Affordable Gifts People Will Actually Love

Summary

The Ramsey Show: Affordable Gifts People Will Actually Love
Release Date: November 23, 2024

In this special Black Friday edition of Smart Money Happy Hour, part of The Ramsey Show, hosts George and Rachel Cruz provide listeners with insightful strategies for navigating holiday gift-giving without falling into financial pitfalls. The episode, “Affordable Gifts People Will Actually Love,” is dedicated to offering practical and thoughtful gift ideas that cater to various interests while emphasizing budget-conscious spending.

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1. Introduction to Holiday Spending Traps

The episode begins with George and Rachel addressing the common issue of overspending during the holiday season. They highlight the importance of making smart financial decisions to avoid debt accumulation post-holidays.

• Rachel: “[00:40] ...avoid that financial holiday hangover.”
• George: “[25:23] ...gift giving expectations around the holidays, it can easily get out of hand.”

2. Categorized Gift Ideas

To help listeners find the perfect gifts without overstepping their budgets, George and Rachel break down their suggestions into specific categories:

a. Wine and Cocktail Lovers

• Cocktail Shaker: Rachel recommends a cocktail shaker with a protective covering to prevent frozen hands, enhancing the mixing experience without compromising on comfort.

  • Rachel: “[07:38] There is a cocktail shaker that does not freeze your hands. It’s like a thermo thermal protective covering.”

• Vintage Cocktail Book: George suggests a vintage cocktail book, emphasizing its thoughtful nature and the nostalgic charm it brings to a cocktail enthusiast’s collection.

  • George: “[08:49] A vintage cocktail book transports you to the speakeasy days with its classy fonts and classic recipes.”

b. Cooking Enthusiasts

• High-Quality Citrus Squeezer: George highlights a premium citrus squeezer that extracts up to 20% more juice, making it a practical gift for avid cooks.

  • George: “[10:59] This high-quality citrus squeezer helps you get the most out of your citrus, perfect for those with arthritis or frequent juicers.”

• Meat Grinder: Rachel recommends a meat grinder for those who prefer finely ground beef, ideal for making homemade spaghetti sauce, tacos, or chili.

  • Rachel: “[09:28] This meat grinder finely grinds beef, perfect for recipes that require tender meat without the chunks.”

c. Tech and Gadget Lovers

• Wireless Phone Charger: Rachel endorses a wireless phone charger that offers convenience by allowing users to charge their phones without cables.

  • Rachel: “[11:42] A wireless phone charger sits on your nightstand, letting you place your phone on top for easy charging.”

• Extended Phone Charger: George suggests an extended phone charger with a longer cable for enhanced flexibility around the home.

  • George: “[12:15] Life’s too short to be rocking a three-foot iPhone cable. Upgrade to an extended charger for convenience.”

d. Kids

• Kid Digital Camera: Rachel talks about affordable digital cameras designed for kids, emphasizing the fun and creativity they inspire despite their low quality.

  • Rachel: “[13:50] These kid digital cameras are inexpensive but provide instant gratification, allowing kids to enjoy taking and viewing their own photos.”

• Cash Gifts: George reminisces about receiving a $50 bill as a child and suggests giving crisp $20 bills to older children as a timeless gift.

  • George: “[14:35] Giving a crisp $20 bill is nostalgic and teaches kids the value of money as they grow older.”

e. Parents and Grandparents

• Massage Gun (Theragun): George recommends massage guns as excellent gifts for grandparents, noting their effectiveness and range of options.

  • George: “[15:42] A Theragun is a fantastic gift for parents and grandparents, offering a range of massage options to relieve muscle tension.”

• Cooling Neck Fan: Rachel introduces the cooling neck fan, useful for outdoor events, though she admits it might not appeal to everyone’s fashion sense.

  • Rachel: “[16:37] Neck fans are great for keeping cool at outdoor events, though they might look a bit quirky in everyday settings.”

f. Experience and Sentimental Gifts

The hosts advocate for experience-based gifts over material items, emphasizing shared memories and personal connections.

• Concert Tickets: George and Rachel share personal experiences of gifting concert tickets, highlighting how such gifts create lasting memories.

  • George: “[18:35] Gifting concert tickets is a wonderful way to create shared experiences without the financial burden of material gifts.”

• Cooking or Cocktail Classes: They suggest classes as a fun and interactive gift option that fosters learning and bonding.

  • Rachel: “[18:41] A pasta making or cocktail class is a unique experience that couples can enjoy together.”

g. White Elephant Gifts

White elephant gifts add a fun and competitive element to holiday gatherings. George and Rachel offer creative yet affordable options.

• Milk Frother: George recommends a milk frother, perfect for those who enjoy making coffee beverages at home.

  • George: “[20:13] A milk frother is an affordable and practical gift, great for making delicious coffee drinks.”

• Scratch Tickets: Rachel suggests scratch tickets for their element of surprise and potential rewards, adding a playful twist to gift exchanges.

  • Rachel: “[21:15] Scratch tickets introduce a fun game element to white elephant exchanges, making the gift-giving process more engaging.”

h. Thoughtful 'Take a Hint' Gifts

These are practical gifts that subtly address the recipient’s needs or habits.

• Apple AirTag: George recommends AirTags for tracking belongings, a thoughtful gift for those who frequently misplace items.

  • George: “[22:58] An Apple AirTag is perfect for tracking keys, phones, or even luggage, adding convenience to daily life.”

• Personalized Items: Rachel emphasizes the value of personalized gifts, such as custom yard signs or photo sessions, which add a personal touch.

  • Rachel: “[24:29] Personalized yard signs or handmade calendars are sentimental gifts that show thoughtfulness and care.”

3. Budgeting Tips for Holiday Gifts

George and Rachel stress the importance of setting clear budgets to manage holiday spending effectively.

• George: “[26:39] Stay under control by setting a separate budget for Christmas gifts, ensuring you don’t go into debt.”
• Rachel: “[26:52] Using budgeting tools like EveryDollar helps allocate specific amounts per person, maintaining financial discipline.”

They recommend using budgeting apps to track expenses and set limits, ensuring that gift-giving remains enjoyable without financial strain.

4. Personal Experiences and Relationship Dynamics

The hosts share personal anecdotes about the challenges of gift-giving, especially regarding expectations and reciprocation.

• George: “[28:08] I’ve lied about not having a gift to avoid feeling bad, which is a common situation among friends who are frequent gift-givers.”
• Rachel: “[29:05] Sometimes receiving unexpected gifts creates pressure, but honest communication can alleviate this stress.”

They encourage setting boundaries and having open conversations about gift expectations to foster healthier relationships and reduce financial pressure.

5. Closing Thoughts and Recipe Sharing

To wrap up, George shares a festive mocktail recipe, the Red Sands Gria, offering listeners a practical and enjoyable addition to their holiday gatherings.

• George: “[31:15] The Red Sands Gria is a mix of pomegranate juice, grape juice, tart cherry juice, coconut water, orange juice, and lime juice, perfect for holiday celebrations at just $1.56 per glass.”

Rachel and George conclude by reiterating the importance of thoughtful, budget-friendly gift-giving, ensuring that the holiday season remains joyful and financially manageable.

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Notable Quotes:

• Rachel: “[00:40] ...avoid that financial holiday hangover.”
• George: “[08:49] ...a vintage cocktail book … transports you.”
• George: “[12:15] Life’s too short to be rocking a three-foot iPhone cable. Upgrade to an extended charger for convenience.”
• Rachel: “[25:34] ...the last thing you want is to kick off the new year financially behind …”
• George: “[31:15] It’s $1.56 per glass ... great batch recipe for the holidays.”

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Conclusion

In “Affordable Gifts People Will Actually Love,” George and Rachel Cruz expertly blend practical gift ideas with essential budgeting advice, providing listeners with the tools to enjoy a joyful holiday season without financial stress. By focusing on thoughtful and affordable options, they ensure that gift-giving remains a source of happiness rather than burden.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, it's George here with my friend and co host Rachel Cruz.

[B]

You're probably used to hearing our voices on the Ramsey show, but did you know that we're also co hosts of another show?

[A]

That's right. Every week we're dropping episodes with unfiltered talk about money, pop culture and more on Smart Money Happy Hour.

[B]

And today we're sharing a special Black Friday edition episode of Smart Money Happy Hour right here for Ramsay show listeners.

[A]

To be diving into some of the biggest holiday spending traps and sharing our top tips to stay out of debt while still enjoying the season.

[B]

So if you're ready to make smart money moves and avoid that financial holiday hangover, tune in.

[A]

Okay, here's the episode.

[B]

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

[A]

Cheers.

[B]

Oh, so refreshing.

[A]

I am thankful for this training.

[B]

Let's just be thankful all around. 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.

[A]

And today we're talking about the gift of gifts. We're leaning into the holiday cheer.

[B]

So great. Because today, George, right now, if you are watching when this episode releases, it.

[A]

Is Thanksgiving and we're not with our families. We're here for you. That's how much we care about you guys. And I hope you're with people that you love doing things that you love. Maybe you're in a car, maybe you're avoiding family. I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, maybe they're traveling to grandmother's house down the highway.

[A]

This thing's this little Red Riding Hood, I don't know.

[B]

And you're like listening to us while the kids are watching something in the back. Thank you. Or maybe you're up in a bedroom at your in laws trying to just get away from the craziness and you just need a little, a little light hearted cheer and you've turned us on.

[A]

We're going to bring either way.

[B]

Happy Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving. Do you?

[A]

I'm a fan. There's something that's, I don't know, that's not dramatic, it's not stressful. Christmas feels a little more stressful because.

[B]

We'Re about to get into Christmas and we're going to talk about gift giving in this episode. So we have you covered.

[A]

But you're not calling like a whole bunch of gifts. You're just like bringing something to the dinner. Maybe like a bottle of wine, some.

[B]

Food, just a good meal. So what Are we sipping on.

[A]

George, we're talk of wine. This is a mocktail. It's called a Red Sands Gria. You like the pun there?

[B]

Sands. Love it.

[A]

So there's no alcohol in this, but if you. This is a great one to make on Thanksgiving. Honestly. Yeah. So if you need a drink tonight, you're going to get the recipe in the show notes and the rating and the cost per glass at the end of the episode.

[B]

So delicious. Okay, George, it's Thanksgiving. So what is one thing you're thankful for?

[A]

Recently? I think my daughter is the most recent thing I'm grateful for. And watching Whitney be the most amazing mom. I tell her all the time, she's great. I tell Mia, I'm like, you have the most amazing mom who cares about you so much. Every decision has so much thought. And yeah, I'm grateful for them as a package. Package deal.

[B]

Yeah, a package deal. My girls, your family. Your family.

[A]

How about you?

[B]

I love it. I'll be the same vein, I think. Family.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The kids, Winston, Our little nuclear family. Extended family is great too. Love y'all.

[A]

I never heard the nuclear. I never hear it spoken like that.

[B]

Oh, just like our little nuclear nuclear family. Like our little. They're still the little Winston Cruises. Yeah. But I would say that, you know, it's a. It's a big deal. It's things that you take for granted sometimes, the day to day. That's why like Thanksgiving kind of causes you to pause and be like, man.

[A]

Do you guys go around the table and do like a.

[B]

Here's you with the Ramses. Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And talk about what we're grateful for.

[A]

That's really nice.

[B]

Yeah, that's like a Sharon tradition.

[A]

And we're headed to Boston for the holidays to be with my family, so. That'll be nice, hauling a one year old.

[B]

This is a great place to be, Thanksgiving. It's very historical. It is around that time of fall.

[A]

It's been said Boston is a very historical place. And it'll be a nice, chilly New England fall vibe.

[B]

So good.

[A]

Another thing I'm grateful for, especially this year, is when people actually know how to give gifts that aren't a complete waste of money.

[B]

Oh.

[A]

And I know that sounds ungrateful, but I just. I'm tired of just stuff for the sake of stuff.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If you're gonna do a gift, make it thoughtful. But also, I don't wanna have to read your mind. So we're gonna help these people today.

[B]

Everyone listening and watching because Black Friday is tomorrow and the shopping Starts if it's not already done. It's getting completed probably in the next week or two. And yeah, we're gonna help you out because gifts are fun. Are you a great gift giver? Is that like a strength of yours?

[A]

No, I'm great at. If you tell me what you want, I will find you the best deal on that gift.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Under bud, for sure.

[A]

So that is my spiritual gift.

[B]

Love that.

[A]

It's not the thing. It's getting the deal on the thing so that you don't get screwed.

[B]

What a gift. That is a gift that keeps on giving.

[A]

Resourcefulness, you know?

[B]

And I'm not a great gift giver either, and I wish I was. Cause people that are, and they get you that thing, they're like, well, you said this, you know, like, three months ago, and I just thought, oh, my gosh. And you're like, oh, my gosh.

[A]

You mentioned it in conversation, and I picked up on it.

[B]

Yes. I wish I was better at that, but I'm not. I'm not. What's, like, the best gift you've ever received?

[A]

Oh, my goodness. That's a big question. I think childhood comes to mind because as an adult, there's less. I don't know, there's less excitement around opening a gift. It's like, cool, I could have bought this. But thank you for buying it.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

As a kid, the two best things I ever got were an electric guitar.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And a video camera. So I think it was like fourth grade and fifth grade.

[B]

Oh, that's fun.

[A]

Those really, like, shaped who I am, you know what I mean? Like, I was a musician and I started bands, and I was in film, and I wanted to go into film. I still love video. I'm on video today. So those are the most formative gifts that meant the most and probably were not cheap. Like, I'm thinking back, I'm like, to buy a kid back then, it was like $700 for a video camera.

[B]

Sure. And I was like, I want it. I want a video camera.

[A]

Yeah. How about you?

[B]

I remember getting a boombox. Yes. That was a big deal because I had a CD player and a cassette tape, and it was like, all in one. And you could just pick it up with the handle and I would carry with the radio. Yeah.

[A]

We were recording songs from the radio onto the cassette.

[B]

Play and record at the same time, and it was great. We got a puppy for Christmas one year.

[A]

Oh, that's fun. When you were kids or as adults?

[B]

Yeah, when we were kids.

[A]

That's fun. And it's come full circle.

[B]

Came in the box.

[A]

And you have puppies at your home right now.

[B]

I do. And actually this week, they're going off to their homes. I know.

[A]

Sweet.

[B]

I know. We had six puppies, and they are now all across the country now.

[A]

You're giving the gift. You're getting paid for it. But still, what a gift it is. What a gift it is to bring home a puppy.

[B]

I know. Yep. Okay, so, George, there's all these different types of gifts that we can give. And so, again, I think it's important to help all of you out there, have gifts that, like, are practical, because when we're adults, you know, there's the sentimental gifts. Winston's a good gift giver. He'll do, like, jewelry. Like, I got another wedding band for last anniversary. Like, there's, like, sweet gifts that mean a lot, but there's also the practical gifts that can go a long way with people. And you have different people in your life that value different things, are interested in different things. And we're gonna be here for the people, George.

[A]

We're gonna curate the best gift list you've ever seen in your entire life.

[B]

All right.

[A]

For free.

[B]

And we each have our own. Under these lists, you can tell whose gift is who.

[A]

If we just told you what they are.

[B]

Are you ready? We got the wine and cocktail lovers. So there is a cocktail shaker. And I will give Courtney the cheese gal credit because I follow her. And there is a cocktail shaker.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

That does not freeze your hands. It's like a thermo thermal.

[A]

Got it.

[B]

There's like a protective covering because we have a cocktail shaker. When you shake it so much with ice, you like, your hands get. They're frozen.

[A]

Because it's just a straight up metal shaker.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right. That's right.

[A]

Or stainless steel.

[B]

Yes. But this has, like, a protective covering over it so your hands never get cold.

[A]

Do you know what type of shaker you have? Is it like the Boston Shaker that has two pieces that you sort of stick on top diagonally a little bit? No. Or is it that has a top and a lid and a strainer?

[B]

Yep. But the top is also a measuring.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Which is great, too. So two in one. It's fantastic.

[A]

You know the brand.

[B]

I'll link it down below.

[A]

Oh, that's right. We should tell the people we're going to link all of this.

[B]

Yeah, we'll link all of it. So check it out. You don't have to just. It's a great one if you have a wine or a cocktail.

[A]

This one, I think is very thoughtful. And I've given this gift to cocktail lovers in my life. And that is a vintage cocktail book. So you can go on ebay and search for like 1950s or vintage cocktail book or a secondhand bookstore sometimes will have these. And there's something about, like a classic vintage cocktail book and making a drink out of that that transports you. I think that's what a good drink does. And I think the old timey drinks are so cool.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Like the speakeasy days even, like the fonts were cool. Everything was just like classy.

[B]

I know when go back to like, what, the 30s, 20s. So fun.

[A]

So that's a thoughtful gift. That's not your standard. I'm going to go buy a cocktail book on Amazon.

[B]

So good. All right, next is for the people who love to cook in your life. My favorite cooking utensil, and I use it probably twice a week. It is a meat grinder. It's actually, I think, a pampered chef, but I'm sure there's like an Amazon dupe. But the way it is, it's like a spatula, but it's up and it has these, like, grooves in it. But you. You spin it in your ground beef and it makes the finest, like, Taco Bell fine ground beef.

[A]

So you're recreating Taco Bell meat at home.

[B]

That's what we're going for, but with real meat. It is what we're going for with real meat.

[A]

How cool is that?

[B]

But it makes it really thin. Cause when I do spaghetti sauce or tacos or chili or all that, I don't like chunky chunks of meat. Like, I'm not a meatball fan. I know.

[A]

I didn't know that about you.

[B]

Yeah. I don't need like a chunk of meat.

[A]

I gotta cancel the gift I got you.

[B]

I'm a meatball maker.

[A]

Just a meatball maker.

[B]

Yep. So this finely grounds your ground beef, and it is fantastic. Not expensive. It's wonderful.

[A]

Can I ask a dumb question?

[B]

Sure.

[A]

Why do you like burgers? Isn't that just a meatball that has been flattened?

[B]

You know what? That is true, George. Fair. But I actually like my burgers more thin.

[A]

I don't like, like a smash patty.

[B]

Yes. Smash burgers all day. I don't like, like mom and dad when they cook burgers at their house. It's like really thick and I don't like that. I don't like the, like, it's like a Ball of meat on a burger and it just. It doesn't work. So you got to put your thumb in. I've learned that trick. You know, it kind of spreads it out too.

[A]

High on the top and round.

[B]

Yeah. Dave and Sharon's high.

[A]

Just like a Dave and Sharon. If you're listening, I just want to say I'll be happy to show up and eat your delicious burger instead of Rachel, who's ungrateful.

[B]

I know. So, no, I don't like it. Like, I don't like when it's thick like that. It's not good. It's so thin, thin, thin. So Maybe I like McDonald's just thin, thin, low quality.

[A]

That's what Rachel's here for.

[B]

That's what I'm here for.

[A]

Wispy. My gift for people who love to cook. A high quality citrus squeezer. Underrated.

[B]

Oh, good one.

[A]

Cause most people have these dinky citrus squeezers they've had forever. And I got one, I believe it was on Amazon. It has like a metal extra piece and you get 20% extra juice.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

And so I like to get the most out of my citrus.

[B]

100%.

[A]

So this is a great gift. Still squeezing limes with your, like, arthritis ridden hands. It's time to upgrade.

[B]

Okay, where do you get yours? Is it like on Amazon?

[A]

Yeah, mine was from Amazon.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But I remember the selling point was up to 20% more juice. And I was like, you had me.

[B]

You got me. You got me on that investment.

[A]

And most people, they don't have a good one. And that's what makes it a great gift.

[B]

Yes, that's fair. That's fair. All right, next is for the tech and gadget lovers out there. One of my favorite things, George, is a wireless phone charger.

[A]

Oh, where did you just put it on the back of the phone?

[B]

Yep. I have it on my nightstand. Now, I will say there may be an atm.

[A]

There's still a wire involved, but that's fair.

[B]

It is plugged in. Connected to your phone, not connected to your phone. You just lay it on top. But you gotta wait for the green to light up. Cause there have maybe like 10 times where you think it's charging and it's not. And that's a bummer. So you do have to, like, watch for it.

[A]

My beef with those is you can't have a phone case that is blocking the back.

[B]

I have a phone case.

[A]

What does yours look like? But that's not blocking. Like if you have a wallet on the back or something like that.

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Yours is clean.

[B]

Yep. But you just set it right there and it. Yeah.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So great.

[A]

Well, my gift is tied to that for the tech lovers out there. And that's an extended phone charger, so we're talking like a six footer now.

[B]

That is nice.

[A]

You can get these cheap on Amazon. You can get a pack of them. They even have like a 12 if you really need a long. If this is going around a couch or something, you can get them even longer. But I think it's. We live in a world where. Why are you reaching over to use your phone?

[B]

That's fair. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Life's too short to be rocking the, like, three foot iPhone cable.

[B]

Yeah, we don't need to do that.

[A]

I went home, I saw my dad's iPhone cable. All of the metal was showing from inside the wire. Like, all of them. Yeah.

[B]

Upgrade, mister.

[A]

Like, the rubber was, like, all coming off and I went, dude, you need a better cable. So at that Christmas, I got them upgraded iPhone cables.

[B]

That's a great.

[A]

It's one of those things you're just like, I'm not gonna go get new iPhone cables. It's working. It's fine. I'm like, why are you risking getting electrocuted over this?

[B]

Yeah, life is too short. That's good. I like that one, George. All right, next is for your kids. Okay. So this was a gift both of my girls got at different times, and they. They just love it so much. It's so funny to me. And it's so cheap. Like, you can get a really cheap one on Amazon, but it's a kid digital camera. And so, like, I. It's just like this, like, little cheap digital camera. And it's terrible quality. I mean, like, you could barely see it, but it has like a unicorn case on it. I mean, it's just like this cheap little thing, but they wear it around their neck and they'll, like, literally wear it out. Like, they think it's so cool to take pictures and, like, have a screen. Probably because they don't have, like, phones and stuff. But they just. They loved it. And it's like 20 bucks. But yeah. So if you have, like, a older.

[A]

Kid, how do you get the photos? Forgive my ignorance.

[B]

I don't even think you do. I mean, I think it's just the.

[A]

Fact they don't know. They don't get.

[B]

I'm sure there's a card. I'm sure there's some, like, like an SD card. South Dakota US I was gonna say USPS card.

[A]

Not a usps.

[B]

Whatever that card is in there, I'm sure you can take it out. But they don't even want the pictures. It's just the idea that they get to, like, have this instant gratification of their own. Like, I get to take a picture and it shows up.

[A]

They got to be artists and creative.

[B]

And have some fun, and they think it's like, so fun.

[A]

I like that one.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

It's cheap, but yeah, it's fun.

[A]

I go with a timeless gift for kids. And I blocked this. Depends on age. This is not for a two year old, but as they get older, there's something about a crisp $20 bill that just. You protected.

[B]

Yes, George, let's get a little bit more crazy.

[A]

And as they get older, can I tell you, one of my uncles would always give me a $50 bill. And it's so rare, even back then, that I would see a $50 bill. So it was like life changing to me, both the amount of money and just seeing the bill I protected that thing with all my life.

[B]

Where is it now?

[A]

And that's the most memorable. I spent it.

[B]

Yeah, bet you did.

[A]

Probably on a Game Boy or something back then.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

But, you know, you can do this in different ways or you can put it in the piggy bank or college fund or whatever. But I like this one. It's a crowd pleaser.

[B]

Speaking of just cash and money for teens, you know, the big thing is gas gift cards.

[A]

So as we get to driving age.

[B]

Yep. And so that's what I've heard from a lot of people, because no one.

[A]

Wants to spend money on gas. So it's a nice blessing to be like, hey, I don't have to think about it. It's not coming out of my bank account. That's a good.

[B]

Right? That's right.

[A]

And I mean, gift cards are a great one for teens. Cause, you know, that's really what they want. Amazon, Target, wherever their favorite store is, Starbucks. I don't know where they get coffee these days. These kids out here. These kids out here getting their mocha lattes.

[B]

All right, Parents and grandparents. You know what's a good one is a thero gun. Therogun.

[A]

Theragun.

[B]

Theragun.

[A]

The massage gun. That's like, yes. Yeah, I've got one of those. I never use it, but I need to because I pulled a muscle on my shoulders sleeping last night as one day.

[B]

They're great and my parents love them. So, like, it's a good. It's a good grandparent gift.

[A]

Yeah. And you Could. There's a range of, you know, budgetary options here. You can get the cheaper one on Amazon. You can spring for the nicer one.

[B]

That's anything from. From Brookstone. Remember Brookstone? That store?

[A]

Yep.

[B]

A massage chair. Has anyone. Did you know anyone that owns one of those actual massage chairs, like, in their house? No.

[A]

I was at someone's house once. It was, like, a relative, like, a friend of a relative, and they had, like, a. Like, one of those $4,000 massage chairs, really nice ones. And I was like, I get it. This is what we did get from my mom is like, the foot. You put your feet in it. Like, you can add water, and it's almost foot massager type thing. So she appreciated that. That was a good one. The new one is the neck fans. They're like the cooling neck fan thing. Have you seen people wear these?

[B]

Yes. They wear them a lot at sport. Oh, Kelly's a fan. Yeah. You love it.

[A]

You see them at Disney World and the summertime at the games and all that. Do they work?

[B]

They really do.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It keeps you cool. It just kind of, like, I wasn't sold on it. It's like, this is kind of cheesy, but it was when it was so hot over 4th of July weekend, and we were doing the whole firework thing, and, man, love it.

[A]

Wow. I want to try it, but truthfully, they just look dorky. And I'm not like. It's not like I'm too cool for it. I just. I feel like I just get made fun of. If I wore.

[B]

There was a certain look when you wear a neck fan.

[A]

If I wore one into the office, I'd never hear the end of it.

[B]

No, you wouldn't. You gotta do it. Outdoor events, George.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Don't go to many of those, but it's good. All right. So when you are married, your spouse, do you guys do Christmas gifts?

[A]

We decided, I think, pretty soon into our marriage that we were not gonna get Christmas gifts for each other. It was already a stressful time, a lot going on, so we decided to just say no to that.

[B]

Same here. Yeah, we don't do.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah, we don't do Christmas gifts anymore.

[A]

Where do you get gifts for each other? Like, what are the occasions? Anniversary. Is it birthday?

[B]

Yeah, anniversary. We'll do stuff. Birthday every now and then. But we're not. Neither of us are, like, really big gift people.

[A]

Yeah. We stopped anniversary, too, for the most part. We decided we'd rather have an experience together, like a really nice meal versus, like, I Bought her a thing or jewelry.

[B]

Totally.

[A]

And so birthdays are the only one that we really go. I want to get her something fun and sweet.

[B]

Yep. I did get Winston early on. Gosh. I think this was before kids. Gavin DeGraw tickets.

[A]

Wow. Is that his favorite artist?

[B]

He does love Gavin. The piano part of Gavin.

[A]

He's very talented.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yeah. What is the other part of Gavin?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

He likes the piano. Smashes the ivories there.

[B]

And it was. And it is fun when you know there's something that they would love and you surprise them with it. It's like, that's a fun. That's a fun gesture, for sure. So the surprise element is so fun.

[A]

And I feel like we're leaning toward experiences more than stuff these days. So a concert for an artist they love, that's a good one.

[B]

But you can get creative. I mean, in the experiences, you know, you can do like a pickleball lesson or a pasta making class, like, or.

[A]

A cocktail making class. That's amazing.

[B]

And that would be fun. Yes. But to do something together, I think.

[A]

It'S always exciting in, like, subscription boxes or, like a coffee subscription where they get a new local bag or whatever.

[B]

You know, your level of connection actually does go up when you have a shared experience together. Dr. Les Parrot, when we do money and marriage together, he would talk about that. That studies show from, like, even, you know, brain activity when you're doing something with someone. That's why on the Bachelor, you know.

[A]

That show, they always do something they do crazy. They have to, like, like bungee jumping. There it is.

[B]

Yes. Did you say that, too?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Jinx.

[A]

Yummy Coke.

[B]

Yummy Coke. But they do this, like, crazy shared experience together, and it bonds them.

[A]

What's the craziest thing, like, experience you and Winston have done that you feel like was bonding?

[B]

Oh, that's a great question. We've, like, hiked. I'm trying to think if we've done like a. Like a really high thing. Like the heights thing is always like.

[A]

A. Oh, you're both a little.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Leery of heights.

[B]

Don't care for the heights. Geez, George. I'm not sure you.

[A]

You guys. Well, I can think of one for you. You guys went to Seattle to see Taylor Swift.

[B]

Oh, yeah. That's scary, though.

[A]

No, but I feel like that's a bonding experience.

[B]

Oh, totally.

[A]

Winston wearing the T. Swift. He enjoyed it more than you did secretly.

[B]

Yeah, he was. He was. He was confused half the time of, like, what is happening around here? But it was so Funny.

[A]

Well, the fans are the confusing. You're like, what? They're on something.

[B]

Oh, it's like a whole other.

[A]

This is a spiritual experience for them.

[B]

Oh, for sure, for sure. So much. So, so much. All right, the next one, which I think is always a fun one, is like, the white elephant gift.

[A]

Oh, I love these.

[B]

This is just like the random kind of, like, less expensive. What's the thing that you love?

[A]

If I could do this for all Christmases, for all families, I would. I think it would just relieve the pressure. Everyone would be under budget. Because we're not all everyone. Buying a gift for every single person. And what do you want? Well, hers is $200. I'm tired of that.

[B]

For sure.

[A]

I love the idea of the white elephant dirty Santa gift swap.

[B]

So fun. Okay, so what I would buy is a milk frother.

[A]

Oh, that's a good one.

[B]

It's about 10 bucks. Yeah, my kids use it to, like, make chocolate milk. Like, they'll, like, put chocolate syrup and milk, and they'll do that. Winston uses it for, like, milk, for coffee and all of that. It's just a great little gadget to have.

[A]

I use it all the time. And I use it for. My new thing is instant coffee.

[B]

Wait, Keurig.

[A]

No, Trader Joe's has an instant coffee. So it's ground coffee. It's instant. All you do is mix it with water or milk, and I use the little frother, and it foams up.

[B]

George, I feel like that's, like, below you.

[A]

I thought so, too, but I found a recipe that makes it bougie, where you add some brown sugar in there with some coffee, and it's becomes this very decadent experience.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

I know.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

So there you go. A frother. My white elephant go to. This is gonna sound unlike me. Scratch tickets. I don't recommend people play the lottery, but I think for, like, a fun gift that we all do together, you.

[B]

Get a stack of them and just see it if you make some.

[A]

Yeah, I did it for the cousins one year. Cause we were all, like, grown adults buying each other gift cards for the same amounts. And I was like, this isn't fun. So I bought the crossword one. That's like $5.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it takes, like, 20 minutes to cross off every single letter and see if you got any words did people get sent. And some people won, like, 20 bucks off a $5 crossword. So you never know.

[B]

It's fun. It's kind of a little game element to it.

[A]

Exactly. There's some competition there. So that's a fun one that maybe you don't. You didn't think of Ramsay when you thought scratch tickets.

[B]

No, you did not. No, I did not. All right. I love the take a hint kind of gift.

[A]

What's that mean?

[B]

It's like when people, like, give you, like, a vacuum cleaner. Like, hey, you probably need to let.

[A]

Your house is disgusting.

[B]

Or like, I don't know, whatever it is. Some extra sponges because yours are gross. Like, whatever. The thing is, it's like, here's like a little. So there's a couple of those. I mean, like, the total money makeover book could be that. Oh, and the great thing is, George, the Total money makeover book is one of our Black Friday sales here at Ramsey Solutions. And actually, all the books are your books. My books. So go to Ramsaysolutions.com, make sure to check it out, because we have some great deals this Christmas on all of our products. So they actually make really great gifts. That's not just a hint of like, hey, you should do better with your money, but it actually will help people.

[A]

And you can pair it with little $20 bill in chapter one as a little surprise. Maybe stick around you do you. That's good.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

I've got one that's practical for people who lose everything that you love. And that's an apple air tag or any of these tags that track things.

[B]

That's good.

[A]

Track your kids, track your phones, track your keys. I've got it everywhere.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

So I think I love an airtag.

[B]

We put that in our suitcases sometimes.

[A]

Here's a take the hint gift. Bought someone a fridge.

[B]

What?

[A]

Because when we'd go, we'd go hang out and there would be a cooler that stored everything. And it was kind of a nightmare.

[B]

Oh, my gosh.

[A]

To just store everything in this cooler in the garage. So we're like, let's just go in and get a fridge so that whenever we're over there, we can.

[B]

What a gift store.

[A]

Our crispy boys. You know, I love a little sparkling water.

[B]

Yeah, people, I need a cold. I'm sure everyone appreciates that.

[A]

Have you realized that you cannot drink room temperature sparkling water?

[B]

See, I actually kind of like it when my topo chicos go kind of like just room temperature does not bother me.

[A]

Why?

[B]

I don't know. It kind of like heats everything up when it goes down. It's kind of nice.

[A]

You need help. It's kind of get you a better help subscription kind of nice. That's a good one.

[B]

All right. Here's for some gifts for the person that has it all is. You got to go sentimental. You gotta. You gotta go like the picture out. The homemade calendar.

[A]

So this is like a Dave Ramsey. That's who I think of. Like the person who has it all.

[B]

What am I gonna buy? Dave Ramsay handprints from all the grandkids. I got my par for their lake house. A yard. Like a sign in the yard. And it had these like wooden arrows pointing different ways. And one said like Mimi's kitchen. And it points inside the house. Papa Dave's dock. It goes that way. The dog park. Because they have this big dog and.

[A]

It'S customized for the.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. I got off Etsy and I was like, that's a great gift.

[A]

That's a good one.

[B]

That they can. Yeah. Put in the yard at the lake.

[A]

So personalized, like getting the socks with a picture of their dog on it.

[B]

It was so fun.

[A]

That's a fun. Or their kids on it. That's a fun one.

[B]

That's a good one.

[A]

Handwritten notes, homemade artwork, a book about something that they're interested in. A photo session with the family. Something that's a little more felt and personal or an experience. If you know they're into art. Let's get them a membership to the art gallery in town or museum or a spa visit.

[B]

Uh huh.

[A]

That's a good one, guys.

[B]

I don't think that's very sentimental though.

[A]

Well, it's thoughtful for someone who could use a de stressor maybe. So moms.

[B]

Moms on the moms out there.

[A]

I think Whitney would take a spa gift card. So those are some really thoughtful gifts that I don't think are a waste of money and people will actually appreciate them and not return them. We've all been there.

[B]

Hope we helped you guys out.

[A]

Return the gifts.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I think gift giving expectations around the holidays, it can easily get out of hand. And the last thing you want is to kick off the new year financially behind resentful in debt. So please don't do that.

[B]

Yeah. And I think like ask why are we doing this? Right. If you're all adults buying adults gifts in the family, like just ask, have a hard conversation. Do we like really need to be doing this right? Or if there was a certain dollar amount that was always spent. Like question why or is your motivation so people, you know, could see all of this and how fun it is? Like, like just again the motivation and. And challenging. What used to be the norm I.

[A]

Think is really good setting the boundaries, because today's a good day to set them. Don't wait until Christmas to then get results.

[B]

Genuinely were like, I hope someone else speaks up. Right. And you could be the hero.

[A]

Just say, hey, can we limit the gifts? No. No gifts over $50 or whatever the limit is. We're gonna draw names, and you're each.

[B]

Gonna get one person so much better.

[A]

And I love the question that you have people ask before they buy something.

[B]

Oh, that if nobody sees this purchase, do I still want it?

[A]

There it is.

[B]

Yeah, that's a good one. That's true for. Yeah.

[A]

Because honestly, a lot of the times around the holidays, I'll buy things for myself. There's a piece of me that's like, well, it's a really good deal. I might as well stock up. So there's a piece that we gotta also look in the mirror.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And stay under control.

[B]

Don't shop for yourself. This is the season to give.

[A]

Yeah. And that's where the budget comes in handy. And I love. I'll make a little budget separately for Christmas and go, all right, here's what we're gonna spend on each person, and I'm gonna make sure we stay under that budget.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And everydollar is a great way to do that. This is our budgeting app. You can set all of your line items for each person. You can have one line item for all of Christmas.

[B]

Yeah. I do a Christmas one, and then I go into my notes app and have everyone's in there and drag and drop all the transactions into that one. Or if you even want to be more detailed, list everybody out in everydollar for December.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And you can have it all there. Or November if you're shopping.

[A]

And that's what I love about everydollar is you just. You can duplicate November, and then you can make tweaks to December, add all the people, and then in January, delete those categories, and then you're done and you've moved on without debt. So please don't go into debt for any gifts for anyone for any reason. Not worth it.

[B]

We'll put a link down below so you can check out everydollar, if you haven't already. Well, all right, George. It's almost the end of the episode, and we close out every episode with 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. So, Kelly, all right. Have you ever been given a gift by someone and you didn't have one for them, so you lied about not having it by saying like, oh, I left your gift at home, or that kind of thing so that you don't feel bad. I've done that.

[A]

This happens with friends that I realize are gift givers and I'm not. And then I realize, oh, like, I have to reciprocate. This can't be a one way street. So there's been. I have.

[B]

Do you always reciprocate? Because I have learned throughout the years I'll just receive and just say thank you and not feel the pressure. But I feel like I used to feel. And I would write their name down and be like, I have to buy them something.

[A]

Well, how random are these people? That's the question.

[B]

Yeah, some of them. I think a couple have been like, oh, my gosh. Like, yeah, I was not expecting a gift from this person.

[A]

Yeah. Well, do you give, like, do you give and receive gifts from friends around Christmas?

[B]

No, not a ton. We've kind of stopped doing that. I feel like we did that more when we were younger. That's kind of stopped more. But I'll feel like I'll randomly get a gift and I'm like, oh, crap. Like, I gotta do something.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, no, I've been there. I can think of two friends in particular who are really good friends, but I didn't know we were like, at.

[B]

We'Re not like, giving gifts for Christmas kind of friends. Yeah, totally.

[A]

And as a child, my parents would give gifts to my best friend's parents. And they kept doing this. And so they would give us a gift, so we would give them a gift. So next year they would give us a gift. And then we would have to give them a gift. Even long after me and this guy were friends.

[B]

Oh, stop it.

[A]

It had been years since I had even seen the guy, and they finally just, hey, we're gonna. We're not doing this anymore. Oh, okay. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Someone has to break the chain. It's like, pay it forward.

[B]

Yes. Just to say we gotta stop it. Even though it's been a tradition, we don't need it.

[A]

You know what this has me thinking, Rachel? This guilty as charged question. If I got you a gift, would you then lie and be like, oh, my gosh, I'm good? Yeah.

[B]

Oh, you'd be a good. Yes, George. This is a good relationship where that could happen.

[A]

Cause I feel like you would be like, oh, that's so nice. You didn't have to. I didn't get you Anything.

[B]

Maybe I would. No, no. Yeah, you're right. You're right. You're right.

[A]

Because you can't hurt my feelings. You don't have that power over me.

[B]

Yeah. If Michael Reddish got me a gift.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Mixologist Michael Reddish.

[A]

If you don't know. Michael is one of the best gift givers I've ever met. So you cannot top his gifts.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That would be tough.

[A]

It's very difficult. I usually do group gifts for Michael because you have to go big and make it very thoughtful and personal, so.

[B]

Oh, he's a high maintenance gift receiver.

[A]

He's just. It's gotta be something, like, with some weight behind it.

[B]

Crazy. Yes.

[A]

It can't just be like a gadget.

[B]

And I'm trying to think of somebody that I would be like, oh, shoot, your gift's coming. I may say that to you, George.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I know. Would you be honest with me or would you feel like if you got.

[A]

Me a gift, would I feel like I have to get you one? No, but I would go, oh, you know what? I should get the cruise as a gift. That'd be a nice. You know, I got Dave and Sharon a gift one year. I don't remember why, what, But I got Sharon mostly for Sharon. It was a bourbon maple syrup from Trader Joe's. Like a bourbon aged barrel, aged maple syrup.

[B]

Just the gift giver.

[A]

I think she enjoyed it. There's probably something else in there.

[B]

Yeah. So kind. All right, who finished her drink first?

[A]

I think we're about equal on this, but it was a really good one. This was a mocktail and it's a Red Sands Gria. Very clever. Whoever came up with that.

[B]

Good name. Good name.

[A]

And it's $1.56 per glass. It's got a few things in it, but I think it's a great one. To pomegranate juice, grape juice, tart cherry juice, coconut water, orange juice, lime juice. And then of course, with sangria, you want to put some fruits in there so you can slice up a whole lemon, slice up a whole lime, slice up an orange, slice up an apple and throw it all in there.

[B]

Get it all there.

[A]

It's a great batch recipe to make for the holidays.

[B]

Yes, that would be a good one.

[A]

I'm going to give this one a 10 out of 10.

[B]

Wow. I'm going 8 out of 10. It was a little tart.

[A]

I like tart.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

That pomegranate juice. I'm a huge fan of pomegranate.

[B]

Love it. You'll love it.

[A]

So go check out the recipe in the show notes. Make it for all of your family and friends. Even the kids can enjoy the this one.

[B]

Yeah, for sure they can partake. Well you guys, it's closing time, so thanks so much for listening and watching. Make sure to review comment below. We love to hear from you guys. So if you enjoyed this episode and you're traveling this holiday season, make sure to check out our episode on why short term rentals are no vacation. And we'll see you guys next Thursday on an all new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.