1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. 2 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 2: I'm Joel, I'm Matt, and. 3 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: Today we're talking about in store shopping, the thermostat, Tug 4 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: of War and too many toys. 5 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 2: That's right, Happy belated thanks Giving to everybody. Happy Black Friday. Specifically, Joel, 6 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 2: are you are you scouring the interwebs for any specific deals? 7 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 2: Are you looking for anything in particular? 8 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna lie. I've done most of my Christmas 9 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: shopping at this point because we look at you get 10 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: or done. While the deals are good, I've tried to 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: like stick to a budget, not go overboard. There's one thing, Matt, 12 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: Can I tell you about my best Black Friday deal? 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 3: Sure? 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: So it also reveals how old I am and crotchety. 15 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: But so I have to get a sea pat machine 16 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: because my sleeping sleep at me right, And I took 17 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: one of those new fangled at home sleep tests this 18 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: company called Lafta does. There's actually multiple companies that do this, 19 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: and it's. 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: The Casper Mattress of sleep apnea tests, which is actually amazing. 21 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: When you think about how far technology has come and 22 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: you used to have to go in and I've done 23 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: in person sleep study. How much it costs and how 24 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: annoying it is, and the fact that you can do 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: it at home now for like way less money is 26 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: Incredible's pretty sweet. So word of the wise, for those 27 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: people who are like I think I might have it, well, 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: you can get us at home sleep totch. Like on 29 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: hundred fifty buslus you. 30 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 2: Shared the experience of you going in when you were younger, 31 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: like as a kid or something like that. I cannot 32 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 2: imagine going into somewhere that you've never been sleeping in 33 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: this room that feels very foreign to you. And they 34 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 2: also kept like talking to you when you would yeah 35 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: over the intercom, over the intercome, they're telling you how 36 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: to sleep, like you're doing something wrong, and of course 37 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: it's going to have a negative impact on your ability 38 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: to get some good rest. 39 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: It sounds terrible, it's horrendous and so not that I 40 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: think maybe it's probably necessarily required in some cases for 41 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: some people, but for a whole lot of people who 42 00:01:58,280 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: are like, eh, I don't feel like i'd wake up 43 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: refresh or I don't sleep well, maybe I should do this. Well, 44 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: It's pretty easy and not terribly expensive to do the 45 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: at home sleep test. But so that was a win 46 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: for me. Recently like doing that, and it wasn't terribly expensive, 47 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: but I had to order a seapap machine right based on. 48 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: Those are expensive. 49 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're expensive like that, like typically in a thousand 50 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: dollars range. I caught a sale at Lofta after I 51 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: did the sleep test. It was like seven hundred and 52 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:21,239 Speaker 1: twenty bucks. 53 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 2: I thought you were gonna say you got one off 54 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 2: Facebook marketplace, you drove down to your neighbor's house, and 55 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 2: I considered it. 56 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: I didn't do it because I was like, that might 57 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: be cheap, not prouval. 58 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: You just have to like spread the lysol in their ass, 59 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 2: the machines running just to that disinfect it. 60 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: It one percent cross my mind for sure. And Emily 61 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: looked at me when I mentioned it. She was like, 62 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: are You're a psycho. But so I bought a new one. 63 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: And then I was on one of my favorite websites, 64 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 1: slick Deals, and there was a different seapap company, a 65 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: company that sells seatpap machines directly to consumers, that was 66 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: selling the same one for four hundred bucks, the exact 67 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: same one, the exact same one. 68 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: Very nice. 69 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: I was like, Okay, that's incredible. So I go back 70 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: to Lofta's website. Turns out they have a price match 71 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: guarantee where they beat the price by ten percent. So 72 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: instead of paying seven hundred and twenty dollars, I paid 73 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 1: three hundred and sixty dollars, so basically amazing half price 74 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: of the sale price. And that was my big Black 75 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: Friday win this year. 76 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: That's a massive win. Man, Look at you. Jumping on 77 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 2: the self care bandwagon. Might inspire me to get a 78 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: continuous glucose monitoring machine. 79 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: I literally had a friend who had this massive clot 80 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: that he almost died from. It caused a heart attack, 81 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: and his doctor. 82 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: Said, taking it a bit more seriously. 83 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: I think the sleep apnea, which he didn't even know 84 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: he had, might have caused this. And it was having 85 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: coffee with him and in telling me about that, where 86 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: I was like, all right, I don't want to die, 87 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna jump on. 88 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: Start getting a little bit older, you start taking a 89 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 2: bit more seriously. It's not just like health trends. It's 90 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: like literal this is for our ability to live a 91 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 2: long and meaningful life. 92 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I'm doing all the other things right, like 93 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: I'm trying to stay healthy in other ways, and I 94 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: know For some people, it is literally just being able 95 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: to take some weight off can can help you sleep better. 96 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: For me, that's not the case. Like it's it's like 97 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: more obstructive in my facial. 98 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: Facial more mechanical. Yeah yeah, but uh yeah, just a 99 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: word to the wise out there. 100 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: Check out loftay, get that at home sleep study and 101 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: then look for a deal on that. 102 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: And who knew that you could get a SEPAP medical 103 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: devices like this on a site like slick Deals. 104 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: We have a prescription. You have to upload your prescription. 105 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: Oh do you really, which I have because I did 106 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: the at home sleep test. But yes, But then you 107 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: can get the device online and save a lot of money. 108 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: I bet you do. You have slick Deals said as 109 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 2: like your default page that loads when you open the browser. 110 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: And no, but I do like that, especially the time 111 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 1: of year. 112 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 3: I know you do. 113 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: I like to see what's going on in the shopping 114 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: spaces on the interwebs. 115 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,040 Speaker 2: All right, as we continue this sort of retail section 116 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 2: of our episode. Last week we mentioned store cards why 117 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: we're not the biggest fans of the different discs. Well, 118 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: I'm a fan of the discounts that they offer, but 119 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 2: not a fan of the terms that are offered with 120 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: these store cards. Well, the New York Posts they reported 121 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 2: that Macy's, Gap, TJ Max, they have all increased interest 122 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: rates on their store brand credit cards going into the 123 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: holiday see and so, Man, this is especially red flagworthy 124 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: because as the FED is cutting rates, they are doing 125 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: the opposite. They are raising rates, and some store cards 126 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: are charging thirty six percent on their credit cards, which 127 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: is a big financial Wayami. On one hand, I don't 128 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: want this to be news because I think interest rates 129 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: that cards are charging shouldn't be something that even enters 130 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: into your lexicon, because of course you're using credit cards properly. 131 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: But the fact is, I do know that fifty percent 132 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 2: of folks out there are financing the rewards that we're receiving. 133 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: If you are using your credit cards like a pro 134 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: and for you, Man, I would say, let's just avoid 135 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: these cards altogether if you have any sort of proclivity 136 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,799 Speaker 2: to fall into some of those interest payments. 137 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: You know, we talked about the many problems with store 138 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: cards last week on the show, and yeah, there are. 139 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 1: I can't believe it, Matt, that they're jacking up interest 140 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: rates as interest rates on everything else are going down 141 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: it's just another reason to avoid them. They're not great 142 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: financial tools. Regular credit cards are, and we just released 143 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: a list of our favorite credit cards for holiday spending. 144 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: Molding to that in the show notes. And by the way, Matt, 145 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: do people actually go to stores in person? Are you 146 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: doing any of your holiday shopping like in physical stores 147 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: or are you. 148 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 2: Just doing I'm very very little. 149 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: Okay, so you're you're sticking online when you're buying stuff, 150 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: or or I'm guessing you're making like handmade Macrome gifts 151 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: maybe for exactly your style. Well, I kind of had 152 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: this question. I was like, does anyone even really brick 153 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: and mortar anymore? 154 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: Apparently people do. 155 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: You and I are maybe the outliers in this regard. 156 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 1: For someone like me who prefers to do the vast 157 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: majority of his shopping online, pretty much all my Christmas 158 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: presents are coming in that way, I don't I guess 159 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: I don't identify with the average American shopper. Going into 160 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 1: the store just sounds like too much of a hassle 161 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: and it also just takes more time. But new statistics 162 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: reveal that only sixteen percent of retail sales are done 163 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: online these days. That feels incredibly load to me, don' 164 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: would you? 165 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 2: I would have expected it to be a lot more 166 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: than that. 167 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, especially like you used to be forced to to 168 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: get the best deals go into the store, and now 169 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: the best deals are available online shows up to your doorstep, 170 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: Like I would just rather go in that direction. But 171 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: brick and mortar still matters in the United States of 172 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: America and some of the chains that are kind of 173 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: built around in store bargain hunting. Matt, you mentioned TJ 174 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,679 Speaker 1: Max jacking up rates on store cards. Well, the TJ 175 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: Max and Marshals of this world, they're thriving. People love 176 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: going into the stores, and I think it's kind of 177 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: the bargain hunt mentality that people go into that store 178 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: with same thing with Costco Costco actually, or the center 179 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: isle at Aldi. People love the way those things constantly 180 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: get changed up and the deals they can find when 181 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: they're shopping there. And so yeah, maybe you and me, 182 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: maybe our online shopping habits are more rare than I thought. 183 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: I think so. I think it's unfortunately turned into an 184 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 2: American pastime. The folks going in store looking for a deal. 185 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 2: It's almost like a third space I think for a 186 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: lot of folks. But it's like, what are we going 187 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: to do on Saturday, Let's go shopping, And like you 188 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: have the ability to potentially spend less on something as 189 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: opposed to just if you are maybe not great at 190 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: ordering online. But for me, I could see it sort 191 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: of going in like a polarizing direction because like if 192 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: I'm looking for the absolute best deal, I don't care 193 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: with you know, like the sort of personal, personalized experience 194 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 2: that I'm gonna get by going into a store. I'm 195 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 2: just gonna as long as I can, you know, make 196 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 2: an order online from a reputable website and get the 197 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: absolute lowest deal. I'm gonna do that. But like at 198 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 2: the other end of the spectrum, I am willing to 199 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: pay maybe not the cheapest prices for like a I'm 200 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 2: thinking of like a hardware store where we used to live, 201 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 2: used to do this amazing Christmas village and you get 202 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: you get this entire experience by going to something like that, 203 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: And in that case, I'm gonna be willing to like 204 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 2: spend some money to hang out. It makes it like 205 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 2: there's a coffee shop near us and they do an 206 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 2: awesome job like decorating the gingerbread houses. Yes, yes, and 207 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 2: so there's something intangible that you're gaining by going to 208 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 2: a store like that, And so for me personally, I 209 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: see it going in one of two directions, either like 210 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 2: the absolute cheapest online just have it shipped in a 211 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: cardboard box to my doorstep, or someplace where I'm gonna 212 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: go and hang out. I'm also gonna buy some hot clip. Yes, yeah, absolutely, 213 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 2: I do see myself spending less time in the middle, 214 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: like in kind of a big warehouses like electronics stores, 215 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: where it's not walking into a Best Buy. Yes, I 216 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 2: know some people probably are just from best Buy, but 217 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 2: I'm not going to go there in person. Well, not 218 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 2: only are brick and mortar stores doing just fine things 219 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: to in person shoppers, but another throwback physical catalogs. They 220 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 2: are back in a meaningful way as well, because like 221 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: the way folks shop today, it's a it's an endless 222 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 2: world of scrolling. Retailers are finding that something physical, an 223 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 2: immersive catalog landing on your doorstep is just the way 224 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 2: to get you interested in them again. Jay Crew, they 225 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 2: have brought back their catalog. Amazon They they've been doing 226 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: physical catalogs as well. Honestly, I think J Crew jumping 227 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: on the catalog Bandwagon and a lot of other even 228 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: publishers kind of going back to the physical print copies 229 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 2: had to do with Amazon, Like they're looking at Amazon, 230 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 2: this behemoth, and they're saying, wait a minute, which is funny. 231 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 2: They are they are like the kings of online retail 232 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 2: and if they are the ones who are bringing back 233 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: the catalog, maybe that's something we should do as well. 234 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 2: And it makes sense, right because like I think about 235 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 2: like even like literally this morning, my daughter, one of 236 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 2: the kids, asked for the Harry Potter we've got the 237 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 2: illustrated versions we've talked about on the show. Before she 238 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: can reach Harry Potter four, the Goblet of Fire, and 239 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 2: she was like, hey, can you get that down for me? 240 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: I was like yeah, handed it to her. Dude. She 241 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: was like immersed in that thing for the next hour. 242 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 2: Like none of us heard a peep from her because 243 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 2: there's no distractions, there's no pop ups, there's no videos playing, 244 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 2: there's no messages that you were receiving on your device 245 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 2: for you to do online shopping. And I think that's 246 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 2: what retailers are realizing and learning when it comes to 247 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: these catalogs. If you want to have someone's full attention, 248 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 2: someone's full retail attention. Getting a catalog in front of 249 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 2: them is a good way to go places like that. 250 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: Nostalgia Play talks about my hetstrings when I see through it. 251 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's fun. It's the Christmas village pop up version 252 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 2: of online shopping essentially, right. It is sort of like 253 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: this throwback. And it's also the reason we're highlighting it though, 254 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 2: is just to make sure that you are being careful, 255 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: that you are aware of how you might be swayed 256 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 2: to spend your dollars. 257 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: The messaging it works. There's a reason they're sending the 258 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: catalog to your doorstep because you might flip through it 259 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: and be like, oh yeah, yeah, let me go get 260 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: some of that stuff, right, So, yeah, just watch yourself. 261 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: Let's talk about charity for a second. I mean, something 262 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: people want to buy but it's hard to come by 263 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: is happiness. And it's easy to think that spending more 264 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: this time of year is going to bring more joy 265 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: into your life or into the life of your loved ones. 266 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: That's not true though, right Like the more physical gifts, 267 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: cooler electronics, they make you maybe happy for an instant, 268 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: but they don't provide lasting happiness. You can't buy that 269 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: stuff on the store shelf, and the Wall Street Journal 270 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: had an article about how generosity can help boost your happiness, 271 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: and that means in a sense that you can use 272 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: your money to create greater levels of happiness in your life, 273 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: which I think is actually kind of cool. But really, 274 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: this is one of the only ways I think by 275 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,079 Speaker 1: giving that money away, by treating other people, or by 276 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: supporting one of your favorite nonprofits, right giving proactively to 277 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: causes that you care about, and then following the impact 278 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: of those dollars, I think it's a crucial part of 279 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: It is a surefire away, according to research, to boost 280 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: your mood and to reduce stress. So we actually talked 281 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,959 Speaker 1: about this with Phil on last Wednesday's episode for a 282 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: little bit. We talked about the psychological benefits of giving. 283 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: And so while you know we're all out there shopping 284 00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: for friends and loved ones this time of year, and 285 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 1: in particular right now when the deals are hot, don't 286 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: forget about the power that giving out of your excess 287 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 1: can have. And I think setting aside some of that 288 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: money instead of just like consuming and consuming more and more, 289 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: setting aside more money for causes that you care about, 290 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: to give to some of those nonprofits can have a 291 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:36,439 Speaker 1: really meaningful impact on your happiness levels, on your psyche. 292 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 2: Heck yeah yeah, and not even just giving like completely 293 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 2: out of your excess, but even like giving sacrificially as well. 294 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 2: And this isn't to say that if you are struggling 295 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 2: to keep like the lights on, that you need to 296 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:46,839 Speaker 2: give like the last ten dollars in your savings account 297 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 2: to some nonprofit. But I don't know considering giving in 298 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 2: a way. 299 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 3: That hurts a little bit that where otherwise. 300 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 2: You might spend some dollars on yourself to maybe even 301 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 2: give out of that account as well. But one way 302 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: to give is to donate appreciated securities to your favorite nonprofit. 303 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: This can help you to reduce your tax burden while 304 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 2: being able to give generously. You get the best of 305 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 2: both worlds, and we believe that the best way to 306 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 2: do that is through a donor advised fund a daff 307 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 2: because not every nonprofit. 308 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 3: Is equipped to take stock or crypto directly. 309 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 2: And going this route just got easier thanks to a 310 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 2: new partnership between the folks over at daffy, which is 311 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 2: our favorite donor advised fund, as well as Robinhood. So 312 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 2: you can now donate cryptocurrency holdings directly to your Daffy account. 313 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 2: You're voting tax on the game so that you can 314 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 2: funnel those dollars directly to your favorite charities, which is awesome. 315 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 2: This is so great. I'm a huge fan because I've 316 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 2: been a fan of robin It for a while and 317 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 2: I feel like they continue to expand what it is 318 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 2: that they're offering. Initially, it just seems ugged up quite 319 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 2: a bit, very much. So Basically as soon as they 320 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: started offering retirement accounts, I was like, Okay, now, to me, 321 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 2: you're just like any other brokerage out there. But now 322 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:59,240 Speaker 2: these additional partnerships, especially with somebody like Daffy, as the 323 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,679 Speaker 2: warming more heart, even more agil especially this time of year. 324 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 2: And if you don't know much about donor advised funds, 325 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 2: will link to an article that kind of explains how 326 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 2: they work. But technology has improved dramatically and prices have 327 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,839 Speaker 2: come down substantially when it comes to dafts, and because 328 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: of that, they can be a great addition to your 329 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 2: personal fin It's arsenal if you value generosity and if 330 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 2: you value joy and happiness in your life's ry little. 331 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 1: Case in your life donate your bitcoin from your Robinhood 332 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 1: account to to Daffy, to your daft donor vice fund. 333 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: And yeah, this is a great move from a tax perspective, 334 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: from a generosity perspective, from a personal happiness perspective. And Matt, 335 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: think about the people who are listening. If they have 336 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: a small amount of their portfolio in cryptocurrency and bitcoin, 337 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: if they've kept it small but it's grown a lot. Hey, 338 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: this is a way to kind of trim some of 339 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: your holdings while bitcoin is rocking and to give some 340 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: money in like the most tax advantaged way. It's it's 341 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: better than writing a check from a tax perspective, and 342 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: yet you're still able to give the amount of money 343 00:14:58,200 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: that you want to give. So I think this is 344 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: great and it's become so much easier now thanks to 345 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: this new partnership. All Right, Matt, The perpetual question this 346 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 1: time of year the people ask is what temperature should 347 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: we put the thermostat on. I don't know what that 348 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 1: fight looks like in your family. I don't know if 349 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: we've actually really talked about this. No fight, no fight. 350 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 2: I role with an iron fist. This I believe. 351 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: I do believe this for many families. Okay, I think 352 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: there is a back and forth, or even there's like 353 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: the behind the back switching up by three degrees or 354 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 1: something like that when the dad comes by and he's 355 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: like put a jacket on, you know. 356 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 2: And I mean it makes it sound like I'm some 357 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 2: sort of dictator, but We've agreed to it. As a family. 358 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 2: We keep what do y'all keep it at? 359 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: We keep it at overnight sixty five during the day, 360 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: somewhere between sixty five and sixty seven, but maybe sixty 361 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 1: eight at the very most, especially if my mom's coming over. 362 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, family's over. I'm willing to bump it up. 363 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 2: But due that night we take it down as like 364 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 2: sixty two sixty two. Oh yeah, we like gang. We 365 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 2: like it cold at night. Yeah, and well, I guess 366 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 2: the science proves it too, Like the dropping body temperature, 367 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: it's it's necessary to keep you asleep. 368 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: Okay, Well I like a nice and cold so no, 369 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: if I'll be able to convince my wife to that extent. 370 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: But when you actually ask the experts, there was an 371 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: article published recently then and interview some experts, and they 372 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: basically said the answer sixty eight degrees if you're not sure, 373 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: but I've talked to people who say in the winter 374 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: months that they're they're pumping thermost out for like seventy 375 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: or seventy two, which seems. 376 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 2: Pile the hog. 377 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that ain't frugal in my book. 378 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 2: I ain't got that kind of money. 379 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: And also I don't need to be that toasty. Put 380 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: it truly put a jacket on, right, But yeah, I 381 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: think the other thing, the other question that always comes 382 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 1: up this time of year is well, what about when 383 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: I'm at work or I'm away from the house for 384 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 1: an extended period of time? Should I turn the temperature 385 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: down while I'm away? And I think yes, if you're 386 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: going to be gone for many hours, it's true, yeah, 387 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: that you're gonna have to kick back on the heat 388 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: when you get home, and it might make the system 389 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: work a little bit harder, But it's better from an 390 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: energy savings and a cost savings perspective to turn the 391 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: temperature down while you're away. And just another thing like 392 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: having a learning thermostat or a smart thermostat can be 393 00:16:58,040 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: helpful in this regard, so you don't have to like 394 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: run burd it turned it down all the time, and 395 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: a lot of power companies matt will offer people these 396 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 1: learning thermostats for free or close to free, so look 397 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: that up with your local power provider. You might find like, 398 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: wait a second, I need one of these sweet thermostats 399 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: and it's gonna look cool, it's gonna help me save money. 400 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 2: They're great. 401 00:17:16,280 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: I think they say to the average person somewhere between 402 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: ten and fifteen percent on their bill. So even if 403 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: you've got to outlay fifty sixty one hundred bucks for 404 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: one of these thermostats, it'll probably pay off in short order. 405 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 2: I think one of the arguments for folks who would 406 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 2: say no, no, no, we have to keep the heat running 407 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 2: while we're away is if your home isn't insulated as well. 408 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 2: Because you cut the heat and it stays pretty dang 409 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: warm in there, and then once you start warming the 410 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 2: space back up again, I feel like it's able to hold. 411 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 2: But if you are a homeowner and you feel like 412 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 2: that your HVAC is constantly running or it takes a 413 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 2: while to get back up to temp insulation, I think 414 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 2: that's going to be key. And there are tax credits 415 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 2: there as well. They pay like a meaningful chunk of 416 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 2: money that allows you to save money for years to 417 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,359 Speaker 2: come and you're going to be more comfortable in your home. 418 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:57,200 Speaker 2: But maybe this is a frugal or cheap I think 419 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 2: back to the early years of our my marriage with Kate, 420 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 2: and I remember when we used to set it to 421 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 2: fifty nine jeel and like that was even when we 422 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 2: would have friends come over. Again soft, dude, I have 423 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,199 Speaker 2: gutten soft, But we were just we were looking to 424 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 2: save every you know, in every way that we could. 425 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 2: And like when our friends would come over, they would 426 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 2: just keep your jackets on and their nit hats, which 427 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 2: is fine because we were doing the same thing and 428 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 2: we're sitting around one of the great thing games. 429 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: So many people were so annoyed that they stopped being 430 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: your friend, and then fewer people coming over to get 431 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 1: annoyed by your. 432 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 2: It's a win win, ridiculous thumstats setting. But here's the thing. 433 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 2: I literally have fond memories of it because they were 434 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 2: in the same boat. Like we would go to their 435 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 2: house and also freeze over there. But one of the tricks, 436 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 2: like like I'm thinking about playing games, and we would 437 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 2: literally put an electric heater under the table, like when 438 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 2: you're sitting there playing Puerto Rico or Settlers, of settlers 439 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 2: of Catan, and it warms the table and then you 440 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 2: got the heat kind of pouring like onto your legs. 441 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 2: It kind of rises up. I don't know. I like 442 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,680 Speaker 2: it sounds like a total cheap move, but it depends 443 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 2: on the context, right, And so the context at that 444 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 2: point in time was that we were all looking to 445 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 2: save a ton of money. And I'm sure some of 446 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: the early days when we met you and Emily like, 447 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 2: we were still doing some of those cheaper, quote unquote 448 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:05,200 Speaker 2: cheaper moves. 449 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: In order to say, yeah, and if you're dropping your 450 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: temp by like ten degrees, you could really save like 451 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: fifty percent. 452 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 2: On your bill. Energy bills were so low. I'm not 453 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 2: necessarily recommending this for everyone out there, but I guess 454 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 2: I'm pointing out that the context matters, and who you 455 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 2: are surrounding yourself with and the different goals that you're 456 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 2: all trying to achieve, it matters. 457 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,199 Speaker 1: That has been this has been an episode of this 458 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: Old House. Thank you for listening. Just kidding, but hopefully 459 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: you can save some money on your heating bills. And 460 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: don't I think Matt. People might assume that it's a 461 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: faux pas to leave it at sixty six or sixty 462 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: seven or degrees or something like that, it's not And 463 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: if it didn't have like a family meeting about it too, 464 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: where you're like, listen, this is kind of what we're 465 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: gonna do because we think we can save fifty bucks 466 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: a month or something like that, and that really does 467 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: it does add up. It's not meaningless. 468 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 2: All right, Matt. 469 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: We've got more to get to, including a new freebie 470 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: for people who love Amazon that's actually a really good one. 471 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:07,959 Speaker 1: We'll talk about that and more right after this. All right, man, 472 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: we are back from the break. 473 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 2: The Friday flight continues, and it is now time for 474 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 2: the ludicrous headline of the week, which is from Vox. 475 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,239 Speaker 2: This week, the headline reads why so many families are 476 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 2: drowning in toys, which, Joel, I'm sure you've got young 477 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,360 Speaker 2: kids as well. I'm sure you can relate. I think 478 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 2: a lot of our listeners could relate. We live in 479 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,880 Speaker 2: a country of abundance, and that doesn't necessarily mean that, 480 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 2: you know, everyone's home is overflowing with stuff, but it's 481 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 2: also a real problem when a culture like ours is 482 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 2: so tethered to consumption. It's almost as if every occasion 483 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 2: in life is an excuse to go out and buy something. Yeah, 484 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:47,160 Speaker 2: and this article it highlighted the unintentional accumulation of toys, 485 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: and dude, sometimes it just feels like our homes get 486 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 2: swamped and overloaded with stuff without even trying. 487 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 1: I literally blame the neighborhood boy. He lives two doors down, 488 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 1: and when my five year old gets stuff like he 489 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: bring it over, just blame it on and he just 490 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: gives it to him and I'm like, no, no, no, take 491 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: it back. 492 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 2: I wanted to talk about this because I think this 493 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 2: is a good thing, a good topic to discuss, like 494 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 2: right after Thanksgiving and you know, before we roll headlong 495 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 2: into Christmas. It sounds like maybe it's too late for you, 496 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: you've already done all of your shopping. But I think 497 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 2: some of these proactive conversations, especially with our kids, where 498 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 2: you're setting expectations, we're setting expectations with extended family as well. 499 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,119 Speaker 2: I think that that can be so stink and important 500 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,679 Speaker 2: when it comes to not feeling just overwhelmed with just 501 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 2: all the stuff that we tend to accumulate this time 502 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 2: of year. 503 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: And it is amazing how what would they say, the 504 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: more stuff you own, more of that stuff owns you 505 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: and we totally we have literally used this week to 506 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 1: do a lot of perching. Matt, come over and check 507 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 1: out the kids' rooms. Oh yeah, it looks super minimalist 508 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: to it, and they were cluttered before truly, and I 509 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: think it just it led to grad levels of anxiety, 510 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: graded levels of unease for the kids. And so now 511 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: they live in these rooms that are easier to keep tidy, 512 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 1: and some of those toys are now down in kind 513 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: of our little sunroom area that's kind of partly a 514 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: playroom for them, and some of them literally are just 515 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:04,679 Speaker 1: getting donated. Others that were trash are being thrown into trash, 516 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: so not donating the trash toys. But so, yeah, you're right, 517 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 1: I think this now is a good time to have 518 00:22:10,359 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 1: this talk. And aside from saving money by deprioritizing toy accumulation, 519 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: that's a beautiful thing, but it just really does, I think, 520 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: help the overall dynamic in your house. It makes me 521 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: think of a conversation that you and I had with 522 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: Jillian Johnsrud a few years ago, and she was saying, like, hey, 523 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 1: pack up some of the toys. Maybe the kids love 524 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: them and they don't want to get rid of them. 525 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: But it's just too many toys to have out pack 526 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: them up, swap those toys out every three four months 527 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,159 Speaker 1: or something like that, and then it feels like the 528 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 1: toys they have are brand new, but you've got fewer 529 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: toys kind of in the mix, like they're in the attic, 530 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: or they're in the garage or somewhere. They're kind of 531 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: stowed away so you can pull them out at a 532 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: later date and make the swave. 533 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:47,919 Speaker 2: It's a good tacto. 534 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I like that. 535 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 2: It makes sense. Well, there's research that they cided where 536 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 2: kids that had four toys, that were getting four toys 537 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: versus sixteen, that they were less stressed because they knew 538 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 2: exactly what to do with as four toys as opposed 539 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 2: to when you have sixteen you're just kind of like, oh, 540 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 2: there's literally too much to handle. And I think the 541 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 2: same thing. I mean, the same is true when it 542 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: comes to what it is that we're buying for our kids, 543 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 2: Like we should be thinking about this as valueists, right, 544 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 2: Like we're trying to get the most bang from our buck. 545 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: And if you have too much stuff and it's literally 546 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 2: not getting played with, well guess what, it doesn't matter 547 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 2: what kind of deal you got on that item, it 548 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 2: is infinitely more expensive because of the fact that it's 549 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 2: not being touched. Yeah, Like it makes me think about 550 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 2: even like we're kind of harping on kids and toys 551 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 2: and stuff, but the same is true when it comes 552 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 2: to us adults in our clothes, right, Like I'm thinking 553 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 2: of like our wardrobes, and let's say someone's got I 554 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 2: don't This kind of sounds ridiculous, but let's like if 555 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 2: you had one hundred shirts, but like ninety of them 556 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 2: you don't really ever wear. What doesn't matter, like how 557 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 2: you acquired those articles of clothing, because really the tin 558 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 2: that you wear, Like maybe what you should do is 559 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 2: focus on spending a little bit more on the tin 560 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 2: that you love, and then you've got quality over quantity, right, 561 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 2: And so I don't know, it's intentional purchasing and intentional buying. 562 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 2: And oftentimes we are so in dated with the readily 563 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 2: available stuff that we can have delivered by the end 564 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 2: of the day tomorrow, Like that is. 565 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 3: Our default sort of reaction because it's easy, as. 566 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 2: Opposed to thinking a little bit longer and a little 567 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 2: bit harder about the things that are going to actually 568 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 2: move the needle. For us. 569 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,000 Speaker 1: I think you're spot on, and I think these are 570 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: the right conversations, the right way to be thinking about 571 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 1: what we're buying, how much we're buying, and whether or 572 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: not we need to buy that thing at all. Do 573 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 1: we need to bring it into our lives, even if 574 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: it's a sick deal? Right? 575 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 3: Totally? 576 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 2: All right. 577 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:31,120 Speaker 1: We talked with Dan Egan Matt on Wednesday about how 578 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: our financial decisions are influenced by our psychology. One of 579 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 1: the things we touched on was something known as the 580 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: Meerkat effect or the Ostrich effect, and Dan actually helped, 581 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:42,879 Speaker 1: I think, write the paper on the Meerkat effect, or 582 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: at least he cited it somewhere. And sometimes, you know, 583 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,199 Speaker 1: what that reflects is the fact that we hide our 584 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: heads in the sand to avoid facing the facts. Well, 585 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 1: there's this new article I saw on a psyche called 586 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: the Conversation. It was about how people would rather clean 587 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 1: their toilets than check their bank account balance. And you 588 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: like cleaning toilets anyway, Matt, so you probably do both 589 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: at the same time. 590 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 2: You know, I keep it clean house, Yeah, I know 591 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 2: you do. 592 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: People would rather though, roll up their sleeves and put 593 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,120 Speaker 1: on those rubber yellow gloves and start scrubbing. 594 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 2: I also love wearing those. I've seen you wear them, 595 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 2: especially the sum of year. 596 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: You're like mister clean, but with hair on your head. 597 00:25:15,880 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 2: See. Yeah, when the heat kicks on and then the 598 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 2: air gets dryer and the temperature drops, you wash your 599 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 2: hands too much and your skin gets all cracks. 600 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 3: Gotta wear the rubber gloves. 601 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I guess I get how a bathroom deep 602 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: clean can kind of feel satisfying in some ways, to 603 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 1: take something from nasty to nice. But I think more 604 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: than a love of cleaning, this reveals an aversion to 605 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: facing the facts, like when it comes to your savings 606 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 1: or what's going on with your banking accounts and what's 607 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: going on with your money. The only way to move 608 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: forward is to put the cleaning supplies down and to 609 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,119 Speaker 1: log into that account and to see what's going on, 610 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: and to check your transaction history. And once you know 611 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: what's happening with your money, you can come up with 612 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: a plan. But if you're having trouble, I think if 613 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: you're maybe a newer listener to the podcast, check out 614 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 1: the money Gears. We'll link to it in the show notes. 615 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: But the money gears are something we came up, but 616 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: it's essentially an order of operations for your finances, and 617 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: it's important to put your finger on the pulse of 618 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: what's going on with your money, identify where you're at 619 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 1: kind of in the process of the money gears, so 620 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,440 Speaker 1: you can know the next step to take. And if 621 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 1: you're in a tough spot or you have questions about that, 622 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 1: send us a question like we'd love to take it 623 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,440 Speaker 1: on an ask HTM episode. I feel like, yeah, I 624 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 1: think I'm here, I don't know what to do next. 625 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: If you feel stuck, we'd love to help you. Well. 626 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 2: Another reason to pay attention to what's going on with 627 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 2: your accounts, and that is institutional errors that negatively affect 628 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 2: you happen all the time. Specifically, the student loans space 629 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 2: right now is a complete mess and the save plan 630 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 2: that's been put on pause in courts. There are a 631 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 2: lot of unknowns about how the next administration is going 632 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 2: to proceed with student loans in general, although forgiveness prospects, 633 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 2: I think we're looking pretty bleak for almost all borrowers 634 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 2: who aren't on a PSLF plan. I hate that it's 635 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 2: turned into this political football and student loan borrowers in 636 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 2: particular or feel in the brunt of it. 637 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: Yo, yo to the max. 638 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, there was a new report from the CEA that 639 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 2: finds that student loan servicers are pulling incorrect payments out 640 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 2: of people's accounts, and to make matters worse, getting a 641 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 2: refund for the overage. It's like pulling teeth. You can 642 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 2: often get a slight interest rate break by having your 643 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 2: payments automatically deducted, which is why there's more folks doing that. 644 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 2: That's nice, but. 645 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,680 Speaker 1: You usually get that quarter point off and you're like, 646 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: all right, yeah, at least I'm not paying as much 647 00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: in absolutely, but make sure that your student loan company 648 00:27:26,640 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: is taking out what they're supposed to. This is when 649 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 1: logging into your accounts is actually going to pay off 650 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 1: and reach out immediately if they aren't doing that, stop 651 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,480 Speaker 1: those auto drafts if they can't get it right, maybe 652 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: even file a complaint with the CFPB if they don't 653 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:41,640 Speaker 1: fix the issue. 654 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 2: The more complaints that come into some of these different 655 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: student loan servicers will put them on the radar, that's right. 656 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, Consumer Finance Dog Gov is where you go to 657 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 1: do that, and they they've got kind of their laser 658 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: eyes locked in on some of these student loan service 659 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: providers that just aren't doing what they're supposed to do, 660 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,800 Speaker 1: and they're harming consumers, harming student loan borrowers in the process. Matt, 661 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:07,000 Speaker 1: we're big fans of audiobooks. I don't know who listens 662 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: to more, you or me, but it's pretty close. I 663 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:11,719 Speaker 1: would say, yeah, I'm guessing you're probably in the lead. 664 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 2: Maybe if we're keeping I'm still well, I'm still listening 665 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 2: to Bono's. 666 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: Oh really yeah, taking you a While. It's great. 667 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 2: It's like a forty hour audiobook. 668 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 3: Really like that. 669 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 2: It's crazy long. 670 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: It's like War and Peace. 671 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 2: It's really long, and you can't speed it up or 672 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 2: I've chosen not to because he plays so good, and 673 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 2: like they intermixed songs into the reading, and so I'm 674 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 2: just like, all right, I'm just going to commit to 675 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 2: doing this at one X. 676 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 1: It's not all audiobooks are better than just reading the book, 677 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: but there are some that are spectacularly superior. And that 678 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 1: is one of them where if you're going to read 679 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: the Bono book because you get his voice listening to 680 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 1: the audio so good. Yes, Well, and we've always said 681 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: that Libby with a Library card has been the best 682 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,239 Speaker 1: app and pretty much the best way for folks to 683 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: get the audio books they want without spending a time Hoopla. 684 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 2: I'm a big fan of Hoopla for whatever reason, I don't. 685 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 1: Different books that they offered like through Hoopla. Okay, off 686 00:28:57,800 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: to check that out. I'm not, I'm really just one Libby. 687 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 1: But yeah, then depending on the library system that you're 688 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: a part of, well you might not be able to 689 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 1: get the book you want, or the book you want 690 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: might be on a massive weight list and you're like, well, 691 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 1: I don't want to wait nine months for that book. 692 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: And we've mentioned that Spotify now offers fifteen hours of 693 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: audiobook listening, which massively increases the value proposition of a 694 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,560 Speaker 1: Spotify membership, and maybe it's at least just at least 695 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: like a supplement right to your Libby or Hoopla library membership. 696 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: But then Amazon matt shots across the bow from Spotify. 697 00:29:31,440 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: They've taken notice and they're trying to compete with Spotify 698 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: by offering Amazon Music Unlimited customers three free months of 699 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 1: Audible and then after that, Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers apparently 700 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 1: now are getting one audiobook a month for free. I 701 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:49,920 Speaker 1: was just looking digging in the app today and it's 702 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,959 Speaker 1: pretty incredible. Like, if you're a subscriber to Amazon Music, 703 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: there's a ton of added value that just got thrown 704 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: in there, thrust into your hands of free audio books. 705 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,960 Speaker 1: But now to me, Spotify and Amazon Music have taken 706 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:03,960 Speaker 1: the cake as offering the best value for your money. 707 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 2: Beck. Yeah, another benefit of libraries, by the way, is 708 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 2: help for budding entrepreneurs. Libraries are proliferating in what they're 709 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 2: offering local residents. Everyone of course knows about free books. 710 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 2: Kate was there with the kids literally yesterday doing some 711 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 2: sort of like book scavenger hunt. Ran into some friends. 712 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 2: I freaking love that is becoming like a focal point 713 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 2: of our community. But there's an initiative that launched years 714 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:31,280 Speaker 2: ago to turn libraries into a resource for local entrepreneurs, 715 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 2: and it seems like it's working out. Some offer free 716 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 2: meeting spaces and computers for folks to work on, But 717 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 2: on top of that, there are also classes on bookkeeping, 718 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 2: grant writing, and business plan development, which. 719 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 3: Is totally cool. This is all for free. 720 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 2: I love that the libraries are starting to turn into 721 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 2: like entrepreneurship hubs and so if you're keen on starting 722 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 2: your business, I would say check with your local library 723 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 2: to see what's available. It's not just for audiobook access 724 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 2: or you know, being able to not have to buy 725 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 2: a book. I think it's in twelve different library systems 726 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 2: across the country right now. But even if even if 727 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 2: you're not looking to start your own business, still go 728 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 2: and check out what your local library is offering, because 729 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 2: there's a lot more that they're putting out there in 730 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 2: the community than just a bit. 731 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, libraries do a whole lot more than they did 732 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: like twenty five years ago. Today's library ate your grandma's 733 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: library exactly, And I like how they've kind of gotten 734 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:24,480 Speaker 1: with the times in a lot of ways, and they're 735 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 1: helping people in various ways, not just hey, grab a 736 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 1: book off the shelf, but. 737 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 2: Especially when there's that too, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship, 738 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 2: Like we're such huge proponents of that, and I think 739 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 2: the more resources that are out there to encourage folks 740 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 2: to consider that, the better. 741 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I think sometimes there's even like tax help 742 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 1: come March or April right that people can get from 743 00:31:43,880 --> 00:31:47,000 Speaker 1: a local library. There are all sorts of fantastic initiatives 744 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: from a lot of local libraries. Check and see what 745 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 1: yours has to offer. All right, Matt, that's going to 746 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,880 Speaker 1: do it for this episode. We'll catch people back here 747 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:58,920 Speaker 1: on Monday with a fresh listener questions episode. I hope 748 00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: you have an awesome week in more time with family 749 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: and friends and turkey leftovers. That's where it's out. Thank you, 750 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 1: our buddy. That's gonna do it for this one. Until 751 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: next time, best friends Out and best Friends Out.