1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt. 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: Today we're talking about treating yourself without breaking the Bankay, 3 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: you know, on the show here we can oftentimes break 4 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: down the different topics we talk about in the cut 5 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: of three different categories. Right, it's either about earning more money, 6 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: it's about investing that money, or it's about spending that money. 7 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: You know. Roughly speaking, I feel like most of the 8 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: topics we can kind of categorize very broadly speaking, might 9 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: be kind of crude, but either way, that's what we're doing. 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 1: And this very clearly is one of those spending episodes. 11 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: We're talking about ways that we can spend less money. 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: We want to be able to live lives that feel 13 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: gratifying and satisfying to us without breaking the bank. Guess 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: what we're doing today, right, But we still want to 15 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: encourage people at the same time to spend money in 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: ways that matter. And so yeah, we're going to give 17 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: kind of our philosophy to be going back and forth 18 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: between these two kind of create some rules that can 19 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 1: help you. I think, um, if you have these what 20 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: like bumpers in a bowling alley, right, that's how I 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: think of them. If you kind of put these bumpers up, 22 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: it means that you're not gonna completely have a gutter 23 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: ball and and miss and I think when we're talking 24 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: about treating ourselves without spending too much money, we have 25 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: to have those bumpers up. And so those rules we're 26 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 1: gonna get too later on in the show, we'll kind 27 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: of help us do. That's right. Man, Hey, I want 28 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: to ask you real quick. So I thought about this 29 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: the other day. Kate and I we went on a recently, 30 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: back in February. We went on a hike. Uh. It 31 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: was actually a pretty serious hike. There was like snow 32 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: and ice, and so when we reached the peak, we 33 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:43,760 Speaker 1: we definitely had this sense of accomplishment. And I had 34 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: also packed a beer to enjoy at the at the 35 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: top there with a little lunch that we had prepared. Uh. 36 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: And that got me thinking, man, is there anything that 37 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: beats like a mountain top beer? And I wanted to 38 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: ask you because specifically I know that you like hot tubs, uh, 39 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: and so what do you think is better tub beers? 40 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: Tub beer or the mountain top beer? I think my 41 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: favorite place to have a beer is on the disc 42 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: golf course. That's like if I get a Saturday away 43 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: and I get to throw the disk for like an 44 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: hour and a half or something like that, which happens, 45 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: to be honest, like three times a year. Now, I'm 46 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: not very often, not as often as I like it is. 47 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: It's one of those things where you can, you know, 48 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 1: walk around the course, have a beer while you're playing 49 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: this game that you love. Why you're walking around in nature, 50 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: it's pretty great. I think that's my favorite place. But 51 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, I don't think I've climbed like 52 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: an epic mountain. So you'll have to do that and 53 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: try it. Yeah, we didn't climb like Everest or anything 54 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: like that. In both cases, both are outdoors, which I 55 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: feel like amplifies it heightens the experience. But you know, 56 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: a lot of like the shower beer or the hot 57 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: tub beer when you have like the contrast of temperatures 58 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: like that, because it was freezing even though we were 59 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: pretty hot, you know, by the time we reached the top, 60 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: it was still cold outside and you have a cold beer. 61 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: I think sometimes that contrast of temperatures is oftentimes what 62 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: makes it really nice. So for instance, like a beach beer, 63 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: like it's hard to beat a beach beer. If you 64 00:02:58,240 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: have a really cold beer, you're sitting there on the 65 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: warm beach, get your toes tucked into that warm sand. 66 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: I think that's another instance where it kind of gets 67 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: punched up a little bit. But yeah, I was curious 68 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: to hear your thoughts on a quick note on while 69 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: we're talking about beer, because everyone who listens to the 70 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: show listens to the show regularly, they know we like beer, 71 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: and they know we drink beer on on the show, 72 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: you know, every episode. And this one actually today on 73 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: the show, we're drinking one by Jackie Oh's. It's called 74 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: Cherry Livelihood, and this one is actually a low alcohol 75 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: beers three four a little bit lighter. There was this 76 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: article in the New York Times recently about low how 77 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: alcohol beers and how they've kind of they're having their 78 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: their moment in the sun. And I appreciate that because 79 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: especially when you're doing a physical activity, like one of 80 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: the quotes in that article was from the head brewer 81 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: at Brooklyn Brewing and he said, yeah, I can have 82 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: a two percent beer and go straight to the gym. 83 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: And that's the great thing about these low alcohol beers. 84 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: It's like you can just kind of want the taste 85 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: of a beer, but then you want to go on 86 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: about your day. You want that flavor. You don't want 87 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: to get bogged down exactly. And so that's well, I mean, 88 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: it kind of makes me think about top beer. You 89 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: don't want to beer up there, you you still gotta 90 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: make it back down. Although it was actually the beer 91 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: we had that actually a Jackie O's beer as well 92 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: that we picked up locally. Um, but in that case, Kate, 93 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: and now we're splitting it, and so single beer that 94 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: we split. But I was gonna say, this is how rattlers, 95 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: you know, became a thing because you know, over in Europe, 96 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: these bicyclists riding through the Alps, and they wanted to 97 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: quench that thirst while at the same time still having 98 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: all of their wits about them. And so you mix 99 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,359 Speaker 1: a little bit of as a lemonade, a little bit 100 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: of a pilsener or grape fruit juice straight for juice, 101 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: and you create this drink that tastes great, but at 102 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: the same time it doesn't keep you from doing whatever 103 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: it is that you need to do. But yeah, that 104 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: being said, you already introduced the beer. So let's let's 105 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: keep moving let's do it all right. So, yeah, we 106 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: are talking about treating yourself without breaking the bank on 107 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: today's show, and uh, Matt, I don't know why, but 108 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: the concept of treating yourself it kind of made me 109 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: think about collectibles because sometimes I guess treating yourself it's 110 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: like it's a luxury, yeah, and sometimes it might be 111 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: amassing a lot of something that you enjoy. I don't 112 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: think there's anything that I can call myself a collector of. 113 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: I don't know, little shirts, flannel shirts. For a while, 114 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: I was a bubble head collector, so I've that was 115 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: a bunch of braised bubbleheads that I'm gonna give to 116 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: my my two year old son. Um. And and maybe 117 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: local art, like that's something that I've got, you know, 118 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: a handful of number of pieces and you're a collector 119 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: kind of sort of maybe consider myself a collector. But 120 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: while becoming a collector, I think it could be fun, 121 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: it can be interesting, It can turn into kind of 122 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: a nice hobby. You can also there's a dark side 123 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: to it, right, it could become an unhealthy obsession. And uh, 124 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: just a few years back, my eighty year old neighbor, 125 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: his name was Benny he was like the sweetest dude 126 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: in the world. He he passed away, and I was 127 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: able to kind of see firsthand how bad hoarding can get. 128 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: Um And I didn't realize this, Like i'd gone into 129 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: his house. You know, we've had chats and talked over 130 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: the fence a whole bunch. That's that's the dark side 131 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: of collecting. Yeah, but I hadn't gone down to the 132 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: basement where where he kept all the other stuff and 133 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: some of the other rooms actually where like things were 134 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: just piled and just like old stuff, VHS tapes. I mean, 135 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: it was an immense amount of stuff that were like 136 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: many of which would be considered oddities. And like, yeah, 137 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: he was this really sweet guy, But I'm not sure 138 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: how we could live like that for so long and 139 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: and just becoming a collector, well, it can turn into hoarding, right, 140 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: And in the same way treating yourself can turn into 141 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 1: this like budget ruining thing. Uh. You know, we all 142 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: want to be able to splourage every now and again. 143 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: It would be quite a meager existence if we just 144 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: lived on rice and beans, living in a studio apartment, 145 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: especially if it was like we're a family of five 146 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: like us, or a family six like you guys just 147 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: to stock away like of our money for the future. 148 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: If that was our goal, then yeah, I think we're 149 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: missing something. But you know, you and I, of course 150 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: we're suggesting a middle ground. In today's episode, we want 151 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: to offer tips to help you achieve the balance of 152 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,920 Speaker 1: splurging on meaningful stuff without overdoing it at the same time. 153 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: That's right. Yeah, And the reason we're talking about this 154 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: is because overspending it's the main culprit here that we're 155 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: trying to avoid. Uh. You know, it is true there 156 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: might be maybe a select few who are saving too 157 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: much money, but I don't think that's the temptation that 158 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: most of us are are often faced with. You know, 159 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: all of the marketing, all of the advertising forces out there, 160 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: uh and the ether are pushing us to spend more money, 161 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,799 Speaker 1: even groom to consume. As our our guests, Paco said 162 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 1: on Monday, some things are of course worth spending your 163 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: money on. We all need that craft beer equivalent that 164 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: we can splurge on from time to time. In the 165 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 1: steady march of capitalism has created more wealth for basically 166 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 1: everyone while providing better goods and services. You know, plenty 167 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: more options for us to choose from and spend our 168 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: money on. It's easy to see how just middle class 169 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: folks today live much better than the aristocracy just a 170 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: hundred years ago. Take that French Kings seriously or not? 171 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: I mean not even that long ago. Uh, folks didn't 172 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: have the kind of lives that we have now. But 173 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: the downside to all of this is how our attention 174 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 1: it's been hijacked, and it often leads to us buying 175 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: more stuff, most of which we don't actually need. Uh. 176 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: And so to go against the grain, to pair back 177 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: your consumers tendencies, it requires a healthy combination of discipline 178 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: and wisdom. Uh. And that's what we're talking about today's right, Yeah, 179 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: And those consumeristic tides and the call of consumerism, it's 180 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: always at play in our lives, and it's begging us 181 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: essentially to part with our money in order to fulfill 182 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: momentary desires. The same services initiate that desire, and then 183 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: they offered to sell you the product that's supposed to 184 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: make you happy. You're scrolling through Instagram and you find 185 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: yourself wanting something, and guess what that ad pops up 186 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: backpackage need exactly to serve you that exact thing that 187 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: you are starting to pine for and so, yeah, that 188 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: it's a cycle that works well for companies who have 189 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: great marketing teams, but yeah, it doesn't work out so 190 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: well for you. And since inflation is at a forty 191 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: year high right now, basically everything is costing more. And 192 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: so yeah, we're talking about cars, gas, groceries, and so 193 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: even just your everyday purchases, they're taking a bigger bite 194 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: out of your monthly spending than you're used to. And 195 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: so the reality of meaningful inflation is just another reason 196 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: that we need to talk about how to go about 197 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: treating ourselves without spending too much, because maybe there's just 198 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: not as much money in some of our lives right now. Yeah, 199 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: in debt levels are on the rise again too, because 200 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: we were seeing them fall during the pandemic. As you know, 201 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: many of us were cut off from some of the 202 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: different ways that we like to spend, some of our 203 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: favorite ways of spending money. Uh, in government assistance that 204 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: actually meant more money was being funneled into savings accounts 205 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: as well for a lot of folks. And some people 206 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,439 Speaker 1: they actually wisely paid down their debt with that extra money, 207 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: but that was short lived. Consumer debt is once again 208 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: on the rise credit card debt it's been rising faster 209 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: than income. Car debt and student loan balances are near 210 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: record highs as well, although you know, because of the 211 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: payment pause, that number hasn't increased all that rapidly when 212 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: it comes to student loans, but it's still it's a 213 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: troubling sign to see folks taking on more consumer debt, 214 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: and many are doing so because they feel like they 215 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: deserve to treat themselves. It's time to spend that money. 216 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 1: I think you're right, Matt, and I think especially after 217 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: a time of forced austerity when we weren't able to 218 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: spend it. And obviously we've been opening up for months 219 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,520 Speaker 1: and months now and people have been getting back to 220 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: some of their normal lives. I went to see you, 221 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: you and I both we went to see a music 222 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: show recently for the first time in a couple of years, 223 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,680 Speaker 1: and it was delightful, a ton of fun. But if 224 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: we had at that on a credit card, it would 225 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: have been a different story, right, And by saying that, 226 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: I don't mean that we love credit cards and spending 227 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: on a credit card, but if you don't have the 228 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: money to pay it off, that's what I mean by 229 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: putting it on a credit. We're gonna talk more about 230 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: debt here later on, but it's also worth mentioning that 231 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: it is possible to overcorrect right where the spending pendulum 232 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: comes swinging back at you. Like you'll see the articles 233 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 1: where you're hit over the head and you're told that 234 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: you should cut all the luxuries and niceties out of 235 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 1: your life, and uh avocad of toast and lattees or 236 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 1: the classic culprits where it's like, look at you, dumb 237 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: millennials and gen z zeers who spend money on frivolous 238 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: things that you don't need. Um. And yeah, I think 239 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,560 Speaker 1: we're all maybe tired of those preachy articles and messages 240 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: telling us something in a way that doesn't help. And 241 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: and you know, the assumption is that if you just 242 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: stopped spurging on those absurd non essentials, you would of 243 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: course be a millionaire in a few decades. Duh. But 244 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,200 Speaker 1: that avocad of toast is holding you back, um, and 245 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: it is off putting. Right. It tends to to demonize 246 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: your ability to spend money on things that matter to you, 247 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: which is have the reason to save money in the 248 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: first place. Right, I mean lots of folks change the 249 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,439 Speaker 1: channel or click on follow on Twitter if they hear 250 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff, and understandably so it's kind of 251 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: a shame tactic that ends up backfiring. But there is, 252 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: of course, at least a little truth in that messaging, 253 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: however poorly conveyed, And that's why we want to discuss 254 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: what it looks like to handle money in a balanced 255 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: way that does prioritize your future while also giving you 256 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:24,959 Speaker 1: freedom in the here and now to use those dollars 257 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: in a way that's meaningful to you. We'll get to 258 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: more of our thoughts on that, how to actually be 259 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: an intentional spender, and we'll get to that stuff right 260 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: after this break. All right, we're back in. You know, 261 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 1: we're talking about ways to do these different fun things 262 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: without spending too much money. And uh, you know, self care, 263 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: treating yourself, it's common parlance these days. Uh, and oftentimes 264 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: people are approaching that whole concept with the idea that 265 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: they deserve it, um and they got to treat themselves. Yeah, 266 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: and you know, like it is a good thing for 267 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: us to treat ourselves sometimes, but one of the keys 268 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 1: is to make sure that treating yourself doesn't turn into 269 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: a habit, because if it's a habit, then this is 270 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 1: a treat that starts to become a routine rather than 271 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: an actual treat itself. Right, And so, for instance, if 272 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: I were to drink a delicious craft beer every single night, 273 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: well it's you know, it's gonna become old hat pretty quickly. 274 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: Not to mention it's probably it may not be best 275 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: for my health. If I were to keep that up. Uh, 276 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 1: it wouldn't be this fun treat. It's just something that 277 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: I always do, maybe right before dinner or after we 278 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: put the kids down. And so the act of letting 279 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: the splurge turn into a regular occurrence, it makes me 280 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: think of the hedonic treadmill, where we would quickly become 281 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: accustomed to this new luxury. It used to be this 282 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: thing that was really special, but now it's basically our 283 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: new standard. It's our it's our new bare minimum. That's 284 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: when we start to expect it, and if we don't 285 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 1: get it, we feel deprived. And so yeah, when we're 286 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 1: talking about treating ourselves, is important not to overdo it 287 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 1: so that the treat the splurge, so that it doesn't 288 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: get out of hand and lose its impact, you still 289 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 1: want it to feel special. Otherwise, you know what's what's 290 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: the whole point including all of these niceties, all these luxuries, 291 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: if you don't even appreciate them anymore, That's right. It's 292 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: like only like uh fifteen second homes, Like think of that. 293 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: How special is it to go to your Swiss chalet 294 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 1: when you when you have like a beach house and 295 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 1: a mountain retreat and a ski lodge. Like when you 296 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: have all of these potential places to visit, um, you 297 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,439 Speaker 1: probably even forget some of the homes that you own 298 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: or something like. That's is obviously an egregious example that 299 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: none of our listeners, Um, I don't. I don't think 300 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: they have that kind of love. But or even like 301 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: I mean, like I'm thinking of like steak, I mean 302 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: like that's not something our family has very often at all. 303 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: Like literally, I think I can think of like two 304 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 1: times last year that we ate steak in our household. 305 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 1: But you know what, when we did, it was incredibly 306 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,600 Speaker 1: special because it was something that we we splurged it 307 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: a little extra and we got the nice meat and 308 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: it was delicious. Yeah. No, And I think I've reading 309 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: that like every single night is just kind of like, 310 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: I don't know, I gotta think over time, it kind 311 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: of just starts tasting like like ground beef, unless you're 312 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: on the carnivore diet, which apparently some people are and 313 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 1: I don't know much about it, but um, yeah, I 314 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: guess it's uh, some people have to eat like that. 315 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: Maybe I don't know. I don't think so that's not true. Well, yeah, 316 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: it's important to note that treating yourself it doesn't even 317 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: have to cost money, right, I think sometimes a splurge 318 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: that costs money is a good thing. It's okay to 319 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,719 Speaker 1: partake in a treat that cost you money, if it's 320 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: going to see a movie, if it's going out for 321 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: ice cream, or even if it's like getting a massage. 322 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 1: Those are totally fine treats to partake in. But in 323 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: addition to treats that might cost some money, we would 324 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: suggest that you look to free treats as well. I mean, 325 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: I mentioned disc golf, matten. That's one of those things where, 326 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: like I said, I'd probably get out there three times 327 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: a year these days, but I should prioritize that more. 328 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: And that's just a free treat that I can say 329 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: doesn't well, you know, whatever, beery, I guess you want 330 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: to bring along as you're tossing your disks. But yeah, 331 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: for the courses, at least around here, they don't cost money. 332 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: There are some though, that do cost money. Do you 333 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: know that I'd like to play on something? Sure they're 334 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: much nicer, yeah, but even still, I'm sure it's not 335 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: nearly as high as the cost of an actual golf course. 336 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: That's incredibly expecive, not even close. And then the discs 337 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: are obviously like much cheaper. Once you have a few, 338 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: it's you don't have to acquire anymore. But yeah, it's 339 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: it's uh, it's I think it is one of those 340 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: treats that I can enjoy that doesn't cost a time. 341 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: And there there are a lot of those out there, right. 342 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: You can want to bike ride with a friend that 343 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: can be similarly enjoyable and awesome. You could like have 344 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: a cup of coffee on your front porch, Matt, you're 345 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 1: roasting your own coffee these days, tasting delicious, Invite your friends. 346 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 1: What an experience to be like, Listen, I hand roasted 347 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: this coffee to enjoy it with me, and they're gonna 348 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: be totally in for that combo. The mix house blend 349 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: what I call it exactly. You can bag it up 350 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: and you know, triple the price and sell it's your 351 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: neighbors too, So that can be a side hustle at 352 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: the same time. But yeah, you might not always have 353 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: or want to spend money to treat yourself to one 354 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: of those nicer things in life, like a massage. But 355 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: the free treats are eminently more doable. You can do 356 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: them more frequently without breaking the bank. And so it's 357 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: worth making a list of those things that you value 358 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: in your life, like your family. You guys go on 359 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: hikes frequently, and that is a treat in some respects 360 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: because you have to forego doing other things and you 361 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: have to forego working more to earn more money. And 362 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: but you prioritize that because it's it provides a lot 363 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: of meaning enjoying. Yeah, and it doesn't cost money, I mean. 364 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,479 Speaker 1: And even there there are things that are oftentimes free occasionally, 365 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: like like I'm thinking about the High It's like our 366 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: you know, the big fancy art museum here in Atlanta, 367 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 1: but the second Sunday of every single month, it's free, 368 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: And like you could do that every single month and 369 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: enjoy a different exhibit like and go to the high 370 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: twelve times this year if that was something that you 371 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: prioritized without spending a single time and granted, like, we're 372 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: not gonna spend the rest of this episode going through 373 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: the different free things that you can do, but we 374 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: want wanted to mention this because it's just important to 375 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: approach how does that we spend money by reminding ourselves 376 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: that we don't always have to spend money in order 377 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: to you know, treat ourselves. We've talked a good bit 378 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: about beer during this episode, but like you know, the 379 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: question we ask every guest who comes on the show 380 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: for on our interview episodes is what is your craft 381 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: beer equivalent? We're trying to figure out what it is 382 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: that they are willing to splurge on because it kind 383 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: of gives us a little peek into what they find 384 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: enjoyment in obviously a right, the kind of person they are. Yeah, 385 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: And and so when you actually do spend some money 386 00:16:57,240 --> 00:16:59,479 Speaker 1: on a treat, we want you to be really picky 387 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: with the items in the different areas where you were 388 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,120 Speaker 1: choosing to spend. We want you to find the thing 389 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: that you absolutely love. Uh, you want to pick these 390 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: activities or these experiences, these purchases that register as like 391 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: an eleven on your your pleasure ometer. Pleasure No, I 392 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: like that pledgeometer. I was thinking about pleasure pleasure ometer, 393 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: pleasure plesometer. Uh So, for instance, if you absolutely hate cleaning, 394 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: but you can't justify paying someone to clean your house 395 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: on a regular basis, maybe then that means using your 396 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 1: treat to splurge for some house help that could be 397 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: the perfect fit for you. And of course this is 398 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: going to vary widely, of course, depending on who you are, 399 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: where you are in life, what you've got going on. 400 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: But we want you to consider making a list of 401 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: some different celebratory items that move the needle for you 402 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: so that you're able to treat yourself in a way 403 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: that maximizes the dollar to pleasure ratio where it does 404 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: register as an eleven. One other thing I wanted to 405 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: mention though, too, is it can be difficult for someone 406 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: like me, I think, to identify some of these different 407 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,719 Speaker 1: things outside of the bounds of what I normally do, right, 408 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: because the way I handle my money oftentimes, like I've 409 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: got the system, I've got this process in which, like 410 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: I received my income, it runs through the machine that 411 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: is my personal finance system. I kind of like run 412 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 1: the crank on it, and I automatically know how much 413 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: I'm you know, investing, how much I'm gonna say, if 414 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: how much I'm gonna spends out a similar results month 415 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 1: after months exactly and so. And what that means though, 416 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,880 Speaker 1: is that if more money comes in, well I don't 417 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: necessarily see an increase on some of the different spurges 418 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: you know, in my life. And on one hand, I 419 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: think that's a good thing because it means that we're 420 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: able to you know, save and invest more. But on 421 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: the other hand, I think sometimes it might be detrimental 422 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: because it kind of removes, like I realized, sometimes that 423 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: insulates me. It removes me from the decision making of Okay, 424 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: what am I gonna do with, say, some extra money 425 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: that we made this year, that kind of thing. So 426 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: I found that it's helpful to sometimes put myself in 427 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: these like weird scenarios where I have to think, Okay, 428 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: like imagine I'm receiving money today that if I don't 429 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: spend it today, it just like evaporates, it disappears like 430 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: brewsters millions, yeah seriously, or like like okay, if I'm 431 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: gonna do a job for somebody and instead of getting paid, 432 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: if instead I had imagine bartering with that person, what 433 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: would I want, you know, them to give me. It 434 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: puts things in a different light, whereas normally if you're 435 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,440 Speaker 1: just like thinking through, Okay, how much money am I 436 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 1: going to receive, and that money just kind of goes 437 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: through the machine. I think it can be helpful to 438 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: step outside of that framework when it comes to trying 439 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: to identify some of these different things that you want 440 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: to splurge on. That makes sense, Yeah, no, it does. 441 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: I think that's where creating a list can be so 442 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: helpful because it's so easy to, like you said, like 443 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: do the same thing kind of like groundhog Day. You 444 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,199 Speaker 1: wake up and like the same thing happens, but you 445 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: don't realize over time, or maybe you're you're so frugal 446 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: or so intent on building financial independence for you and 447 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,919 Speaker 1: your family that you leave out these other beautiful fun 448 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: experiences that you could achieve along the way, and you 449 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 1: you've written off, not not even on purpose, but just 450 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: with even without intending to these awesome things that you 451 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: could buy, you could participate in. You could take that 452 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: family trip to Europe or even just to visit your 453 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: in laws in Tucson, Arizona or whatever it is. But 454 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: but you have you have mentally taken it off the 455 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: table because you prioritize these other things. I think, um, 456 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,640 Speaker 1: creating a list so that you can practice joyful spending 457 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: is like one of those things that you should really do. 458 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: And if you're you're married, if you have a partner, 459 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: if you have kids, these are the things lists that 460 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: you can create together. And if you're flying solo, the 461 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: same thing. Create a list for yourself, like what are 462 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: these things where if more money came into my life 463 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: I would participate in. I think it's like a really 464 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: helpful exercise. Yeah, totally, and all that to say, I 465 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: think there's some benefit obviously and having structure and a 466 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: format to what you do with your money. But like 467 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: all things in life, like we're talking about today, there's 468 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: a balance to strike when it comes to being overly 469 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,400 Speaker 1: rigid and structured and you know, stricts to being completely 470 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: free spirited and free willing and kind of letting your 471 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: emotions decide where your money goes. But yeah, totally having 472 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: that list and identifying a few categories that are yeah, 473 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: worthwhile splurge storatory for you that can help make spending 474 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:52,199 Speaker 1: those dollars less guilt inducing as well, because you know, 475 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 1: I think not only should that item or experience bring 476 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: you a ton of joy that I'd venture to even 477 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: say that you love it so much that you even 478 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: find joy in the act of spending money on that item. 479 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 1: And so like I'm talking like not about the enjoyment 480 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: that you get out of that item, but even in 481 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: the act of being separated with your money for that thing. 482 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: Like it's almost like a like a Pavlovian response that 483 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: kicks him because you associate that spending with the enjoyment 484 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: that is yet to come, that's about to be delivered 485 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,919 Speaker 1: to you. That's really hard for hardcore frul to to 486 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: their core, that's who they are, to to think that 487 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: not only could I enjoy the item that I'm purchasing, 488 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: but I can enjoy the act of spending the money. 489 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: That's like there's been a disconnect thats are It's like 490 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: a muscle. It's I think it takes practice, and we 491 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: definitely don't want you to feel guilty for treating yourself, 492 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: but even more we want you to to kind of 493 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: almost get like a healthy high from the experience of 494 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: aligning dollars that are well spent with your personal values. No, 495 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 1: I I agree with you. I think as a reformed, 496 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: ridiculously frugal person, like that is a hard thing for 497 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: me to completely get down in like my inmost being. 498 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: But I think what you're touching on here actually like 499 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: like the larger you spend because like on small things, 500 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:03,679 Speaker 1: like I feel like it can be easier because just 501 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: like whatever, it's just a couple of bucks. But when 502 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: it comes to like a couple of hundred bucks, you know, 503 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: that's when I think you can really push up against 504 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: how you've been raised or just the different ways that 505 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 1: you've trained yourself over the years to get where you 506 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,440 Speaker 1: are today completely completely. And yeah, what you're talking about 507 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: here is mindset and and and and one of the 508 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:21,959 Speaker 1: big things there was a big thing um specifically our 509 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:25,639 Speaker 1: home renovation. It was it was not inexpensive, and it 510 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: was one of those things where I had a hard 511 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: time kind of coming to grips with it. And I 512 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: didn't realize how hard of the time I was having 513 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: until we actually signed the contract, and then I was like, 514 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: what have I done? Like this is the worst mistake 515 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: I've ever made in my mind a little bit exactly, 516 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,919 Speaker 1: and and so it was this big deal. Um. But 517 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: at the same time we were actually Matt we were 518 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: preparing to interview Ken Honda and that was episode And 519 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: that came at a really important time for me, because, 520 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 1: like I said, I was kind of freaking out and 521 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: reading Ken Honda's book about Money and Happiness. It just 522 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: it just gave me like this new perspective, a new 523 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: mindset on spending that mone me which I think many 524 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,160 Speaker 1: of us need to adopt. Yeah, I was having those 525 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: negative emotions and I realized what Ken was saying was 526 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: I could either enjoy spending those dollars or I could 527 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:10,639 Speaker 1: feel guilty about it, and it was going to completely 528 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 1: change my perception of the process and potentially even of 529 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: the end results. And so I could continue to have 530 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: this emotional connection about signing these many dollars away for 531 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: the future of this house, or I could just kind 532 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 1: of gets in with it. And so, yeah, I mean, 533 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: his advice just helped me in a big way throughout 534 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: the rest of the process. It made it more enjoyable, 535 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: It made me, it made me more comfortable to it 536 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:34,680 Speaker 1: or do it because because we had safe. We had 537 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: planned the improvements we were making to our house weren't ridiculous, 538 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: they weren't. We we didn't get any gold plated toilets. 539 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: We didn't go you know, above and beyond, like we 540 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: we were trying to create the house that our family 541 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: could be in for the next twenty to thirty years. 542 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 1: And now we're back in the house and it's awesome, 543 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 1: like it feels so worth it. But yeah, well, the 544 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 1: thing is too, Like you could have gotten gold plated 545 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: toilets if you wanted to, if you have the money 546 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: saved up, and you had identified that that's something that 547 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: was important to you. Obviously it's not. That's I don't 548 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 1: think people are listening to us because they, you know, 549 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,239 Speaker 1: because we're living that blain life or anything like that. 550 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:05,199 Speaker 1: But even I got the number one consumer reports recommend 551 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 1: the toilet, So I guess what I'm pointing out is 552 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: that it could even be something that is a little 553 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: more ridiculous as long as it aligns with your values, 554 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: if it's something that's blurred worthy end, if you've saved 555 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: up for it, and we're actually gonna talk a little 556 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 1: bit more about the mechanics of what it means to 557 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: save up for these different splurges later on. But I 558 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,200 Speaker 1: think it is important to note that that your mindset, 559 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: how you go into making that purchase, you can kind 560 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 1: of actually manufacture a mindset that says, you know what, 561 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: not only am I thankful, but I have these dollars 562 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: to spend on this item that is meaningful to me, 563 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: but I am going to be enthusiastic while I'm making 564 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: the purchase, while the dollars are flowing out of my account. 565 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: And I think that is something worth striving for. And 566 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:44,920 Speaker 1: you know, depending on your relationship with money, it can 567 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: be easier said than done. I realize that because it's 568 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: been hard for me in the past, but I think 569 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,920 Speaker 1: it's like a worthwhile mental assent to try to kind 570 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 1: of make totally Yeah, I think it's easier to to 571 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: do this with individuals, Like when you are paying an 572 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 1: individual person to do a service for you, I think 573 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: it's easier to ident defy how it is that you 574 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:04,919 Speaker 1: are supporting that person basically right as opposed to like 575 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: with it's if it's just like a general business, it 576 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:09,920 Speaker 1: can be harder to identify the fact that you are 577 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: doing something that is providing a good But it doesn't 578 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: mean it's any less true, right, Like like you were 579 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:17,239 Speaker 1: talking about like avocado toast or a lot taste. Like 580 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: you can go to your local coffee shop and you 581 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: can be like, I gotta spend five bucks or you 582 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: don't have to. You're choosing to. First of all, it's 583 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: not nobody's making you buy that coffee. But you can 584 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: approach and say, oh, I'm going to spend five bucks 585 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: on this coffee, or you can see that as money 586 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: that at some point eventually that money that you know, 587 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 1: there's money there that goes to the farmer who's growing 588 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: those beans. It goes to the coffee shop who is 589 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 1: providing a comfortable atmosphere for you to hang out in. 590 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: It's going to the barista who's making your you know, 591 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: your drink whatever. They're making it better than you can 592 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: make it at home. Yeah, probably, which is great, So 593 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,359 Speaker 1: enjoy that. And so it's yeah, it's just this this, 594 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: like you said, a mindset shift that goes that turns 595 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,359 Speaker 1: from the negative to what it is that you're losing 596 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: to the positive, not only in what you're gaining, what 597 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 1: you're exchanging for your money, but just in the positive 598 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: effect that it's having on those who are supporting, uh 599 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,199 Speaker 1: and providing that product for you. Yeah, and there are 600 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: so many things in our life that we can either 601 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: do begrudgingly and hate it, or we can change our 602 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: mindset and be like, you know what, that wasn't all 603 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: that bad. Or you can even find pleasure in some 604 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: of those like routine things that you may be used 605 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: to dread. And I think of, you know, just picking 606 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: up around the house with my kids. There's a way 607 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: for me to be like, uh, not that's so great, dad, 608 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 1: and just be like, cleaned up your stuff, Or there's 609 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:24,399 Speaker 1: a way for me to help them make it a 610 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: game and we all have a better time doing it. 611 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: But so much of that is really just mindset. It's 612 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,479 Speaker 1: not the physical activity that we're participating in. Yeah, it's 613 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 1: amazing how those small, subtle mindset shifts can can have 614 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 1: a massive impact on our perceptions. But at the same time, 615 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 1: it's also interesting to see how we as humans can 616 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 1: take something that's good and turn it into something that 617 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 1: could be kind of toxic pretty quickly, pretty easily. Uh. 618 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: And I'm specifically thinking about shopping because this is something 619 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,199 Speaker 1: that's important to not take too far where you know, 620 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 1: just the shopping alone gives you that rush because you know, 621 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: shopping as a hobby, it can satisfy this primal urge. 622 00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 1: Like it's literally like what hunting was for our ancestors 623 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 1: were of course, like that was unnecessary skill back then, 624 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 1: and finding a good deal it's a helpful skill these 625 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 1: days as well. But there's a big difference between the 626 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,520 Speaker 1: practical necessity of saving money by being a good shopper 627 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: in our propensity to over consume, which can lead to 628 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: just budget busting wastefulness. And so that's why we put 629 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 1: together some rules for treating yourself without breaking the bank. 630 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: If you adhere to these rules, you are less likely 631 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 1: to go overboard. And we'll get to all of that 632 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: right after this break, all right. And I don't think 633 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,640 Speaker 1: we mentioned this to the outset, but part of the 634 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 1: reason or part of the inspiration for this episode comes 635 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: from the TV show Parks and Wreck, which is we've 636 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: talked about it before, yeah, not during this episode, no, 637 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: And uh yeah, I think the character character names who 638 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,520 Speaker 1: participated in Treat Yourself Day were Tom and Danetta. Tom 639 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:01,000 Speaker 1: Harrardford of course played by and It's it's definitely like 640 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 1: one of the best recurring elements of that show and 641 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: uh and and yeah, it basically they both have this 642 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: treat yourself day every year. It gets epic and you 643 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: know there's fancy clothes involved. They're talking about like buying diamonds, 644 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: great experiences. Uh. And they're hilariously the whole time, just 645 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,880 Speaker 1: saying treat yourself, and it's it's just really really funny, y'all. Self. 646 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: Anytime I see a room, but now like when I 647 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 1: go into somebody's house, always like DJ room in the house, 648 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: I know it's like I want to put a speaker 649 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: on top of that room, but just to gride a 650 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: better vibe. But yeah, of course it gets out of 651 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: hand because it's this comedy TV show because most of us, 652 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: for our our treats that we're partaking in, we're not 653 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: running limousines, we're not probably drinking expensive champagne. We're not 654 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 1: shopping on Rodeo Drive and getting like the finest cashmere sweaters. 655 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: But it's important to have. I got a Cashmirs swater 656 00:28:48,720 --> 00:28:51,479 Speaker 1: this past winter. I know you treated yourself. It's really nice. 657 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,479 Speaker 1: I got it on sale. Is a Christmas gift, right, 658 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: but it's it's important. It's and you know, nothing needs 659 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: cash here, But it is important to establish some rules 660 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: for treating ourselves. So let's lay those out, Matt, because 661 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: treating yourself is crucial, but we don't want it to 662 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 1: get out of control. And so yeah, we want a 663 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: few rules that can be effective but not excessive when 664 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 1: it comes to treating ourselves. So you want to kick 665 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:15,440 Speaker 1: us off? Yeah? Yeah. So the first question I think 666 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,000 Speaker 1: that we want folks to ask themselves first of all, 667 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 1: is do you have the cash on hand? Because you 668 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: know there's a time and place for that treat, for 669 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: that splurge, and if it means going to debt for 670 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: that splurge, then the answer is, well, now is not 671 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: the time. We are not cool with you paying loads 672 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: of interest in order to get something now that you 673 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: can't actually afford now, even though businesses today they actually 674 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:36,960 Speaker 1: make it really easy with the by now pay later 675 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 1: uh programs existing on literally like every website where you shop. Instead, 676 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: we want you to look to two treats that not 677 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 1: only aligned with your interests. You know, obviously there are 678 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:48,959 Speaker 1: things that you want to spend money on, but they 679 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: need to align with your checking account as well. They 680 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 1: need to align with how much money you have on hand, 681 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 1: and so maybe you wanted to take that trip to Aruba, 682 00:29:57,240 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: but instead you should be considering maybe like that five 683 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: dollar Mattinee movie ticket, although that seems kind of cheap, 684 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: like can you get any movie ticket now for five dollars? Really? Due, No, 685 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: there is still a movie theater. Granted it's in the burbs, 686 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: it's not close to where we are, but it had. Yeah, 687 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: you can go see a movie for like a dollar 688 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 1: fifty I think on something you can't. It's maybe inflation, 689 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 1: it's two bucks. I don't know, but last time I 690 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: checked it was a dollar. I was gonna say, even 691 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: five dollars seems like two little money. We're not living in, 692 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 1: you know, but there are some places where I think 693 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: you can see a Mattinee movie for five six seven. 694 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: But but what we're saying though, is like there are 695 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: different treats that you can afford, that you can actually 696 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:32,719 Speaker 1: afford instead of the things that you want to do 697 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: that are gonna, you know, cause you to go into debt. 698 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: Because you know, we're not ideologically opposed to debts, but 699 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: going into debt to fund your lifestyle, right to finance 700 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 1: stuff that only depreciates in value, that is not something 701 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: that we can get behind. That's true. And you know, 702 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 1: you and I were totally cool with getting a mortgage 703 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:51,160 Speaker 1: on a house because that purchase that home will likely 704 00:30:51,200 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: appreciate in value over time. It's quite literally an investment. 705 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: And you know, we've used student loans and business loans 706 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 1: in a similar light to where yeah, you still want 707 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: to borrow only reasonable amounts, but this it can be 708 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: a good rule of thumb as you're considering taking on debt, like, 709 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: is the debt I'm taking on going to actually further 710 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: me in my financial life over time? And so yeah, 711 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: while we're on more, is it just consumption right exactly? 712 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,280 Speaker 1: Is it purely consumption based? Is it just recurring credit 713 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: card debt because I can't stop myself from spending on 714 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: the things I want? Or am I taking out a 715 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:23,720 Speaker 1: personal loan in order to take a trip that I 716 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:27,200 Speaker 1: can't actually afford. That's a different scenario. And so yeah, 717 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:29,000 Speaker 1: while we're on this topic, you know what, if you're 718 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: already in some consumer debt, are you allowed to treat yourself? 719 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: That's a good question, and we would say yes, we 720 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,080 Speaker 1: think it's totally okay to have a small reward as 721 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:40,760 Speaker 1: you make progress. In paying that debt off. We think 722 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: that's actually a helpful carrot to dangle in front of 723 00:31:43,560 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: yourself as you do continue to pay that debt down. 724 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: But we say, don't overdo it to the detriment of 725 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: the progress that you're making, because you can pare those 726 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 1: rewards to specific milestones as you're digging yourself out of debt. 727 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, we would say a little little mini prizes 728 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 1: along the way before you you like reach that brocket 729 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: two dollar movie, right if if that actually exists where 730 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: you lives, or maybe it's five dollars either way, right, 731 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: But yeah, saving for those bigger treats as a reward 732 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: once you've made more substantial progress is what we would encourage, because, yeah, 733 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: you don't want to like go back into debt once 734 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: you've made some progress to finance a bigger treat that 735 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: you can't actually afford. Yeah, it's important to remember that 736 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,000 Speaker 1: there are consequences when we don't treat ourselves. If you 737 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: don't allow yourself an outlet to enjoy treats that you enjoy, 738 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: it's going to become so much easier to burn out 739 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 1: in pursuit of these financial goals. Those little treats can 740 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: provide some of that much needed rest, some of that 741 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: motivation to continue climbing. Oftentimes, I think it can kind 742 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:37,640 Speaker 1: of just feel like like you're wasting money, You're just 743 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 1: gonna throw throwing away money here in the ephemeral, you know, 744 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 1: nature of now, of the present, but at the same 745 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 1: time realize that that can have a substantial positive impact 746 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: on your ability to to kind of stick with it. Yeah, 747 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: I agree. I think you know, something as small as 748 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: like a ten dollar bowl of delicious ramen at a 749 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,320 Speaker 1: local restaurant can can be that release that says like, man, 750 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: you know what, I am working towards my goals and 751 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 1: I am making progress, and you know what, this is 752 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: a great way to experience that. And sometimes that ten 753 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 1: dollar bowl of ramen can prevent you from that two 754 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: like shopping spree on your favorite clothing website. So yeah, 755 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 1: I agree, man, I think a treat it can be, 756 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 1: if done properly, this healthy outlet that we actually need 757 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,000 Speaker 1: and that actually helps us to continue going down the 758 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: right path. Yes, that pressure really foul. That keeps us 759 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 1: from completely exploding. And so another rule or a recommendation 760 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,040 Speaker 1: in this case is to cut back on the things 761 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: that you can live without. Here in the show, we 762 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:32,600 Speaker 1: left talking about just some of the different ways that 763 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:35,880 Speaker 1: you can save on recurring bills. And so, for instance, 764 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 1: as long as your cell phone works, as long as 765 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 1: it has enough data, do you really care what network 766 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: you're actually on, Because if you can save fifty bucks 767 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 1: or more each month, that's gonna mean more money that 768 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,920 Speaker 1: is available to spend on the things that you love. 769 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:50,719 Speaker 1: There are dozens of different ways to cut back on 770 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 1: your monthly expenses. And I know that it can sound 771 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 1: like this ownerous task, uh, and it will until you 772 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 1: realize that you're doing it so that you can funnel 773 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 1: your dollars into categories that matter a whole more to you. 774 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: It's sort of this way of reclaiming those dollars that 775 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: are being spent in more wasteful ways, in ways that 776 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 1: you don't appreciate. And I love too that Like, at 777 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 1: the end of the month, if you were to kind 778 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,439 Speaker 1: of stick with this approach, you're gonna have the same 779 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,880 Speaker 1: amount of money uh in your savings account or in 780 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:18,240 Speaker 1: your checking account, although you're going to have experienced life 781 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 1: very differently in those past thirty days. If you're able 782 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: to trim in some areas where you don't see the benefit, 783 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: and then funnel that money and channel it, you know, 784 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 1: into these different categories that you do appreciate. Yeah, I agree, man, 785 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 1: I think that's that's the exact number one reason why 786 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:34,200 Speaker 1: you should be shopping some of those recurring bills around 787 00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,080 Speaker 1: and you should be finding ways to save on the 788 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: things that feel insignificant, you know, something even like your 789 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,760 Speaker 1: internet service, Like do you need gig speed internet? Maybe 790 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: you do, maybe you work at home, and maybe that's 791 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:46,799 Speaker 1: like a really nice thing to have, but could you 792 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 1: cut that down to like three hundred megs and say 793 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: forty bucks a month? And that sounds like, oh man, 794 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 1: that's a big pain in the butt to actually do that. 795 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,359 Speaker 1: But that's almost five hundred bucks a year back in 796 00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:59,760 Speaker 1: your life for slightly slower internet speeds than three hundred 797 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,359 Speaker 1: negabits per second. Like that's really fast, does the job? Yeah, 798 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:05,240 Speaker 1: But that's the kind of thing where you can purposely 799 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:07,160 Speaker 1: bump back in a bunch of areas of your life 800 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: and it sounds like an annoying task on your to 801 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:12,160 Speaker 1: do list until you realize, wait a second, how much 802 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:13,759 Speaker 1: money does that mean for me? And what can I 803 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: do with that money instead? And I think that's kind 804 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:18,799 Speaker 1: of like the the exciting, fun, fun way to approach it. 805 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 1: Translate that into whatever it is that you want to 806 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: spend money on, like going out to eat, putting that 807 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 1: towards like getting a nice haircut or you know, getting 808 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: some color done. I say that because Kate Kate just 809 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:31,319 Speaker 1: spent some money on, uh, like a cutting color, and 810 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,319 Speaker 1: she dropped a decent amount of money on it, and 811 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 1: she appreciates it. It's something that she values. But find 812 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,960 Speaker 1: ways to reframe how it is that you're looking to 813 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:42,160 Speaker 1: pair back in some of these areas. By reminding yourself 814 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 1: of the positives. It's like there's probably money there, it's 815 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,279 Speaker 1: just being misallocated, and you can reallocate it. And I 816 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:51,239 Speaker 1: think another rule for mindful spending so we can treat 817 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: ourselves without breaking the bank is to plan ahead. Because 818 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: spontaneous treats are are awesome. But here's the thing, you 819 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,720 Speaker 1: can still plan ahead for sponsor naty. And that sounds weird, 820 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:05,120 Speaker 1: especially for someone of like my personality side who thrives 821 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: on spontaneity. Um, it sounds like this odd concept to 822 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: plan ahead for that. But we're really just talking about 823 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:13,880 Speaker 1: having money set aside for let's say a random happy 824 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 1: hour with friends or for a plane ticket to a 825 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 1: fund destination when it does go on sale, Because if 826 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:21,959 Speaker 1: you haven't planned to spend that money ahead of time, 827 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:24,239 Speaker 1: then it makes pulling the trigger really difficult. You're like, well, 828 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: I want to accomplish the financial goals that I've set 829 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,279 Speaker 1: for myself, and I don't actually have the money allocated 830 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:31,680 Speaker 1: for this purpose, but I want to take advantage of 831 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 1: the deal. And I found myself in that predicament before Matt. 832 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:36,279 Speaker 1: And it's a tough position to be in for someone 833 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: who does like to take advantage of a deal or 834 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,960 Speaker 1: who loves spontaneous adventure. But the key is just to 835 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 1: plan ahead. And that just really means saving ahead. That 836 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 1: means planning your finances accordingly, setting aside enough money so 837 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: that in the moment when something awesome comes up on 838 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 1: your radar and you weren't necessarily even planning on it, 839 00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:56,600 Speaker 1: at least you kind of were planning on it. By 840 00:36:56,840 --> 00:36:59,360 Speaker 1: setting aside your money, your money is actually there to 841 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 1: be able to hold the trigger on that treat that 842 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,200 Speaker 1: you actually want to partake in. That's right, Yeah, you 843 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:06,000 Speaker 1: got money set aside and savings categories or money buckets 844 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,839 Speaker 1: like whatever system you subscribe to. Um. But I mean 845 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:10,880 Speaker 1: basically it's just being an adult, you know, Like like like 846 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 1: when you're a kid, you do what you want when 847 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:13,680 Speaker 1: you want it, and you like you want to do 848 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: it now. But when when you're an adult, like you 849 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,239 Speaker 1: gotta have a plan. Uh. And it makes me, it 850 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:20,880 Speaker 1: makes me think about a football Like I don't really 851 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,400 Speaker 1: watch much football, but I know that every down the 852 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:25,120 Speaker 1: offense they go out there and they have a plan, 853 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:27,399 Speaker 1: like they have a play that they're going to run. 854 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:29,359 Speaker 1: If they were just to go out there and wing it, dude, 855 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,200 Speaker 1: they would get destroyed. Like I know that much like 856 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 1: I know that they would get crushed. And so in 857 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 1: the same way, we need to just now we haven't 858 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: even really practiced it, but uh, like can you imagine 859 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:40,879 Speaker 1: like you would literally, I mean you would just get 860 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:43,239 Speaker 1: completely destroyed. Uh. And I think we need to do 861 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 1: the same thing when it comes to our money. It's 862 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:48,440 Speaker 1: not necessarily that there's somebody, you know, across the line 863 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:50,520 Speaker 1: of scrimmage staring directly at us, us looking to take 864 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 1: us down. But to a certain extent, like that's what marketers, advertisers, companies, 865 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:55,960 Speaker 1: that's that's what they're trying to do. They're trying, They're 866 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 1: dangling their products in front of you, and they want 867 00:37:58,000 --> 00:37:59,120 Speaker 1: to take your money and they want to give you 868 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,360 Speaker 1: whatever it is that they have to offer. And so 869 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:02,640 Speaker 1: we need to have a plan when it comes to 870 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 1: the money that we do want to spend. And one 871 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,440 Speaker 1: of the ways we can combat some of that temptation, 872 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 1: you know, in the day to day, is by playing 873 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:12,520 Speaker 1: the waiting game, because impulse buys can be a serious 874 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:14,759 Speaker 1: downfall for a lot of us. It's easy to chalk 875 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:17,560 Speaker 1: up a purchase, you know, to treating herself. Uh, like 876 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: you tell yourself, I deserve this new jacket, or like 877 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 1: I haven't traveled on ages. It's time to make up 878 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:24,120 Speaker 1: for lost time. It's easy to get in that Black 879 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: Friday mentality when it comes to buying something nice for ourselves. 880 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:29,840 Speaker 1: And this is again something we touched on with Paco 881 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:32,000 Speaker 1: for just a little bit on Money's episode, but she 882 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:34,719 Speaker 1: talked about how there's this release just by adding an 883 00:38:34,719 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 1: item to a shopping list instead of to your shopping cart. 884 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:40,160 Speaker 1: We all know that making a purchase, it feels so 885 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:42,560 Speaker 1: good in the moment, but how often do we actually 886 00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:45,160 Speaker 1: regret that purchase after you know all is said and done, 887 00:38:45,560 --> 00:38:47,080 Speaker 1: and so if you can get a similar sense of 888 00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:50,640 Speaker 1: satisfaction without spending money, I think that's a smart tactic 889 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:53,560 Speaker 1: to use. Find different ways to sort of hack your mind, 890 00:38:53,680 --> 00:38:56,879 Speaker 1: hack some of the different feelings that you achieve by 891 00:38:56,960 --> 00:38:59,919 Speaker 1: identifying something, because oftentimes the thrill it is in the chase, 892 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 1: right and so it's it's when you discover something and 893 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:04,719 Speaker 1: you think, oh man, nothing is awesome. I did this 894 00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:07,040 Speaker 1: recently with a watch that I came across, and it's 895 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 1: an open tab on my browser. I didn't add it 896 00:39:09,200 --> 00:39:11,040 Speaker 1: to the cart I haven't made the purchase. It's not 897 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:13,399 Speaker 1: on some buy now, pay later plan. You're mulling it over. 898 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:15,279 Speaker 1: I'm only it's just sitting there because I'm going to 899 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:17,279 Speaker 1: think about, like how much do I actually care about this? 900 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:19,399 Speaker 1: And if I forget that tab is even open after 901 00:39:19,440 --> 00:39:21,440 Speaker 1: a couple of days and be like, Okay, cool, it's 902 00:39:21,480 --> 00:39:23,680 Speaker 1: cool that there's a black time X that's solar powered. 903 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: That's that's totally dope looking. You're not even wearing a 904 00:39:27,040 --> 00:39:29,560 Speaker 1: watch right now. I know I don't. You rarely wear them. 905 00:39:29,600 --> 00:39:32,120 Speaker 1: I used to buy the one, the one that I have. 906 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:33,880 Speaker 1: The band broke on it. And so that's why, so 907 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 1: maybe instead I should actually just get a new band. 908 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:37,799 Speaker 1: But I was really drawn to the fact that it 909 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:40,000 Speaker 1: had like a solar powered face. I'm like, Oh, that's 910 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:42,000 Speaker 1: so cool. I'd never have to replace the battery ever. Again, 911 00:39:42,640 --> 00:39:44,360 Speaker 1: I get that. I get that we are faced with 912 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,360 Speaker 1: the same temptations and so find some of the different 913 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:50,040 Speaker 1: strategies are ways to tap into that feeling that you 914 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:52,600 Speaker 1: get when it comes to finding something without immediately making 915 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:55,280 Speaker 1: that purchases. That's what we're saying here. Totally, totally I agree, 916 00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:57,959 Speaker 1: And I think that planning ahead plus the waiting game 917 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:00,560 Speaker 1: like that makes a whole lot of sense. Like even 918 00:40:00,680 --> 00:40:02,319 Speaker 1: if you do have the money on hand, like does 919 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:04,120 Speaker 1: it make sense to pounce right now or should you 920 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:06,160 Speaker 1: give it twenty four or forty eight hours before you 921 00:40:06,440 --> 00:40:09,279 Speaker 1: follow through? Like even when you're treating yourself, you want 922 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:11,680 Speaker 1: to make sure it's decently well thought through and not 923 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:15,040 Speaker 1: just an opportunistic like move of the moment, right. And 924 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 1: I think one last thing worth considering is like we 925 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:22,080 Speaker 1: just have like this abundance of data about how we 926 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 1: feel when we serve other people, and when you know 927 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 1: how that actually increases our our happiness levels. Treating yourself 928 00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:33,040 Speaker 1: is a good thing when done in moderation, and I 929 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,840 Speaker 1: think you know you don't want to practice austerity to 930 00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:37,800 Speaker 1: the point where you don't get to enjoy any of 931 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:39,680 Speaker 1: the fruits of your labors, where the money you're bringing 932 00:40:39,680 --> 00:40:42,680 Speaker 1: in doesn't result in your ability to do things that 933 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,920 Speaker 1: you love. But at the same time, taking the focus 934 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:49,520 Speaker 1: off ourselves finding ways to take care of others is 935 00:40:49,600 --> 00:40:52,239 Speaker 1: It's a crucial step towards a well rounded life. And 936 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:55,400 Speaker 1: so if we're continually focused on that next reward for ourselves, 937 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: that next trip we can take, um, that next watch 938 00:40:58,120 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 1: we can buy, whatever it is like. And I'm not 939 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,360 Speaker 1: not casting as persons, man, I'm not saying that that 940 00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 1: you're overly focused on the watch. I'm just using as 941 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:06,759 Speaker 1: an example, and because I've done the same thing where 942 00:41:06,760 --> 00:41:10,760 Speaker 1: I'm so I've been so focused on consuming on boxing 943 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:14,800 Speaker 1: something where I've like lost the plot what life is 944 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:16,840 Speaker 1: actually about. And that's why you know, we, you and 945 00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:19,600 Speaker 1: I we encourage uh for our own hearts and for 946 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,720 Speaker 1: the way we we think about and relate to money. 947 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:24,200 Speaker 1: Giving money away is so important, and we we want 948 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 1: to encourage how to money listeners to to think about 949 00:41:26,640 --> 00:41:29,360 Speaker 1: giving away money similar that we think it creates that 950 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:33,280 Speaker 1: healthy detachment which reminds us that life isn't about acquiring 951 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:37,239 Speaker 1: more stuff, better experiences, because there's so much more at stake. Um, 952 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:40,319 Speaker 1: there's so much more involved with living a beautiful, meaningful life, 953 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,560 Speaker 1: and so treats are good. Treating yourself without breaking breaking 954 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,759 Speaker 1: the bank is crucial. But at the same time, one 955 00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:50,200 Speaker 1: way to be fulfilled without even having to buy anything 956 00:41:50,320 --> 00:41:52,879 Speaker 1: is to use your resources and your time and your 957 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:55,799 Speaker 1: gifts to serve other people around you. Totally man, Yeah, 958 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:57,239 Speaker 1: I think that's an easy, such an easy trap to 959 00:41:57,239 --> 00:41:59,760 Speaker 1: fall into. Uh, and it can be this downward spiral 960 00:41:59,800 --> 00:42:02,160 Speaker 1: as well, because we quickly find that whatever thing that 961 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:05,680 Speaker 1: we purchased, it doesn't necessarily satisfy us, like it doesn't 962 00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:08,399 Speaker 1: fulfill that deeper longing that we might have, which then 963 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:10,200 Speaker 1: what what does that lead us to do? It leads 964 00:42:10,239 --> 00:42:13,120 Speaker 1: us to potentially buy even more things, and thus the 965 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,040 Speaker 1: downward spiral. It's important, I think, to kind of zoom 966 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:18,120 Speaker 1: like zoom out, and to step back from not only 967 00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:20,160 Speaker 1: purchases but like life in general, and just to kind 968 00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:22,440 Speaker 1: of see just how good we have it, you know, 969 00:42:22,480 --> 00:42:24,600 Speaker 1: Like we talked earlier on in the episode at the top, 970 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:27,640 Speaker 1: how like we just are living such a better life 971 00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:30,040 Speaker 1: basically than like even Kings did a hundred years ago. 972 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 1: Like it makes me think about this talk warm Buffett 973 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:34,120 Speaker 1: was given to some college students where he was talking 974 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:36,680 Speaker 1: about how like the life that we live live now 975 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:38,839 Speaker 1: is it's just amazing. Like we're able to stay warm 976 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:41,359 Speaker 1: in the winter, we stay cool during the summer. You're 977 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:43,640 Speaker 1: able to watch the World series on TV. Uh. There 978 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:45,040 Speaker 1: are so many things in our lives that we just 979 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:48,560 Speaker 1: take for granted that Rockefeller uh at the turn of 980 00:42:48,560 --> 00:42:50,640 Speaker 1: the nineteen hundreds, like these are things that he couldn't 981 00:42:50,640 --> 00:42:52,399 Speaker 1: have even dreamed of that we take for granted every 982 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:54,840 Speaker 1: single day. Like I think Warren said that, like my 983 00:42:54,920 --> 00:42:58,160 Speaker 1: neighbors live better and had better lives than what Rockefeller 984 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,960 Speaker 1: even though he had tons of fame, tons of power, 985 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:03,400 Speaker 1: uh and riches. There are things that we have in 986 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:05,239 Speaker 1: our lives now that are amazing that we take for 987 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:07,600 Speaker 1: granted every single day. And when we realize that and 988 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:09,239 Speaker 1: are able to step back a little bit, I think 989 00:43:09,239 --> 00:43:11,080 Speaker 1: that can allow us to be more generous, which I 990 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:13,160 Speaker 1: think in the end will allow us to be happier, 991 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:16,480 Speaker 1: gives us the right perspective as we're also seeking to 992 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:19,040 Speaker 1: use our money to maximize the good we can do 993 00:43:19,080 --> 00:43:21,640 Speaker 1: and maximize the happiness in our in our own lives. 994 00:43:21,719 --> 00:43:23,879 Speaker 1: So totally a good point. All right, Well, Matt, let's 995 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:26,200 Speaker 1: move back onto the beer. The treat that we had 996 00:43:26,280 --> 00:43:28,439 Speaker 1: on this episode that is one of our favorites. Trest 997 00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:30,280 Speaker 1: the end of the episodes talking about how you shouldn't 998 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 1: treat yourself. Let's take it back to how we treat 999 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,440 Speaker 1: ourselves on our Monday and Wednesday, because we truly do 1000 00:43:36,520 --> 00:43:39,000 Speaker 1: believe that, like while you're handling your money, well, you 1001 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:40,759 Speaker 1: should be able to enjoy your money and what it 1002 00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:42,920 Speaker 1: can buy you along the way to craft beer is 1003 00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:44,799 Speaker 1: one of those major things so that Matt and I 1004 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:46,919 Speaker 1: put a put an emphasis on in our own lives 1005 00:43:46,920 --> 00:43:49,680 Speaker 1: and on the show. And this beer was by Jackie O's. 1006 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:53,120 Speaker 1: It's called Cherry Livelihood is a Sayson style ale with 1007 00:43:53,320 --> 00:43:55,600 Speaker 1: of course cherries and yeah, what are your thoughts on 1008 00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 1: this one? Man? Yeah, the first thing I noticed is 1009 00:43:57,760 --> 00:43:59,680 Speaker 1: we poured it and it, uh, it poured kind of 1010 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:02,880 Speaker 1: like a light rose, almost like a MOV kind of 1011 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:06,120 Speaker 1: color um and like you're having all these synonyms for pink, 1012 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:11,279 Speaker 1: like like a light, earthy pink. And the first thing 1013 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:13,120 Speaker 1: I noticed you when I sipped it was that this 1014 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:15,600 Speaker 1: is definitely a lighter beer. And so for whatever reason, 1015 00:44:15,680 --> 00:44:17,960 Speaker 1: it made me think of like a petite rose, like 1016 00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:19,680 Speaker 1: you have a wine, and it's just kind of like 1017 00:44:19,719 --> 00:44:22,919 Speaker 1: a just a lighter, more easier to drink version of 1018 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:25,279 Speaker 1: what it's name after. But yeah, this so this is 1019 00:44:25,440 --> 00:44:28,319 Speaker 1: a cherry barreledged sour. What your thoughts on it? Yeah? 1020 00:44:28,360 --> 00:44:32,160 Speaker 1: I love beers with cherries in the in particular cherries raspberries, 1021 00:44:32,239 --> 00:44:34,400 Speaker 1: like my two favorite two favorite fruits and beers. I 1022 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:36,600 Speaker 1: think for me it's blueberries, like the more barre ledge 1023 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:38,640 Speaker 1: blueberry sours I have. I'm just like I think, I 1024 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:40,719 Speaker 1: think that's it for me. Yeah, well, I mean fruit 1025 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:43,960 Speaker 1: or beers man like, if well made, are like the 1026 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:46,200 Speaker 1: best in my in my opinion, Like that's the like, 1027 00:44:46,239 --> 00:44:48,640 Speaker 1: serve me those all day every day, especially when it's 1028 00:44:48,680 --> 00:44:50,239 Speaker 1: three percent, and you're like, all right now I canna 1029 00:44:50,280 --> 00:44:52,720 Speaker 1: have a couple of those even But yeah, this this beer, 1030 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:55,120 Speaker 1: I mean, and I love pretty much everything that Jackie 1031 00:44:55,120 --> 00:44:57,279 Speaker 1: O's they Crush makes, and yeah, this so this is 1032 00:44:57,320 --> 00:45:00,320 Speaker 1: like this this lighter says on with like this cherry 1033 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:03,040 Speaker 1: fruit punch kind of thing going on, and it was 1034 00:45:03,320 --> 00:45:06,759 Speaker 1: like refined and beautiful and like a little rustic, and 1035 00:45:06,840 --> 00:45:09,400 Speaker 1: so yeah, I don't know, man, I really really enjoyed 1036 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:11,680 Speaker 1: this one. Any chance I get a Jackie O's beer 1037 00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:13,840 Speaker 1: in my mouth, I'm taking it. Yeah. I figured you 1038 00:45:13,920 --> 00:45:15,160 Speaker 1: might like this one a little bit more than me, 1039 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:18,200 Speaker 1: because it was a little bit tarder than I think 1040 00:45:18,200 --> 00:45:20,040 Speaker 1: how I normally like my sours. I like my stars 1041 00:45:20,080 --> 00:45:23,239 Speaker 1: with a little bit more sweetness, a touch more maybe 1042 00:45:23,239 --> 00:45:25,640 Speaker 1: a touch more acidity as well, whereas this one was, like, 1043 00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:27,200 Speaker 1: I guess it had the acidity, it just didn't have 1044 00:45:27,239 --> 00:45:28,680 Speaker 1: the sweetness right, And so it was just it was 1045 00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:30,759 Speaker 1: just kind of mouth buckering. Uh. It felt like a 1046 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:33,480 Speaker 1: lemonade where you're like, oh, I can tell these real 1047 00:45:33,560 --> 00:45:35,600 Speaker 1: lemons here, Like this isn't this isn't some pre made 1048 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:38,799 Speaker 1: concentrate where it's just loaded with sugar. Kind of had 1049 00:45:38,840 --> 00:45:41,120 Speaker 1: that tart edge to it, but even still I definitely 1050 00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:42,959 Speaker 1: still enjoyed it, no doubt. All Right, Well that's gonna 1051 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:45,239 Speaker 1: do it for this episode. We'll have show notes up 1052 00:45:45,239 --> 00:45:47,440 Speaker 1: on our website. You can find those at how to 1053 00:45:47,520 --> 00:45:49,560 Speaker 1: money dot com. That's right, and that's gonna be at Joel. 1054 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:52,759 Speaker 1: So until next time, best Friends out, Best Friends Out 1055 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:00,160 Speaker 1: m