41-Year-Old Refuses To Get A Job And Grow Up | Financial Audit

I'm Brent Davey, I'm 41, I'm based out. of Austin, and this is Financial Audit. So, what do you do 41-year-old Austin, Texas for a living? Too many things. Okay, go on. I don't even know, really. Um I'm just like hustling every day, basically. Um because I have been. blacklisted for most jobs. Woah. I have a criminal. background. What did you do? I told. Governor Abbott on Twitter that I would. eat his heart.

And um. that. like solicited a big reaction. So, what. happened? I was I was arrested. I was. arrested by uh 6 DPS agents. They. knocked on my door. And I spent 4 days in jail on a terror. hold. In Travis County. And then. uh that was a misdemeanor B terroristic. threat. Mhm. It sounds way worse than it is. because I'm not a cannibal for one. I. don't eat hearts. Like that's a.

metaphor. Good to know. And uh. the state really wanted to prosecute me. They were thinking about making it a. felony for a while. And they just. dragged it all out for a year. It took a. long time. They actually offered me. actual tweet? It was I just checked and. I hate you. And then it was I will eat your heart. And then it was I just checked and I. still hate you. And then at the time the. Texas GOP wanted to secede. I mean, a. big chunk of them did. A lot of the.

segment of leaders in the Texas GOP. wanted to secede. It was kind of a big. thing. And I said if war, you know, if. you secede, if war breaks out, I know. what side I'm on. And that's a civil. war. When was this? This was 2018. So, it's been a hot minute. So, what do you mean you've been. blacklisted with a misdemeanor? I apply. for jobs and jobs that I'm wholly. qualified for. What were you doing at. the time, 2018? I was not doing anything. at the time. I'm a former journalist.

and polemicist and policy analyst. I was. writing for the new civil rights. movement.com. and. Okay, so nothing really has changed in. the job situation. So are you sure it's. because you tweeted this thing? Well, I'm not sure really. I feel like it. might be. You know. When people get back to you, what do they say when they reject you. from a job? They either say I'm. overqualified and nicely, you know, which is kind of sucks. And. then sometimes I'll be like, yeah, I. know. But I want But I want I want I want a. job, you know? Yeah, I hear that one.

And. I mean, I've done so many things that. I'm overqualified for most things, it. seems like. Well, what what else do they. say? Um well, some say, oh yeah, we. checked your background. You know, some. actually are required to check your. background by law. And they're worried. about a misdemeanor? Yeah, a misdemeanor. B. And I recently last. uh well, 2 weeks ago now, I got a. non-disclosure order from the court here. that.

these um criminal justice agencies. cannot disclose that, but it's already. in the background check systems. So, I. don't know if that actually helps me or. not, but. All right. Well, this is a whole thing I. did not Yeah, it's All right. It's a bit. complicated. All right. Well, what. That must be pretty scary. 41, no. career? Yeah, I'm kind of freaked out. My. savings are gone. Oh, jeez. Um I'm. mostly dependent upon my parents. They. pay my rent.

No. I know, it sucks. It sucks, but. they're really nice. They pay my rent and um. And they they do help a lot, but like. most of the things I. income is just like. random research papers, random. strategy briefs, um odds and ends here. and there. It's not like a real living, you know. I have a lot of questions. about this job situation, but we will. get there. I have a just from your. perspective, as honest as you can, how.

would you describe your financial. situation right now? Bleak AF. Uh. yeah, like it's bad. Now, what do you. mean negative money? is now drained. Where was it at some. point and when? I owned an advertising agency for about. eight years and it was great. Like I. loved it, I'm good at it. Mhm. Um and then I got assaulted and my. apartment burned down. Things happened.

and then I just kind of gave up. Oh jeez, dude. Yeah. And it was great. I. was uh we were earning about $500,000 a. year. Your apartment burned down? Most. of it? have renter's insurance? Nope. First of all, I think that's illegal. I don't know if it was in 2012. I I I. can't speak on that, but it's like 12. bucks a month anyway. Yeah, I didn't even think about it. You got assaulted at the same time and. you just mental health and.

Yeah, I just completely broke down. sorry. Like I just gave it all up. I like. referred out all my clients to. you know, competitors and friends. basically. It's like I can't take care. of you anymore. And. yeah, it was it was kind of sad. I loved. doing it. Like I worked so hard. It was. like Is this something you'd consider. getting back into? Yeah. Why haven't. you? Um well, I went into journalism after. that and that was a whole different. chestnut, you know, being a front-facing.

contributor to a nationally known. journal. Like I mean, I was being read. by the White House and my stuff. circulated in Congress and um I tried to. make it a little bit funny, but also. serious at the same time. Mhm. You know, um. How much were you paid? Almost. Oh, it was I was getting paid $15 an. article that would take me all day to. write and research. But I also had a revenue agreement. because I was managing revenue for the.

publication cuz I have a tech and. advertising background and I was wearing. two hats at the same time in that job. Um so I was making 10% of the revenue. um of the publication. So where was your. savings at the time of. that horrible incident? I had about. $10,000. Like not not a real. was 11 years ago. And it you drained it. trying to survive from there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That was that was the peak of my.

savings really. I have a lot of. questions and I have a lot of thoughts. as well, especially about the job. situation, but we will get there. We. need to look at where your financial. situation looks today. We already know. your parents pay your rent. What's your. rent? Uh 1,500. How old are your parents? My mom is I think 63. Yeah. Is it just her? Uh my dad is about. 70 something. Are they together? Yeah. And they're both Okay, so they're. providing that as well. Yeah. Yeah.

This is not to shame or anything like. that, but how do you feel personally. that parents in their retirement age are. taking care of you in your very. into career age? Grateful. Grateful Yeah. Yeah. Do you feel any embarrassment, any shame. around it? A little a little bit, but um you know, I know that they're capable of it. I I. actually like I like to make money, you. know? Do you feel it enables you at all?

It because your rent is taken care of, you don't have that extra. fire under your butt to you know, go out. and get that money. Yeah. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. I mean, even I would I would take any job. I've. applied for every job in the city. Okay, so that Well, that was the question I. was going to get into. We may We may as. well talk about it now. What do you mean. every job in the city? You mean like a. McDonald's cashier? Yes. And they'll say. no. Um one Waterburger uh wanted to hire.

me, and then I don't know if I could I. don't know if I could do that. Like I. mean, that's What do you mean? If you're. trying to survive, you can. We're just trying to survive. I want you. to be in a better position, but if your. option right now is nothing or. something, I pick something. Even if. that something's not absolutely. fantastic. Yeah. So, you said no. I at the time was also interviewing for. another job as a communication director. at Texas PTA. So,

I was like, "Okay, well, I don't know if I can accept this job. while I'm interviewing for that job.". you could have come back and said, "Okay, you know, situation's changed. I. want it." They're always hiring. That's. true. Okay, so every job No, you haven't. actually been applying to every job, have you? You've been applying to jobs. that you more want to do, correct? that I'm qualified for. Okay, but but. not jobs that feel like are a step down. Well, yeah, cuz I feel like I want to I. want to accomplish things. I want to. build my career up. picking and choosing, to be very clear.

You're not just applying for every job. There are jobs that you probably could. have gotten. I guarantee you there's people working. McDonald's or retail or a server or. something that have misdemeanors or. worse. I applied for Half Price Books, and you. know, I'm a I'm a writer I'm a writerly. guy, right? Okay, so one, and it's a bookstore. They're probably not hiring as much, but. one. were. They were, and I I even followed. up with them. I went there, and they. were like, "Oh, you're overqualified. They're afraid I'm going to leave.". know, but that's one place. Yeah. That's.

one place. That's what I want to make. clear is you are very much picking and. choosing. I want you to have the job of the. dreams, the career of the. and choosing. I feel like the world is. picking and choosing for me. Yeah, but okay. But the jobs that you want though, the. ones that you're applying for, are. specifically the ones that you want. And. then the one that accepted it at a fast. food place, you said no. Yeah, to be very clear. Yeah, I I I said. no. I had to I was interviewing for a. different job at the time and I just.

thought And you didn't go back to work. What I am saying is I want you to have. the dream job, I want you to have the. career, but in the meantime, while. you're working on those, especially in a. tougher job market right now, while. you're working on those and in a tough. industry, you are working at a job you. might not love just so you could bring. home money. Bring home money and take care of. yourself and not have to rely on parents. in their retirement age. Do you know. their net worth? I have a rough idea of. I don't want to I don't think I have to.

disclose that. Do you want to give a round a range. maybe? Okay, that's fine. I'm not going to make you say anything. you don't want to say. That's okay. Okay. Can I play like a more than game? No. Okay, that's fine. Well, what I'm. just. know that's not fair to the No, it's. okay. That's okay. Uh is this Yeah. Okay. Well, let's look at your checking. account. You started with 67 bucks. Terrifying. Yeah. Terrifying. That's almost every month like It's.

almost like. scary. You ended with 800, that's okay. Yeah, a little bit more. Uh but you start almost every month with. 67 bucks because you're not willing to. accept going and getting a job that will. accept you. Specifically, to be clear. Well, You're refusing. only take that much rejection. No, shut No, the. I can only One man can only take that. much. Okay. No, you're being a baby when. it comes to that. I don't think so. I'm not a baby. No, but when it comes to that. if you call me a baby. No, when it comes.

to that, when it comes to that. specifically, yes? Yeah. Um, I'm not a baby. No, I actually. I actually like. all my life I've had actually had to. fight my way into this. But you said you're not willing to. accept that much rejection. So you're. not willing to just go out and work your. butt off to get that job. I already have. I already have. I've kicked so much I've fired congress. people, you know? Like I've kicked. No, we Okay, I'm.

I think you might I think that's I think. that's what people are afraid of is that. if I go into a job, they're afraid I'm. going to be their boss right off the bat. because I might be just cuz it's my. attitude. And I'm smart and I can boss people. I. have a degree in information systems. I've been a journalist, I've been an. advertising. agency, you know, I've built apps. Well, why will you not accept. Like I've done a lot. Why will you not accept the jobs that. you feel are slightly beneath you?

Um, because something better is going to. come along and I just know it. Why? This. is where I'm just trying to get to this. mindset. Uh, see if we're able to agree. on this. If you're not willing to accept the jobs. that you feel are slightly beneath you. to bring in money and you're relying on. your parents, you do not consider that. immature borderline baby behavior. No, I don't. I will accept the jobs. beneath my. um, what I'm expecting. But like that's. a big step down. Like fast food. That's. a huge step down. Look And I don't even know if I could do.

it. I'm a terrible cook. But right now you're relying on your fan. you're relying on your parents though. I'm not even good I'm not even good at. it. Wouldn't you say that's beneath. to do something I'm good at. That's Isn't that just natural? Yes. It is, but there's also responsibility. Uh-huh. of being an adult, yes? Well, if if I screw up a burger then. who's responsible for that? I don't know. Because I'm not that good at it.

I'm sure you and the teenagers there. would be fine. Transfer from PayPal. So, that's what's. coming in. Is this what's coming in from. the parents' PayPals? Parents and. whatever odds and ends projects I get. Yeah. Um you know, some research briefs, some. strategy briefs, some. How much do you get for a research. brief? Uh it depends on the client, really. How often does that happen? A. couple times a month. A couple times a. month. Okay.

Odds and ends, you know, ride shares. every now and then, but I don't use Lyft. anymore. I just do it myself. You have a car? Yeah. Yeah. Why aren't. you just. Well, hm. Have you applied to be like an Uber. driver or something? I wrote an exposé. about Lyft and I'm banned. Okay. Uber is. what I said, though. Um Uber, I have not. tried that one yet, but I don't think my. car qualifies for Uber. What's your car? It's a 2014 Volkswagen EOS. It's a.

two-seater. I don't think it Hm. That's. curious. I don't think I don't think. they would go with that. Maybe not. What about uh Uber Eats? Um Or. tried that one. The the last mile Amazon. delivery. The thing I'm worried about. with these models is that I think just. like I don't think it actually makes. money. I think the depreciation. um. is actually negative. That's like I. think it comes out negative. Well, there's thinks and then there's. facts. In a lot of towns, you are. correct. In in small towns. In Austin, I.

did Lyft in Chicago and it was negative. second. In Austin, I know Uber Eats. drivers who I've personally met and. talked to were raking in like $80,000 a. year. And that is not the amount of. depreciation and gas they are taking in. their cars. And repairs and insurance. And repairs. and insurance. more in insurance when you do that, too. It's crazy. Yeah. It becomes a whole thing. It becomes a. whole thing. $80,000 is also a thing. Yeah. Instead of relying on someone. else. That's true. I could I could. probably pull that off.

Okay. Uber Eats I could probably pull off. Ah, we're getting somewhere. Yeah, I could pull that off. I could. probably do that. Yeah, you could do. that. Uh because a lot of people do it. And there's no reason you wouldn't be. able to. Well, if it works. Then there's Amazon. last mile. tried it, but the last time I tried Lyft. it did not work. I don't know the exact position called. but there was Amazon like last mile. delivery where like you can go. A lot of. people they you like sit in a line at a. warehouse in your car and then they go. through they give you packages in a zone. and you just go take it out. You can put. them in your trunks. I don't remember. exactly what it's called. I know it's.

something. I can't put it My car is really small. I. don't think that would work. Might be. able to get something though. Yeah. I think you're paid per package. Isn't it worth looking into at least? I. can already see it as a dead end because. it's just like my trunk is tiny. You. give up very easily. I like to make sure things that I get. into work. Why not see if it works? Uh because I don't like to waste time. It's not wasted. Dude, you're going to kill me over here.

Please. I know. I know. I know. Why? Do you take. it seriously? Do you take life. seriously? Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Then why aren't. you going and just working? Uh because. I've applied so many places. Working at a job that you would be. accepted in today. I could go get you a. job. go get me one. Okay. Waterburger, let's. go back. Okay, let's go. Okay. So, you. will accept it if we get it. If we get. it, yeah. I'll put on the orange shirt. and I'll flip a burger or two. Good. Good. Okay. So, then are you saying.

right after this you're willing to just. go apply to a bunch of fast food places. and if they accept you, you will work. there? Yeah. Good. I mean I'm moving in 2. months, so I don't. Where you going? Dallas-Fort Worth. Okay. I've got more. connections there. I'm just. Yeah, what are the what are the. connection types? Rent is way cheaper there. Yeah, you can. get a much better spot. You don't have. to pay your own rent, but yeah. Wow. What are the connections you have there?

Uh one of my former clients is the mayor. of Arlington. Um. I spent a lot of years there. Um. and. I mean that was the first place I moved. after college. It's like kind of feels. like I'm going back to roots, I guess. Okay. You have a place lined up? I'm looking. Mhm. All right. What is. uh. Is that lotto.com? Yeah, lotto.com lottery.

I'm going to hit it big and make. millions. So you gamble a lot. Um I spent like. 30 bucks, something like that. So let me be very clear. We're doing lotto.com lotto.com. lotto.com. uh lotto.com. lotto.com It's donations to the Texas. education system. lotto.com lotto.com. lotto.com lotto.com lotto.com lotto.com.

Some of that's because I won about $800. a long time ago, so I'm just using that, but. we had that many lotto.com's. Yet you are accepting rent from your. parents. Yeah. You are gambling. Do you not accept that as childish. behavior? Yeah, it's kind of. Thank you. Kind of. is. Yeah. Are you willing to like mature. beyond that? Would you say Um well, first I want to I want to get to a. mental health thing first. Would you. consider you have a gambling addiction? Oh, no. No. Okay, so it's more you're.

just doing it for fun. Yeah, it's just. like I like to see if the numbers hit. It's like Then I put $5 on it. And stop. This this makes no sense. You have no. money. You have no savings. You have no. retirement. Your parents are paying for. your rent. Why are you gambling money. that you don't have? It's just for the. entertainment. No, so we're not doing that anymore, correct? Okay. Oh, yeah. I would never do. entertainment. Yeah. And then. tidy.com and Bear Whiz and animal. and something finance loan and eBay eBay. Uberin Buzz Mill Coffee Uberin Apple.

bill of some kind The lotto's are. popping in and out of all these as well. Prime video something. Ontrigger plan. animal draft house only fans Uber. even enter plan that's renters. insurance. Oh, good. I'm happy you have. that. Very happy you have that. Then we. can we can de-cross that. Yeah, that's the that's the probably the. only good one on there. eBay eBay Door Dash. 7-Eleven purchases for like six bucks. I. doubt that's gas.

That's usually taquitos. They're so cheap. They're so cheap. You. don't have money. Well, you have to eat something. Oh, don't pull that with me. I've had this. fight. a taquito is. need 7-Eleven taquitos to be your daily. caloric intake. You can get something. cheap from the grocery store. You can, but it's actually kind of. cheaper. It is not cheaper for the amount of crap. that you get in a taquito for six bucks. one person living alone.

No, it is not. You get meal prep. My. goodness, it is not. It is. Kind of is. It is a Have you seen the price of eggs? of is. What is a kind of is? of eggs AND BACON? GO BUY EGGS. YOU DON'T buy eggs. something cheaper. Oh, yeah. You could be getting ramen for like 30. cents. I'm 41 years old and not eating ramen. You're 41 years old. Your parents are. paying for rent. You can have ramen. for me to eat a taquito. Oh my goodness. Instead of ramen.

embarrassing and Amazon Yeah. What's the. jackalope? Oh, jackalope is this. bar on Riverside. It's not that good. I. only went there once or twice. It's. Taquitos, taquitos, taquitos, taquitos, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon, Whataburger, Fredo, Fredo, Fredo, Heart & Soul, Better Days, Uber Trip, eBay, BearWise, Amazon, Cash Corner, Loans of Texas. Austin, Golden Goose, Golden Goose, OnlyFans, OnlyFans,

the Cash Corner again, DoorDash, so many. lottos and Tready thing that popped up. again. I don't know how to pronounce. that. Some finance loan, OnlyFans again, Eba- eBay, uh Postmates, eBay, Starbucks, parking, CC's Pizza. was for jury CC's Pizza. Parking Parking that was for jury duty. and I've already Yeah, and I you know, it's a service. It's You have to do it. and it's it's for jury duty. I actually reopened up the courts in.

Austin, so that happened. Taquito. Reopened up the courts in Austin. Taquitos. And then also built in. National Review for $70, then Atlantic. I'm going to stay informed. Staying informed is good. Yeah, you can. listen to NPR for free. No, the stories. The stories on NPR aren't getting a lot. of uh issues right. The Atlantic? Yeah, the Atlantic I I could take or. leave it. Netflix, and the Atlantic. Atlantic. This is so much crap and we. can excuse two of them. The parking for.

jury duty and the renter's insurance, which is fantastic. and Atlantic I I already canceled that. one. Good. Well, dude, you're blowing. all your money when you don't have. money. You can't take care of your own. life. You start your checking account. with nothing. You refuse to get a job. that will accept you like the. Whataburger job that did accept you and. then you decided not to do it because. you're getting. a reason. I mean, in my head I had a. reason for that. and got it. They're always hiring. Maybe. Dude, there are people with felonies. working in fast food. I promise you. could do it with a misdemeanor B. Uh-huh. Yeah. They're desperate to hire.

right now. If any any industry is. desperate to hire, it is service. And how long do you think I'm going to. last there? What does that mean? In. terms of get fired or you existing? Yeah, until I like raise an issue and. then and then. Well, if you decide to be a big boy and. take care of yourself, you'll last there. for a while. Mhm. Maybe. What does maybe? I just know somebody's going to be like, "Oh, you think you're a smart kid." And. I am. I have a degree in information. systems. So, if I see a way to improve. something, I'm going to suggest it.

Nobody cares about this the green. information systems. And no one cares. We don't care. that time on, man? What did I do? Why. did I Why did Why do I have a degree in. information systems? Nobody cares. We. don't No, no, we don't care. We don't. Should I go back to Texas Tech and just. give it back to my professors? Be like, "Nobody gives a. It's That's not what is going to. determine I mean, like here's here's the. first job that I applied for in Austin. Job I'm fully qualified for,

over-qualified for. I wanted to work for. the city. And it was called the Office. of Design and Delivery, odd. Okay, it's. in uh this municipal building downtown, old library, just gorgeous mid-century stuff. Okay, I go in there. Can you lean into. the microphone? Oh, yeah, yeah. I go in there and it's. near Christmas. and they're having a gingerbread. bake-off competition. And they want me to judge it.

Like, and this I'm on an interview. This. is what happens when you're. infamous, okay? We're like that. And. like, "I'm not really interested. I just. don't I don't really I'm not interested. in gingerbread. I want to work on. product. I want to work on the city's. website." They don't hire me because. they think I'm too intense, you know? And maybe I am because that's the. background That's the background I come. from, you know? I'm used to delivering. for my clients. And that's the. advertising agency background. That's. polemics. That's policy. Like I like to.

deliver, you know? I wanted to work for the city. um redeveloping the city's website. And. it was called the Alpha project. Um. And you know what? They spent more than. a million dollars on that project. Never. delivered anything. And Office of Design and Delivery no. longer exists as an entity because I. made sure of it. Cuz I'm vindictive. Okay. You know? You don't hire me and you.

don't deliver, I'll take it right out of the city's. budget. Well, yeah, yeah. Okay, I think I followed that. Does that. make sense? Yeah, I think I followed. that. That's kind of my personality. Like when. I get worked up anyway. Like usually I'm. like a. free spirit, you know? Hey, we're both intense. It's okay. I'm. not judging you. I'm very intense. And. did you hear my voice get all squeaky? Yeah. It's okay. You get stressed out. Oh. The reason I bring it up is because. having a degree and just like flaunting.

it, it doesn't put you above anyone. else. There's I mean, people who. graduate college is I I don't know the. exact statistic, but the majority people. go to college. It This isn't something. very exciting, but you've like flashed. it a couple times. Like I have a degree. in information science. Like. Yeah, it doesn't matter. It kind of does. to me. Okay, so it's exciting to you, but in the real world It actually does. matter. Like I've accomplished a lot of. things with it. But because of the. degree or because of yourself? Oh.

Both. Like I am. I think it's both. Okay. I think it's. both. Like I learned a lot at Texas. Tech. I took a lot of science. Um and. I learned a lot of code. Uh I learned systems analysis, you know? And. like yeah, I thought it was really. important. Okay. If you got a lot out of. your college experience, great. Yeah, a lot of people don't. It kind of. depends on what you. That's what it is. It depends on how focused you are on it.

Some people just do it for the grade. Like I like to do it so I learn. something, you know. That's why I study. Okay. So we'll move on. What is your savings. look like today? Is it any. I don't have any. Nothing Nothing left, man. It's bad. Okay, dirty. Anything in like a Roth IRA? Any kind of. retirement? No. Does that scare you? Oh, yeah. I. mean, I got to come up on there.

Um. I have one sister, but we haven't spoken. in years. When. terrible situation, none of us want to. think about it, keeps me up at night. when I think about my own parents, but. when the parents eventually do pass. away, is that money just going to you? Do you feel you have a free ride? I don't know. We haven't talked about. it. Interesting. Yeah. So they haven't. talked about their will and what the. plans are for their estate. And of. course, I I don't even know what the. context of their wealth could be. We we. we could be talking like, oh, they're.

wealthy cuz they have over a million. dollars or oh, they're wealthy cuz they. have like over 50 million dollars. Like. I don't know what Yeah, it's not that. much. Oh, no. So. Yeah, no, I need to I need to I need to. start earning and saving. Like that's. the big thing and I need like. I need a a career that's commensurate to. my. abilities and. so I can get back on track, you know. I. agree with that. Are you Are you willing. to work in the meantime, a job that is. not career driven? I Yeah, I mean, that Uber Eats, that.

might work. Okay. Okay. That might work. Cool. Uh. Whataburger might be fun, but I don't. know how long I would last there because. it's just like. I know how I am, you know. I don't think anyone likes it. This is. especially cooking burgers, but Yeah, right. Do you have any debt? I have a couple of uh short-term loans. that I took out. Payday. Um they're like uh.

they send you a check in the mail. Um. and it's usually like 30% APR up to 100%. APR. They're bad. And they're um. I have about like $3,000 in them, I. think. Oh. Yeah. No. It's not good. It's really not good. It. hurts It hurts. I was like I just get. this check in the mail and I'm like, "Oh, I could I could maybe like. go to a show and make some music or find. a musician partner and. you know, uh develop an album.

Because I've also had a background in. music. One of my clients was um. a music school I started with my piano. and guitar teacher and Oh, you're all. over the place. Yeah, I'm just See, this is my thing. It's like I have like. major. I can almost not do the same thing every. day because I'm like in advertising I. was like, "Oh, I have all these clients. and all these different spaces." And I'd. like to just focus on one a day and then. that one a day and that one a day. In. journalism, it's kind of the same thing. You get a new story every day and you.

just dive into it and explore every. little facet of it and how it applies to. law and social sociology and. personalities and politics and um. it's just something new all the time. And that's kind of. just how I am. Like I have to have. something new going on. So, there's. that. Yeah. Why did you take it out? I wanted to. develop an album and meet a musician.

that could uh. help me develop an album. Pretty much. I'm playing open mics, you know. You. don't get paid for them. You usually go. and you get maybe a drink ticket. up to 100% interest on it? And it was. Yeah, they just send you a check in the. mail. What's your like monthly payments, do you know? They're usually about 100. Yeah, I'm paying them. I'm paying them. Um and it'll be paid off like soon, I. think. Yeah, but if you're paying 100% interest. for a $3,000 loan, like up to 100% you.

could be paying $6,000 back. Oh, well, no, they're the short-term. They're like 6 months. So, but you could be doing if it's 100%. interest, you could be doing It's 100%. APR, so it's usually like you take out. You get a check for like $800 and then. you end up paying about 1050. Are you still doing these? When was the. last one you've taken out? Um about. like early March. Like I think it was. early No, it was late um. late February, early March.

They're Yeah, it hurts. I It's like I. just get these checks and I'm like, man. We all We all get them. We all get them. Don't Does everyone get those? Yeah, dude. They're like spam. Don't you. get them? Yeah. Yeah, everyone gets. them. Wow. Yeah. I I just deposited them. I was like cuz. I'm. not making anything, so I'm Oh, that. doesn't mean we borrow at 100%. Yeah, it's crazy. I'd almost rather. It It's not good.

It's not good. Does your car have debt. on it? Or is it paid for? It's got about 9,000 on it. That's debt. Okay, 9,000 at what interest rate? Uh it's not bad. It's like 14. I have Sorry. I had to chuckle at the. not bad part of that. That's terrible. Yeah, well. That's vomit. For for a normal person with a normal. career, yeah, you're right. Yes. Yes. No, that's very bad. 9,000. Well, loan repayment plan, minimum.

monthly payment, stuff like that. What's. the date? 270. So, it's probably like 72 months. 270 or 280, something like that. Yeah. So, it's probably like 70 months. I think so. I'm not sure. Sorry, it's my phone. I apologize. Credit cards? Uh one, Capital One. How much is on it? About 700. Not too bad. Uh I guess in the grand scheme, probably. like 20 to 30%.

Um I think so. I think it's about like. 18%. Yeah. Any other debt? Cuz those are debts. Do. you have student loans? Texas Tech? No student loans. When I went to Texas. Tech, it was $4,000 a semester. Oh, must be nice. Yeah, I know. That was. beautiful. And I was actually like making as a. student programmer in application. development while running the satire. newspaper at the same time. I was making. the equivalent, inflation adjusted, about $35 an hour as a student. And I.

was coding the um. I was in application development on the. persistent session login system. You. know what we did? It's like Facebook. Connect or Microsoft Connect, you know, where you can go between different sites. in the sys- in the university's website. systems and have the same login. It was. really wonderful stuff. We were. basically copying like the big players, you know. I want to give to you as. someone who wants to root for you and. cheer for you. I want to get you to the. point where you are excited and. celebrating the future instead of just.

always the past and what has been. accomplished. I want us to be like. Yeah, things are about to just go woo. Go gangbusters. Oh, yeah. Totally. Yeah, I mean, I'm usually like that. I. try to approach every day like that. Like I try to have that kind of energy. dude. You walked in here happy. Hopefully, you. walk out happy. I'll see. You almost. walked out there for a second, though. Tell me my degree doesn't matter. That's. bull- Oh, I mean, it's.

All right. So, Uh never mind. Uh okay. any other debt? Any other debt, please? Um I think that's it, man. I. think that's all. Yeah. Well, that's a. lot for someone who doesn't pay for the. rent. Yeah. Yeah. So, what are you going. to do? Are you just doing minimum. monthly payments. with Um until they're paid off? Uh with the the side hustles? Yeah, pretty much. That's kind of That's. been what I've been doing, but what I. need is actually like to have. a salary again.

I like um And if I have to like start an. advertising agency again, I mean, I don't know if I have 80 hours. a week in me because I'm kind of. exhausted, but um. I guess I could do it. I don't know. I'm. looking for. like a. salaried role that's commensurate to my. abilities, basically. That's That'd be nice. You probably have. a resume gap that worries some. Oh, yeah. I think so. I mean,

they also. don't really know like how much I was. doing for my clients. Like, they look at. my advertising agency Stay Frank and. they don't really see. how much we were doing, I think, because. it's not like a big name anymore. I shut. it down, you know, it's not even there. They're like, "Does this company even. exist?" I have portfolio examples, but. they don't really know how much legwork. we did on the PR side, on the. communication side. They think that it. Oh, that was just like a web development.

company. It wasn't. It was a PR, digital, like full-service shop. How do you do in interviews? Uh I I feel like I do pretty pretty all. right. Like, I engage. Um I try to. I used to sell, you know? I used to sell. projects to. really important people. So, I go into. interviews and I would just I try to. I look at it like I'm developing a. client kind of. Like I like, "Okay, what.

do you need?" You know, and how can I. deliver? Do you do the the me me me. thing that a lot of people do? Like I'm. so good at this. I'm so good at this. I. have my degree. No, I ask more questions and I try to. figure out. um who had this role before me. Is this. a new role? What are you trying to. accomplish strategically? And um. And then I try to give hints of how I. might help. Good. You know, that's kind. of That's how I used to sell business, you know, in in the advertising world. I'm not going to lay out a full plan cuz.

I can already tell it won't. happen. Yeah. What is very clear though what I would. do in general is I would just go get a. job today. I would start driving Uber. Eats today. It's going to, you know, it. takes a few days for you to be accepted. into the thing, but I would immediately. do that. I would also just go work a. billion hours a week, every moment that. you're not sleeping, so I can pay off. the $700 as quick as possible. Pay off the $3,000 as quick as possible, then pay off the $9,000 as quick as. possible. Cuz all those interest rates.

are disgusting. Yeah. Vomit. Yeah. I. can't keep up with 100%. So, I would do. that all as soon as possible. I don't. know if you're going to do that cuz I. mean, I don't know if you're willing to. work 80 hours a week at a place like. Whataburger cuz you feel like it's. slightly beneath you. And for your. experience, correct technically, but. just so we can start getting some money. in and take care of the situation you. put yourself in. That is where It's just That's just. where it's like being an adult. You. know? Yeah.

Yeah, I mean, I get it. Yeah. I mean, like Uber Eats does sound doable, I. think. I think I would actually last. there, too. I wouldn't get into like. have any. um. personal interactions that just grade on. me or anything like that. You know, cuz. you're cuz you're just driving. What. about every once in a while where you. deliver a $120 order, you walk away, and. you realize there's no tip cuz you don't. find out afterwards. Well, that happened. a lot in Lyft when I was driving Lyft, too. And then you just take it. You just. like, "Oh god damn Happened when I did a.

Jimmy John's too. It's just it sucks. It. just sucks. Yeah, it does. Okay, cool. I. just want to make sure you wouldn't. explode at that. So, There's no one to. explode to. There is. I mean, there's videos of. people like knocking on people. Either way, I just want to make sure you. don't find yourself into that situation. So, that's personally what I would do. And. then while you're doing that, also being. applying to any and every single little. job that's in your thing, which I assume. that is closer to what you're doing.

However, you said you're also afraid of. rejection. Or you can only take so much. rejection. And I counter that with. saying. and just do it. Yeah. Because you need to get a job. Yeah, well, yeah. I mean, Like rejection. sucks. We all hate it. The weird thing is I get rejected on. Hinge Premium Plus Extra every I I had. never been rejected from a job in my. 20s, ever. Like every job I ever applied for I got. because I'm kind of convincing and. engaging and you know,

I'm good at a lot of things. And now. it's just like. I'm getting like rejections that don't. make any sense. We're in an interesting. job market right now, though. Yeah, it's. bizarre. It's weird. Different I mean, job market's always. changing. So, I would just be aware of. that as well. I wouldn't necessarily. take it as personally. Yeah. So, uh. yeah, that's what I would do. Do Uber. Eats 80 hours a week. I think that's it. Just work anytime you're not sleeping.

and that's it. I would cut back I would. not go I would not gamble once. I would. cancel all the OnlyFans subscriptions. and I would cancel all subscriptions and. that's not internet essentially. Uh-huh. I would not go to any more bars. I would. not eat unless. like you have a significant other or a. date that pays for it or you're just. having free stuff at the park on walks. and stuff like that. Uh-huh. No more. spending money on fun until the 100%. interest rate is gone. 100%.

Open mics don't feel like like like just. fun. I feel like I'm working towards. something. Yeah, don't pay though. Just. don't pay. Do you have to pay to be a. part of them? Not usually. I mean. Okay, don't buy a drink. Don't buy. nachos. get like a Lone Star. No, no, no, no. Get a water. Get a water. All your. money, while you're in the fortunate. situation of your parents taking care of. your rent, every single cent that is not. going to pay the minimum monthly. payments and your insurance and anything. like that is going to paying this. I. would only do $300 on groceries and no.

food outside of that. Uh-huh. And you can do that cuz many. people on the show have done that who. live in Austin. So I know for a fact you. can. As one person. I'm terrified for you, man. Yeah. I'm terrified and I don't know what to. say. I want to lay out a full plan. I. just I only lay out full plans when I. have any inkling that they might do it. Mhm. I'm not feeling that right now. So what. I'm afraid of is Well, I don't need Only. Fans. Like I that's easy to cancel.

Lotto I can cancel. I don't know if I. can cancel taquitos. But uh. I that's harder. That's where I'm. being honest. I don't know if I could do. that. I accept that that might be hard. But if. we're this is this is what scares me. If. we're at a point in life where we're not. even willing to cut out taquitos from. 7-Eleven to slightly better our lives, then there there is no hope. going to make a difference. It's going. to make a difference because guess what? Spending the hundreds and hundreds and.

hundreds of dollars you did eating out, getting drinks, getting taquitos a. month, if that was going extra towards. the debt, it'd be gone quicker. And then. once that's done, you can start putting. money towards your retirement. and bread and ramen? Yes, until you're. of the crap. It sounds like you're growing up. No, that sounds crazy. Like that's not. crazy. care of your life. I don't think so, man. I don't like. that's like a minuscule expense. I can. see absolutely cutting down on. um. Minuscule, sure, but see how many green. lines were on here? Green lines, green.

lines, green lines. Those are all your. minuscule expenses. They're everything. and they add up. Uh-huh. Yeah. Especially cuz you don't budget. I know. you don't budget. Oh, I barely look at it. Yeah. Yeah. I. barely look at it. Minuscule expense when you started with. uh. $67. Yeah. You just can't afford this crap. and this is. What What else is What else to even say? If you If you won't even accept that, there's like nowhere where we can go. from No, do you want You just want me to. tell you that I'm just going to eat.

baloney sandwiches and ramen. No, I wish I wish No, cuz I don't want. you to lie, but I wish that the. situation was a wake-up call and that's. why I usually go so extreme to make sure. it's a wake-up call, but Oh, you're. trying to like scare the you know. Yeah, but you clearly don't care about. the future of your life enough for it to. matter. Oh, no, I do. I do. No, not. enough to cut out taquitos. Not enough. to cut out taquitos, you are correct. So, you don't care then. Cuz that's like. something that. I don't think the value of my life. depends on cutting out taquitos and. eating a baloney sandwich. I don't think that's the difference.

maker. It's the sacrifice. It is because of all. these green lines. it is. But you you've got a good point. You've. got a good point. Like I can definitely. cut down. How can you say I don't think. it is when mathematically it literally. is? You haven't proven to me. mathematically that taquitos are the. difference maker, but It's taquitos is. the example of you going out and. spending all this extra money on crap. It's not just taquitos. It's It's symbol symbolism. Yeah. Yeah. It is I'm talking all the eating out, all the drinks and taquitos. Yes?

That mathematically makes a massive. difference. Yeah, Well, maybe. Maybe. Maybe. I. You are Americans retirement summarized, sir. Oh. Yeah. So, essentially, if you don't. get anything from your parents in any. way because, you know, maybe they do the. retirement plan where they just drain. down, you know, by the time they're. retired because that they just withdraw. at a point where by the time they pass,

you know, it. isn't much because that's what the vast. majority of people do. Yeah. Most people don't have a massive nest. egg that they're going to withdraw 3% a. year on, let it sustain, and then pass. it on. So, at that point, you will be. relying on the whether or not social. security exists by the time. you retire. Well, I'm banking on. getting a commensurate job to my salary, and um. that's really what I That's really. That's the difference maker to me. That's the like you used the Lotto app,

you are gambling on your future. I hope it's not a gamble. It better not. be. You just said you're banking on. getting. I'm banking it. I'm counting on it. I. don't I better not be a gamble. your future. It better not be a gamble. I I better. not be a gamble. on all this stuff and going and getting. a job right now that might feel beneath. him. Well, see, you're repeating these. things, but I know, and and yet it. doesn't seem to sink in at all. it's You're not really like seeing it, yeah. You're not really seeing it, yeah.

I not seeing? You're not seeing what. I've already agreed to. You're still like doing this like you're. a baby bit, and that's the bit, you. know, I get it. Like I get the show. I. mean, that's that's the show. That's why. people watch. Well, I call out what I've seen. everyone feel can feel better about. their positions because I'm so. up. It's not about That's That's the. value. That's most of your comments. That's not the value. The va- A lot of. people do get enjoyment out of it. The. value is so that they don't make the. same mistakes, and people in your. situation don't.

uh it can hopefully improve their. situation. People that are in your. situation or are getting into your. situation. And the reason I do I say. baby, I do not call everyone baby, not. even close, but when people are acting. immature, that's when I as a forward. person with barely any. filters call it as I see it. Okay. I. refuse to be nice to be nice. I refuse to be mean to be mean. I do. too. Yeah, good. I do too. So that's why. I call it as. bit of your show. Like it's not that.

unique. You're like it's not that. amazing. It's not that impressive. Like. I get it. Like I get your routine. You're like Dave Ramsey, but you. you trump it up into like Chef Ramsey. You know, you know, it's like a. combination. It's actually pretty cool. Like I get the bit. Well, you just took. a 180 on that sentence real quick. Yeah. You went from it's not that good. to it's really cool. I mean it's just a combination of. different personalities, you know. Are. you upset?

Cuz you called me a baby. And if you. call me a baby, I'm going to critique. you cuz I'm a critic too, you know. We're we're the same. You already admitted that. I did? Yeah. I said we're both forward. I don't know. Yeah. Well, I won't go there. Okay. But either way. again. will you just I I I I I want this. I want to push back on the baby thing. just one more time. and just. see if you're able to acknowledge this.

If you as a 41-year-old man is not. willing to cut back on taquitos. would you not consider that a childish. move? I think that you drawing the line at. taquitos is going to make you look. silly. You think so? I do. Let us know. I think it will and you can email me at. at gmail.com and let me know too. Okay, please be nice to him if you do that. That's that's please be nice to him. Yeah. I I'd be happy to hear from. everyone.

Okay. Sincerely. I've gotten hate mail. I've. gotten threats from the proud boys and. neo-Nazi gangs. I have been through so. much actual. You know? Like it doesn't really hurt me that. much. Like I've gotten hate mail. I've. been I don't want you to get hurt. I. want you to do better and that's. death threats, man. I I don't know why. you're taking this in such a negative. way. I am showing the negative situation. of your situation. the negative situation. and then what. can be done to improve it? Yet you are.

taking it as an insult versus Well, baby, it's kind of an insult. That's a. little bit of an insult. Fine. Fine. of an Immature. I don't think I'm that immature. I think. taquitos are perfectly fine. Yeah, but. not be willing to cut back to better. your life. dude. You can't eat taquitos. other day. You can't eat taquitos. Not willing to. cut The action of not willing to cut. back to improve your life when you don't. have a retirement when your 6-year-old. 7-year-old parents are taking care of. your rent. You do not consider that. immature. Well, I'm grateful that for.

them. Like and they understand my. That's That's awesome that you're. grateful, but you don't consider that. immature that you are not taking care of. yourself. Not willing to cut back in. order to take care of yourself. Leaning. on others in order to take care of. yourself. What if you cut back? Nobody. is actually that independent. Nobody is. Everybody depends on other people. Everyone does. Everyone does. Yeah, but. not as necessarily charity. I depend on. him to edit the videos, but I pay him. and y'all have a contract. I pay him. Right. And you And y'all have a. contract, I'm sure. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes it's contractual. Sometimes.

it's not. And that's um. Right now, my parents it's not. contractual. How long have they been. doing it? Since I quit NCRM. Well, when was that? Uh that was 2016 right after Trump was. elected and I had a bit of a mental. breakdown. Okay, so 7 years they've been. doing it. Yeah. Now, if mental health. things if there's mental health things. Oh, absolutely. that is where I 100%. say, "Okay, mental health is very real.

and we take care of that." But, that has. not necessarily been brought up. If. there are mental health things, this is. where people. should absolutely get help. I'm one of. the biggest advocates that I can think. of in my own life of therapy, all this. good. If that is a specific reason for. things, then there are justifications. behind it. Yeah, if you had a mental breakdown in. that situation. I'm okay with the I am I am pretty. honest about it, you know. Good, good. Cuz I think it's helpful to.

talk about it. Um absolutely. Yeah, I've had several. mental breakdowns. Yeah. Okay, and. getting help in those situations should. not be discouraged. kind of like reasonable, you know? Like. when. um. when absolutely horrible things happen. to you that you can't explain, that's kind of bad, you know? Yeah, no, absolutely. Um no, absolutely. Well, now I'm being a baby. God.

Oh, it's okay. Mental mental health is. is life. I mean, we are nothing except. our brains, really. This is just our, you know, our shell. that we're walking around in to like. exist. But, we are only our brains. So, mental health is something I take. incredibly seriously. I advocate for. therapy and everything like that. And. when you are in that situation, that's. where things are 100% excusable. Where I. struggle where I struggle is leaning on.

the parents in a situation where maybe. you're not dealing with anything, I. don't know if you are, that you you. haven't indicated one way or the other, but then not willing to cut back. And. that that's all I'm saying. That's all. I'm saying. I'm Yeah, I'm I'm pretty far cut back. I. mean, I used to have a. I used to have be very successful, you. know. You know a lot of people right now. though in this country who are getting. themselves on a better foot, who are. climbing out of their debt situations, who are trying to improve their. retirement, are not going out to eat. once a month and they are working double.

jobs. Those are the people that have cut. back. Those are the people that I look. up to as like the bravest among us. Mhm. Who are kicking sacrificing their entire. life to better their entire life for. their kids' lives, for their entire. families' lives. That's what I picture. as cut back. Yeah. Well, how do how do I. do that while also trying to network and. get the things that I like I'm trying to. network at the same time. Do you need.

all of this to network? All those green. slashes? Not all of it. Like a lot of it's waste. Yeah. I mean, I looked at it like when I. was preparing to come on the show, I was. like, "Dang, like a lot of that's. waste." Okay. Yeah. Another helpful. thing in general that I just we haven't. talked about as simple as a budget. Mhm. Just starting a budget. I'm not. going to write down your whole budget. cuz I don't think it's going to do a lot. right now, but just budgeting and. following following some basic. guidelines. Mhm. As soon as you can get out of this. debt, I want you to be a realtor cuz. this is where I was trying to go, but I.

I I wasn't able to get to. What I fear. is when if your parents don't have much. to pass on, you in your 40s in a couple. decades when you're into that. uh where you can start collecting. distributions from your retirement. accounts, you won't have anything. I. fear that you are going to be forced in. order to live because you won't have. anyone back in your rent, you. will turn out into the very sad. situation that we see today where people. are dying essentially on the Walmart. floor because they're just trying to.

afford survival. And that's what I fear. and that's where I don't want you to be. cuz I'm rooting for you. Mhm. Yeah, I. don't think that I I will end up there. because I am pretty talented. Like I can always. find something, you know? Just like on. my like usual daily hustles, although it. doesn't really add up to much. Well, exactly. You need to be able to pay to. live. consistent, you know? I need. That's why Uber Eats might be. consistent. Like, it's that'll be more. than one or two things a day, right? It's just like.

It's when you want to do it. But, it's. steady, right? It's like. I assume in a big city like this, yeah, it would be. Oh, I'll give that a try. Yeah. I hope. you do. Yeah, I think that actually might work. you make some sacrifices. I hope you. make a budget. I hope you take care of. your mental health cuz that is. everything. And I hope you pay this off. as quick as possible, and I hope you. start contributing to retirement in some. way. Yeah. I'm nervous for you, and I just want to. be I just want to say that very clearly. I'm nervous, but. Yeah, I'm nervous for myself. gosh. Dude, I hope just go work a job. you don't that you doesn't feel values.

you for a bit while you look for that. career position. Bring in some money now. and take care of the situation, and no. more signing those checks when they come. in the mail. Yeah, we've learned our lesson there. Yeah, that's bad news. That's bad news. I'll let you have the final word. Um yeah. I don't know, thank you for having me. on. It was like It's tough. It's good. We got into it, but it's worth it. It's. all from love. Right on, man. Appreciate. it, Caleb. Thanks. Well, for Brent, one, I thought he was.

going to punch me. I'm very glad my face. is not punched. I know I have a. punchable face, and I thought he was. going to leave, but thank you for. sticking around, sir. Hammer Financial. score zero out of 10. I mean, there's. nothing else that can be said. Collecting rent from your parents in. your 40s, not having any retirement, being in payday loans, 100% interest. rate. It's hard to give a score above zero, so. Yeah, make sure to check out all the. resources in the description below, and. don't forget to follow my Instagram and. Twitter. Thanks.