Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

Latest Episodes:

Is Casual Culture Bad For Your Bank Account? Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

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 pink

· Money advice that will always be in style: Spend wisely and don’t go into debt for anything (especially clothes!)

· George and Rachel reveal their worst fashion moments (Carhartt overalls are mentioned—and not by George)

Resources:

· Want to make real progress with your money? Get tickets to Total Money Makeover Weekend today.

· 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/smart 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.

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· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Maple Manhattan

Recipe by Flour Child

Ingredients:

· 1 jigger bourbon

· 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth

· 1 tablespoon maple syrup

· 2–3 dashes angostura bitters

· 1–2 Luxardo cherries

Instructions:

1. Add one scoop of fresh ice to a cocktail shaker.

2. Pour in all ingredients.

3. Shake for about 20 seconds and then strain into a cocktail or coupe glass.

4. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

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Habits Wasting Your Time (and Money) in 2024 Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

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 money

· The habit George loves that lets you earn 3–5% more money

· Habit-change motivation from the great philosopher Miley Cyrus: “Ain’t about how fast I get there . . . it’s the climb.”

Resources:

· What to make real progress with your money? Get tickets to Total Money Makeover Weekend today.

· Get George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke, and get three months free of the premium version of EveryDollar.

· Help us make the show better! Please fill out the quick survey.

https://bit.ly/3U2zLeP

· Learn more about your ad choices: https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices

· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Mojito Mocktail

Recipe by Culinary Hill

Ingredients:

· 10 fresh mint leaves plus more for garnish (see note 1)

· 1/2 lime cut into 4 wedges, divided

· 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or to taste (see note 2)

· 1 cup ice cubes

· 1/2 cup club soda (see note 3)

Instructions:

1. In a medium sturdy glass add mint leaves and 1 lime wedge. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime, releasing the mint oils and lime juice.

2. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture.

3. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Add club soda and more sugar to taste if desired. Garnish with mint leaves and remaining lime wedge.

Notes:

1. Mint: Mojitos are typically made with spearmint, not peppermint.

2. Sugar: Or substitute agave, honey, or simple syrup and add it to taste. However, the grittiness of granulated sugar adds texture and is part of the charm of a mojito.

3. Club soda: Or choose sparkling water or a clear soda such as Sprite of 7UP.

4. Yield: This recipe makes 1 mojito mocktail.

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The Low-Key Financial Mistake We Can All Make Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

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 a $500 car payment and retiring with a mortgage
Sputnik, “Carmageddon” and the gateway drug to debt: the credit score
The antidote to overspending (so you can enjoy what you have now while you work for the things you want later)

Resources:

What to make real progress with your money? Get tickets to Total Money Makeover Weekend today.
Get George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke.
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/smart 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.

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Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: New York Sour

Ingredients:

2 ounces bourbon
1 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 egg white
2 dashes angostura bitters
1/2 ounce claret wine

Instructions: Add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white into a shaker with ice. Shake it vigorously until it's chilled. Then strain the mixture into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Slowly pour the claret wine over the back of a bar spoon so the wine floats on top of the drink. Voilà! Sip your sour in New York style.

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What Today’s Teens Are Buying (vs. Us 20 Years Ago) Jan 11, 2024

Show notes

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

· Rachel explains physical cash to teenagers and why it’s better than digital

· The biggest money trap teens are falling for and how to help your kids avoid them

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/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Spicy Pineapple Ginger Mocktail

Recipe by Ramona Cruz-Peters at FabEveryday

Ingredients:

· Ice, for shaker and for glass

· 3 ounces pineapple juice, plus more for rimming

· 1 ounce agave nectar

· 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

· Ginger beer, chilled (for top off)

· Tajin seasoning, for rimming

· Small pineapple wedge, for garnish (optional)

· Whole Thai chili pepper or thinly sliced jalapeno, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Add 3 ounces pineapple juice, agave nectar, and chili powder to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake until the ingredients are well mixed and chilled.

Place additional pineapple juice on a small saucer or plate. Place the Tajin seasoning on a separate small plate. Dip the rim of a rocks glass in the pineapple juice, followed by the Tajin to coat the rim.

Pour ice into the glass, then pour the pineapple mixture over the ice. Top off with ginger beer.

If desired, garnish with a small wedge of pineapple and a chili pepper (or a few slices of jalapeno).

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How to Start Becoming a Millionaire in 2024 Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

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 history

· The top five (surprisingly normal) careers of millionaires in the U.S.

· The exact steps both Rachel and George took to become net-worth millionaires

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.

· Preorder George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke, today!

· Learn more about your ad choices: https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices

· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Kir Royale

Ingredients:

· 4 ounces champagne

· 1 ounce of crème de cassis

· 3 raspberries

Instructions: Add the crème de cassis to a champagne flute and then top with the champagne. Skewer the raspberries on a toothpick to garnish (or keep it simple and just drop them in your glass). Enjoy! 🥂

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Overhyped vs. Underhyped: Critiquing Today’s Money and Pop Culture Trends Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

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 impulse buy) is always cool

Resources:

· Pre-order George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke, today.

· Booking a flight with Going is the best and simplest way to pay less and travel more. Sign up for free today at going.com/smartmoney.

· 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.

· Learn more about your ad choices: https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices

· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Smoked Campfire Mule

Ingredients:

· 1 1/2 ounces bourbon

· 1/2 ounce of lemon juice

· 1/4 ounce of maple syrup

· 4 ounces of ginger beer

· 1 toasted marshmallow (for garnish)

· Wood chips (for smoking)

Instructions: Before mixing the cocktail, smoke the glass. (Pro tip: The smoke will stick better to a chilled glass.) Light the ingredient that you’re smoking (we used a few wood chips) with a match. Turn your chilled glass upside down over the smoke and allow it to fill the interior of the glass. Leave your glass upside down over the smoke and start making your cocktail.

Add the bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup and ice into a shaker, then shake until chilled. Strain the liquid into the smoked glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a toasted marshmallow (use a kitchen food torch to toast it) and cheers to 2024!

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Unique Holiday Traditions You Won’t Find in the U.S. Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

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 favorite that the Japanese eat every Christmas Eve

· A holiday reminder not to let “December you” financially sink “January you”

Resources:

· Booking a flight with Going is the best and simplest way to pay less and travel more. Sign up for free today at going.com/smartmoney.

· Start making memories. Get Telestrations at Walmart or wherever you buy board games.

· 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.

· Pre-order George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke, today!

· Learn more about your ad choices: https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices

· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Christmas Mocktail

Recipe from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Ingredients:

· Ice

· 2 ounces cranberry juice

· 2 ounces apple cider or apple juice

· 1 ounce orange juice, fresh squeezed

· 2 ounces ginger ale

Instructions: Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the cranberry juice, apple cider, and orange juice, stir to combine. Top with ginger ale. Serve with garnishes of your choice.

Notes: This can also be made in a large pitcher. Keep the measurements the same, 2 cranberry juice, 2 apple cider, 2 ginger ale, to 1 orange juice. Want to add alcohol? Gin, vodka, rum, or tequila are all good choices!

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Revisiting Our On-Air Money Advice From the Past Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

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 with quick thinking and solid money advice in an exciting round of “Don’t Get Buzzed!”

Resources:

· Listen to or watch The Ramsey Shownow.

· Booking a flight with Going is the best and simplest way to pay less and travel more. Sign up for free today at going.com/smartmoney.

· Start making memories. Get Telestrations at Walmart today!

· 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.

· Pre-order George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke, today!

· Learn more about your ad choices: https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices

· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Bourbon Apple Cider Mimosa

Ingredients:

· 1 ounce bourbon

· 2 ounces apple cider

· 3 ounces champagne

· caramel sauce

· apple slices (optional)

Instructions: Rim the champagne flute with caramel sauce. Pour in the bourbon, add the apple cider, and top it off with the champagne. Garnish with a few thin apple slices, take a sip, and enjoy!

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Exclusive Preview: Breaking Free From Broke (AKA: George's New Book) Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Have more money and less stress! Preorder Breaking Free From Broke for just $20 and get $100 of bonus items! But hurry—this limited time offer ends 1/15/2024.

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Warning Signs You Might Be Bad With Money Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

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, and “shopping” at Rent-A-Center

· Why an “I can afford the payments” mentality is risky

· Encouragement that it’s not too late to develop a smart money mindset

Helpful Resources:

· Booking a flight with Going is the best and simplest way to pay less and travel more. Sign up for free today at going.com/smartmoney.

· Start making memories. Get Telestrations at Walmart or wherever you buy board games.

· 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.

· Pre-order George’s new book, Breaking Free From Broke, today!

· Learn more about your ad choices: https://www.megaphone.fm/adchoices

· Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/company/policies/privacy-policy

This Week’s Happy Hour Special: Neptune’s Gardens

Recipe by @speakeasieruk

Ingredients:

· 1 1/2 ounces tequila

· 3/4 ounce lime juice

· 1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur

· 1/2 ounce blue curacao

· 1 egg white

Instructions: Combine the ingredients in cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain it into a chilled glass and enjoy.