The Stacking Benjamins Show – “Doug and the Three Ghosts” (SB1778)

Release Date: December 24, 2025
Host(s): Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, Doug
Special Feature: Scripted Holiday Financial Comedy – A Playful Personal Finance Spin on “A Christmas Carol”

Overview

This special Christmas Eve episode takes a lighthearted and comedic approach to timeless personal finance lessons, told through a parody of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Instead of Ebenezer Scrooge, we follow "Neighbor Doug" as he is visited by the three ghosts—of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—each represented by the show’s regular hosts. The episode’s purpose is to illustrate core money lessons about learning from past mistakes, being intentional and present with finances now, and planning (and automating) for the future. All of this is delivered in the show’s hallmark fun, cheeky tone, mixing storytelling with genuine financial advice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Traditions and Setting the Scene (03:01–09:24)

• Joe, OG, and Doug share evolving family Christmas traditions, highlighting:
  • Doug’s ritual: Adult children still “forced” to wait at the top of the stairs before seeing gifts.
    • Quote: “The kids are in their mid and late 20s now, and we make them stand at the top of the stairs.” – Doug (04:00)
  • The varied “Santa” customs (wrapping vs. not wrapping gifts, number of gifts, special paper).
  • Humor about orchestrating holiday mornings for maximum parental sleep (“We shall not be disturbed until 7. And you can open all your stocking gifts.” – OG, 08:02).

2. Enter the “Christmas Carol” Parody (09:24–13:08)

• The narrator (Peter Walters) sets a tongue-in-cheek Dickensian mood—a totally “original” storyline featuring Doug as a modern Scrooge.
  • Meta-humor throughout about the story being a Dickens “knock-off.”
• Doug is comically more annoyed by the visitations than scared.

3. The Ghost of Christmas Past: Facing Old Financial Mistakes (15:58–30:21)

• Doug’s Money Regrets:
  • Credit card debt; buying a too-large house on sketchy credit; “keeping up appearances.”
  • Quote: “Buying a BMW to put inside the garage of the new car before you make the first mortgage ... you can’t have a new house without a beautiful new car.” – OG (17:15)
• Hosts’ Candid Confessions:
  • Joe recounts his trail of debt and an abysmal credit score despite being a financial advisor.
    • Quote: “Here I am giving people advice… and I have the worst credit score in history.” – Joe (17:55)
• Key Lessons:
  • Accepting your financial reality without self-judgment (“A balance sheet is a balance sheet … be okay with where you are.” – OG, 19:04)
  • Building the foundation: Ignore creditors (if you must), stop the cycle of new debt, and start with an emergency fund—even with high-interest debt (22:01–23:08)
  • Progress is slow, but inevitable with consistency:
    • “It took about five years… but the pace quickened because we got excited about it.” (22:01)
  • Debt Methodologies:
    • Snowball method (paying off small debts for wins) vs. Avalanche (tackling highest interest first). Both are valid as long as there’s momentum.
    • Quote: “Make some progress because what you’re trying to do is mentally be okay with it... I think the snowball works best.” – OG (26:52)
• Action Points:
  • Stop lying to yourself, focus on keeping current debts current, let “in collections” debts wait (“Stop digging is the first step.” – OG, 29:06)
  • Separate income (especially inconsistent or commission) from spending; pay yourself a set “paycheck” from a different account to smooth out cash flow. (25:17–25:58)

4. The Ghost of Christmas Present: The Value of Living Intentionally Now (32:04–48:13)

• Common Trap:
  • Money nerds often obsess over saving and future planning so much that they “mortgage the present,” missing real-life moments.
    • Quote: “We’re spending so much time managing the future that we don’t spend any money … we don’t do anything.” – Joe (32:38)
• Value of Time:
  • Quality of experiences (“Would you take Warren Buffett’s money or your age?” – OG, 33:56)
  • Recognizing time as a non-renewable currency; finite opportunities with family and for enjoyable experiences (Texarkana Symphony anecdote).
    • Quote: “If I’m lucky, I will see this thing 20 more times … I’m lucky I’m seeing it now.” – Joe (34:05)
• Financial Planning for the Present:
  • Plan and budget for meaningful experiences (like Disney with family)—don’t let indecision rob you of memories.
    • Quote: “What’s the point of having 10 million bucks ... and not having ever taken your kids to Disney?” – OG (35:42)
• Intentional Use of Resources:
  • Danger of hoarding too much cash (“If you don’t pay attention to it, now you have $80,000 … a heck of a bigger number, but [opportunity loss]” – OG, 43:49)
  • Use a calendar to pre-commit to plans and goals—translate “I want this” into actionable, scheduled reality.
    • “Put it on the calendar to go from ‘I want this’ to ‘it’s going to happen’.” – Joe (45:50)
• Life Design:
  • Backward planning: Start with what makes you happy today, and build your 10-year, 5-year, and 1-year goals.
    • Quote: “Start off with the 10-year goal. ... Then write the five-year goals ... one year ... they’re building blocks that make me happy today.” – Joe (47:30)
  • Use “wheels of life” or similar tools to track progress in various personal areas (health, spiritual, financial).

5. The Ghost of Christmas Future: Planning and Automating Your Way to Freedom (53:00–64:58)

• The Power of Automation:
  • Set up automated savings and investments to eliminate decision fatigue and “future proof” your finances.
  • Quote: “Anytime that you can exclude yourself from decision making, you’re going to be better off. Make it one time when you’re sober… Now I’m going to automatically increase my 401k contributions 1% every 6 months … and it’s done.” – OG (54:02)
• Decision Fatigue:
  • People run out of willpower for good money decisions late in the day (“Do you make your best decisions at 11pm?”) (56:23)
• Start Early, No Matter the Amount:
  • Regret over not maximizing contributions from the beginning, but small, automatic increases accumulate huge results.
    • Story: “If all I would have done when [the Roth] came out was save… it’s 10 bucks… and next year 11…” – OG (56:55)
• Tools and Systems:
  • Use tracking apps (Monarch Money, Rocket Money) and regular meetings to evaluate and automate as much as possible.
    • Evaluate: "Which of these transactions can I automate? … I don't want to worry about $30 off. I want to worry about making thousands."* – Joe (58:44)
• Concrete Example:
  • Paying off a mortgage early by analyzing the numbers and committing to an automatic extra payment, saving “hundreds of thousands in interest by making one decision in 2022.” (60:09–62:19)
• Final Lesson:
  • Automation and intentional planning allow you to be in the present by giving you confidence the future “is taking care of itself.” But don’t let “over-saving” rob you of enjoying today—the ultimate commodity is time.
    • Quote: “The commodity that’s limited for all of us is time. And Doug, I think that is the most important point of all.” – Joe (62:19)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On family and traditions:
  • “We make them stand at the top of the stairs. The kids are in their mid and late 20s now ...” – Doug (04:00)
• On the pain of money mistakes:
  • “Here I am giving people advice … and I have the worst credit score in history.” – Joe (17:55)
  • “Stop digging is the first step, right?” – OG (29:06)
• On living in the present:
  • “Would you take Warren Buffett’s money or your age right now?” – OG (33:56)
  • “We’re not here because we’re so busy trying to cheapen today that we don’t spend any money.” – Joe (32:38)
• On the value of planning and automation:
  • “Anytime that you can exclude yourself from decision making, you’re going to be much better off.” – OG (54:02)
  • “I want to worry about making thousands so I never have to worry about $30 off.” – Joe (59:15)

Important Timestamps

• 03:01–09:24 — Personal/family Christmas traditions, fun banter
• 15:58–30:21 — Ghost of Christmas Past: Confronting financial mistakes and debt payoff strategies
• 32:04–48:13 — Ghost of Christmas Present: The trap of over-focusing on the future, intentional spending, the value of time
• 53:00–64:58 — Ghost of Christmas Future: Automation, decision fatigue, early investing, future-proofing
• 62:19–66:00 — Wrap-up; learning from the past, being present, and building a wise future

Final Takeaways

1. Face Your Financial Past:
   Accept your money mistakes and start building, no matter how dire.

2. Be Present and Intentional:
   Money should enable meaningful experiences, not just accumulate. Plan for enjoyment and be present with loved ones.

3. Automate Your Financial Future:
   Set up systems to ensure you’re saving/investing without continuous willpower or decision making.

4. Remember: Time Is Your Most Precious Resource:
   The best plans allow you to enjoy both today and tomorrow. Don’t sacrifice all your “now” for a someday that might not come—or arrive too late to enjoy.

“Doug and the Three Ghosts” is a playful but powerfully practical holiday episode, blending humor, shared vulnerability, and tactical money management in the Stacking Benjamins style. It’s a reminder to live wisely across past, present, and future.