Savvy or Sketchy: Reacting to Crazy Cost-of-Living Hacks

Would you park a mile away to avoid pricey parking? Or let your home become a sauna to keep AC costs low? Just how far are you willing to go to save on cost of living? Stick around to hear some of the most extreme money-saving hacks out there.

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Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍸 Tequila Manhattan

Ingredients:
2 ounces añejo tequila
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes mole bitters

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir until thoroughly chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe or over a large whiskey cube. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and/or an orange twist. Enjoy!

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[Drrobverjones]

Something my wife and I do to avoid buying stuff we can't afford is whenever we need something that isn't currently a line item in our budget and isn't an emergency we add it to a running digital list that we share. When we budget for the month we pick a few items off the list and buy them. We are good with delaying on most things for a month. It helps us remember things we need, but keeps our budget clean.

[meredithplace]

My bf and I have seen 3-4 movies in the last year or so for $0….we just donated blood at a blood drive to get them. A free movie and helping someone in need….Win win!

[julielancelot]

All the laughter in the studio about George, wanting to move to Northwest Arkansas has me laughing at everyone in the studio. If you haven't spent any time here, you don't know. It is absolutely a hidden gem. I've lived in Northwest Arkansas for 38 years, traveled the world, and I'm always happy to get back here. It's not Podunk at all. Beautiful scenery, lots of city vibes, but a 10 minute drive to get out in nature from almost anywhere. We have a world class museum, tons of eclectic and fine dining, friendly people, low crime, lots of jobs, hundreds of miles of trails, and beauty everywhere . Don't knock it til you've tried it

[Mamamischa]

We flew into Fayetteville and spent a weekend in Bentonville Arkansas and we fell in love too! George, you’re ABSOLUTELY right!

[lissaharre]

I live 30 minutes from the city near me. I needed to run errands there this morning and just getting there costs a significant amount of gas. So I drove for Uber. My first rider was in my neighborhood and got me halfway to where I was going. I got paid $15 for that rider. I spent 4 hours, got my errands done and made $70. I’m a stay at home mom and we primarily live on my husband’s income but it’s great when I can get paid for running errands that I had to do anyway.

[filiatreaufamily]

Favorite part of show is hearing your crew laughing in the background 😂

[amitychief]

A point that needs to be made, everyone is "funny about money", meaning they are willing to spend on some things and try to get a bargain on others. I am guilty of this myself. So going to quite a bit of trouble to save $8 or $9 on a movie ticket, but then making a fairly substantial trip to pick up the particular breed of dog your looking for.

[bobbert]

I've watched both of you individually, but I have to say I like you two even better when you're together and drinking.

[RosiMontesSoto]

Pause, pause, pause… My goodness you two are hilarious! Comedy and education. Look forward to listening to you guys each week. Great job Smart Money Happy Hour team! 🙌

[lornasuarez]

I am currently in Hawaii!!Just moved 3 days ago From Florida for contract therapy work at Maui Medical Center.. yes it is pricey here but I have a rigid budget I am going to try my best to follow! I 'll be here for 3 months. ! Will see how it goes!

[angeliamarquis]

Forrest Gump was from Greenbo, AL, not Mississippi. ❤

[ThePantherproof]

I've given up some money saving habits, such as turning off a 10W light every time i leave the room, when they only save about 50 cents a month

[amadanotamanda]

TBH the using the electrical outlets in the hall bit caught my attention...never even thought of that. I'm always unplugging everything not in use and my electric bill is still too much! Trying to train my 5 yo to always turn lights off, too. Single mom not getting child support...gotta do what you gotta do!

[grinner]

Don’t have MERV envy, George. My AC tech told me years ago to switch from my MERV 16 to a MERV 8 so that the system moved more air in a shorter time. It would keep the house cooler in the summer and the system would not have to be on as often — it used to run all afternoon. Sure enough, it worked like he said and my electricity bill dropped by over $50/month. I just have to change it more frequently (sometimes twice per month during the dry season when the dogs bring in a lot of dust).

People use high MERV filters to clean allergens out of the air but they can choke the system. Better to just add HEPA air filters to purify the air (and dust more often).

[abbeywendell]

Who is the lady in the background always laughing? I Love her so much! 🤣🤣💕

[NaturalWifeyandMamaBear]

George! We made money recently from paying for the warranty on our washer/dryer a few years ago too (all in one connected stackable one; like $1400) and had an issue and long story short, they couldn’t work on our schedule (they did like 8-4, no weekends 😮dumb!) without hubs taking off work losing pay and I didn’t feel comfortable with a man alone with me (sahm) but anywho, they just in the end, paid for a new one after back and forth!! 🙌 so you gotta be proud of us too George hehe. 😜 👏

[barbmac]

I’ve never seen anyone so happy answering a question right 😂

[freeroam]

We have gone on a 5 week vacation with just carry-on. Yes, we had to use a laundromat but so worth it. Also less inclined to buy alot as no room to put things unless you are willing to pay for checked bag on way home.

[isabellaross]

Sounds like a lot of trouble for a movie ticket. We live in rural Minnesota and we simply walk into the theatre in our area, when we want to watch the movie and tickets are $10 🤷‍♀️

[NYC]

Started off with Delony made my way here and didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I do. Love the energy!