1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to have the money. I'm Joel and I am Matt, 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:07,360 Speaker 1: and today we're discussing clutch, freebees, housing market insanity, and 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: outdated wardrobes. Dude, you know, just before our music play, there, 4 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: like you say clutch freebes, and not only people use 5 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: the word clutch. It's I wonder if people think that 6 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk about automotive repairs, but that is not 7 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: the case. We're talking about free bees, dude. We're all 8 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 1: about getting free stuff, and so we've got a few 9 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: freebes to share with folks during today's Friday flight. Yeah. 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's like a middle aged millennial word, 11 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: but I feel like most people don't use it, but 12 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: we say clutch frequently. Let's take a poll off. Maybe 13 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: we'll toss that up on social media, see what people think. Yeah, 14 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: see if clutch is cool or not anymore? Probably not, 15 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: But if it's just like a simple care, just like 16 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: my outdated clothes are gonna Yeah, we're gonna we're gonna 17 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: talk about outdated wardrobes and we're not so outdated. I 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: feel that we'll get to that here later on during 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: our episode where we're talking about different headlines that we 20 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: came across this week, dude, how they pertain to our 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: personal finances. We've got a lot of great stories this week, 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: that's right. But before we get to that, man, I 23 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: wanted to quickly mention, Um, we got a letter in 24 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,400 Speaker 1: the mail this week about debt consolidation. I see a 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: letter over there with a check at the top of it, 26 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: which immediately caught my eye. Needs let me get a 27 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: check in the mail. It's like, oh, what's this? Yeah, 28 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: I know it's my wife is it's kind her name 29 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: on it. So but so, either either Emily has debt 30 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: that I don't know about, UM, and she's just like 31 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: she's just kind of hidden and hiding it from you. 32 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: I hope not UM, And my guess is that that's 33 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: not the case. But this letter was a pitch for 34 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: debt consolidation essentially, and one Emily doesn't have this amount 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: of debt, and to it just reminded me like, debt 36 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: consolidation is almost always a bad idea. I actually had 37 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: a friend reach out literally last week. Her son had 38 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: gone with the debt contolidation company and now he's having 39 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: a terrible experience. He's trying to get out of it. 40 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: I know, and so I just wanted to remind people 41 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: like you might get a letter like this in the 42 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: mail like my wife got, or you might hear and 43 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: add on TV. And it sounds nice, right to to 44 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: lower your debt payments to pay a lower overall interest 45 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: rate by going with one of these companies and paying 46 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: them a flat fee in order to in order to 47 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: make it happen. But debt consolidation is still one of 48 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: the top complaints with the Federal Trade Commission every year UM. 49 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: And so instead of doing that, instead of having someone 50 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: else managed that on your behalf, you can do it 51 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: for yourself. And you can reach out to creditors directly, 52 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: or you can even go to a non for profit 53 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: company like the NFCC or Money Management International. I know 54 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 1: we've talked about this on the show Beforemat I don't 55 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: want to go into too much detail, but this, you know, 56 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: this sweet hefty check just like they came in the mail, 57 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: just made me, you know, want to mention it again 58 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: for for folks, that's true, man, Although that is a 59 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: very specific number, right the check that Emily received, maybe 60 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: you should check your credit of that would totally suck. 61 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: And you're like, oh no, here's forty dollars that we 62 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: had forgotten about. Obviously you wouldn't do that, but but yeah, 63 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: listen back to episode seventy seven. That's where we talked 64 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: about that consolidation. Uh and then more recently as well, 65 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: episode one nine, we talked with Thomas Niche about debt, 66 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: consolidation and his company as well as well as his 67 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: personal story when it came to that consolidation. That was 68 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: a really good interview for folks. But dude, let's go 69 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: ahead and get to our our quick sampling of stories 70 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: that we found interesting this week. Um, dude, question for you, 71 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: would you move for money? Is that that's not how much? 72 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: And where I gotta move to? Yeah? Absolutely so. Earlier 73 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 1: on in the Pandemic, we talked about how Northwest Arkansas 74 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: they're paying folks ten thousand dollars to relocate, plus they're 75 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: tossing in a free bike. But it turns out that 76 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: other locals are doing something similar. Some are calling it 77 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: the revenge of the small cities. Uh So, cities like Tulsa, 78 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: tuc Sons doing it. Savannah's that they're doing it as well. 79 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:56,839 Speaker 1: There are a few of the cities that will pay 80 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: you quite a bit of money to relocate to move 81 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: there too. Program is called Startup Tucson, and it's a 82 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: nonprofit that has a generous package worth that they're offering 83 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: folks who are willing to relocate there. Although it's not 84 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: all cash. I saw it's only internet and a couple 85 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: of things. Yeah, yeah, And it's it's like when you 86 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: go to a raffle or a charity event and it's like, 87 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: this basket's worth five thousand dollars. It's like, well, not 88 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 1: to me, exactly. And plus that's like the retail price. 89 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: You know, no one's really paying full price, right right, 90 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: but many folks have already done this, uh, the whole 91 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: state of Vermont. They're looking to pay seventy if you 92 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: move and if you work for a Vermont based company, 93 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: And that's a more substantial offering because they're like literally 94 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: willing to pay like your first month's rents, even closing 95 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: costs if you're looking to purchase a home there. That's 96 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:48,679 Speaker 1: pretty sweet, and it's pretty sweet, and I think for 97 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: for some folks at least, moving in order to score 98 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: free cash makes sense. It certainly not for everybody, especially 99 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: if it means you're moving away from family, close friends, 100 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: community ties, right, like to sever it all for like 101 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: a quick severity funder bucks probably doesn't make that much sense. 102 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: That be short sighted. And two months into it you're like, oh, 103 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if we should have done this. Yeah, 104 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: but we're stuck here for a year because we took 105 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: the money. Um. But yeah for some folks that it 106 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: might make sense. Um although moving costs money to right, 107 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: it does. It's not free to move to some someplace new. 108 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: That's partially just to cover some of those moving costs. 109 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: Is what that money is there for. Yeah, and you 110 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: can't just count on your friends to like once you 111 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: get you know, to be a certain age, it's like no, man, 112 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: like nobody wants your pizza and beer. Yeah, to work 113 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: all day and like hurt myself early twenties, Like it 114 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: still works, I think, but you know, once you get 115 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: into mid thirties and later, it's like, Nope, that doesn't 116 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 1: cut it. Yeah, I got other stuff going on. But yeah. 117 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: On top of that, though, Illinois will pay off your 118 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: student loans if you move them buy a house there. 119 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: That that was pretty cool. The smart Buy program is 120 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: what it's called in Illinois, will pay up to forty 121 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: dollars of your student loan balance off depending on how 122 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: expensive of a home you're buying. Will link to the 123 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: smart buy site in the show notes so you can 124 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: see the details. But it's just it is crazy to 125 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 1: think about how moving could make or save you money 126 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: in a big way. And it's easier for a lot 127 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: of folks obviously to move more than ever these days, 128 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: with a lot of people being able to work from home. 129 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: And like I said, I think a lot of people 130 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: aren't going to just uproot and move away from a 131 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: place that they love. But there are a lot of 132 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:13,919 Speaker 1: folks who are like trying to figure out where they 133 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: want to settle down and this could tip the scales 134 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: in favor of one particular location over another. Yeah, and 135 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: it's definitely something to be aware of if you're planning 136 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: to maybe make that move anyway. Right, And so, speaking 137 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: of incentives that well could you stuff for free? Do? 138 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: T Mobile is upping every post paid customer to unlimited data. 139 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: Uh And this is cool, you know, even though not 140 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: everyone needs unlimited data. Most folks can can certainly do 141 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 1: with less, but T Mobile they are doing their customers 142 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: a solid and are you know, continue to show us 143 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 1: why they are by far the best of the big 144 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: three carriers where you know, big fans of Mint, but 145 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: T mobiles are really solid. Uh so if you are 146 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 1: on a limited data plan, that unlimited data plan is 147 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: going to start the Sunday and it's gonna last for 148 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: the rest of It's pretty great and it's pretty cool. 149 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: And you know, while we're talking about free bees, free beer, 150 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,239 Speaker 1: it's probably our second favorite thing to get besides cash. 151 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: Cash is better, right, cash is always better, even better 152 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: than beer. But Sam Adams is giving away seven dollars 153 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: via the cash app if you get vaccinated to spend 154 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: at your favorite local bar. Just post to pick of 155 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: you and your band aid or your vaccination sticker on 156 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: social media and include the hashtag shot for Sam and 157 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: look out for a d M to secure that that 158 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: free money from that. Uh what would you call them 159 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: that they're not really uh a craft Well, I guess 160 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: they are technically a craft brew there America's largest or 161 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: the other huge. They're huge, but they you know, they 162 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: do make some some decent beers. Um and and since 163 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: we're getting Shot number two next week, Matt, yes we are. 164 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: I forgot It's not even on the calendar for me. 165 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 1: I keep forgetting about it. But you will remind me. 166 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: I will remind you, and and we'll we'll get that 167 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: shot and we'll get our free seven dollars to get some. 168 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Also to one of our our favorite local brewers, Monday 169 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: Night Brewing is giving a free case of nar Water away, 170 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: which is a hard siltzer to folks that are vaccinated. 171 00:07:57,920 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: I got my twelve pack last night. My wife is 172 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: a big fan of the hard. You and Emily got 173 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: to twelve back because per vaccine cards, you get a 174 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: you get ahold case. He gets online though, Well, dude, yeah, 175 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: Kate loves the nar Water as well. They're huge fans 176 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: of it. We're definitely gonna be going to pick up 177 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: ours very soon as well. Uh dude, one last freebee. 178 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: It's also gonna be free to get into the National 179 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: parks tomorrow Saturday to kick off National Park Week. This 180 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: only happens uh six different times a year. So yeah, 181 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: go have a fun outdoor hiking adventure and a little 182 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 1: trivia for you, jild. You know what the closest national 183 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: park is to us where we live here in Atlanta. 184 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: I don't even have a good guess. You're gonna you're 185 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: gonna kick yourself, and I tell you it's the MLK 186 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: Junior National Historic Park, So it's I guess it technically 187 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: qualifies as a national park, but it's a National Historic park. 188 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: But otherwise the closest like natural like outdoor park is 189 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: the Great Smokey Mountains there you go, okay, which is 190 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: also a little trivia for it. Did you know that 191 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: it is the most visited national park in the entire country, 192 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: the smoke Yeah, it's I guess because it because it's 193 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: so speaking huge exactly. I mean I think you can 194 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: get to it from like three different states, so yeah, 195 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,319 Speaker 1: by far, it's like a slam dug way. More visitors 196 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 1: to that than any other, you know, park that you 197 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: would think of. Plus you know, you get to go 198 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: to Dollywood while you're while you're there too, right close, 199 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: which I've never been to me either. But how do 200 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: money trip? Hopefully soon? Uh yeah, so let's let's move 201 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: on the map. You and I were all about using 202 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: credit cards for routine spending that that you'd be doing anyway, 203 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: and we have our preferences for which cards people should 204 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,439 Speaker 1: be using. Right, certain cards are better than others for 205 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: the rewards that you're going to get, but it seems 206 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: like brands are launching credit cards like there's no tomorrow, 207 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: Like everybody's got their own credit card now, and they're 208 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: trying to push it on you, Like you're getting an 209 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: email from one of your brands and like we got 210 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: a new credit card, why don't you sign up? And 211 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: oftentimes you're like, wells, thirty bucks is a sign up bonus. 212 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: It's it's really not that great of a sign up bonus. 213 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: When you're thinking about that. Folks already have their Amazon car, 214 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: They've got like their Starbucks card. I'm even thinking about 215 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: getting that lowest card because I spend so much money there, Uh, 216 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: that one actually might be worth it for that one 217 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: might be worth it for you. Like Apple launched their 218 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: own credit card a few years ago, and now I 219 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: saw instant cart and door Dash are planning their own 220 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 1: credit cards too, and so it just makes me think, like, 221 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: I mean, there are too many credit cards out there. 222 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: So while having you know, credit cards in your wallet 223 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: to pay for things you'd normally pay for instead of 224 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: using your debit card is going to be better for you. 225 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: We think in so many ways when it comes to 226 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 1: the rewards, when it comes to the protections that you have, uh, 227 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: signing up for too many credit cards, and in particular 228 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: some of these brand based credit cards where the rewards 229 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: just aren't very great unless you use that particular brand 230 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: just an insane amount like Lows, right, you know, because 231 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: of their own properties. We we shop it lows too 232 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: much and and and more than I wish I did exactly, 233 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: But but we really do spend a decent bit of 234 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: money there. And yeah, unless you're getting Grubhub like four 235 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: nights a week like it, probably that makes sense to 236 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 1: get that credit card. Yeah. Yeah, you mentioned instant cart 237 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: and door dash, like even if you're in the food delivery. 238 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: And remember, by the way, it's gonna cost you a 239 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 1: lot of money to use those services. It doesn't necessarily 240 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: mean that you're gonna want to sign up for one 241 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: of those new cards. We feel it's best to have 242 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: between two and four great cards in your wallet, in particular, 243 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: having a great just straight up two percent cash back card, uh, 244 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: and then an awesome travel card if you you know, 245 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: like to travel that is, are excellent places to start. Joel, 246 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: you actually wrote an article about how many credit cards 247 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: you should have. Willing to that in the show notes, 248 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: but just be reminded that you're going to get better 249 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: rewards consistently when you go with credit cards that aren't 250 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 1: brand specific, no doubt, and Matt. Right now, it feels 251 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 1: like the housing market is taking crazy pills. Moved out 252 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: to style in zoo Lander. That's uh, Man's still one 253 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: of my favorite movie. So many quotable lines. Have you 254 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: watched zoo Lander in like the past twenty years, because 255 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: probably not, but I still remember all the lines. I 256 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: literally think it's been about twenty years since I've seen it. 257 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: I think if we sat in and watched it, it 258 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: would not be as good as we remember. You're probably right, 259 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: but I remember watching it. I probably watched it twenty 260 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: times within this span of two years. And you know, 261 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: I probably haven't watched it since. But um yeah, that's 262 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: so many great care classic But it turns out that, uh, 263 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: when will the housing market crash? Has seen just like 264 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: this massive spike in Google searches. Um so that search term, 265 00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:05,559 Speaker 1: the search term I has seen increase in searches. So 266 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: it's one of those like interesting things like the medium 267 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: home price is up seventeen year over year, and in 268 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: certain specific markets the prices have gotten even nuttier. I know, 269 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: Montana has been crazy. Austin, Texas home prices are up 270 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: forty year over year. That's insane when you think about it. Yeah. 271 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: I saw a Red Fence stat that said almost half 272 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: of all homes that are on the market sell within 273 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: a week. Yeah, one week. That's crazy. It is crazy. Yeah, 274 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: and so like the Wall Street Journal wrote an article recently. 275 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: They laid some of the blame on pension funds looking 276 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: to buy single family homes and introducing even more competition 277 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: into a market that doesn't have enough inventory for all 278 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: the buyers that are out there. Matt listener Chelsea sent 279 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: us a story from an NPR affiliate documenting some more 280 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: housing oddities or happening in the Houston suburbs. There's a 281 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: home builder, Dr Horton, and they built a new neighborhood 282 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: of a hundred and twenty four homes, and typically they 283 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: would sell those homes one by one to individual buyers. 284 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: What they did instead, like in a normal like a 285 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: normal world. But what they didn't said they listed the 286 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 1: whole community for sale at once, and the online investing 287 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: platform Fundrise paid thirty two million dollars and bought all 288 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 1: of them at one time. It's insane. So, I mean, 289 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:13,719 Speaker 1: that's the kind of market that we're in right now, 290 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 1: and anybody who's trying to buy a house, that's why 291 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: they're pulling their hair out because the housing markets um insane. Yeah, 292 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 1: awful times right now for folks who are looking to 293 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: buy a home, especially for those uh, first time homebuyers. 294 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 1: Bidding wars, you know, price escalations, it's all causing a 295 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: lot of folks out there to potentially spend more than 296 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 1: they should just to get into a house. They're having 297 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: to in some cases forgo inspections. I would not recommend that, 298 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: but it's really important to be cautious right now and 299 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: not get caught up in the hype and the frenzy, 300 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: uh and end up overpaying just to get into something. 301 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 1: Renting is still a really solid proposition for a lot 302 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: of folks, depending on the stage of life that they're in. 303 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: You need to take into account all the different factors 304 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: that might make purchasing a home for you know, either 305 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: a wise decision for you or an unwise decision. But 306 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 1: here's the thing, dude, we saw that Fortune magazine They 307 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: actually did a study to assess whether this home buying 308 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 1: trend will continue and from their findings. You know, it 309 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: looks like these conditions could last for years because of 310 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,439 Speaker 1: the number of folks looking to buy a home as 311 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:15,839 Speaker 1: well as the supply. It's likely going to remain lower 312 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: than usual due to all the different factors that we 313 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: are finding ourselves. And it's kind of like the perfect 314 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: storm between they were being decreased supply increased demand. I mean, 315 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 1: I saw that over half of younger millennials are planning 316 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: to buy a home within the next five years, and 317 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: so there's I don't I don't necessarily see housing dipping 318 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: anytime soon, but that shouldn't be the only reason that 319 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: you would rush into purchasing a home. You know, if 320 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: you're going to purchase a home, just like if you 321 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: are going to move to Vermont, that's great, get you know, 322 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: get that se in moving costs paid for. And if 323 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: you're already planning to purchase a home, then it's likely 324 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: you're going to see the value of that increase in 325 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: the coming years. But that's no reason for you to 326 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: rush into purchasing home when you weren't planning to already 327 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: do that. Yeah, I think, really, Matt, what it comes 328 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: down to is, I don't think there's a bubble here um, 329 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 1: and you know, I know people are wondering, when's the 330 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: housing crash gonna happen, when's the bubble gonna pop? And 331 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: you know, the fundamentals support increase in prices, and a 332 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: large part of that is due to the imbalance of 333 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: supply and demand. There just aren't enough homes out there 334 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 1: for the people that want to buy one. I think 335 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: I saw one stat like the U S could use 336 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: four million more homes like tomorrow. That would that would 337 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: put supply and demand back in equilibrium. But right now 338 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: everything's out of whack and that's part of what's causing 339 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: the price bike. So sorry to everyone out there who 340 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: is shopping for a home and frustrated. We feel for you, 341 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: feel your pain. Well, we've got more headlines to get to, 342 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: and specifically we'll talk about some viral videos going around 343 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: about multi level marketing. We'll we'll talk about that and 344 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: more right after this break. All right, we're back. And yeah, 345 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: before we get to MLMs and other scams out there, 346 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: it is time for our ludicrous headline of the week. 347 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: Did you say that loud enough? IM not sure? We Okay, 348 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: here's our headline and this one comes from listener Mackenzie, 349 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 1: and it is titled could index funds be worse than Marxism? Uh, 350 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: this is one that we actually came across as well. 351 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: But Mackenzie, Yeah, thanks for sending that one in the 352 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: headline is a perfect fit. Uh. This is totally clickbait 353 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: at its finest from the Atlantic. But let's go ahead 354 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: and dive in. Dude, our index funds actually that bad. 355 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: If so, we are are likely going to be in 356 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: big trouble because we you and I we've been touting 357 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: the greatness of index funds for years now on the 358 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: show We Love Them. But the main premise of this 359 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: article is that the hordes of passive investors UH today 360 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: are hurting markets basically because passive investors aren't investing in 361 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: companies that they believe in, that they've researched, that they 362 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: vetted themselves. They're just investing in all the companies that 363 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: Because of that, it's basically screwing up our financial system. Yeah. 364 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, like when it 365 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: comes to our individual ability to invest for our own futures, 366 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: index funds are still what we would recommend. Despite the 367 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: Atlantics hot take on on the index funds. Yes, it's 368 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: less Marxism, it's more socialism. Yeah. So, yeah, it was 369 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: an interesting article and the concerns that the author brought 370 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: up do make some sense. But it turns out that 371 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 1: the data in the example she gives are actually counter 372 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:20,919 Speaker 1: to some of the points that she's making. There's actually 373 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: a good rebuttal that was written over at morning Star 374 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: that will link to. But Matt, you and I we 375 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 1: still believe in the ability of markets to self correct 376 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: and to remain efficient, even with a bunch of passive 377 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: investors like you and me and hopefully a lot of 378 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 1: our listeners doing their thing, plugging away putting money in 379 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: index funds like month over month UM. If there are 380 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 1: opportunities to be had by going with single stocks or 381 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: with funds that are actively managed, then we can expect 382 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: that investor dollars are going to flow there until the 383 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: advantage is no longer there. So yeah, I'm not worried 384 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: about an imbalance or a horde of zombie passive investors 385 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 1: making the market something that's completely irrational. There's still a 386 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: lot of people out there actively managing their estmates, and 387 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: I think they keep everything in balance for all of us. Dude, Absolutely, 388 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: index funds. They're not going anywhere, and they're still by 389 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: far the easiest and we feel the best way for 390 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: pretty much everyone listening to the show how they should 391 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: be investing their money. Alright, dude, let's let's talk about clothes. Uh, 392 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: maybe don't listen to the Wall Street Journal about outdated 393 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: clothing styles. You obviously don't turn here for a fashion advice, 394 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: nor should you, But The Wall Street Journal wrote an 395 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: article this week about what's in what's out style wise. 396 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: According to their apparently hit writer, skinny jeans are out 397 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: and bagg your jeans are in, especially for the ladies 398 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: out there. I'm gonna have to go see if my 399 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: mom tells my Jenkos from middle school. Uh, you can 400 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: like fit a laptop in the pocket exactly. Uh, dude, 401 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: if Jenko's aren't back yet, they will be, because that's 402 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: how it happens, right, It's all the cycle. So my 403 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 1: wardrobe of skinny jeans, T shirts and lots of plaid, 404 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: it honestly hasn't changed much of the past ten fifteen years. 405 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: I'm not personally keeping up with what's going on out 406 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 1: there in the world of fashion. But here's the thing. 407 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: It's not the style updates that that was difficult to 408 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: kind of stomach. It was the expense of the clothes 409 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 1: that they recommend. It's like basically they're saying, Uh, if 410 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: you like to wear this instead, you should wear this. 411 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 1: And and then yeah, like what they were suggesting was 412 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: ridiculously overpriced. Yeah, there's like a T shirt that was 413 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,399 Speaker 1: sort of like this artistic T shirt and uh, listed 414 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: for hundred forty bucks. And so instead of wearing like 415 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 1: your your graphic tea with you know, different phrases on it, 416 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: instead you should be looking to wear that. I can't 417 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: get on board with that. Man, Like I I'm all about, 418 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: you know, paring down your wardrobe. Like I've got a 419 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 1: whole handful of T shirts that I've gotten for free, 420 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: like from my conferences or like volunteer two shirts. And 421 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: it takes me like seeing a picture of myself wearing 422 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,719 Speaker 1: that to realize that I look like a child. That's 423 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: when I'm like, oh, I think that's terrible. I just 424 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: don't think about it when I throw it on, so 425 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 1: like do some work outside in the yard. But even 426 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,119 Speaker 1: still I'm still working to like pare down some of 427 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: those articles of clothing. But it's still gonna be hard 428 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: for me to like turn down a free T shirt, 429 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, I'll never pay a hundred forty bucks 430 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: or T shirt though, and definitely not willing to do that. 431 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: But I'm willing, dude, I'm willing to spend like ten 432 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: fifteen bucks on just like a plain white T. Yeah. 433 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: I'm like looking to kind of go that minimalism route. 434 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: I'm trying to be like Steve Jobs that we don't 435 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 1: have to like think about what I wear in them way. 436 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: I understand that, all right, but yeah, it's we're not 437 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: fashion icons. Were not even attempting to have really any 438 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: sort of insight about fashion or what is fashionable these days. 439 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: I really don't know, but I will say, you know, 440 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: when the Wall Street Journal is suggesting that you purchase 441 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,199 Speaker 1: a T shirt that costs over a hundred bucks, it's 442 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: in that price range. And some of the other clothing 443 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: items they suggested were just incredibly expensive to you can 444 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 1: dress yourself for less, that's for sure. Yeah. Yeah, Well, 445 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: but since we just gave the Wallster Journal a little 446 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: bit of grief, let's congratulate them because they did something 447 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: awesome this week too. They deserve a big round of 448 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: applause because They just made a big difference in all 449 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 1: of our collective ability to shop for health procedures and 450 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: save money. A few weeks ago, they printed a report 451 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 1: about how major healthcare companies were using code on their 452 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: websites in order to prevent customers from shopping for prices 453 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: ahead of a procedure. Basically, um, the pricing existed on 454 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: these hospital systems website, but because of certain code they 455 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,959 Speaker 1: were implementing, when you searched in Google, you couldn't find it. 456 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 1: You had to have that no index code built in there, 457 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: so the Google box crawlers couldn't find your page, much 458 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,120 Speaker 1: to the chagrin and frustration of anyone trying to save 459 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: money on a procedure. Right. It was sneaky, dishonest, and infuriating. 460 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: When I read the story, I was I was upset 461 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 1: that these hospital hospital systems could get away with it. 462 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: But fortunately for all of us, regulators responded this week 463 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: to those reports, and they told hospital systems that they 464 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: can't hide those healthcare prices anymore by implementing that devious code. 465 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: So yeah, kudos to the Wall Street Journal after suggesting, 466 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,719 Speaker 1: you know, overpriced clothing items, at least they did this 467 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: and their lowering lowering the price of healthcare, and increasing 468 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 1: our ability to shop for for all of us. Yeah, 469 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: it's not just the government and regulators that are stepping 470 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: into it. It's I mean, the journal reached out to 471 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: these different hospitals and the different companies that run the 472 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,360 Speaker 1: websites of these hospitals. Uh, And as of this week, 473 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: a hundred and eighty two different hospitals had complied and 474 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:56,920 Speaker 1: remove that code. So I would say that's pretty great 475 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: journalistic work on behalf of the Wall Street Journal. We'll do. 476 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,239 Speaker 1: Let's let's talk about Bernie made Off. There's a lot 477 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 1: of stories floating around this week about him because he 478 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: passed away at the age of eighty two while he 479 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,639 Speaker 1: was in the midst of serving a one hundred fifty 480 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 1: years sentence for stealing billions of dollars, not millions, billions 481 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 1: of dollars from super wealthy uh individuals. He swindled, you know, 482 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: the former owner of the Mets, Steven Spielberg, and yes, 483 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: even Kevin Bacon, the man himself. Uh. And while you 484 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: know made Off, he was a crook of epic proportions, 485 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: victimizing people to fund his own lavish lifestyle. His death 486 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:35,159 Speaker 1: does serve as a great reminder, you know, to all 487 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,199 Speaker 1: of us to be careful who it is that we 488 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: are interesting with our money, you know, so whether we're 489 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:42,600 Speaker 1: giving our money to them to manage, or you know, 490 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 1: whether we're just listening to their advice. When someone is 491 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: selling you something that sounds too good to be true, 492 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: it almost always is. Those are good words of advice 493 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:51,880 Speaker 1: when it comes to how it is that you deal 494 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 1: with your money. And so, yeah, we talked with Ben 495 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: Carlson about scams back in episode two thirty five. That 496 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: was a great interview. He wrote an entire book about 497 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: the history of scams and how it is that we 498 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: fall for different things and some of the bigger ones 499 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: over the last few hundred years. Yeah, and Burning me 500 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: it Off of course makes an appearance in that book 501 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: and in our interview with him, Matt. While we're on 502 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 1: the note of scams, TikTok is apparently doing something good 503 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: in regards to combatting scams. And not that TikTok's a scam, No, 504 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,880 Speaker 1: it's just we kind of love to hate TikTok uh 505 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 1: And I don't know why, Like maybe it's because we're 506 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: old and stodgy, but like there are apparently videos on 507 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 1: on TikTok that are attempting to explain why m l 508 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: m s multi level marketing companies are a bad idea, 509 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: and they're racking up tons of views, they're going viral, 510 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: and man, this is great because it can be easy 511 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 1: to recruit people actually for MLMs on social media. So, yeah, 512 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: I loved reading about the how the opposite is actually 513 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: true on TikTok. Right now, there are a lot of 514 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: people talking about how awful m m l m s are. 515 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 1: They're spreading, spreading the info, spreading the news. Yeah, the 516 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: truth about the rottenness of m l ms is being 517 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: heard by a lot of people who might otherwise be 518 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 1: susceptible to falling for an MLM pitch, and we all 519 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,360 Speaker 1: know how that goes, Matt, MLM's don't end well for 520 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: almost anybody who signs up for one. Yeah, there's a 521 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: lot of broken promises when it comes to multi level 522 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: marketing companies, and we talked all about this back in 523 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 1: episode to four. Dude, this is definitely a listen back 524 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: to this episode Friday Flight because there's a lot of 525 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,439 Speaker 1: stuff in the news that we've covered thoroughly though, but 526 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: we talked about that. Yeah, back in episode to fifty 527 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 1: four that the stat that we mentioned back then is 528 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: still true today. Roughly one percent of people who join 529 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: an MLM don't lose money. So that means people are 530 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: going to lose money by joining one. Uh, the odds 531 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: are not in your favor allah the hunger games, right right. 532 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: Uh So, whether you've seen any of these videos in 533 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: your your social media feed or not, stay away whenever 534 00:24:43,280 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: someone tries to recruit you by pitching a ground floor opportunity, 535 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 1: you know, or the ability to be your own boss 536 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 1: will only make money if you join up yourself, and 537 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: it's nearly impossible for you to make any money in 538 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: this venture yourself. It makes me actually think that we 539 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: should probably do an episode about some of the different 540 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:00,919 Speaker 1: money making opportunity he's out there. It's like some of 541 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 1: the different ways that you can uh make passive income. 542 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: I feel like that's something that we're hearing about more 543 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: often these days. All right, let's do it soon. Yeah, 544 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: And I feel like easy money it always sounds nice, 545 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: but it doesn't want easy money. Just like at the 546 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: beginning here, like he showed me that that check and 547 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: I was like, I was like, oh, what's what's that big? Yeah, 548 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:19,199 Speaker 1: you know, like when when you got the check. I'm 549 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: looking at it right now, and like when one corner 550 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: has the red, they've got that going on, and there's 551 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 1: a gradient, you know, to the other corner is blue. 552 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:27,000 Speaker 1: Like it looks legit. There's like lots of fine print, 553 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 1: and you think, oh, is this is this free money? 554 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: No it's not. But free money sounds so nice, but 555 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: it ends really poorly for so many folks. In the 556 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: case of you know, Bernie made off for other other 557 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: scams out there, and in the case of MLMs too. 558 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: So that's right. That's gonna do it for this Friday flight, 559 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: and I hope see you back here on Monday for 560 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: some listener questions. So Matt, until next time, Best Friends Out, 561 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 1: Best Friends Out.