1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning, 2 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: episode is going to be a longer one part of 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: the series where I interview fascinating people about how they 5 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: spend their time and any advice they have for the 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: rest of us. So today I am delighted to welcome 7 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: Joel Larsgard and Matt Altmex to the show. They are 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: better known as Joel and Matt, the hosts of the 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: how To Money podcast. So today we are going to 10 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: be talking financial tips alongside productivity ones. So Joel and Matt, 11 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: welcome to the show. 12 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 2: Thanks for having us. I didn't realize we were fascinating. 13 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: We appreciate you having us. 14 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I know I've been listening to you guys 15 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: for a long time. So I've been following all the 16 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: details of the lives of Matt and Joel and their 17 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: their various kids and two minivans. You each have matching 18 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: mini vans. 19 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: Right, sorry, we do. 20 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 3: Actually mine just rolled over one hundred and seventy five 21 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 3: thousand miles. It was a badge of honor. I've made 22 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 3: the kids watch the odomeiner as it rolled over. We 23 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 3: all did a little dance in the van while we 24 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 3: did that. 25 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, hopefully strapped. 26 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 2: In Indeed, Yeah. 27 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: You're wonderful. So, you know, listeners to this show love 28 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: hearing about people's routines. So I would love to hear 29 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: if either of you guys have either a morning routine 30 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: or another routine at a different point of day that 31 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: really helps make your life more functional. 32 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 2: Wait, okay, so I'll share, Laura. 33 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 3: So, for the past two years, I've been working out, 34 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 3: and specifically the past two months, I've been working out 35 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: on a daily basis. This is something that I wanted 36 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 3: to incorporate more into my life. And I have never 37 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 3: been an early morning riser kind of person. And I'm 38 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 3: getting up every single day at five forty five, which 39 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 3: is for me at least. I don't know that's crazy early. 40 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 3: And what I realized was that for the longest time, 41 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 3: I was trying to eliminate distractions in my life, like 42 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: for like specifically like social media in the evenings, you're 43 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 3: sitting there, you're doing the like the doom scrolling, it 44 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 3: just goes on and on. And what I realized was 45 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 3: that instead of just saying no to something, what I 46 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 3: needed to do was replace it with something, And what 47 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 3: I finally realized was that, oh wow, working out this 48 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: is something that I really enjoy and it's become more 49 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 3: important than obviously wasting time on social media or you 50 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 3: know some of the other ways that we waste our time. 51 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 3: And so the ability to supplant that was massive for 52 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 3: me actually wanting to get up in the mornings and 53 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 3: do it. It means I'm going to bed earlier as well, 54 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 3: which is a vital part to yeah, stay healthy and 55 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 3: making sure you don't feel like like garbage the next morning. 56 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 4: Now Matt looks like Dwayne the Rock Johnson, so there's that. 57 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, part of a morning routine is in fact 58 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: going to bed on time the night before. 59 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: So what time do you have to go to bed? 60 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 3: Duake? Nine thirty is what I'm aiming for my wife 61 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 3: and I'm both and it's awesome. I feel like I'm 62 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 3: a completely different person than I was even two months ago, 63 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 3: but certainly beyond two years ago for sure. 64 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: Well, I love that the idea that you know, it's 65 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: not enough just to be like I need to get 66 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 1: off social media, right, I need to spend less time 67 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,639 Speaker 1: on social media. If you don't have something else that 68 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: you are replacing it with, Like why You're like, well, 69 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: why am I off social media? Social media is kind 70 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: of fun. I don't know, there are fun things I 71 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: can do with my time. But you've really enjoyed the 72 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: getting up now. 73 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: I really do. 74 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 4: Yeah. 75 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 3: I mean it's something I maybe that sounds crazy to 76 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: some people, but it's something I really do look forward to. 77 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 3: And sometimes my wife gets out there with me as well, 78 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 3: and so it's kind of a time of connection. I 79 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 3: mean that's mostly on Saturdays, I guess only, but yeah, 80 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 3: it's fantastic. 81 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: Awesome, Jill. How about you. You have any sort of routine. 82 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, so probably my favorite routine is taking my son 83 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 4: to school on the bike. So I've got an electric 84 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 4: cargo bike and that just kind of like that's the 85 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 4: best part of my morning is getting to ride with him. 86 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 4: We just tell jokes the entire time, and then I 87 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 4: come home and I walk my daughter to school. So 88 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 4: something about like that kind of uh, you know, I'm 89 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 4: not pumping iron like madness, but there's something about that 90 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 4: activity that gets my day started right, especially doing it 91 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 4: with the kids, and then after lunch and after lunch 92 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 4: walk just because you're sitting down. You're at the computer 93 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 4: so much of the day, and so like getting out 94 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 4: and nature, touching some grass, looking at some leaves is 95 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 4: just very grounding and it takes me out of this 96 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 4: all the whirlwind of running a business. Then you get 97 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 4: back into it after that walk. 98 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, you need a little break to boost your energy. 99 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: And I'm sure that's something that does. 100 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, Joel. 101 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 3: What you did share is that there's there's a there's 102 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 3: medical research to back this too, because the ability to 103 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: move a little bit. And so this is something I 104 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 3: do as well, and it's it's not only just like 105 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 3: a psychologically healthy thing, but like it keeps your blood 106 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 3: sugar from spiking and don't you get me started on 107 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 3: like continuous glucose monitors, which oh. 108 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: No, we're doing this. Yeah. Well, you know, the post 109 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 1: prandial walk as they call it, Yeah, is an old 110 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: fashioned term, but you know, good to good to still do. 111 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 4: Yeah, I like, I like you're bringing interesting definitions to 112 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 4: an interesting term. 113 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: Well, so you guys run a financial podcast and have 114 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: for several years. We are coming up on the holidays 115 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: when this is airing, which is of course a time 116 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: of financial stress for a lot of people. Probably doesn't 117 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: have to be, but does tend to be so question time. 118 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: Have either of you ever overspent during the holiday seasons before? 119 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,919 Speaker 4: Yeah, I have, but not outside of the realm of normalcy, 120 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 4: I don't think. But there are times where you want 121 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 4: to get a certain gift for somebody and you feel 122 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 4: that is the perfect thing for this person that I love, 123 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 4: and so you end up kind of over committing or 124 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 4: spending more than you thought you would on a specific 125 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 4: gift for someone that you love. Yeah, or maybe you 126 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 4: do go a little bit overboard. I guess I have 127 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 4: never gone to the point where I ended up in 128 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 4: credit card debt the next year because I overspent on 129 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 4: Christmas or holiday gifts for friends or family or anything 130 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 4: like that. I think that's the thing that I'm wary of, 131 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 4: because when you look at the numbers, like there's a 132 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 4: significant portion of Americans that wind up getting the credit 133 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 4: card bill in January and they're paying it off for 134 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 4: months and months to come. There are still Americans who 135 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 4: are in debt from last holiday holiday twenty twenty three, 136 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 4: a significant portion of Americans. So I guess that's the 137 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 4: thing that worries me. Overspending a little bit. If you 138 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 4: have the extra cash, and you can take it out 139 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 4: of your budget somewhere else. That's one thing. But if 140 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 4: you're like putting it on the credit card and you're 141 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 4: not gonna be able to pay the balance off, that's 142 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 4: the scary stuff. 143 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,239 Speaker 3: And I think oftentimes it's not just like one giant purchase, 144 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 3: or maybe maybe for some folks it is, but I 145 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 3: feel like it's just the accumulation of all the little purchases. 146 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 3: It's just a little bit more here, a little bit 147 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 3: more there. Oh, we forgot to account for the teachers. 148 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, that's a lot of you know, like we 149 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 3: got to include them. And so I think for a 150 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: lot of folks, maybe a takeaway is just to have 151 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 3: some of these discussions ahead of time. I was talking 152 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 3: with a friend of mine, and man, I was so 153 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 3: encouraged because she was saying how her and her husband 154 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,039 Speaker 3: they decided that they were trying to back off the 155 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 3: gifts this year, and I was expecting her to talk 156 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 3: about grandparents like extended family, which I think for a 157 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 3: lot of times, for a lot of folks, that's difficult. 158 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 4: Right. 159 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 3: It's like, Okay, I see you a couple times a year, 160 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 3: how am I supposed to know something that's actually going 161 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 3: to move the needle, and but no, And so I 162 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 3: went into the conversation assuming that to be the case. 163 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: She was talking about her and her husband as well 164 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 3: as her first grader and her third grader, and she 165 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,119 Speaker 3: said they had this conversation on the front end, and 166 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 3: the kids were on board with it. They substituted a trip, 167 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 3: which I think was a trip that there was still 168 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 3: planning to take in the spring. But the ability for 169 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 3: the I guess the I don't know not to say 170 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 3: that you should be tricking your kids or. 171 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: I was gonna say, I'm not sure that my children 172 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: would be done on board. 173 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 4: Mom. 174 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 3: I think having these conversations can help a lot of folks, again, 175 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 3: especially when it comes to extended family. But even still, 176 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 3: if if you do want to have some gifts around 177 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 3: the tree, around the like, around the holidays, I think 178 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 3: maybe what that means is slowing your role a little 179 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 3: bit when it comes to expenses leading up to that, 180 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 3: because we are all so used to just the not 181 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 3: only like weekly purchases that we make, but almost daily 182 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 3: where we're thinking, oh, this is something I would kind 183 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 3: of like, and you go ahead and make the purchase. 184 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 2: It shows up. 185 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 3: So now anytime we get a gift, it's not even 186 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 3: all that special, I think, as opposed to think back 187 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 3: thirty years ago and people I don't know, like we're 188 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 3: a wealthy country now, Laura, and we don't really do without, 189 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: and oftentimes that can maybe take away from some of 190 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 3: the magic of the holidays and actually getting gifts for folks. 191 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: Interesting. Yeah, I think another thing that happens with the 192 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,959 Speaker 1: holidays is you know, you were saying people don't account 193 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: for all the people that they're going to have to 194 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: buy gifts for. But I don't know that we even 195 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: account for all the things that we wind up spending on. 196 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: Like maybe people have a thought of like, okay, well 197 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: here are the gifts, but then you're going to wind 198 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: up traveling to see family or something like that, and 199 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: that's an entirely separate expense, or you know, you decide 200 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: to host a party, or there's a additional going out 201 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: or something like that that happens in the course of 202 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: the month. I think maybe it's just that people don't 203 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: build all of it into the picture. 204 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 4: I think that's true. And I think to your point, 205 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 4: Antomat's point, part of the things that we spend extra 206 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 4: money on too. That didn't used to be the case. 207 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 4: I don't think to nearly the same extent is buying 208 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 4: stuff for ourselves, and so instead of putting them on 209 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 4: our Christmas list or whatever for other people, the wish 210 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,839 Speaker 4: list that we would love other people to get for us, 211 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 4: because you're right, Like my mom will say, hey, what 212 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 4: do you want for this Christian? I'm like, I don't know. 213 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 4: I feel like I don't need anything or but it's 214 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 4: because I do buy the things along the way want 215 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 4: when I want them, and I think when things are 216 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 4: on sale, and this is the time of year where 217 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 4: all the retailers are trying to get in our pockets. 218 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 4: They want our cash, and so there's discount of things significantly, 219 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 4: we're more inclined to buy, I don't know, a nice 220 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 4: TV because it's significantly cheaper than it's going to be 221 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 4: at any other time in year in the year. And 222 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 4: so I think that's the other thing we don't account 223 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 4: for as well, because we're just like adding things to 224 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 4: our cart for us while we're adding things to the 225 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 4: car for other people, and that can become like an 226 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 4: overwhelming financial burden too. 227 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: All right, So that's our tip. There be careful about 228 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: treating yourself over the holiday seasons. Maybe at least ask 229 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: other people for those things that you really want. Well, 230 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: we're going to take a quick ad break and then 231 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: we will be back with more from Joel and Matt. Well, 232 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: I am back. This is one of the longer episodes 233 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: of Before Breakfast. I am talking with Joel and Matt 234 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: of How to Money. So we've been talking about the 235 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 1: holiday season, but of course the holiday season comes right 236 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,320 Speaker 1: before the New year. If people were going to make 237 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: New Year's resolutions financial New Year's resolutions, what would you 238 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: suggest doing? What are some steps that people might be 239 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 1: able to take to have a more financially sane life 240 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: in the new year? 241 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 3: Or I think one of the best things that we 242 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 3: can do is I mean, especially this time of year, 243 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,959 Speaker 3: like a lot of folks have time off from work, right, 244 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 3: and I think using that time to do the hold 245 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 3: day things like baking cookies, building snowman, going caroling. 246 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 2: Like all by the way, Laura, do you still sing 247 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: in the choir? I feel like that. 248 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,560 Speaker 5: Nice I will be singing a lot of you go 249 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 5: there you go obviously doing all those things that are 250 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 5: important to you and like the culture of your family, 251 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 5: but also the ability to take some of this time 252 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 5: and to look back sort of like you said, like 253 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 5: oftentimes we don't account for all that we're spending on, 254 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 5: and the. 255 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 3: Ability to look back, look back over the past year 256 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 3: and see where our dollars went, and having a meeting 257 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 3: with your partner, to be able to get on the 258 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 3: same page to make make it feel like and not 259 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 3: just make it feel like, but to realize that you're 260 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 3: on the same team moving forward and looking ahead to 261 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five and maybe identifying some of the different goals, 262 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 3: some of the like some of the rocks that are 263 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 3: non negotiables where you're like, this is something that's really 264 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:52,760 Speaker 3: important to us. Let's do all that we can to 265 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 3: make this happen. Hey, we've been eating out a lot. 266 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 2: This past year. 267 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 3: Would if we cut back and that's going to allow 268 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 3: us to go on that sweet vacation this summer. Let's 269 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:03,199 Speaker 3: make that a priority. And not only for partners, I think, 270 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 3: but also these conversations I think are less likely to 271 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 3: happen with like if you're flying solo, right because you 272 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 3: got the natural prodding of your partner saying, ah. 273 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 2: Do we really need another one of those? 274 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 3: Or you know, there's different conversations you have, but when 275 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 3: it's just yourself, like you said, Joe, oftentimes we just 276 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 3: add that item to the cart, we click to buy, 277 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 3: We don't think twice about it. So I think it's 278 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:30,199 Speaker 3: even more important to be intentional with our time for 279 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 3: individuals that are by themselves as they think through just 280 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 3: some of the different goals that they're financial goals that 281 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 3: they're looking to achieve on their own for the next year. 282 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that money date thing is really important, 283 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 4: right and having those conversations, and now's a perfect time 284 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 4: just try to have those Hey what do we want 285 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 4: to accomplish in twenty twenty five? Start thinking about those things? 286 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 2: Now? 287 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 4: What are the financial goals we have when it comes 288 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 4: to saving and investing and buying awesome stuff that we 289 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 4: care about, whether it's experiences or actual physical items. But 290 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 4: I think I think the other thing too is to look 291 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 4: at your prior spending and say, well, what is it 292 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 4: that I didn't even realize I spent money on. I 293 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 4: just recently realized that we are paying for Apple TV 294 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 4: and we don't watch Apple TV. And so that's actually 295 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 4: the norm for most Americans. When you look at what 296 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 4: people assume they're spending in subscription amounts every single month, 297 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 4: they vastly underestimate. So the avers versus say, I'll probably 298 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 4: spend it, I don't know, one hundred and twenty bucks 299 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 4: or something. But maybe they're in actuality, they're spending three 300 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 4: hundred plus dollars on recurring subscriptions. So identifying those things, 301 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 4: because the truth is lots of times it's wasted money. 302 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 4: It's money that could be better spent elsewhere. And because 303 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 4: our eyes not on the ball and we're not identifying 304 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 4: maybe the places that we're spending where we're not getting 305 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 4: any value, we don't have the chance even to make 306 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 4: the change. 307 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: All right, So we've got money conversation with a partner, 308 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: if you have one, making sure you're on the same 309 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: page for your big goals for the next year. We're 310 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: going to look through all those subscriptions, see if you're 311 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: actually watching those shows that you are paying for. You guys, 312 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: got any others for us we might consider for the 313 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: new year. 314 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 4: So I think the other thing that I want to 315 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 4: and this feels so anathema to American culture, is to say, 316 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 4: be really careful before you upgrade your car. It is 317 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 4: it is like the single line item. I think that 318 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 4: people can stand to save the most on and lost 319 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 4: of times. It's just this assumption that, ah, I think 320 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 4: it's time to upgrade the car. It's like four years old, right, 321 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 4: And the truth is, like with what's happened with car prices, 322 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 4: with what's happened with interest rates, cars are more expensive 323 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 4: than they've ever been. And the same is true when 324 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 4: it comes to insurance costs. So there are all of 325 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 4: these things stacked against you when it comes to car 326 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 4: ownership and how much it's going to cost you. A 327 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 4: significant portion of the American public spends one thousand dollars 328 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 4: or more for a single car every single month, and 329 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 4: I think you can slash those costs significantly. And that's 330 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 4: particularly true in the work from home era. So if 331 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 4: you're talking about, yeah, the Apple TV subscription, when I 332 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 4: cut that, I'm going to save eight dollars a month. 333 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 4: But if I can slash my car costs by a 334 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 4: whole lot more than that, and just thinking about the 335 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 4: trade off involved in that, it's like, well, how much 336 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 4: I'm actually going to miss that car, especially when I 337 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 4: only drive it once or twice a week, versus the 338 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 4: things I can do with the massive pile of cash 339 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 4: I'll have back in my life if. 340 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 3: I do make a big change like that, And that's 341 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 3: something that we've got a little more room to have 342 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 3: movement on right Like Like when it comes to like 343 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 3: when you are looking out the biggest line items on 344 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 3: our budgets every single month, housing is at the top. 345 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 3: But not many folks are going to say, Okay, hey, 346 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 3: we're really trying to cut back. Let's go ahead and 347 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 3: sell the house and move to a more affordable neighborhood. 348 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 2: Let's move out to the sticks. Uh, let's let's move 349 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 2: in with your with your parents. Wouldn't that that allows 350 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 2: to save a ton of money. 351 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: Let's go to Tilan like that would be a big change. 352 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 5: In a year. 353 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 2: Yes, for sure, typically have that kind of flexibility. 354 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 3: But when it comes to vehicles, like yes, because oftentimes 355 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 3: they are providing us typically more than just that A 356 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 3: to B transportation, we do find a part of our ego, 357 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 3: a part of our identity tied up in the vehicles 358 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 3: that we drive. And especially given the fact that these 359 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 3: are crazy expensive depreciating assets. The man we I really 360 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: hate financing vehicles because you are paying interest on something 361 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 3: that is going down in value, and so yeah, I'm 362 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 3: just gonna second wogol set here about finding ways to 363 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 3: cut your transportation costs. 364 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: Excellent, But you guys will be happy to know I 365 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: am driving a twenty eleven car. Yeah, and I'm not 366 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: even just driving. I'm sharing it with my teenage son, 367 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: so he actually has it at school right now, so 368 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: I'm kind of just my home office. 369 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 2: I can't beat that. That's amazing. I'll love a lawyer. 370 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 4: You ever get in the car and you're like, what 371 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 4: radio station am I listening to? 372 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: I know, he's like, what is this? It doesn't play anything, 373 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 1: Although you know, there's also the craziness of it doesn't 374 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: help you park either, which sometimes that's not a good thing. 375 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 4: The old technologies, Yeah they don't. The fact that your 376 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 4: car can self park now is incredible, but I probably 377 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 4: won't experience that for another decade. 378 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, exactly. All Right, Well, we're going to take 379 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: one more quick break and then we'll be back with 380 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: a little bit more from Joel and Matt. 381 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 2: Well, we are back. 382 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,920 Speaker 1: I am talking all things money and also productivity with 383 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: Joel and Matt. So, Matt, I want to talk about 384 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 1: a little exercise you did productivity wise, not not the 385 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: exercise back to exercise, I d not exercise. Now we 386 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: can we can be done talking about exercise now. But 387 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: at one point you drew up a calendar. I think 388 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:32,479 Speaker 1: of what you called Matt's perfect week. So you can 389 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: you talk about what that is and why other people 390 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: might consider maybe not creating math perfect week, but their 391 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:39,360 Speaker 1: own perfect. 392 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 2: You've got a good memory, Laura. 393 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 3: Yes, this was a separate so within Gmail, I created 394 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 3: a whole. It was another calendar that I decided I 395 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 3: wanted to see where my time was going. And so 396 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 3: it wasn't just a way for me to account for 397 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 3: every minute, not literally every minute, but every I will say, 398 00:17:56,920 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 3: every fifteen minute chunk. But it was a way for 399 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 3: me to prove myself that I did, in fact have 400 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 3: the ability to do all the different things that I 401 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 3: was oftentimes finding myself saying that I didn't have time 402 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 3: to do. And so it included all aspects of my life. 403 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 3: So it included time for you know, my own intellectual growth. 404 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 3: It included me at that point in time, I was running, 405 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 3: so it included time for me to in fact to 406 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 3: go work out, but then also time to spend with others. 407 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 3: So there's a slot there that included relationship. Obviously work 408 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 3: was a big part of that as well, but I 409 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 3: think for me it was the relationship aspect. And so 410 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 3: what I mean by that is time spent with others 411 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 3: and because oftentimes I found myself saying no to things 412 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 3: that were coming up, I'm really good at saying no, 413 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 3: probably better than I should be. Yeah, Joel's like, man, 414 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 3: you are so heartless and cold. 415 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 4: But I'm just like, I'm very protected that every day I'm. 416 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 3: Protective of my time. But what I found was that, man, 417 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 3: I wonder if I do actually have time to do this. 418 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 3: And so by pre scheduling a bunch of different items 419 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: throughout the week, I was essentially able to create Matt's 420 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 3: perfect week. And I could see that, Oh wow, look 421 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 3: at this, I'm running three times a week. Oh wow, 422 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:14,360 Speaker 3: look I've got time where I am devoting like an 423 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,880 Speaker 3: hour every other day to me being able to read 424 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 3: and dive into a novel. Oh look, there's a couple 425 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 3: times on here. Not only am I able to, well, 426 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 3: once a week go out with my wife and have 427 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 3: a great date night, but to also meet up with 428 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 3: a buddy and grab beers. That it was very eye 429 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 3: opening for me, because what I found was that I 430 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 3: could no longer I did, no longer have the excuse 431 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: to say, well, I don't. 432 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 2: Have the time. 433 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 3: It's like, no, no, no, I've proved to myself that I've 434 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 3: that I do now have time. And granted there's always 435 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 3: things that come up, right, They're like they're the unaccounted 436 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 3: for random quasi emergencies that our weeks are full. 437 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 2: Of those things. 438 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 3: But I don't know, I found that to be incredibly helpful. 439 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 3: And it's not like I actually stick to that today, right, 440 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 3: It's not like I'm looking at my week and I'm 441 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 3: accounting for every fifteen minute block. But it does help 442 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 3: me to say that, oh, you know, I do in 443 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 3: fact have the ability to make some of these different 444 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 3: activities a priority if they actually are important to me. 445 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, So just thinking about how this might work, So 446 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: you put in like when you need to work to 447 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: run your business, like when you're hanging out with your kids, 448 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: when you have childcare responsibilities, when you are doing your housework, 449 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: the other things you want to do, and then let's 450 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: say you see Tuesday night after eight pm is still 451 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: you're just hanging out, right, You could say like, well, 452 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:28,880 Speaker 1: that's the night I could go out with a friend 453 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:29,440 Speaker 1: if I wanted to. 454 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 2: Exactly Yeah, that's that's exactly right. 455 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 3: And so I mean it's I don't know, maybe it's 456 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 3: similar to block scheduling, but the ability to have these 457 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 3: events on there. And what's cool about Google Calendar at 458 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 3: least when it feeds into two Apple's calendar. 459 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 2: That's so that's how we do it. I've got my 460 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 2: Gmail calendars and they feed into iCal or calendar or whatever. 461 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 3: But sometimes when I was feeling a little discouraged, I 462 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 3: could reach over and turn that calendar on and it 463 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 3: would overlay what I could in fact be doing with 464 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 3: my time. Instead of feeling like I don't have any 465 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 3: enough time in the week, it was like literal proof 466 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 3: that I did in fact have that time. 467 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 468 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: I love this idea of creating a realistic, ideal week. 469 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: So it's still, you know, you're not quitting your job. 470 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: You're not like suddenly able to fly. I mean it, 471 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: it's life as it is, but life showing you at 472 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: your best and what could see. 473 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 3: Yes, it was within the confines of the current responsibilities 474 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 3: that I had. It's just oh, look, there's a whole 475 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:27,439 Speaker 3: lot of nooks and crannies here where there's whole lot 476 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 3: of wasted time, like an English. 477 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 1: Muffin line englush muffin. Yes, time is one giant English 478 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: muffon sometimes, so Joel, we always talk in this show 479 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 1: about little ways we have taken our days from great 480 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: to awesome. I wonder if you have done anything recently 481 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 1: that has made one of your days more awesome. 482 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 4: The thing that has changed my days in our families 483 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 4: days the most is eradicating screens and TV Monday through Thursday, 484 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 4: all day every day. And part of that is one 485 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 4: for me, I don't even think about it, But then 486 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 4: my kids have stopped asking about it, and it's that 487 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 4: sort of pestering thing that sometimes kids here you're like, no, 488 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 4: I don't think we're gonna do it today, whereas like 489 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 4: now the rule is like no, we're we're not doing 490 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 4: it at all, And so then they don't even ask 491 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 4: the question anymore. And it even just reduces the amount 492 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 4: of TV we watch on the weekend evenings too, and 493 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 4: so Friday night Pizza movie night, we're watching something every 494 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 4: Friday night typically, but we just watch a whole lot 495 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 4: less TV in general. It's kind of made it so 496 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 4: much easier to relate to my kids when it comes 497 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 4: to like how we're talking about that stuff. And yeah, 498 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 4: I watch so much less TV than I even used to. 499 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 4: So I think eliminiting TV during the weekdays has been 500 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 4: the way to take all those days, make them instead 501 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 4: of great, being awesome. 502 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: And what are your kids kind of doing to entertain 503 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: themselves during their downtime, because I think that's what a 504 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,680 Speaker 1: lot of families stumble ever is like. Well, especially these 505 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: days as it's getting dark in the evening after school. 506 00:22:57,359 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: I mean, my kids get home and it's like dark 507 00:22:59,119 --> 00:22:59,640 Speaker 1: thirty minutes. 508 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 4: No, it is the hardest of this time of year. 509 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 4: But like last night, truly, the girls put on roller 510 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 4: skates and we're out in the driveway roller skating, even 511 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:08,920 Speaker 4: in the dark. Like we get the floodlight on and 512 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 4: we're having a great time just because like we know, 513 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 4: we got to find something else to do. Or they 514 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:14,960 Speaker 4: have started to play maybe with some of the toys 515 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 4: that got neglected for a little while, the ones you 516 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 4: bought for Christmas exactly exactly, and so yeah, for the 517 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 4: first week or something, you hear a lot of cries 518 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 4: of I'm bored, I don't know what to do, but quickly. 519 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: They figured it out. 520 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 4: They'll get a friend from down the street, or they 521 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 4: end up playing with each other. They kind of they 522 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,720 Speaker 4: come up with the most cute and interesting games, but 523 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 4: it's because they're forced to be creative instead of just 524 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 4: turning a. 525 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: Screen on excellent Matt, how about you. 526 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 3: I will sort of dovetail into what I was saying, 527 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 3: maybe about taking time at the end of the year 528 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 3: to kind of look back at the previous year, especially 529 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 3: with a partner. So I will say that on a 530 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 3: daily basis, my wife and I we try to go 531 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 3: for a fifteen to twenty minute walk after dinner while 532 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 3: the kids clear the table and clean up and start 533 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 3: to get ready for bed. It's just a way for 534 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 3: us to have some adult, grown up conversation, to be 535 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 3: able to step away from the kids, and honestly to 536 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 3: have like some parenting conversations sometimes too, because I feel 537 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 3: like meal time can oftentimes it's just so difficult sometimes 538 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 3: and so it's like, all right, how did that go? 539 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,159 Speaker 3: Should we have done something differently in that instance? And 540 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 3: so that's something that we've pretty much always done. But 541 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 3: lately every Sunday we have taken a hike, like we 542 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:32,479 Speaker 3: go for about a one hour hike, and it's real 543 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 3: similar to what we do on a daily basis, except 544 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:36,399 Speaker 3: for we're doing it for the week. We kind of 545 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 3: talk about, all right, we just had a busy week, 546 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:42,479 Speaker 3: let's unpack some things. If there's any tension like boiling 547 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 3: under the surface, maybe it allows us. It gives us 548 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 3: time to discuss that allows us to do something together 549 00:24:48,840 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 3: where we're both hiking up this mountain, which is a 550 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 3: ton of fun that we both enjoy, but then also 551 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 3: to start the week on the right foot as well, 552 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 3: where we're looking ahead and we're able to kind of 553 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 3: reconnect and maybe we're not even planning right. Sometimes it 554 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 3: is planning and talking through some of the schedule as 555 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:05,000 Speaker 3: we're hiking, but sometimes it's is just sharing how we 556 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 3: feel about something or so it's just a great connection 557 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,959 Speaker 3: point from a relational standpoint with my wife and I 558 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 3: and at least for us in this stage of life. 559 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 3: Our oldest is eleven, and we feel the freedom to 560 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:19,640 Speaker 3: do that because she's getting to the age where, oh 561 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 3: my gosh, I'm realizing there's this whole wow, this is 562 00:25:22,359 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 3: a we're graduating to like a different level. It's it's 563 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 3: completely changed the game, and we're realizing that we have 564 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 3: the the autonomy to be able to do some of this, 565 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 3: and so we're taking advantage of it. 566 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 2: And man, it's been such a sweet time. 567 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 3: For us to strengthen our relationship and ultimately do a 568 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 3: better job as parents as. 569 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 4: Well, and also get out of having to do the 570 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,320 Speaker 4: dis He makes the kids do it. 571 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know that's even better, this dividend of the 572 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 1: kids getting old enough like to do stuff and to 573 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: watch each other. I mean, when I realized I had 574 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:57,719 Speaker 1: like three live in babysitters all of a sudden, I 575 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: was like, Wow, I'm it makes life sore. 576 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 2: Was like, I'm going to write another book. Let's do it. 577 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 1: I well, or even I can go to the grocery 578 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: store and I'm not like, Okay, where is everybody? Are 579 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: they all in the car? All that good stuff? 580 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 5: All right? 581 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: Well, guys, this has been great. Thank you so much 582 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: for joining us. Everyone be sure to check out Joel 583 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: and Matt on How To Money, which airs multiple times 584 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: a week also through iHeartMedia. Thank you to everyone for listening. 585 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 1: If you have feedback about this or about other episodes, 586 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: I would love to hear it. You can always reach 587 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com and in 588 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 1: the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's 589 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening 590 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, 591 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: you can reach me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. 592 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts 593 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 594 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:18,200 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.