Why do they have to make it so weird? You know what I mean? Maybe your. Maybe your knees find a natural, safe place. Like, tell me what to do. That's all I want. Is that too much to ask? Just, like, tell me. Hey. Okay, now, here's what we're gonna do next, guys.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's what that. I'll be honest. That's. Usually my instructors, like, go to Warrior one Go.

[George Camel]

You know what I mean?

[Rachel Cruz]

And they, like, tell you what to do.

[George Camel]

Now there's different moves I have to memorize.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Here's the best part. I was in a dark downward down. I was in a dark, quiet room for an hour without being bothered. That was the best part of yoga. I thought I could do this at home. I could lock myself in a closet with the door closed with some nice music, George. Without Amber telling me suggestions. So, no, I didn't go back. I felt nothing other than uncomfortable, man. Laying on the ground with strangers.

[Rachel Cruz]

That was such a great experience that. I'm sorry.

[George Camel]

With some wood blocks.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. You're definitely not giving. Is it Gary, Greg? Who's going? Brett.

[George Camel]

Brett.

[Rachel Cruz]

Brett, the yoga instructor.

[George Camel]

Okay. He says this is the direct quote. I am starting this campaign to help raise money for myself so that I may start my journey into yoga teacher training. You lost me at calling it a journey, Brett. It's training. Don't call it a journey. You're not finding yourself. You're learning how to suggest poses.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, look at his next quote. This will provide me with the tools so I can better serve each and every person in my life. God them. With positivity and light. Namaste.

[George Camel]

Would I give to this? No. And honestly, you can't save up $650.

[Rachel Cruz]

To get the training. There's a part of me. I'm with you.

[George Camel]

What are you doing with your life?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I gotcha. He's fine.

[George Camel]

Like, it might take a while. 100 bucks for six months. He's got the training fund.

[Rachel Cruz]

He's on a journey. You know, he just needs the journey funded.

[George Camel]

I would just go to work before GoFundMe. You know what I mean? I would try that first. And if all else fails, if tragedy befall me, I will then go to GoFundMe. Okay, but as your first effort, I would not start it. Go for it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Why not do that?

[George Camel]

Should we send Brett a treat to celebrate the start of his new career then? Because you know who has some great athleisure that'd be very comfortable to wear while instructing yoga?

[Rachel Cruz]

Not A yoga company that I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of Cozy Earth. They have Athleisure and other products that are absolutely incredible.

[George Camel]

Sleepwear, bedding, blankets.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. Pajamas, Athleisure, all of it. I mean it is. It is phenomenal. Their stuff is very high quality. It's incredible. I mean it really is. Their pajamas. Some of my favorites. So this day, incredible.

[George Camel]

I love it. And if you want a sweet discount, you can get up to 40 off if you go to this site, cozyearth.com smart money or click the link in the description, use promo code Smart Money at checkout.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, give it. Yeah, I would say get yourself some stuff and it's a great gift.

[George Camel]

Speaking of generosity, what a tie in full circle.

[Rachel Cruz]

We should do like a GoFundMe for like people that need Cozy Earth products. You know, like everyone give to it because. No, but really it is. It's incredible. I think my favorite that I've recently got is the blanket. And it's not the like really big heavy one. It's like the medium one.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

But it's the one that is on our couch currently when we all watch because we'll usually watch Wheel of fortune at 6:30 at our house after dinner. Wow us and the kids. And that's the blanket that is on.

[George Camel]

My class Wheel of Fortune blanket.

[Rachel Cruz]

It really is.

[George Camel]

So if you want to see how the other half lives, get the Cozy Earth blanket. Turn on Wheel of Fortune, lights out by 7:30.

[Rachel Cruz]

Amen. Hallelujah.

[George Camel]

That's the rule. So Brett, reach out if you somehow see this and you truly are that yoga instructor number one, I hope you've made it through the training and you are thriving. And number two, we'll send you a gift for roasting you.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, George. So this last campaign we're going to look at, it actually worked, you know, because a lot of people are now asking for funds to go on trips to concerts. You know, they want tickets to these music festivals. Ready for this? A girl requested and received 600 to go to Burning Man. She said I have the opportunity to get more in touch with myself through this rich experience and will have a spiritual impact on me that I can't put into words. I view Burning man as a way to recharge my battery and level up my abilities to help people be more aware of the impact to their emotional well being. What? It's rumored that in 2025, the headliners. Okay, I don't know any of these people.

[George Camel]

Can you even say these names?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm so scared to say this one.

[George Camel]

So these are rumored. Rumored 2025 headliners at Burning Man.

[Rachel Cruz]

Diplo.

[George Camel]

Correct.

[Rachel Cruz]

Carl Cox.

[George Camel]

Sounds good.

[Rachel Cruz]

Nina Kravitz.

[George Camel]

I think it's Kravitz.

[Rachel Cruz]

Kravitz. Taicho. Tycho.

[George Camel]

Tycho. You're doing good. The rest are easy.

[Rachel Cruz]

Major Laser.

[George Camel]

Yep.

[Rachel Cruz]

And Skrillex. I don't even know what Burning man is.

[George Camel]

Think, like, if I've heard it was a club, but it was outside and there was a lot of drugs.

[Rachel Cruz]

Isn't that the one that everyone goes to in, like, Arizona or something? Isn't there, like, a cool one?

[George Camel]

They basically create this, like, talk about art exhibit and community, and they burn it all down at the end. No, I think that's what happens there. Correct. You can fact check me on that. But they have this big, like, art thing.

[Rachel Cruz]

There's one in Tennessee. What's like, the real big music festival?

[George Camel]

Bonnaroo.

[Rachel Cruz]

Bonnaroo.

[George Camel]

There's also Coachella.

[Rachel Cruz]

Coachella. That's what I'm thinking of.

[George Camel]

But Bonnaroo is a big night in the street, I can tell you.

[Rachel Cruz]

Festivals make me so sad. You have to stand so much.

[George Camel]

So much. Standing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Don't like standing. I need a designated seat.

[George Camel]

No shade is the biggest issue for me.

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, a festival sounds. I. I can't. I don't like it being out in a field. Because you're usually in fields, right?

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Walking around.

[George Camel]

I guess that's the proper term for where these take place.

[Rachel Cruz]

Walking around, like, no seat, no place to sit and eat. There's no tables.

[George Camel]

I think what you're thinking of is a restaurant. I think that's what you're looking for.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't like it. Call me old, but never have.

[George Camel]

The thing that gets me is how expensive everything is. They're charging these people out the wazoo for water bottles and a slice of pizza is $13. See, they'll do that at, like, diamond would get me.

[Rachel Cruz]

They'll do that at, like, a. Like an. Like a game. Like a professional game or something. Yeah, that I would go. I don't know.

[George Camel]

Well, you saw the stats. 60% of people at Coachella use buy now, pay later.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man.

[George Camel]

To finance it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man.

[George Camel]

So not helping. Rachel.

[Rachel Cruz]

Stanley, Isn't that the rich one? Coachella. Isn't it, like, the really, like, bougie one?

[George Camel]

I think it's bougier. There's more, like, VIP experiences. It's not like, in the middle of nowhere.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that is.

[George Camel]

So you're out. You're not going to support our friend?

[Rachel Cruz]

I like Restaurants, sporting events, and spas. That's where I would spend my money.

[George Camel]

Never invite Rachel to Bonnaroo or Burning man or Coachella. She will not go. And also, she doesn't know any of the artists. It's a waste of your time. She's not.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you know. Have you heard of any of those?

[George Camel]

Yes. At least three.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man.

[George Camel]

Yes. Diplo, Tycho, Skrillex, and I've heard of Major. So four.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

I don't know who Carl or Nina are, but I'm sure they're very nice people, very talented, very successful. Otherwise, they wouldn't be headlining Burning Man.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't get it.

[George Camel]

Would you. What. What festival would you actually attend and pay 600 bucks for? Who would the artist have to be?

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, I'm not kidding me. Getting me to a field, it's like. I just don't. It's not my.

[George Camel]

What if you recorded around. You were back on a tour bus with ac.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, If I had, like, a VIP tent experience. If I had, like, a glamping experience.

[George Camel]

There's waiters serving you. Okay. In the shade. There's fans blowing. People are feeding you grapes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, then what would I need to go? What would be.

[George Camel]

Yeah, what artist would need to be there?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I would go, like, straight, like, whatever was good in, like, 2003. Like, put all those people on a stage. That'd be fun for me.

[George Camel]

Okay, so about 20, like, my highlight.

[Rachel Cruz]

Of my high school years. That would be enjoyable. Because other than that, you know, this. My playlist is literally.

[George Camel]

She wants the hits.

[Rachel Cruz]

Taylor Swift and the Goodness of God. This is the only song I listen to.

[George Camel]

If you guys ever want to put on a festival and you want Rachel Cruz to be there, that's what. Who needs to be there?

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

Who does? Goodness of God. Is that, like, a Hillsong situation?

[Rachel Cruz]

No, that's Bethel. Is it Bethel? I think it's Bethel. Yeah.

[George Camel]

That's the new Hill song.

[Rachel Cruz]

When Bethel and Taylor Swift come together, Rachel will be there.

[George Camel]

Stranger things have happened. I mean, Bony Vera and Taylor did a collab, and he's my favorite. Never mind. You don't know any of the words I just said. You don't care. All right.

[Rachel Cruz]

I do music, George.

[George Camel]

I would not.

[Rachel Cruz]

I do books on tape for the record.

[George Camel]

I would not give. I think you're not gonna.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, no, I'm not giving to that.

[George Camel]

Be any more aware of the impact of your emotional well being by going.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's what I don't get. I would pay 600 for therapy.

[George Camel]

For this woman, that's at least four sessions.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that would be great. That's what she needs to do now.

[George Camel]

We had fun roasting them all, Rachel. But let's reiterate, we are very pro giving, pro generosity. It should be a regular thing you do with your time and your money and not just when tragedy strikes or when a GoFundMe hits you. So if you want to help a stranger by going to Burning man and the spirit moved you to give some money, knock your socks off.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I appreciate that.

[George Camel]

I'm not mad about that.

[Rachel Cruz]

No. But I think, yes. Having a spirit of generosity, I think is really important. And studies show that you are a happier person when you give. Like, there is something about it. And I would say too challenge yourself not to give out of the motivation of what you're going to get, your happiness. Because we know that now. But it's like, it's the decent human thing to do. When you see people in need. Right. When there's situations that need help, like fill in the gap in life. Right. That makes the world go round.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

And then you get the benefit of being happier.

[George Camel]

Yeah. There's a lot of scientific benefits, There's a lot of spiritual benefits. And think about the last time you gave. It felt amazing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

Even more than when you receive.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. And if you're giving becomes stale. Because we have a lot of people that have been watching Ramsey stuff for decades, for, you know, 10 plus years. Some of y' all are the hardcore. Yes. Ramsey people, which is great. So a lot of people, you know, we've been. We've been talking about giving and giving 10%, and that's always been a core part of our message. So a lot of people do that. But I will say Winston and I found that sometimes, like, when it's just kind of automatic, you don't always feel the impacts. Right. Like, there's something about having always magical, spontaneous moments, though, to put back in to like bring life back to your giving if you feel like it has gotten stale. So find some creative ways to do some stuff for people. Like individuals. I always think that's fun. And you may not get like the tax write off or whatever, but like throw all that window, just like let the spirit move. And it's really fun to help individuals when, you know. So like the GoFundMes we joked about. Right. But sometimes you will see individuals that truly do need help. And if you have the ability in the margin, that's one of the reasons you want to win with money. It's not just to keep giving to yourself, it is to be a generous giver.

[George Camel]

Beautiful reminder. And the way I have made this a habit is in my every dollar budget, I have a line item for spontaneous giving. Yes, I call it like the bless up fund. You can have whatever clever name you want, but it's just a way for me to basically plan for the spontaneous so that if an opportunity arises, I don't have to go, oh, gosh, I didn't budget for that. You just have it ready to go. So if you guys want to check out every dollar, we will put a link in the show notes and you can create your own line item. Forgiven.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. That makes it really fun. Super, super fun.

[George Camel]

It's a good time. Now, on the flip side, depending on the generosity of others, it's not great to just your whole life to go, I need this to happen. Or else you've got to be able to take care of your own needs and work to afford your goals and wants. That's kind of part of the roasting is just put some sacrifice in work for it, make some money and don't expect everyone else to fund all of your dreams. And if you're ever genuinely in need or you're being randomly blessed, receive it graciously. I love this quote. Don't block a blessing. If somebody wants to give, it's not up to you to say, no, no, no, no, I can't. Don't try to humble your way out of it. Just say, thank you so much. That is so kind.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's good.

[George Camel]

Let them get the benefit.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's not all about you as you're receiving it. Yeah, no, that's fair. I think that's good. That's really good. Yeah. And I will say too, the Internet is a beautiful place that if stuff does happen and tragedy, real tragedy does strike, it is a place that, yeah, you get to understand and learn about other people and their stories and their situations. And if you have the means and maybe you know someone or you're one degree separated or not, and you're like, no, this is something I want to give to. It really is a beautiful thing. And GoFundMe, it is a great website. Website to be able to do that. Right. So you see, I mean, you can go on there and there's so many different categories and situations and everything. And I mean, some of it's heartbreaking. I mean, it is. It's just. It's horrible. But. But yeah, I always find with whether it's like medical events that come up, people can Use that. And they're able to email out those links. And people are able to help because especially medical bills. It's one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in America. So to help, like, bridge the gap there, I think is like, a really beautiful thing. And then some other spontaneous stuff. Carlos Whitaker, we were talking. He does a great job with generosity, but he even did, like, a GoFundMe with a piano player at an airport.

[George Camel]

Oh, I saw that. He raised, like, 60 grand.

[Rachel Cruz]

Was it 60 grand? Say 50 grand or something. You know, it's like spontaneous moments like that that you're able to get people involved. It's just a. It is. It's a beautiful thing. Beautiful world we live in.

[George Camel]

Yes. And here's a. One of my favorite GoFundMe success stories. Here's the campaign support Rockstar Pizza drivers dedication. Here it is. Pizza delivery driver delivers pizza half a mile on foot in a snowstorm to an affluent neighborhood, only to receive a $2 tip. This is me when I did the instacart driving. This is exactly. This is my version of it all the sacrifice. A police officer witnessed the whole thing. The police officer puts it on TikTok and viewers wanted to donate to him. So the Officer created a GoFundMe to raise 500 in honor of this guy's work ethic. And he raised over $45,000.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, see, I like that it gives.

[George Camel]

You faith in humanity a little bit.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I like that it wasn't him that created the GoFundMe. It's something about someone else seeing a situation. I think people are more up to give to that.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know what I mean?

[George Camel]

I don't know what that is. What do you think's behind that?

[Rachel Cruz]

Driver is like, oh, my gosh, only got a $2 tip. Does anyone want to give me a GoFundMe? You know what I mean? Cause I feel bad. For me, it's kind of that, like, they're not asking for it. And you almost wanna bless that because it's like the unexpected blessing.

[George Camel]

Yes. In the fact that someone else has the heart to create this and try to. There's something about that.

[Rachel Cruz]

I love it.

[George Camel]

It's very beautiful. Yep. There's a guy, Jimmy Darts, who's out there, and he was actually on my YouTube channel.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. Yes.

[George Camel]

Wonderful guy. And so what he does is he'll go up to people in need. He'll kind of source stories locally and say, hey, does anyone know someone in need in this area? He'll vibe it out. He'll surprise them, find them in a Walmart and go, hey, do you have a dollar for me? I'm hungry or I need a bus ticket. And they'll give him a dollar. And he goes, hey, since you were so nice to me, here's $500. And they're always taken aback.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yes.

[George Camel]

But it doesn't stop there. He then shares that video on social media. It gets millions of views, and he starts to go fund me for each of them, raising another 50 to $100,000.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh. For each individual.

[George Camel]

For each individual. And he does this every single week. So here's the latest GoFundMe. I just pulled it up to see what he's up to. So let's help get Jeff off the streets. So it's a guy who's experiencing homelessness. He works at Sprouts now, and he was sleeping outside, and so he ran into him. They went through this whole situation. The GoFundMe currently has almost ninety thousand dollars raised out of a hundred thousand dollar goal. Three days it's been up.

[Rachel Cruz]

Stop it.

[George Camel]

And so that's all he does is he spotlights people in need, gets a community around them. And so that really does inspire me. And this is probably the best use of GoFundMe. Instead of drugs, booze, and burning man.

[Rachel Cruz]

I would agree with. And when Jesus says, did you feed me when I was hungry?

[George Camel]

There it is.

[Rachel Cruz]

He gets front of the line.

[George Camel]

That's right. Extra jewel on the crown in heaven.

[Rachel Cruz]

100.

[George Camel]

Meanwhile, they're gonna be like, why didn't you give to that girl who wanted to go on her journey? I'm like, oh, dang it. I didn't think this would come back to haunt me.

[Rachel Cruz]

Gave to the bride. Booked wrong tickets.

[George Camel]

Yikes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Given to the people actually in deep need.

[George Camel]

It's fair, it's fun. It does make me want to give more seeing these stories.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, for sure. It's. It's beautiful. So beautiful, George. Love it. Love giving and love this love gun.

[George Camel]

Which is the name of the drink today.

[Rachel Cruz]

So before we spill our guilty as charged question and answers, what is this? The.

[George Camel]

This is the love gun. The drink comes out to $2.84 per glass. Here's what's in it. Can you guess at all what's in it?

[Rachel Cruz]

I would say lemonade.

[George Camel]

Okay. It does have lemon juice.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, right. Okay.

[George Camel]

It has light rum, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, simple syrup, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, and club soda.

[Rachel Cruz]

Man.

[George Camel]

So it's a very nice kind of a. Almost like a berry lemonade. Type drink.

[Rachel Cruz]

It feels like a brunch cocktail.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

So I'm gonna go.

[George Camel]

I'm not in the mood for mimosa. I'll take.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm going. Nine out of 10.

[George Camel]

Yeah. And it got better as it went down. So a mixologist, Michael, told me that the club soda was sitting on top. So it's a layered drink. So it kind of changes and gets more interesting and a little more boozy as you make your way down.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I like it. Nine out of ten.

[George Camel]

Nine out of ten for me, too.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's great.

[George Camel]

All right, get the recipe in the show notes. Give it a try this weekend if you are of age. Good disclaimer. It's proud of that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Very good disclaimer. Remember that, kids. All right, now it's time for guilty as charged. And this is where we ask each other a guilty as charged question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. All right, you ready, George?

[George Camel]

Yep.

[Rachel Cruz]

Have you ever passed up an opportunity to give because it was a bad pitch?

[George Camel]

Oh, gosh.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you have a story?

[George Camel]

Yeah. This happened recently. I was walking the dogs in my neighborhood.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

You know how kids will sit, like, on the sidewalk and, like, sell stuff? Little table, lemonade stand. Well, this kid a few doors down, he didn't have a table. He was in an SUV with the sunroof open, and his head was poking out, and he was just yelling, candy for sale. Candy for sale. What kind of candy? I don't know. What price point? No idea. And so Whitney, my wife, is just like, come on, you have to, like, acknowledge him and talk to him. And I went, no, I'm not gonna enable this terrible version of entrepreneurship that's happening right here. He needs to learn a lesson. This is not how you solicit customers. And so I walked right past him, and on the way back, he was now sad, and he was saying out loud in earshot of me, saying, nobody wants my candy or my flowers. And he was still sitting in the sunroof just all day.

[Rachel Cruz]

How old is this kid?

[George Camel]

I don't know. Probably seven, eight.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

But he was all miffed that nobody wanted his flower. I was like, have a table. Give me a price list. Show me what you're selling me. You know what I mean? Is it a Butterfinger? Is it Reese's? Are they Magnolias? What do we got here?

[Rachel Cruz]

What do we have?

[George Camel]

Let me know what kind of product you have sitting in the driveway in your SUV poking out of the sunroof. That's not how you sell.

[Rachel Cruz]

You're not doing that.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Who's in the driver's seat? The mom or dad?

[George Camel]

No, nobody. It was just a. Car wasn't turned on. He was just in the driveway, car turned off, with his head out the sunroof.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my.

[George Camel]

Do you understand how wild of a situation that is?

[Rachel Cruz]

It's a little dangerous. I hope he can, like, get out of the car, you know.

[George Camel]

He's fine. He was just poking his head out the sunroof, you know, in the back seat kind of thing. So anyways, that's. I turned him down hard. I did not acknowledge him, and I didn't have time. I was walking the dogs. Didn't have time to coach him up and be like, hey, man, if you got a nice little table out here, get a setup. Lay out your items nicely. You know, aesthetic matters.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Show me the inventory. Give me a very clear price list. What's the value proposition here?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my God.

[George Camel]

Nothing. None of that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. Just screaming. And you said, nope.

[George Camel]

So that was. Yeah. Whitney was still. I think she's still mad at me.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man.

[George Camel]

For not being nice.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

I don't just give kids money because of effort. You gotta really put the right effort.

[Rachel Cruz]

Tough. Because I don't always have cash on me. Like, especially in the neighborhood, if I'm walking or something, I just have my phone and my AirPods and that's it. Like, I don't care.

[George Camel]

You don't take Venmo these days.

[Rachel Cruz]

Some will. And that's the smart thing. You gotta do the Venmo thing.

[George Camel]

Cash app. That's my thing. If he had a big QR code. Hey, scan to pay. Here's the price list. Here's what I'm raising this for.

[Rachel Cruz]

He can get your QR code template from yours. He should have asked you.

[George Camel]

Honestly. I should train him up and say, hey, man, I just did a very unsuccessful campaign for my daughter's college. You could take some notes here. Maybe that's why I saw myself in him. I saw my own failures and insecurities in this kid.

[Rachel Cruz]

I said, I can't give to that.

[George Camel]

But if you see a Girl Scout, are you acknowledging. Are you buying Girl Scouts?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I'll do that. Our Boy Scouts will do, like, wreaths at Christmas time. So, like, I'll buy some. Yeah, I'll buy some things. I will. I used to be a little bit, like, we've already done our giving, and it's not in the budget, but if it's like a neighborhood kid that we know, I will.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I will do it.

[George Camel]

I've done it before.

[Rachel Cruz]

I got scammed with giving. That's what came to my head.

[George Camel]

What happened?

[Rachel Cruz]

I had. Yeah, we had someone ring our doorbell, and I went, and they gave me this whole pitch about, like, there's a food desert. I think I may have told this story, like, a year a food desert in a part of, like, Nashville, like, an hour away. They don't have fresh crops, and they're trying to get inner city kids to create this garden. It was a beautiful idea. And I was like, you know what? I will, like, I'll give. I'll use that spontaneous line item in my every dollar budget, and I'll give. So I fell for it. And I. He gave me, like, a packet and everything. Like, it was legit. And I wrote a check and gave it to him, and I got the packet. And then Winston came home, I don't know, like, an hour later. So I was telling him about it. He was like, let me see it. And he went and looked up the website, and everything doesn't exist. Complete scam. So once I had to call the bank and, like, void the check and all this, I was like, oh, my gosh, how terrible.

[George Camel]

Who's putting the kids up to this? It can't be of their own volition.

[Rachel Cruz]

Adult. Oh, like, a guy came. It was a guy. Like a grown man. I know. Complete scam.

[George Camel]

I'm so sorry.

[Rachel Cruz]

I fell for it because I thought, what a great idea.

[George Camel]

But to be fair, he found his target demo. Sweet, gullible Rachel. Because you know me, I'd be like, let me. What's the website?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, let me. I know, y' all. I didn't look up any. Yeah, it was not. Not Great.

[George Camel]

What's the C3 code here?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm trying to think. If I didn't give because of the pitch. I don't. I'm sure. Yeah. I mean, I don't give every time I'm asked.

[George Camel]

Yeah. So the problem I have is if it's, like, a friend's kid. Like, I had that happen to me once that came to my door. You want the Tumblr for selling for band camp. And I was like, all right, fine.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know.

[George Camel]

So I just bought it. Never used it. Immediately goodwilled it.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know, but I supported.

[George Camel]

I wish I just had given him 20 bucks and said, I don't need to cut.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't need the thing.

[George Camel]

Don't need to order your thing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. I think food is the best way. Girl Scout cookies, popcorn. Like, that's like.

[George Camel]

You can consume it, enjoy it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, it's good or re gifted. Well, if you have a guilty as charged question, make sure to DM us at Rachel Cruz and at George Camel. It's always helpful to get your ideas. And if you love this episode, you'll definitely love our episode on dupes, counterfeits and scams. You don't want to miss it. We'll put a link down below. And we're also going to talk about Winston's Craigslist trauma that happened in that scams, scams everywhere, y' all. What is happening?

[George Camel]

Oh, and we need, I need to solicit reviews. Speaking of generosity, would you be so kind to leave us a review wherever you're listening. We love to see them. It helps the team know what you're liking, what you don't like. So we can keep making some.

[Rachel Cruz]

We love. You guys are the best. So we'll see you next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.