How to Financially Survive Every Season of Life

💰 Which side hustle is right for you? Get personalized recommendations from our Side Hustle Quiz. Different phases of life call for different financial priorities (and different strategic habits to help you get there). Today, we’re explaining what to do with your money to help you reach your goals in every season. Next Steps: 🎥 Watch our video How Does Your Net Worth Compare to the Average American. 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Leave us a voicemail with your question at 877-306-1517 or send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it. 📺 Watch Borrowed Future to learn how student loans are killing the American Dream. 📚 Learn to build wealth with America’s #1 personal finance class, Financial Peace University. 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar. Connect With Our Sponsors: Check out the FAIRWINDS credit union exclusive account bundle. Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth. Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍸 Hillstone Crisp Martini Recipe from @madisieli on Instagram 1 1/2 ounces vodka (or gin) 1 ounce elderflower liqueur Juice of 1/2 lemon Splash of sauvignon blanc Instructions: Combine vodka, elderflower liqueur and lemon juice into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well, pour into a frosted martini glass, top with a splash of sauvignon blanc, and enjoy! Explore More From Ramsey Network: 💡 The Rachel Cruze Show 💰 George Kamel 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 🪑 Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman 📈 EntreLeadership ⁠Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:05George Kamel?

  Well, we're knee deep in football season. Maybe you're entering cuffing season. And no matter what season of life you're in, we've got some money advice for you.

• 0:13Rachel Cruze?

  And you know what? I'm gonna say, I think sometimes in the present is miserable.

• 0:16George Kamel?

  I was on my Eat, Pray, Love journey. I had to find myself. And I'm southern now.

• 0:22Rachel Cruze?

  When I'm 65, do you know how bougie I'm gonna be?

• 0:25George Kamel?

  You're gonna be Cruella De Vil. Minus the, the dog situation.

• 0:34Rachel Cruze?

  Hi guys, I'm Rachel Cruz.

• 0:36George Kamel?

  I'm George Kamel.

• 0:37Rachel Cruze?

  And this is?

• 0:38George Kamel?

  Smart Money Happy Hour.

• 0:41Rachel Cruze?

  Cheers, George.

• 0:42George Kamel?

  Cheers.

• 0:46George Kamel?

  We're celebrating every season of life.

• 0:47Rachel Cruze?

  Every season of life, yes. Well, this is the show where two friends who have new money experts talk about, which you're talking about everything from pop culture, current events and money.

• 0:55George Kamel?

  And before we get to the content you all came here for, let's talk about what we're sipping on. It is a Hillstone Crisp Martini. What an apt name.

• 1:04Rachel Cruze?

  It's really delightful, actually.

• 1:06George Kamel?

  Whatever Hillstone makes you think of, it tastes like that.

• 1:08Rachel Cruze?

  It is, very Hillstone-esque.

• 1:09George Kamel?

  It tastes like a gated neighborhood. I don't know how else to explain it.

• 1:15Rachel Cruze?

  And a guy named Gary is at the gate to let you in.

• 1:18George Kamel?

  Yes, they have an attendant in a little hut.

• 1:20Rachel Cruze?

  100%.

• 1:20George Kamel?

  And he really doesn't care about his job.

• 1:22Rachel Cruze?

  He doesn't, but he's strict.

• 1:24George Kamel?

  But he's fair.

• 1:24Rachel Cruze?

  You need the house number and the last name of the family you're going to.

• 1:28George Kamel?

  No riffraff are coming through Hillstone. So hey, stick around till the end. We're gonna rate this drink and reveal the cost per glass. You don't want to miss the cost. It's a good one.

• 1:36Rachel Cruze?

  That's right.

• 1:37George Kamel?

  So Rachel, are you familiar with cuffing season?

• 1:39Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, I hate to say this. I think I just kinda learned this term, maybe in the last nine months.

• 1:45George Kamel?

  That's okay, you're a millennial. It happens to all of us.

• 1:47Rachel Cruze?

  I know. Is it, is it a Gen Z term for real though?

• 1:50George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 1:50Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, okay, so that wasn't a thing when we were...

• 1:53George Kamel?

  No.

• 1:53Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, so this is a new thing. Okay, so explain it. Cuffing.

• 1:57George Kamel?

  I'll do my best.

• 1:57Rachel Cruze?

  I'm gonna cuff you. I'm gonna...

• 2:01George Kamel?

  Yeah, keep going. This is great.

• 2:04Rachel Cruze?

  I'm just like cuffing. I'm gonna, because it's keeping someone through the holidays.

• 2:10George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 2:10Rachel Cruze?

  To be like your date to everything.

• 2:12George Kamel?

  Perfect. So we get the gloomy.

• 2:13Rachel Cruze?

  Oh my gosh, a handcuff.

• 2:15George Kamel?

  Yeah, I think it's.

• 2:16Rachel Cruze?

  Is that it? I'm cuffing myself to you.

• 2:19George Kamel?

  I don't know what other cuff you're aware of.

• 2:21Rachel Cruze?

  I was thinking a sleeve cuff. I'm cuffing my sleeves.

• 2:25George Kamel?

  Truthfully, I don't know the etymology of why they use the word cuffing, but yes.

• 2:28Rachel Cruze?

  I bet it's a handcuff. I'm handcuffing myself to you and you have to be dragged with me through the season of.

• 2:34George Kamel?

  Yes. Like if I'm gonna be depressed, you're coming with me.

• 2:36Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 2:37George Kamel?

  It's winter time. It's gloomy. It's cold.

• 2:39Rachel Cruze?

  Explain what it is, because I'm doing a terrible job.

• 2:40George Kamel?

  That's it. The gloomy colder months, you, uh, it's comforting to be in a committed dating relationship. And then, you know, springtime comes around and you realize I can do better. So it's usually a very temporary, a temporary fling, if you will.

• 2:52Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 2:52George Kamel?

  And John Mayer has a song called St. Patrick's Day, and it's about how there's no point in breaking up between November and March, because it's nice to have someone for all the holidays.

• 3:00Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. You know what? I get it.

• 3:02George Kamel?

  Can be a lonely time.

• 3:03Rachel Cruze?

  And it's kind of a romantic time, right? Lots of like warm drinks.

• 3:08George Kamel?

  The lights.

• 3:08Rachel Cruze?

  Snuggly, you know, I don't know. It's just very like, mm, yeah, it feels romantic.

• 3:12George Kamel?

  Do you have a favorite season or time of year?

• 3:14Rachel Cruze?

  Summer.

• 3:15George Kamel?

  You're a summer.

• 3:16Rachel Cruze?

  I love a summer. Give me a lake. Give me a pool. Give me a hot sun. Doesn't bother me at all.

• 3:21George Kamel?

  Is that also your fashion color or whatever? You know, they do like, you're a winter, you're a summer.

• 3:25Rachel Cruze?

  I haven't done that in years. I don't know who, what I am, but you, my friends, have done it.

• 3:30George Kamel?

  I was told that I'm a winter. Which included like magen, it ranged from like, okay, maroon and navy to magenta.

• 3:39George Kamel?

  Who thinks I would look good in a magenta?

• 3:41Rachel Cruze?

  Your color palette is, is very wide, just like your personality.

• 3:46George Kamel?

  I appreciate that. I don't think it was a compliment, but I'll take it as one.

• 3:49Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, I like summer. I like warm. I want to be warm. I have a heating pad in my bed all year long. Like, I just like to be warm. So the summer is great. Now, I like fall better than spring. So we're gonna go summer, fall, winter, spring. Spring's kind of boo boo. Even though it's my birthday, as in spring. It's just rainy. Everything's like pollen. I'd rather, I'd rather things die in the fall than come to life.

• 4:14George Kamel?

  All right.

• 4:14Rachel Cruze?

  Less cleanup.

• 4:15George Kamel?

  We got dark real quick.

• 4:16Rachel Cruze?

  Well, no, it's a lot of leaves. But do you know what I'm saying? I think it's prettier.

• 4:19George Kamel?

  No, I hear you loud and clear. You'd rather things die. That's all I heard. All right.

• 4:24Rachel Cruze?

  What about you? Rate yours.

• 4:25George Kamel?

  Yeah, I'm going fall. I just feel like you still have some greenery and like the leaves start falling. Spring, I feel like you're sort of thawing out or it gets too hot here in Tennessee and you're like, well, this is just early summer. I wasn't prepared to go from 40 degrees to 78.

• 4:39Rachel Cruze?

  Right.

• 4:40George Kamel?

  Give me so I like a fall evening.

• 4:42Rachel Cruze?

  It's fair.

• 4:42George Kamel?

  Something crispy. I like a crisp morning.

• 4:45Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, it's so great.

• 4:46George Kamel?

  Give me a crispy morning.

• 4:47Rachel Cruze?

  I saw a guy on Instagram talk about this with his cup of coffee and he's outside and he's just.

• 4:51George Kamel?

  I love that guy.

• 4:51Rachel Cruze?

  Did you see him?

• 4:52George Kamel?

  I DM'd that guy.

• 4:53Rachel Cruze?

  Just crispy. He was like, it's just a crispy morning and I have my coffee and it's just crispy.

• 4:57George Kamel?

  He's got kind of like a, like a stoner guy vibe, right? He's like, dude, there's like a crispy morning, brother. Aww. Like that guy, right?

• 5:04Rachel Cruze?

  I love it. Yep.

• 5:05George Kamel?

  Yeah, and he calls his coffee Stokes.

• 5:06Rachel Cruze?

  My impression was not accurate, but yours was.

• 5:09George Kamel?

  Mine was pretty spot on.

• 5:10Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, so fall, then?

• 5:12George Kamel?

  Fall, then spring, then winter, then summer. I think summer is my least favorite because I live in Tennessee now.

• 5:17Rachel Cruze?

  I know. It's rough here.

• 5:18George Kamel?

  You don't want to leave the house. I leave the house more in the winter than I do in the summer.

• 5:22Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, but if you're, if you're next to water, that's key.

• 5:25George Kamel?

  Where is water?

• 5:26Rachel Cruze?

  Pools, pools, George, pools.

• 5:28George Kamel?

  All right. I think Rachel just invited me to the Cruz family pool next summer. That's where you'll find me, sipping on a Hillstone crisp martini.

• 5:36Rachel Cruze?

  So great, so great.

• 5:38George Kamel?

  Well, when it comes to money, every season is different, whether it's your season of life or a season where you're working through a certain baby step, right? A season where you're trying to pay off debt or you're trying to cash flow college or make up for lost time in retirement. And so we want to, you know, talk through all of those.

• 5:52Rachel Cruze?

  Because I do think there's a belief, I think it's human nature, that when you are somewhere, like in a moment of time, you think it's going to be forever. You're like, this is going to last forever.

• 6:01George Kamel?

  If you're paying off debt, you're like, this is my life. I'll never have fun again.

• 6:04Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, right? Or like a newborn, you're like, oh my gosh, is it ever going to end?

• 6:08George Kamel?

  That was too real when you just said that.

• 6:09Rachel Cruze?

  I know, I'm sorry. I thought of you during it because it's true. I'm like, when you're in a moment, you're like, this, this is going to be the rest of my life.

• 6:16George Kamel?

  And people tell me, well, it's just a season. I go, yeah, but I don't know if I'll survive this season to see the next one. They always say it like, it'll be fine. It'll be over soon.

• 6:24Rachel Cruze?

  I know, but we want to acknowledge every season of life and what to do when it comes to your money. So.

• 6:30George Kamel?

  So we've each, we're going to rattle off one. Pro tip for each season.

• 6:34Rachel Cruze?

  Yep, of your life.

• 6:36George Kamel?

  Yeah, leave your own in the comments if you're like, hey, if you're a newlywed, here's my best advice. Or if you're going through college, here's my best advice. So let's start with college.

• 6:46Rachel Cruze?

  All right.

• 6:47George Kamel?

  That feels apt. I have no advice for high schoolers. Just survive and realize that everyone is.

• 6:54Rachel Cruze?

  Let's talk about that. High schoolers, everything's taken care of.

• 6:57George Kamel?

  You think like, oh, my gosh, it's so stressful. And I'm like.

• 7:00Rachel Cruze?

  You have no idea. You have no idea.

• 7:02George Kamel?

  No, my high school was, it can be a trying time and it is stressful because you're like on the cusp of adult life.

• 7:08Rachel Cruze?

  Well, you're like frontal lobe is still forming, so it's hard.

• 7:11George Kamel?

  That's true. But also you have little to no expenses and the world is your oyster and you still sleep at night. So be thankful.

• 7:20George Kamel?

  All right, college pro tip, go viral on Rush Talk.

• 7:24Rachel Cruze?

  What?

• 7:24George Kamel?

  Have you seen Rush Talk?

• 7:25Rachel Cruze?

  I have. You say go, that's your tip?

• 7:28George Kamel?

  Here's why, because then you can cash flow college with the money you made from TikTok.

• 7:32Rachel Cruze?

  No, George, are you freaking giving that tip?

• 7:34George Kamel?

  Why else are they doing Rush Talk? Can you explain Rush Talk?

• 7:38Rachel Cruze?

  What sororities are today is a different life than what I was.

• 7:41George Kamel?

  You didn't need to create content for your.

• 7:43Rachel Cruze?

  I was 2007. I mean, it was almost 20 years ago when I was in a sorority. So just take that in for a second.

• 7:47George Kamel?

  Shout out Kai Omega?

• 7:48Rachel Cruze?

  Kai Omega. And I dropped, but I really want to get back in for the legacy of my girls. So if you're the president of Kaiyo, reach out to me.

• 7:57Rachel Cruze?

  I should do that. Okay. Um, yeah, so I think it is, I don't have TikTok. Um, on my phone, so I don't watch TikTok, but I think it is girls. They do dances, the whole sorority. And they're all like beautiful girls doing a choreographed dance. I think that's Rush Talk, right?

• 8:17George Kamel?

  I, you tell me.

• 8:18Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, I think it's that. And then I do think people talk about their outfits and how expensive, like it's all designer that they're like walking through what they're wearing.

• 8:25George Kamel?

  What an insane standard we've been setting for young women out there.

• 8:29Rachel Cruze?

  It's wild, wild. And we wore t-shirts and like black skirt, like a black cute short skirt. And that would be like one of the outfits for Rush Day. But like, these are, it's a whole other level.

• 8:40George Kamel?

  The advice underneath the advice is to go to school. Debt free at all costs, whatever you gotta do. Maybe you need to apply to every scholarship you can, like it's a part-time job. Take a gap year and work and save up if it means avoiding a bunch of debt. Go local, like stick to a community college or your in-state school. It's gonna be way cheaper than be like, I wanna go across the country cuz I don't like my mom. You know, it's like, dude, grow up. Like, you don't need to go pay seventy thousand a year when your in-state school is just as good, if not better.

• 9:08Rachel Cruze?

  I know.

• 9:09George Kamel?

  So that's my advice. It's just try to become debt-free before you become an adult, so that it's way easier. And then you can get into a house easier and, you know, do all the things that are way more important.

• 9:19Rachel Cruze?

  Your financial journey much faster when you don't have all the student loan debt. So, that's great.

• 9:23George Kamel?

  And the price tag is just, it's gotten insane with college.

• 9:26Rachel Cruze?

  I know, it's not fair.

• 9:28George Kamel?

  Get the cheapest one you can for the goal that you have.

• 9:30Rachel Cruze?

  I blame the colleges too, not gonna lie. Raise not tuition, come on.

• 9:33George Kamel?

  Well, there's, we did a whole documentary called Borrowed Future. Go watch it on YouTube with your kids and you'll thank me later.

• 9:40Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, so I would say, if I was in college, I would tell a student to go work a summer or two, paid or not paid, in the field that you're interested in after graduation.

• 9:49George Kamel?

  While you're in college?

• 9:50Rachel Cruze?

  While you're in college. So take this summer and, like, use your summers to your advantage. Like, go study abroad, go take classes, get extra, you know, get credits done. Go work in the field that you wanna be in. I just think real-world experience, there's nothing that trumps it. Like, when you are actually running a small business versus listening to an entrepreneur professor talk about it in a lecture hall, like, it's, it is so different, right? Or broadcasting, or whatever the thing is that you wanna do. Like, go shadow the people doing it. That's what I would tell people.

• 10:23George Kamel?

  Well, and number one, the employer loves to see that. Versus like, yes, the GPA is fine, but do you have actual experience?

• 10:29Rachel Cruze?

  Hundred, a hundred percent, I'm not kidding, I think that's huge.

• 10:32George Kamel?

  Oh, I actually enjoy this field. Or, oh, gosh, I thought I'd love journalism, but really it's this, and I don't wanna pursue that at all.

• 10:38Rachel Cruze?

  That's right, yeah. If you can get experience in college for the workforce, I think that is my number one tip.

• 10:44George Kamel?

  I love it.

• 10:44Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, my gosh, you know, another tip that I have for you, George?

• 10:49George Kamel?

  Give me a tip.

• 10:49Rachel Cruze?

  Buy Cozy Earth all the time.

• 10:52George Kamel?

  That's good advice, no matter what season of life you're in.

• 10:54Rachel Cruze?

  Be college, be an empty nester. Cozy Earth should be part of your life, everything, from the clothes, the athleisure. You know, it's, it's like, we're like in mid-fall, and I had gotten some Cozy Earth stuff last year. And I dug through the drawers and I kinda got all this stuff that's like the fall clothes or the winter clothes that get buried on top of the summer clothes. Found the pants again. I found my shirt. I found it all. My Cozy Earth stash. And I was like, oh, my gosh. Here we are.

• 11:21George Kamel?

  Can I tell you, I FaceTimed my mom, which shout out to me for doing that. And she was wearing her Cozy Earth PJs.

• 11:29Rachel Cruze?

  She was.

• 11:30George Kamel?

  And she was so proud and I was proud. I was a proud son. She was a proud mom. It was just a beautiful thing.

• 11:35Rachel Cruze?

  They are so nice. They're so great.

• 11:36George Kamel?

  She's been rocking them nonstop and they hold up. That's the best thing. Their sheets are amazing. 10 year bedding warranty. All of the bamboo viscos material they're using. Everything's incredible.

• 11:46Rachel Cruze?

  Everything is so soft, so wonderful. Yes. So you guys make sure to check out Cozy Earth. And they're giving up to 40% off discount.

• 11:55George Kamel?

  You got nothing to lose here.

• 11:56Rachel Cruze?

  That's crazy.

• 11:57George Kamel?

  These deals won't last. So start your holiday shopping today. Go to CozyEarth.com/smartmoney and use promo code SMARTMONEY at checkout and then send us a, send us a nice, you know, Christmas card.

• 12:08Rachel Cruze?

  That's right.

• 12:08George Kamel?

  For giving you this deal.

• 12:09Rachel Cruze?

  With all your Cozy Earth stuff. All right. Next season. You ready? Your first job. So you have left college and you are in the workforce. So someone that is starting their first job, what would you tell them, George?

• 12:21George Kamel?

  Whew. I think a lot of people are just thankful to have a job. And so the thing that's hard to think about is the future.

• 12:28Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 12:28George Kamel?

  And so where do you want to be? Two to five years from now, kind of creating some growth track for your life. Cause what I wish someone told me is that no one's gonna do this for you. You're not gonna have some mentor sit down in the break room and be like, hey bud, let's map out your life. Let's get you going somewhere. So you're not waking up five years from now going, is this it? Is this, this is all it is?

• 12:47Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 12:48George Kamel?

  How do I move up? How do I go do the thing I really want to do? Cause likely your first job is not the thing that you're, you're destined to do.

• 12:54Rachel Cruze?

  Right.

• 12:55George Kamel?

  That you're wired to do.

• 12:56Rachel Cruze?

  That's right.

• 12:56George Kamel?

  It's usually like a step. And so how do you move up on that ladder? You need to have a growth track for your life and it depends on what you're doing.

• 13:03Rachel Cruze?

  I love that.

• 13:03George Kamel?

  So that's my best advice. I wish someone told me that. And I wish I just sat down and just mapped it out. It's not gonna play out how you want.

• 13:11Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 13:11George Kamel?

  It's gonna have some twists and turns, but at least you're aiming at something versus just hoping that life works out.

• 13:16Rachel Cruze?

  Totally. Yes. Yeah. I think I would say to still maintain some of that college lifestyle that you had of the kind of that broke feeling before you were making money. Cause if you, if you go into a great salary, 40, 50,000 or whatever it is, like. Money's in your account and you're like, okay, I've got some money. But I would say lifestyle creep is so real and it can happen so fast. So I would still hold back on doing a bunch of like upgrades in your life of like a new car. Or, you know, if you get an apartment, you're like, okay, I need to furnish everything and make it perfect and beaut- like, take your time. Take your time. Don't feel like you have to rush into it. And yeah, I would put like a little pause on the lifestyle creep if you can.

• 13:59George Kamel?

  A hundred percent. Especially if you are in debt and you don't have a fully funded emergency fund.

• 14:04Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 14:04George Kamel?

  Like live broke until you have this foundation.

• 14:07Rachel Cruze?

  Totally.

• 14:07George Kamel?

  And then you can up your spending a little bit and enjoy some of it.

• 14:10Rachel Cruze?

  That's right. All right, next season is the single and dating phase.

• 14:15George Kamel?

  This is a tough one because this could range from you're 18 to you're 38.

• 14:20Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 14:20George Kamel?

  Like, you know.

• 14:21Rachel Cruze?

  Your 40s.

• 14:22George Kamel?

  It could be a long journey for a lot of people. So my tip is become the partner you're looking for. Instead of being like, well, I'm not going to settle. Here's my standards. I'm like, are you living like that?

• 14:35Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, yeah.

• 14:35George Kamel?

  Like you want a man who's fiscally responsible. Are you fiscally responsible? Because nobody's looking for, you know, a project that they have to fix up and clean up.

• 14:44Rachel Cruze?

  Either way.

• 14:44George Kamel?

  And if you are, let me tell you from experience, doesn't work out. All right. You want to get in a relationship with someone who's healthy.

• 14:51Rachel Cruze?

  I think, yes, I know. What is that? I think that's more like early twenties.

• 14:55George Kamel?

  Savior complex?

• 14:56Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. Where you're like, more high school. Riggins on Friday Night Lights. I always thought about him when I watched that show, even as a married woman with kids.

• 15:06George Kamel?

  Who's Riggins?

• 15:06Rachel Cruze?

  Riggins on Friday Night Lights?

• 15:08George Kamel?

  I've never seen the show.

• 15:08Rachel Cruze?

  He's like the bad boy. And you're like, God, he's the guy every girl is like, I'm, I'm going to win him over.

• 15:14George Kamel?

  I can tame the bad boy.

• 15:15Rachel Cruze?

  He's going to love me and I'm going to make him a good guy. Like you just have that belief.

• 15:19George Kamel?

  You can't make bad guys, good guys. You can only make good guys, great guys. Shout out to Winston Cruz.

• 15:28Rachel Cruze?

  That's funny.

• 15:29George Kamel?

  Winston has bad boy energy, but like with being a great guy.

• 15:33Rachel Cruze?

  Of all of it.

• 15:35George Kamel?

  That's Winston for you.

• 15:36Rachel Cruze?

  There you go. Okay, um, I'm gonna say, don't get involved with someone else's financial plan. Like sometimes when you are, yeah, single and you see something, maybe you're starting to dates. And then people start, they start cosigning or they start.

• 15:53George Kamel?

  Co-mingling.

• 15:53Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, mingling their finances. I'm like, no, no, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, don't do that. Not, not until you're married, not until you're married. Don't do that. Um, yep, because we've gotten a lot of calls in the Ramsey show of, well, my boyfriend, you know, I paid off some of his debt and we broke up, like, you know, I mean, you get.

• 16:09George Kamel?

  Or I cosigned a car loan, but now we're not together, but now I'm responsible.

• 16:13Rachel Cruze?

  And now my new girlfriend is ma- I mean, oh yeah, you get, it's a whole thing. So just.

• 16:17George Kamel?

  Or moved in together and now it's awkward and just.

• 16:20Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 16:20George Kamel?

  Don't do any of that.

• 16:21Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah. So just, uh, keep it separate till you're married. Just cleaner way to live all the way around.

• 16:28George Kamel?

  Enough said.

• 16:28Rachel Cruze?

  There you go. Uh, all right, let's go engaged.

• 16:32George Kamel?

  We're moving on.

• 16:32Rachel Cruze?

  We're moving on. So we are, we have.

• 16:34George Kamel?

  Good for you.

• 16:35Rachel Cruze?

  Graduated college, we have our job. We start dating, we find the person and we are engaged. What happens?

• 16:41George Kamel?

  What an exciting phase engagement is. And financially, you start dreaming because likely you both are working and so you've got two incomes.

• 16:48Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 16:49George Kamel?

  Coming up and you're on the cusp and you're planning the wedding and everything's.

• 16:52Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 16:53George Kamel?

  Rainbows and gumdrops. Here would be my advice. Get aligned on money during this time, if you haven't already. And the best way to do this, I found is use Financial Peace University, our flagship money course as a premarital counseling course. Cause if you go through that and you're like, yeah, absolutely. We agree as a family, we value being debt free. Yeah. As a couple, we value not owing other people money. We want to build wealth for the future.

• 17:18Rachel Cruze?

  Yep.

• 17:19George Kamel?

  And here's where we stand. If you go through that course and you're aligned, I think you have a very high success rate for your marriage.

• 17:25Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. Yeah, there is. I mean, we say it all the time. This is like a drum we beat constantly in our content, but for real. When you and your spouse, again, the person you are choosing to do life with for the rest of your life, like.

• 17:37George Kamel?

  The most important financial decision you'll ever make.

• 17:39Rachel Cruze?

  It is, it is. And I'm like, and it's just, let me say it, go, I'll go a little shallow. I think it's more fun. Like when you're aligned together and you're like, oh yeah, we're going the same way. Like it just makes life enjoyable. Like we got a call on the Ramsey show, I guess it was last week, and she was getting a massive inheritance and all the family lawyers and her family was like, keep it in a separate account only with your name and you only use it for you. And I'm like, I would be so pissed.

• 18:06George Kamel?

  So Winston gets a million dollars from grandma.

• 18:09Rachel Cruze?

  All this money and he's like, sorry, I'm just gonna use it for my hu- you know, I'm like, we could use it for our kids. We could be, like, we could be doing things with it. I don't know. There's something about that mentality of like, we are in this together. We're doing a life together. That's what a marriage is. And so the more you can with your money, you guys, I'm telling you, it is, it is more enjoyable, um, more aligned. And I'm making it sound really easy. Like, sure, there are conflicts that come up. There are disagreements.

• 18:33George Kamel?

  Everyone's got their like trauma from their past and how their family dealt with money.

• 18:36Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, there's a lot that comes up for sure. But there is just something to say like, hey, I literally stood at an altar and said, I am bowing my life to you. So like, let's do it to get, like, let's be real about it. Let's do it. Let's do life together.

• 18:50George Kamel?

  We're gonna become one in every way.

• 18:52Rachel Cruze?

  Gosh, George, is your point my point? Why did I get so passionate?

• 18:55George Kamel?

  Well, I see another point on here that's very important. That is,

• 18:58Rachel Cruze?

  The wedding.

• 18:58George Kamel?

  It's less important, but it's still very important.

• 19:00Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, don't go into debt for the wedding. That's what I would say. Just cash flow it. If it's smaller, not the expectation you wanted, that's okay. Even the honeymoon, like even all the other stuff, like you have a whole life ahead of you. Like you're gonna do way more bougie things than you are at the very beginning of your marriage.

• 19:18George Kamel?

  Your honeymoon shouldn't be the best trip you ever take.

• 19:21Rachel Cruze?

  Quote that.

• 19:22George Kamel?

  Is that a hot take?

• 19:22Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, I love it though. Amen.

• 19:24George Kamel?

  You're the brokest you'll ever be.

• 19:26Rachel Cruze?

  You should, should be, right?

• 19:28George Kamel?

  So don't spend a lot of money.

• 19:29Rachel Cruze?

  Well, well, it's not that you don't have to spend a lot, but like, you know, enjoy it, but let's pray in 10, 15 years, we've all upped our salaries and working and saved money and done things that you can go on a nicer vacation than your honeymoon.

• 19:42George Kamel?

  Where was your honeymoon?

• 19:44Rachel Cruze?

  We did the Dominican Republic.

• 19:45George Kamel?

  Oh.

• 19:46Rachel Cruze?

  An all-inclusive.

• 19:47George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 19:48Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. Classic.

• 19:49George Kamel?

  That is like a red passage.

• 19:50Rachel Cruze?

  And it was over Christmas because we got married December 19th. So we spent Christmas there and they had like blow up Santas around and they're like singing Jingle Bells.

• 19:58George Kamel?

  Wow. Are they just playing into the American culture?

• 20:01Rachel Cruze?

  Hundred percent. Oh yeah, they had James Taylor Christmas playing on the beach. It was great.

• 20:06George Kamel?

  Wow.

• 20:07Rachel Cruze?

  And then I'll never forget Winston and I, I had like a sundress and probably like a little martini. And we're just in the lobby sipping our cocktails as a bunch of freaking like 21 year olds. Babies. And all these families are like opening get, they're all like having family celebrations. And here we are and just.

• 20:24George Kamel?

  Living your best life.

• 20:25Rachel Cruze?

  Just, I don't know. Yeah. I just remember feeling like, oh my gosh, that's going to be us one day. That feeling of like, that'll be us.

• 20:30George Kamel?

  And it is you.

• 20:31Rachel Cruze?

  And here we are.

• 20:32George Kamel?

  That's really sweet.

• 20:33Rachel Cruze?

  Sixteen years later. Okay. Where'd y'all go?

• 20:36George Kamel?

  Uh, we did Cancun.

• 20:37Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 20:38George Kamel?

  Famously did a Costco travel package. No regrets other than Whitney got sick the first day and was sick the whole time.

• 20:44Rachel Cruze?

  Mm hmm.

• 20:45George Kamel?

  Yeah. Really put a damper on the trip.

• 20:47Rachel Cruze?

  No, George, I don't know if I knew that.

• 20:48George Kamel?

  So yeah, we just don't, we don't go places anymore.

• 20:51Rachel Cruze?

  Stop that, George.

• 20:52George Kamel?

  So I watched the fire show by myself. It was a great show. The fire dancers are amazing. But then people are like, is this guy okay? Did he come here alone?

• 21:00Rachel Cruze?

  He's sipping a martini by himself.

• 21:01George Kamel?

  Yeah.

• 21:02Rachel Cruze?

  Just hanging out.

• 21:03George Kamel?

  I got, someone had to enjoy it.

• 21:05Rachel Cruze?

  Oh my gosh, that's so funny. Okay, speaking of paying cash, I used the Fairwinds debit card this weekend for all my purchases and I, I'm obsessed.

• 21:15George Kamel?

  The brand new one, it's branded.

• 21:17Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 21:18George Kamel?

  The Ramsey branded, what's it say on it?

• 21:19Rachel Cruze?

  Debt is normal, be weird.

• 21:20George Kamel?

  I love it.

• 21:21Rachel Cruze?

  And I, in classic Rachel fashion was like, yeah, anytime I like had to use my debit card.

• 21:26George Kamel?

  Did anyone comment on it? I guess they're.

• 21:28Rachel Cruze?

  A waiter did, yes. He was like, this is kind of cool. I was like, yeah, it's like a talking point. Um, but it's great because Fairwinds Credit Union, they are here to help you. They literally want to walk beside you as you're doing the Ramsey plan. And to set up an account with them, y'all, it's so easy. Like the app is easy. How, I mean, everything is so simple. It's wild and their customer service is incredible. Like the people behind this credit union, George and I, we had, we had dinner with them a few weeks ago and they're just, they are, they're incredible people. They have such a heart to help people.

• 21:57George Kamel?

  They want to collaborate with us to make a better experience for our fans.

• 22:00Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 22:01George Kamel?

  That is so rare in the financial industry.

• 22:02Rachel Cruze?

  I know.

• 22:02Rachel Cruze?

  Sign up, get our smart checking and savings bundle today at Fairwinds Credit Union.

• 22:03Rachel Cruze?

  So I'm telling you guys.

• 22:10Rachel Cruze?

  You can go to fairwins.org/Ramsey and sign up. It is simple, it is easy. Put some money over there, try it out, get your debit card, and it is wonderful.

• 22:21George Kamel?

  And you can use the same debit card as the Rachel Cruz. That's pretty cool.

• 22:24Rachel Cruze?

  We are using the same.

• 22:25George Kamel?

  All right, so we went from we're in college, first job, we're dating, we're engaged.

• 22:31Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, now we're newly married.

• 22:33George Kamel?

  How exciting for this young couple.

• 22:35Rachel Cruze?

  This, this is, this is happening. So, um, yeah, when you get married, I'm gonna, I'm gonna say, be aware of lifestyle creep. This is what I said when you were single too, but for real. You combine finances, you mentioned that earlier, and you kind of feel like you got a raise. Like the household, you're like, oh my gosh, look at all this money now together, which is amazing. The dinks, dual income, no kids.

• 22:56George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 22:57Rachel Cruze?

  What a time of life. Fantastic.

• 22:59George Kamel?

  You don't know how good you have it.

• 23:00Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 23:00George Kamel?

  Or maybe you do.

• 23:01Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, yeah, maybe you do. Um, but yeah, just be aware that it's so easy to just fall right into the American way. Of like, we need a house, we need a new car, we need to, all these things, so just be aware.

• 23:14George Kamel?

  And we deserve, and one person can always talk you into it, AKA your spouse.

• 23:18Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, what about you?

• 23:19George Kamel?

  My best advice is to truly combine finances. I'm talking about one joint checking account, one joint high-yield savings account. That will do wonders for your marriage, not this like, well, I have this account over here because I want my independence. Listen, you can be your own person and have your own line in the budget for Rachel's fun money and still be your own person. This is not about taking away your independence, it's about creating unity for your wealth building going forward. And too many people don't do that because they have past trauma, or they're scared, or they just don't know, or whatever it is, get to the root of why you don't want to combine and your marriage will get better.

• 23:58Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 23:58George Kamel?

  And that includes budgeting together. So, you know, jump on EveryDollar. It's amazing now, it's more than just a budgeting app, and you can check it out. We'll put a link in the show notes to EveryDollar. It's a great tool you can have on your smartphone. Both of you logged in with your own account tied to the same budget. And then lastly, become an adult, since you're newly married now, get a will in place and get term life in place. Estate planning is a big deal, once you have other people involved.

• 24:23Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, that's a good point. Yeah, do all the grown up stuff now.

• 24:25George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 24:26Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, you're in charge of that. That's good. Alright, let's go to new parents. So this sweet newlywed, they have their first baby. George, you're kind of in it. Yeah, I feel like you're like-

• 24:34George Kamel?

  I'm in it. I got my second kid, newborn. It's a lot.

• 24:37Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. You got two under, two, two and under?

• 24:40George Kamel?

  Yeah, they're exactly two years apart.

• 24:43Rachel Cruze?

  Okay.

• 24:43George Kamel?

  So, we're in the thick of it right now.

• 24:45Rachel Cruze?

  Right there.

• 24:46George Kamel?

  With a mangy toddler and a newborn who is-

• 24:49Rachel Cruze?

  How mangy? She's not. She's precious.

• 24:50George Kamel?

  Growing like a weed, as they say.

• 24:52Rachel Cruze?

  Sweet me.

• 24:52George Kamel?

  My tip, as you would guess, set up a 529 plan.

• 24:56Rachel Cruze?

  Of course.

• 24:56George Kamel?

  Or an education savings account, but the 529 plan has come a long way, and it's crazy to think about how much time a newborn has on their side for compound growth to do its magic.

• 25:07Rachel Cruze?

  So true.

• 25:08George Kamel?

  So whether it's a 529 plan, or even a brokerage account for general investing, like you put a hundred bucks in there a month, or like put a thousand bucks in there when they're born.

• 25:16Rachel Cruze?

  Yep.

• 25:16George Kamel?

  You'd be shocked using a compound growth calculator to see how much that turns into.

• 25:21Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 25:21George Kamel?

  Even without you contributing a whole lot. So just contribute what you can into a 529 plan or that brokerage account, and then they'll have like a down payment ready to go when they're adults.

• 25:31Rachel Cruze?

  So true.

• 25:31George Kamel?

  They'll have college fully funded.

• 25:32Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, that's amazing.

• 25:33George Kamel?

  So focus on that stuff early on. Don't wait until they're 10 to start to think about it.

• 25:37Rachel Cruze?

  I like that. Um, I'm gonna say, don't compare. I think it can be so easy, everything down from like, the registry and the stroller and the car seat, what the nursery looks like. I mean, there's so many things that go into having a baby, that it's unnecessary. It's like, it's fine. And if you are someone that struggles with comparison, uh, yeah, just, you gotta, I don't even know how to like coach you through it, but just know like, you're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay. I promise. So don't feel like you are not measuring up, or doing the right thing, or that people are judging you. Like, maybe they are, whatever. Just have some peace with your decisions that you're making as a parent, because they're the right ones for your kid, and go forward, because it can be a lot.

• 26:22George Kamel?

  Yeah, I mean, just what stroller and car seat you use can be controversial.

• 26:25Rachel Cruze?

  I know. People are very, very opinionated.

• 26:29George Kamel?

  Get off my case.

• 26:32Rachel Cruze?

  I know. But one thing I would say that everyone needs, whether you have a newborn or not, is Delete Me.

• 26:38George Kamel?

  100%. Because it's fun for the whole family.

• 26:40Rachel Cruze?

  Fun for the whole family. Yes, because your kids' names, now that you're a newlywed with a baby, it's so easy for all of our information, even our family's information, to be out on the internet. And that's email addresses, cell phones, I mean, numbers, I mean, all of it's very personal stuff that's out there. And data brokers will collect that data and then sell it. And that puts you at risk for scams and fraud and phishing. And so if you can be deleted from the internet as soon as possible, that is what Delete Me is for, and we love them for it.

• 27:10George Kamel?

  It makes me uneasy to think about all the information that could be out there. And Delete Me just makes me feel easy.

• 27:15Rachel Cruze?

  I know.

• 27:16George Kamel?

  So, go check it out. You can get 20% off their annual plans by going to joindelete.me/smartmoney. And it comes out to like nine bucks a month to protect your family. So, think of it almost like in terms of an insurance product versus like a subscription to something entertaining.

• 27:32Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah.

• 27:32George Kamel?

  So, go check it out. We'll drop a link in the description as well.

• 27:35Rachel Cruze?

  Perfect. All right, let's head to the empty nesters while we're, we are jumping. We are jumping from newborn to now.

• 27:45George Kamel?

  We just fast forwarded 18 years because truthfully, it's a blur. People say like, "It'll fly by, it's a flash, enjoy it." I'm like, "I can't enjoy, how? How can I just be in the present and enjoy it?"

• 27:55Rachel Cruze?

  And you know what? I'm gonna say, I think sometimes in the present is miserable.

• 27:59George Kamel?

  Thank you. Like, sometimes I want to focus on the future.

• 28:02Rachel Cruze?

  Genuinely, I really do think that. I think that sometimes it is. It's just miserable. And I'm being honest, George, with the ages of my kids, I don't want a baby.

• 28:11Rachel Cruze?

  I'm like, really happy. I'm really happy right now. So...

• 28:15George Kamel?

  You know what? It's because you just held my new baby.

• 28:17Rachel Cruze?

  Can I just say?

• 28:18George Kamel?

  You came over and held it and you went, "No, thank you."

• 28:20Rachel Cruze?

  No, I did not. No, I swooped that baby up with one arm.

• 28:24George Kamel?

  You did.

• 28:24Rachel Cruze?

  I went back to patting and rocking.

• 28:26George Kamel?

  I realized, you know this...

• 28:26Rachel Cruze?

  I went into mob mode automatically.

• 28:28George Kamel?

  There are people, there are friends who are happy to pick up your baby and friends who are like, "Please do not hand me a baby." There are only two options.

• 28:35Rachel Cruze?

  That's fair.

• 28:35George Kamel?

  I am option two. I'm like, "I would rather not touch your baby. I don't want to be held responsible."

• 28:40Rachel Cruze?

  Well, and you guys moved into a new... When I stopped by with you and Whitney.

• 28:42George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 28:43Rachel Cruze?

  George was like, come on, Rachel, I'll give you a tour up the stairs. And I was like, I draw a line. I'm not walking up the stairs with your newborn baby. So I did give Henry.

• 28:50George Kamel?

  You handed the baby off.

• 28:51Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, I walked the first floor, uh, but I handed him off. Um, yeah, but I do, yeah, because when they say it does fly, it's true. Amelia. This is so sappy. She's fifth grade now. Okay. And at her school, every grade has a different color T-shirt that has the school's name on it. So they do Spirit Day. And so everyone wears their, their T-shirt with the school name on it, but it's a different color. So you got red, purple, green, like, but the fifth graders get a tie dye T-shirt. And I remember Amelia going into kindergarten, I'll never forget this, and I saw the fifth graders, you know, and I remember thinking, that is so far away. Like, that is gonna take so long for her to have a tie dye T-shirt. And then when she got that tie dye T-shirt, I thought, oh my God, we're here.

• 29:35Rachel Cruze?

  It did, it made me like, I wanna cry. So it does, so it's weird because it's so slow. And then it like, it does. And then people say middle school years fly by and high school is just like gone. Like you look up and they're gone. So I think that is a true statement. I, I feel it a little bit. So.

• 29:49George Kamel?

  Empty nesters.

• 29:50Rachel Cruze?

  That we went to empty nesters is, is right.

• 29:52George Kamel?

  I'm emotional thinking about it. Like that day where you send your kid off, I'm just like, I don't know if I can do it. Like, I think I might need to send Whitney and be like, hey, be with God and you handle it. I can't, I can't. Especially, I don't know why, the girls just hits different for me. Like sending off my little girl is, the boy, I'm like, all right, have fun, kid, you know, make good decisions.

• 30:12Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. Uh, that's why Winston whispers in the girl's ears all the time. He's like, go to Belmont or Lipscomb.

• 30:17George Kamel?

  Yes, keep it local.

• 30:19Rachel Cruze?

  Saying, I'm like, no.

• 30:20George Kamel?

  I think about that because I fled, I fled. I went all the way from Boston to Mobile, Alabama.

• 30:25Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, that's crazy.

• 30:25George Kamel?

  Years old and I never went back. And I'm like, that would crush me as a parent. So sorry, Max and May. I love you dearly. It wasn't you, it was me. I was on my eat, pray, love journey. I had to find myself. And I'm southern now.

• 30:38Rachel Cruze?

  Finding himself at the Mac store, working.

• 30:41George Kamel?

  That's right. All right. We gotta get to our tips for empty nesters.

• 30:44Rachel Cruze?

  Go.

• 30:45George Kamel?

  Here's my tip. It sounds crazy, but start dreaming again. I found as we take calls from a lot of empty nesters, the thing in front of you was just like you had your goal, like survive, get the kid through high school, get the kid through college, cash flow it. And then after that, you're sort of like looking at each other like, oh, I remember you. Like you're older, you've aged very well. But like, I forget what it's like to connect with you in a different way. And so I think older couples, they may not be much older these days. An empty nester could be, you know.

• 31:18Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, yeah.

• 31:18George Kamel?

  Forty.

• 31:18Rachel Cruze?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 31:19George Kamel?

  Forty. But now that the grind is over, you need to start planning for that next 20 years. What does retirement look like? How do we reconnect with each other in a meaningful way? And maybe things that we've put down by the wayside on the back burner, we gotta bring that to the forefront now and focus on it. And you have the luxury to do that at this stage of life. So I always encourage couples to do that annual sort of dream date of what are the next financial goals? What are the things we want to do as a family to spend, save and give in this new phase? And I think that will reinvigorate the next few decades of your life.

• 31:51Rachel Cruze?

  Gosh, Georgia's beautiful.

• 31:53George Kamel?

  I rest my case.

• 31:54Rachel Cruze?

  That was beautiful. You took the emotional side and I'm about to go tactical.

• 31:58George Kamel?

  Well, I'm a new dad and so I'm just very emotional these days.

• 32:01Rachel Cruze?

  Do we switch places? I'm gonna say pay off the house.

• 32:04George Kamel?

  Boo.

• 32:05Rachel Cruze?

  That's mine. That's mine. If the house is not paid off, let that be your goal. Tackle it. We have a paid off house. Let that line item in the budget, that's usually the most expensive line item, is the mortgage. Let it be done with and yeah, and look forward to dream. Use that mortgage payment.

• 32:21George Kamel?

  We do get calls where people are in retirement era and they're like, well, I still have the mortgage and it just, my heart sinks because I'm like.

• 32:28Rachel Cruze?

  It's hard, yeah.

• 32:29George Kamel?

  Even if you got a 30 year mortgage that you took out at 35, by 65, it should have been long gone.

• 32:34Rachel Cruze?

  Right.

• 32:34George Kamel?

  But the problem is we keep moving up or we refinance or we just keep kicking the can down the road. And then we find ourselves in retirement wanting to retire, but we have to work.

• 32:43Rachel Cruze?

  But you, yeah, because you have all these bills still to pay.

• 32:45George Kamel?

  I want to be work optional. Once I hit 60, that's just a personal goal.

• 32:49Rachel Cruze?

  That's a great goal. Well, speaking of retired, that's our next stage and our final stage. Okay, so I'm gonna say enjoy your money. Enjoy it. We sometimes talk to retired couples and they're like, they have a great, they did it. They did what we talk about.

• 33:00George Kamel?

  Baby steps millionaires.

• 33:02Rachel Cruze?

  And sometimes, not all. Sometimes they're like, oh, well, I don't know if we should take a trip to Florida because I have seven million dollars in my 401k. And we're like, go to Florida. Buy a house in Florida. You know what I mean? Like, go enjoy. Like, this is the time. So, you made it. Go have fun. Enjoy the money that you've worked so hard for.

• 33:22George Kamel?

  Yes. It kinda goes back to that Die With Zero mentality, which we've mentioned that book.

• 33:26Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 33:26George Kamel?

  We don't agree with everything, but we love the idea of like, you don't need to leave your kid seven million dollars.

• 33:32Rachel Cruze?

  Yep.

• 33:32George Kamel?

  If you leave them $500,000, they'll still say, thank you, that was very sweet.

• 33:36Rachel Cruze?

  Totally.

• 33:37George Kamel?

  So, use the money you have. Now, obviously, we don't know how long we'll live. That's right. That number keeps going up.

• 33:42Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 33:43George Kamel?

  If you're in good health, like, you could live to be 99. So, we do have to be cautious, but we don't need to be miserly and not enjoy it either.

• 33:50Rachel Cruze?

  That's right.

• 33:50George Kamel?

  So, there's a balance there. So, mind is tied to that. You've invested your whole life, hopefully, into good growth stock, mutual funds, and these retirement accounts. Now, it's time to invest in your health, your hobbies, and your loved ones.

• 34:03Rachel Cruze?

  Mm-hmm.

• 34:03George Kamel?

  And I think that will actually increase your lifespan and increase your quality of life. So, it's both and.

• 34:10Rachel Cruze?

  I love that. That's so good.

• 34:11George Kamel?

  You know, live a long, wonderful life. And I think too many people don't invest in their health, hobbies, and loved ones early on.

• 34:17Rachel Cruze?

  Yep.

• 34:17George Kamel?

  And then they suffer on the back end of their life because of it.

• 34:19Rachel Cruze?

  That's right. Because when you get to retirement age is when you actually can travel and do these things. But if you're not in good health, to your point, you can't. And that's kinda what Die With Zero, a little bit what they were saying is like, people just don't do anything and they just save, save, save, save, save, save, save. And then when they get to the age to be able to do it, they don't because they can't. Um, so there is a level of this, like, hey, let's be aware of what we're doing so you can use the money for your life to better it with experiences, with the people you love, all the things.

• 34:47George Kamel?

  What's your retirement hobby? I'm curious.

• 34:49Rachel Cruze?

  It'll be travel.

• 34:50George Kamel?

  Just go places?

• 34:51Rachel Cruze?

  Can I tell you? Bougie Rachel.

• 34:53George Kamel?

  Yeah. Okay, maybe I should switch up my energy here.

• 34:55Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, my gosh. Y'all, I went down a rabbit hole. Are you ready for the most bougie vacation I think I may have, may have seen? That, that's like, that I could, that you could-

• 35:06George Kamel?

  That's reasonable.

• 35:06Rachel Cruze?

  Well, uh, I don't know if it's reasonable, but it's actually attainable. The Ritz Carlton-

• 35:12George Kamel?

  Okay.

• 35:12Rachel Cruze?

  Has yachts now.

• 35:14George Kamel?

  Like you can rent a yacht?

• 35:15Rachel Cruze?

  You go on the yacht.

• 35:17George Kamel?

  Oh, you like-

• 35:17Rachel Cruze?

  You're like one of sixty people on a yacht.

• 35:21George Kamel?

  So it's like a semi-private-

• 35:23Rachel Cruze?

  But it's a Ritz yacht. So you get like Ritz experience on a yacht. That's where I'm gonna be in retirement.

• 35:31George Kamel?

  Like you're gonna live there?

• 35:32Rachel Cruze?

  I mean, I don't know. They have, I went down a deep hole and I just thought, if I didn't have kids and all the money that I could-

• 35:39George Kamel?

  Yeah, like empty nester, ten million dollars, sure, let's, let's go on the Ritz yacht.

• 35:43Rachel Cruze?

  And if you're for three weeks, just do the Mediterranean on the Ritz yacht.

• 35:45George Kamel?

  What does that cost, do you think?

• 35:46Rachel Cruze?

  I don't even, well, I didn't look at price.

• 35:48George Kamel?

  That's classic Rachel.

• 35:49Rachel Cruze?

  It's called dreaming.

• 35:50George Kamel?

  She reads the menu from left to right.

• 35:52Rachel Cruze?

  It's called dreaming. But is that not amazing? That's what I'm doing.

• 35:56George Kamel?

  I'm impressed.

• 35:56Rachel Cruze?

  And then are you ready for this one? If we're going bougie again. So you got the Ritz yacht and then, I think, cause the ads, they listen to us and know what we look at. So they fed me another ad like a day later. The Four Seasons, ready for this, George? Has their own plane. So you can do a trip, are you ready for this? Like a sixty day, like a multiple, like two month trip. And you fly on the Four Seasons plane with like sixty other people. Um, fully reclined seats, all of it. And you go around the world and stay at all the Four Seasons around the world. I mean, what? Oh my gosh.

• 36:35George Kamel?

  Mind blown.

• 36:36Rachel Cruze?

  Mind blown, yep, so.

• 36:39George Kamel?

  Around the world in sixty days.

• 36:40Rachel Cruze?

  That's why I buy Amazon earrings to fund that, to fund that Roth so I can be on the-

• 36:45George Kamel?

  Every dollar saved is a dollar invested towards the Four Seasons stream.

• 36:48Rachel Cruze?

  That's why I budget, that's why I do my finances.

• 36:50George Kamel?

  Listen, Four Seasons, just sponsor her, reach out.

• 36:53Rachel Cruze?

  When I'm sixty-five, do you know how bougie I'm gonna be?

• 36:56George Kamel?

  You're gonna be Cruella De Vil.

• 36:58Rachel Cruze?

  I'm gonna be bougie.

• 36:59George Kamel?

  Minus the-

• 37:00Rachel Cruze?

  All the things.

• 37:01George Kamel?

  The dog situation.

• 37:02Rachel Cruze?

  So that's my dream. I, it is a fun-

• 37:05George Kamel?

  That's, I was not expecting that. When I said retirement hobby, I was like, I might do more golf.

• 37:10George Kamel?

  Like your mom, you know what I mean?

• 37:12Rachel Cruze?

  I just love a bougie trip and I like getting into someone's bougie trip world and just living vicariously through them. It's probably a sick sickness, but it's fine.

• 37:21George Kamel?

  I feel like it's healthy because you're, you're, you're not hating your life now.

• 37:26Rachel Cruze?

  No.

• 37:26George Kamel?

  And it's actually attainable. Like you're setting your life up.

• 37:29Rachel Cruze?

  I guess, because again, you're not owning a yacht. Like I'm not gonna go buy a yacht, probably ever.

• 37:33George Kamel?

  No, it's a ridiculous expense.

• 37:34Rachel Cruze?

  But if I could go on a yacht.

• 37:37George Kamel?

  My thing is like, can I just become friends with someone who has a yacht who's very generous?

• 37:40Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, now that's fun. Let's, yes.

• 37:42George Kamel?

  That's my retirement hobby is just networking and like getting in with the elite community.

• 37:46Rachel Cruze?

  George, that's good.

• 37:47George Kamel?

  Almost to the point where there's a Netflix doc about me because like, how did he infiltrate the elite community? Like, they all thought I was wealthy. When really, I was just like, I was doing fine, but I wasn't like yacht level wealthy. But they just kept inviting me. Like, I got you next time, bro. Like, hey, you'll be on my yacht next time. Yeah, it's in the shop right now. So like, you know.

• 38:05Rachel Cruze?

  And the documentary has pictures of you in the background at all these parties.

• 38:07George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 38:08Rachel Cruze?

  And they're like, there he is. There he is.

• 38:10George Kamel?

  Just at the open bar going back for one more.

• 38:12Rachel Cruze?

  Oh my gosh. Okay. Before we get to our guilty as charged segment, George, uh, tell us the details of the drink.

• 38:19George Kamel?

  This is the Hillstone Crisp Martini, if you've forgotten. I'm gonna rate it 10 out of 10.

• 38:27George Kamel?

  Don't mess with it. It wasn't broken.

• 38:29Rachel Cruze?

  And I think I would order it at a restaurant because it's that good, genuinely.

• 38:32George Kamel?

  Yeah. 10 out of 10, across the board. Uh, I was much closer to finishing. And here's the breakdown. It's got vodka, Saint Germain, lemon juice, and a twist, Sauvignon Blanc, wine.

• 38:45Rachel Cruze?

  No, really? Okay.

• 38:48George Kamel?

  That added to the crispness.

• 38:49Rachel Cruze?

  It did, yes. And actually, I usually don't like a wine liquor mix.

• 38:53George Kamel?

  Yeah.

• 38:54Rachel Cruze?

  But that, delightful.

• 38:56George Kamel?

  Shout out to mixologist Michael.

• 38:57Rachel Cruze?

  Michael, thank you.

• 38:58George Kamel?

  For hooking it up today.

• 38:59Rachel Cruze?

  That was great.

• 38:59George Kamel?

  The cost? A mere 199. No more, no less, your honor. I love when it ends on 99. It is so rare.

• 39:07Rachel Cruze?

  99, Bob. One dollar, Bob.

• 39:09George Kamel?

  But it makes me feel like it's on sale.

• 39:11Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, yeah. Yeah.

• 39:12George Kamel?

  You know what I mean? Like, 194, I'd be like, eh, I don't know if it's worth it. 199, I'm like, wow.

• 39:16Rachel Cruze?

  Wow, look at that.

• 39:17George Kamel?

  MSRP is 499.

• 39:20George Kamel?

  So there you go. Get the recipe in the show notes. Give it a try this weekend. Drink responsibly if you're of age. That's all I'll say about that.

• 39:28Rachel Cruze?

  All right, now it's time for Guilty as charged. And this is where we ask each other a guilty as charged question every week. And if we're guilty, we take a sip. You ready, George?

• 39:37George Kamel?

  All right.

• 39:38Rachel Cruze?

  Are you guilty of receiving cash and keeping it as fun money just to spend on yourself?

• 39:45George Kamel?

  What a strangely worded question. Who's just, who's just giving me cash?

• 39:51Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, I have. I'm a yes. I'm guilty.

• 39:53George Kamel?

  Who's giving you cash these days?

• 39:55Rachel Cruze?

  The Ramsey Christmas party. Do you remember this back in the day?

• 39:58George Kamel?

  Yes. We went to the mall and had a shopping spree?

• 40:00Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. So we went through about probably two or three years of the gift being a thousand dollars. Do you remember this?

• 40:06George Kamel?

  Yes.

• 40:06Rachel Cruze?

  Cause sometimes they'll give like an actual gift.

• 40:10Rachel Cruze?

  Depends on the size of the party, the budget, all the things. But there was probably two or three years in a row, Georgia, we would get an envelope of a thousand dollars. Everyone would. And then one year they rented out the mall, the Green Hills Mall. And we all took buses from here and went on a big shopping spree before the mall opened. Like the stores were open for us. It was great. It was amazing.

• 40:29George Kamel?

  Very exclusive experience.

• 40:30Rachel Cruze?

  But I would, I would take that little Ramsey envelope with my cash in it and I'd stick it in my closet. And I'd be like, that's my money to spend on me. That's for me.

• 40:40George Kamel?

  As opposed to this is a thousand dollars to spend on my family for Christmas?

• 40:44Rachel Cruze?

  To put it in the checking account, which means it's going to go to groceries.

• 40:47George Kamel?

  Oh, it would disappear into not fun stuff.

• 40:50Rachel Cruze?

  A hundred percent. So I

• 40:51George Kamel?

  Do you remember what you used it on?

• 40:52Rachel Cruze?

  Keep it for me. Um, I'm going to be honest, I found an envelope just like last year and it had like 300 bucks still in it.

• 41:00George Kamel?

  Oh, my goodness.

• 41:00Rachel Cruze?

  I know.

• 41:01George Kamel?

  Of unused Christmas party money?

• 41:03Rachel Cruze?

  Unused Christmas party. Yep. So that's the only time I get cash from other people. I will say my in-laws will send us a check for our birthdays still.

• 41:11George Kamel?

  A personal check?

• 41:12Rachel Cruze?

  Buddy and Helen. Yep. Yeah.

• 41:14George Kamel?

  I love that. In the mail.

• 41:15Rachel Cruze?

  With a card and they, they write a whole thing. It's so sweet.

• 41:18George Kamel?

  So sweet.

• 41:18Rachel Cruze?

  It is.

• 41:19George Kamel?

  We gotta get Buddy Cruz on Venmo. Is he unaware or is he just like at old school?

• 41:23Rachel Cruze?

  I don't know. But yeah, the check, the checks still come, which I so appreciate. But anyways, that I will, I'll take like money that's given to me for like a Christmas or a birthday still as an adult. And I'm like, yes, I don't want this going to pull-ups. You know what I mean? Or like, I don't want this like

• 41:39George Kamel?

  Yeah, we're not going to support pull-ups. It's ridiculous.

• 41:44Rachel Cruze?

  Okay, how about you? Would you ever do that? Or is that silly to you? Because Winston just puts it in the bank. And he's like, I mean, if I want to go spend it on something, I'll just spend it anyways. But I'm like, there's just something like, I don't know. It's like your money. It's like, this is my cash.

• 41:55George Kamel?

  No, we, so like, we sold stuff on Facebook Marketplace. And so they'll give us cash. And we're talking hundreds of dollars. Sold some nice chairs. I'm just gonna put it that way. Hundreds of dollars. And I kept it. And I use it for haircut money. Because I pay cash to get a discount on my haircuts.

• 42:12Rachel Cruze?

  Oh, well, that's smart.

• 42:13George Kamel?

  So that is my version of fun money. That is like, this is not for you, Whitney. This is not going in the bank. I will utilize this to stomach the cost of my bi-weekly haircuts.

• 42:23Rachel Cruze?

  You kind of feel like you got free haircuts.

• 42:25George Kamel?

  Exactly.

• 42:27Rachel Cruze?

  Cash, I know. Okay, can we talk about this? This is controversial. But cash, we would say, and I think still believe that like, it hurts more when you spend with cash. I'm finding now that because I use Apple Pay and debit cards all the time, cash actually feels free. I went through Shalotsky's.

• 42:44Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, I did, last week.

• 42:45George Kamel?

  You're telling me that Gen Z are working at Shalotsky's and knew how to handle cash?

• 42:49Rachel Cruze?

  And I gave a 20 to pay, and I kind of feel like I got a free lunch.

• 42:52George Kamel?

  Wow.

• 42:53Rachel Cruze?

  I know. Is something changing?

• 42:55George Kamel?

  Well, you're just becoming, you're Benjamin Buttoning into what Gen Z feels and thinks, which I think they appreciate. Because Gen Z would say that. They were like, no, if I have cash, it feels like free money.

• 43:03Rachel Cruze?

  It does feel like free money.

• 43:04George Kamel?

  It's outside of the matrix. It's not in the system.

• 43:06Rachel Cruze?

  Yes.

• 43:06George Kamel?

  Can't track it.

• 43:07Rachel Cruze?

  Yes. What is that?

• 43:09George Kamel?

  That's the danger of cash.

• 43:09Rachel Cruze?

  That used to not be the thing. Like, that's not how, I did not feel that way always. But in Shalotsky's drive-through, I did.

• 43:17George Kamel?

  But the opposite is true. If I have $800 cash that I have to use to buy something, it like, my soul is, it changes me.

• 43:25Rachel Cruze?

  It does, okay.

• 43:26George Kamel?

  The physiology changes.

• 43:27Rachel Cruze?

  But how about the haircuts, does it?

• 43:29George Kamel?

  No, because that's, you know, that's small.

• 43:31Rachel Cruze?

  So maybe the small stuff.

• 43:32George Kamel?

  Every two weeks.

• 43:33Rachel Cruze?

  Maybe that's it. But if you're gonna go do a big purchase and you have cash, that would hurt. Yeah, if you've got multiple hundreds.

• 43:37George Kamel?

  But like, if I was using a card, it wouldn't hurt at all. So the fact that I'm using cash.

• 43:41Rachel Cruze?

  See, but I think with the card, I'm like, it's gonna go in the EveryDollar app. Then I gotta track it to the restaurants. And that's taking away the, like, it's, do you know what I'm saying?

• 43:48George Kamel?

  Yeah.

• 43:48Rachel Cruze?

  I don't know.

• 43:49George Kamel?

  No, you're like evading the system that you created for yourself when you use cash at this point of your life. That's all I'm gonna say.

• 43:56Rachel Cruze?

  I'm just being honest. Transparency here.

• 43:58George Kamel?

  Thank you for your vulnerability. You're so brave. People don't say it enough.

• 44:04Rachel Cruze?

  All right, if you have a guilty charge question, make sure to DM us at Rachel Cruz and at George Kamel.

• 44:09George Kamel?

  We need them, guys.

• 44:10Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, we do love your ideas and they do help.

• 44:12George Kamel?

  The well is running dry.

• 44:14Rachel Cruze?

  Yes, so please send us some. And if you loved this episode, make sure to leave a review and check out our next episode, How Does Your Net Worth Compare to the Average American? So you know how you stack up. We will link it for you. And we'll see you guys next Thursday on an all-new episode of Smart Money Happy Hour.