

Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Ramsey Network
Pull up a chair to the happy hour you wish your friends were having. Mix two money experts with some hot takes and a splash of nostalgia, and you get Rachel Cruze and George Kamel talking unfiltered about what’s going on in the world, pop culture, and how to afford a life you love.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 18, 2025 • 44min
Pros and Cons of Shopping in 2005 (Should We Go Back?)
💸 Want to see how fast you can pay off your house? Use our FREE Mortgage Payoff Calculator.
Claire’s, Sbarro, Great American Cookies—can we go back to ’90s mall culture? In today’s episode, George and Rachel are taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane to weigh the pros and cons of shopping in 2005 vs. 2025.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video What Today’s Teens Are Buying (vs. Us 20 Years Ago) .
🍸 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.
💵 Create a budget and track expenses 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: 🍹 Enzoni
Recipe: @deadendwest
1 ounce gin
1 ounce Campari
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce lemon juice
5 grapes
Instructions: Add ingredients to a shaking tin. Muddle grapes. Add ice and shake. Fine strain into rocks glass of ice. Garnish with a grape.
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

Sep 11, 2025 • 43min
Are These Common Money Habits Broke, Average or Wealthy?
💪🏼 Which side hustle is right for you? Get personalized recommendations with this Side Hustle Quiz.
When you think you’re slaying the personal finance game by following the latest money trend . . . but you’re really just taking one step forward and two steps back—no more! Today, George and Rachel are explaining why these common financial habits will make you broke, average or wealthy.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video Habits Wasting Your Time (and Money) in 2024.
🍸 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.
💵 Sign up for EveryDollar today to create a free budget.
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: 🍋🟩 Cucumber Lime Mocktail
Recipe: Vibrant Plate
· 1 large cucumber
· 1 cup of water
· 2 limes
· 3 tablespoons mint leaves
· 2 tablespoons maple syrup
· Pinch of salt
· 1 cup carbonated mineral water
· 2 cups of ice cubes (or more as needed)
Instructions: Peel and dice one large cucumber, then add to a high-speed blender. To the blender, add one cup of water, the juice of two limes, three tablespoons of mint leaves, two tablespoons of maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. Strain the cucumber juice through a fine strainer or cheesecloth into a jar. To the jar, add one cup carbonated mineral water and two cups of ice cubes (you can add more ice cubes if you like). Serve in glasses with ice cubes. For decoration, you can add some cucumber slices, a lime wedge and some more mint.
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

Sep 4, 2025 • 48min
Date Nights from $0 to $10,000? We’ve Got You Covered!
📈 Are you making these four common investing mistakes? Get our free Investing Guide and find out.
Is it actually possible to plan a quality date night at any budget level? In this episode, you’re going to find out! George and Rachel are looking at real-life, real-budget scenarios and creating fun date nights on the spot.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video Men vs. Women: Who Handles Money Better?
🍸 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.
💵 Sign up for EveryDollar today to create a free budget.
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: 🍹 Ragg’s Rye-Tai
Recipe: Gastrohub
· 3/4 ounce lemon juice
· 3/4 ounce pineapple juice
· 1/2 ounce orgeat
· 1/2 ounce amaretto
· 2 ounces Elijah Craig rye whiskey
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a tin, and whip shake. Pour drink into glass, then add a GENEROUS amount of crushed/pebble ice until it’s pouring over. Add a couple dashes of angostura bitters to the top of the ice mountain. Garnish with some clean pineapple leaves and a pineapple chunk and cheers!
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

Aug 28, 2025 • 59min
Critiquing Your Spending Habits (and Ours) With Dr. John Delony
📈 Are you making these 4 common investing mistakes? Get our free Investing Guide and find out.
We’ve got a doctor in the house today, friends. In this episode, mental health expert Dr. John Delony gives Rachel and George some financial therapy, plus shares his hot takes on your money and relationship questions.
Next Steps:
🛒 Check out John Delony’s Questions for Humans: Friends Second Edition.
🎥 Watch our video Spilling the Financial Tea With Our Better Halves.
🍸 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[JS1] 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.
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Alice From Dallas
Recipe from Difford’s Guide:
1/2 ounce Galliano Espresso coffee liqueur
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier or other cognac orange liqueur
1/2 ounce Patrón Reposado tequila
Instructions: Select a shot glass. Refrigerate ingredients. Once chilled, layer in a chilled glass by carefully pouring ingredients in the order listed. 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

Aug 21, 2025 • 34min
Did These High-Dollar Lawsuits Pay Off?
📈 Are you making these 4 common investing mistakes? Get our free Investing Guide and find out.
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively, McDonald’s hot coffee, Gwyneth Paltrow on the slopes—we’re breaking down the most infamous (and expensive) lawsuits in pop culture history. After running the numbers, were they really worth the cost? Tune in to find out!
Next Steps:
🛡️ Find financial services you can count on with RamseyTrusted®
🎥 Watch our video Money Motives Hidden in Shocking True Crime Stories.
🍸 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.
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Paloma Mocktail
Recipe: The Wooden Skillet
1 grapefruit, juiced
1/2 blood orange, juiced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup club soda
2 sprigs fresh thyme
Kosher salt
Instructions: Use the grapefruit or blood orange to rub the rim of the glass. Pour kosher salt on a plate and turn the glass upside down to turn the glass rim in the salt. Add grapefruit juice, orange juice, lime juice, and club soda to a lowball glass. Add as much ice as desired. Garnish with fresh thyme and/or grapefruit slice.
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

Aug 14, 2025 • 50min
Baby Q&A: Costs, Essentials and Honest Advice
💰 Which side hustle is right for you? Get personalized recommendations from our Side Hustle Quiz. https://ter.li/8u8nzi
📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.
Is there ever a financially “right” time to have a baby? In this episode, Rachel and George answer your biggest money questions about starting a family and raising kids—so you know what to expect when you’re expecting.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video Putting Our Financial Knowledge to the Test (With Special Guests!).
🍸 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.
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special: The Bourbon Orange 🍊 Recipe: @muddlenmix
2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce fresh Sumo Citrus juice
1/2 ounce orange liqueur
1/2 ounce simple syrup
2–3 dashes orange bitters
1–3 ounces soda water
Ingredients: To your cocktail shaker, add bourbon, fresh Sumo Citrus juice, orange liqueur, orange bitters and simple syrup and ice. Shake well to incorporate flavors and chill the cocktail. Add ice to rocks glass and strain shaken cocktail over fresh ice. Top with soda water.
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

Aug 7, 2025 • 48min
Red Flags That Scream, “I’m Bad With Money”
💰 Which side hustle is right for you? Get personalized recommendations from our Side Hustle Quiz. https://ter.li/8u8nzi
📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.
You can’t judge a book by its cover, but can you judge someone’s ability to build wealth by their financial habits? In today’s episode, Rachel Cruze and George Kamel are waving their red flags at things that scream, “I’m bad with money.”
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video How to Spot “Beige Flags” in Money and Relationships.
🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour
📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! 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.
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special:🍹Easy Watermelon Margarita
• 4 cups frozen watermelon
• 1/2 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup triple sec• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup ice
Instructions: Cut up your watermelon and freeze it on a baking sheet for at least six hours. Add watermelon, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, honey and ice to a blender. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into salted rim glass and serve with lime. 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

Jul 31, 2025 • 38min
Our Unfiltered Takes on Your Real-Life Money Dilemmas
💰 Which side hustle is right for you? Get personalized recommendations from our Side Hustle Quiz. https://ter.li/8u8nzi
📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.
Today we’re answering your real-life money questions! In this episode, Rachel and George listen to your voicemails and share their hot takes on everything from wedding expenses to kids’ braces.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video Responding to Your Complicated Money Situations (Our Two Cents).
🍸 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.[JR1]
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special: ☘️ Irish Maid Recipe: @anatomyofadrink
2 ounces Irish whiskey
1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
2 cucumber slices
Instructions: Add all ingredients to shaker tin, add ice and shake until chilled. Fine strain into a glass over fresh ice and garnish with a cucumber slice.
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

Jul 24, 2025 • 47min
How Does Your Net Worth Compare to the Average American?
📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.
Does your current net worth feel like a power move or a bad punch line? In this episode, Rachel and George break down how what you’ve got compares to the average American by age and why it matters for your future.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video Do We Have It Harder Financially Than Our Parents?
🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour
📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! 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.
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🥃 Banana Old-Fashioned Recipe: @parttimemixologist
2 ounces bourbon
1/4 ounce banana syrup
3–4 dashes black walnut bitters
Instructions: Add all ingredients to a glass with ice and stir.
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

Jul 17, 2025 • 43min
Is Gen Z Financially Doomed? Let’s Talk About It
📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.
Is it harder for Gen Z to get ahead with money compared to other generations? In this episode, Rachel and George break down what’s working for and against them—plus answer Gen Z’s biggest questions about how to win financially.
Next Steps:
🎥 Watch our video Dave Ramsey Answers Your Most-Asked Questions.
🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour
📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! 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.
💵 The simplest way to budget. Download the EveryDollar app for free!
Connect With Our Sponsors:
Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
Get up to 40% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special:
🍹 Strawberry Mint Mojito Mocktail
Recipe: Soda Sense
3 strawberries
16 mint leaves
0.75 ounce lime juice
2 ounces sparkling water
Instructions: Grab a rocks glass and fill it with strawberries and mint. Begin lightly muddling your two ingredients together until fully incorporated. Next, add lime juice, fill the glass with ice, and top your drink off with sparkling water. To incorporate the ingredients more, lightly mix in an upward direction. Garnish with lime wheels and strawberries.
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