1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I'm Matt, 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: and today we're discussing creating a holiday spending plan. Yeah, Juel, 3 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: you know, it kind of seems early to talk abouts 4 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: the holidays. It is only October, but it's going to 5 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: be important for us to talk about these things now 6 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: before we get to the holidays. We're discussing ways to 7 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: get through the holidays without debt. We're gonna talk about 8 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,639 Speaker 1: healthy habits when it comes to holiday spending. Man. Yeah, Matt, 9 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 1: there's a status is consumers say we'll take more than 10 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,639 Speaker 1: three months to pay off their balances after the holidays. 11 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: That's a big problem. And so yeah, we've got some 12 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: thoughts that we want to share in order to help 13 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: people avoid that. Because it feels nice to buy people 14 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: fancy gifts for the holidays, but then January comes, you 15 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: get the credit card bill in the mail, and that's 16 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: what really sucks. That's what it's not good. And so 17 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: it makes that spending it like kind of taints it. 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: I feel like the tainted holidays. I know, right, you 19 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: don't want to be there. You don't want to be there. 20 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: It sounds like a lawsuit or a band I don't know. 21 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: All right, but before we get there, Matt, what do 22 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: you want for the holidays? Any anything that you want 23 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: in your stocking or under the tree. Maybe a little 24 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: more sleep? That's actually that sounds really good. I wish 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: someone could wrap that up and give it to me, 26 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: like take the bags out from under my eyes. Yeah, 27 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: we each have had our babies on the scene now 28 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,559 Speaker 1: for a couple of months. I'm still not getting great sleep. 29 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: But actually, so related to that, I had a story 30 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 1: to share with you about venmo. All right, I want 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: to hear how venmo equals no sleep? Like what how 32 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: did these tie together? Here's the thing. So we thought 33 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: that the reason Weston wasn't getting great sleepers because we 34 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: kind of have this different sleeper, this bedside sleeper units, 35 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: and he was sort of getting turned diagonal a little 36 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: bit and we'd wake up and see him kind of 37 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: crammed in the corner. It just didn't look like he 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: was very comfortable. So we thoughts, you know, what, he 39 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: needs to be laying on something flat, maybe just a 40 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: little bit nicer bassinet. Maybe we went cheap and got 41 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: the least expensive safe option, and we're paying for it 42 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 1: because we're not getting any sleep. Now, Yeah, that's not 43 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: worth it right there, man, I've trade hard cash for 44 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: sleep any day of the week. Well that's exactly what 45 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: we did. So Kate found something on the neighborhoods selling swap. 46 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: It was a basically brand new bassinet. She had found 47 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: it online as well. It had great reviews and it 48 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: was an amazing deal. I went over to their house. 49 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: I saw it, you know, as brand new, didn't have 50 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 1: spit up on it or anything to hold it under 51 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: a black light to makee no black light. But keep 52 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: in mind how I mentioned that I haven't got much sleep, right, 53 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: and so I'm halfway aware of what's even going on 54 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: while I'm over there, Like I probably fell asleep, just 55 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: kind of leaning against the wall while the lady was 56 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: talking about and so she told me her Venmo name, 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: because that's how you do stuff, right. You don't really 58 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: carry around cash, right, I don't, at least know most 59 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: people don't anymore, especially people in their twenties and thirties. 60 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: They're totally used to sending money virtually through Venmo and cash. Yeah, exactly. 61 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: And I'm very used to it as well, very used 62 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: to punching in someone's name accurately. But in this particular instance, man, 63 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: I did not do that. I got her name. Let's say, 64 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,680 Speaker 1: for example, her name was Cassie Smith, and I like 65 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: the made up names, very nice one. In fact, she 66 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: said her name was Cassie Smith too, and so I 67 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: was like, done, got it? So I punched it in 68 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 1: and popped right up. I was like, gotcha, I see 69 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: you right here, clicked it, punched in thirty bucks, send 70 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: it to her and she was like, all right, he 71 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: let me help you take it out to the car. 72 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: I didn't take much of it, took a home. We're 73 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: done right until an hour later I get a message 74 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: from Venmo from Cassie Smith too that says wrong person. 75 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: And I was like, what is she just messing with me? 76 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: Because I pulled it up right with her right there, 77 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: and I mean Cassie Smith too, right, Like how many 78 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: Cassie Smith's two are there? Well, turns out there's at 79 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: least two of them. It totally was the wrong person, 80 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: and I wanted to share the story because you need 81 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: to make sure that you have the exact right screen 82 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: name or handle when you're using cash app or when 83 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: you're using Venmo, because those companies they don't have any 84 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: control over the money that you send to people. Once 85 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: it goes into their account, it's their money and they 86 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: don't have to send it back, right, Yeah, And there's 87 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: no protections for anybody if you send money. Whereas if 88 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 1: you use a credit card and you don't receive the 89 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: items right that you purchased, you have the ability to 90 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: do a chargeback. Well, there's there's nothing like that when 91 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: it comes to Venmo or cash app. And with Venmo, 92 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: it's easy to see the people that you've paid before. 93 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: They're kind of in your history. Same thing with cash app. 94 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: But if it's somebody exactly, that's what it's the most difficult. 95 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: So if it's somebody that's done work at my house 96 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: and it's the first time I've paid them, I just 97 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: have to make sure I show it to them physically, 98 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: like is this your right screen name? That's what I 99 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: should have done. Yeah, So that's like really the only 100 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: way around it is to actually pull it up and 101 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: show it to their face and say is this your 102 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: actual screen name? And they have the scan future too, 103 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: like you can pull it up, pull up your profile 104 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: and it pulls up the what do you call it, 105 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 1: the bar you know, like the square with like the 106 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: different coded shaded sections, so just to ensure that you 107 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: get the right person. But again, it wasn't a big 108 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: deal and I thought, surely that's you. Didn't think much 109 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: of it. So did fake Cassie Smith too? Did she 110 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: or other Cassie Smith who I should call it, she's 111 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: a real Cassie Smith too? Was she above board? Did 112 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 1: she send that thirty bucks back? Well, eventually it's like 113 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: a lot of conversation back and forth. But the fact 114 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: was was she was a that I was trying to 115 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: pull on on her because it was totally random. And 116 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: I looked into this because I thought there's no way 117 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: that could actually be a thing. But it is. There's 118 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: been some reports of fraudulent payments being sent to people 119 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: and then them saying, oh, no, rob person, and then 120 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: they asked for back and somehow that person who sends 121 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: it back, they're out that money because the the initial 122 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: money wasn't maybe fully in fully deposited. I'm not exactly 123 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: sure how it works because I'm not a criminal, but 124 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: that's something to take into account. So if you ever 125 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,799 Speaker 1: get money sent to you, you know, be above board, 126 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: be cool, send it back. But if it seems fishy, 127 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: right if they have like a weird history, or if 128 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: it's a brand new user, definitely something worth reaching out 129 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: to Venmo and just letting them know that, like, hey, 130 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: this is going on. Should I be doing this? And 131 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: I think that could be a really healthy and safe 132 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: way to be above board but still take advantage of 133 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: those different apps. Yeah, I've heard about that with fake check. 134 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: So you get a check in the mail, right, and 135 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: then and they're like, send me back six bucks, but 136 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: I give you a check I overpaid. It's like, it's okay, 137 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: I'm still walking away with a ton of money in 138 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: this situation. But really, they check is fake. It looks 139 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: like it clears, and then it doesn't. Then the bank 140 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: realizes that it's not a real check, and then they 141 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: want their money back, and it's just, yeah, that's a 142 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: hairy situation. But I've not heard about that with Venmos. 143 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: That's fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Yeah, I mean, overall, 144 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: still very safe, but like we said, make sure you 145 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: have the person's name right at their handle exactly correct, yep, yep, 146 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: show it to their face. All right, mat, let's get 147 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: to the beer that we're having on this episode. Today 148 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: on the show, we're drinking a beer called Timely Surrender 149 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: by Archetype Brewing, and this was sent to us by 150 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: Brad and Corinna, who brewed the beer themselves. Right, Yeah, 151 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 1: they are the owners or founders of Archetype Brewing up 152 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: there in Asheville, North Carolina. So thanks so much for 153 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: sending us this beer. Yeah, Monday's I p A was 154 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: excellent and I love me a good Sason, So I'm 155 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: excited to drink this one and talk about it at 156 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: the end of the episode. Yeah, man, me too. Alright, Matt, 157 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: let's get onto the subject at hand. Today on the show, 158 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: we're talking about creating a holiday spending plan. The problem 159 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: is most people don't have a plan for how much 160 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: they're gonna spend and who they'll be buying for this 161 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: holiday season, and their budgets get wrecked because they overspend, 162 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: and lots of Americans will have a holiday spending hangover 163 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: and be paying off those unforeseen expend is well into 164 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: the new year. But if we start saving money now 165 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 1: and start planning for how we're going to spend, we 166 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: can avoid that kind of January nastiness and the ridiculous 167 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: bill that we don't actually have the money to pay off. Right. 168 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: You know what I love around the holidays like a 169 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: nice fresh blanket of snow like outside for Christmas and 170 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: some fresh credit card debt. Well, in Atlanta, we're not 171 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: getting snowbuddy, But we're also not getting credit card debt either. Yeah, 172 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: that's true, man. So a few main points before we 173 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: dive into just how to set up a spending plan 174 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: is just overall, you want to make sure that you're 175 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: not going into debt for the holidays, that you're not 176 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: going into the red spending money on gifts. You want 177 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: to only spend the money that you actually have, and 178 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: so make a commitment to not going to debt over 179 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: holiday spending. No one's gonna love you more just because 180 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: you spend more than you could actually afford. And if 181 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: they say that, they'll love you more because you spend more. 182 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: And that's not somebody you want to hang out. No, No, 183 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: those are keepers, right, that's a bad friend. But you know, 184 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: here's the thing. If you just love giving gifts and 185 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 1: you want to spend more, just be creative about it. 186 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 1: Find other places that you can cut back onto, increase 187 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: the amount you have for holidays. Sending. So for example, 188 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: if you change cell phone providers to save maybe fifty 189 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: bucks a month, like that is going to give you 190 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: more gift money to spend every single month. Yeah, no doubt. 191 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: I love the idea of looking at your budget, finding 192 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: places to cut, and then allocating that money towards the 193 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: positive things that you want to do. So, like, if 194 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: gift giving is really really important to you, but you 195 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: don't have the money to make it happen, well, finding 196 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: ways to cut your current budget so that you can 197 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: allocate more money towards gift giving is an awesome way 198 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: to do it. Also, another thing you need to do, 199 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 1: probably right now, if you're into online shopping is install 200 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: the plug in called Honey or or something similar. There 201 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: are other plug ins that do similar work, but Honey 202 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 1: is just probably the best. Honey is the best. It's great. 203 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,560 Speaker 1: It's so good. Yeah, so people should install that right now. 204 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: It helps with coupon codes and really it's just gonna 205 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: help you save money when when shopping online. Honey can 206 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: help you see like the price history of a particular item. 207 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: It can give you notifications of price drops if you 208 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: sign up for that. And also it will kind of 209 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: do this automatic searching for coupon codes, so you're not 210 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: going down to Google Rabbit hold to try to find 211 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: a cupon code for that website. So I would do 212 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: that now if you're into online shopping, nice man, A 213 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: nice little plug for a plug in. Another thing is 214 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: we want to encourage folks to start early. Another reason 215 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 1: we're talking about holiday spending this early in the year, 216 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: this early in the season is because last minute Christmas 217 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: shopping is the worst, right, It's hard for planning and 218 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: you will end up spending way more money that way. 219 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: You actually want to make sure that you're thinking like 220 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: a retailer, like retailers are thinking about the holiday season 221 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: like the following year. And you know what, that's not 222 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: a bad approach. Yeah, retailers would prefer for you to 223 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: buy all your gifts between like December. In December, I mean, 224 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: that's when they want you to buy because they're not 225 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: running sales anymore at that point in time. The biggest 226 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: price competition is in mid to late November. Really, that's 227 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: when you're gonna find the best deals on things, maybe 228 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,200 Speaker 1: creeping into early December. But if you want to save 229 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: the most money on gifts, if you want your dollar 230 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: to stretch further this holiday season, and you are planning 231 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: on shopping on line in regular bigger retail stores, locally 232 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: small businesses, the best sales, the biggest discounts, you're gonna 233 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: find those earlier on in the holiday shopping season. And 234 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 1: if you wait too long, if you are a last 235 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: minute shopper, you're gonna pay a heck of a lot more. 236 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: And and that could end up really throwing a big 237 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: wrench in your budget. Unless you're just like me and 238 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: you love waiting to the last second, because that used 239 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: to be my m O back in high school, back 240 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: in college even I used to totally wait until until 241 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: Christmas Eve. And do you feel like you paid a 242 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: lot more because of it? I don't know. I was 243 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: a very presconscious was in high school or in college. 244 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: I was just kind of like, I gotta get something 245 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: for mom. I waited too late, And I was totally 246 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: the guy that's like parking up on the curb because 247 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: there's so many cars at the mall. Do you remember 248 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: them all, by the way, Yeah, I think they still exist. 249 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: Actually I don't think they do there, so I'm not 250 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: all of them, that's for sure. They're they're going the 251 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: way of the Dodo bird. It's interesting to see how 252 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: malls are being reconfigured and the companies that are buying 253 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: malls to do something different with them, because people just 254 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: don't shop at malls like they used to go to 255 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: the mall and work, you know, like it's just the 256 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: we work now, like you can go there and get 257 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: work done. But we were kind of joking about thinking 258 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: like retailer, but you really do need to think that 259 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: far in advance. If you can even start thinking about 260 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 1: the next holiday season now, that is going to put 261 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: you in an even stronger position. Consider opening even a 262 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: separate savings account where you can funnel just however much 263 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: you need to maybe twenty bucks for fifty bucks a 264 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: month for next year's holiday spending. It's just about having 265 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: a plan, having time on your side so that you 266 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: can implement and execute that plan. Yeah, I mean, some 267 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: people might think we're crazy for doing an episode about 268 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: holiday spending in October. Yeah, it's like when the Christmas 269 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: decorations go up and it's not even Halloween yet, right, Right, 270 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: That's that's what this episode feels like. But it's even 271 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: crazier that we're talking about creating a holiday spending plan 272 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 1: for right, But really and truly, if you want to 273 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,640 Speaker 1: make sure you're fully prepared for Christmas, it takes budgeting 274 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 1: in advance. It takes setting aside that money every single month, 275 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: because you in all likelihood know roughly what you're going 276 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,680 Speaker 1: to spend for Christmas based on last you're spending. And 277 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: we're going to get into more on that and how 278 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: you actually create a solid spending plan right after the break. 279 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: All right, girl, we are back from the break. We're 280 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: talking about holiday spending. And like the title of this 281 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,360 Speaker 1: episode says, this is about creating a holiday spending plan, 282 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: and so having a solid spending plan is just so clutch. 283 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: And here now are some specific steps you can take 284 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: to get started. Jill, you just hinted at taking your 285 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: cues from last year's spending, right if you don't even 286 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: know where to begin now, it's not a bad idea 287 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: to base this year spending on what you spend last year, 288 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,439 Speaker 1: assuming that you didn't overspend. Think about who you bought for. 289 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: Did you buy for teachers, maybe some distant relatives, third 290 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: cousins or no, go, you don't have to buy for them, 291 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: forget them, But at then ask yourself, do you plan 292 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: to buy for those folks again, and if so, like 293 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: what seems like a reasonable amount of money. This will 294 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: give you a realistic starting point for how much you 295 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: can save and set aside. And before the break, you know, 296 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,439 Speaker 1: we talked about setting aside like twenty forty or fifty 297 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: bucks a month. Well, this is when you actually determine 298 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: that amount. When you take that total and you've got 299 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: your annual spending for the holidays, you just take that, 300 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: divide that by twelve, and then set that money aside 301 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: every single month, just like you would towards an annual bill. Yeah, 302 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: and make sure you're adding in new people. So, like, 303 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: let's say you've got a girlfriend or a boyfriend and 304 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: you didn't have one last year. Looking at last year 305 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: spending can get you a long way. But don't forget 306 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,679 Speaker 1: about it. Yeah, yeah, looking at last year's we'll get 307 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,679 Speaker 1: you like ninety five percent of the way that right. 308 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: Like that, you still need to make some small tweaks, 309 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: but that's I mean, that's exactly what we do every year, dude. 310 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:37,439 Speaker 1: We I mean, we'll take eighteens Christmas spending XCEL file. 311 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: I will copy and paste that, change it to twenty 312 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: nine seen and then we'll just open it up and 313 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: Kate will go in there and kind of tweak some numbers, 314 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: maybe add somebody, maybe cut somebody. But it's really that easy, 315 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: and that will get you most of the way there. 316 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: But don't forget any special significant others who may have 317 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: joined you in the past year. True, all right. And 318 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:57,599 Speaker 1: also it's important to round up have an amount specified 319 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: to that you can factor in if you go over 320 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: So if you can allocate five more than you thought 321 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: you would spend, well, that can help ease the pain 322 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,319 Speaker 1: if you do overspend on a gift for a loved one. 323 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: That way you don't feel quite so cramped or tempted 324 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: to throw in the towel if you blitz through the 325 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: budget that you had set for yourself. I know, sometimes 326 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: you find that perfect gift for somebody and you had 327 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: let's say thirty dollars allocated for their gift, but it's 328 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: a fifty dollar gift and it's perfect. You really really 329 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: want to get that for them. I think there are 330 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: ways to try to see if you can get a 331 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: better deal on it, whatever, But if that's ultimately the 332 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: gift that you want to buy for somebody, having that 333 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: excess amount budgeted in for overages. It's just super helpful 334 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: so that you can go over occasionally on that perfect 335 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: gift for that right person. Yeah, the idea here is 336 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: that you have a number man, that's realistic, right, and 337 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: that you have a number that's not so low that 338 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: you completely burned past that and like you said, you 339 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: just completely quit and give up on that budget. And 340 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: so once you have that list put together, and man, personally, 341 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: I do feel that like a Google sheet or an 342 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: Excel file is perfect for that because you've got all 343 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: your mouths you keep their totals running. I just write 344 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: it on my hand and pen. That's my way of keeping. 345 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: And then you swept profusely wipe your brow and you're like, oh, no, 346 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: my budget well, and then my friend like sees it 347 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: and they're like, oh, you're spending twenty bucks on me 348 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: for christ, it really gets awkward. Well, here's the thing. 349 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: After looking at last year's list, what you want to do. 350 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,920 Speaker 1: If it's looking like you're setting yourself up to fail 351 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 1: to spend maybe more than you can actually afford, then 352 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: it's gonna be time to start making some cuts. It's 353 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: time to get really picky at this point you'll either 354 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: need to maybe limit the folks that you buy for, 355 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: like altogether, or maybe some combination of both. I think 356 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: Joe and I would both recommend that you just cut 357 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: everybody off your list. Actually, boom problem solved, joyful holiday 358 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: is in store for all. I'm sure if all those 359 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: fails just Scrooge mcduckett, all right, that's one way to 360 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: do it. Probably not the best advice for Matt on that. One. 361 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: Another thing you should do in this whole process is 362 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: is be tracking the whole time. Like Matt said, an 363 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: Excel spreadsheet could work. I don't actually write things down 364 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: on my hand and pen. That just wouldn't work out 365 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: very well. But once you've created your holiday spending budget, 366 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: you want to keep trying as you're buying the gifts. 367 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: If you get a great deal on something and spend 368 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: less on somebody because of it, well they give you 369 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,760 Speaker 1: some wiggle room to spend more on others. This is 370 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: how you can have even more flexibility and freedom within 371 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: your budget. You want to be sure that you stick 372 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: to the overall budgeted amount and you don't want to 373 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: go over that, but there is some wiggle room inside 374 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: of that if you do score just an incredibly low 375 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: price on the perfect gift that you've been looking for 376 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: for somebody. It just gives you that ability to spend 377 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: a touch more on somebody else. Yeah, Soul, this is 378 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: such an important step, right because you're not only just 379 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: coming up with the plan, but this is the follow through, right, Like, 380 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: this is the actual execution, and we're not only just 381 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: tracking those expenses, you're comparing it to the numbers that 382 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: you have decided that you're going to spend. Um. This 383 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: isn't a situation where you just kind of close your 384 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: eyes and crush your fingers hope that that it works 385 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: out after you set that number at the very beginning. 386 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: This is something that you are going to track and 387 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: follow and monitor because, like you mentioned, man, there's gonna 388 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: be times when you need to make some tweaks and 389 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: adjust the amount that you're gonna spend on somebody else 390 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: because you know what, like I really wanted to spend 391 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: more on this other person, but we're sticking to the budget. 392 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: We're sticking to the plan, and really that's the hardest part. 393 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: That's kind of what it all comes down to. Yeah, 394 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: mat And as we're kind of thinking about tracking our purchases. 395 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: One interesting way of doing it I think that can 396 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: be really really helpful is considering going cash only for 397 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: the holiday season. If you pull out the exact amount 398 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: of cash that you've budgeted to spend, it really helps 399 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: you be disciplined in sticking to that number. And granted, 400 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: that can be hard to do because so many of 401 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: the presidents that we buy for each other are are 402 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: online purchases these days. But going to that cash system 403 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 1: can really help curb unnecessary spending and can help us 404 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: be a little more focused as we're buying gifts for 405 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: the people that we love. Ye man, setting up those 406 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: constraints can be a great way to help folks. But 407 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: here's the thing, if you're not into that, discounted gift 408 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: cards can be an awesome gift and it can be 409 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: an awesome way to actually save you money. When you're 410 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: going to buy specific gifts for folks. You can check 411 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: out card Pool as well as gift card Granny. Those 412 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: are both sites where you can buy or sell gift cards. Yeah. 413 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: I think really those websites are so helpful in lowering 414 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: the overall amount you spend on gifts because two things. 415 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: If you're buying a gift card for somebody, you can 416 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 1: get them a gift card at the same store you're 417 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: planning on actually going into the physical location, or buying 418 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: it on that store's website, and you can buy it 419 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: at a site like gift card Grannier, card Pool, and 420 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,200 Speaker 1: you can just get it for less money. That's one 421 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: way I think these websites are really helpful. Another way 422 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: is if you know that there are items at those stores, 423 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: those particular stores are where you're going to do your 424 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: holiday shopping, you can stretch your dollar and make it 425 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: go further. So, for instance, let's say you're planning on 426 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: spending a lot of money at a store like Target 427 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: or Old Navy or wherever, you can buy that discount 428 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 1: of gift card on one of those discounted gift card sites, 429 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 1: and you might be saving eight percent or twelve percent 430 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: or fifteen percent on the gifts that you're buying for 431 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:43,360 Speaker 1: folks from those stores, just by having taken that one 432 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: additional step of buying a gift card that somebody else 433 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: didn't want and snagging it at a discount. So I 434 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 1: love that kind of approach. If you know kind of 435 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: the stores that you're planning the shop at, it can 436 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: be really helpful and just kind of driving down those 437 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 1: overall holiday spending costs. Yeah, man, And it actually almost 438 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 1: works like hash right, Like we're talking about sending those constraints. 439 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: When you buy a gift card, you're going to be 440 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,479 Speaker 1: less likely to overspend because you have a set amount 441 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: that you've already spent. And so I think that's another 442 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: great way to kind of control and curb your own 443 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: spending on others. So later on the show, we're gonna 444 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: talk about some more practical ways that you can actually 445 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: save money. But real quick, man, before we go to 446 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: the break, let's talk about kids, because there can be 447 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,919 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure when it comes to kids and 448 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: presents around the holidays. There are expectations from previous years, 449 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: maybe what they're seeing in advertising and even what they 450 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: see their their friends getting right, this can be the 451 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: perfect time to talk about and live out what you 452 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 1: actually value. What a great way to start some of 453 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: those money conversations with your kids in order to set 454 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: some realistic expectations, and instead you can turn the focus 455 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: to traditions and that time spend together as a family. Yeah. 456 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: I think the hardest thing is when you don't communicate 457 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: well with your kids about what the holidays are gonna 458 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: look like, about where time is going to be spent, 459 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: about the way Christmas Morning is going to look or 460 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: whatever holiday you celebrate. You can be upfront and communicate 461 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: with them. I think your kids are way more likely 462 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: to understand and to be okay with the direction that 463 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: you've chosen your kids. Let's make sure you know about 464 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: crampus right exactly exactly, that's what we're setting their expectations for. Yeah, 465 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: just kidding. But again, that's why we're putting this episode 466 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 1: out so early in the season, because these are the 467 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,120 Speaker 1: kind of conversations that you need to begin having now. 468 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: It's really crummy if you start telling your kid they're 469 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: not going to get very many presents on December three, 470 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: that's a bummer and they're not going to take it 471 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: very well. But if you can start building up the 472 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 1: idea of what the holidays mean to your family and 473 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: actually follow through and make the holiday season more about 474 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: time together, more about traditions, more about family events, your 475 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: kid might be bummed that they don't get the latest 476 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,080 Speaker 1: Nintendo Switch or whatever it is it's on their list, 477 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 1: but they'll have more of an appreciation for the way 478 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: your family views it and the way you guys spend 479 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,239 Speaker 1: your holiday time. Yeah. Man, that's a great point. We're 480 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: gonna talk more about communicating and talking about these expectations, 481 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: but first, let's take a quick break, all right, Joe, 482 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: we were just talking about communicating with our friends and 483 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: family about maybe how we might be spending less this year. 484 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: We want to encourage you to not be afraid to 485 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 1: talk about your spending or the lack thereof. Maybe others 486 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,880 Speaker 1: they might even be relieved to know that the gift 487 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: giving this year is gonna be kind of toned down. 488 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh. Have you ever had that conversation with 489 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: someone in your family and they're like, please, thank you, 490 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, are you too good? Thank you for 491 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: taking the reins on this, because it was killing me 492 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 1: that to have to kind of meet this crazy gift 493 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: giving schedule that we had set up. Yeah. Well, I mean, 494 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: the fact is is, it's easy to spend less when 495 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: you and everyone you know, when you're on the same page. 496 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: But like we're saying, it's important to communicate that clearly 497 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: and specifically why it is that you might be cutting 498 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: back this year. You want to make sure that you 499 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: can let that friend know that's not getting that gift, Well, 500 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: it's because that you don't love them anymore. That's always 501 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: a fun conversation have, right, Yeah, I feel like I've 502 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 1: been kind of in a joking, bohambag kind of mood. 503 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: And it's not even the holidays, talking about crampus, talking 504 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: about telling your friends you don't love them. Yeah, And 505 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 1: I think one way to kind of help approach that 506 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: conversation is is to talk about the bigger goals that 507 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: you have and letting your family know that that's part 508 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:13,199 Speaker 1: of the reason that you're not able to spend as 509 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:16,600 Speaker 1: much on holiday gifts. So, for instance, if you're intently 510 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 1: focused on paying off your student loan debt, or you're 511 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 1: saving for a down payment for a home, or you've 512 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,919 Speaker 1: got medical bills or some other financial setbacks going on 513 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: in your life, those are great reasons to spend less. 514 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,640 Speaker 1: But the people in your life that you love might 515 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: not know that about you. They might not know that 516 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 1: that's something that you're going after really hard. And you 517 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: know what, honestly telling people that that, hey, you know what, 518 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: I've got this really small budget this year and it's 519 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,040 Speaker 1: just not gonna look like it has in years past, 520 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: opening up those lines of communication and letting them know 521 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: why things have changed for you. Honestly, I feel like 522 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: that can be really really motivating to hear from a friend, 523 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: and it can deep in a relationship by getting that 524 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 1: honest with somebody that you care about. Oftentimes we feel 525 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 1: a little guilty or a little weird talking about money, 526 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: talking about our goals, talking about what we're prioritizing, opening 527 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,679 Speaker 1: up those lines of communication, getting honest with the people 528 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: around you. That is, in and of itself, kind of 529 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: this beautiful way to spend the holidays by increasing that 530 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: level of relationship, by trusting somebody in your family or 531 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,359 Speaker 1: somebody in your inner friend circle enough to kind of 532 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,880 Speaker 1: let them know what's important to you, what you're prioritizing 533 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: right now, and that can open up the lines of 534 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,120 Speaker 1: communication for further discussions about money that could be really 535 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 1: impactful to you as well. Yeah. What a much more 536 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: meaningful way to to spend the holidays, right. Yeah, it's 537 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: not an excuse. I think we can feel like an 538 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: excuse if you're like, hey, I can't do it because 539 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: of this, But if you can have a heartfelt conversation 540 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: about heart to heart your limits and what's going on 541 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: in your life. I feel like that can be really 542 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,439 Speaker 1: helpful totally, And another great reason to discuss with your 543 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,359 Speaker 1: friends and family why you might be cutting back this 544 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 1: year when it comes to spending around the holidays is 545 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: because maybe you feel a moral obligation to cut back 546 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: on the amount that you're spending, on the amount of 547 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 1: consumption that you are a part of. Honestly, presents like 548 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 1: sometimes they can be a bit overrated gift giving. It's 549 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 1: a love language for some people, but for a lot 550 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 1: of folks, they just get sucked into that advertising and 551 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: that consumption mindset. Dozens of presents under a Christmas treet 552 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: doesn't make for a better Christmas. But the thing is 553 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 1: make sure though that when you share this with your 554 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 1: friends and family that they know for you it's a 555 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: personal decision that you've made and that you're not judging 556 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: them because they're into the gifts. Right If they're bigger spenders, 557 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,679 Speaker 1: that's totally fine. Just ask them to not include you 558 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 1: with their holiday spending or you know that sounds a 559 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: little negative, you know, so it maybe instead they can 560 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: donate that money that they would have spent on you 561 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: to a charity that they really care about. I think 562 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: that's an awesome way to make some positive change in 563 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,919 Speaker 1: our world while at the same time not participating in 564 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 1: over consumption. All right, Matt, And regardless of the reason 565 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: that you're spending less, well, let's talk about some easy 566 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: ways to actually spend less. So one way to do 567 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: this is to make homemade gifts for the people in 568 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,600 Speaker 1: your life. If you're having a tough time thinking I'm 569 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: at a great gift that's within your budgeted amount, maybe 570 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: consider going homemade with it. Cookies, scarves, handwritten notes. It 571 00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,879 Speaker 1: doesn't take a whole lot of money to let some 572 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: know that you care. Sometimes the best gifts that I've 573 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: ever gotten are a card with a thoughtful note that 574 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: let somebody know that they were thinking of me. It 575 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,960 Speaker 1: didn't have to be a physical item. And oftentimes some 576 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 1: of those smaller trinkets that come as presents during the holidays, 577 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: the smaller things, they end up getting discarded. But that 578 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,400 Speaker 1: kind of note, that sentimentality, that meaning, it lasts for 579 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 1: a long time. Yeah. And on the note of scarves, 580 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:24,959 Speaker 1: and on the note of gifts that you're gonna give me, 581 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 1: I remember how you said you're gonna take up knitting 582 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: and you're gonna knit me an Atlanta United scarf? Where's 583 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: my scarf? Dog? All right, it's on my to do list. 584 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: I'll see if it makes it in time for Christmas. 585 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: I'm just messing with you, dude, although if you made 586 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 1: me something, I probably would wear it. So another way 587 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: that you can spend less is to make it a 588 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: priority to spend time with the people you love. How 589 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: many crimmy gifts have you gotten that you just completely 590 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: forgot about over the years. Time is almost always so 591 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: much more valuable once you realize that the true value 592 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: of time and how it's not something that you can 593 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: make more of. Be intentional with the time that you 594 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 1: have with your loved ones, especially around the holidays. And 595 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,159 Speaker 1: Joel a quick example of this. I'm thinking of the 596 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: gift that I gave my dad last year for Christmas 597 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: for a day in Atlanta. And this isn't something that 598 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 1: we've done before, but I think you and I we 599 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:10,960 Speaker 1: kind of talked about this last year when we're talking 600 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,560 Speaker 1: about spending around the holidays, and so I thought, you 601 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: know what, this is something I'm gonna do. Gave it 602 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:17,959 Speaker 1: to Dad and we did that this year. Dude. It 603 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 1: was so much fun. He came to Atlanta. We you know, 604 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 1: first we had brunched with the whole family, which he 605 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: totally appreciated and enjoyed. He kind of got to see 606 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 1: sort of a peek into our our lazy Saturday morning, right, 607 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 1: and so he got to spend some quality time with 608 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: the girls there in the morning. But then later that day, 609 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: me and him, we went to a local brewery. We 610 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: got some beers, which was a lot of fun, a 611 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 1: good conversation there, and then we went to an Atlanta 612 00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: United match, which was a lot of fun. We won, 613 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: that was the most important, but then after that we 614 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: went and got some barbecue. All the beautiful, perfect things 615 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: in life, right, and it was such a good time. 616 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: He had a great time. I had a great time. 617 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 1: We got to talk about some things that we hadn't 618 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: talked about in a while. Yeah, shared some different stories. 619 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 1: It was just a way for us to connect and 620 00:26:58,119 --> 00:27:01,159 Speaker 1: grow our relationship at a deeper level. And that's not 621 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: something that you know, he would have gotten if I 622 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: would have gotten him a tie, And there's nothing wrong 623 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:07,719 Speaker 1: with a nice tie, but just a gift or an 624 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: electric shaver, yeah, exactly, which, by the way, I totally 625 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: I think I needed not a new electric shaver, but 626 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 1: I wanna get some clippers, like some new hair cliper. Yeah, 627 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,560 Speaker 1: you gotta have those to do the self trim to 628 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,679 Speaker 1: be able to come my own hair exactly. But but 629 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: that's just a small example of just quality time and 630 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: how much more meaningful and impactful that can be. Yeah, 631 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 1: one more way to kind of spend less is let's 632 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,159 Speaker 1: say you're doing like a family gift exchange. If you 633 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: set a firm dollar amount, stick to it. I feel 634 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,240 Speaker 1: like in a white elephant gift party or in a 635 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,439 Speaker 1: family gift exchange with set spending limits, it's so the 636 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: worst when one person goes way over and spends too much, 637 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:43,960 Speaker 1: Like if the white elephant gift is something fancy. Yeah, 638 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 1: it's like Bro brought a thirty bottle of wine. I 639 00:27:46,600 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: want that right exactly. It kind of like changes the vibe. 640 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 1: And so the same thing in your family. If you've 641 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: got a spending limit, stick to it. And and that's 642 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 1: a good way of making sure everybody spends less. And 643 00:27:57,560 --> 00:27:59,959 Speaker 1: it's just better if everyone sticks to the limit that's 644 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: kind of been created. I follow the rules. Another example 645 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,199 Speaker 1: I'm thinking of too, Maybe it's like some larger families 646 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 1: that have a lot of kids running around, Like maybe 647 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 1: the adults could really care less right if they actually 648 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: receive gifts or not, But what they really want is 649 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: to make sure that the kids do right. And so 650 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 1: in that case, make sure that you're getting gifts. You know, 651 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: if you're a kid, so say you're eighteen or younger, 652 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: bom you get a gift. Or if there are adults though, 653 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: who do want to do the gift exchange, then you 654 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: can draw names, you know, Like that's what we do 655 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 1: with our extended family, and that way you're not stuck 656 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,479 Speaker 1: with like trying to buy eighteen different gifts for all 657 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 1: the different members of the extended family. Yeah. I love 658 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:36,679 Speaker 1: prioritizing giving to the kids because they appreciate it so 659 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 1: much more than we do. And I don't know about you, Matt, 660 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: but but for me, when when people are asking me 661 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: what I want for Christmas, there's just almost nothing that 662 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 1: comes to mind because I feel like I have everything 663 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: that I need. I know that's not the case for everybody, 664 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 1: but I know for a lot of folks out there, 665 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: we can be a little more content with what we have. 666 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 1: And that's kind of one of the last things that 667 00:28:54,160 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: sticks out to me as an important way to spend 668 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 1: less is to make a conscious decision to not spend 669 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: on ourselves this holiday season as well. I think it 670 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: can be really easy, especially when the killer deals come 671 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: out and we can get a flat screen TV for 672 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: bucks or something like that. It becomes really easy to 673 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: start spending on ourselves this holiday season. And I think 674 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: if you budget a small amount and you keep it 675 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: super focused, maybe on one item that you've been really 676 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: meaning to replace in your life, something like that, I 677 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:23,880 Speaker 1: think it's okay. But for the most part, if you 678 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: can cut that out all together, I think it's gonna 679 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 1: make your holiday season more meaningful and it's gonna help 680 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: you spend less. At the same time, if you're just 681 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: not out there shopping for yourself this holiday season, yeah, 682 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: just be honest with yourself. You know why you're shopping 683 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: those sales racks. Nobody else wants that stuff you do. Oh, 684 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: I bought this ran Jenny, but I think it's gonna 685 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: look better on me. I guess you wants a flat screen, 686 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: but maybe really I do. It's also important to keep 687 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 1: your ultimate goal in mind. That's hug of the moment 688 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 1: can be to buy those nice things for the people 689 00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: around you, and you're gonna be even tempted to buy 690 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: those nice things for yourself. And that isn't a terrible 691 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 1: thing to feel to buy, I guess for other people, right, 692 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 1: but it could would leave you broke. So remind yourself 693 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: of your overarching savings and life goals and to avoid 694 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: overspending in the moment. For most folks, I think that 695 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:10,719 Speaker 1: the true reason for the holidays is to spend quality 696 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: time with those who you love. Let's try not to 697 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: allow over consumption to get in the way of that. 698 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: Those are good thoughts, my friend. All right, enough about 699 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 1: the holidays. It's too early. Let's talk about the beer 700 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: that we had on this show. Honestly, I did kind 701 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: of feel that way when we were talked about doing 702 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 1: this episode, because it feels like, oh man, Thanksgivings not 703 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: even here, and all the Christmas trees are up, you know, 704 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 1: it's like one of those numbers, Oh my gosh, Christmas trees. 705 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 1: Christmas stuff has been up since mid September and a 706 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: lot of retailers, which is crazy. So I know that 707 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: it's on people's minds. I know people are thinking about it. 708 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 1: I think it is important for us to talk about 709 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 1: it now for budgeting and preparation reasons. But yeah, I 710 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: feel weird. I feel we're talking about that, that's for sure. 711 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: But Matt, let's talk about the beer that we had 712 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: on the show today. We had a brew called Timely 713 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: Surrender by Archetype Brewing. This was a sayson. We don't 714 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 1: have a lot of saisons, but I really really enjoy 715 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: a good saison, and this, my friend, was a good 716 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: says Yeah says On's farmhouse beers. The more I have them, 717 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: the more I enjoy them. It's sort of like the 718 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: first time I had an I p A. Remember somebody 719 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: telling me like, yeah, it's an acquired taste, like it's 720 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: gonna it might take you a while before you enjoy 721 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 1: an I p A And I remember thinking, yeah, it's 722 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: gonna take me forever, But now is my favorite beer. 723 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: And I think saysons are sort of like that for me. 724 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: Same with the first time I had a sour. I 725 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 1: was like, why anybody want to drink this? Oh? Dude? Yeah, 726 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: And then like fourth one in, I was like, yeah, 727 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: I think I'm getting it. I think I understand that, 728 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:28,280 Speaker 1: and then now it's one of my favorite styles. Dude. 729 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,520 Speaker 1: I completely agree with you. I enjoy the fact that 730 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 1: my palette is expanding and I'm enjoying different style of beers. 731 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: But this one, in particular, it was pretty Brett heavy 732 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: Itt and Brett is like a what is it a 733 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: bacteria or a yeast? It's not a yeast. Yeah, it's 734 00:31:40,920 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 1: a yeast. Is it really so? Bretta maiases? I think 735 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: that's how you say it. I always say it wrong, 736 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: But they're oftentimes and Sayson's farmhouse beers, and then it 737 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 1: has a real distinct, funky barnyard type of flavor a 738 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: lot of times, and this one totally had it going on. 739 00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:57,360 Speaker 1: But at the same time, it wasn't weighed down by 740 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 1: that flavor. This was a really bubbly, effrofescent I don't 741 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: know if you saw when I poured it, but it 742 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 1: had a lot of bubbles going on, and it's like 743 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 1: I was pouring a glass of champagne. It's really refreshing. 744 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed this one, man. What were your thoughts? Yeah, 745 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:10,440 Speaker 1: it was. It had like a kind of like a 746 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: great fruit zesty vibe going on, while at the same 747 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: time having that funkiness. I really like the citrus in 748 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 1: the funk kind of mixed in a Sayson, a little 749 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: bit of earthiness. Really overall, A huge fan of this beer. 750 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan of Sazons in general, but this 751 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:25,640 Speaker 1: one is a really good example of it. So and 752 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:27,400 Speaker 1: I'm a big fan of this label too. Man, they're 753 00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: they're so good. Yeah, their labels are really pretty. We 754 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: didn't really talk about Monday's episode, but they're really graphic 755 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 1: and a lot of you don't see a lot of 756 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 1: graphic labels, you know, where where you see a picture 757 00:32:36,040 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: instead of just exactly what's in the beer. Yeah, sometimes 758 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 1: it's just a label with words the type of beer 759 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 1: and maybe like a gear or a crank or something 760 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: like this, whereas this it's just a picture of something. 761 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: It's really graphic. It's really cool, very artistic for Yeah, 762 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: and I wanted to mention so bradon Karna. We should 763 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: have mentioned this in the last week's episode when we're 764 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 1: talking about real estate, but we have some things in 765 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: common with them, and that they started managing real estate 766 00:32:57,760 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: back in the day, and while they were doing that, 767 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 1: they were living in a shed or like a garage 768 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:04,960 Speaker 1: in the back of one of their properties. So they're 769 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 1: house hacking. They're yeah, they're totally saving a ton of 770 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: money while they're sort of getting started down their own 771 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 1: real estate path. And so after doing well there, they 772 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 1: decided to open up this brewer and so now they're 773 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: also crushing it in the craft beer game. So brand Krenit, 774 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 1: you guys are killing it. Thanks so much for sending 775 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: us this beer as well as Monday's beer, as well 776 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: as being a friend of the show. Yeah, we love 777 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:25,840 Speaker 1: friends of the show, especially once it brew beer that's 778 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: the best. And next time I'm in Nashville, totally going 779 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 1: to drop by Archetype Brewing. Alright, Matt, let's get onto 780 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 1: our final thoughts for this episode. There's just really a 781 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,040 Speaker 1: couple of things I think we need to hammer home, 782 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: and one of the main things is that you need 783 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: to start saving now and shopping early for the people 784 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: that are on your list, because the closer you get 785 00:33:42,320 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: to decembery, the more retailers are going to be charging 786 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:48,080 Speaker 1: and the more money ultimately you're going to be spending. 787 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: And when it comes to creating that holiday spending plan, 788 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:53,880 Speaker 1: basically what we're talking about is creating a budget right 789 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,400 Speaker 1: in the same way that you start with the previous 790 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: month's budget. You know, month of month with your own 791 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: personal budget. We're gonna do the same thing when it 792 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 1: comes to our holiday spending budget. So look to last 793 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: year spending. Start there, make tweaks, and then track that 794 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:09,279 Speaker 1: spending to make sure that you're staying the course and 795 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: don't forget to talk about it. Open the lines of 796 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: communication with people that are closest to you, whether it's 797 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 1: your significant other or your family and friends, just by 798 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:21,200 Speaker 1: letting them know that you're prioritizing saving or paying down 799 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:23,799 Speaker 1: debt and that you won't be spending as much on 800 00:34:23,960 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 1: gifts this year. That helps set proper expectations and also 801 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:29,200 Speaker 1: can help connect you towards the people that you love 802 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: in a deeper way, especially as you prioritize quality time 803 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: over fancier gifts. Nice man, you know, this is an 804 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:38,399 Speaker 1: episode that would have been great to have had one 805 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:40,239 Speaker 1: of our Christmas spears on. But this has been a 806 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:42,359 Speaker 1: fun episode. Man, I think that's gonna be it. You 807 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:44,880 Speaker 1: can find our show notes up for this one on 808 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: our website at how some money dot com. Yeah, if 809 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 1: you like this episode, if you like this podcast, we 810 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:52,840 Speaker 1: would appreciate it if you would subscribe and consider leaving 811 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:56,279 Speaker 1: a review for us. On Apple Podcasts. And you know what, 812 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 1: if you think Matt and I can do better, we 813 00:34:57,920 --> 00:34:59,880 Speaker 1: would love to hear from you too. Please drop us 814 00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:01,480 Speaker 1: a line. Just go to how to money dot com 815 00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,280 Speaker 1: slash you do better and you can do that there alright, buddy, 816 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: Until next time, best friends out, Best friends Out,