1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Welcome to How to Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt. 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 2: Today we're talking formerly fire, fast food inflation, and happiness. 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 2: It doesn't come cheap, okay, so. 4 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: Fast food inflation makes me think of fast food Nation. 5 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: Remember did you watch that movie? It was a documentary 6 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: that saw supersized Me? But which Wait? Is that the 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:38,480 Speaker 1: one I'm thinking of? What's the one where the guy 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: ate nothing but McDonald's supercise? Does that supersized me? Okay, well, 9 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: never mind, Yeah, we're like on day three. Well, the 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: premise was that anytime they asked him if he wanted 11 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: to supersize it, the idea was to say sure, yeah, 12 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:51,959 Speaker 1: and he would have to eat it. And he gave 13 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: like thirty pounds. His hell fell apart. Gosh, and like 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: all of his the measures, the metrics or whatever that 15 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: the doctors were following just tanked. But I'm just specifically 16 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: thinking when the caloric consumption caught up with him and 17 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: they're in the parking lot and he just lost it 18 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: day three after eating like a mcgriddle. Do you remember that? Yeah? 19 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: Well that has stuck with me and I have yet 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: to order mcgriddle ever since. 21 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: I feel like that was like the first groundbreaking documentary. 22 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: Like there were great documentaries out until that point, but 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 2: that was like the first cultural crossover documentary where everyone 24 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: was like it made the documentary cool again. 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: I feel like yeah, and it kind of felt like 26 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: what is it? It's almost like like a reality TV 27 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: show but documentary right, like because it was very self experimental. 28 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 1: That's true. Yeah, anyway, we are going to be talking 29 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: about fast food during this episode, dude, real quick though, 30 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: before we launch into it, let's take a minute and 31 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 1: recognize all the folks out there who so spotify E're 32 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: end rap basically Spotify rap. You're either annoyed by it. 33 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: You probably are tired of seeing your friends and what 34 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: it is that they're listening to. Okay, everyone listens to 35 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: Taylor Swift, I get it, or maybe you're just secretly 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: jealous because Apple podcast doesn't have that, which if you 37 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: are listening, by the way, via Apple podcast, just switch 38 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: over to it. Better podcast. I've been I've been going 39 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: back to that one. It's better than it used to be. 40 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts. 41 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, you've been listening on that well because Google podcast 42 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:10,799 Speaker 2: was my podcastcher and it's going away, and so I'm 43 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: trying to like experiment with other ones. I didn't know that, 44 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 2: and I was like, oh, I guess I'll give this 45 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: one a shot. And that's what I've been using. It's 46 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 2: actually not too bad. 47 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: Oh my way. Yeah, good for Apple. I mean, I'm 48 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: an Apple fanboy, and I've been so critical of it 49 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: over the past, like I don't ten years five ten 50 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: years because they have poured zero effort into making it 51 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: a better app. But glad to hear that it used 52 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: to be for sure. Anyway, we have just seen a 53 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: lot of folks posting and to see how many folks 54 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: have listened to our show man. The number of minutes 55 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: in some cases is staggery, Like there's one that you 56 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: shared with a bit so do my mind. 57 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, some people are sharing on the Facebook group. They're 58 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 2: sharing on Instagram. But Drew in the Facebook group, Yeah, 59 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: listened to how the Money eleven three hundred minutes. 60 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: Less year, which is crazy, that's insane, Like year's not 61 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: even over, you know. 62 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 2: I feel like we're so we're like the invisible hand 63 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 2: guiding his life. Adam Smith's so. 64 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: I did the freaky I did the math on that 65 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: eleven thousand minutes. That's a little over thirty minutes every 66 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: single day without without missing a beat. I don't know 67 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: it's worth mentioning because we know that we have the 68 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: best job in the world. But it's good to have 69 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: these little reminders that there are actually folks out there 70 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: listening to us talk and hopefully making money moves to 71 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: better their financial features. It is encouraging and it's humbling 72 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: at the same time to see our podcast, our little 73 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 1: green cover art out there next to some of the 74 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: best podcasts in the world. Yeah. So just a massive 75 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: thanks to all the listeners out there. Seriously, could not 76 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: do it without y'all for sure. 77 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: No, it's always always fun to see that at the 78 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: end of the year. Thank you guys for sharing and 79 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: for listening and for being a part of the h 80 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: team community. 81 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: We'll keep it going. 82 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, now, we're gonna keep going. I mean, this is 83 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 2: against job in the world. It's also fun. The big 84 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: scope of things. Will keep it going. Not yeah this episode. 85 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: Now I'm saying we'll continue making the show. I'm hanging 86 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: up the headphones right now, just walking away. No's but yeah, 87 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: thank you everyone. Let's move on, thatt Let's get the 88 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: Friday flight as sampling of stories we found interesting this week. 89 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 2: Let's start off talking taxes real quick, some inching news. 90 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: It's not It's pretty rare that the IRS delivers a 91 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: present at the end of the year. Usually it's a 92 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: turn wrapped inside a fox. 93 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: Or something like that. The tax refund is as good 94 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: as it gets typically, Yeah, and even that, you're like, 95 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: this is guess that's the money I could have been 96 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: hanging on to. Yeah. Time. Yeah, so it's people people overweight. 97 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: How good? It's actually fucking me. 98 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 2: But there's good news for users of Venmo, cash app, PayPal, 99 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 2: those payment apps. The IRS is delaying again a somewhat 100 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: controversial rule about the reporting of micro payments from these apps, 101 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: and so that the threshold for sending a ten ninety 102 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 2: nine K form it was supposed to drop last year 103 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: and they scrapped it, and then it was supposed to 104 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 2: drop again this year from twenty thousand to six hundred dollars. 105 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 2: So if you were just like splitting meals and stuff 106 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 2: like that, you could easily cross this threshold and get 107 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 2: a ten ninety nine K and then have to fight 108 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: the IRS to say, wait a second, No, this wasn't 109 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: a small business. This was like literally just me, like, 110 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 2: you know, paying my friends back. But that has again 111 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 2: been pushed back. And so this means that a lot 112 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 2: of folks who do kind of split the dinner check, 113 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 2: pay for little stuff on Facebook, Marketplace, whatever, stuff like that, 114 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: they're not going to be in this uphill battle against 115 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: the IRS to prove that they didn't know tax right 116 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: on the transactions that went through. And the real reason 117 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: for this rule change was to hopefully get side hustlers 118 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: to pay taxes right on the transactions that they were receiving, 119 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 2: but then it catches a lot of other people in 120 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 2: the net at the same time. And so it looked 121 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: like this messy reality was going to hit early next 122 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: year when folks started paying their twenty twenty three taxes, 123 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: but the IRS said, nope, not yet. We're we're gonna 124 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 2: hold off on that. 125 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: We're gonna delay exactly. Yeah. Yeah, the IRS, they essentially 126 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: agreed that this could become a major cluster for not 127 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: only them, but with the payment apps themselves, with individual 128 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: taxpayers across the country being told that hey, you o 129 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: more money in taxes that may not necessarily be legitimate. 130 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: And they've said that they need more time to effectively 131 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: implement this rule. That makes sense. You want to make 132 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: sure you get this right before, Like you said, Yeah, 133 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,239 Speaker 1: it's a very wide net that's going to be cast, 134 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: and a lot of folks might be necessarily. 135 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: Coughed do a scattershot thing here. You're upset a lot 136 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: of people. I't just create a lot of hassle for everyone, exactly. 137 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 1: So next year they're going to plan to require taxpayers 138 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: with more than five thousand dollars in business transactions to 139 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: report income generated via some of these different apps. And 140 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: again oftentimes like they're looking at folks who have these 141 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: side hustles, who earn a few dollars here and there, 142 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: but delaying it makes sense that the IRS move seems 143 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: to even have bipartisan support. One Democrat senator said, by 144 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: raising the threshold, we can prevent the IRS from interfering 145 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: with minor transactions and cut down on excessive paperwork. And 146 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: typically that's not the stance of someone on the blue 147 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: side of the aisle. But I'm actually I don't know 148 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: if I would say that though, I yeah, I don't 149 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: know if I would agree that generally speak of Democrats, 150 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 1: the more government involvement, yeah, typically more taxes. But again, 151 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: it being bipartisan, they're able to see maybe recognize the 152 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 1: fact that this is going to be a much thornier 153 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: issue where we just just to go ahead and pull 154 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:53,919 Speaker 1: the trigger. 155 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: There's a lot of people on that side of the 156 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 2: aisle too, who see the excessive paperwork and the excessive 157 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: burden on taxpayers as a problem. So yeah, I think 158 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 2: I'm glad to see that it's a bipartisan issue. Yeah, 159 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 2: exactly to kind of say, way, hold up, irs, this 160 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 2: is this a little too much. 161 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: This is gonna this is. 162 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: Gonna put a lot of pressure, a lot of difficulty 163 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 2: on individual taxpayers across the country, millions and millions of them. Matt, 164 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: Let's move on. Let's talk about happiness for a second. 165 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: What would make you happier right now? 166 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: Oh? Anything I can do for you? Mo money happiness 167 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: saying cheap jo. That's right. 168 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: It's truly not like this is like the age old question. 169 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: I feel like that goes gets batted around in personal 170 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 2: finance circles. And there's every couple of years there's a 171 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 2: new study, new information to share on kind of the 172 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 2: happiness front and how much income or net worth it 173 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 2: takes in order to actually be happy. And there's this 174 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: new Empower survey. It found that respondence, with a median 175 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 2: income of sixty five thousand dollars, they said they would 176 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: need an income of ninety five thousand dollars in order 177 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 2: to be happy. That's a forty six percent increase, or 178 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 2: at least to feel happy and less stressed, is what 179 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 2: they said. And then even the highest earners in the survey, 180 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 2: those with the income of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, 181 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 2: they reported needing a forty percent increase. That's a boost 182 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: and paid three hundred and fifty thousand dollars in order 183 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: to feel those happiness vibes a little bit more fully, too, right, 184 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: And so Matt, this is the definition, in my opinion, 185 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: of moving the goalposts right exactly, that happiness comes when 186 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 2: you reach the pot of gold at the end of 187 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: the rainbow. And it just goes to show both of 188 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 2: these these people in different earning categories, well, it's always 189 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: the answer is always just a little bit more or 190 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: in the case of the survey, quite a bit more, right, 191 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 2: forty to forty six percent increase in what you earn. 192 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 2: And I guess we would say aiming to earn more 193 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: money is a great goal to have, right, and money 194 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 2: can solve some problems, but the truth is we all 195 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: know this. It can't solve them all. And it's also 196 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 2: possible to be so focused on money that you miss 197 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: out on the things that really matter. So exactly, I 198 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 2: don't know, I would just guess a word of caution. 199 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 2: Be careful what you believe and what narratives you buy into. 200 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 2: And if you think that a forty percent increase in 201 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,959 Speaker 2: your salary is going to make you naturally happier, I've 202 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 2: got news for you. It won't. That's not how it works. 203 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 2: And it's not that earning more money is a bad thing, 204 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 2: but it's just not going to magically turn on this 205 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 2: happiness bigot in your life. That's just not that's not 206 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 2: what money does. I think money reveals more of who 207 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 2: you are, but it does like create more happiness. 208 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: The megaphone for the things that you already believe, for 209 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 1: the things that you already do. So kind of in 210 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: conjunction with this, this makes me think of an article 211 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,120 Speaker 1: from a few years ago that found that pizza actually 212 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: motivates employees more than cash does, which obviously it was. 213 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: It's kind of a silly study, sounds pretty absurd on 214 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: its face, Like I'm not actually gonna choose, like Pizza 215 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: Hut over a twenty dollars bill. Maybe if it was 216 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: Antiico or Glide Pizza, some of one of our favorites 217 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: here in Atlanta. It's great pizza, then yeah, that's really 218 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: motivating to me. But what was at the core that 219 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: study was the fact that it's less about money and 220 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: it's more about being recognized. It's more about appreciation. Yes, 221 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: and certainly pay that is one way to show that appreciation, 222 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: but there are other ways that can feel a bit 223 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: more tangible. It makes me think of like the meme 224 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,319 Speaker 1: of all right, instead of getting a pay this year, 225 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: it's a pizza party in But there is some truth 226 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: to that, I guess is what we're saying. But employers, 227 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: they can save money, I think by taking an outside 228 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: of the box approach to incentivizing and to rewarding the 229 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: talented folks in their employment. Makes me like, used to 230 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: work for Clark Howard at the radio station, and was 231 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 1: it literally every single year that y'all took a year 232 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: a trip abroad? 233 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: I went to six continents thanks to Clark. It's interesting. 234 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 2: I think if you had said, hey, here's two grand, 235 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 2: or here is the hotel and the flight because he 236 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 2: was always great about booking it on the chief and 237 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 2: stuff like that. I mean, the travel was worth way 238 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: more than the money my paycheck would have been. 239 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: Hey, you got it at a deal, it was a discount. Yeah, 240 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: But b it's not just just that, it's everything that 241 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 1: came along with yet, Like there's like a camaraderie, I'm sure, 242 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 1: building memories. The fact that you would six continents is 243 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: pretty major. And how many continents are there? Right right? 244 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: He never took me to an article, so you're gonna 245 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:53,640 Speaker 1: maybe do that one day and to be able to 246 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: say that is pretty freaking cool. 247 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I mean the truth is, if he had 248 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 2: just given me the money I'm too cheap to have 249 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 2: like probably taking that trip to Europe or South America 250 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: or whatever, you'd been. 251 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: Like, oh, say that up exactly what the down payment 252 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: on the house. 253 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 2: And so I'm not saying it's obviously not true that 254 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 2: more money or a race from your employer doesn't isn't 255 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 2: like a good thing, but in so many ways like 256 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 2: that was far more powerful than more money my paycheck 257 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 2: would have been. 258 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely okay. So on that note, there is a 259 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: good profile of our friend Gwen She's been a stalwart 260 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: in the fire community for a while, or at least 261 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: she was. This Fortune article it detailed her move away 262 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: from the intensity and the rigidity of some of the 263 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: tenants of fire. And here's a quote. I went at 264 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: it really hard, and I saved seventy percent of my income. 265 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: That's really high if you're wondering, that's a lot. I 266 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: really bought into the hustle culture that is part of society, 267 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: and I got really burned out. I just remember going, 268 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,559 Speaker 1: why am I trying to save all this money? I 269 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: don't look my best. I'm not taking care of myself 270 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: as well as I should. What's the point? And we 271 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 1: have heard that from other firefolks. Well, she's not the 272 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: only one out there, and so she was able to 273 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 1: shake things up. And what she says now is that 274 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: I don't deprive myself unnecessarily anymore. Taking the foot off 275 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: the pedal, stepping it back. It really benefited me. It 276 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: gave me the flexibility and the ability to say yes 277 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: and kind of going to what you're saying, Joel, if 278 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: you were so focused on early retirement, you would see 279 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: two thousand dollars every single year. As man think of 280 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:25,360 Speaker 1: the opportunity cost. What if I could take that money 281 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: stick it in the market, I would have independence, but 282 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,599 Speaker 1: independence from what from meaningful work? I guess in this 283 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: case for a lot of folks who adhere to the 284 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: tenants of fire. By doing that, you're simultaneously saying no 285 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: to a lot of things that you would be able 286 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: to experience at a younger age. Like you said that 287 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,319 Speaker 1: you probably I probably wouldn't have done that. Like dude, 288 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: he took me to South Africa. 289 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 2: There's no way I would have gone otherwise, right, And 290 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:49,719 Speaker 2: so that's the kind of experience that I'll remember for 291 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 2: the rest of my life. And if it was fifteen 292 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 2: hundred bucks or two thousand bucks in my bank account, 293 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have looked at it nearly the same way, 294 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: and it wouldn't have led to the same results. 295 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: We have a lot of friends within the Fire community, 296 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: and there is a ton of wisdom that many of 297 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: those folks are sharing. The vast majority of folks probably 298 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: need to hear more of that. I need to save more. 299 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: That is probably the majority of folks. But I will 300 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 1: say I wonder if the majority of our listeners they've 301 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: kind of joined the kool aid, they know the good 302 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: news of compounding, and they're thinking, I have to find 303 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: a way to up my savings rate. But remember when 304 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: you strictly adhere to those kind of principles, that's not 305 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: necessarily going to help you build the life you want. 306 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: You got to use it strategically and not have it 307 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: basically completely overshadowy some of your larger goals in life. 308 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, if the life you want is ten years away 309 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 2: from today, then that's too that's too long, that's too 310 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 2: far away. And I'm not saying that doesn't require like 311 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 2: some sacrifice, front loading the sacrifice, like our friend doctor says. 312 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 2: But it's also possible to overdo it like Gwen did. 313 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 2: And I love I love kind of reading that profile 314 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: and seeing like how she's come to grips with like, hey, 315 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 2: not all the things I learned are bad, but it's 316 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 2: possible to go too hard and to kind of miss 317 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 2: out on a lot of life along the way because 318 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 2: I bought into this system, this methodology that was just 319 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 2: over the top totally it. We're talked about profiles here matter. 320 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 2: I saw this profile in the New York Times, a 321 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 2: flow from Progressive If you've watched a sporting event or 322 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 2: something you've seen fifteen progressive commercials. You've seen Flow, and 323 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 2: she's done really well for herself financially because of this gig. 324 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:16,000 Speaker 2: And in the middle of that article there's this convo 325 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: about money that begins with the interviewer and Stephanie, who 326 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 2: is the actress who plays Flow. She said, it's worth 327 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 2: more than money to feel like you have enough. And 328 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: I think that's true. It makes me think of Stage Wisdom, right, Yeah, 329 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 2: it makes me think of Charlie Munger, who passed away 330 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 2: at the ripe old age of ninety nine, just like 331 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 2: an incredible human and an amazing investor. And he one 332 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 2: of my favorite quotes from him, he says, I did 333 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 2: not intend to get rich. I just wanted to get independent, 334 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 2: and so he ended up being incredibly rich as well. 335 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 2: But it said independence really that you desire, and like 336 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: we've talked about before in the show, Matt, that financial 337 00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 2: independence exists on a spectrum. It's not all or nothing, 338 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 2: and the Fire movement kind of makes it seem like 339 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 2: it's zero or one hundred, and it takes a long 340 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 2: time to get there. And so I think this push 341 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 2: towards independence is a gre great goal and Charlie Munger himself, 342 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 2: and he remained independent until the end, like spouting his 343 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 2: wisdom in the only a way that he could. 344 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: He was a unique individual. So I'm I'm. 345 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: Gonna miss him hearing like what he had to say 346 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: at the Berkshire Hathaway in investor meetings and stuff like that, 347 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: like just calling crypto rap poison. I mean, so many 348 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 2: good quotes from that guy. And maybe we'll put a 349 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 2: link to in the show notes to some of his 350 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 2: best quotes or something like that. But all that to say, 351 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: when we're talking about money and happiness, it's so easy 352 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 2: to think that more equals better, and especially like in 353 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 2: the aftermath of Thanksgiving, maybe gratitude for what we have 354 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 2: and maybe seeing things in a different light can actually 355 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 2: help us have a more well balanced take on our finances. 356 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is about balance. What we don't want folks 357 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: to hear from Charlie Munger where independence is the goal 358 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: is because if if you pursue that as the ultimate 359 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: goal is such a slippery slope because you can always, 360 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: like we were saying earlier, continue to move the goalpost. 361 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: And again during that episode that you alluded to, the 362 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: financial independence exists on a spectrum. We kind of laid 363 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: out how okay, you can be credit card financially independent, 364 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: where you got something that comes up in life. You're 365 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: no longer relying on your credit cards. That's a good 366 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: place to be. But if you continue to look down 367 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: that road, you could also be like, oh, I want 368 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: to get to where I'm job job independent or job 369 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: financially independent, yeah, or career like I don't even need 370 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: to work at all anymore. There's always there. It's a 371 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: slippery slope, and you could always push things out a 372 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: little bit further, which is honestly why I kind of 373 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: like flow or what's her name, She's got like two 374 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: first names. It's like Courtney, stephan Rachel. But I love 375 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: her quality even better because you can find Stephanie. But 376 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: finding enough wherever it is that you are, I think 377 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: is more important. I think that's something that a lot 378 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: of folks can identify with, because I mean, let's be honest, 379 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: there are going to be a lot of folks and 380 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: the idea of retiring early without social Security that's a 381 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: pipe dream for them, and they're they're thinking, well, I'm 382 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: never going to be able to achieve that. But you 383 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: can still get to the point to where you feel 384 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,080 Speaker 1: like you have enough and where you're able to live 385 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: a content life. That's what's so great about that mindset, 386 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: as opposed to even seeking after independence, which can often 387 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: times sound like a very noble goal. But like, one 388 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: of the things that sort of bothers me about the 389 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: independence thing too, is that it removes yourself from other people. 390 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: Like when you're independent, that means you're kind of by yourself, 391 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: which can be a lonely place. And oftentimes what is 392 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: it that leads to the happiest people. It's meaningful relationships, interdependence, 393 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: and it is an ability to like dedicate yourself to 394 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: a bigger cause. And both of those cases, it requires 395 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 1: being around other people, it requires not being independent, and 396 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: so oftentimes I think folks could actually find happiness without 397 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: the independence. Yeah, though it can be a good goal 398 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: to have or not saying for folks out there to 399 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 1: be reckless with your spending, I don't want to say 400 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: that one hundred percent. 401 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, so uh, And I think the shades of gray 402 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 2: that we try to kind of paint here on the podcast, 403 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 2: it's often not sexy, right, and it's it's not as 404 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 2: like hardlined as a mister money mustache or something like that, 405 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 2: which I've got a lot of respect for that guy, 406 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 2: but I think it's also the best way to proceed right, 407 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,199 Speaker 2: kind of talk about things in this holistic fashion. And 408 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 2: when it comes to money, happiness is not found in 409 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 2: a bigger paycheck, and that doesn't mean a bigger paycheck 410 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: is evil. 411 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 1: But yeah, there's a lot more I think we can 412 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: talk about on the subject. 413 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's one of my favorites because it is so 414 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 2: full of nuanced shades of gray. Was also your favorite movie? Yes, yea, yeah, 415 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 2: and the sequel also great. No, it's either. We've got 416 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 2: more to get to on this episode, including we are 417 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 2: going to talk about fast food inflation and tipping still 418 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 2: remains a thorn in the side of many Americans. We'll 419 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: get to our thoughts on both of those and more 420 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 2: right after this. 421 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: Right man, we are back. We've got more to get 422 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 1: to today. We're going to talk about travel here, travel 423 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: the fees associated with travel. We'll get to that here 424 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: in a minute. But first we've got our ludicrous headline 425 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: of the week. This one comes from Business Insider, and 426 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: the headline read Dior has released a two hundred and 427 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: thirty dollars scented water for babies, which, yep, sounds pretty 428 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 1: ridiculous for baby which. So do you wear colone? No? 429 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,400 Speaker 1: Think I don't mind cologne like folks who want a 430 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: little dab of oil or a little perfume. I'm fine 431 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: with that. 432 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,719 Speaker 2: I wore Abercami Woods back in high school, but it's 433 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 2: been a long time since I've worn any sort. 434 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: Of clone that. When they discontinued that, folks were selling 435 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: their bottles of that stuff we used on eBay for 436 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: top dollars because folks were obsessed with it, right. I 437 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: remember talking about that with our friend Trip. 438 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:27,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, well, Trip, I think he gave me 439 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 2: like a third of a bottle or something that he 440 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 2: had left over because I don't wear this anymore. 441 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: But then I just stopped wearing it, So I'm okay 442 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,160 Speaker 1: with that. I'm okay with cologne. If you think about 443 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,679 Speaker 1: the soaps and shampoos that we use, I think ninety 444 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: five percent of the reason that we choose the different 445 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: brains we choose is because of the way they smell. Yeah, Like, 446 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 1: they all basically do the same thing. So what is 447 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: it about it that draws us to them? 448 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 2: My wife whould disagree with you on that. I'm with 449 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 2: you on that whole factory. I think those are all 450 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: do the same thing in your hair. 451 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: But it's the fact that it's like for babies, Like, 452 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: that's the ridiculousness. 453 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 2: Well yeah, well it's it's like five x the price 454 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 2: of Colonne or perfume. That's the the other ridiculous build 455 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 2: a scented water for babies. It's like it's a baby tax. 456 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: Baby. What baby needs a smell? 457 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: I mean, you know they have the natural adorable baby 458 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 2: scent when they're not poopy, right, So yeah, I. 459 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,840 Speaker 1: Think it's But again, why do they smell that way. 460 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,639 Speaker 1: It's not because they naturally smell that way. It's because, 461 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: you babe, Like babies are like new cars, they just 462 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 1: come with the scent. Yeah, no, okay, anybody right now 463 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: imagine what a clean, fresh new baby smells like. Really, 464 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,920 Speaker 1: what you're thinking of is either baby powder or Johnson 465 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 1: and Johnson baby washing because they have so ingrained themselves 466 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: into our culture and we equate that with cleanliness or 467 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: whatever it is. 468 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 2: I think it's coming out there from one so that 469 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 2: we bond to the baby more. That's I don't have 470 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 2: scientific pheromone exact action going on. 471 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 1: But it's the price point because it's just so much 472 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: more expensive than some of the other luxury sense that 473 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: they're selling. And that's the part, especially for babies, it 474 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: just feels completely out of touch with babies on need 475 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 1: to impress anybody, No, And it's just out of touch 476 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: with what most people are dealing with because like you're 477 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: like in the weeds, you're in the fog when you 478 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: have the baby. You're just trying to like make sure 479 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: they're fed, clothes, that they're got a clean diaper. Yeah, 480 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: you're not trying to make them smell like the mall, 481 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: which is like the last thing that I would want 482 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: my kids to smell like. BA. 483 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 2: So I mean, it's easy, easily qualified for ludcros headline 484 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,760 Speaker 2: of the Week this week because do not buy your 485 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,479 Speaker 2: baby just scented water to put on them to make 486 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: them smell better. They already smell great, they're already adorable. 487 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 2: They've got enough going for them in the positive category. 488 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 2: This is just absurd, out of the top. But what 489 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 2: else would you'd expect, I guess from a fragrance maker 490 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,960 Speaker 2: who specializes in luxury fragrances. It's like, let's expand the 491 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,680 Speaker 2: market and get it on all that hot newborn category. 492 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 1: To get these babes smell like white musk, right, that 493 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,600 Speaker 1: was one of the one of the descriptors. Yeah, what 494 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: is that? I don't even know what that is. 495 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 2: It's better than smell like elon musk. I guess at 496 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 2: least this week he does smell so great. But let's 497 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 2: move on, thatt, let's talk about food inflation. If we're talking, 498 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 2: we're talking about expensive crap. Let's keep going down that 499 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 2: down in that vein. There was an article on Business 500 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 2: Insider about how fast food isn't cheap anymore, and prices 501 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 2: at McDonald's are up ten percent this year, following a 502 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 2: ten percent increase last year too, and the value section 503 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:05,640 Speaker 2: of the menu at McDonald's it's not all that great either. 504 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 2: McDonald's and most of these fast food restaurants have essentially 505 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,639 Speaker 2: eliminated all one dollar items, like you can't find anything 506 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 2: that cheap anymore. Which, let's be honest, what food food 507 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 2: item that's totally hot and freshly prepaired should cost a dollar. 508 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: It's a little scary. Back in the day, there's an 509 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 1: argument to be like twenty years ago, sure you get 510 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: you know, get a cheeseburger or something like that for 511 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: ninety nine centsmore. In college, I would get the you 512 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,920 Speaker 1: could get like the thing at Chili you get a 513 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 1: baked potato. You remember that well? I remember maybe im 514 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: thinking of Windy's. 515 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: Either way, maybe I was in middle school, but they 516 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,880 Speaker 2: had mcconais had like twenty nine and thirty nine percent 517 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 2: hamburgers and cheeseburgers on like Wednesday nights or something like that. 518 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, old, are you very old? Twenty nine hammers period 519 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:44,480 Speaker 1: went down in the five and dollars in the movies 520 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: for our quarter Cochlers and nickel. 521 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, not white, but yeah, it's just interesting to 522 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 2: see this in the CPI data reflects that it's just 523 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 2: so much more expensive to eat out than it even 524 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 2: is to buy groceries. We've lamented how expensive it it 525 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 2: has gotten to get groceries, but when you look at 526 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: the data, year over year, food at home has gone 527 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 2: up two point one percent and eating out has gone 528 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 2: up six point four percent, And so prices. Yeah, they're 529 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 2: up at Kroger, they're up at publics, they're up at 530 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 2: Whole Foods wherever you shop, but they're not up nearly 531 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: as much as they are at your favorite restaurant. And 532 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 2: this is not an attempt to judge your eating habits. 533 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 2: If you're like a Warren Buffett going McDonald's every single 534 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 2: day of your life. 535 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 1: Do your thing. 536 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 2: Obviously he's in his ninety so he's doing just fine. 537 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 2: But this data is helpful when we're thinking about our 538 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 2: budget and how our eating habits affect what we're able 539 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 2: to save and invest. 540 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: And it comes down to lifestyle and what you went 541 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: your life to look like, right, because like I'm thinking 542 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,640 Speaker 1: of like the occasional big Mac or even though once 543 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: a week latte, that's not going to make or break 544 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 1: your ability to retire or anything like that. But the 545 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: more we partake it is going to have a larger 546 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: and larger impact on our finances and on our arteries. Yes, 547 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: and as prices rise, we I think we should probably 548 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: reconsider some of our habits. It's not the worst thing 549 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 1: to do occasionally, but so many folks just find themselves 550 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 1: eating fast food on the rag and it might seem cheap, 551 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: but in reality it's not, as those leftovers are way cheaper. 552 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: Wait chiber Man, and I just hear so many folks 553 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: blame their fast food runs on busyness. But just like 554 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: everything else out there, we are going to prioritize the 555 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,879 Speaker 1: things that we actually care about in meal planning. It 556 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: is going to be a lifesaver if you are looking 557 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,439 Speaker 1: for inspiration. I'd certainly understand there are going to be 558 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: certain seasons in life where you know what, let's just 559 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: swing by, let's just pick up some fast food. But 560 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 1: even then there are other healthier, more affordable options too, 561 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: like even just swinging by Costco, grabbing one of his chickens, 562 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: pulling that thing apart, throwing that on some salad. Like 563 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:33,879 Speaker 1: that's literally something we did earlier this week when we 564 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: were pressed for time. It was a busy week. But 565 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: that is a way that you can not only eat 566 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: a little more healthy, but find a way to save 567 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: some money as well. 568 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 2: If you're in the northern suburbs of Atlanta and you 569 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 2: see someone in a gray vand just going to town 570 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 2: on a whole roads, just true chicken, that's Matt. 571 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: You'll starts macking on the wings like they're in the store. 572 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: He'll crack that plastic tub open. I've seen him do it. 573 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 2: I've always thought that was a faux pas eating the 574 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 2: food in the store before you check out like, I 575 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:55,680 Speaker 2: know some people do it. 576 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: But cool, No, I'm not done with it. By the way, 577 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 1: budget bites, we've had Beth Month's on the show before, 578 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:04,440 Speaker 1: but she has some amazing recipes A way to cook 579 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: at home for less money. We can link to the 580 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: interview we had her. Was it like maybe two years 581 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 1: ago we let her on the show. 582 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 2: Batch cooking is another thing that's overlooked somebody, like, yeah, 583 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 2: cooking extra stuff, freezing it so that it's easy to 584 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 2: reheat later on, whether that's for lunches, whether that's because 585 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:20,360 Speaker 2: you're going on a road trip, or what's. 586 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: Part of doing of smoking. Yeah, literally today for lunch, 587 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: I had some leftover brisket, and you know what you 588 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: kind of get over brisketed with like the week after 589 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: you do a pork butter or a brisket something like 590 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 1: that on the weekend. And what we've started doing is 591 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: we'll just slice a big hunk of it off stick 592 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:39,680 Speaker 1: in the freezer, portion it out into separate meals, and dude, 593 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: pop out thin in the microwave. You start smelling it 594 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, it's like I've never had 595 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: it before. 596 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like, what is this food, I mean not 597 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 2: much tops stress for sure. On the note of food nout, 598 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 2: let's talk about tipping. There's new research from Pew and 599 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 2: they found that Americans say that tipping is expected in 600 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 2: more places, but then they also don't feel confident about 601 00:25:58,920 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 2: when and how to. 602 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: They're not alone. I feel that too. I'm like, still 603 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: I have. 604 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 2: Even though I've kind of developed some rules for how 605 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 2: I tip, how much I tip, and where I tip, 606 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,199 Speaker 2: there's still the awkwardness, the sweaty awkwardness of having the 607 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 2: iPad turned around, that. 608 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: Moment of panic. 609 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, the service worker is just like smiling at you, yeah, 610 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 2: and you're like stuff looking at me. You feel like 611 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 2: you're under one of those heat lamps, right, or like 612 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 2: you're in like the being grilled by a cop or 613 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 2: something like that. But I feel like the tip suggestions 614 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,400 Speaker 2: can be wildly overdone, and so suggestions that are also 615 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:29,719 Speaker 2: kind of tough to come up against. I'm always amazed 616 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 2: when a counter service places suggest a twenty to twenty 617 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,120 Speaker 2: five percent tip or a thirty percent tip. I'm more 618 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 2: than willing to work over that much at a sit 619 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 2: down restaurant, but at a local barbecue joint where like 620 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 2: they call my name and I go pick up my 621 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 2: own food. Sorry, it feels a little different, not willing 622 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,040 Speaker 2: to do that. So I guess my suggestion here is 623 00:26:46,119 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 2: just like come up with your own tipping philosophy ahead 624 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,880 Speaker 2: of time. Maybe it's a flat one dollar for a coffee, 625 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 2: ten percent for counter service, than twenty to thirty percent 626 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 2: for sit down restaurants based on how the service is. 627 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 2: Those are just like rough guidelines, But knowing what you're 628 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 2: willing to tip ahead of time helps to eliminate some. 629 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 1: Of that awkwardness. 630 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,959 Speaker 2: And then you know potentially even forking over more than 631 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 2: you had planned to do in the moment. And that 632 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 2: there are even like stories out there of you're at 633 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 2: a kiosk at the airport and there's no actual human 634 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 2: that has helped you and you want to tip, you're 635 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 2: still asked for a tip, which just boggles my mind. 636 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 1: I will say I think sometimes that like if you 637 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: walk up to order a coffee, they've got like the 638 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 1: like twenty percent or even twenty five percent can be 639 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: the default because you're just getting a coffee, and so 640 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: like like in those cases, whether it's like getting a 641 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: coffee or a beer, I'm totally fine with saying, all right, 642 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:36,480 Speaker 1: no matter what, I'm going to give a dollar. Yeah, 643 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,479 Speaker 1: because it's sort of the minimum viable. When I started 644 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:41,560 Speaker 1: drinking in my younger day, like I was paying with cash, 645 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: and so the ability just to always leave a dollar, 646 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: I don't know in my mind that has carried over 647 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 1: to all right, I'm always going to leave a dollar 648 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 1: at least when I order a beer or get a 649 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: coffee someway, but a quarder it just feels chinsy. Yeah, 650 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: let's talk about travel, because airlines they're going to make 651 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: record amounts of money this year in fees one hundred 652 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: and eighteen billion dollars to be exact. There's a fee 653 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: for basically everything when you're buying airfare these days, especially 654 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: with the big discount airlines. But we're talking about extra 655 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: money for signed seats, check bags, food, even travel insurance. 656 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:17,439 Speaker 1: There's just still so much competition when it comes to 657 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 1: ticket pricing that airlines are trying to find other ways 658 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,800 Speaker 1: to increase their their revenue. The ancillaries is what they 659 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: call them. And while we're typically fee averse, I actually 660 00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:28,680 Speaker 1: don't mind this model. I think we've kind of touched 661 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: on this before, but it allows frugal flyers out there 662 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: to save big dollars. By getting the lowest possible ticket 663 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: and then jumping through the hoops, you avoid some of 664 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 1: those additional costs. It makes me think back to like 665 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,360 Speaker 1: even when I was a kid, Joel, I never flew anywhere, 666 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: Like think back to like, did you fly anywhere as 667 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: a kid? Twice? As a kid? Wrong? You got in 668 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: the station wagon or the Mini Vare you piled in 669 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 1: and we're gonna drive there as a family? And I 670 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:55,280 Speaker 1: play them Ontana Mom, like yes, Or if you're younger, 671 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,120 Speaker 1: ask your parents, because that was the reality. I doubt 672 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: that they hardly ever flew anywhere. And it's because you 673 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: had to be like rich and famous to fly somewhere. 674 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,480 Speaker 1: It was more out of the reach press up to 675 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: fly yes, because it was a big deal. It is 676 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: now within reach of so many more people, and for that, 677 00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,280 Speaker 1: I love it. I love that folks can travel to 678 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: go see family, to go have fun, just just to 679 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: go explore a new city to take advantage of a deal. 680 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: But what that means for us as individuals is we've 681 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:22,920 Speaker 1: got to be more savvy when it comes to some 682 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: of the different fees out there. Make the upgrade if 683 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: you want to, but just realize you don't have to, 684 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: and there are ways to get those airfares low without 685 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: we're talking about tipping. You shouldn't feel guilt when it 686 00:29:33,800 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: comes to like upgrading your seat. Like even with like Southwest, 687 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: there's like four options of like, oh shoot, you got 688 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 1: me in here because I saw the low low price, 689 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 1: and now there's three options that are more expensive on 690 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:45,959 Speaker 1: the same exact flight in order to what is it 691 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: to like board sooner some of the other some of 692 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: the other things there. 693 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: But now I never pay for any of that crap. No, 694 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 2: And like, more power to you if you care about that. 695 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 2: I got enough friendly disagreement with a relative over Thanksgiving 696 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 2: on this very thing. They're like I hate the super discounter. 697 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:00,160 Speaker 2: It's like they make you do all this stuff, and 698 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 2: I'm like, we're so fortunate they exist because they lower 699 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 2: prices on all the other airlines. And if you don't 700 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 2: do it, if you don't want to, if you prefer 701 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 2: convenience and you want to pay more, go for it. 702 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 2: But like just the fact the fact that they exist 703 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: and you cannot do that, and you can jump through 704 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 2: hoops and you can fly across the country for like 705 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 2: sixty bucks around trip. 706 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 1: That's incredible, it's amazing. It's it's truly. 707 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 2: Revolutionary for how we get around. And so yeah, these fees, 708 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 2: I think actually allow us to partake in ridiculously discount 709 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 2: of travel. You just have to know what those fees are, 710 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 2: know how to avoid them, and know which airlines charge 711 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 2: which fees. That's easy to look up. It doesn't mean 712 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: it's not annoying, because it usually is. Like you know, 713 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 2: I hear people fly in Spirit. I still haven't flown Spirit. 714 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 2: It's on my to do list, but like it's not bad. 715 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 2: Yeah that you got to like stick your because you 716 00:30:44,920 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 2: just recently flew on Spirit. 717 00:30:46,640 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: We did Frontier and they can do the same thing 718 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,600 Speaker 1: where they make you. Yeah, they'll they'll question your bag, 719 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: if they'll look if your bags looking pretty large, they're like, 720 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 1: all right, stick it in the little They're not doing 721 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: that at Delta metal crate and you're paying one like 722 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: shoving it down. Yeah, you got to make this thing fit. 723 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 2: So just a note like fees usually suck, but fees 724 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,959 Speaker 2: in the right context and then working to avoid those 725 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 2: fees can actually help you save money. 726 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: I will say, by the way Frontier I was actually 727 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: very surprised how nice it was. It was a very 728 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: pleasant experience. Aside from having to I did have to 729 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 1: check my not check my bag. I had to prove 730 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 1: that it wasn't too big. All right, that's fine, just 731 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 1: don't make me pay more for it. 732 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I got two airlines I need to try. Now, 733 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 2: let's send it on a high note, Matt. After that 734 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 2: conversation with Tina the FAFSA guru, this week, there's this 735 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 2: great article from Michelle Singletary over at the Washington Post 736 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 2: and it was titled I didn't go to my dream school. 737 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 2: Now I'm living debt free. So it was thrilled to 738 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 2: see that. And Michelle, you know. 739 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: She's awesome. She's been on the show before. 740 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 2: She's always just all about saving money, and she's just 741 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 2: spot on in her reporting here, Like, we don't want 742 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 2: to blow up the dreams of high school students, but 743 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 2: attending a school that's closer to your home or that 744 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 2: offers you far more money and financial aid that can 745 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 2: massively increase your life satisfaction in those early post grad years. 746 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 2: I think so many people it just sounds so nice 747 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:02,960 Speaker 2: to go to the dream school, even if it means 748 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 2: taking on tens of thousands of dollars additionally in student 749 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:10,360 Speaker 2: loan debt, but that ultimately leads to a lot more 750 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 2: difficult years post graduation and not necessarily a massive uptick inexperience. 751 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,120 Speaker 2: We'd say, having little to no student loan debt takes 752 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:21,680 Speaker 2: this massive weight off your shoulders totally. And I loved 753 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:23,560 Speaker 2: what Michelle said. She said she wouldn't even allow her 754 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 2: kids to consider taking out student loans. It was off 755 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 2: the table. It was not a conversation that she was 756 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 2: willing to have, which is hardcore. That's an extreme stance, 757 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 2: potentially more hardcore than I'm gonna be with my own kiddos. 758 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 2: I think I would be willing to let my children 759 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 2: make them Like I'm going to talk with them about it. Yeah, 760 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:39,320 Speaker 2: I want to, like, we're gonna lay it out, we're 761 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:42,160 Speaker 2: gonna excel is going to be involved, and we're gonna 762 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 2: have forecasting models to show what you could instead do 763 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 2: with that money. But I think like at some point 764 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 2: they're adults and you kind of want to want them 765 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 2: to make their own decisions. Yeah, the hard no feels 766 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 2: a little extreme, but I get it. If they're still 767 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 2: living under your roof and stuff like you're you're like, hey, 768 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 2: that's not an option, But I agree. I would like 769 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 2: rather help teach them, show them all the options, show 770 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 2: them how bad it can be. Then I'm gonna have 771 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 2: my figures on the scale. 772 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: But I want them build pul make the decision you're 773 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:08,920 Speaker 1: gonna have to sleep in the bed that you're making 774 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 1: right with this decision. But yeah, I couldn't agree more. 775 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: And I think it's especially hard to this time of year, 776 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 1: with like college football season in full gear. We're at 777 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 1: my in laws over the holidays. College football is on 778 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: and you see people walking around town. They've got their 779 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 1: you know, their sport and whatever school it is that 780 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 1: they're supporting. That can have such an impact on sort 781 00:33:28,040 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: of the mindset. I think of of high school seniors 782 00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 1: who are looking to the different schools and they see 783 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:33,959 Speaker 1: that culture and they want to be a part of that. 784 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 2: Maybe he doesn't want to go to the University of 785 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:36,960 Speaker 2: Oregon with those dope uniforms. 786 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: But when you again, you are basically forfeiting so much 787 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:44,480 Speaker 1: of your future by settling yourself with so much debt. 788 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: And it would be different if you're getting something like 789 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: extremely better that's going to produce greater results for you 790 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: over the long run. But most of the time, it's 791 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 1: like you're just often the case man. 792 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 2: You're just going to get the communications or the business degree. 793 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,239 Speaker 2: And you know what, even though that school is more 794 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 2: attractive to you, it doesn't mean that the degree is 795 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:03,719 Speaker 2: more attractive to a future employer. 796 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're you're buying into a brand at that point. 797 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:08,439 Speaker 1: It makes me think of the scented baby water. Yeah, 798 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: like you're you're just in love with the idea of this, 799 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,720 Speaker 1: But buddy, that's gonna be it for this Friday flight. 800 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:17,360 Speaker 1: Listeners can find all of the different articles and stories 801 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,520 Speaker 1: we may have referenced in our show notes up on 802 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,360 Speaker 1: the website at howtomoney dot com. No doubt, all 803 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:26,359 Speaker 2: Right, but until next time, best Friends Out, Best Friends Out.