Candid Conversation - Why are so many Americans struggling? (Episode 29)

[00:00:00] Because you also have to think about this and that's a great point you just made because when you lose when you leave a job You leave that you lose that seniority that you had at that place

[00:00:11] Yep, so that could be that could factor into if you have a pto plan You can factor into that you may you may not even look at the pto plans and how they differ from job to job

[00:00:21] You could leave a job that could not the payment. I'm necessarily be good, but they have other perks Incentives like we just spoke to that you're not factoring in Yep as well Welcome back folks. This is episode 29 of its about your paycheck

[00:00:39] We're going to talk about some candid conversations today Just some different topics that will get a full Some current events and we're just gonna get into it more free flowing today But before we get into all of these things, what is going on walter?

[00:00:54] How you doing today, sir I'm doing well Brian just in a state of gratefulness man I noticed that I appreciate that shit because we were talking to you like yo You always make a comment like in the last few weeks

[00:01:06] You've just been throwing making that part of the conversation and that's as much appreciated Yeah, man. Likewise, no because it's iron sharp as iron or what the dynamic of that relationship is you've done that for me There's little things little nuggets that you say Whether it's a

[00:01:21] In the lane of gratitude or in the lane of hey chin up get up Don't stay down like whatever it is, right? You gotta Be able to take those things and you need that you need those

[00:01:34] I I find myself needing that and I think others other people need that you need that Yeah, yeah That yeah people out there because people are struggling man. And then I was driving around the other day. I just like I said, I just moved to

[00:01:47] To georgia the alana area metro alana and It there's a lot of people struggling bro. I see black white brown out there standing out there holding their signs saying Hey, ten dollar car wash i'll do this. I'll do that just trying to feed my family

[00:02:04] And it's just a lot of people are struggling bro Like when we say that 80 percent of americas are living paycheck to paycheck Who knows these people will probably work jobs and still have to go do this type of things or you know

[00:02:16] Whatever to try to make ends meet You know what i'm saying? So that's why i'm just trying to be in the state of gratitude because people's lives can change in an instant Somebody can make a decision at the job that may impact you or impact impact me

[00:02:29] You know what i'm saying like they like people are being laid off every day So we just have to be grateful for the positions that we're in because things could be different for a lot of us, man You might this is just

[00:02:42] No, you're you're absolutely right was just in on the west coast in california san francisco san jose area and um like on my way to the airport leaving I saw like a lot of people in tents along the highways just like when I was like

[00:03:02] And quote one dude like sweeping out his tent cleaning up and just I was like They're living here. They're living in those tents on the highway And first thing I thought about for me was like, how do they bathe? How do they get water?

[00:03:16] How do they clean themselves? I'm not trying to discount it like but that's the things that I think about it Like right away because like food you can get you know what I mean? You can go get some food I'm sure somehow some way but it's like

[00:03:29] How can you easily get access to a shower? Yeah shower medical care medical Right, but even medical care right? Because if you think about it if they're on any type of system they could walk into a emergency room

[00:03:42] They could go to a clinic. Where are you going to go take a shower? That's true. You know what I mean? Just bathroom your bathroom. You're in a tent on the side of highway There's no porta potties there

[00:03:51] You know what I mean? Like where are they going to the bathroom? You know what I mean? Yeah, no doubt but like That that's it is it is crazy because that's what I that's the first thing I thought of I was like just a bathroom shower

[00:04:02] Like how are they doing this man? I just yeah, you're right man. It's a struggle. There's a struggle out there right now Yeah, but yeah, let's let's let's go ahead and get into it

[00:04:10] We have some articles and we're gonna cover for you folks today and just talk through some things that Kind of right on brand americans are facing the struggles and things like that out there

[00:04:20] Yeah, so you want to start us off with the first one? Yeah. So the first article I have is by the hill dot com h i l the hill Um, and they're talking about how much americans spend basically

[00:04:35] Uh the state of the state of work report by owl labs reveals that 66 66 percent of u.s employees are now back in the office full time With and they spend an average of 51 per day Yeah, daily expense a lot. Yeah, those daily expenses include 16 on lunch 14 on commuting

[00:05:01] 13 on breakfast and coffee and at least eight on parking And it's and note that note this it says employees with pets spend an extra 20 dollars a day I don't know why they could have somebody if you have somebody come through and oh walk your dog

[00:05:17] Yeah, because I would say boarding is more expensive than that. So yeah, maybe just to check on the dog Yeah, walk or cat feed the cat whatever it is so that can add up right?

[00:05:26] So I think about money that's 70 dollars a day with i'm sorry to cut you off with folks But 71 with folks with that's crazy. Yeah, so look at this next next step Look at this next step those working in office five days a week spend around 1020 dollars monthly

[00:05:46] Wow while hybrid workers spend a little over 400 dollars So thinking about that might be adding to why some of us are struggling Because because most of the times we have to get up early Because you have that long hour and a half two hour commute

[00:06:02] And you get up so you don't really necessarily have time to prep your lunch because you spend some of your day Your morning driving and by the time you get home, you're like, hey, i'm not I don't want to cook or whatever

[00:06:12] I don't have time to meal prep for tomorrow morning And so that's why you have to buy the coffee because you're tired anyway And then you have me buy the breakfast and then you buy the lunch and then you end up

[00:06:24] Having to pay tolls most of us you bro, you live in south florida. There's tolls all in south florida express lanes Yep express lanes in georgia Oh, what they got? What is it the peach pass over there? Something like that, but it's the sun pass here and

[00:06:43] Yeah, you have to subscribe because they make it it's even more Expensive if you don't have the sun pass or the easy pass It's for me in new york. I always think of the easy pass and and

[00:06:55] They make it more my point is they make it more expensive if you don't have it So you gotta have to have it. Yes, and if not your traffic could even be longer because you have to avoid the toll

[00:07:05] Road. Yeah, man. Holy cow. I just did the quick math and that's Clearly like 12 grand a year for the monthly um or 168 if you have like almost 17 000 if you have a wow Wow 17 000 a year and we don't think about that because we think oh i'm only spending

[00:07:25] 15 16 on lunch a day. That's not much. Well, that's not bad, but then it adds up you're doing that five days a week Yep Yep, it adds up, you know So there was a ceo frank wise hopped who highlighted the significant increase in office related expense

[00:07:44] Post-pandemic so for whatever reason post-pandemic Now we're spending more Even when we're back in the office The first thing is like prices went up. That's true inflation, right? Like you talking post-pandemic four years ago almost five years ago Like four it was five

[00:08:06] Five if we're looking for prior pre-pandemic. It's five years ago That's a lot of time for inflation all the things that the economy went through because of the pandemic and then oh my gosh

[00:08:16] The average rent went up dramatically. It's two. Yeah, the average rent right now is two thousand dollars That's crazy Average I was just telling somebody who is it? Well, I forget what I was telling

[00:08:29] But I was oh my co-spent in mind tp. What up terry? Oh, we were talking about the fantasy league, by the way Oh, he wants to touch base today. Yeah. Yeah iap show me put out a football fantasy league y'all if y'all want to join

[00:08:41] Right. Yep, maybe no, you don't look so excited. No me I'm just reading something. I'm just reading something Yeah, yeah, absolutely bro. We were catching up shooting the breeze and I was just like dude

[00:08:52] I was just in new york looking at houses and then I compared it to here looking at the prices are almost the same Wow Prices actually and Yes, dude out in long island not in the city

[00:09:05] Not not apples to oranges so to speak but out in the suburb No, yeah suburbs of new york suburbs of south florida And it's Yeah comparable You know somebody just told me yesterday

[00:09:19] We just went out to eat breakfast yesterday and the waitress told us that their friend had to move back to new york Because they couldn't afford to live in south florida Kind of senses that means that that's unheard of man

[00:09:31] But it's because of the pandemic right because all this Wealth shifted all the money shifted and now companies are Dinging and taking it when like trying to adjust and some write some companies what did they do?

[00:09:45] They're like, oh we're gonna pay you according to where you are then yes We're gonna change your salary or you have to come back into the office. Yep. So you know what I mean? Your g.o location Yeah yeah, and that's

[00:09:58] Yeah, my bad. No, this is good. This is why we did this show today is candid conversations exactly in the flow Yeah, and then the last point of this article man is that because of this because of more spending in the office

[00:10:12] Employees are seeking more pork more perks and incentives from their bosses and their jobs and their employers To offset these costs including hey, that's why people want to get paid more. That's why they want to have better work-life balance or They want to find better career opportunities

[00:10:30] I think more people now and I have to find a stat. I don't know a stat But I feel in my opinion, I don't know if you agree But I feel that's why more people are like leaving jobs now because they're like, you know what?

[00:10:40] I need to find a higher paying opportunity So I can pay my bills Yeah Definitely some people may leave some people may leave a good thing To get higher pay Bro, i've done that in the past Yeah, where I said I had I left a good situation and

[00:11:01] Because it got harder sometimes and then more money came and I was struggling because I wasn't budgeting good on my side And then another opportunity opened up and then ended up being like super stressful for me Yep. Yeah agree, man. I did it

[00:11:17] In new york before I moved down to south florida I did it because I knew I was moving to south florida, right and for a few years like it was um a few years It took for us to make the move

[00:11:30] Um, so in that time frame and because they scared me they were like They weren't too wrong Meaning just people Like oh you're going to south you're going to florida. You're gonna lose half your salary. I was like what? Yes yes now

[00:11:48] And let's talk about it because so i'm scared i'm like, oh my god, i'm gonna lose half my salary. That's crazy Yeah, sure. So what I did was I was like, all right, let me

[00:11:59] Keep jumping as much as I can to get my salary as high as it can be Before I leave so that if it gets cut in half, it's still something. Yep, you know So both are true it So anyway, so that I did that

[00:12:15] Then because and we see the stats all the time, right? If you stay at a company too long You're just not going to be able to get the the increases that you want unless you get promoted, right? Unless you're getting promoted you stay in the same position

[00:12:27] Your it's slow growth. Yep, and then promotion is not already always guaranteed because of the size of the organization with many factors um Just to finish that both were true But what I learned after I moved was that it depended on what you did

[00:12:43] If you are a professional if you have an actual career path and something that I don't even know how to just more career built then You're not going to lose as much It will drop a bit but not as much

[00:13:01] Where I found the half part is on the more low skilled Blue collar Okay, those type of jobs where it's not careers. Just a job is just that type of thing. That's where they lost big time

[00:13:15] Right. Yes, I came down here and there was some jobs nine ten dollars an hour Yeah, yes because you also have to think about this and that's a great point you just made because

[00:13:25] When you loot when you leave a job you leave that you lose that seniority that you had at that place Yep, so that could be that could factor into if you have a pto plan

[00:13:36] You can factor it to that you may and you may not even look at the pto plans and how they differ from job to job You could leave a job that could not the payment. I'm necessarily be good, but they have other perks

[00:13:47] Incentives like we just spoke to that you're not factoring in Yep as well, you know what i'm saying? So like those things happen and I think those things happen in all our careers and i'm sure they may make a choice You know what i'm saying?

[00:14:02] I think that's tough now because people have to make choices for their families For this for themselves, even if you don't have a family and you're just you And you want to just take care of your mental well-being. You may have to make a choice

[00:14:15] Yes, yeah, you have to do it for yourself because your job is not going to make that choice for you They're not going to make those jobs won't be you exactly Exactly. You have to make the best choice for you So yeah, man, look

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[00:16:47] 388-321-9922 let's go Thanks for that Yeah, and then um, you've crafted this episode over right? The segues are just perfect here. And if you don't mind i'll read through this one a bit And this is more of why americans why are americans spending more right?

[00:17:08] And it says americans have been spending more money than ever before even while inflation at interest and interest rates are higher Here are some of the reasons Financial technology is known as fintech. This technology has made spending easier and more convenient That's crazy

[00:17:26] Because I didn't I never thought about that until I saw this I was like That makes so much sense So And for we know we've been talking about fintech forever here, but for everyone to get it, right? It goes down

[00:17:41] So for the for most people where this impacts us is on our phones. Yeah and in app Purchasing yes And when you go when you're checking out of some of these shopping carts how they say oh don't forget

[00:17:57] This don't forget that. Yes. It was even on social media now, bro Yeah, oh my god, forget about it get the ads just like Shopping bro. How many times? Yes, how many you can buy stuff on instagram?

[00:18:09] You can buy stuff you'll see an ad and be like, oh, you know what I do need that I was just talking to bryan and hurt me and so I know let me go ahead and buy it now This could also be called frictionless

[00:18:23] Purchasing like they they're removing the friction from you to see something and buy something And that's the fintech of it all I love that removing that so that you can buy stuff easily Why crap? What was I gonna say?

[00:18:36] Well, yeah, it just it's just that and it's the little purchases right my little one just hit me yesterday for toka world And it was like oh, but it's only 99. It's a game. It's a half. It's a kid's game on the phone. Yep, and

[00:18:49] They get me because oh, it's only 199. It's only 299. It's only 99 cents and they just keep having these add-ons Dude, I look back on it. I've had to have spent over the last year or two About a hundred and change just on toka world. Yep

[00:19:05] Doesn't seem like a lot but that's they're getting a hundred dollars and something for millions and billions of people All these games on the phone that I play. Yeah, they have the little oh buy this and you get ad free

[00:19:17] Because yeah ads are irritating. Oh, you know, I saw i'll pay 599 for that fortnight They're brilliant because the game is free But everything is about vbucks inside the game and then they skew They warp the value of a vbucks. So now you don't even realize

[00:19:34] Oh, you're getting how much for this vbucks? I'm not the the cheapest package is eight dollars nine dollars It's a package of vbucks coins and you can't buy any less than that You have to put in at least nine bucks and then that's how they spend it Yeah

[00:19:50] And you gotta pay you they're Really smart, but again that frictionless purchasing and then they warp the values of things So now you don't realize how much you're spending because oh nine dollars gets you a thousand vbucks. Oh, wow. Yeah great

[00:20:04] It's it's almost like that subscription model right? You did it. Yeah Oh just this app you just keep going subscribe subscribe to a game So we charge you every month just okay

[00:20:13] And you just sit it and forget you you could you and if you're not careful when you delete the game From your app if you delete it from your phone or whatever and you have to make sure you click on manage subscription That's right

[00:20:26] Great call out because you just deleted the app. You didn't delete the subscription. No You didn't stop the subscription. So you're absolutely right. Oh facebook marketplace. That's the one because we've been talking about that one, too That's the largest marketplace in the world. That's crazy facebook market marketplace

[00:20:42] Like a billion people on facebook market what these things they're just making things frictionless And there's the fintech of it all the quicker you can buy something. That's fintech That's financial technology At work, yep So another one are emotional triggers

[00:21:02] Some emotional triggers that can lead to spending include boredom celebrations And job-related stress. Wow That yeah, yep, I get it. Yeah, I get it another one. What is it boogie broke? Bougie broke bougie broke some americans

[00:21:22] Especially younger people have given up on saving and investing in the future instead of spending And instead are spending money on pleasure seeking I think that's a time a problem for all the ages like we've all like as humans

[00:21:34] We have that problem is not is like just wanting the instant satisfaction of things instead of thinking of the future Yeah, another one is doom spending. This may be a way to cope with economic stress and fears You have some people stress

[00:21:49] Buy and yolo spending I feel like Bougie is I feel like it's the same thing but let's read it those last three kind of go together Yeah This spending pattern is characterized by high interest rates inflation depleted savings and big ticket items

[00:22:04] Yeah, so yolo by the way means you only live once yolo So think I could just get paid and you know what, you know what I don't have the money to go on this vacation You know what but shoot. I ain't never been nowhere

[00:22:17] You only live i'm gonna have to it's gonna hurt me when I get back But you know what bump that i'm gonna go have some fun and post my pictures on

[00:22:23] On IG you say I had a good time and and nobody knows the struggle that I gotta go back to that's right That's right. Yeah, it's man was gonna say what? Yeah, you sacrificing the future for you. You gotta balance it out, right? You gotta balance it out

[00:22:38] It's cool to yolo. Yeah, let's do it and do things that you know, because it is true We only live once you gotta try to balance things out because if you keep pushing it to oh When I get to this point then you're never gonna do anything

[00:22:49] But at the same time we got to try to plan for because now what if you do make it to 75 80 67 retirement like I tell wifey all the time I was like I want to retire real late

[00:22:59] Like I want to enjoy a few years with her traveling and just being young enough to enjoy that and old enough to have Saved properly for it. You know what I mean? Yeah, I don't want to have to work until i'm 70 75

[00:23:13] Exactly and then like retire and then like okay, I got that's five 10 years left Yeah, and if that if you don't do the if you don't take care of yourself properly be quicker than that

[00:23:23] There's probably a stat and this is a good show to try to follow up on it would be like What happens after retirement? What are the stats for people after retirement?

[00:23:31] Doing what because you hear the horror stories of oh he retired and then he passed away like a year later Because whatever reason and another key point with retirement and why it's so important to get

[00:23:42] For our fellow americas even ourselves to get a handle on our spending and really think about our future Is is social security man? Yeah, social security like it's running out Yep, and until that dude that makes me so angry when we say that

[00:23:59] That's running because yeah, because I'd be so mad if it runs out, you know how much i'm i've been working some 14 years old like Over 30 years now. I've been contributing to this system. I better get my

[00:24:15] Are you crazy if you don't know the social security runs out like right when i'm ready to retire and but and that's another reason Though that I don't want to depend on

[00:24:24] Yes, the social security and it won't be enough even though I get it. It won't be enough For me to live the life I live I might be able to me and wifey may be able to get a studio somewhere in

[00:24:33] A retirement community and not every hamburger a studio. Yeah, exactly a studio and a hamburger of work But that's not I want to travel. I want to go I want to be able to see my grandkids around Whatever it is like

[00:24:49] So you got to balance these things out like I get the whole Bougie broke and doom spending and yolo spending but you have to balance it out every key the key is balance

[00:24:59] You can't lean too much way just to finish this off in two in 2023 us consumers spent a record 19 trillion in december that was in december in december. Whoa And some of you know just in one month. Yes, bro Oh

[00:25:16] My gosh, which is an increase of six percent from the previous year and a 29 percent increase from february of 2020 Wow What isn't that crazy? But see inflation has to do with this. That's the thing right you're comparing Or not you they're comparing

[00:25:36] February of 2020 which was right at the beginning of the pandemic honestly We didn't even nobody really it was just it was just news it didn't really hit because I remember we didn't really go home

[00:25:46] Until march march of 2020. I went home from work meaning they sent everybody home remote because of the pandemic in march of 2020 February of 2020 things were still In the beginning free the pre-pandemic Numbers, so now you have post-pandemic numbers that they're comparing it to and it's a

[00:26:07] 29 percent increase but again it has something to do with the inflationary impact of that as well. Yes, sir. Yes, sir Wow, so however some say that americans are spending more than they earn Yeah, that's the american way. We're all credit and credit, right? What do we say?

[00:26:26] The poor people work to pay bills middle class work to pay off their credit cards And the rich work to make more money like they know the rich are putting their money

[00:26:37] And I like the analogy of the rich they see every dollar as a soldier that needs to go out and make another dollar You know what? I mean, that's the mentality we have to bound that we have to work toward so any who?

[00:26:48] For example one audio engineer in pittsburgh said that they used to spend a hundred dollars a week on groceries But now spend closer to 200. We have this conversation all the time

[00:26:58] You I remember you said it one day just random like you came back from the grocery store and you were like, yo So I used to spend 50 bucks on this same bag and now it cost me 80 or something like I almost remember the numbers exactly

[00:27:10] Exactly, right. I was like what because because it was like wait a minute And it's true and it's true like that's a lot. That's a big increase and now you have to be more thrifty and yeah

[00:27:22] Got thinking about where you shop at now because certain stores have different prices for stuff And I used to I love me some publics, but I can't shop the publics for everything. I have to go to all different stuff

[00:27:32] Yep, I just sure I just one more oldie. They got a great package Great It is it is and it's funny because it was not doom spending but it was more like Had a stressful week And I was like I saw I saw it on tiktok

[00:27:47] Fintech right? I didn't buy it online because there's a new aldi's close to me and I said, you know what? I'm gonna go see if they got this it would by the way, that's a free plug for aldi's

[00:27:57] But it was a grill master box. So I have different meats in it You told me I was mad and that sounds good It was it was well worth it

[00:28:03] If you have an aldi's you go get it and i've been eating the meat all weekend and it's fine Like it's good stuff. It's worth it So just like it was a reward to myself to be able to go get this package and be able to

[00:28:16] Make dinner and stuff for my family You know what? I mean, like that's what I enjoy and so it was like on that Yolo spending type of deal after a stressful week or whatever But yeah, man

[00:28:26] It's and you got to do these things because that same all the same all those items That I got in this grill master box if I went to publics it would have been like 200 and change And it was a 60 dollar box from aldi's

[00:28:41] It would have easily been 200 and change for all the meats because it was prime cut steaks and thing like that And easily been 200 bucks. Wow. So Yeah, so it's we have to be more Cost conscious because Between fintech and inflation our money is running out the door

[00:29:02] Oh, man, and then again Crafted and you could take us into this last conversation of why are americans more depressed? Yeah, man, because I thought about the mental aspect of it It spoke to brian touched a little bit of that in the points up above

[00:29:18] But this definitely impacts us and just wanted to really get Down to it and have a real conversation about depression amongst americans. So Gallup.com had an article and saying that depression Rates have reached new highs

[00:29:32] The number one stat here is that depression rates in the u.s. Have reached new highs with 29 percent Of adults almost 30 percent of adults reporting on lifetime diagnosis and 17 Percent reporting current depression or treatment for depression

[00:29:50] Rates are rising fastest amongst women young adults between the age 18 to 29 black and hispanic adults And I can see that I can see that I see it in my family I see it with my friends I see it in My life

[00:30:06] And it's true. I can identify with some of these things Globally depression and anxiety rates are also significant Affecting nearly four and ten adults aged 15 or older So they're saying 40 percent of them of people globally are experiencing some type of depression or anxiety It's crazy, man

[00:30:29] What is that 40 you say 40 percent globally? Yeah globally depression and anxiety rates are also significant affecting nearly four and ten adults ages 15 or older. Oh, wow. Wow. Everybody's under pressure bro. Everybody's feeling everybody's going like a lot of people are going through something

[00:30:48] And it might be and that might actually be higher than that because some some people they're old school mentality You just hate document it. Yeah, you just keep your mouth closed you this is just a survey. Yep. It's just a survey

[00:31:01] So number four factors that contribute to that rise Include social isolation based of this is some kind of thanks to care of infection It's still covid is still going now you have now we have this thing with the birth they're wearing masks

[00:31:15] Now we have this thing with a birth flu going on You know what i'm saying? I was saving it. I saw a covid here. I was saving that for And no what scared me about that Because the birth flu has always been around

[00:31:30] But and I guess swine flu is not the way nice way to say it h1n1 was the way they put it The what's scary about this birth flu is that it jumped to humans. Yes

[00:31:41] It was it when people talk about the birth flu was the bird is animals Chicken was animals, right? It was oh wow and that affects that impact. That's important because it impacts our

[00:31:51] Food supply. Yeah, but now if it's jumping to humans now we're on a different level and i'm the conspiracy There is part of me is control It could be that or

[00:32:05] I still feel like they want us in the house more even though they keep allowing folks to go back to the office They keep they keep scared because remember the pandemic lasted so long Because of the strains that kept coming up the variants that kept going on

[00:32:22] And that kept people home. It moved some companies to 100 remote. They were like, oh forget it. Let's just stay home You know what? I mean? And that so I just feel wait a minute

[00:32:32] You're gonna push us back into home again. You're gonna push us back into a pandemic state again if this bird flu is Really something. Yep. That's people gonna run home again. It's crazy gotta go home. Yep

[00:32:44] You know what? I mean, but that's the conspiracy that spirits there is in me. Sorry. I didn't mean it No, you're good. No, I get it bro. No, so there's that fear of infection There's psychological exhaustion, especially amongst our first responders

[00:32:56] Our frontline responders that have to deal with this stuff There's increased substance abuse I saw I saw a stat just the other day that it said that more people now Partake in weed or marijuana versus alcohol So more people are smoking than drinking

[00:33:12] Now I wonder if that could do with more states making it legal make it making it medical true. That's true Is that it's definitely a variable in there? And and it says and disruptions in mental health services Which was exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic

[00:33:31] So people used to be able to go in and have that face to face that sit down with someone and do it over a screen Telemedicine. Yeah telemedicine. It says women and young adults have historically reported higher levels of depression with the gap widening

[00:33:46] further due to COVID-19 related Factors such as job loss and increased caregiving responsibilities So combating these issues requires addressing social isolation providing support for frontline workers Assuring access to mental health services and implementing strategies to alleviate loneliness among vulnerable populations

[00:34:09] So it seems like a lot of people even though We that's a strange thing to me, right? We have so much access on our phones We have so much we can connect with somebody across the world Across the world, but more people are lonely

[00:34:23] Because of this isolation more people are isolated and that leads to depression We as people I think it's scientifically proven that we're people that are supposed to connect We're the people that are supposed to be that congregate and fellowship and stuff like that

[00:34:37] And so that's why people that's why there's that that's that depression and feeling what are you going to do to? To spend spend the time you're gonna buy stuff. You're gonna do the shopping that we talked about earlier You gotta do that. Yolo that doom spending that

[00:34:52] Bougie broke so to combat these issues is crucial to focus on community support networks accessible mental health services strategies to mitigate loneliness and isolation Particularly amongst women young adults and people of color Excuse me people of color and encourage having open conversations about mental health

[00:35:14] And provide resources for coping mechanisms that can also be beneficial There's probably people that we work with that. We don't even know that they're feeling like this. They're feeling anxiety They're feeling that depression and they're just going on about it day to day

[00:35:30] Working they're smiling on the camera and zoom. There's no choice. Yeah, but when they're at home, they're like going through it man Yeah, they're going through it that kind of leads us to the safe talk question here. Yeah You again you a masterful

[00:35:48] Layout and I don't know if you did it all purpose or it just happened that way Yeah, and that's how that's how like just the flow of things how they work out Because what our safe thought question is what is the american dream dead?

[00:36:01] And when I read it bro, I was like damn I was like damn well It's true It's I don't know if it's dead but it's hurting. Yeah, it's wounded. It's hurting. It's wounded. Yep It's definitely wounded because folks live there again, I just had another conversation with a

[00:36:22] Really great leader that I just met And he was worried about his people being able to buy homes Wow, and they folks were good good salaries But because the cost of living is so high in that area in his their area

[00:36:39] The friction that's there is the down payment. Yeah, you might be able to afford the mortgage, but you can't afford To save up the down payment to get a mortgage Yep, so It yeah, I don't again. I don't know if it's dead man, but it's definitely wounded man

[00:36:57] Honestly, I I feel the same way man I feel the same way that that it that it's I saw something online It was one of these politicians. I think it's uh, Robert F. Kennedy jr

[00:37:07] He had a ad on there because he's running for president. He was saying the america dream back in the day Was to the point that one one salary one person one earner Could could provide and supply for their whole family

[00:37:22] And plan for retirement buy a home and do that off of one earner back in the day Yep, and now you can't even do that with multiple earners in the home You still live in paycheck to paycheck

[00:37:32] You're not able to make your rent or one of your checks just covers your rent and the rest of your bills Man, I don't feel like I should have to pay What I pay for my car note and my insurance

[00:37:42] Collectively over a thousand dollars a month from my car which is not even up When right around that time I remember when you were buying The average at that time because I was like because when you told me I was like something's wrong

[00:37:56] And I did a little bit of research and that was the average. Yes at that time. I was yes Yes Yes, bro See you were good because you see the universe god is with you because you always buy at the right time

[00:38:12] Like you always seem to move but yeah, it was not on purpose Lucky to buy a house before the pandemic, but the cars we got during the pandemic So those were a little bit more expensive because of it

[00:38:23] But we had no choice like our old cars were just dying. They would Like we had no choice We had to get new vehicles and again not brand new

[00:38:33] They use cars. I just read an article with somebody who and I think you might have even sent it to me about saving money Being frugal. Yes frugal was in right and what it Dude didn't buy any cars that weren't at least five years old. Yep

[00:38:49] And he did have a mileage thing. It had to be under a hundred thousand miles, but it couldn't be any Newer than five years old because he he understood that

[00:39:01] The what is it the value of the car dropped so much in those first few years that it just wasn't worth it Yep, it wasn't worth it. He's like why am I gonna do that? And that's smart

[00:39:11] That's really smart and if you intentionally do it you probably will get a lot better deals because everybody wants the new whip Everybody wants to be bougie broke. I call that ghetto rich bougie broke So But like this whole conversation

[00:39:28] Really wraps up to we have to be more diligent about our money because and because the finances are in a We can't wait for The government in the world to fix the financial situation Because if you do you're gonna you're gonna be waiting a while

[00:39:45] Yeah, right you we have to fix it for ourselves. Say that we have to fix it for ourselves Say that we have to go out and create those opportunities do what we have to do. Maybe it is get two jobs

[00:39:58] Maybe it is the little side hustle until you make a make but it's also Saving that money right like that the article you sent me about being frugal this person was very leftover driven left

[00:40:09] Right, there's some people out there who on principle won't eat leftovers. Yeah, I don't do What? Oh, okay That lasagna tastes better the second day to me Yep, that's my mom says now look to to

[00:40:23] I get some foods don't carry over. Well, that's different. That's right. That's not I don't eat leftovers It's no you can't really reheat fish that well or you can't reheat a ham and cheese sandwich You know what? I mean, there's some things that just don't carry over well

[00:40:39] That's a different conversation as to oh just on principle. I'm not eating leftovers So that was one of the things he did do you remember anything else I don't remember He didn't purchase alcohol, you know, he doesn't he didn't drink none. Oh But for him but for him

[00:41:02] For you you can be frugal in other ways right? So for me, I know a big thing for me would be eating out Oh Hey my house so that we've struggled with that forever. That's our struggle is eating out. That's it

[00:41:15] Yep. Yeah eating out would be if I could just take that step and just Lower it just a little bit. Yeah Over to like once or twice a month. Oh my gosh I would say so much money and and folks

[00:41:31] Here's a great way to figure out because you probably for some post Oh, yeah, I want to save money, but I don't even I don't know where to begin. You know where you begin

[00:41:40] Start tracking your expenses for three months. Yes, right go three months at least a quarter of the year three months And at the end of those three months look back At everything you spent and categorize it Okay way and that'll tell you where you're spending your money

[00:41:59] Yes, right and you will see then because look I did this exercise I do it I do it on like more on an annual I i'm not as diligent to do it quarterly or quarterly but i'm I track I know I use very little cash

[00:42:12] So all I have to do is pull the digital records and boom do a report Run a pivot and i'm I see where i'm spending my money, but I did this exercise few Probably nine or ten years ago now

[00:42:26] And because I was in New York still it was in a we were in a time where we were living with my mom still And saving to come to Florida and I did and it was year end So i'm doing filing our taxes and stuff like that

[00:42:38] And which reminds me I gotta reach out to my cpa And I found one of the numbers that stood out is we spent like $3,000 at duncan donuts in a year in a year Bro, that's what 100 is a day a little under 300 dollars divided by 365

[00:43:01] And only it's only eight dollars a day. That's not bad, but it still adds up bro Exactly, and this is this is the perfect example. That's only eight dollars and 22 cents a day 3000 divided by 365 because I promise you we were there every day sometimes twice a day

[00:43:18] So that's the thing and that's why i'm glad i'm not a big coffee drinker like that outside because I don't do starbucks that often I usually I told somebody the other day. I think it was my girlfriend

[00:43:27] I told her i'm a social coffee drinker like i'm a social starbucks drinker So I don't I don't go to duncan by myself. It's not a it's not oh, I gotta go. I gotta go So I go oh you want to that's what you want. Okay, we'll go

[00:43:40] I'll just use my little coffee thing here And make myself a cup of coffee if I want it And that was my point we've since cut that out of our lives, okay Coffee at home now. Yes and have ever since we saw that stat

[00:43:56] I did the numbers and you know, my wife got mad at me at the time Oh, why you gotta tell me that but it she couldn't let it go right? So she was like, all right

[00:44:04] So we need to switch to and we did we gradually it took a little while maybe took maybe another year or so Is that a month switch eight eight? Yep. There you go 240 a month boom. There you go

[00:44:15] It doesn't sound like a lot per day eight bucks over and that was nine years ago. Ten years ago mind you You know what? Yeah It doesn't sound like a lot of day, but that's three thousand dollars a year You know what I mean? so

[00:44:31] Just little things like that folks If you're looking to make a change if this conversation really has impacted you and you're thinking about and you're like wow Dang just start with that and if you have if you don't already track your spending if you

[00:44:45] Here two two two things before we go is if you spend digitally Then you can pull your reports and just do that at any moment You don't have to start now and do it later. But if you spend a lot of cash

[00:44:59] Then you do need to track and give yourself three months of spending and tracking And then look back at it, right just build a spreadsheet build a list do something math Just write it whatever it is to track that spending over three months

[00:45:12] And then look back at it to see where your spending is if you do if you spend digitally now Pull a report pull it all together run a download from your portal and then put it in a spreadsheet and kind of

[00:45:24] I'll put it in google sheets. If that's what you're comfortable with and Look at it there because that is what will help you don't realize or I had another friend um, and I know we need to jump but

[00:45:35] Had another friend that he would say oh I don't track it because the money comes in money goes out Don't think that way because if you do then you're never gonna actually be able to save right? That's a bad excuse

[00:45:46] Because you'll see you um, i'm like that's my point You'll see where you're spending and that duncan doughnuts thing that starbucks number is going to jump out at you really high

[00:45:56] It matters and that's it matters and it's a little that's where you're gonna make some serious adjustments and you can make some serious impact there so that we could Revive the american dream. Yes, sir. Um and and give ourselves some power and some control and

[00:46:14] Yeah, mic drop opportunity there. Yeah exactly Exactly So thanks folks. Thanks for listening what I thought we were going to struggle through this conference this Oh, man, I don't know but as always we'll

[00:46:27] Crafted a masterful produced a masterful session episode and we did we did our thing. We always do our thing Yeah, for sure for sure. So thank you folks. We love you until the next time peace Before we sign off here are a couple quick things

[00:46:45] Don't forget to follow it's about payroll on linkedin and it's about your paycheck on facebook and tik tok And thank you for being part of our payroll community and thank you for being a part

[00:46:56] Of this journey with us until the next time keep learning keep growing and most importantly keep going