The Ups, Downs and Lessons of 2024

Summary

Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel Episode Summary: "The Ups, Downs and Lessons of 2024" Release Date: December 26, 2024

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Introduction

In the festive finale of 2024, Rachel Cruze and George Kamel host an engaging episode of Smart Money Happy Hour, delving into the year's significant financial highs and lows, pop culture highlights, and personal anecdotes. The episode kicks off with a spirited welcome, setting the tone for an evening of insightful conversations mixed with humor and personal reflections.

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Cocktail Tasting and Ratings

The hosts begin by sampling and rating a selection of cocktails they crafted throughout the year. This segment not only showcases their mixology skills but also serves as a metaphor for evaluating the year's events.

• Reddish Rita (00:40 - 03:02):

  • Rachel: "That's a classic Marg." (00:40)
  • George: "It's still a 10 out of 10. It hits." (01:59)
  • Humorous Mispronunciations: Rachel consistently refers to the drink as "Reddish Rita," leading to playful banter and laughter. (02:07)

• Corpse Reviver Number Two (15:13 - 16:57):

  • Rachel: "This is my favorite cocktail of all time." (15:21)
  • George: Initially rates it lower due to melted ice but acknowledges its quality upon reflection. (15:34)

• Lemon Drop Mocktail (22:29 - 23:11):

  • George: "If the ice hadn't melted, I would probably say 10 out of 10." (22:56)
  • Rachel: "That's right." (22:57)

The tasting session not only highlights their personal preferences but also reflects on how external factors (like melted ice) can influence perceptions, paralleling how unforeseen events can impact financial plans.

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Best and Worst Pop Culture Moments of 2024

Rachel and George review notable pop culture events that shaped the year, blending their financial insights with entertainment commentary.

• Taylor Swift’s ERAS Tour and Romance with Travis Kelce (03:09 - 03:47):

  • Rachel: Highlights Taylor Swift’s continued success and her high net worth. (03:33)
  • George: Comments on the couple's financial standings and expresses a desire to be invited to their dinner. (03:33)

• Paris Olympics (03:57 - 05:15):

  • Rachel and George: Discuss memorable Olympic moments, including Simone Biles' achievements and unexpected highlights like Steven's appearance on "Dancing with the Stars." (04:08)

• The Coca-Cola Company's Longstanding Olympic Sponsorship (05:01 - 05:15):

  • Rachel: Notes the historical depth of Coca-Cola’s Olympic sponsorship, humorously referencing its origins. (05:12)
  • George: Emphasizes the importance of return on investment (ROI) for sponsors. (05:27)

• The Golden Bachelor (05:37 - 07:04):

  • Rachel: Recounts her extensive viewing of "The Bachelor" and reflects on the quick divorce of a celebrity couple. (06:34)
  • George: Mentions the high payouts for on-camera weddings and the fleeting nature of reality TV relationships. (06:49)

• Movie Highlight: Inside Out (07:09 - 08:25):

  • Rachel: Praises the movie’s portrayal of emotions and childhood development. (07:09)
  • George: Applauds the movie's financial success and its positive messaging. (08:25)

This segment underscores the intersection of pop culture and financial narratives, illustrating how media influences and reflects societal values.

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Social Media Phenomenon: Pookie and Jet Pookie (10:05 - 12:23)

Rachel introduces a viral social media duo, Pookie and Jet Pookie, who gained fame through their entertaining content and merchandise sales.

• Rachel: Describes their polished appearance and humorous interactions, questioning the societal value placed on such influencers. (11:20)
• George: Observes that while true crime remains popular, integrating it with financial advice may not resonate with their audience. (19:24)

The discussion raises critical questions about the monetization of social media personas and the disparity between meaningful work and viral fame.

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Information Privacy and Data Protection (12:23 - 14:05)

The hosts pivot to a crucial financial topic: protecting personal information online.

• Rachel: Emphasizes the importance of safeguarding online data to prevent identity theft and financial loss. (13:32)

  • Recommendation: DeleteMe service
  • Rachel: "Protecting your information in our world today. So important." (13:36)

• George: Highlights the tangible benefits of using such services, including detailed reports on data removal. (14:05)

This segment provides practical advice to listeners on mitigating digital risks, reinforcing the podcast’s commitment to financial well-being.

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Best and Worst Episodes of Smart Money Happy Hour (14:25 - 20:29)

Rachel and George evaluate their podcast episodes based on listener engagement and viewership metrics.

• Best Episodes:

  • "Why Short Term Rentals Are No Vacation" (16:23 - 17:58):

    • Discusses the decline in Airbnb quality and the rise of hedge fund investors in the rental market.
    • Rachel: "Having someone come in, make up your bed... I like that." (17:53)

  • "Harmless Purchases That Will Drain Your Bank Account" (18:18 - 19:24):

    • Explores the culture of small, impulsive purchases and their long-term financial impact.
    • George: "Little treat culture... you can do anything." (18:22)

• Worst Episodes:

  • "Money Motives Hidden in Shocking True Crime Stories" (19:38 - 20:29):

    • Attempts to merge true crime with financial advice fell flat with their audience.
    • George: "It's just weird." (19:55)

  • "Explain Investing Like I'm a Five-Year-Old" (20:03 - 20:29):

    • Simplifying financial jargon to an overly basic level led to listener disengagement.
    • Rachel: "We really tried to be like, hey, give me the easy version." (20:09)

The evaluation offers transparency about their content strategy, acknowledging both successful and less impactful episodes.

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Favorite and Worst Purchases of 2024 (25:03 - 31:02)

Rachel and George share their most memorable financial transactions of the year, providing personal insights into spending habits.

• Rachel’s Favorite Purchase: Green Goyard Purse (26:39 - 28:20):

  • Purchased as a birthday surprise on Rodeo Drive.
  • Rachel: "It's quiet luxury, stealth wealth." (27:57)
  • Promotional Mention: Listeners can receive discounts at Cozy Earth via their promotion codes. (29:52)

• George’s Favorite Purchase: Inherited Rolex Watch (28:24 - 29:15):

  • An heirloom he invested in repairing.
  • George: "It's a family heirloom... It's not like people know me as the Apple watch guy." (28:51)

• Rachel’s Worst Purchase: Broken Halloween Costume (30:35 - 31:05):

  • A flimsy inflatable flamingo costume that failed shortly after purchase.
  • Rachel: "It broke within 15 minutes. Boo." (30:54)

• George’s Worst Purchase: Bed Jet System (30:33 - 31:02):

  • Attempts to cool his bed led to dissatisfaction and a return.
  • George: "I just could not get the bed cool enough with this product." (30:48)

These anecdotes highlight the importance of thoughtful spending and the lessons learned from both successful and regrettable purchases.

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Rapid Fire: Highs and Lows of 2024 (24:46 - 32:17)

In a spirited rapid-fire round, Rachel and George quickly share their personal highlights and disappointments from the year.

• Best Meal of 2024:

  • George: Leroy and Lewis in Austin, Texas – praised for outstanding Texas barbecue. (24:50)
  • Rachel: A memorable sushi experience in Dallas, complimented by a close approximation of the Corpse Reviver cocktail. (25:03)

• Best Album of 2024:

  • Rachel: Taylor Swift’s "The Dead Poets" – acclaimed for its emotional depth and musicality. (25:37)
  • George: "Entrances and Exits" by Michael Richards – appreciated for its poetic narrative and heartfelt storytelling. (32:02)

• Best Purchase of 2024:

  • Rachel: Goyard purse and Cozy Earth purchases – valued for quality and luxury. (26:51, 29:15)
  • George: Inherited Rolex watch – cherished as a family heirloom. (28:24)

• Worst Financial Trend of 2024:

  • Rachel: Cryptocurrency – viewed as unstable and unreliable.
  • George: Sports betting – criticized for its addictive nature and financial risks. (33:32)

This rapid-fire segment provides listeners with a concise overview of the hosts' personal experiences, offering relatable insights into managing finances amidst life's ups and downs.

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Money Topics: Financial Mistakes and Advice (33:42 - 36:15)

Rachel and George address common financial pitfalls and offer guidance for listeners attempting to regain financial stability.

• Top Financial Mistakes to Leave Behind:

  • George: Using credit cards even if paid off monthly. Advocates for cutting up credit cards and using cash to manage spending. (34:03)
  • Rachel: Taking out car loans for depreciating assets. Encourages avoiding high-interest debt on items that lose value over time. (34:02)

• Advice for Those Who've Fallen Off the Financial Wagon:

  • George: "Drop the shame and the baggage... join a community and take courses like Financial Peace University." (34:45)
  • Rachel: Emphasizes understanding the underlying reasons for financial behaviors and cultivating healthy financial motives. (35:11)

This segment underscores the importance of behavioral finance and community support in achieving and maintaining financial wellness.

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Honorable Mentions: Drinks We Hated (36:25 - 37:19)

To balance their positive reviews, Rachel and George candidly discuss the least favorite drinks they tried throughout the year.

• Lemon Milk Mocktail:

  • Described as tasting like "weird curdled lemony milk" – deemed disgusting. (36:25)

• Pumpkin Pie Espresso Martini:

  • Rated harshly for its viscous texture and conflicting flavors. (36:48)

• Dirty Shirley:

  • Criticized for its overly processed taste, likened to "red 40" – dismissed as unnecessary. (36:48)

These honest critiques offer listeners a humorous take on what not to try, reinforcing the hosts' authenticity and relatability.

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Guilty as Charged: Confessions and Reflections (37:35 - 39:20)

In the final segment, Rachel and George engage in a heartwarming confession game, revealing personal anecdotes about honesty and relationships.

• Prompt: "Have you ever lied to get out of something with family or friends?" (37:44)

• George and Rachel: Share instances of faking sickness or excuses to avoid obligations, ultimately emphasizing the importance of honesty and open communication. (38:13)

This vulnerable exchange highlights the hosts' commitment to genuine relationships and the challenges of maintaining transparency in daily interactions.

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Closing Remarks

Rachel and George wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to stay connected through social media platforms like TikTok, promoting upcoming content and events. They express gratitude for the listener community's support throughout 2024 and look forward to continuing their financial and cultural conversations in the new year.

• Rachel: "Thanks for being here with us in the journey of life. And we will see you next year and next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour." (39:39)

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Key Takeaways

• Financial Prudence: Emphasizing the importance of mindful spending, avoiding unnecessary debt, and safeguarding personal information.

• Behavioral Insights: Recognizing the psychological factors influencing financial decisions and the value of community support in achieving financial goals.

• Pop Culture Integration: Understanding how entertainment and societal trends intersect with financial narratives and personal values.

• Authenticity and Relatability: Building genuine connections with listeners through honest conversations and shared experiences.

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Notable Quotes

• George on Credit Cards: "Using the credit card, even if you pay it off every month... you would do so much better to cut up the card, stick to using your own money, and save up for the things you want." (34:03)

• Rachel on Overcoming Financial Slip-ups: "I'm just impressed, George... understand why you are the way you are, then the outflow of everything in your life is in a better spot." (35:11)

• George on Inherited Assets: "It’s a family heirloom... It's not like people know me as the Apple watch guy." (28:24)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of "The Ups, Downs and Lessons of 2024" episode, providing both an overview of the discussions and deep insights into Rachel Cruze and George Kamel's perspectives on finance, culture, and personal growth throughout the year.

Transcript

[George Camel]

Foreign.

[Rachel Cruz]

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

[George Camel]

Cheers.

[Rachel Cruz]

Man.

[George Camel]

Happy 2025.

[Rachel Cruz]

Almost 25 in a cup. Well, this is the podcast for two friends who, happy Money experts, talk about what you're talking about. Everything from pop culture, current events, and money.

[George Camel]

And today, we are revisiting the highs and lows of the year of our Lord 2024.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

And, boy, were there some highs and lows.

[Rachel Cruz]

There are highs and lows in the world. Highs and lows here on Smart Money Happy Hour. Highs and lows of drinks and cocktails. Like, we got it all, people. We have it all. And we're about to jump in because this is a good year. Recap. That's the fun part of ending a full calendar year. You get to look back. We all need to do that. It's good for us.

[George Camel]

And if you're wondering why there are six drinks on this table, 2024 has been a year. But there's a better reason why we have so many cocktails. I mean, we're talking about best and worst. Rachel, why not do the same with our cocktails over here?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, so we're just sampling a couple of our cocktails from the past year, and. Yeah, pretty good.

[George Camel]

Have some fun with it. We're gonna guess what the drink is, what it's called, and we'll see if the rating we give it today aligns with our original reaction.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. And we actually have some faithful signature drinks that fans have submitted as well. So make sure if you're watching and listening, you know, be thinking, huh, did I submit that one or not?

[George Camel]

Yeah. And drop your fav favorite in the comments if you've tried any of them.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, George, let's start off with the first drink, shall we? Let's go here.

[George Camel]

There we go.

[Rachel Cruz]

Delicious.

[George Camel]

That is a classic. Delicious margarita.

[Rachel Cruz]

Definitely Marg. Do you remember the episode?

[George Camel]

Could not tell you the episode. I feel like we've done a few margs, but this one, I think, was Michael Redish's, our mixologist. His best margarita recipe. That's my best guess. I'm gonna say I gave it a 10 out of 10.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, absolutely. For sure.

[George Camel]

New rating still 10 out of 10. It hits.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. I'm going 10 out of 10. And just. That's a classic Marg. Sometimes you just need a classic Marg.

[George Camel]

I don't remember the name, though.

[Rachel Cruz]

Michael's Margarita. Michael's Margarita. Michael. Rita.

[George Camel]

Reddish Rita. Reddish Rita.

[Rachel Cruz]

Reddish Rita.

[Kelly]

Reddish Rita.

[George Camel]

Oh, jeez.

[Rachel Cruz]

I Did it.

[George Camel]

Wow, that was really sad.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow. Ow. That hurt my ear. Third time.

[George Camel]

They'll edit that in post to make us look.

[Rachel Cruz]

Third time's a charm. All right, let's talk about categories.

[George Camel]

Was it with ratings? Correct.

[Kelly]

So this is a reddish Rita.

[George Camel]

Booyah. Yep.

[Kelly]

This came from the financial realities you learn as an adult episode.

[George Camel]

Great episode. Yep.

[Kelly]

You both gave it a 10 out of 10 originally.

[Rachel Cruz]

So consistent.

[Kelly]

Oh, nice. And this has Ropesado Tequila.

[George Camel]

Yep.

[Kelly]

C Blanco tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice and agave nectar.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, beautiful.

[George Camel]

And we'll put the recipe in the show notes if you want to check out some of these all time favorite drinks.

[Rachel Cruz]

And our episodes we'll put there.

[George Camel]

And the links to the episodes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

If you missed those solid episodes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. All right, George. Category number one, when we look back is pop culture.

[George Camel]

Best and worst pop culture moments.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, top one. It's gotta be Taylor Swift. Cause she is still on her ERAS tour. And her romance with Travis Kelce, which some people thought was an absolute like conspiracy, like all this publicity stunt or something. And look who's made it this far.

[George Camel]

How long have they been together?

[Rachel Cruz]

Take another sip of my cocktail. Because they are still going.

[George Camel]

That's right. And Taylor's net worth is sitting at approximately 1.6 billion. Travis's at 90 million. And we want to know when they're inviting us over for dinner. Question mark has nothing to do with the money. I just think it'd be a good time.

[Rachel Cruz]

I had a dream I was friends with her. Like, genuinely.

[George Camel]

I was like, wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you ever have celebrity dreams?

[George Camel]

No, I think it's literally just you. Okay, next up on the list, Paris Olympics.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, the Olympics.

[George Camel]

I forgot that this existed. And then Halloween happened and there was all of the ray gun and the.

[Rachel Cruz]

Break dancing from Australia. That was a memorable moment for sure.

[George Camel]

So Simone Biles now holds the record for longest gaps between gold medals won in individual all around. And Vault 8.

[Rachel Cruz]

And we got Steven, who was on the horse. Love Steven.

[George Camel]

He made nerds cool again.

[Rachel Cruz]

And he was on Dancing with the Stars.

[George Camel]

Oh, I did not know that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

Was he good?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I think he made it pretty far. I don't know. I don't follow that show very much, but I kept seeing it. But he'd like take off his glasses and like all this stuff. I mean, just so great. But he was like the specialist. And he won the bronze for that event. And he got them like all in the all around to like actually, yeah, get the bronze for the whole team too. So, so great.

[George Camel]

A lot of other athletes here. Alona Maher.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah, she's funny.

[George Camel]

Female rugby star. Won the Internet over with her comedy about having a crush on other Olympic village athletes in 2020. Very relatable content there.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep.

[George Camel]

And Tara Davis Woodall won gold in long jump. And her sweet embrace with her husband Hunter, who also won gold at the Paralympics went viral.

[Rachel Cruz]

Just precious. The Coca Cola company is the longest standing sponsor of the Olympic Games and a relationship dating back to. Wow. When coke still had cocaine in it.

[George Camel]

Simpler times.

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, that is a fact.

[George Camel]

If you need a be kids, they remember you needed that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, but yeah, they spend almost $20 million for advertising.

[George Camel]

It's got to be worth it. I mean, these companies are smart. They're not doing this without roi.

[Rachel Cruz]

Totally. Yeah.

[George Camel]

And the average cost of a ticket for smaller events for the Olympics is in the 300 to 800 range. But for finals events or opening closing ceremonies, you're looking at a couple thou.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Per tick.

[Rachel Cruz]

The Golden Bachelor became a thing. So I used to watch. I was a big bachelor fan. Did you know this about me?

[George Camel]

I did not know.

[Rachel Cruz]

I watched Golly, golly, gol shucks, the Bachelor. Golly. I watched from probably 2007 to 2007. I bet I watched a solid 13 years of the Bachelor.

[George Camel]

That's impressive.

[Rachel Cruz]

Every season.

[George Camel]

I have never dedicated my life to.

[Rachel Cruz]

Anything that I stopped. I fell off the wagon. Fell off the wagon.

[George Camel]

Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm not back on. I'm still on the Real Housewives. They're on my prayer list.

[George Camel]

What about the Mormon wives? Are they on your prayer list?

[Rachel Cruz]

Never went there. Never went there.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, no, I don't know. I hear about them. Feels a little useful for me.

[George Camel]

Interesting.

[Rachel Cruz]

I need older 60 year old women on the OC I'm guessing spending money they don't have. That's what I enjoy.

[George Camel]

Wow. That's your cup of tea? Well, you saw what happened with the golden bachelor couple.

[Rachel Cruz]

They broke up. Right.

[George Camel]

Filed for divorce three months after publicly tying the knot on national television. So receipts for this wedding are hard to find. But we do know that Trista and Ryan had the first Bachelor TV wedding back in 2003. And they were paid a million dollars to get married on camera.

[Rachel Cruz]

I watched it. He was a firefighter. We all loved him as high schoolers.

[George Camel]

What's he doing now?

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't know what they're doing now, but they're still married with like, kids and like living their life. They're a sick. They are a success story. It's what they hang the Whole franchise on. I think it's Tristan. Wow.

[George Camel]

It's hanging on by a thread then.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, okay. You know what came out was one of the best movies. Inside out too.

[George Camel]

Did not see it. What?

[Rachel Cruz]

Jason, Are you serious?

[George Camel]

You act. I mean, George, I father a one year old. I haven't been able to go to the movies.

[Rachel Cruz]

Gosh, anxiety comes and literally it is. It is so good.

[George Camel]

I think every man is for millennials anymore.

[Rachel Cruz]

I think we all cried.

[Kelly]

And you know what?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm gonna be honest. You know, I have my issues. Anxiety's not at the top. I know. It is for a lot of people. It's not at the top, but I relate. And you go there and you see, wow. That's how anxiety and joy try to coe. Insist. And then they can't find Riley's self. Like they couldn't find her sense of self. Oh. Oh, my gosh. That I could relate to. Where's your identity? Where's it going? And now your long term memories hold you. Did you take the kids so good? Yeah, we did.

[George Camel]

Did they get it?

[Rachel Cruz]

Amelia, our nine year old, kind of did. Yeah. But Charles, Caroline, I don't think really got it.

[George Camel]

He's just excited to get out of the house and get some popcorn.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, yeah, he's. He's not. And then Caroline is definitely not our anxious kid either, so she probably didn't relate as much.

[George Camel]

Wow. But, yeah, well, you contributed to someone making a lot of money because it earned more than 1.6 billion.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my God. Worldwide, that has to be one of the highest grossing movies, right?

[George Camel]

Like, yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

I would think. Yeah.

[George Camel]

But the healthy messaging about emotions and childhood development, that's priceless.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, how about this? This gives me claustrophobia.

[George Camel]

What is it?

[Rachel Cruz]

The astronauts that got stuck in space. Oh, when I read about that, I was like, oh, I can't. I can. I can't breathe.

[George Camel]

I saw the headline. I was like, no, thank you. No, thank you. So Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are just vibing at the International Space station until early 2025.

[Rachel Cruz]

But we can go to the moon, walk around and come home, but we can't go get them.

[George Camel]

She has a point.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's all I'm saying.

[George Camel]

She has a great point. How long would you last without getting in? Maybe a floating fist fight. Being stuck in close quarters.

[Rachel Cruz]

And like, these people are married with kids. I mean, like, they have lives, obviously, on Earth. And then you get stuck with this person that you may or may not even get along with.

[George Camel]

I think you'd have to Learn how to get along. Now, that would be a better reality tv.

[Rachel Cruz]

Show your ear off. If we're in space together, I'd be like, hey, George, what you doing? Are you doing good now? Are you. Can you breathe right now?

[George Camel]

I would pray to God that I brought my AirPods Pros to put noise cancellation on. Becca. Sorry. I'm listening to my audiobook. What'd you say? And I'd let you talk. I think you would need to get the energy out like a dog before bedtime. I would have to let you talk in order to just. So we could just pipe down. Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

Can they talk to people on Earth?

[George Camel]

I think so. I don't know that people on Earth want to be talked to 24 7.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, man.

[George Camel]

I don't know what the time changes.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I think Elon Mountain time. Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

I don't know. How do you know?

[Rachel Cruz]

Asteroid time and Elon tried to get them. Because SpaceX is, like, advancing above NASA right now. Did you know that?

[George Camel]

Oh, yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Crazy. And that. But there's space. Spacesuit, something wouldn't be compatible. That takes a lot of science.

[George Camel]

Come on. Apple makes a dongle for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

A lot of science to get up there and. Yeah.

[George Camel]

All right. Well, according to NASA, the average salary for astronauts in space is more than 152 grand a year. I think you'd have to pay me more.

[Rachel Cruz]

I think I'd have to have double.

[George Camel]

That to get six. Knowing that, like, I could die at any moment.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Or never come back to Earth. You'd have to pay me. What's your number? I'm going 5 million a year.

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, I would need, like. Yeah, I. I mean, I would need.

[George Camel]

To come back and retire like I did. One. I'm good.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. If someone's like, you get half a million, I'm gonna say I'm good. Not because I don't need half a million, but, like, to get up in space. No.

[George Camel]

The risk is just too much.

[Rachel Cruz]

No. Yeah. Nothing about that. Would you rather go up or down?

[George Camel]

I feel like going up feels safer.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. Versus scuba diving.

[George Camel]

Oh, you're saying down on the water. No, I have water. I have issues with deep water.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. So that's more scary than space.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

I don't know why I would agree. I feel like the technology is better when I'm in a capsule going up than a capsule going down.

[Rachel Cruz]

I would agree with that. Don't know why that feels right. Okay, here's a social media thing that went viral and I honestly heard it here first. The team introduced me, and now I don't even follow them, but they come up in my feed is Pookie and Jet Pookie. And she's pregnant. Probably had her baby by now, but they became, like, this whole thing all.

[George Camel]

Based on one phrase.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

They would just post videos. They'd both be dressed up, looking nice, and he would say, pookie's looking absolutely fire tonight. And he's kind of this bro y guy. He probably went to Knoxville with him, I imagine.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, I think he went to, like, Harvard. I think he, like, actually went to, like, a legit law school. Not that UT law is not.

[George Camel]

But he's got, like a. Like a cool, uppity guy vibe, but seems like a really nice.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, here's a question for our world today, then. This is not. I'm not judging them by any stretch of the imagination, but, you know, people like this that are on social media and they're just putting outfits on and having funny names like Pookie and all that, and they make merch. They get advertising. I mean, they pro. They're probably making. These people can make millions, I mean.

[George Camel]

Oh, absolutely.

[Rachel Cruz]

Make a ton of money.

[George Camel]

Deals, sponsorships.

[Rachel Cruz]

So the question is, is there, like, a weird thing in society? I was talking to a guy, he's a lawyer for a firm that helps with, like, within, like, lower income. Like, does, like, really good work as a lawyer and makes obviously nowhere near that.

[George Camel]

Yeah. People think lawyers just automatically make six figures.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. And we were talking about it, and it's like, man, is it like, is there a weird thing in society that, like, people that are doing really good work and helping the world don't naturally make as much as people that, like.

[George Camel]

Put out, like, go viral on social media? Like, is it fair?

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you think this is, like, where, like, Rome. Rome collapses? You know that phrase?

[George Camel]

Wow, that's a. That's a strong pendulum swing. But I see where you're going. Are we doing well as a society based on who we value?

[Rachel Cruz]

Being online is. It's tough. And we have to be online a lot for just life. Right. And what happens is our information is online as well. And we have to be careful with that. You got to protect it. There are scammers or online thieves that take our information and they sell it to data broker websites and these data brokers then sell your information again, and then they trade your information. I mean, all this, and then you.

[George Camel]

End up getting spam texts. You get part of data breaches. All of the stuff that we are really annoyed by. And Sometimes can really hurt our financial life for sure.

[Rachel Cruz]

Especially if ID theft. All of it. So getting your information off the Internet is very important. That's why we love Delete Me. Delay. Delete Me is a great service. You guys make sure to check them out. If you go to joindeleteme.com smartmoney, you get 20% off a subscription with them. Click the link down below. But for real, protecting your information in our world today. So important.

[George Camel]

Worth it. And they send you a report showing you exactly where they found and removed your information, how much time they saved you. And it's one of my favorite reports that I get in my. And I get a lot of reports. Probably top three reports.

[Rachel Cruz]

Top three, top three.

[George Camel]

Check them out.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, let's move on to drink number two. George. And we're going to talk about the best and the worst of Smart Money Happy Hour.

[George Camel]

There was worst.

[Rachel Cruz]

There were some worse. There were some episodes y'all just did not click on.

[George Camel]

Are we ranking worst based on least amount of views?

[Rachel Cruz]

I think it's on viewership. Yep.

[George Camel]

Or how much they like Rachel.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, let's do the middle drink.

[George Camel]

All right. Switching. Switching gears. Does it have licorice in it?

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. I don't know if I like that one. Okay, I'm gonna. I'm gonna go three out of ten.

[George Camel]

What is that? I know this liqueur. I just can't put my finger on it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Or four. I'll get a little higher. I'll go four out of 10 for me.

[George Camel]

What has a licorice flavor? Is it absinthe? Okay, I'm close.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow. Okay. Good job, George.

[George Camel]

It's got absinthe. It's got lime.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right. What is it, Kelly?

[Kelly]

This is called a corpse reviver.

[George Camel]

Corpse reviver.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, sorry.

[Kelly]

Corpse reviver number two.

[George Camel]

We loved Corpse reviver.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is my favorite cocktail of all time.

[George Camel]

You.

[Kelly]

You both gave it a 10 out of 10.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, no.

[George Camel]

It doesn't taste. You know what? I think the margarita skewed our taste buds.

[Rachel Cruz]

And the ice is melted.

[George Camel]

And the ice has melted. Which watered it down.

[Rachel Cruz]

Shoot.

[George Camel]

Okay, what's my rating now?

[Rachel Cruz]

This was the one I asked Michael to make, and I said four out of ten.

[George Camel]

I'm still gonna give it a six and a ten.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, I should have had you rate it before you heard, like, how great it was.

[George Camel]

I said 6 out of 10. Yeah, for the new rating.

[Rachel Cruz]

Right now let's play Michael. Maybe this wasn't his best work.

[George Camel]

I think it's still a 10 out of 10.

[Rachel Cruz]

Drink I just think the corpse reviver is amazing. Yeah, we love it.

[Kelly]

So this came from our are you guilty of these financial turnoffs episode. And this has gin, triple sec, Lilith blanc, fresh lemon and absinthe.

[Rachel Cruz]

Fresh lemon. Literally love all of those things.

[George Camel]

You love Lilith Blanc?

[Rachel Cruz]

I do that in my Vesper martinis. Yes I do. I have Liliplanc in my house.

[George Camel]

That is really impressive.

[Rachel Cruz]

Thank you. Uh huh. Don't you, don't you talk down to me. I'm just impressed, George.

[George Camel]

I don't know many people that just have Lilip Blanc. Yeah, it's a life of luxury.

[Rachel Cruz]

Isn't that the. Isn't that the part in. In a Vesper? I'm pretty sure it is.

[George Camel]

It must be. I think you're making them.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Well, I'm sorry that our rating changed.

[Rachel Cruz]

But man, that makes me sad. I'm gonna drink it. Just.

[George Camel]

I still think it's a great drink. Yeah, don't let that sway you.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. I think the licorice came real quick on the time. Maybe that was from the tequila from the earlier drink.

[George Camel]

But yeah, the absinthe.

[Rachel Cruz]

Let's talk about. Okay. So our best episode. George, you ready for this? And this is all on YouTube. So podcast. We love you. But they read it on YouTube. Was why short term rentals are no vacation. So we Talked about hotels vs Airbnbs and how the Airbnb quality is really declining because lots of fees. You got to clean it yourself. Like there's just so much work involved now with Airbnbs. It's not as turnkey. And man, people, they love the episodes. They clicked on it. But we had some love hate to it. Always. Always with some high viewing episodes. But that was our. One of our top ones, George.

[George Camel]

Wow. I still think it holds up. You know, everyone's traveling. Everyone has thoughts about vacations and hotels and Airbnbs and their one story of why they'll never do one of them again or whatever it is. But there's also the investing part. A lot of these desirable city homes are getting snatched up by hedge fund investors. And our take was we're kind of more hotel people in most situations.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. Yeah.

[George Camel]

And not just financially, but from an experience standpoint.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. Yeah. Having someone come in, make up your bed. I mean, so nice. That didn't happen in my house.

[George Camel]

Yep. She's not trying to live like a local, taking out her own trash or.

[Rachel Cruz]

Go to the grocery.

[George Camel]

To the grocery, to the grocery.

[Rachel Cruz]

Now I will on a beach trip. And I think I said that in the other episode, there's certain vacations that, like. Yeah, but if you're gonna be gone for, like, a long weekend, give me a hotel. All day. All day. All right. One of our other best ones was harmless purchases that will drain your bank account. So this was Evoo's favorite.

[George Camel]

Yes. One of our producers.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. And it's like the little treats.

[George Camel]

Little treat culture.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Just gonna just have me a little treat.

[George Camel]

You can do anything. You could do your own laundry and be like, you know what? I deserve a little treat. And you get an $8 latte because you did laundry. That's the energy of little treat culture.

[Rachel Cruz]

Celebrate yourself. Just a little treat. Just a little treat. So.

[George Camel]

And here was our take on this. I still think you should go listen to it because it was great. But here's the tldr. Little treats are great, but you got to plan for it in the budget. And so if you want to know the best budgeting app out there, be sure to check out everydollar. You can even have a little treat line item in everydollar and put 50 bucks in there.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

And when you spend it. That's it.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

You got your little treats.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right. One of the worst. Man. This was my idea. Money motives hidden in shocking true crime stories. Wow. Listen, I love a good murder. You know, just like. Like when there's a story about a murder, I'm in. Give me a 2020. Give me a book. Give me a. Whatever it is. But I am listening. There's that new one on it with Anna Kendrick. She's directed it. I've not seen this on Netflix. Yep. Serial killer.

[George Camel]

Oh.

[Rachel Cruz]

Anyways, that was the most recent, so.

[George Camel]

People love true crime. They just don't want to hear about it on a money podcast. That's what I'm realizing.

[Rachel Cruz]

I hear you. And I will take your non watching that episode to hearts.

[George Camel]

What if there was a true crime podcast that was like, hey, guys, today we're going to talk about the murder of your bank account and why you should do a budget. They're like, I'm out. I'm out.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's not fun. No, but there were some murders, like for money and murder for hire and how much they paid.

[George Camel]

Like, it was interesting. We talked about the true crime industry. Should it be profiting off of these tragic stories?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Cuz these podcasts and stuff, y'all, they're making talk about influencers on social making a lot. These other people are making a lot. It is weird.

[George Camel]

It's just weird.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. Another Worst one was explain investing like, I'm a five year old people.

[George Camel]

I thought that was a good one.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know, we were really trying to like, you know, be boots on the ground, cookies on the bottom shelf. We really tried to be like, hey, we're going to explain it in a way everyone understands. Not to talk down to people, but just like, hey, give me like simplifying.

[George Camel]

Some of the jargon.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep, give me the easy version. And they just did not appreciate it. George?

[George Camel]

Yeah. I'm a little disappointed in you guys. I'm going to be honest.

[Rachel Cruz]

Might be a little offended.

[George Camel]

I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

But I moved on.

[Rachel Cruz]

Thanks, dad.

[George Camel]

And if I, I don't check the stats on these, you know, the team sends it once a month, they'll update us. Hey, here's what the people liked, here's what they didn't like. But I don't lose sleep over it, so you can't hurt me. I want you to know that. Oh, my gosh. But hey, you know what? Sorry we let you down with these episodes, listeners. We don't think they're all that bad. And we, we're gonna put the links in the show notes for you to find out for yourself if you didn't listen or if you wanna listen again.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, you can't. You can't win them all. But George, what was one of your favorite parts of an episode? Maybe the funniest part.

[George Camel]

Oh, my goodness.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like, where did you laugh the hardest?

[George Camel]

I think you had.

[Rachel Cruz]

I've had a couple of like your.

[George Camel]

Miley Cyrus impression with the French bulldog.

[Rachel Cruz]

Attorney is usually the part that you remember. Anyways. Is that a bridge?

[George Camel]

That one has stuck with me. I don't know if it's good or bad still. I'm working out with my therapist, but it really stuck with me and I was tickled by it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Just anytime you attempt almost anything singing.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know accents can't do impressions.

[George Camel]

Impressions. It's the best.

[Rachel Cruz]

Because I don't hear tone. I've decided that I can't.

[George Camel]

My voice is that tone to you.

[Rachel Cruz]

We've talked about this. Yeah. Where you go like up and then low. I'm not good at the range. I'm pretty, like, not monotoned, but like, my range is.

[George Camel]

You're a great talker.

[Rachel Cruz]

My range is limited, but people that can do impression. I mean, it's impressive and I can't. But anyways, Miley, I see you, girl. And I was praying for her too. She's been on my prayer list.

[George Camel]

Oh, Wow, I didn't know that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. She's doing great.

[George Camel]

I love that you're taking credit for these people's lives based off of a single. I don't know how often you're praying the Lord. Is it daily? Is it monthly?

[Rachel Cruz]

Just whenever the spirit.

[George Camel]

When they come to mind?

[Rachel Cruz]

When the spirit moves. George, you should pray for people. It's just good for you.

[George Camel]

I do. Just not celebrities.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right. Okay, let's go.

[George Camel]

Maybe I should.

[Rachel Cruz]

Let's go to our next drink. We got this one right here.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

And this is in the fancy glass.

[George Camel]

This is a sugar rimmed glass. I can tell because my hands are already sticky.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is a good one.

[George Camel]

This tastes like a mocktail margarita, maybe with some sparkling water.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Am I close?

[Rachel Cruz]

Very refreshing.

[Kelly]

Yeah, you're close. You're gonna go ahead and give it a rating?

[George Camel]

I'm gonna give this, I think for a mocktail, if the ice hadn't melted, I would probably say 10 out of 10.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. 10 out of 10.

[George Camel]

Awesome.

[Kelly]

Well, you both gave it a 10 out of 10 originally. And this is the lemon drop Mocktail.

[George Camel]

Lemon drop.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's it.

[George Camel]

Yeah. So not a margarita.

[Rachel Cruz]

Right? Lemon.

[George Camel]

Lemon Focus versus.

[Kelly]

But you're right in the fact that it does have club soda.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[Kelly]

And lemon juice and simple syrup. And this came from our why Nothing is Enjoyable today episode.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, that was yours?

[George Camel]

That was mine. So that came from my sort of emo Eeyore spirit.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. Very exciting of going, like, why don't.

[George Camel]

I just enjoy things anymore? And we explored it. We talked a lot about the financial aspect of why we don't enjoy things anymore.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

Inflation's part of that.

[Rachel Cruz]

But it was good. Just.

[George Camel]

So what do you enjoy these days?

[Rachel Cruz]

What do I enjoy?

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, we have puppies.

[George Camel]

Oh, that does bring joy.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, those are. That's been a. That's been like a part time job. The dogs.

[George Camel]

I didn't realize that, like, when you're. I mean, you guys. How many puppies did she have?

[Rachel Cruz]

Six.

[George Camel]

Six puppies. And you have to take care of them after she's, you know, given birth. There's still another. How many weeks?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Well, that's controversial. Depending on how attached.

[George Camel]

Seven, eight days.

[Rachel Cruz]

The attachment theory. But it's about eight to eight to nine is what we're doing. The vet said that was okay. Some people keep till 12.

[George Camel]

The vet said it was okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

That's a fun one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. So I would say that's. I'm enjoying that right now.

[George Camel]

Yeah. I've realized having kids is Secretly enjoyable.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

That's my hot take. Well, you know, I mean, people out there, there's this vibe of like. Oh, like kids. It's a lot of work.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Ruin your social life. I'm like, didn't have one to begin with. I'm doing fine.

[Rachel Cruz]

We're good.

[George Camel]

But no, truthfully, like, her making her laugh is my favorite thing and only thing I want to do.

[Rachel Cruz]

Sweet George. I love that it's the best.

[George Camel]

Because honestly, no one else will laugh.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, let's do some rapid fire rounds. We're gonna do the highs and lows. You know, the hills and the valleys of our year. George, you ready?

[George Camel]

I'm ready. Wait, personally.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep.

[George Camel]

Oh, wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

Here we go.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Best meal of 2024. Go.

[George Camel]

Leroy and Lewis in Austin, Texas, on a work trip with none of these people are in the room. But some of the best barbecue Texas has to offer.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good.

[George Camel]

So good, man. How about you?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm gonna go. I don't remember the name, which is so not fun. It was a place in Dallas of sushi and both Texas. You know what I loved about it? What was this is so funny. We drank the Corpse reviver on this episode because it's a really hard drink to find. And I asked the waiter, it was kind of a high end sushi restaurant, great bar. And I was like, hey, can y'all do a Corpse Reviver number two? And he was like, shoot, no, because we don't have like, whatever this thing. But I can do something really close. And he made me a great cocktail. I like, remember, it's great. But I love sushi and it was.

[George Camel]

That's a good one. All right, next. Best album of 2024.

[Rachel Cruz]

Taylor Swift.

[George Camel]

Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

The dead. I was gonna. Yeah, Torture Poets. Yeah.

[George Camel]

Did I say that right?

[Rachel Cruz]

Say Dead Poets assignment. That's a movie.

[George Camel]

Also great.

[Rachel Cruz]

Torture Poets.

[George Camel]

Some of Robin Williams best work.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Yeah, man. I would say. Oh, my gosh, I'm blanking. But haunted. What's the haunted song?

[George Camel]

Some would say you have a blank space. Welcome back, guys. Thanks for bearing with us through this episode. I did in fact, drop my mocktail, but it was because the drink was so sticky yet slippery that I could not grab it and it just fell right out of my hand. So I apologize. Are you dry?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm great. I think. Taylor Swift's ghost from who's Afraid of Little Old Me? I come in here and I said, how dare you not remember the name?

[George Camel]

Way to bring us back. Okay, I'd say moving on to rapid fire. Best purchase of 2024 for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

Can I go bougie, please? I feel like we're very like, oh, my God. We get everything on sale and we get dupes. And, like, we'd love to save money, which we do. That is who we are. But also, there is a time to spend money.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

So I got a purse for my birthday in April.

[George Camel]

Mention the.

[Rachel Cruz]

Because ladies who know purses, so it's a. And. And people all pronounce it so differently, so it's either goyard, goyard, goyer. I don't know. People have a different pronunciation. See, I can't do, like. I can't.

[George Camel]

I was waiting for a French accent.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know, I know. Yeah. So it's out of. Yeah, it's like an old French designer, I guess. Yeah. But it's not very known and kind of go super bougie, please. You can only buy it in the store, so you can't buy it online. And they only have four stores in America.

[George Camel]

Wow. So where'd you go?

[Rachel Cruz]

I was in LA and for work, and Winston met me out there because it was close to my birthday, and he surprised me. He said, babe, we're going to Rodeo Drive. Like, classic. Like the stereotype of just shopping, you know, Pretty Woman style.

[George Camel]

That's amazing.

[Rachel Cruz]

But I'm married, so it's really pretty.

[George Camel]

A little different. I think that's clear. Well, there's a lot of reasons why it's different than Pretty Woman, but. Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

But yes.

[George Camel]

So it's a green purse.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, a green goyard purse.

[George Camel]

Wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

I am.

[George Camel]

And it's worth it. Worth the splurge.

[Rachel Cruz]

Sure. And I like it because it's a little understated. Not everyone recognizes it. It's not like a Louis Vuitton, where it's like, oh, my gosh, everyone knows, you know that print.

[George Camel]

So it's like a little bit quiet luxury, stealth wealth.

[Rachel Cruz]

Stealth wealth. Yeah. Even though the. The, like, the pattern, like, I wouldn't know.

[George Camel]

You could be like, I got this on Amazon. I'd be like, oh, cool.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Yeah. It's not a very well known.

[George Camel]

Someone with poor taste like me would not know.

[Rachel Cruz]

Stop, Stop. Okay. How about you give me a bougie purchase you made or one that you.

[George Camel]

I mean. Okay. One thing I did is very not like me. I would say I wouldn't call it a purchase because it was inherited. But then I spent a lot of money to get it fixed was this watch, this old Rolex from the 90s inherited from my wife's grandfather who passed a few years ago. And grandma said, hey, would you take this watch? You can't sell it. And I said, yes, and I'll get it fixed up. Little did I know, fixing it up is still 10 times more than I've spent on any watch in my life.

[Rachel Cruz]

Sure, yeah. Yeah.

[George Camel]

But this was the splurge purchase of the year. And, and it's cool because number one, it's like a family heirloom. Y and number two, this is not. You know, people know me as like Apple watch guy. So to be wearing like a bougie.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like luxury watch, I feel very like it makes. Yeah. And it puts some years on you, some wisdom on you.

[George Camel]

I'm a dad now.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

What am I doing?

[Rachel Cruz]

What am I doing? What am I doing?

[George Camel]

So there we go.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. I will say another great purchase. Winston bought a hoodie from Cozy Earth and it was one of his favorite purchases of the year. Because Cozy Earth is amazing. Absolutely incredible. We have their sheets. I have some joggers, we have blankets from them. I mean, they, they are an amazing company. Like, the quality is unreal.

[George Camel]

Yes. I've had a lot of sheets in my life, but my wife consistently, whenever we put those Cozy Earth sheets on, she was, wow, these are really something. And my dogs love them. I know that's not saying much, but they are cozy for the pups too.

[Rachel Cruz]

And they have a 10 year warranty on their bedding.

[George Camel]

So those sheets, that says something about.

[Rachel Cruz]

Their confidence in the product for sure. And if you guys go to cozyearth.com you shop, use the code Smart Money at checkout and you'll get up to 40% off, which is amazing. I mean, that's, that's pretty incredible.

[George Camel]

If you're in very generous of them.

[Rachel Cruz]

If you're above a 2 with another number percentage wise, that's a great.

[George Camel]

We told them, we said, hey, this is a money podcast. People are watching their money. And so they said, hey, we're going to give them a really, really steep discount.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep.

[George Camel]

And their products are absolutely worth it. So go check them out. Cozyearth.com use promo code smart Money. And if you get a post purchase survey, let them know you heard about Cozy Earth on Smart Money Happy Hour.

[Rachel Cruz]

So great. Okay, George, what's the worst purchase you made in 2024?

[George Camel]

Oh, gosh. Regrettable purchases. That's a really difficult one for me. I would say I got a bed jet, which I talked about, a bed jet. And it shoots air into your sheets to keep it cool under there.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

But I've got a weighted blanket. I've got the dogs. There's a lot going on.

[Rachel Cruz]

You got cozy earth sheets, and I just couldn't.

[George Camel]

Yeah, the cozy earth sheets are great. I just could not get the bed cool enough with this product.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Just. Just failed you.

[George Camel]

So that was a return for me.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Use the return window. How about you?

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. I was trying to think, honestly, top of mind, which is kind of lame. Caroline got a Halloween costume that was one of those blow up ones, and it was a flamingo with, like a leash. Like, she's riding the flamingo. It was hilarious. And it broke within 15 minutes. Boo. I know.

[George Camel]

They don't make them like they used to. The blow up flamingo costume.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Still bitter about it. Best book of 2024. Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

I'll let you go first because you read a lot.

[Rachel Cruz]

I gotta get my Goodreads app. You're.

[George Camel]

You're a true reader.

[Rachel Cruz]

First Lie Wins was a great one. The boyfriend was actually really good too. Oh, the only plane left in the sky was September 11th. That was really good too.

[George Camel]

So we got some historical.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, the women. The women was about Vietnam War. That was good. Okay. Yeah, I'd say that. And then, like, from a spiritual sense, practicing the way John. Mark Comer.

[George Camel]

Oh, yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

I just finished that, like, a few weeks ago.

[George Camel]

Ruthless Elimination.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good. I'm a fan.

[George Camel]

I need to check that out.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm a fan of him. He's great. Just.

[George Camel]

I love it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. That's mine. Yours?

[George Camel]

I'm. It's an audiobook. Don't know if that counts.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's great.

[George Camel]

But it's Michael Richards who plays Kramer on Seinfeld. He did a memoir called Entrances and Exits.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, funny.

[George Camel]

And yes, at times, but also, like, very deep and heart wrenching and poetic and like, he's just. I'm like, how did he write this? It's very poetic. Really good the way he. And he narrates it, which I love.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes, always.

[George Camel]

And so that's why I did the audiobook. And I really enjoyed that. I love that as a big fan of Seinfeld.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. Favorite live event of 2024 at Ramsey.

[George Camel]

Money and Marriage Getaway.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's mine. Was it really?

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh. What did you like about it?

[George Camel]

I just think the spirit of that event is infectious.

[Rachel Cruz]

I agree.

[George Camel]

You know, it's an event where we're helping people become stronger spouses, get better at communication, intimacy, all the things. And just to play a role in that with. With my talk and then see you and John Deloney do your thing. It Just feels like a special event. And all of our events are special. This one feels like the transformation is palpable in the room. Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. It's so true. I agree. I'm with you. Yeah. Money, marriage.

[George Camel]

There's one coming up. February.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, that's right. Yeah. Yeah.

[George Camel]

Some tickets probably still available, so check it out. Come see us in Nashville.

[Rachel Cruz]

Favorite family memory of 2024.

[George Camel]

I'm gonna say we gotta play. We gotta play. Set for Mia.

[Rachel Cruz]

Cute.

[George Camel]

And she goes down the slide. It's my favorite. She squeals every time and then claps for herself.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, mine's puppies. Worst financial trend. 2024. Go.

[George Camel]

Oh, my gosh.

[Rachel Cruz]

Crypto.

[George Camel]

Sports betting.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. Best TV show or movie watched in 2024.

[George Camel]

Nobody wants this.

[Rachel Cruz]

Nobody wants this. I'll take it with you. So good. Adam Brody. Kristen Bell.

[George Camel]

Not a rom com guy, but really enjoyed that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Not kid appropriate, but funny. So good. Okay, real quick, money topics. One mistake that people should leave behind in 2024.

[George Camel]

Oh, this one's gonna be controversial.

[Rachel Cruz]

Go.

[George Camel]

Using the credit card, even if you pay it off every month. It's just that one has irked me all year long because I've been just debating people and I'm like, it's a useless task. They think they're winning. But I truly think you would do so much better to cut up the card, stick to using your own money, and save up for the things you want.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm going to go car loan. I think like the. It's just the, the. The dumbest piece of debt. I mean, genuinely, you know, that we justify. Yeah, you get a $40,000 car when you could have gotten a 10. I mean, like, it's just that, like, you know, that idea that, man, it's just a lot of money that's going out in interest with something that's going down in value. It's really tough. Okay, so what would you say to someone that's fallen off the wagon this year? How we get them back on? George?

[George Camel]

Ooh. I would say, number one, drop the shame and the baggage. Because usually when you fall off the wagon, you go, oh, that's so like you to do this. I knew you would never actually get out of it. You gotta just put that down, get in community, and then take like a course that's gonna keep you accountable, like Financial Peace University. That is the best thing you can do to get back on the wagon and stick to it. Cause it's nine courses, you know, you gotta do all nine weeks and you will make progress if you do that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Good. Yeah. I feel like money's such a reflection of who we are because we're the ones that are handling it. And so I think there's something to be said about, like, asking more of the why, like, what's causing me to continuing to go into debt? Why do I feel like I do overspend in this area? Why am I scared of the budget? Why am I scared to spend? Like, I have so much savings, but, like, why am I scared to spend it? Right. Like, going underneath that and understanding why. Because I feel like we can try to willpower our way. This is John Mark Comer in practicing the way. We try to willpower so much. And good intention is great. Putting good habits in place, not against that. But we can't just, like, tell ourselves to do better because human behavior, there's always an inflow. Something else is happening underneath that and getting to that and fixing. Well, fixing you. Sounds shameful, but you know what I'm saying, Like, understanding why you are the way you are, then the outflow of everything in your life is in a better spot.

[George Camel]

Well, my favorite question to ask is, and then what? You get to the thing and you do the. And then what? Yeah, and then you're. You didn't actually solve the root problem of why you were striving for the thing. So I think it's good to be rooted in healthy. Healthy motives and a healthy self.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, so before we get to guilty discharge, we. We drank some good ones. 10 out of 10. Let's give some honorable mentions to the ones we hated. To the least of these, the drinks that were no bueno.

[George Camel]

Who could forget lemon milk? This was a supposedly creamy lemonade mocktail that just tasted like weird curdled lemony milk.

[Rachel Cruz]

It was disgusting. We had the mocktail margarita. Not good. If you need a margarita and you gotta do mocktail, just skip it. You go, lemon drop.

[George Camel]

It was good. There was just so much salt that all we tasted was the sodium.

[Rachel Cruz]

It was a lot.

[George Camel]

Another one. I gave this a 1 out of 10. I called it harsh and viscous, which I reserved for my worst enemies. It was the pumpkin pie, espresso martini. All things that are good on their own.

[Rachel Cruz]

Not great together, not great together. And then last was the dirty Shirley. So this was a melted red popsicle.

[George Camel]

Literally. Right?

[Rachel Cruz]

Just red and popsicle liquid. All that red 40. We don't. We don't need that.

[George Camel]

We don't need that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Get that out of here.

[George Camel]

RFK is not having any.

[Rachel Cruz]

We learned about that in 2024. Get those poisons out of here.

[George Camel]

Oh, that's.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh. Well, George, that was great.

[George Camel]

It's been a fun year of talking about money, making it easy to digest, while enjoying some great drinks.

[Rachel Cruz]

And I think it's time for guilty as charged. And this is where our producer, Kelly, gives the same new guilty as charged question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. Kelly.

[Kelly]

All right. Have you ever lied to get out of something with family or friends?

[George Camel]

What if they're listening to this right now and they find out from this?

[Rachel Cruz]

We gotta go real cryptic. Yes.

[George Camel]

Has anyone not done this? That's the question. If you haven't, you aren't living. You're not. Okay. If you've just said yes to everything, regardless of what it is.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. No, but they could be healthy and say no and tell them the real reason we're lying about it.

[George Camel]

Who does that?

[Kelly]

Okay, let's take it a step deeper.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[Kelly]

Did you get caught? Have you ever gotten caught?

[George Camel]

Let's see. I faked sickness. I faked appointments. I have a doctor's appointment. Ah, let's see.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know, I've. Okay, I'm gonna say this. When I say friends, it's not like my. Like, my close people. I can totally be like, I don't hang out. Like, I don't need to lie to them, but it's like the one or two removed, and you're like, shoot. Not your inner circle, but, like, just slightly out. Sorry, we. It's been. It's been a crazy week, and we're busy this weekend. You know, we'll try to. We'll try it again soon. And then, like, you put an Instagram story out there, and you're out at a restaurant with. Do you do that?

[George Camel]

You're out there posting, trying to get caught?

[Rachel Cruz]

No, but, I mean, I'm sure there's been times I'm like, we're just so tired.

[George Camel]

Oh, yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Guilty, guilty, guilty.

[George Camel]

But I try to be more honest these days. As I get older, more mature, healthier. I just need to be like, hey, can't make it. Maybe not even a. Here's why. I've been trying to be less.

[Rachel Cruz]

You don't have to give people a reason. It's a very difficult question.

[George Camel]

I'm sorry, you're gonna have to reschedule. I feel if they're a real one, they'll understand.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yep. Oh, man. Well, if you want to stay connected to us, make sure to check us out on TikTok for more entertaining videos, you know, of what's happening when it comes to pop culture and finance. Well, you guys, it's closing time. And if you enjoyed this episode, you should check out our episode about revisiting our on air money advice from the past.

[George Camel]

One of the top episodes we did.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. So, you guys, here's to 2024. Thanks for being here with us in the journey of life. And we will see you next year and next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.