1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to How to Money. I'm Joel and I'm Matt, 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: and today we're discussing avoiding the holiday shopping hangover. Joel, 3 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: how's it going good, buddy? How the heck are you today? Going? Awesome? Awesome? So, 4 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: so I wanted to let you know man, that I 5 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: have been riding my bike so much. We'll tell you what. 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: For anybody that rides their bike a lot, I think 7 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: it's so helpful to have an odometer on your bike, 8 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: just to kind of help you see how much you're riding, 9 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: how many miles you're going. And man, on my odometer, 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: just racked up sixteen hundred miles on my bike in 11 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: the past just over a year. Dude, that's a lot. 12 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: Did you, like, right down to Florida or something, take 13 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: the Silver Commets to Alabama? No, but if that's a challenge, 14 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: I will accept and make that happen. Dude, have you 15 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: been on the Silver Commet It literally runs from Atlanta 16 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: to Alabama? No? But actually, it's funny you mentioned that. 17 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: I was talking to this guy the other day. He's 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: like really old guy actually, and he bikes. Let's see, 19 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: he's like eighty. He's like Katie. Okay, So yeah, legit, 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 1: old legit. But he rises his bike on the Silver 21 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: Common Trail every day. I know. No, it just first off, 22 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: it was a challenge to me to keep riding my bike, 23 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: not to get soft in your old age exactly, and 24 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: the fact that he was still doing it was super impressive. 25 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: But also it made me think, I need at some 26 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 1: point to challenge myself to do this bike from where 27 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: we live and go all the way to the state 28 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: border and then bike all the way back in one day. 29 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: I need to make that happen at some point, just 30 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: because that just sounds like a fun challenge to commit to. Yeah. Man, 31 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: there are some beers and the paneers. We already said 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: beers and paneers together before. That's a nice ride. That's good, 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: like the little side bags. But yeah, for those who 34 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: don't know, Joel commutes pretty much every single day, you 35 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: commute to and from work on your bike. I will say, Matt, 36 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: we're getting into that uber cold weather season and anybody 37 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: who is a big time bike rider knows that it 38 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: just becomes a little bit harder than yeah, a little 39 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: more uncomfortable, right that kind of fall time and a 40 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: lot of places is actually perfect falls great, but as 41 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: you get a little bit further into winter, it starts 42 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: to become those like dog days of super cold, and 43 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: maintaining that pace of you know, biking in to work 44 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: every single day is hard. I mean to do my darndest. 45 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:26,959 Speaker 1: And you know what, my old friend Harry, who rides 46 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: his bike every day on the Silver Commet, he is 47 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: on the guy's name, har it's his name. He's gonna 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 1: be my shining star. I'm going to look to him 49 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: as my beacon of of bike riding truth. So immediately, 50 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: just picture Clint Eastwood on a bike, because like I guess, 51 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: dirty Harry. Did you ever watch Then with your dad? 52 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: We'll say, We'll say, Harry is kind of like Clint Eastwood. 53 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: Dirty Harry. Yeah, I'm feeling it. Let's do it. Let's 54 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: do it. Silver commets to Alabama. I don't even know 55 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: how far it goes into the state, but I think 56 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: it's well. I think we only at least from here 57 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: to the border. I think it's like forty five miles 58 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: or something like that. I would assume we could do 59 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: ninety miles around trip in a day, right, I used 60 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: to do that in college. Or there is this road 61 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: trip I won't go into the details, but we'd ride 62 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: our bikes from Athens down to Jacksonville for the Georgia 63 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: Florida game. There was a three day ride and the 64 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: longest day I think was a twenty miles, which is 65 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: a lot. That sounds like a lot. Yeah, that's like 66 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: Twitter France levels, right, twenty miles, like the Lance Armstrong 67 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: of riding the cargo bike. You Know, something I was 68 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: thinking about earlier today is I've been telling all my 69 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: friends about this because I am all about it. But coffee, 70 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 1: I've been delaying my cup of coffee every day now 71 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: until either later in the morning or like mid afternoon. 72 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: It's because of this article. A friend of mine sense 73 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: and explained how like your QUARTERSOL levels in the morning, 74 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: they kind of peak right when you wake up, and 75 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: they say to not drink coffee right away and instead, 76 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: if you want it to be effective, to delay it slightly. 77 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,279 Speaker 1: And I feel like it's going to change my life, specifically, 78 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: it's keeping me from changed life. That's a big freaking thing. 79 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: The same has changed my coffee drinking lafe. I'll say, okay, alright, 80 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: well it keeps me as well from getting a second cup. 81 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: And I work from home and a lot of times 82 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: that means just more wasted time because I'm getting up 83 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: and boiling the water. And if I'm drinking twice as 84 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: much coffee, man, that's twice as much. That's twice as 85 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: much coffee that I'm not having to purchase, let alone 86 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: make as well. I've just found it to be a 87 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: nice little hack that I've done recently to decrease the 88 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: amount of coffee I drink every day and at the 89 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: same time save a buck. And have you felt like 90 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: you're dragging at all in the morning, because I know 91 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: most people when they wake up, a lot of people 92 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: have like an automatic coffee maker and it turns on 93 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: and they smell the folders like brewing or something. I 94 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: don't recommend that first of all, or not drinking folders 95 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 1: or maxwill, but that's like something that people look forward 96 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: to or need. Almost was there like a period of 97 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: a few days where, like a drug addict, you felt 98 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: like that need and you had to kind of wean 99 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: yourself off. I will say, now that's getting a little 100 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: bit cooler. I do kind of miss having that hot 101 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: drink at breakfast, like we always do fried eggs in 102 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: the morning, but only from a warm drink standpoint, so 103 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: I might start having maybe a small cup of tea 104 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: or something, but from a caffeine standpoint, no, man, I've 105 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: I found I just don't need it. And it's been 106 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: a few months, so I can't remember maybe as much 107 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: the effects initially, but yeah, I would totally check it out. 108 00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: And what we'll do, I'll throw a link up to 109 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: this article in our show notes. This kind of breaks 110 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: it down. How Yeah, your quartosol levels peak in the morning, 111 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,679 Speaker 1: around lunchtime, and so what they say is to instead 112 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 1: drink coffee like mid morning, so when those cortosol levels 113 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: drop and we kind of get a little groggy. But 114 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: for me, dude, when I needed is that mid afternoon slump, 115 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 1: like around two o'clock or three o'clock. For me, I 116 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: gotta have my coffee otherwise I'm falling asleep at the 117 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: desk right in emails, and that's always bad. Well, I 118 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: love the idea. I don't know if I'm going to 119 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: change my habits, but I'm gonna read this article and 120 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,600 Speaker 1: at least give it a chance. In my brain, I'm 121 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: pretty sure Harry doesn't drink his coffee until the afternoon. Gosh, 122 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: that guy has a baller here. I'm just telling you 123 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: I still want to be like Harry I was speaking 124 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: of coffee. You wanna introduce our beer for this episode. 125 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: Nice segue, Matthew. Yesterday on the show, we are drinking 126 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: a Sierra Nevada nar Wall Imperial Stout, and this beer 127 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 1: has coffee in it and also dark chocolate. So I 128 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: can't wait to talk about the beer with you, Matt 129 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: at the end of this episode. Yeah. What's awesome about 130 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: this beer, too, man, is that this is something that 131 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: you can pretty much pick up in any grocery store 132 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: that carries decent craft beer. A lot of times on 133 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: the episodes, we have beers that are really rare, to 134 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: say the least. Sometimes they're illegal to get your hands 135 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: on because it might be homebrews. But yeah, that's what 136 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: I love about the beers that we enjoy is that 137 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: we like all the beers just about and we like 138 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 1: flouting the loss. We love that illegal beer. You're a 139 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: scoff law. Yeah, anybody who is into beer and especially 140 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: like stouts, you can easily find Sire In Nevada on 141 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: your shelf than our whale. It's here in about actually 142 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: normally known for kind of their hoppy beer offerings. They're 143 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,479 Speaker 1: they're more like pale ales and I p a s. 144 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: But man, I can't wait to talk about this stout 145 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 1: uh and and how it's completely out of here in 146 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: Nevada's wheelhouse, but how they make it so deliciously and 147 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: we'll get to that later. So with that being said, Matt, 148 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: let's talk about avoiding the holiday shopping hangover. That's rajel. 149 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: With Black Friday coming up, this is a topic that's 150 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: definitely on people's minds. Specifically, we're talking about holiday shopping, 151 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: and we want to make sure that you are avoiding 152 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: that hangover. We don't want you paying for your holiday 153 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: shopping months to come into the next year. Yeah, and 154 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: and Matt, the problem is that most people, when it 155 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: comes to their holiday spending, they haven't really thought through 156 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: how much they're gonna spend, you know, how they're gonna 157 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: pay for it. And so it turns out that most 158 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: people spend more money than they intended to spend, and 159 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: because it wasn't thought out well and budgeted oftentimes, then 160 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: those people find themselves in a shopping hangover after the holidays, 161 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: where the credit card bills come rolling in in January 162 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: and it kind of hits them upside of the head, 163 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: like WHOA have that happened? Um? And and it's just 164 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: because of a lack of planning, a lack of intentionality 165 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,119 Speaker 1: when it comes to holiday spending and kind of letting 166 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: the joyous holiday season that is a lot of fun 167 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: get the best of them when it comes to how 168 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: they spend their money. That's right, man. So some quick stats, 169 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: shoppers typically spend more than a trillion dollars during the 170 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: Christmas holiday a shopping season, and that is a ton 171 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: of money. And I saw another statuo that in the 172 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: UK that on average, somebody will spend half of their 173 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: monthly income. And so if you make like around fifty dollars, 174 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: you're looking at close to two thousand dollars that you're 175 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: spending on holiday shopping. Wow, who are these people? Dud? Yeah, 176 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: that's crazy. I don't know what other people spending, but 177 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: my family does not spend anywhere near that. That's just 178 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: a lot. I mean, you'll probably spend close to that 179 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: on a gift for me, But that's understandable, right. Podcasting buddies, 180 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: we gotta do that for each other. Yeah, because we're 181 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: best friends. Dog. Yeah, you know, Wait, what are you 182 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: gonna get from me? Man, I was thinking of pony 183 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: Maybe I don't know. Yeah, So ultimately, Matt, you don't 184 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 1: want to overspend be left with that debt on your 185 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: credit cards, so you'll be paying off all of next 186 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: year and you have to ask the question to why 187 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: are you doing this? Consumerism dominates our culture and it's 188 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: what we see in ads all around us, and it 189 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: makes it look festive and fun to get the free 190 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: shipping and start buying stuff for all the people that 191 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: you care about. That's what's fed to us. Yeah, I agree. 192 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: I think that's what most people would think of. When 193 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: you stay the holidays, Their minds immediately go to shopping 194 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: and packages and gifts and paper and just you know 195 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: everything that goes along with that in dollar signs in 196 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: the eyeballs, that's where mind goes, right, So we would 197 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: make a push to mindfulness this time of year to 198 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: kind of pushing back against that rampant consumerism. And the 199 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: only way you're going to be able to get through 200 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: the shopping season well, to actually buy the gifts that 201 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: you intend to buy and stick within a reasonable budget 202 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: is by planning ahead and staying organized. And we'll run 203 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 1: through those strategies and how to create that perfect holiday 204 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: money game plan right after the break. All right, Joel, 205 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: we're back from the break, and yeah, like you said, 206 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk about some strategies. We're gonna talk more 207 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:56,040 Speaker 1: about the overall game plan on how to approach holiday shopping. 208 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: And so the first thing I want to do is 209 00:09:57,559 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: to make sure that you're planning ahead and that you're 210 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: staying organized. Specifically, we want you to make a list 211 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: of potential expenses, think about all the different things that 212 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: you'll be spending money on, not just the gifts. Once 213 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: you've gotten that together, fine where you can cut or 214 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: eliminate all together, because chances are you're gonna be dreaming 215 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: much bigger than maybe your pocketbook can handle. And we 216 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: understand that this is gonna be tough. Um, you know, 217 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: you've got to ask yourself the question how much should 218 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: I spend for each person on my list and for 219 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: each individual that you have on your list. It's gonna 220 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: be different and for you as the gift giver, right 221 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: as the shopper. This is a tough question. This is 222 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: cutting back and it's never something that is fun to do, 223 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: but this is something that is necessary to keep your 224 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: expenses down. Yeah, it's always helpful for me to remember 225 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: to when I'm creating that list that the people that 226 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: are on that list are usually people I care about 227 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: a lot, right, And I know those people wouldn't want 228 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: me to spend money that I didn't have, um just 229 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: in order to get them a gift for the holidays. 230 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: I would maybe you would give me that pony dog, 231 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 1: all right, I'll make it happen. Fine, I'll work three 232 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,320 Speaker 1: jobs just to get you that pony, but a couple 233 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: of tips, right in order to make that happen. Start 234 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:07,839 Speaker 1: saving now, So how much do you want to spend? 235 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: Divide that out by the monthly amount that you need 236 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: to save. Think about doing that in an Excel spreadsheet. Right, 237 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: And we're already in November. We're already closing in on 238 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: Black Friday, Cyber Monday. The holiday shopping season is getting 239 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: ready to be in full swing. So you don't have 240 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: a whole lot of time to start saving for this 241 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: Christmas right now. But you know what, most people don't 242 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: think about saving that Christmas money at all or until 243 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: next November. Yeah, so you still have some time at least, 244 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: and that's better than no time. So I would say, 245 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: start making that list now, start thinking now about what 246 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: you're spending is going to look like for this Christmas, 247 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: and then you know what, You've kind of got a 248 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: head start thinking ahead about next Christmas. And it becomes 249 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: just so much easier when you're thinking about it, you 250 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: know that far in advance. Yeah, man, And I'll totally 251 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: second that approach as far as decide how much that 252 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: you're going to spend and dividing it out per month, 253 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: because that's exactly what we do. And I think a 254 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: lot of folks might push back against that because they think, man, 255 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: that just doesn't sound fun, right, that doesn't sound like Christmas. 256 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: But that doesn't sound like the holidays. It just sounds 257 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: to formulaic and stiff. Like, No, that's just responsible, Like 258 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: that's what you do when you have an expense. When 259 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: it comes to your car insurance, if you pay your 260 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,959 Speaker 1: car insurance once a year, because you get that discount, 261 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,760 Speaker 1: that discounted rate, if you pay it all at once, 262 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: you divide out how much you need to set aside 263 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,839 Speaker 1: every single month. Look at Christmas or whatever holiday that 264 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: you celebrate, look at it the exact same way. This 265 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: is an expense that's not an emergency. It comes every 266 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: year and you know that this is something you can 267 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: plan for. And we don't think about people that budget 268 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: accordingly for car insurance to be Scrooge like characters. Yeah, 269 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:50,559 Speaker 1: but for some reason, that's how we think of people 270 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 1: that budget like that for Christma is that man, I 271 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: don't know, like if you think it's got to be 272 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: like spontaneous and you're just like gonna whip out the 273 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: cash or you know, swipe their credit card without even 274 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: thinking about it, is the way that it's supposed to go. 275 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: But that's just irresponsible or you see that, Yeah, perfect 276 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: gift for someone that is way outside your price range. 277 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: You know what I hate is the car commercials, but 278 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:10,719 Speaker 1: the car sitting in the driveway with a giant red 279 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: bow on. Who the heck does that? Like nobody does that? Right? 280 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: But also don't forget about other holiday expenses like travel 281 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: house decorations. Right for us, that's something that that kind 282 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: of creeps up every year because we want the place 283 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: looking really good. Is we end up getting a bigger 284 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,079 Speaker 1: tree or we want to add another wreath to the mix, 285 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: and so before you know it, Yeah, the holiday de 286 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: coorse kind of creeping up there. So we got although 287 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: last year, you've got a really sweet wreath for free 288 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: on the side of the road. Oh, we did. Should 289 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: I share that with us? Just I want people to know. 290 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: I mean, you're super good at finding free stuff on 291 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: the side of the road, and and that's that's a 292 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: nice quality to have. You know why. It's because we 293 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 1: go on walks all the time, and we ride our bikes, 294 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: and so I feel like when you're riding your bikes 295 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: you're able to see stuff up close. If you're zipping 296 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: buy in your car, it just looks like trash. But 297 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: in our case, our neighbor was tossing out this four 298 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: foot wreath I saw her put out on the curb 299 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: when in years past I've seen her hanging on our house. 300 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: It's like the size breath that they would punt on 301 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: the side of a Macy's. Yeah, it's pretty big, man. 302 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: And so I was like, Kelly, are you putting that 303 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: on the curve? Is that a curb alert? Are you 304 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: gonna toss that? She's like, yeah, the lights don't work anymore, 305 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: And I thought to myself, no problem, I got more lights, 306 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: so dude, Yeah, we totally snatch that up. It's currently 307 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: up in the attic and we're gonna pull that out 308 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: when it comes time to decorate the house because it's 309 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: beautiful because the wrap lights around it. So if you 310 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: get free stuff like Matt, it makes it even easier 311 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: to budget, right, But you want to factor in all 312 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: those things, including Christmas cards, because cards, those are the 313 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: sort of things that will break your budget because you 314 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: didn't factor them in. And those things you can plan 315 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: on right. You can plan ahead knowing that that's going 316 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: to happen, and most people just forget leave it out 317 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: because all they're thinking about are the gift buys. But 318 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: think about those other purchases you're gonna make during the 319 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: holidays too, And what you absolutely don't want to do 320 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: is to wait until the last minute, you know, right 321 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: before Christmas. If you're waiting to make any of your 322 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: purchases until then, or even making your decisions as to 323 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,800 Speaker 1: what you're gonna spend, then it's pretty much gonna be 324 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: too late. You're gonna ruin your bud it, you're gonna 325 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: go way over and you know you're gonna be in 326 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: the sort of situation where you're gonna be paying for 327 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: Christmas well into the New Year. It's gonna be bad news, bears. 328 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: You don't want that no way, So yeah, we would 329 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 1: encourage you to start shopping now, right. The best deals 330 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: to be had, the best prices that you're gonna find 331 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: when it comes to shopping for people you care about 332 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: for Christmas are gonna be had in November, in early December. 333 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: And if you're waiting till a few days before Christmas time, 334 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 1: it turns out you are going to pay wait, wait, wait, wait, 335 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: way too much. It's just like buying an airline ticket 336 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: the day before the flight takes off. That is like 337 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: the worst time you could potentially buy an airline ticket. 338 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: And the same thing goes with buying Christmas presents. You're 339 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: going to want to buy while there's a lot of 340 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: competition happening, and let it be said, there's a lot 341 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: of competition happening in that spear right their Target and 342 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: Amazon have announced, you know, free shipping for the holidays, 343 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: So there's just so much competition here. You don't want 344 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: to take yourself out of that mix. By waiting until 345 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:04,000 Speaker 1: the day before or two days before Christmas and hopping 346 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: into the mall, you're gonna pay full price. You're gonna 347 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: pay way too much for everything. Yeah, you don't want 348 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 1: to be that guy and also too man, not even 349 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: just with retail. But if you start shopping earlier, if 350 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: you start thinking about what it is that you want 351 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: to purchase for an individual, say earlier that year, there's 352 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: a good chance you could find something, even like at 353 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: a yard sale. And I know that sounds kind of 354 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: like cheap, right, you're gonna buy like a gift for 355 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: some day for Christmas at a yard sale. But if 356 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: you find something that you know that they want, or 357 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: something that is more of say an antique, that you 358 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: wouldn't buy a new anyway, well why not buy it 359 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: at a yard sale or a garage sale where you 360 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 1: can get it for crazy cheap. And so because you 361 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: started shopping early, like way early in June or July, 362 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: you're able to go ahead and get that gift, make 363 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: that purchase, and cross them off the list, and just 364 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: think about how less stressed out that's gonna make you 365 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: as well, all right, Matt, And yes, So one of 366 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: the things that's going to help you actually stick to 367 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: that plan is to be able to keep a running 368 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: list with the names of the people you want to 369 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: get gifts for your right ideas down next to their names. 370 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: Maybe keep it in the note tap on your phone. 371 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: Yeah that's exactly. Yeah, that's what we do. I got 372 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 1: like a secret sort of note that's labeled differently. I mean, 373 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: it's not like it's gonna go on there and try 374 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: to figure out what it is. I'm gonna get her. Yeah, 375 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 1: that's that's totally what I do. So you're saying Kate 376 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: wasn't the type of person to take the tape off 377 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: the presence carefully and look inside and then wrap it 378 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: back up. No, man, don't you know what's funny is 379 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: I don't think either of us are that way. I 380 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: was the kind of kid that if I accidentally stumbled 381 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,880 Speaker 1: upon a gift that my parents said not hidden well enough, 382 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 1: or it was just kind of tucked behind something, I 383 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: would pretend I didn't see it because I didn't want 384 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: to ruin the surprise for myself. Specifically, I remember stumbling 385 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: upon Super Mario Brothers three. I knew I was gonna 386 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 1: have to pretend that I didn't see it in order 387 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: in order to be surprised on Christmas morning. You try 388 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: to like erase the memory from your brain. Yeah. Yeah, 389 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: like control out, delete reset. So I was a sneaky 390 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: kid at least for a few years, who knew lamely 391 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: where my parents hit the presents, and oh yeah, what 392 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: there was one spot and it wasn't hard to find out. 393 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: You could have done better, mom, But no, I'm just kidding. 394 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: But it was easy to find and I would try 395 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 1: to sneak in there and look. But then, you know, 396 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 1: after a couple of years of that and realizing that 397 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: actually it made Christmas way more disappointing, I stopped. But yeah, man, 398 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: I'm completely with you making that list and that way too, 399 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: sort of like with shopping, right, if you start way early, 400 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: if you start thinking way early about the different gifts 401 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: that you're gonna get somebody, it allows you time to 402 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: be creative, allows gives you time to be thoughtful and 403 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: think of something that maybe you wouldn't have thought of 404 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 1: had you waited until the last minute or even the 405 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: month before. You know, when the when the clock's ticking, 406 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: you may not think of a certain gift. It just 407 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: may not come to mind. Yeah, there's nothing I hate 408 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: more than kind of being on this timer, this time clock, 409 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: where I have to find this perfect gift in thirty 410 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: days or less right, or I'm not gonna make the 411 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,959 Speaker 1: cut off and it's gonna be a terrible Christmas for everyone. 412 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: I love thinking ahead because it gives me that chance 413 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: to throughout the year kind of be looking and find 414 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: something that is either a just the perfect gift or 415 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 1: be a great deal and just snack it when I 416 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: see it. And so all of our shopping for our girls, 417 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, we've got two girls, five and three, all 418 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: of our shopping for them. For Chris, this is done already, 419 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: is really yeah. Man, So I say all this, but 420 00:19:04,080 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: Kate's kind of more in charge of our immediate family. Well, 421 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 1: Emily found a lot of good stuff, especially in the 422 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 1: all the Center aisle. So I don't know if anybody 423 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: out there, all these shoppers, man, they know what's up. 424 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: The Center aisle especially oftentimes has great kids stuff and 425 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 1: m look at that. Yeah, you're like, oh, that's a 426 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: perfect gift. And so oftentimes Emily will buy that stocking 427 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: up for our kids for Christmas and also for other 428 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: kid birthdays. But yeah, so keeping that list with the 429 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: names and making it kind of top of mind as 430 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: something that you check into periodically throughout the year, it's 431 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: a good strategy for helping you save money and avoid overspending, 432 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: you know, right before Christmas. Yeah, that's true, man's overspinning, right, 433 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: So like smart shoppers like used sales and coupons and 434 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: credit cards with purchase protection, things like that. And we 435 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: talked about credit card purchase protection in our lesser known 436 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: credit card Benefits episode and it's already come back to 437 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: help me. So yeah, I think that's an important element 438 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: to this boom. That's right, man. However, even taking all 439 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: that into account, it's still not justification, right for over consumption. 440 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: If you know yourself well and you know you might 441 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: be tempted to overspend, use cash because it's not worth 442 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: it to totally blow your budget and be stuck with 443 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: that holiday spending hangover. Yes, so, Matt and I we 444 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: do like credit cards for a lot of reasons, and 445 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,639 Speaker 1: there are additional benefits if you buy things, you know 446 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: with the credit card that you don't get when you 447 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: buy with cash. But there is a huge caveat, and 448 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: the caveat is if you're not spending within your means, 449 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: and you're putting things on your credit cards that you 450 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: know you won't be able to pay off come January. 451 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,119 Speaker 1: That is when we would say avoid the credit cards, 452 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: take that temptation out of your life, put cash in 453 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 1: an envelope, and go that route because that is gonna 454 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: be the safest for your finances, that's gonna keep you 455 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: from overspending, and it's just gonna kind of help you 456 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: stick to that that budget that you've laid out for yourself. 457 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,160 Speaker 1: So if credit cards are kind of that like Achilles 458 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 1: heel for you and you're not gonna be able to 459 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: keep it in check, then definitely stick with the cash method. 460 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: Another approach is to consider having an honest conversation with 461 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: your family, uh and friends, even about gifts and expectations. 462 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,520 Speaker 1: This is something that even aside from having like, you know, 463 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: let's pretend you're not even gonna do some sort of 464 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: huge Christmas or holiday gift exchange revamp, like you're just 465 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 1: gonna have your typical spending, it's still worth it to 466 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: have those conversations where you're discussing what it is that 467 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: you're expecting, what you're going to discuss, what it is 468 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: that you're going to do or that you're not gonna do. Uh. 469 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: These just are important things you need to communicate with 470 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: your family and friends. You can't just say too that 471 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: we're using the term Christmas a lot. I think and 472 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,680 Speaker 1: I know that there are people that celebrate other holidays 473 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: prides of Christmas, So well, you want to get that 474 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 1: out there that you know, whether you're celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, 475 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 1: another holiday, this time of the year, there's still this 476 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,679 Speaker 1: tendency to buy gifts that you can't afford. And so 477 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: we're not trying to certainly alienate anyone who celebrates a 478 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: different holiday, but we just want to get that out there. 479 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: No matter what it is, it's this time of where 480 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 1: you want to buy people awesome things and appreciate them 481 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: and show them how much you care. Yeah, you can 482 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: overspend and go into debt and celebrate Hanaka, yes exactly, 483 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: exactly those eight crazy nights and way too much spending. 484 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: Oh that's right, man. So so back to like the 485 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: conversations right with your family and friends, something that's I 486 00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 1: I kind of touched on, but set spending limits. This 487 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 1: might seem kind of lame, right to say that, like, Okay, 488 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 1: we're only going to spend ten dollars per adult, but 489 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: if you can kind of turn that on its head 490 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: and think about how much fun you could have having 491 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: to find a gift for like your cousins who are 492 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: now adults, and you have to buy a gift like 493 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: something creative, something funny, something we're going to really have 494 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: a good time for only ten dollars. Talk about that. 495 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: That's something that needs to be discussed because on the 496 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: flip side of that, you don't want to be the 497 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: person that doesn't follow the spending limits and goes and 498 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,679 Speaker 1: spends fifty bucks on like a bottle of nice Scotch 499 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,360 Speaker 1: or something, or for every everybody, which I would love. 500 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: By the way, if somebody wants to give me a 501 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,240 Speaker 1: bottle of nice Scotch, I'm all about that. We'll post 502 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: Matt's mailing address in the show notes. But you know what, 503 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, Like, if you said a 504 00:22:57,840 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: spending limit, it's like bringing something nice to a wide 505 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: devil party. Yeah, it's like that one gift that everybody 506 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,439 Speaker 1: kind of wants because it's actually a nice gift. It's 507 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: supposed to be a wide elephant party. What are you doing? 508 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: You ruined everything? Yeah, and so if you have a 509 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: bigger family, you should consider maybe like an assigned gift 510 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: exchange draw out of a hat maybe use a name drawing. 511 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:19,440 Speaker 1: So for me and my family, we have with our 512 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: siblings instead of buying each other a gift, our siblings 513 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: have spouses and it just becomes harder to know where 514 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: to draw the line. So we have a drawing where 515 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: we get a different sibling couple that we buy for, 516 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: and we have a set spending limit, and we also 517 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: prioritize and experience when we're buying a gift for each other. 518 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: So usually it's it's a little fun, it's it's a 519 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: little outside of the box and that kind of makes 520 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: it easier for us because there's fewer people to buy 521 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: for and it feels a little more intentional. And also 522 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: with that spending limit, right, Like, we talked about creating 523 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: that spending limit and just having an open, honest conversation 524 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: about it. That's kind of how it came about, was it. Yeah, 525 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,400 Speaker 1: we felt like we had too many people to buy 526 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: for and it kind of felt like a burden as 527 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: opposed to kind of this really fun thing. And it's 528 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:05,760 Speaker 1: actually kind of I feel like, allowed us to create 529 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: something fun where we got to enjoy buying the gift 530 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: for this couple that we care about as opposed to 531 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: feeling like we needed to buy this individualized gift for 532 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: every single person in our family, and um, you know what, 533 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: each family is going to kind of come up with 534 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: maybe a little bit of a different solution, But that's 535 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: kind of something you can propose to your family if 536 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: you're kind of overwhelmed with feeling like you have to 537 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: buy gifts for every single human in your family, it 538 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: just kind of maybe this can make it a little 539 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: bit easier. So with a family that has kids, maybe 540 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: the rule is that only the kids get gifts and 541 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 1: the adults just kind of get to hang back and 542 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: watch the kids, you know, open the gifts and enjoy that. 543 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: Like you said, it's gonna vary from family to family, 544 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:47,479 Speaker 1: but just make sure you're part of that solution. Make 545 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 1: sure you're part of that change and that you're not 546 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 1: just kind of going along with this idea of, oh, 547 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: we all have to spend at least fifty bucks per person, 548 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 1: this is something that's got to be done. We're all 549 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: going into debt because we don't want to talk about it, 550 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 1: and there's just an expectation of this is how it is. 551 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 1: You know, like I hate that, I hate that there 552 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: is this pressure and instead it can just be avoided 553 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: just by talking about it. Yeah, those conversations, right, aren't 554 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: always easy, but they're important and they're necessary. And I 555 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 1: would say you start that conversation early. Right now might 556 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: not be the best time for this year's Christmas, but 557 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: start thinking about that and and maybe start hinting at 558 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: that for next year's Christmas. You wouldn't even better time 559 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: to wait till Christmas morning. Oh yeah, yeah, show it 560 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: Christmas morning and be like, hey, you know we're not 561 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: gonna do gifts anymore. Sorry, guys, I didn't buy anything 562 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: for any of you. Yeah, no, I completely agree. This 563 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,360 Speaker 1: is something you want to talk about well in advance, 564 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 1: and specifically too, with your spouse or a significant other, 565 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: Like if you've got a boyfriend or girlfriend, you want 566 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,200 Speaker 1: to be on the same page about this. This isn't 567 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: something that you surprise the other person with literally the 568 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: morning of Christmas where you're like, oh, yeah, you know what, 569 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: I'm not really into gift giving anymore. This is something 570 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: that I'm trying to scale back on. Like now, that's 571 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,199 Speaker 1: a terrible time to make decision. And you don't want 572 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: it to be grinch like either, Right, And so we'll 573 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: get into some of those tactical ways that you can 574 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: avoid being the grinch of your holiday gathering, but you 575 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:22,399 Speaker 1: can also be thoughtful right after the break. All right, 576 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: go back to the break and again we're gonna talk 577 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: about now some helpful and specific tips to avoid the 578 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: holiday shopping hangover. And So if you don't have the 579 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 1: cash on hand, because you're just listening to this now 580 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: and you haven't budgeted, you, basically you have two options. Right. 581 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: You can either cut more and you could truly spend less. 582 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: And I think that would be more of the route 583 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:44,119 Speaker 1: that we would say, yeah, that's that's kind of the 584 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 1: route you want to go, and that could be cutting 585 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 1: kind of peripheral people off of your shopping list. So 586 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: maybe your second cousin doesn't get a gift this year 587 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 1: when they normally did, and you say, sorry, sorry, Ralph, 588 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: you're not a legit relation to me, so I'm not 589 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: buying gifts for you this year. Or the other option 590 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,440 Speaker 1: is to lessen the actual money amount that you spend 591 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: on each person. That's right, Yeah, I love that. So, yeah, 592 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: you can either cut more or a secondary option is 593 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: that you can make some more money, right, in order 594 00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:13,439 Speaker 1: to pay for Christmas shopping, and we would say to 595 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 1: be very careful when it comes to this option, because 596 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 1: essentially by saying that, what you're saying is that your 597 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 1: time is worth less than a gift that you're going 598 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 1: to give somebody that they may not even enjoy. Your 599 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: time is your life, and like you're treating your life 600 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: for money. It's just a slippery slip to say that, Okay, 601 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna work a little bit more so that 602 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:35,199 Speaker 1: I can buy one more thing for this person. And 603 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: I know that, especially if you have kids out there, 604 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,640 Speaker 1: you want to see that sort of the ripping open 605 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: the gifts. Like there's just this whole sort of culture 606 00:27:42,320 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: surrounding like gift giving and gift opening that involves ripping paper, 607 00:27:47,240 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 1: throwing it in the air, like throwing it behind the couch. 608 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:51,840 Speaker 1: That's part of like people's traditions. Yeah, we don't want 609 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: to completely rain on the parade of those fun traditions 610 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,160 Speaker 1: because I will be honest, I have some great memories 611 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: of being a kid and getting that perfect gift that 612 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: wanted and mom and dad got me right playing there 613 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:04,640 Speaker 1: in the sea of like wrapping paper, let's like completely 614 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: covering the floor. Yes, but I also know that especially 615 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,240 Speaker 1: with young kids at least, that they have oftentimes been 616 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: more enthralled by that wrapping paper on the ground than 617 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:16,879 Speaker 1: the actual gift that was in the box. And so 618 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: that's definitely a potential to so I think sometimes we 619 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: build it up more in our mind and the reality 620 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 1: of how it plays out at our Christmas gatherings or 621 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:28,439 Speaker 1: holiday gatherings, it's just not quite what we wanted it 622 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,240 Speaker 1: to be in our minds. And so we're not trying 623 00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: to provide these tactics and these solutions as a way 624 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 1: to make Christmas dole and boring and avoid all the 625 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: joy and the fun of president opening, because that that's 626 00:28:39,320 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: super fun, right, That's good stuff, and we don't want 627 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:44,320 Speaker 1: to take that away. But what we're trying to say 628 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: is there are ways that you can make it meaningful 629 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: while avoiding that nasty holiday shopping hangover that you're gonna 630 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: have in January if you're not thoughtful about how you're 631 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: actually spending your money. So with that, something to keep 632 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: in mind is that thoughtfulness is better than a high 633 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: price tag. Our loved ones they want to know that 634 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,560 Speaker 1: we care about them, not that we spent a ton 635 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: of money. So consider handmade gifts or an experience, or 636 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: maybe even just like a written letter. You know it's 637 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: a spouse or again, so like a loved one, just 638 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: kind of sharing your thoughts and you know how much 639 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: you appreciate and how much you love them. Yeah, Matt, 640 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,720 Speaker 1: I think this comes off sometimes, this sort of suggestion 641 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: as like trite, and well, there's no way I'm gonna 642 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: do that, because we're like hokey, right, what they really 643 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: want is like the new iPhone or something like that, 644 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: and and and a written letter that's meaningless comparatively, But 645 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: I'll be honest, the things that have meant the most 646 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: to me that do mean the most to me when 647 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: it comes to gift giving, oftentimes is like a friend 648 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:42,719 Speaker 1: who knows how much we need my wife and I 649 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: need like a night out right and they offer a 650 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: free babysitting. Or one of our friends who you know what, 651 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: she's a really good baker and so she spends a 652 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: lot of time during the holidays to bake people like 653 00:29:53,360 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: an awesome pie or some awesome cookies I know you're 654 00:29:55,720 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: talking about. Yeah, yeah you do, and i'd so much before. Yeah, 655 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: I would so much rather have that than like a 656 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: Best Buy gift card or something, right, because that comes 657 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: from her heart and it's something that means a lot 658 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: to her, and so it means a lot to me 659 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 1: to eat that apple pie after she brings it. So yeah, 660 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: I think it can seem like a trite thing, but 661 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: really it's the most meaningful. And when you think about 662 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: some of those great gifts you've gotten in your life 663 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 1: throughout the years from people that you care about, oftentimes 664 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: they are these kinds of gifts and it doesn't have 665 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 1: to be crappy macaroni art or something like that, right, 666 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,080 Speaker 1: But I love macaroni art, dude, I know you do, 667 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: so that's why I'm making you some for Christmas. I 668 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: just love pasta specifically. I love the macaroni less the art, 669 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 1: So don't waste it on a piece of construction paper 670 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: with glue, right, But I just wanted to mention that 671 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: because I know that it can come off that way. 672 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 1: But truly, I think it's a meaningful way to give 673 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: someone a gift. Yeah, I mean I can I totally 674 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: agree with you, right, especially in a time when we 675 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 1: just have so much junk and there's just some weird 676 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:56,680 Speaker 1: stuff that you're getting sometimes from folks that don't know 677 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: you that well, and that can be totally avoided by 678 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 1: giving of your yourself, just like you said, and along 679 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 1: those lines, the gift certificate, like it sounds kind of hokey, 680 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,240 Speaker 1: but I think it's awesome, man, if you're able to 681 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: utilize your skills or your talents that you have, or 682 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 1: even a gift certificate for quality time like you talked 683 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: about earlier, where there's either like a hike or a 684 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: museum involved, like something that's you know, low cost. This 685 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,479 Speaker 1: involves more giving of yourself, like your time and your energy, 686 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 1: and less of your money. And we're all about saving money. Yeah. 687 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: So oftentimes, like for my dad for his birthday, I 688 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 1: will make a certificate for him to take him out 689 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 1: to dinner or to take him to some sort of 690 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:35,240 Speaker 1: like sporting match in town. The sports, the sports generally speaking, 691 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:38,400 Speaker 1: he enjoys the sports. He does well, it's not about 692 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: the sports, it's about the It's about the time, right exactly. Yeah, 693 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 1: So for me it's about I'm happy to get a 694 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: nice meal with my dad or to go see you know, 695 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:49,160 Speaker 1: a baseball game or soccer game or something like that. 696 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: That's great, but really it is it is at intentionality 697 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: level that I'm oftentimes missing, and it allows me that 698 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: ability to be intentional because what I really want to 699 00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: do is hang out with my dad. Spent some time 700 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,280 Speaker 1: I'm with him, whether that's you know, over a barbecue 701 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 1: sandwich or watching our soccer team just like unload on 702 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: another team, right Like, either way, I'm just happy to 703 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 1: be with my pops. And that gift certificate is just 704 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,960 Speaker 1: kind of this way for me to say, in writing Boom, 705 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 1: we're setting it in stone, right, because I failed to 706 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 1: do that so much of the time, and I wish 707 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: I did it. I was better at it on the leg, 708 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 1: but I'm not, and so this is my chance to say, Dad, 709 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: we're doing this you and me. So I think those 710 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: giftstificates are helpful. It feels good to get it and 711 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: to say they thought about this particular thing I like 712 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: to do with them, like this thing we like to 713 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: do together, and it's written down and then now we've 714 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: got to follow through and make it happen. But I 715 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 1: feel like those giftstific gates like can be meaningful. I mean, 716 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 1: they're they're more than met. You have to back off. 717 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: You're gonna like start making our listeners start to like 718 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,680 Speaker 1: get tarr eyed you know what I'm saying. Yeah, dude, 719 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 1: I might actually have to steal that idea. So I 720 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,920 Speaker 1: hope my dad's not listening, but he actually probably is. 721 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: And then another sort of creative idea too, man, is uh, 722 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 1: if you want to give less, but you still you know, 723 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 1: want to spend money, or you've got money to spend 724 00:33:02,960 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: because you've budgeted for it, you can consider some philanthropic gifts. 725 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: Our family used to do this thing where we would 726 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: gift each other loans through Kiva dot Org. Have you 727 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: ever done the loan program with them? No, I haven't. Basically, 728 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: you go on there and you can buy a gift 729 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 1: certificate and they have all these different individuals and oftentimes 730 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: Third world countries, and they're trying to start a business, 731 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: and so they're trying to race, say like two thousand 732 00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 1: dollars to buy a motorcycle in order to give taxi 733 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,200 Speaker 1: rides and Honduras because that's gonna be their business. That's 734 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: awesome and that cool. Yeah, and you can donate like 735 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 1: bucks or fifty bucks and it goes towards that, and 736 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: they're part of the program, and you know that's what 737 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 1: it's going to go towards, but it's a loan, and 738 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: so they also work to pay that back and almost 739 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 1: all the loans get repaid, and so once it does 740 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 1: get repaid, you can leave that money within the Kiva 741 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 1: program and then reloan it out to somebody else who's 742 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 1: looking to get money to start a small business in 743 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: their town, you know, somewhere far off. Isn't that cool? 744 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:59,200 Speaker 1: I love that? Yeah, super cool. It's like the entrepreneurial 745 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 1: spirit mixed with philanthropy and and yeah, it's awesome. I 746 00:34:02,560 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 1: love it. I love that. And I also I feel 747 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: like there's kind of this move for families that realize that, 748 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 1: you know what, we have a lot of stuff and 749 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:11,319 Speaker 1: who are able to talk about it. Well, uh, there 750 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: there are a lot of families that say, you know what, 751 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:17,120 Speaker 1: let's forego gifts and let's actually do an active service 752 00:34:17,160 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: on Christmas. Let's serve at a soup kitchen or find 753 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 1: a way to care for people in our community that 754 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:25,200 Speaker 1: have less than we do on Christmas Day. And that's 755 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: really cool too. Certainly, no guilt trip, right, no family 756 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: has to do this has to take their Christmas off 757 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 1: from being together and just kind of hanging out to 758 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:35,400 Speaker 1: go like serve other people. But if your family is 759 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 1: so inclined and does something like that or you think 760 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: might be interested in doing that, I love doing something 761 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 1: like a like a philanthropic gift or considering gifting your 762 00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 1: time as a family and serving together can kind of 763 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 1: create this bond and can kind of bring a whole 764 00:34:49,160 --> 00:34:52,399 Speaker 1: new meaning to your holiday season, right. And so much 765 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:54,799 Speaker 1: of the holidays is spending quality time together, right, Like, 766 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,680 Speaker 1: I think that's honestly what most families oftentimes are are missing, 767 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: whether it be because of business or technology or jobs 768 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,840 Speaker 1: or distance, right, Like, you just don't have that quality 769 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:06,879 Speaker 1: time together. And yeah, I love that dude, when you're 770 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 1: able to come together with your family and and and 771 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 1: sort of unite around a cause, whether whatever it is 772 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: that you decide on, Like that's it's kind of like 773 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,520 Speaker 1: just getting on the same team is what matters, right, Yeah. 774 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:19,640 Speaker 1: And if you don't have as many gifts that you 775 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:22,879 Speaker 1: have to buy because your family is going to get 776 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 1: together and serve other people, then maybe you can work 777 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 1: a little bit less during the holiday season and just 778 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 1: kind of enjoy that time a little bit more. Y man. 779 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,600 Speaker 1: And on the flip side though, too, it's common you 780 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:36,960 Speaker 1: know around the holidays for shoppers to spend money on themselves. Initially, 781 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:38,800 Speaker 1: when I read that, read that sort of little stat 782 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 1: I was like, no, that's not something that I do. 783 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:43,000 Speaker 1: But then I thought, no, that is something I do. 784 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 1: Specific when it comes to beer. Obviously you and I 785 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 1: love craft beer, but around the holidays, I tend to 786 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: grab a couple of bottles of like something really primo, 787 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 1: like something really nice that I don't just enjoy myself 788 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 1: like I tend to share it. But still it's sort 789 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:59,040 Speaker 1: of like a little self splurge, a little a little 790 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: treat yourself. I'm gonna say little treat yourself exactly. Then 791 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:04,719 Speaker 1: Initially I was like, no, that's not me, but I 792 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 1: was like, wait a minute, that is me. Well yeah, 793 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,440 Speaker 1: and I know I think too, especially during you know, 794 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,920 Speaker 1: Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when a deal on something 795 00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 1: you have been interested in for a while or kind 796 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 1: of what pops up, you just kind of throw caution 797 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: to the wind and say why not now the time 798 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:23,239 Speaker 1: to pounce. And that sort of spending can ruin your 799 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:25,920 Speaker 1: holiday budget, yes, right, and can also take some of 800 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 1: the joy out of the meeting of the season if 801 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:30,360 Speaker 1: you're too focused on getting stuff for yourself. Yeah, if 802 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 1: you're too focused. However, you know, if that's something that 803 00:36:32,239 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: you've budgeted for, because maybe every every holiday you do 804 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:39,120 Speaker 1: know that you're gonna spend thirty bucks on a single 805 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,320 Speaker 1: bottle of beer. Well, if you've budgeted for, then that's fine, 806 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:44,319 Speaker 1: you know, like, don't let it wreck your budget. But 807 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:45,839 Speaker 1: at the same time, yeah, I love what you said. 808 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:47,560 Speaker 1: You like, don't let that become too much of the 809 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:50,719 Speaker 1: focus of your holiday gift giving. So let's talk about 810 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:53,280 Speaker 1: some specific ways to that we can make the holidays 811 00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:58,120 Speaker 1: meaningful for our kids, especially for families, for moms and 812 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:01,359 Speaker 1: dads that are listening that have children, how can you 813 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 1: kind of make it special for them without spending a 814 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:06,359 Speaker 1: ton of money, Because that's something that I think all 815 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 1: parents have to deal with, especially parents who have older 816 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,880 Speaker 1: kids who expect a little more maybe like a PlayStation 817 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:17,200 Speaker 1: five or whatever they're on now I don't even know, um, 818 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:19,200 Speaker 1: but I think there are ways to to make the 819 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:22,840 Speaker 1: holidays meaningful for for everyone involved in the family, for 820 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: the kids, the parents, everyone, and not spend a whole 821 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,680 Speaker 1: ton of money at the same time. And so just 822 00:37:28,719 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 1: a couple of things I wrote down, We're you know, 823 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: making ornaments together. So we've done that with our five 824 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:35,759 Speaker 1: and three year old and it's been just a lot 825 00:37:35,800 --> 00:37:40,480 Speaker 1: of fun, reading holiday books together, baking together, making holiday art, 826 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:45,200 Speaker 1: creating inexpensive traditions, right like parents. As parents, you're setting 827 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,319 Speaker 1: the tone for what the holidays look like. And if 828 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 1: it's all about expensive gift giving, well then the kids 829 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:52,360 Speaker 1: are gonna respond in kind and they're gonna make that 830 00:37:52,480 --> 00:37:55,640 Speaker 1: the focal point of the holiday season. But if you 831 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:59,360 Speaker 1: are able to create these other traditions that are that 832 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:02,760 Speaker 1: don't revolve around spending money, that revolve around spending time together, 833 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:06,680 Speaker 1: maybe creating something thinking outside the box just a little bit. 834 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:09,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that's actually really helpful ways to 835 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 1: encourage in atmosphere in your holiday season that is just 836 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:18,440 Speaker 1: a little more rich than then, let's say one based 837 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: around you know, buying the latest and greatest gadgets. I mean, 838 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: I love what you said about setting the tone. Right. Um, 839 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:26,799 Speaker 1: keep in mind that you're not only setting this home 840 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:29,279 Speaker 1: for your house around the holidays, but I think that 841 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 1: bleeds over into the rest of the year. If around 842 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:35,120 Speaker 1: the holidays it becomes this magical time of gift giving 843 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:38,880 Speaker 1: and buying and purchasing and surprising, and there's just money 844 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:42,000 Speaker 1: and dollar bills like flying left and right. Well, that's 845 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:44,160 Speaker 1: sort of going to be expected at other special times 846 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:46,759 Speaker 1: during the year, too, like maybe at birthdays or this 847 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:50,400 Speaker 1: special occasion or that special occasion. And it's worth considering, like, 848 00:38:50,560 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 1: is that the kind of life that we want to 849 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:54,239 Speaker 1: live around the holidays? Do we just want to be 850 00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 1: preoccupied and distracted with gadgets and activities and things to do, 851 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:02,879 Speaker 1: or or is it about spending quality time together? Yeah, Matt, 852 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:06,239 Speaker 1: I'll be honest that even for me, when I get 853 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,839 Speaker 1: a gift, and even if it's the thing that I 854 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: have been wanting that I had on my list, there's 855 00:39:12,719 --> 00:39:17,879 Speaker 1: always this tinge of it didn't quite meet my expectations. Um, 856 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: And I feel that I see the same thing in 857 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: my five year old daughter that sometimes receiving a gift 858 00:39:23,160 --> 00:39:28,200 Speaker 1: can be hard because, especially in our hypercharged atmosphere where 859 00:39:28,239 --> 00:39:30,160 Speaker 1: we feel like we need so much or we want 860 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,080 Speaker 1: so much, and the only cure to that is not 861 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:36,080 Speaker 1: getting the exact thing you want, but it's wanting less, right, 862 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 1: I feel like that's how you kind of combat it. 863 00:39:38,280 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 1: And so we saw this in this summer when my 864 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:44,080 Speaker 1: daughter turned five at her birthday that it wasn't helpful 865 00:39:44,160 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 1: to get her more things. Actually it actually was worse 866 00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:49,319 Speaker 1: for her the more gifts that we got her. And 867 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:50,800 Speaker 1: I don't even feel like we we got her that 868 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:53,680 Speaker 1: much stuff. She like, like all five iPads that she got, 869 00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:00,799 Speaker 1: such a weird tradition to have an iPad for every year, 870 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:06,439 Speaker 1: you know, hey man America bro. So yeah, I would say, 871 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 1: like we're dialing back even from where we were, which 872 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:12,239 Speaker 1: I thought was pretty reserve, And we're doing a three 873 00:40:12,239 --> 00:40:14,960 Speaker 1: gift maximum um for for each girl, and I just 874 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:17,520 Speaker 1: think even that it might be a lot. So I'm 875 00:40:17,520 --> 00:40:19,799 Speaker 1: not exactly sure how it's going to work out. I 876 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:22,520 Speaker 1: hope it is just a little more meaningful and a 877 00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:26,600 Speaker 1: little less present centric on the day of, and that 878 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:29,200 Speaker 1: we're able to kind of just step back and and 879 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:32,279 Speaker 1: have fun together. They're gonna be smaller gifts, a little 880 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:35,720 Speaker 1: more tangible. I just don't want to make the holiday 881 00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: season about how many gifts do I get? When's the 882 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,479 Speaker 1: big gift coming out? Like those sorts of questions that 883 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:43,959 Speaker 1: that that you ask as a kid. Um, the more 884 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:46,719 Speaker 1: we can kind of temper to those expectations, you know, 885 00:40:46,760 --> 00:40:48,759 Speaker 1: the more we can dial back on kind of that 886 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:52,200 Speaker 1: consumer approach and insert a little more of that kind 887 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:55,240 Speaker 1: of inexpensive tradition and sending that phone for our family. 888 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:57,400 Speaker 1: I just I love that approach, and that's kind of 889 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:59,359 Speaker 1: what we're trying to adopt as a family. I mean, 890 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 1: like that mine fullness and thoughtfulness, right, that goes into 891 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,719 Speaker 1: it because otherwise, yeah, you're just playing like you're just 892 00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:08,320 Speaker 1: playing games, you're just keeping yourself busy with distractions, with gifts, 893 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:11,359 Speaker 1: with gadgets. Man. That's something that I love that Kate 894 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:14,719 Speaker 1: has been able to do with our family, is that specifically, 895 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:18,560 Speaker 1: Like around Thanksgiving she starts ramping up like this Thankfulness project. 896 00:41:19,360 --> 00:41:22,719 Speaker 1: Recently they've called it their Thanksgiving Masterpiece, I think, but 897 00:41:22,760 --> 00:41:25,280 Speaker 1: they create like a piece of art, and it's looked 898 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:28,520 Speaker 1: differently in the past, but every day that's where they 899 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:30,359 Speaker 1: sort of sit down and talk about something that they're 900 00:41:30,360 --> 00:41:34,319 Speaker 1: thankful for. And again it brings time and attention and 901 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 1: our focus as a family to something that isn't a gift, 902 00:41:37,080 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 1: to something that isn't going to be unwrapped that costs money, 903 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:44,759 Speaker 1: whereas instead it's about being intentional and being thoughtful. In 904 00:41:44,840 --> 00:41:47,520 Speaker 1: my hurried, busy life, sometimes I think, oh, why are 905 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:49,360 Speaker 1: we doing this. Come on, we just gotta get the 906 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:51,480 Speaker 1: girls off to school. That that's sort of thing. She 907 00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:53,799 Speaker 1: just has a great mind about that, Like Kate, she 908 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:55,640 Speaker 1: thinks like a teacher, you know, And a lot of 909 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,080 Speaker 1: times I think that's sort of what it takes. You 910 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:01,640 Speaker 1: and I both have girls in kindergarten and starting to 911 00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:05,040 Speaker 1: see them think about things and seeing their teachers engage 912 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:08,319 Speaker 1: their minds. And as parents, that's what we have to do, right, Like, 913 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 1: we have to get our kids to engage their minds 914 00:42:10,880 --> 00:42:13,759 Speaker 1: and not to just uh keep them busy or to 915 00:42:13,880 --> 00:42:16,239 Speaker 1: distract them. We're kind of creating the culture in our 916 00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:19,480 Speaker 1: homes and especially around the holiday or gift giving time 917 00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:22,200 Speaker 1: of the year. What it comes down to is more 918 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:26,640 Speaker 1: of that minimalist approach, right, that kind of understanding that 919 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:30,399 Speaker 1: the best present is actually just present. And I feel 920 00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:31,719 Speaker 1: like Matt, you know, I don't know, I've seen that 921 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:34,520 Speaker 1: more with my girls, the little things they asked me 922 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:37,080 Speaker 1: to just spend some time with them. I get home 923 00:42:37,120 --> 00:42:39,440 Speaker 1: from work and it's like, Daddy, can you just come 924 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:43,160 Speaker 1: play with me? That means more to them now than 925 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:45,640 Speaker 1: those gifts that I could potentially buy them. Right, I 926 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:47,800 Speaker 1: can maybe work a little harder, save a little more money, 927 00:42:48,120 --> 00:42:51,520 Speaker 1: to spend more on physical gifts for them this holiday season. 928 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:54,839 Speaker 1: But I realized that that is not what they want 929 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: ultimately deep down, and we can cultivate a tone and 930 00:42:58,440 --> 00:43:01,000 Speaker 1: an attitude in our family where that's the case, where 931 00:43:01,000 --> 00:43:04,160 Speaker 1: they want more stuff. But I think our families are 932 00:43:04,160 --> 00:43:06,400 Speaker 1: going to be better off. My family if it is 933 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:09,200 Speaker 1: going to be better off if I cultivate that atmosphere 934 00:43:09,320 --> 00:43:13,040 Speaker 1: of presence is the best present and us being together, 935 00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:16,880 Speaker 1: enjoying this holiday season together, putting down work, you know, 936 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:19,400 Speaker 1: putting down the technology, and just kind of spending some 937 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:22,879 Speaker 1: time enjoying each other as opposed to trying to put 938 00:43:22,880 --> 00:43:25,560 Speaker 1: more gifts under the tree and spend a little more 939 00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:29,359 Speaker 1: and then waking up in January to a credit card 940 00:43:29,400 --> 00:43:32,759 Speaker 1: bill that I don't know how it got there. Right, 941 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:34,719 Speaker 1: that's what we want to avoid for everyone, a little 942 00:43:34,719 --> 00:43:38,319 Speaker 1: more presence and a little bit less holiday shopping hangover. Dude, 943 00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:41,360 Speaker 1: I couldn't agree more right, because that is what we 944 00:43:41,400 --> 00:43:45,080 Speaker 1: are being fed by advertising and consumerism and just the 945 00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:47,600 Speaker 1: spending culture that we're surrounded is that you do have 946 00:43:47,640 --> 00:43:50,759 Speaker 1: to spend, and you can't have a good Christmas, you 947 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 1: can't have a wonderful, warm, fuzzy holiday feeling without spending 948 00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 1: a ton of money. But you know, it's up to 949 00:43:56,880 --> 00:43:59,600 Speaker 1: you as an individual if that's what you want to do. 950 00:44:00,040 --> 00:44:02,520 Speaker 1: So some people might be a huge part of their 951 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:05,719 Speaker 1: holiday family experience, but it doesn't have to be. And 952 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:08,680 Speaker 1: to those who might be struggling financially, there are lots 953 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:11,760 Speaker 1: of other ways that you can cultivate that family culture 954 00:44:11,840 --> 00:44:14,560 Speaker 1: and have an awesome time without going into debt. Yeah, 955 00:44:14,560 --> 00:44:16,640 Speaker 1: I think for some families it's going to mean going 956 00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:19,200 Speaker 1: from spending a hundred dollars on every single person in 957 00:44:19,239 --> 00:44:23,840 Speaker 1: your family to spending fifty on half as many people, 958 00:44:24,160 --> 00:44:26,120 Speaker 1: or for some families it's not gonna mean any change 959 00:44:26,120 --> 00:44:28,200 Speaker 1: at all in their spending, but just maybe a little 960 00:44:28,239 --> 00:44:31,480 Speaker 1: more mindfulness in what you're buying and how you're thinking through. 961 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:33,120 Speaker 1: You know, what you buy for the people that you 962 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:37,080 Speaker 1: care about. But more than anything, hopefully for everyone out 963 00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:40,560 Speaker 1: there listening, it's not going into debt. It's not racking 964 00:44:40,600 --> 00:44:42,480 Speaker 1: up credit card debt that you can't afford to pay 965 00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:45,720 Speaker 1: off for gifts for people that you love, thinking that 966 00:44:45,719 --> 00:44:48,640 Speaker 1: that's the meaning of the season, because that's not it. 967 00:44:49,040 --> 00:44:51,480 Speaker 1: And I don't think anybody that you love would encourage 968 00:44:51,520 --> 00:44:53,640 Speaker 1: you to go into debt to buy something for them 969 00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:55,960 Speaker 1: that you can't afford to pay off. I mean, that's 970 00:44:56,000 --> 00:44:59,600 Speaker 1: just a crummy situation all around. Yeah, man, I love that, dude. 971 00:44:59,600 --> 00:45:01,920 Speaker 1: That's the you know what else is so good? This 972 00:45:02,080 --> 00:45:04,680 Speaker 1: beer that we're finishing off. Yeah, Buddy Sierra Nevada and 973 00:45:04,719 --> 00:45:07,800 Speaker 1: Narwhale Imperial Stout. This is delicious, dude. It's got the 974 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:11,320 Speaker 1: Narwhale on there. Uh, speaking of Christmas, Like on Buddy 975 00:45:11,400 --> 00:45:14,680 Speaker 1: the Elf, you know when he's at when he's at 976 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:19,040 Speaker 1: the North Pole and he's telling Mr Norwal exactly except 977 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:21,719 Speaker 1: for it. This is like the grown up version of Hilm. 978 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:24,240 Speaker 1: He looks all hardcore on the label. He's gonna spear 979 00:45:24,280 --> 00:45:27,840 Speaker 1: somebody or something. It looks way more sharp on this picture. 980 00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:30,560 Speaker 1: And yeah, not nearly as friendly looking. But this is 981 00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:34,759 Speaker 1: a fantastic solid Imperial Stout by Sierra Nevada. And you 982 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:36,959 Speaker 1: and I we both kind of feel like stouts are 983 00:45:37,640 --> 00:45:41,520 Speaker 1: great beers to drink during the holidays, because especially during 984 00:45:41,560 --> 00:45:44,880 Speaker 1: the holidays, like you want to have that what dark, thicker, 985 00:45:45,480 --> 00:45:48,400 Speaker 1: robust beer. Yeah, it's kind of like a winter warmer. 986 00:45:48,600 --> 00:45:52,080 Speaker 1: And so this one in particular has coffee and you know, 987 00:45:52,160 --> 00:45:55,200 Speaker 1: dark chocolate notes in it. Man, I've always kind of 988 00:45:55,200 --> 00:45:58,400 Speaker 1: been a fan of Sierra Nevada and Narwhale. I enjoy 989 00:45:58,480 --> 00:46:00,359 Speaker 1: a lot of their beers, but I would I don't 990 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:03,480 Speaker 1: gravitate towards most of them very often. But this is 991 00:46:03,520 --> 00:46:05,960 Speaker 1: one I pick up like every year, and it's in 992 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:07,880 Speaker 1: six packs this year, which is kind of nice. I 993 00:46:07,960 --> 00:46:10,759 Speaker 1: just really like kind of a bitter stout and this 994 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:14,400 Speaker 1: one has a nice bitter coffee, bitter dark chocolate notes 995 00:46:14,719 --> 00:46:16,719 Speaker 1: and it works. It works really well. I like it 996 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:20,440 Speaker 1: a lot. Speaking of inexpensive Christmas traditions, I wonder if 997 00:46:20,440 --> 00:46:22,399 Speaker 1: that's why you like this every year, man, I bet, 998 00:46:22,440 --> 00:46:24,000 Speaker 1: like you pick this up every single year, And I 999 00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:25,960 Speaker 1: bet it's because you have sort of like this memory 1000 00:46:26,120 --> 00:46:30,880 Speaker 1: associated with this of affordability mixed with great flavor, mixed 1001 00:46:30,880 --> 00:46:33,279 Speaker 1: with coming together with family and friends for real, you know. 1002 00:46:33,440 --> 00:46:36,440 Speaker 1: Oh completely. I'm obsessed with finding a great beer that 1003 00:46:36,719 --> 00:46:39,680 Speaker 1: is reasonably priced, and this one comes out every year, 1004 00:46:40,120 --> 00:46:43,319 Speaker 1: and I'm just always excited because it is a great 1005 00:46:43,320 --> 00:46:47,040 Speaker 1: beer that's really pretty inexpensive when it comes down to it. Yeah, man, 1006 00:46:47,040 --> 00:46:49,640 Speaker 1: And especially with this being an Imperial stout. So if 1007 00:46:49,640 --> 00:46:52,920 Speaker 1: you're not really into like craft beer or specialty beers. 1008 00:46:53,239 --> 00:46:56,400 Speaker 1: If you know that you like coffee or you like 1009 00:46:56,480 --> 00:46:58,640 Speaker 1: things that are maybe a little bit less bitter, right Like, 1010 00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:00,440 Speaker 1: if you like your coffee with a little bit of sugar, 1011 00:47:00,800 --> 00:47:03,200 Speaker 1: maybe a little bit of cream, then stouts tend to 1012 00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:05,960 Speaker 1: be a good sort of beer for folks like that, Right, Like, 1013 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:07,600 Speaker 1: you want to stay away from like the I. P. A. 1014 00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:10,560 Speaker 1: S that are a little more bitter, instead look towards 1015 00:47:10,600 --> 00:47:12,239 Speaker 1: the beers that are darker and have more of that 1016 00:47:12,360 --> 00:47:15,080 Speaker 1: multi backbone, and this will totally do that for you. Yeah, 1017 00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:17,320 Speaker 1: and this one in particular is probably better for people 1018 00:47:17,360 --> 00:47:20,239 Speaker 1: that like dark chocolate over milk chocolate. Yeah. So if 1019 00:47:20,320 --> 00:47:23,560 Speaker 1: you're interested in finding a beer that has kind of 1020 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:25,600 Speaker 1: some of those notes and you're not really sure what 1021 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:27,759 Speaker 1: to drink this holiday season, well, I mean we would 1022 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:32,560 Speaker 1: recommenden Narwhall Stout by Sierra, Nevada, and it should be 1023 00:47:32,600 --> 00:47:35,480 Speaker 1: on shelves wherever you buy beer. All right, Matt, let's 1024 00:47:35,520 --> 00:47:37,640 Speaker 1: get to our final thoughts on how we avoid that 1025 00:47:37,800 --> 00:47:40,360 Speaker 1: holiday shopping hangover. All right. The first thing that you 1026 00:47:40,360 --> 00:47:43,040 Speaker 1: can do is make sure that you are planning ahead, 1027 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:45,600 Speaker 1: and you want to make sure you're staying organized. That 1028 00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:48,560 Speaker 1: allows you to start saving now because you're saving ahead 1029 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:50,800 Speaker 1: of time, and that keeps you within your budget. But 1030 00:47:50,880 --> 00:47:53,400 Speaker 1: it also allows you to be thoughtful. Keep a running 1031 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:55,239 Speaker 1: list with the names of those that you want to 1032 00:47:55,280 --> 00:47:58,080 Speaker 1: give gifts to. And when you have those names listed out, 1033 00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:00,800 Speaker 1: that allows you to start shopping now. You can start 1034 00:48:00,840 --> 00:48:03,239 Speaker 1: looking for those deals and you can start thinking of 1035 00:48:03,280 --> 00:48:06,480 Speaker 1: creative gift ideas to those who you love. Yeah, it 1036 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:09,319 Speaker 1: also allows you to open the lines of communication with 1037 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:11,440 Speaker 1: people in your family if there are a lot of 1038 00:48:11,520 --> 00:48:14,520 Speaker 1: expectations in the holiday season when it comes to gift 1039 00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:17,600 Speaker 1: giving and gift receiving, and it's kind of tough to 1040 00:48:17,680 --> 00:48:21,040 Speaker 1: broach that subject sometimes, but planning ahead allows you to 1041 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:24,280 Speaker 1: start having those conversations with the people that are closest 1042 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:27,320 Speaker 1: to you and would be most affected by you deciding 1043 00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:29,759 Speaker 1: to shake things up a little bit. So make sure 1044 00:48:29,800 --> 00:48:33,680 Speaker 1: to start that conversation when it comes to expectations around 1045 00:48:33,760 --> 00:48:37,040 Speaker 1: your family gift giving traditions sooner rather than later. Then. 1046 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:39,080 Speaker 1: The number one specific tip that we want to give 1047 00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:41,879 Speaker 1: is to just not spend money that you don't have. 1048 00:48:42,160 --> 00:48:44,040 Speaker 1: If you are going to be tempted to spend more 1049 00:48:44,160 --> 00:48:46,200 Speaker 1: than you have. If you are using your credit card, 1050 00:48:46,200 --> 00:48:48,399 Speaker 1: don't use your credit card. Joe and I we both 1051 00:48:48,480 --> 00:48:50,760 Speaker 1: love using our credit cards because of all the different 1052 00:48:50,760 --> 00:48:54,399 Speaker 1: perks and cash back and purchase protection benefits that we have, 1053 00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:56,400 Speaker 1: but it's not worth it if you're going to end 1054 00:48:56,440 --> 00:49:00,680 Speaker 1: up overspending. Also, thoughtfulness is so much better than a 1055 00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:03,600 Speaker 1: high end gift. Your loved ones, people that you care 1056 00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:06,600 Speaker 1: about the most. They want to know that you care back. 1057 00:49:06,920 --> 00:49:09,360 Speaker 1: And so it might sound trite, but it's true. Something 1058 00:49:09,440 --> 00:49:12,560 Speaker 1: handmade or an experience, or even just an expression of 1059 00:49:12,640 --> 00:49:16,920 Speaker 1: love can be so much more meaningful than inexpensive gizmo 1060 00:49:17,040 --> 00:49:19,839 Speaker 1: or gadget. That's right, man, More giving of yourself, your 1061 00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:23,000 Speaker 1: time and energy, and less of your money. All right, everyone, 1062 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:25,320 Speaker 1: thanks so much for listening. Our home on the web 1063 00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:28,080 Speaker 1: is how to Money dot Com. We will have show 1064 00:49:28,120 --> 00:49:30,560 Speaker 1: notes up there for this episode, and if you like 1065 00:49:30,640 --> 00:49:32,719 Speaker 1: what you hear and have found this episode helpful, you 1066 00:49:32,719 --> 00:49:35,000 Speaker 1: can let us know by giving us a review on 1067 00:49:35,080 --> 00:49:38,279 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts. While you're there, to be sure to subscribe. 1068 00:49:38,440 --> 00:49:41,080 Speaker 1: Hitting that subscribe button will allow you to keep up 1069 00:49:41,120 --> 00:49:43,600 Speaker 1: with all of our new episodes. All right, Joe, Until 1070 00:49:43,680 --> 00:49:46,359 Speaker 1: next time, Best Friends Out, Best Friends Out,