Vault: She Says They Complain About Money but Refuse to Budget.

Summary

The Bert Show – Vault: She Says They Complain About Money but Refuse to Budget

Date: May 22, 2026
Main Cast: Michelle, Steven, Callers

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Bert Show dives into the contrast between people's complaints about financial struggles and their continued non-essential spending. Through listener calls and candid host banter, the cast explores attitudes toward budgeting, spending habits during economic downturns, and the justification people give for maintaining a certain lifestyle despite carrying debt. The conversation also veers into the ethical (and potentially legal) gray areas of "hacking" return policies at major retailers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Complaining About Money While Still Spending

• The discussion opens with Michelle highlighting frustration over friends and acquaintances who constantly lament their financial woes but still make non-essential purchases, especially around events or social occasions.

“If you don't have money, then don't go to the mall. It's like it's that black and white.”
— Caller 1 [01:35]

• The cast and callers note how people justify relatively small purchases (like a $40 dress for an event), but when added up, these “small” splurges become significant over time.
  • “You have two big events a month and you’re only spending 40 or 60 bucks, that’s 80 or $120. And... that goes a long way.” — Caller 1 [02:25]

2. Keeping Up Appearances vs. Financial Reality

• Several callers share examples of friends who continually display new clothing or accessories, despite complaining about being broke or in debt.

  • “You can't have it both ways. You can't have the sympathy from your friends if you're complaining about being broke… Every time I see you, you’re wearing something brand new and gorgeous.” — Caller 3 [03:13, 03:37]

• Steven recounts a real-life observation at Neiman Marcus:

  • He overheard someone shopping for expensive shoes while discussing being five days late on rent and having hours cut at work. “And they both bought shoes.” [04:19]

3. Sacrifices, Reward, and Financial Discipline

• Michelle and Caller 1 discuss the need for sacrifice and delayed gratification, suggesting a “reward yourself after getting out of debt” mentality.

  • “If you have a lot of credit card debt, you should also say, okay, my reward for getting out of debt will be to go buy myself a pair of shoes…” — Caller 1 [04:27]

• Michelle quickly quips: “...to get back into debt? That’s your reward?” [04:49]

4. Exploiting Store Return Policies – Ethical or Not?

• A caller shares a “hack”: buying clothes with tags from Goodwill and returning them for store credit at major retailers (like Nordstrom) [05:04], sparking a debate about the ethics and legality of such acts.

  • “Smart. Not illegal.” — Caller 2 [05:58]
  • “Just so you know, that’s illegal.” — Steven [06:04]

• The show weighs whether this is simply using the system or outright theft, with Michelle and Steven playfully debating the moral line.

5. Consumerism in Tough Economic Times

• The conversation turns to Black Friday lines and people who claim money is tight, but still make large purchases because of discounts.

  • “Everyone’s like, oh yeah, times are tough…the economy's bad, you know, cutting hours at work. But I can get $300 off this $2,000 LCD.” — Caller 2 [07:10]

• There’s acknowledgment that, while consumer spending is important for the economy, it should be reserved for those who can afford it.

  • “I don’t discourage people from spending… but only the people that have the money.” — Caller 4 [07:29]

• The discussion shifts to employment attitudes, noting some who are struggling financially still refuse to take jobs deemed “beneath them”, reflecting on the mindset that contributes to financial hardship.

  • “Beggars can’t be choosers at this point.” — Michelle [07:54]

• Caller 1 offers insight into personal responsibility: “That’s a lot of what gets us in these situations to begin with—people want to live a certain way, but don’t necessarily want to take responsibility...” [08:08]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Harsh Truths:
  “If you don't have money, then don't go to the mall. It's like it's that black and white.” — Caller 1 [01:35]

• Observations of Contradiction:
  “Every time I see you, you’re wearing something brand new and gorgeous… you got a new handbag, new boots...” — Caller 3 [03:37]
  “She is leaving the mall and going to her mom’s house to borrow money because she’s already five days late on rent… and they both bought shoes.” — Steven [04:19]

• On Reward and Relapse:
  “Pay for it with cash instead of putting it on a credit card.” — Caller 1 [04:52]
  “As soon as I get this credit card paid off, I’m going to run it right back up again.” — Steven (sarcastic) [04:55]

• Return Policy Hack:
  “Bought a dress at Goodwill for six bucks, took it back to Nordstrom for $75 in store credit.” — Caller 2 [05:36]

• On Economic Realities:
  “Beggars can’t be choosers at this point.” — Michelle [07:54]

• The ‘$30,000 Millionaire’ Culture:
  “What do they call it? The city of $30,000 millionaires?” — Michelle [08:24]

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Segment Timestamps

• [01:31] – Main topic begins: Michelle introduces the issue of complaining about money while refusing to budget.
• [02:25] – Caller 1 details how "small splurges" add up.
• [03:13 - 03:43] – Callers and hosts discuss friends who shop despite claims of financial hardship.
• [04:10 - 04:27] – Steven shares an in-person shopping/borrowing money anecdote.
• [05:04 - 06:17] – Return policy hack and legality debate.
• [07:10 - 07:54] – Black Friday, spending priorities, and the ethics of spending in a recession.
• [08:08 - 08:24] – Responsibility and the “$30,000 millionaire” culture.

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Tone & Language

• Conversational and candid: The cast and callers speak honestly and humorously about real financial situations, punctuated by jokes, sharp observations, and occasional playful jabs.
• Judgment mixed with empathy: While frustrations over financial irresponsibility are clear, there's also empathy for the temptation of “treating oneself” and the challenges of economic hardship.

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Takeaways

• Many people continue non-essential spending even while openly lamenting financial problems, often justifying purchases through “small” price tags or special occasions.
• The show highlights the need for personal responsibility, sacrifice, and real budgeting discipline to escape debt—not just superficial or symbolic gestures.
• Ethical dilemmas emerge around “using the system” versus outright dishonesty (notably, with resale/return schemes).
• Culturally, there’s a tension between living up to social expectations and dealing honestly with one's financial reality.

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Transcript

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[Steven]

here.

[Michelle]

Birdshow so Michelle thinks some of y' all are taking taking advantage of the recession.

[Caller 1]

Yeah, I am and it's taking advantage of the recession, but in the sense of you obviously times are hard and people, you know, have their issues and they're complaining about money and not having money and so on and so forth. But I feel that if you don't have money, then don't go to the mall. It's like it's that black and white. I mean, I, I know a lot of.

[Steven]

So how are people taking advantage of it?

[Caller 1]

Well, not that it's not taking advantage of, but if you, it's like you're about a situation and you're complaining about not having Money.

[Michelle]

But you're still spending. Like, it.

[Caller 1]

Yeah, a lot of people do still spend. And I think for me, it's more of, like, the people, like, age group. I can't speak for everybody else, but the people that I know that are sometimes maybe it's younger people. I'm sure all different people do it of all different age groups, but they, you know, it's like, oh, I'm so proud. I'm so broke. Times are tough. I don't have money. I have all this credit card debt.

[Caller 2]

But.

[Caller 1]

But an event comes up or, you know, a big night happens, and they're at the mall buying an outfit. And their attitude and their justification is, well, it's only $40. I only spent $40. Or I only spent 60 bucks. But the next thing you know is when you think about if you have two big events a month and you're only spending 40 or 60 bucks, that's 80 or $120. And that's. If you're in such big credit card debt and times are so hard, that goes a long way.

[Michelle]

You must be talking about somebody specific in your life right now.

[Caller 1]

Not just someone specific. I have a couple friends who have really pulled back. I have a best friend who I'm. And she was just a big shopper, and she really wanted to get out of credit card debt. She has some goals that she wants to reach, so she really pulled back. But I also have some friends who have had, you know, have a lot of credit card debt and at this. And then they're at the mall.

[Caller 3]

Yeah, I have friends like that too. Like, where they'll talk about, like, I don't have money. I can't afford this. I can't afford that. But then, for whatever reason, they're always wearing something new, something new. New shoes, new accessories, new clothes, whatever. And, yeah, it's like, you can't have it both ways. You can't have the sympathy from your friends if you're complaining about being broke or in debt or whatever.

[Michelle]

And then you're not gonna make adjustments.

[Caller 3]

Every time. Every time I see you, you're wearing something brand new and gorgeous. And you got a new handbag and you got new boots and you got new this, new that.

[Steven]

I was actually sitting at which one is at Lenox Square. Is that Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom? I always get those two confused.

[Caller 3]

Nordstrom's at 4.

[Steven]

So it's Neiman Marcus at Lenox Square. I'm sitting in there waiting for Jessica near the Shoe Shack shoe section. And I listened to One girl tell another girl as they were shopping for shoes. And like, Neiman's, like the home of the $500 pair of shoes, right?

[Caller 3]

Oh, yeah.

[Steven]

Okay. So they're shopping for shoes, and she is saying that she is leaving the mall and going to her mom's house to borrow money because she's already five days late on rent.

[Caller 2]

And.

[Steven]

And they've cut her hours, and she just doesn't know what she's going to do. And they both bought shoes.

[Michelle]

That's exactly what you're talking about.

[Caller 1]

Exactly what I'm talking about. And I think it's just. It's a situation where in life, sometimes you have to sacrifice. If you don't have the cash, if you have a little now, you got to enjoy life. Yeah. You know, everyone deserves to buy themselves something nice once in a while. But at the same time, if you have a lot of credit card debt, you should also say, okay, once I get, my reward for getting out of debt will be to go buy myself

[Michelle]

a pair of shoes to get back into debt. That's your reward?

[Caller 1]

Pay for it with cash instead of putting on a credit card.

[Steven]

You know what? As soon as I get this credit card paid off, I'm going to run it right back up again.

[Michelle]

Hey, Steven. Good morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 2]

Hey, good morning, guys. How are y'?

[Caller 3]

All?

[Caller 2]

Good. Deal. Well, I was going to let you know that I kind of understand what you're saying, but I found the solution to that problem. If you go to Nordstrom or Macy's, they have a no names, no asks return policy for their stuff. So I went to Buford and Goodwill there and found a dress for my girlfriend that had a Nordstrom tag on it for $75, took it back, and you get a gift card with it with your name on it.

[Michelle]

Wait, let me get.

[Caller 1]

Wait. So you return it back to Nordstrom for a higher price,

[Caller 2]

dress for six bucks? Got 75 bucks off of it.

[Caller 1]

What?

[Caller 3]

How did it still have the tags on it? At A Salvation, there are tons.

[Caller 2]

I promise you, if you go to Goodwill, you can go and find tons of things with tags on Macy's, Nordstrom, Belks, all of them.

[Caller 3]

Is this Clark Howard?

[Michelle]

Is that a way to save?

[Steven]

Clark Howard doesn't commit crimes.

[Michelle]

Yeah, I was gonna say, is that a way to save or is that illegal?

[Caller 2]

Smart. Not illegal.

[Michelle]

Just using the system. He's saying he's using the system to his advantage.

[Steven]

Just so you know, that's illegal.

[Caller 3]

Is it really illegal?

[Steven]

Absolutely. You're stealing.

[Caller 1]

Take from the rich give to the poor.

[Michelle]

Cause. Yeah, you're returning an item that didn't come from the same store.

[Steven]

But actually, hold on.

[Caller 3]

It didn't come from the same store.

[Steven]

It did come from that store.

[Caller 3]

What if somebody had just given it to him rather than selling it to him? Actually, you know what, he should donate

[Caller 4]

the money to charity.

[Steven]

Let's walk through this.

[Caller 2]

I'm telling him a lie. I'm not telling them a story. I'm just simply returning it. They don't ask, they don't sell.

[Steven]

That's actually.

[Michelle]

It's just taking advantage of the system, I think. I don't think it's illegal.

[Steven]

Somebody did pay 75 bucks for that outfit, right?

[Caller 2]

Yeah.

[Steven]

Then he takes it in there, he gives them the outfit back, he gets somebody else's 75 bucks.

[Caller 4]

Yeah, we got the concept.

[Steven]

So he's stealing technically not from the store, but from the fool who donated it.

[Michelle]

This is, you know, but the system is set up to take advantage of in this case, so you can't feel.

[Caller 2]

Eh, it's recession.

[Caller 3]

Hey, what time, listener?

[Michelle]

That's his excuse.

[Caller 2]

Yeah.

[Steven]

What time do the thrift stores open? Because I think I got a dentist appointment right about when they open.

[Michelle]

Hey Mike, good Morning. You're on Q100.

[Caller 2]

Good morning.

[Michelle]

Hey.

[Caller 2]

Hey. I was just gonna say that's funny. Which I were talking about. We were just talking about this yesterday. Them showing, interviewing people in line for Black Friday. And everyone's like, oh yeah, times are tough. The economy's bad, you know, cutting hours at work. But I can get $300 off this two thousand dollar LCD.

[Michelle]

Yeah, that's what Michelle here is talking about.

[Caller 4]

That is good for the economy for everybody to spend. So I don't discourage people from spending their money, but only the people that have the money. I agree with if you're gonna. Because it's the same thing. I've known people who did get laid off and did lose their job and they year. But I have seen places that are hiring, but there are people I know that would not. It's like you can't pick and choose what job that you want to go have if you are really in tight shape.

[Michelle]

Beggars can't be choosers at this point.

[Caller 4]

You can't pass, let's say a fast food store that say hiring now. And you talk about how I have no job, I have no income, I don't know what I'm going to do.

[Michelle]

Yeah, I think that's Michelle's point is that yeah, if you're hurting than be

[Caller 1]

hurting it hurt and sacrifice and work on what you have to take care of your responsibilities. And in my opinion, that's a lot. Not that's not the sole problem, but that's a lot of what gets us in these situations to begin with is people want to live a certain way, but they don't necessarily want to take responsibility for the way that they want to live.

[Michelle]

What do they call it? The city of $30,000 millionaires?

[Steven]

Yeah, I will tell you that Michelle did get oddly quiet as that guy started to explain his buy in return thing.

[Michelle]

Did he exploit you or did he just give you an idea now?

[Caller 1]

No, I couldn't do that.

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