Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

Oxygen bars, PH balanced water . . . Are they scams, or are they for real? Food delivery every night? Are these ridiculous things to spend money on? Let George and Rachel be the judges.In this episode:·      The bougie things Rachel and George (over)pay for·      How to know if you’re splurging for the right reasons·      What Rachel spent money on that made Dave threaten to pull her college tuition Helpful Resources:  ·     Get your finances organized, make a plan, build your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smartmoney to get started today. Use code SMARTMONEY to get a free two-week trial and $15 off your premium membership to EveryDollar.·     Do you have 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.·     Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices·     Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy https://www.ramseysolutions.com/compa... This Week’s Happy Hour Special: The Bees KneesIngredients:·     3 teaspoons honey syrup·     2 teaspoons orange juice·     2 ounces dry gin·     Juice from 1/2 a lemon (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)·     Lemon twist (for garnish)Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the honey syrup, orange juice, lemon juice and gin. Fasten the lid and shake until it’s nice and cold. Pour the mixture into a glass, finish it with a fruit carving—err, twist of lemon—and enjoy!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can always show up with a good cocktail! Rachel and George are responding to the loudest, most common criticisms they receive. Haters gonna hate—but we’re okay with that. In This Episode:·      Rachel shocks modern women everywhere with her joint bank account stance.·      George defends his frugal eating in vs. eating out strategy.·      Rachel and George read “mean tweets” about themselves (Jimmy Kimmel style).Helpful Resources:   ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today.·      Do you have 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.·      Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: The Roy Rogers Ingredients:·      6 ounces cola·      1 tablespoon grenadine syrup·      Maraschino cherry (for garnish) Instructions: Pour grenadine into tall glass filled with ice. Top with cola. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and enjoy! 🍒 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not sure how to afford your pre-RIP dreams? Rachel and George are here to help! Plus, they’ll reveal America’s most popular bucket list items, react to the internet’s weirdest life goals, and share a few things from their own personal bucket lists! In This Episode:·      Rachel teaching George the bucket list writer’s anthem (Hint: 🪂🏔️🐂)·      What’s actually motivating America to think about living life to the fullest·      The unexpected experience that showed up on both George and Rachel’s bucket listsHelpful Resources:  ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today.·      Do you have 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.·      Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  ·      Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Negroni1 ounce dry gin1 ounce Campari1 ounce sweet vermouthOrange peel In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine the gin, vermouth and Campari. Stir for 30 seconds (or until cold). Strain mixture into an ice-filled rocks glass. Twist the orange peel over your glass to create an herbal, aromatic drinking experience. Use the orange twist as garnish—enjoy!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Cruze, Rachel Green, George Kamel and George Costanza—the gang’s all here! We’re covering the unrealistic paychecks of everybody’s favorite TV show characters. How did NYC’s unemployed population hold down high-dollar real estate, and where did they find such generous friends? We need answers!In This Episode:·      Danny Tanner’s excellent taste in historical real estate on a sportscaster salary·      What is rent control, and why did it have a choke hold on every ’90s sitcom?·      The concept of Seinfeld finally clicks for Rachel live on the air, and George gets mildly harassedHelpful Resources:  ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today.·      Do you have 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.·      Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: The Sundowner MocktailIngredients:1/2 cup white grape juice1/3 cup sparkling water1 mint sprig (for garnish)Instructions: In a chilled wine glass filled with ice, add white grape juice and sparkling water. Stir, garnish with mint, and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who’s feeling middle class fancy? Join Rachel and George as they celebrate “the backbone of America” and try to figure out if the rumors are true . . . Is the middle class really disappearing?In This Episode:  ·      The restaurant that screams “middle class” according to George·      How your income bracket does (and doesn’t) impact the quality of your life·      Costco hot tubs, fondue fountains and more @MiddleClassFancy gold Helpful Resources: ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today!·      Enter The Ramsey Cash Giveaway for a chance at $3,000! https://bit.ly/SMHHgvwy·      Do you have 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.    ·    Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: The Waldorf·      1/2 ounce absinthe·      2 ounces rye whiskey·      3/4 ounce sweet vermouth·      3 dashes Angostura bittersGrab your favorite cocktail glass. Pour in the absinthe. Give the glass a swirl until the inside is fully coated––then dump out any excess liquid. (Congrats! You just performed an absinthe wash.)In a separate glass, combine the whiskey, vermouth and Angostura bitters over ice. Stir until chilled. Strain the mixture into your absinthe-washed glass and get to feeling fancy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not all that glitters is gold. Rachel and George are here to crunch the numbers, debate the pros and cons, and decide once and for all if all-inclusive vacations are worth your money. Which costs more: a trip to 30A or a week at a resort? Why does late-night crème brûlée from room service hit different? And is it all too good to be true? In This Episode:  ·      The current state (and fascinating history) of all-inclusive vacations·      George’s love of fire dancing and Rachel’s aversion to mass-produced vacation food·      Cost comparisons, nonrefundable contracts and Costco Travel tips Helpful Resources:  ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today!·      Enter The Ramsey Cash Giveaway for a chance at $3,000! https://bit.ly/SMHHgvwy·      Do you have 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.    ·       Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Sidecar Ingredients:·      1 1/2 ounces cognac·      3/4 ounce Cointreau·      3/4 ounce lemon juice·      Sugar (for garnish)Instructions: Coat the rim of a chilled cocktail glass with sugar and set it aside. Add cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake until mixed and chilled. Strain the liquid into your prepared glass and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Epic Starbucks orders, lab-grown energy drinks, your hipster friend’s pour-over coffee phase . . . It’s no secret that America loves a good caffeine rush! In this episode, Rachel and George weigh the pros and cons of everybody’s favorite stimulant––and do the math on what caffeine addiction really costs. In This Episode:  ·     The number one way to drink coffee according to Rachel and George ☕️·     The real reason Target has Starbucks in their stores·     Coffee alternatives that feel like they’re stalking you on InstagramHelpful Resources:  ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today!·      Enter the Ramsey Cash Giveaway for a chance at $3,000! https://bit.ly/SMHHgvwy·      Do you have 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.    ·      Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: The Lazarus ·     1 ounce vodka ·     1/2 ounce cognac·     1 ounce coffee liqueur·     1 ounce espresso coffee (hot)Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Give it a good rattle. Strain into your favorite drinking glass and sip until you feel the espresso bring you back to life! ⚡️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Blockbuster about to pull an Abercrombie? Rachel and George discuss the rise and fall of iconic ’90s businesses. Which ones are headed for a comeback, which ones are gone but not forgotten, and how does nostalgic marketing affect your spending today? In This Episode:  ·      Are Beanie Babies and other throwback keepsakes a smart investment?·      Has technology ruined our generation and our favorite brands?·      Rachel performing a memorable answering machine rap from her childhood Helpful Resources:  ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today!·      Enter the Ramsey Cash Giveaway for a chance at $3,000! https://bit.ly/SMHHgvwy·      Do you have 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.     ·     Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Bottoms UpIngredients:·      1 1/3 ounces cognac·      2/3 ounce Cointreau·      1/6 ounce grenadine·      1/6 ounce heavy cream·      1 egg yolk Instructions: Pour all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker. Give it a good shake, then strain the liquid into a cold glass and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Featuring the very first LIVE audience in the new Ramsey Event Center, Rachel and George tackle a conversation about gender and money from the Smart Conference stage. Is saving and spending always a battle of the sexes? And what’s the biggest threat to getting out of debt: his truck or her Target runs? Listen now and join the party! In This Episode:·      Our audience helping us predict money tendencies for men and women·      How your upbringing affects your saving and spending habits·      Why Rachel defends the male obsession with grills and George supports brunch culture Helpful Resources:  ·      Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to www.everydollar.com/smart to get started today!·      Do you have 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.    ·     Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices  Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy   This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Breakfast in ManhattanIngredients:·      2 ounces bourbon·      1/2 ounce sweet vermouth·      Dash of Angostura bitters·      1 tablespoon orange marmalade Instructions: Pour marmalade and bourbon into a cocktail shaker and stir together. Add in vermouth, bitters and ice, then stir. Strain into a chilled glass and enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does saying yes to babies mean saying no to wealth and retirement? Rachel and George talk about the major money fears stopping Millennials and Gen Zers from starting a family––including the estimated $310,605 price tag per child. 👶💰 In This Episode:  ·     Smart Money Happy Hour’s new favorite girl dad·     How less babies running around eventually means higher taxes for all of us·     The bizarre pet George co-owned with an ex-girlfriend Helpful Resources:  ·     Be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card when you take our listener survey! Click here to let us know what you think.   ·     Do you have 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.  ·     Get your finances organized, make a plan, build up your confidence, and kick money stress out of your life for good with the EveryDollar budgeting app. Go to everydollar.com/smart to get started today!·     Learn more about your ad choices. https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices·     Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy This Week’s Happy Hour Special:  The Mom-to-Be Margarita Mocktail·     1 ounce fresh lime juice·     1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice·     1/4 teaspoon maple syrup·     1/8 teaspoon pickle juice·     3 ounces tonic water·     Rock salt (optional)·     Lime wedge (optional)Want a classic salty margarita rim? Start with a wedge of fresh lime. Swipe it along the rim of your glass. Turn the glass upside down and dip the rim into a plate of rock salt.Now, we drink! Grab your salted (or unsalted) glass. Add the lime juice, lemon juice, maple syrup and pickle juice. Give it a good stir. Add ice and top with tonic water. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices