Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

💵 Sign up for EveryDollar today. Create a free budget!  Room service or extra room? Live like you’ve got a maid or live like a local? Rachel and George weigh in on the pros and cons of staying in a short-term rental (versus a hotel). And if you’re thinking about investing, they’ve got smart money advice for that too.   Next Steps ·      📱Submit a Guilty as Charged question for Rachel and George!...

💵 Sign up for EveryDollar today. Create a free budget!    You can’t buy love . . . but don’t tell that to the guy who spends $499 a month on dating apps! Today, George and Rachel break down the cost of dating and what the average American relationship will cost you over a lifetime. The bottom line: Whether you’re married or single, love is expensive—budget accordingly.   Next Steps ·      💡 Need...

Why are wealthy people dressing like they have no money while broke people are trying to dress like they live at the Biltmore? In this episode, George and Rachel break down the latest fashion trends, how they affect your bank account, and why we tend to want what we don’t have.   In this episode: ·     Why trendy things will never be worth what you pay for them, like the Stanley tumbler in cosmo p...

It’s out with the old and in with the new! George and Rachel are sounding off on the bad habits you need to quit in 2024—like not having an emergency fund, impulse buying, and forgetting your blinker—and sharing some smart money habits to build instead. Plus, get the $1.32 mocktail that earned a 10 out of 10.   In this episode: ·      Rachel’s “add it to the cart” habit to help you spend less mone...

Some things we’ve just gotten used to—like $4 coffee, the F-bomb on TV, and your cousin Fred oversharing on Facebook. But has our nothing-shocks-us society also desensitized us to the effects of living in debt? George and Rachel weigh in. Join them for a New York twist on a classic cocktail and smart money tips to ditch debt and build wealth.   In this episode: Things we should find shocking, like...

Do you shop like the cool kids? Join Rachel and George for a breakdown on the brands and stores American teens loved in 2023 and the cash app they used to pay for it all. (Caution: This episode contains high levels of nostalgia. Side effects may include sudden reminiscing and an overwhelming urge to say, “Back in my day . . .”) In this episode: ·   What the average teen spends $200 a month on ·   ...

Think you’ll never make it to $1 million? Think again! This week, George and Rachel break down the proven path to this iconic financial milestone and bust some myths about the lifestyles that everyday millionaires (like themselves) actually live. Listen in to learn how you can get one step closer to millionaire status in 2024! In this episode: ·     One of the most epic moments in 1990s game show...

Resolution #1: Don’t fall for the hype! Just in time for 2024, Rachel and George are here to protect your budget (and your sanity) from the Internet trends and must-have products that don’t pay off—and green-light some that do.   In this episode: ·      Is Taylor Swift really worth her weight in gold? ·      George throws some shade on the TikTokers ·      Why paying with cash (and resisting an im...

Put your tray tables up and hold on to your drinks, George and Rachel are taking you on a world tour of the national holidays that you never knew existed (plus a few that you did) and sharing their money-related hot takes along the way. Grab your party hat and join the fun because, hey, it's a holiday somewhere! In this episode: ·     George is cast as Grinch—or is he Scrooge? ·     The fast-food...

Ho ho ho? Oh no no no. Rachel and George look back on live calls from The Ramsey Show that they wish they’d handled differently. Stay tuned for a budget-friendly cocktail and money advice served up with a twist of #noragrets.   In this episode: ·     The one where George put (the horse’s) foot in his mouth ·     The one where Rachel gets corrected on air ·     George and Rachel redeem themselves w...

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If you’ve got champagne taste on a beer budget, this is your wake-up call! George and Rachel share their hot takes on things people do that scream, “I’m bad with money!” If any of this sounds familiar to you, don’t panic. Stick around for smart money advice—and even a cocktail you can afford. In this episode: ·      George’s hot takes on babies in designer clothes, broke people getting tattoos, an...

Are you a smart spender or a stingy cheapskate? Rachel’s mom, Sharon—the OG budgeting queen—joins the show to give her two cents (but not a penny more). Sharon helps George and Rachel give advice to listeners who are wondering if their “frugal” habits have gone too far. In this episode: ·      Dear Sharon: an exclusive advice column segment featuring everyone’s favorite Ramsey family member ·     ...

It just so happens that you can learn a lot about someone by looking at their Amazon purchase history. Who knew? In this episode, you’ll learn a lot about George and Rachel as they entertain you with a few gems from their own purchase histories (including their very first Amazon buys). Plus, they’ll weigh in with a few tips to shop smart online—during the upcoming holiday sales or any time. In thi...

From pyramid schemes to phishing emails, marketing ploys are more sophisticated than ever. Listen in as George and Rachel discuss some of the oldest scams known to man, what they look and sound like today, and how to avoid the “snake oil’ salesmen of 2023 (lookin’ at you, TikTok influencers). In this episode: ·      Crazy “exclusive” deals that need more investigation before you buy ·      Why “to...

Do we have something to learn from the world’s richest people, or did they just get lucky? They may be good with money, but will their advice work for you too? Tune in to find out! Rachel and George are reacting to money quotes from some of the wealthiest people in the world, like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Oprah (just to name a few). In this episode: ·      The ultimate (first-ever) game of Pin th...

The average American wedding runs about $30,000—which is making 73% of Millennials and Gen Zers reconsider whether they can afford one. Listen in as George and Rachel decide what they’d cut from a $30,000 wedding budget and weigh in on four more reasons people aren’t tying the knot (they’re not about the wedding, but they’re all about the money). In this episode: ·     How to choose your wedding b...

George and Rachel are doing hot takes on pop culture, current events and money—yes, even more than usual. We’re talking about things like the housing market reality, how much an ’NSync reunion ticket is worth, and how to talk about money with your friends (without being awkward).      In this episode: ·     The cheapest moves Rachel and George have made lately ·     Why George thinks Airbnb invest...

The upper class is playing the victim—and we’re not buying it. Listen as Rachel and George channel their inner Kourtney Kardashian and give six-figure earners the sisterly wake-up call they need. Plus, how much margin does the average American have in their budget compared to someone with a $175,000 salary?   In This Episode: ·      The meaning of “poor” and why the wealthy feel this way ·      Ge...

Rat girl summer, lazy girl jobs, girl math and valley girls. Let’s just admit it: Girl trends make life a little more fun––for everyone! Join Rachel and George as they review the girlie Gen Z trends of the moment, talk about why they resonate (even for guys), and discuss how to enjoy the “girl math” bit without letting it ruin your finances.   In This Episode:   ·      George testing Rachel’s girl...

Some “toxic traits” are funny––like hanging up your clothes inside out or buying kale aspirationally. And then there’s the less funny kind. ☠️ ⚠️ Join Rachel and George as they attempt to find the line between a harmless quirk and a truly toxic money mindset. In This Episode:   ·      Rachel, George and a LIVE audience getting real about their own toxic money traits ·      A play-by-play of how to...

We put so much emphasis on going to college, but the cost is rising and now students are wondering . . . is it worth the price? In this episode, George and Rachel share the most regretted college majors, what people are choosing to do instead, and the salaries for great-paying jobs that don’t require a degree. In this episode: - George’s and Rachel’s college majors (and what they paid for them) -...

Cocktails, quizzes, condiments and more! Find out how well you’re doing financially (and what to do about it) by taking George and Rachel’s Buzzfeed-inspired quiz. And don’t worry, this isn’t one of those money quizzes that will put you in a dark place—we promise. In this episode: - George and Rachel sip this week’s cocktail with bravery and, once again, discuss George’s first CD. - Which condimen...

News flash: Advertisers have mastered the art of making consumers think they’re in control. But who’s really calling the shots? In this episode, Rachel and George investigate what’s happening behind the brands and how it affects your bank account.   In this episode: - George and Rachel’s reaction to Chuck E. Cheese’s saucy secret - Why modern-day advertising is low-key mind control - The alleged B...

Scoring a great deal can save you big—but how do you negotiate the price down when it feels downright awkward? In this episode, George and Rachel talk about strategies to getting the best deal, then Rachel tries them out in their own mock-negotiation. In this episode: - George uncovers the depths of Rachel’s shame - George and Rachel share their negotiating dos and don’ts - Another great way to sa...