What Level of Crunchy Are You?

Summary

Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel Episode: What Level of Crunchy Are You? Release Date: February 27, 2025

In this engaging episode of Smart Money Happy Hour, hosts Rachel Cruze and George Kamel delve into the concept of "crunchy" lifestyles, exploring various aspects of sustainable living, product choices, and budget-friendly alternatives. The conversation is peppered with humor, personal anecdotes, and insightful discussions that shed light on how to balance environmental consciousness with financial practicality.

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Defining "Crunchy," "Scrunchy," and "Silky" Lifestyles

The episode kicks off with an exploration of what it means to be "crunchy," "scrunchy," or "silky" on a budget. George Camel initiates the discussion by referencing his wife's involvement in a "crunchy mom" Facebook group, highlighting the spectrum within crunchy lifestyles:

[01:24] George Camel: "There's a spectrum of crunchy moms. There's moms who are wanting the best for their kids, and then there's people who have, I think, lost their mind."

Rachel Cruz expands on this by categorizing the levels:

• Crunchy: Emphasizes natural and eco-friendly products, such as cloth diapers and homemade deodorants.
• Scrunchy: Represents a balanced approach, incorporating both clean living practices and modern conveniences like occasional screen time.
• Silky: The most conventional lifestyle, embracing processed goods and conveniences without significant concern for environmental impact.

[02:15] Rachel Cruz: "You got crunchy, which again, it's like no food dye, cloth diapers..."

Product Comparisons: Conventional vs. Clean

Rachel and George engage in a playful yet informative segment comparing conventional products with their "clean" counterparts. This "Guess the Price" game highlights the cost differences and encourages listeners to make informed choices.

Cleaning Supplies

• Lysol Disinfectant Spray vs. Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner

  [08:28] Rachel Cruz: "I have my counters for our Sonic dinner."

  The hosts reveal that Lysol costs approximately $4, while Mrs. Meyer's is around $4.89—a modest price difference that questions the value of opting for cleaner alternatives.

Detergents

• Tide Detergent vs. Blue Land Washing Tablets

  [10:28] George Camel: "I do read a lot of labels. I am that guy."

  Tide costs about $10.99 for 64 loads, whereas Blue Land offers 60 tablets for $22, which breaks down to approximately $0.33 per tablet. The comparison emphasizes the higher upfront costs of clean detergents.

Candles

• Yankee Candle vs. Homemade Boiling Water with Cinnamon and Orange Slices

  [11:15] George Camel: "And then you got orange slices."

  A Yankee Candle can set you back $31, while a homemade alternative costs around $5, providing a cost-effective and eco-friendly option.

Personal Care

• Maybelline Skin Tint vs. Ilia Skin Tint

  [12:14] Rachel Cruz: "I know for a fact my wife uses that one."

  Maybelline is priced at $7.99, whereas Ilia is significantly more expensive at $48. The segment highlights the trade-offs between affordability and cleaner ingredient lists.

Deodorants

• Secret Deodorant vs. Native Deodorant

  [16:00] Rachel Cruz: "I had a friend that made her own deodorant."

  Secret deodorant costs about $5.99, while Native is priced at $11.99, showcasing the financial considerations when choosing natural personal care products.

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Food Choices: Eggs and Pesticides

The hosts transition to discussing food, specifically focusing on eggs and pesticide-laden produce.

Eggs: Conventional vs. Organic

• Types of Eggs: Cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, and organic.

  [18:00] Rachel Cruz: "Organic eggs must be free range."

  Conventional eggs at Publix cost $3.31 per dozen, while organic eggs are priced at $6.31 per dozen. The conversation underscores the complexities and costs associated with different egg certifications.

Pesticides: Dirty Dozen vs. Clean 15

• Dirty Dozen: Fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues (e.g., strawberries, apples).

• Clean 15: Produce with the lowest pesticide residues (e.g., bananas, avocados).

  [23:32] Rachel Cruz: "And then there's like, the Clean 15."

  The duo emphasizes the importance of prioritizing which produce to buy organic based on pesticide levels, helping listeners make health-conscious and budget-friendly decisions.

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Digital Safety

Shifting gears, Rachel and George address the often-overlooked topic of digital safety.

[24:19] Rachel Cruz: "Our personal data is all over the Internet..."

They discuss the risks of data brokers and online scams, recommending services like DeleteMe to protect personal information. George Camel shares his positive experience:

[24:44] George Camel: "It truly helps, especially with those with dietary restrictions."

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Sustainable Clothing

The conversation then moves to sustainable fashion, contrasting fast fashion with eco-friendly alternatives.

[25:15] George Camel: "We don't eat a lot of it. See, I'm doing it right now."

They highlight the environmental impact of textile waste and advocate for purchasing higher-quality, sustainable fabrics or opting for secondhand clothing to reduce landfill contributions.

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Budget-Friendly Sustainable Choices

Acknowledging the financial constraints, Rachel and George offer practical advice on integrating sustainable practices without breaking the bank.

[28:53] George Camel: "Be bougie on a budget."

They suggest buying secondhand, prioritizing essential swaps within one's budget, and making gradual changes towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

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Final Segments: Guilty as Charged

In a lighthearted wrap-up, the hosts participate in the "Guilty as Charged" segment, admitting minor lapses in their crunchy lifestyles.

[37:42] Rachel Cruz: "I can't think of a specific one, but I'm sure I downplay things like our fast."

This segment serves as a reminder that striving for sustainability is a journey, and occasional indulgences are part of the process.

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Conclusion: Balancing Sustainability and Budget

Rachel Cruze and George Kamel conclude the episode by reinforcing the importance of making informed, budget-conscious decisions without succumbing to judgment or stress.

[34:09] George Camel: "Make the swaps that you can make with the budget that you have."

They encourage listeners to prioritize purchases that align with their values and financial situations, promoting a balanced approach to sustainable living.

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Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Labels: Knowing the differences between cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, and organic eggs helps in making informed purchasing decisions.
• Cost vs. Benefit: While cleaner products often come at a higher price, there are budget-friendly alternatives like homemade cleaners that offer similar benefits.
• Prioritizing Purchases: Focusing on products and practices that have the most significant environmental impact can maximize sustainability efforts within a budget.
• Embracing Imperfection: Acknowledging that occasional indulgences are natural can reduce stress and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of sustainable living without compromising their financial well-being.

Transcript

[George Camel]

Today we're unpacking what it means to be crunchy, scrunchy and silky on a budget.

[Rachel Cruz]

I had a friend that made her own deodorant.

[George Camel]

Mm. Mm.

[Rachel Cruz]

True story.

[George Camel]

Are you guys still friends?

[Rachel Cruz]

Tide detergents. Ooh. This is what we use.

[George Camel]

This one's become controversial. Do you use, like, the clean one or is it like the bright orange red bottle?

[Rachel Cruz]

Bright orange red bottle. Hey, guys, I'm Rachel Cruz.

[George Camel]

I'm George Came.

[Rachel Cruz]

And this is Smart Money Happy Hour. Well, this is the show where two friends who happen to be money experts talk about what you're talking about. So everything from pop culture, current events, and money. This is a good one because we're gonna dive in. There's a lot of trends happening, and it's good, right? We're being healthier, more self conscious of, like, what we're putting around our environment. I mean, I don't know. I mean, it's great, but it's very much a trend. So we're gonna dive in.

[George Camel]

What's worth it? What's worth the extra money cost?

[Rachel Cruz]

Some money. Some money. So while we're talking, what are we going to sip on?

[George Camel]

George, we are sipping on a Kentucky Flyer and 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.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, so the term crunchy mom.

[George Camel]

I hear it all the time.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's a thing, right? So, like, define that. Like, when you hear it. George, what are you thinking about?

[George Camel]

Well, my wife is in a crunchy mom Facebook group.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

And let me tell you, I think there's a spectrum of crunchy moms. There's moms who are wanting the best for their kids, and then there's people who have, I think, lost their mind. And I think there's a, you know, there's a spectrum. Again, don't even know where my wife falls on there. Some days I don't know. But I would say it's people who are very concerned about what they're putting in their body, what is in their home, what's affecting the environment.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is everything from makeup to cleaning supplies to detergent ingredients. I mean, all of it. Right? So it's. It is. And then there's like levels of it, like what you're saying. And so there's different terms people are using. So you got crunchy, which again, it's like no food dye, cloth. Cloth diapers.

[George Camel]

Like, essential oils are medicine. You know, you don't even go darken the door of a doctor.

[Rachel Cruz]

Western medicine.

[George Camel]

Can't trust them. Okay, so that's full blown crunchy.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's full blown crunchy. You got silky, which is the opposite. So you got, you know, your red Doritos, your copper tone sunscreen, Clorox wipes all the chemicals. You're just all in in 2025. Like, we're all good, right? We're all gonna die eventually. YOLO might as well have some Doritos. And who has the time and the old stomach while you go and then.

[George Camel]

You have scrunchie, which I think is where most people would identify. They're teetering somewhere in the middle. Like, you're doing your best to live, quote clean, but also leaning on modern conveniences, like occasional screen time flexibility for Bluey and Paw Patrol.

[Rachel Cruz]

Just me, for sure. Bluey, what a great show.

[George Camel]

And that's just screen time for me. Naughty. That doesn't count my voter.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, so Whitney, where would you say, though she's crunchy?

[George Camel]

I think she's leaning over time crunchier and crunchier. But someone has to put a stop to the madness.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

And then sometimes she'll be like, I want Swedish fish. I have a craving. I'm like, you know there's red dye. She's like, I don't care. Give me the Swedish fish.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't care. Give it to me.

[George Camel]

So I think we all need to admit we all.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, for sure.

[George Camel]

No one's 100% all the time.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's the funniest memes of the moms that are, like, looking at, like, the ingredients at the grocery store. Have you seen these videos? It's, like, funny because it's like, oh, it has that note. Note. Nope. Those kind of oils. Nope. We're not doing that. No. Nope. And then the next. The next second later, she's getting Botox, like, in her forehead, like, sitting in the doctor's office. You know what I mean?

[George Camel]

So it can go in the head, just not in the mouth. It just depends on where the chemicals are going.

[Rachel Cruz]

Got it. I know, but it's like, yeah, we're all crunchy.

[George Camel]

I do read a lot of labels. I am that guy. And I try to avoid the gums, the dyes, the bad oils. I do my best.

[Rachel Cruz]

I think y'all are crunchier than we are. Fair, Right?

[George Camel]

Just based on the fact that you go to Sonic, I think we win. Like, if you look at Chick Fil A ingredients and then claim to be crunchy, you're out. You can't do that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Where I stand is, yes, I want to be healthy. And I do, I really do believe that there are certain industries out there that are just making hand over fist money off of our ignorance. I mean, I really do. So I do think understanding what's going on is very important. But then it gets paired with reality. Right? And I'm like, my kids love deli meat.

[George Camel]

When the rubber meets the road.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, my kids love deli meat. What am I gonna do? Like, they like milk. And I'm not gonna go milk a cow and just eat, Drink raw milk. Yeah, I could, but I'm not. Like, I'm not.

[George Camel]

So you have a garden. You're not far off from livestock.

[Rachel Cruz]

Right around. Yeah. And even like my eggs, you know, I just get the Publix brand eggs, which is probably the worst.

[George Camel]

Are you a white egg person?

[Rachel Cruz]

What other do you like?

[George Camel]

The tan eggs?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, no, yeah, no, we don't do tan eggs.

[George Camel]

I don't know what it is, but I see a white.

[Rachel Cruz]

I feel like you're really. Yeah, you feel real good about yourself with those tan eggs. But I bet those same chickens are all I have.

[George Camel]

Can we just make this very clear? We are not experts when it comes to food or health or science. We stick to money. So we're going to give you unbiased opinions that are wrong. And we will get roasted in the comments for anything we say for this episode.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know, but it is exhausting. I'm just laying out where we stand as people, George. You know, you listen to the PODC podcasts and you watch YouTube of Smart Money Happy hour, and we're just the humans behind the microphone. That's what I was giving them, our human perspective.

[George Camel]

We're humans. And can I also just say, everything is going to kill us in today's world.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

I feel like everything we do by everything is just like, well, you know, that's bad for you. So that part of I have fatigue from just everything being bad for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, I have a question.

[George Camel]

Seltzer water now. Bad for you. Oh, it's an aluminum can. Terrible for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Forever plastic.

[Rachel Cruz]

So let's flip the script a little bit. Okay.

[George Camel]

All right.

[Rachel Cruz]

So you got the Oregon Trail. They're for sure cutting off chickens heads and making chicken from chicken. Like, like straight up, you know.

[George Camel]

How else. What else do you make chicken from?

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, just like they got real chickens. They kill that real chicken right there and they eat that chicken. I mean, like, it's very much like there's no processed anything in the Oregon Trail.

[George Camel]

No, that's how they got the district.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's how you got me. Okay, so we got Pilgrims. We got Oregon Trail. Different decades. I know. Of those two groups. But, like, think. Think that time period.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Are you with me?

[George Camel]

Yeah. Yeah. Little House on the Prairie.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm doing real women. Explain this.

[George Camel]

Yeah. Pure little.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

So we got anything little.

[Rachel Cruz]

And we are. We're milking cows. We're drinking the milk right there. Like, it's not. Got it. Okay. You got that. But then you got, like, scarlet fever. Then you got. I mean, you got stuff killing you off a lot. Childbirth back in the day. Right. Like, still today. But, like, for sure. Like, so, like, do we take that risk but drink unpasteurized milk and eat a chicken an hour after it was killed?

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know? Or do you live in today's world where you're like. All right, see what I'm saying?

[George Camel]

You make a good point. I don't know what the point is, but you're making.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm debating it. Like, they had it good. Then in a certain way, without access.

[George Camel]

To modern medicine that could have saved that. Yet modern medicine is now killing us. So we need to go back to the natural ways.

[Rachel Cruz]

So that's what I'm saying. But I think I'd pick today. I think I would pick red Doritos.

[George Camel]

Got it over. You get polio.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's right.

[George Camel]

40% chance.

[Rachel Cruz]

Here's my point. I think we've romanticized that time of life to a degree of like, oh, my gosh, everyone was so healthy then. And natural then and now villainize today's world because of ultra processing.

[George Camel]

All the things.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. Which, again, I'm not disclaiming that. That's not true. I think those things are happening. But also we get the benefit of living longer because of, like, health and. Right. Refrigeration.

[George Camel]

Yeah. They used to use salt. Did you know that salt is what they used to preserve?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

Fascinating.

[Rachel Cruz]

I did. There's a lot of references in the Bible to salt because of that. It was a major mineral. It was a magic mineral used to keep food fresh. Okay. All right, let's talk about budget friendly ways to be. To be a little.

[George Camel]

Let's do that. Shall we play a little guess the price, the differences in, like, the standard process. Bad for you thing versus the clean version.

[Rachel Cruz]

Love it. Absolutely. Here we go.

[George Camel]

We don't know the prices here. I guess Kelly's going to tell us.

[Producer Kelly]

I do know.

[George Camel]

Thank you, Producer Kelly. Let's compare Lysol disinfectant spray with Mrs. Meyer's All Purpose Cleaner.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, okay.

[George Camel]

I just said one bottle of this spray bottle. I'm going to go three bucks for Lysol.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, I was going higher.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Five. Five was my knee jerk. For a bottle of Lysol. Yeah. You're probably going four to five dollars.

[George Camel]

And for Mrs. Myers, I'm gonna go six.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. I'm higher. I'm like. Yeah, higher than you a little bit on all these prices.

[Producer Kelly]

All right, A bottle of Lysol disinfectant spray is 3.99.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. 3.99, you said.

[George Camel]

I said 5. I said 3.

[Rachel Cruz]

4.

[Producer Kelly]

She said 4 to $5.

[Rachel Cruz]

And 3.99 is basically $4. Okay, I win.

[George Camel]

Wow.

[Producer Kelly]

And then Mrs. Mrs. Meyer's all purpose cleaner is 489. So not a huge difference.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow. Okay. I went way more expensive. I actually make my own cleaner. No joke. No joke. I had a Rachel Cruz episode about, like, homemade stuff that is more is cheaper than buying store. And it's like water, rubbing alcohol.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

This, like, soap thing, it comes like, it comes in a massive bottle, but you only need like two tablespoons or two teaspoons.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

And then you do lemon drops. But lemon. Oh, no, I'm not scrunching essential oil.

[George Camel]

Yes, okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

Like a drop. Not like a true lemon. Squeeze a dropper. Like 10 drops or so. Shake it up.

[George Camel]

Look at that.

[Rachel Cruz]

There you go.

[George Camel]

That's clean. I'm proud of you.

[Rachel Cruz]

I have my counters for our Sonic dinner.

[George Camel]

Yeah, that way makes up for Sonic.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, next. Tide detergent. This is what we use.

[George Camel]

This one's become controversial.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is what we use.

[George Camel]

You use Tide. You're a Tide family.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

Do you use, like, the clean one or is it like the bright orange red bottle?

[Rachel Cruz]

Bright orange red bottle.

[George Camel]

Okay. Versus liquid.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't do the plastic pod, so I get a point.

[George Camel]

What does that cost for a Tide?

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. I'm trying to think. It depends on where I get it.

[George Camel]

Honestly, I think they're pretty expensive. Like 11 bucks maybe.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm going like 10.99.

[George Camel]

9.99.

[Producer Kelly]

All right. Tide detergent for a 64 loads. $12.99.

[George Camel]

Wow. She's good, man. Okay, now on the opposite side, we have the clean version. Blue Land plastic, free refills. This is what the Camels have now been using.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

For 60 tablets. So it's about the same amount of loads. I know the price of this. Cause I just bought them. They're about 33 cents a piece. So for 60 tablets. Oh, gosh. I'm gonna go. 22 bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. I was gonna say 19.

[George Camel]

21. Yes.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow. Well done. Well done.

[George Camel]

Your boy shops.

[Rachel Cruz]

Look at you.

[George Camel]

What can I say?

[Rachel Cruz]

Look at you. Okay, ready for this? Yankee candle versus boiling water with cinnamon and orange slices. So if you want to make your house smell good, the Yankee can. And we don't do Yankee candles.

[George Camel]

I heard, like, all candles are toxic to your household.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, if they're scented. I think soy candles. Right? Soy candles, I think are, like, the clean, better.

[George Camel]

The better for you version is soy candles.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, But a Yankee candle. How much is a Yankee candle?

[George Camel]

I want to say. I want to say 15 bucks, depending if you get it on sale.

[Producer Kelly]

$31.

[George Camel]

Oh, wow.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yankee.

[George Camel]

Dude, they really think something of themselves.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wow.

[George Camel]

All $31.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, and then you got orange slices.

[George Camel]

Boiling water, some cinnamon sticks, and orange slices. I mean, maximum. I don't know. I mean, five bucks will get you all of that and plenty for multiple uses.

[Rachel Cruz]

I was gonna say multiple uses. So for a single use, like a few.

[George Camel]

You don't have any. What's the. You don't have a price on that.

[Producer Kelly]

I do.

[George Camel]

Water is free. Well, you pay for the water. Five bucks. Oh, nailed it. Golly, George, you do pay for water. I take that back. Water isn't free for someone comes at me. I don't know where you live, but I have a water. Okay, relax, bud. Relax.

[Rachel Cruz]

Nitpicky.

[George Camel]

Okay, let's move to personal care.

[Rachel Cruz]

Ooh, this is fun. Okay, you got Maybelline skin tint plus vitamin C versus. Ooh, a fancy word.

[George Camel]

Ilia skin tint.

[Rachel Cruz]

Skin tint with SPF 40.

[George Camel]

Okay. I know for a fact my wife uses that one.

[Rachel Cruz]

She does.

[George Camel]

Okay, so two points for Whitney on the clean crew.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well done. All right, we're going Maybelline Skin 10. I mean, we're going 7.99.

[George Camel]

I have no clue what makeup costs. I'm gonna say 9.99. Bob.

[Producer Kelly]

13.99.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. Wow. I think it's more pricier. Okay.

[George Camel]

And I imagine ilya skin tint. $47.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, I'm going 32.

[Producer Kelly]

$48.

[George Camel]

Oh, my gosh. Can I be honest? I threw out a number so outrageous that I was like it for sure won't be.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's higher than that. $48.

[George Camel]

Our budget's tight, y'all. It's tight. Tough times. All right, next up, Rachel, we have Batiste dry shampoo versus, apparently, the clean version, Amica Talc free dry shampoo. I've always thought they were putting too much talc in our Dry shampoos.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's where the issues are.

[George Camel]

I'm going to say $10 versus 20.

[Rachel Cruz]

On that dry shampoo. $12 versus 24.

[Producer Kelly]

All right, so the Batiste Dry Shampoo is 8.99.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Producer Kelly]

And the Amica Talc Free Dry Shampoo is $28.

[Rachel Cruz]

What did I say? 24.

[George Camel]

Yeah. You won on that one. I won the first one. You won the second one. I gotta know. It's crazy to me that taking ingredients out makes things cost more. Like, you want aluminum free. That'll be $2 more. You want talc free.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's so true that you're putting less in there. What are they doing?

[George Camel]

Which makes you think, what the heck are they doing to the normal products? They're filling it with a bunch of crap. They don't need to.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. To get the results. But then it's bad for us. That's what they're. Yeah.

[George Camel]

Which I don't think anyone thought dry shampoo was, like, a natural thing in society. You know what I mean?

[Rachel Cruz]

True.

[George Camel]

What is in that? We don't know.

[Rachel Cruz]

We're not sure.

[George Camel]

Anything in a spray like that, it's got to be toxic for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

Well, that was a thing, like, years ago. Right. The aerosol, like, all of it. I love an aerosol, though.

[George Camel]

She loves an aerosol. Folks love it.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, we got Happy perfume by Clinique vs Patchouli lavender roll on fragrance.

[George Camel]

It's an odd combo.

[Rachel Cruz]

This is another thing about perfume, y'all.

[George Camel]

Perfume.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, can I be bougie for a second? So I look at, like, Chanel number five, right. That's been around since, like, the 20s.

[George Camel]

I'm sure it's changed over time.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's been bad, like, do you know what I mean? It's been around since the 20s.

[George Camel]

But don't you think the recipe's changed over time?

[Rachel Cruz]

No, I think they keep it pure. I mean, it's from. It's from, like, France. It's like they keep a.

[George Camel]

Do you think there's a reservoir in France that just produces Chanel number five?

[Rachel Cruz]

But they make the same.

[George Camel]

It's from the spring.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, I really do. But that's, like the famous thing. It's, like, been, like, the same. It's the same thing. It's the Chanel number five. It's like the classic. Do you think they changed it?

[George Camel]

I think they change it to increase profits and make it cheaper for them and charge us more. That's. I don't. I didn't invent capitalism. That's just kind of how it works. But patchouli, who knows where that comes from? Imagine an old man's shoe. I don't know where they get patchouli from.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know.

[George Camel]

So I'm gonna say the price. I mean, was it like 60, 70 bucks for perfume? The Clinique perfume?

[Rachel Cruz]

No. No. Oh, no.

[George Camel]

100 bucks.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, gosh.

[George Camel]

How nice. Is Happy perfume?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. No, no, no. I would. I would go, like, $40.

[George Camel]

Oh.

[Rachel Cruz]

And then the Patchouli roll On fragrance.

[George Camel]

A roll on feels like it'd be smaller. I know, but I'm still going to go 40, 35 bucks for the roll on.

[Rachel Cruz]

Roll on. I'm going 55.

[Producer Kelly]

Okay. Perfume's expensive in this case. So the Happy perfume by clinique is 45.50.

[George Camel]

Good job.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[Producer Kelly]

And the patchouli lavender roll on fragrance is 14.50.

[George Camel]

There you go.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Because the roll on doesn't have as.

[Producer Kelly]

Much in it, and you have to smell like patchouli.

[Rachel Cruz]

So I like it. You pay for it.

[George Camel]

Can I just say again, one point to Whitney. She got me a clean cologne.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

That doesn't have all the top. I don't know what's in it. I don't think it lasts very long. I don't think it's very.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's not, like, amazing with you. Yeah.

[George Camel]

But I feel better because, like, I'll put on the cologne, and then I'll hold my baby, and then she's like, it rubs off onto the baby.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, wow.

[George Camel]

So now I got to worry about that.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's. That is. That'll keep you up.

[George Camel]

It's a tough life.

[Rachel Cruz]

That is.

[George Camel]

Lastly, in this category, we got to talk deodorant. Do you use it?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes. And you know what? I had a story on Instagram the other night. I can't remember what it was, and I think I show. It was something in my bathroom, because I was showing something, and I use Dove deodorant, and I'm going to hell because I got so many messages. I'm like, rachel, you cannot use Dove deodorant. This is so terrible for you.

[George Camel]

Because of aluminum or what?

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't even know y'all. I don't know. And I'm tired. I'm so tired.

[George Camel]

She's a Dove girly. Just leave her alone.

[Rachel Cruz]

It works. It works. It is one of the best deodorants.

[George Camel]

Okay, so on here, we have secret deodorant versus native. I know for a fact secret is probably, like, three bucks. It's pretty cheap. Native. I know in my heart is like, $17.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. Now your deodorant is gonna be eight or nine. Like, for a thing.

[George Camel]

For one thing of secret. I feel like secret is on the cheaper basis.

[Rachel Cruz]

Why do dove?

[George Camel]

Yeah, yeah. Dove's a little pricier for the dove.

[Rachel Cruz]

You think so? Yeah, I use it a little bit. Okay. Okay. What is it? What's the prices?

[Producer Kelly]

I don't even know the secret. Deodorant is $5.99.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Producer Kelly]

And native is 11.99.

[George Camel]

So it's legit. Double the price.

[Rachel Cruz]

I had a friend that made her own deodorant. True story.

[George Camel]

Are you guys still friends?

[Rachel Cruz]

True story. Yeah, she's super. Talk about crunchy. She's.

[George Camel]

I would only facetime with her. You know what I mean? But I just. I feel like deodorant's one thing.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, we're getting back.

[George Camel]

I don't want to skip on.

[Rachel Cruz]

Remember when I talked about chickens earlier?

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Wrapping back there. Eggs. Okay.

[George Camel]

This is a big one. Because eggs have gotten expensive. There was recently a shortage. Bird flu. Costco had a big thing.

[Rachel Cruz]

There was no eggs at. Yes. At the grocery store, y'all, for days, like when, like, I could not get eggs.

[George Camel]

Yeah. And Kirkland eggs got recalled for other reasons.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, no.

[George Camel]

Then the bird flu happened. So, like, eggs have been. We have white eggs in our house right now, and I'm not happy about it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Not good. This is so. So, okay. Go through all the egg categories.

[George Camel]

Okay. So this is very confusing. We're laid out for.

[Rachel Cruz]

We'll switch off.

[George Camel]

There's an egg state of the union. We have cage free. We've all heard that that means eggs from hens that are freely roaming a building, a room, or an enclosed area with unlimited access to food and fresh water during their production cycle. This is regulated by the usda. That's cage free.

[Rachel Cruz]

So that's cage free. Then you got free range. And this is where eggs from hens that have some access to a small fenced outdoor area. This implies that chickens have access to the outdoors. But not all farmers actually let their hens roam freely. This is not regulated by the usda, but cage free is regulated by the usda. So cage free, free range.

[George Camel]

Then you have pasture raised. These are eggs from hens that have access to the outdoors. If the carton says pasture raised and also includes stamps that say certified humane and or animal welfare approved, it means that each hen was given approximately 108 square feet of outdoor space as well as barn space indoors. This one's not regulated by usda. So Again, farmers are left to their own judgment. Little sketch there.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

And then finally, we have the classic organic.

[Rachel Cruz]

The organic. So this is regulated by the usda. Organic eggs must be free range. Gosh, I need a chart for this. Free range. But free range eggs aren't necessarily organic because they're not required to be fed organic feed. Wow. Got it.

[George Camel]

What a time to be alive. Okay, so what's the. Let's do the cost between organic versus conventional. I'm gonna go for conventional eggs. Like, you get cheapest of the cheap white eggs at your local Walmart. It's probably three bucks. And for the organic eggs, there's a wide range here because I know you can get great eggs at like, whole foods for 450, but it could go upwards of $9.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm going four to eight.

[George Camel]

I'm going three to nine.

[Producer Kelly]

At Publix, specifically, regular white eggs are $3.31 per dozen.

[George Camel]

Yes.

[Producer Kelly]

And organic eggs at Publix are $6.31 a dozen.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, all right.

[George Camel]

That's one point to you, one to me.

[Rachel Cruz]

There we go.

[George Camel]

Man, I do feel like eggs are one of those things that have been, like, over inflated as far as people's imagination. Like, you remember when they're like, the price of eggs is out of con. I'm like, guys, no.

[Rachel Cruz]

But there was a season where it was, though. Do you remember that?

[George Camel]

Maybe. But I was shopping for eggs regularly, and the places I went, it was always like in the same range of.

[Rachel Cruz]

See, I remember it being more expensive.

[George Camel]

You know, Trader Joe's or whatever. Whole Foods, $354.50, maybe five bucks if I was getting the nicer eggs. But I think in people's minds, that was the thing holding them back was the egg prices.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Okay. And I'm gonna keep pushing these buttons because I'm feeling crazy right now. But here's the problem, right? Is that I don't think the issue, which everyone's gonna get mad at me. I don't think the issue is like, is it rain? Did you get range free? Your pasture raised eggs. People just aren't eating eggs. Like, eggs are good for you. Right. It's a healthy thing. Like, we're just not even eating that. We're eating, you know, McDonald's breakfast sandwiches.

[George Camel]

Right? Like, little crunchwrap supreme.

[Rachel Cruz]

I think, like, we're putting our stress in other. Like, the stress should be just eating healthy, eating an egg, good protein, have two eggs a day.

[George Camel]

Yeah. Whole Foods.

[Rachel Cruz]

Whole Foods. All right. I'm just gonna feel better.

[George Camel]

She Got off her soapbox.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Okay. So in general, the fewer and more natural the ingredients, the better because that's what our bodies were made to process successfully long term. Hope that's not controversial.

[Rachel Cruz]

We agree with that. I agree.

[George Camel]

The more heavily processed the ingredients, the less they start to look and function like their original God created form that is meant to nourish us.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's exactly right. So, like, cane sugar is better than conventional sugar, coconut sugar is better than cane sugar, etc. Etc. But.

[George Camel]

And no sugar is better than all of that.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. You want to be really great accounts like. I do like Bobby. Bobby Parrish. The Bobby.

[George Camel]

I've seen this guy.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, he's good. Like when you are shopping and I'm like, okay, great example. I switched tomato sauces at Costco. There's like the Rao's R A O. Right. Versus whatever the other one is. And he flips the ingredients around, he's like, look, this other one, which is actually cheaper. There's nothing weird in it. Like, it's a better choice that tomato sauce versus the other tomato sauce. So I'm like, those switches I'm great with and we've done in our home. Yeah. But accounts like, Bobby, like, is a great one.

[George Camel]

Yeah. I just like the way he talks. It's so funny. He's like, best in class ingredients. No bad oils, you know, no bad oils at all. And he's got his own app too, now to like, scan things.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, Sharon has it.

[George Camel]

Here's an app again, not sponsored here, but uka.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

Y U K A. Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Is that the one? Yes, yes.

[George Camel]

And it'll grade foods. It really helps, especially with those with dietary restrictions.

[Rachel Cruz]

But I think the Bobby one, though, it gives you alternatives. So, like, if you scan something, it'll give you. At the same store, like. Yeah, just swap this and that, which.

[George Camel]

Very helpful.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right. We also need to be, you know, taking care of our bodies another way. Like working out, walking. Like, there are a.

[George Camel]

It's not the only thing in life.

[Rachel Cruz]

To be thinking about.

[George Camel]

Let's talk pesticides.

[Rachel Cruz]

Can we love this subject.

[George Camel]

Have you heard of the Dirty Dozen?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[George Camel]

Can you name. I feel like I can name one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Things with like, strawberries.

[George Camel]

Are strawberries part of the Dirty Dozen?

[Producer Kelly]

Yes.

[George Camel]

Boom.

[Rachel Cruz]

They are.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

Is this the. This is the one with the thick peels, though, right? In that Dirty Dozen. No, it's not. What's the Dirty Dozen? These are the things where it is dirty. You gotta wash it, right? Oh, yeah. Yes. You got apples, you got strawberries.

[George Camel]

Dirty doesn't.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, sorry. Okay. And then there's like, the What? The clean.

[George Camel]

Clean 15.

[Rachel Cruz]

Clean 15. That's what I was thinking of. So you got, like, bananas, you got avocados, you got onions. The things that you don't necessarily need to buy organic because it is the.

[George Camel]

They don't absorb pesticides.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right.

[George Camel]

Because they usually have, like, sweet corn, papayas, sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, mushrooms, kiwi cabbage, sweet potatoes. A lot of things on there.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. So while safety with what we're eating is not only the important safety we need to look at, George, in our lives, we need to look at the safety of our information that is online.

[George Camel]

Digital safety often overlooked.

[Rachel Cruz]

I mean, for real, our personal data is all over the Internet, you guys. And if you don't know, just Google yourself and you can see and all these random websites come up and they have your name and your address, even, like, where you've worked. I mean, it's just crazy, all the information they have on you. And so that's why I love Delete Me is because they go in and remove your information. Because there are data broker websites that collect your information and then they take your information and they make money off of it because they'll sell it or trade and all this.

[George Camel]

And then what happens? You get the robocalls, the spam texts, and even worse, you could have fraud happen. And so we want to help protect you from the risks of online scams. And so check out DeleteMe. They've got a great deal for our audience. You can get 20% off any of their plans if you go to JoinDeleteMe.com. smart money. It's super affordable, and I sleep better at night and I get way fewer spam calls and robotechs. So my life is better.

[Rachel Cruz]

Your life is better.

[George Camel]

Go check them out.

[Rachel Cruz]

Make sure to check out Delete Me. All right, let's go. Let's go. Clothing. There's some crunchy people out there with clothing.

[George Camel]

Oh, this one's harder for me. Can I just tell you right now?

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, sure.

[George Camel]

I struggle with this one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Struggle meaning, like, you're not good at it or you judge people that are hardcore?

[George Camel]

No, I don't. Well, both.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, Both.

[George Camel]

Because when you think about it, when we talk about, like, fast fashion and what's happening in the factories and it's sustainably made, and I feel like that's just marketing to say we're going to charge you seven times a normal amount and make you feel bad?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes.

[George Camel]

To say that. It was sustainably made to say it.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, yeah. Just slap the label on it. Yeah. So there was an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste that ends up in US landfills every year. And that equates to 81.5 pounds of textile waste per person per year. So this fast fashion of, like, we're just gonna buy a bunch of cheap stuff, and you went buying clothes on Amazon. That's what I do. And it's like, oh, yeah. And then the next season, it's, like, out of style, so that's fine. But I only paid, like, 15 for that sweater, so it's not a big deal. Right.

[George Camel]

So you don't mind just getting rid of it, tossing it?

[Rachel Cruz]

But I don't throw it away. I mean, I give it to places or people, so hopefully it continues on, but it may end up in land.

[George Camel]

But this is a tough one.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, but here's a. Here's the fabric safety. Here's, like, the crunchy. Are you ready for this? So really crunchy people. Okay, polyester, they don't want polyester because it is a form of plastic. So if you're working out and you're sweating, it's getting into your skin and into your bloodstream. Spandex and mixed fabrics can do the same thing, can carry that same risk. So the goal is to have 100%1 material. Okay. So 100% cotton, 100 linen, denim, wool, cashmere, whatever it is. Organic cotton is better.

[George Camel]

I wear 100 denim when I work out, so it makes it easy. I don't have to think about it.

[Rachel Cruz]

So you're fine?

[George Camel]

Yeah, I threw out all my spandex. I said no more.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay. I am curious with, like, viori and Lululemon, like, all these, like, you know, workout places. I want to go look at the tags now and be like, oh, my gosh. Because I bet there is a lot of polyester.

[George Camel]

Well, again, if this says sustainably made, these clean fabrics, they're two and a half to four times more expensive on average. And so there is a price to be paid. That's. This is a. Can we just say it's a privilege to even be thinking about things like. Like, ooh, can I shop for the sustainably made, 100% organic cotton that is a luxury in today's world?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's fair. I would say that that's fair. But you know what you can do, though, is buy secondhand so you can.

[George Camel]

Find 100% cashmere sweater secondhand.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. Absolutely. At a barn website. Yep. So. So there's a way, there's a way to do it on a budget if you want. The fact that we're talking about fabrics though, do you know one of my favorite companies to buy stuff from because it's incredible.

[George Camel]

It's cozy earth, cozy earth quality.

[Rachel Cruz]

The sheets, the leggings, the joggers, the sweaters, the shirts. I mean, I have so much from them because I went and bought a bunch of stuff because it is, it's amazing. Like their bamboo stuff, especially the sheets.

[George Camel]

You don't have to worry about is this cheaply made, is it sustainable? Like it's good quality. I went to their website, Rachel. They're very transparent about how they make their stuff, the conditions. They personally ensure good working conditions. And so I really appreciate that about them. And if you wanted to get a better deal, they're giving our listeners a killer deal. Up to 40% off their prices. And they know, they're like, hey, we know that we're more expensive than the, you know, Amazon, whatever cheap thing made of polyester. But they aim for long lasting quality. You can tell that it's higher quality, it's softer, it's durable, it's so great. So it's a, it's a buy it for life kind of purchase. Especially because they have a 10 year warranty on their bedding stuff, which is amazing.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, it's incredible. Yeah. So make sure to check it out. We'll put a link down below. Or you can go to cozyeart.com shop around and then when you're check checking out, use the code smart money for a 40 off discount. So great.

[George Camel]

Be bougie. On a budget.

[Rachel Cruz]

Be bougie. All right, let's go car crunchy, shall we?

[George Camel]

Oh, I don't even know about this one.

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm so crunchy. We're crunchy.

[George Camel]

Oh, this one is.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

This one's very personal to us.

[Rachel Cruz]

It is.

[George Camel]

Because we drive electric cars.

[Rachel Cruz]

Electric cars.

[George Camel]

And people think that it's my. I guess this is me virtue signaling about climate change. Because I drive. I don't, hey, let the earth go the way it's gonna go. My car is not, it's not gonna be the thing that tips the scale.

[Rachel Cruz]

You didn't do it for that.

[George Camel]

No. Yeah, well, and I've heard it's even worse. It's not environmental because the batteries like can't go anywhere and they end up in a landfill or something. No.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay, so we're actually damaging the earth by driving Teslas. That's what you're saying.

[George Camel]

So you'll never know my politics because I don't know what my car says about me.

[Rachel Cruz]

We're not even sure. Okay. And then kid crunchy.

[George Camel]

Oh.

[Rachel Cruz]

So like we'll go cloth diapers. You know what I did with Amelia, our first is I made her. I made baby food. I pureed it. Wow. Yep.

[George Camel]

What a mom.

[Rachel Cruz]

I know. And then didn't really. With Caroline. And then Charles, it was like pouches. And.

[George Camel]

And have you seen the effect? But did you. Have you noticed a difference in like their physical health or emotional health?

[Rachel Cruz]

Nope. And I'll say this too. They were bottle fed, formula fed for. I know.

[George Camel]

They ended up great. I just think there's a lot of judgment either way.

[Rachel Cruz]

100%.

[George Camel]

Then people are judging you for not doing it this way. And I want to release especially moms. I think they're bearing the brunt of the weight of this mom guilt. And it's other moms that are judgy.

[Rachel Cruz]

So judgy.

[George Camel]

So just free yourself. Do the best you can do with the resources you have right now.

[Rachel Cruz]

And you're doing fine. And we're all gonna be okay. Like, I really, like, seriously, we're all gonna be okay. So let's just like chill, take a deep breath. And because of when we talk about comparison, especially with lifestyle and money, you know, the thing we always say, which is so true, is like you don't know what's going on. Right? Behind the scenes, you have no clue. You don't know. So we're not gonna judge.

[George Camel]

Although we do judge plastic cutting boards now. Rachel. I had to throw mine out and my non stick pans.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah, that's fair.

[George Camel]

The camel's life have changed, let me tell you. Stainless steel. They really touted stainless steel pans to be this life changing.

[Rachel Cruz]

They're hard to cook on.

[George Camel]

It is so difficult.

[Rachel Cruz]

It's so hard.

[George Camel]

Like just let it heat up and then splash, you know?

[Rachel Cruz]

I got the stone stuff on Amazon. I'll send you my link. But it's like a. Not sponsored. But it's a stone material and it. And it kind of acts like a nonstick.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

But very easy to cook on.

[George Camel]

Have you heard about the cutting boards? Now you have to go with the wood and the bamboo.

[Rachel Cruz]

I've always done wood cutting boards.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

I've never done plastic. And that was not a like specific.

[George Camel]

Apparently more can leech. And the wood has natural antimicrobial properties.

[Rachel Cruz]

Make sense. See? And that's. Okay. Can I say this?

[George Camel]

I've learned so much against my will.

[Rachel Cruz]

Those are the decisions. Those are the purchases that make sense to me. Sure. Go get a wood cutting board. Like, that's fine.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

But remember, I'm not gonna milk a cow. And just.

[George Camel]

What about microwave? Do you guys microwave anything?

[Rachel Cruz]

100%.

[George Camel]

Do you put anything plastic in the microwave?

[Rachel Cruz]

No, I usually will put it in a bowl. Yeah.

[George Camel]

Put it in a bowl for a ceramic or glass.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. Because also, my thing is, if you're taking it out of the refrigerator and it has plastic, then when you heat it, it is like, you gotta heat the whole thing. I don't know. It makes sense to me to put it in a bowl because it's more of a neutral temperature. So it's gonna heat faster than trying to heat up the whole thing with the container being cold. Like, I even do it with glass. If I have a glass Pyrex, I usually will take it out and I.

[George Camel]

Put it into a different glass and.

[Rachel Cruz]

I do it more for temperature.

[George Camel]

You really go the extra mile.

[Rachel Cruz]

How safe. I am so safe.

[George Camel]

Well, I did. So I used those microwave covers because I don't like the splash. I only use it for food that I'm eating, not for the babies. Yeah, but sometimes the paper towel doesn't do it. Depending on the food or, like, will sop into the food. That's gross. And then I heard paper towels are now bad for you.

[Rachel Cruz]

What?

[George Camel]

Rachel, I can't. I can't make this up.

[Rachel Cruz]

No, y'all stop. I love.

[George Camel]

There's, like, chemicals in the paper towel. And so as you use it on your hands and the cat.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, shoot.

[George Camel]

We can't live anymore. But I will say someone at a party accidentally turned our microwave on. It's at, like, foot level, you know, knee level.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, yeah.

[George Camel]

They turned it on with the COVID in there. The COVID melted because they accidentally put the microwave on for, like, 16 minutes and didn't know it was on until I smelled it burning plastic.

[Rachel Cruz]

No.

[George Camel]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's not good.

[George Camel]

I think I saved our life.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yes, you did, George.

[George Camel]

It's exhausting.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah.

[George Camel]

This is a lot. I'm overwhelmed.

[Rachel Cruz]

We are overwhelmed. But all that.

[George Camel]

So how do we wrap this? How do people spend?

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah. I think you can make some healthy changes that are reasonable. Right. But you always still. There's a level of reality to our money in our life, and I think it's good to know that we have to live within that. So, like, we're not going to take on debt to create some, like, crazy lifestyle that we can't afford, because that in Turn will add stress, which is not good for your health either. So let's be wise. But I do think there are great alternatives to stuff that can be similar in price and it's just a smarter choice of purchase. And I think that's great. And I'm all about that, George.

[George Camel]

So make the swaps that you can make with the budget that you have. And over time, if you want to push it to the limit, you can do that with cash as you get to a better financial place for sure. And don't judge others who can't or choose to not do the thing that you do.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, that's right. 100. Yeah. And if you need to budget, that's going to be good for your overall health, I would say, because getting control of your money and doing all of that is so key to all of this.

[George Camel]

You can make room for the things that matter to you.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. So yeah, the budget is that it is you getting to tell your income, hey, here's where I want you to go. And you get to decide that because you're an adult. So every dollar. We'll put a link down below. But you can check out our free budgeting app. Create your first budget for free and just kind of go down that road to help you make life choices and lifestyle choices that you want. Just like this.

[George Camel]

That one I think is non controversial.

[Rachel Cruz]

I hope so.

[George Camel]

That one was stressful for me. I think the comment section is going to be juicy on this one.

[Rachel Cruz]

So like again, should we say it again? We know. We know that there are bad things out there. We know for sure.

[George Camel]

And you know what?

[Rachel Cruz]

Just know that. We know that we know you know.

[George Camel]

We know you know that. We know that. We know that you're offended at everything you said.

[Rachel Cruz]

You know it all. We don't. But we know that you know that we know you know.

[George Camel]

I can't wait to get educated by a stranger's comment on the Internet. That's my favorite form of free education. They always let me know what I got wrong. My wife does it enough. I don't need to hear it from a random stranger in the comment section.

[Rachel Cruz]

All right, George. Well, before we spill the tea on our guiltiest charge segment, what's in this? Is it all chemicals in there?

[George Camel]

It's all poison?

[Rachel Cruz]

Those cherries are supposed to be terrible for you too.

[George Camel]

Yeah, those don't look like something God created, I'll tell you that much.

[Rachel Cruz]

The mint looks fresh though.

[George Camel]

Yeah, the mint looks wilty, which is how you know it's real.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, it's good. Okay. What's in it?

[George Camel]

So this is the Kentucky Flyer. I'm gonna. What's your rating on it?

[Rachel Cruz]

I'm gonna go 8 out of 10.

[George Camel]

I'm gonna go 8 out of 10 as well.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, love it. Yeah.

[George Camel]

On the same page, I want a little more complexity, but I think it's a perfect whiskey sour style drink.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's really good.

[George Camel]

It's got rye whiskey, maraschino liqueur, which is like a cherry liqueur, lemon juice, and saline.

[Rachel Cruz]

Mixologist Michael made the saline. It was like one part salt, three parts water or something. And he.

[George Camel]

It really elevates a drink. You'd be shocked because you're like, what, do you drop some salt water in there? That's odd. But really good. It comes out to 2.52 cents a glass. And highly recommend. If you like a whiskey sour, you will love this drink. It's like an elevated whiskey sour.

[Rachel Cruz]

So good.

[George Camel]

And it's up to you if you want to add in the chemical cherries.

[Rachel Cruz]

That's right. That's what you want to do. All right, George, now it's time for Guilty as charged. And this is where our producer, Kelly gives us a new Guilty as charged question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip.

[Producer Kelly]

So, Kelly, have you ever told a white lie about being crunchy or not crunchy?

[George Camel]

All right, I'll go first.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

Microplastics. We try to avoid them, and yet we still drink out of plastic water bottles every night. But when confronted. You won't catch me telling anyone that. Only on this show, in front of thousands, will I tell. But amongst my crunchy friends, like, oh, yeah, no, we. Yeah, filtered water.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, my gosh.

[George Camel]

And another thing. My wife won't. She doesn't like the dogs to drink tap water because she thinks it affects their allergies. So I have to get fridge water for the dogs. And I think she has merit to it. I'm sure she's on the right side of history here. Our dog's life could be extended by at least a few days based on the filtered water.

[Rachel Cruz]

Tap water for sure. Yep.

[George Camel]

While they eat plastic toys all day long, it's the filtered water that's gonna.

[Rachel Cruz]

Help really do it. It's gonna really do it. Digesting. Yeah. All the toys. I'm trying to think what mine would be. A white lie. I can't think of a specific one, but I'm sure I downplay things like our fast. Like fast food. Like, we don't eat a lot of it. See, I'm doing it right now. But when like, I'm like, oh, yeah, I probably don't like just like share that with the world.

[George Camel]

If I checked your bank statement, how many fast food visits would I see in a 30 day window?

[Rachel Cruz]

Four.

[George Camel]

No way. That's impressive.

[Rachel Cruz]

Probably. Yeah. I'd say at least once a week we're doing like a Chick Fil A or like a quick meal.

[George Camel]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruz]

So that's.

[George Camel]

Would you count like a drink at the Sonic Drive through? Does that.

[Rachel Cruz]

I don't do that.

[George Camel]

Oh, all of a sudden you have judgment.

[Rachel Cruz]

Do you do that?

[George Camel]

No, but I just thought that was something people do. They get the old Route 44 or.

[Rachel Cruz]

Whatever they get there. Yeah, yeah.

[George Camel]

Coconut Sunset water or whatever.

[Rachel Cruz]

They drink all this stuff. I know. All right, yeah, that'd be mine. I think we probably eat more Chick Fil A than what, like I do. You think four's a lot? When you said wow.

[George Camel]

No, I think once a week is a normal amount.

[Rachel Cruz]

Okay.

[George Camel]

I thought it would be more than that, personally.

[Rachel Cruz]

Oh, okay. That makes me feel better. Oh, yeah, that's it.

[George Camel]

Well, hey, if you guys enjoyed this episode, and I hope you did, and even if you hated it, let us know. You probably already have in the comment section. And for more budget friendly food inspo, you gotta catch our episode all about grocery hacks. It's titled the number one budget buster that no one can avoid. It's coming up next and we'll also link it down below.

[Rachel Cruz]

Yeah, so make sure to subscribe, you guys, so you don't miss an all new episode next Thursday of Smart Money Happy Hour.

[George Camel]

What's up, guys? George Camel here. I know there's lots of influencers on social media telling you which cryptocurrency to invest in for your star sign or which tech startup is definitely maybe going to be the next Microsoft. But seriously, investing can feel confusing and stressful and it doesn't have to be that way. That's why I'm pumped to be hosting Investing Essentials with the man himself, Dave Ramsey. This is a two night virtual event where we're gonna deep dive into investing. We're gonna talk about how to get the most out of your 401k and mutual funds and share strategies for staying confident in your investments. Plus, we'll give you the inside scoop on popular investment trends to follow and the ones you need to avoid. It's also the only event where you're gonna hear Dave Ramsey unpack his personal playbook for how he made millions in real estate investing. Now I know what you're thinking. How could this possibly get better? Well, it's virtual, so you don't even have to leave your house to watch. Join us live on March 4th and 5th to start investing with confidence. Tickets start at 199 bucks. Get yours at ramsaysolutions. Com events.