Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

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From first-class flights to in-home saunas, today we’re confessing whether we’d “bouge it or lose it” with the internet’s best list of bougie splurges. Join the fun and drop your honest thoughts in the comments!

Next Steps:

· 🎙️ Catch our episode Waste or Worth It: Rating “Life-Changing” Products!

· 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour

· 🎥 Watch George’s video Don’t Buy Another Roll of Toilet Paper Until You Watch This!

· 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.

· 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.



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Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Dirt Road Martini

Recipe by: Allrecipes

· Ice as needed

· 2 ounces vodka

· 2 ounces unsweetened tea

· 1/4 ounce brine from Mezzetta Italian Mix Giardiniera

· Spanish Queen martini olives (pitted or stuffed), for garnish

· Vegetable pieces from Mezzetta Italian Mix Giardiniera, for garnish



Instructions: Combine vodka, tea and brine in an ice-filled mixing glass. Stir well to chill. Fill a lowball or rocks glass with ice. Strain martini over ice. Garnish with olives and vegetable pieces.

Explore More From Ramsey Network:

💰 George Kamel

🎙️ The Ramsey Show

💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights

🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show

📈 EntreLeadership



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Comment section check! That’s right—we’re fearlessly addressing your questions, comments and criticisms . . . all in the name of your financial future (and also just for fun!).

Next Steps:

· 🏠 Already have a mortgage? Check out the Mortgage Payoff Calculator!

· 🎙️ Catch our episode 10 Signs You’re Doing Better Than Most Americans!

· 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.

· 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour.

· 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.



Connect With Our Sponsors:

· Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle.

· Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.

· Get 20% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.



Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Apple-rol Margarita

Recipe By: @cocktailswithval

· 2 ounces tequila

· 1 ounce Aperol

· 1 1/2 ounces apple cider

· 1 ounce lime juice

· 1/2–1 ounce agave

· garnish: thyme, apple slices and a sugar or salt rim



Instructions: In a shaker, add Aperol, tequila, apple cider, lime juice and ice, then shake. Grab a glass and coat the rim with agave and salt or sugar, then add ice. Pour the shaken drink into your salted rim glass. Garnish, serve and enjoy!



Explore More From Ramsey Network:

💰 George Kamel

🎙️ The Ramsey Show

💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights

🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show

📈 EntreLeadership



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💻 Wondering how you’re actually doing with money? Find out where you stand.



Since everyone’s “doing their own research” these days, we decided to match that energy and dig into the psychology of money and why humans tend to overspend.

Next Steps:

· 🎙️ Catch our episode Waste or Worth It: Rating “Life-Changing” Products!

· 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.

· 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour

· 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.



Connect With Our Sponsors:

· Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle.

· Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.

· Get 20% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.



Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🥃 Maple Old Fashioned

Recipe by: @thesocialsipper

· 2 ounces bourbon

· 1/4 ounce pure maple syrup

· 2 dashes Angostura bitters

· 2 dashes orange bitters

· Orange peel

· Cocktail cherry, like Griottines or Luxardo



Instructions: In a rocks glass, combine bourbon, maple syrup, Angostura bitters and orange bitters. Stir to combine. Add a large rock of ice and stir until chilled. Twist the orange peel above the drink to express citrus oil, then run the peel around the rim of the glass and add to the drink. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.





Explore More From Ramsey Network:

💰 George Kamel

🎙️ The Ramsey Show

💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights

🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show

📈 EntreLeadership



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💻 Take the Side Hustle Quiz here!



If you can’t beat ’em, follow them? Today we’re reacting to the biggest social and spending trends of 2026—let us know in the comments if the algorithm “got ya” with these, because this list definitely has range!

Next Steps:

· 🎙️ Catch our episode Waste or Worth It: Rating “Life-Changing” Products.

· 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.

· 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour

· 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.



Connect With Our Sponsors:

· Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle.

· Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.

· Get 20% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.



Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Peach Basil Tingle Mocktail

Recipe By: @themindfulmocktail

· 2 ounces peach purée

· 1 ounce lemon juice

· 6–8 basil leaves

· 1/2 teaspoon honey

· Kombucha or soda to top



Instructions: In a small dish, combine the honey with 1/2 teaspoon water and microwave for 5–10 seconds to create a quick honey syrup. Add peach purée and lemon juice to a shaker. Toss in the basil leaves and gently muddle. Add the honey syrup to the shaker with ice, then shake well. Strain over fresh ice and top with kombucha or soda. Garnish with basil if desired and serve cold.



*To make the peach purée:

Blend 3 tinned peach slices with 1–2 tablespoons of the liquid from the tin. Fresh, ripe peach works too—just blend with a splash of water until smooth.





Explore More From Ramsey Network:

💰 George Kamel

🎙️ The Ramsey Show

💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights

🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show

📈 EntreLeadership



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💵 Check out this article How Much You Should Tip in Common Situations.



Here’s one for your next family dinner: Tipping in 2026—you have feelings, we have feelings, and at this point, the social expectations are changing by the day! It’s time to set the record straight.

Next Steps:[JS1]

· 🎙️ Catch our episode Frugal Hacks That Could Go Too Far.

· 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.

· 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour

· 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.



Connect With Our Sponsors:

· Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle.

· Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.

· Get 20% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.



Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍷 Cherry Aperol Spritz

Recipe By: @cocktails



· Fresh cherries

· 2 ounces Aperol

· 2 ounces prosecco

· 1 ounce club soda



Instructions: Crush and strain cherries into glass. Pour 2 ounces of Aperol in glass. Add crushed ice. Pour 2 ounces of prosecco into glass. Pour 1 ounce of club soda into glass. Garnish with a cherry on top. Serve and enjoy!





Explore More From Ramsey Network:

💰 George Kamel

🎙️ The Ramsey Show

💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights

🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show

📈 EntreLeadership



Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy
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