We Predict the Future of 2026—Money, Celebrities and More!
January 1, 2026
AI Summary
5 min read🎙️ The Voices & The Context
- The Format: This casual banter between two money-savvy friends kicks off the new year with champagne toasts and bold predictions blending finance, pop culture, and personal reflections on life's shifts. Playful and optimistic.
- The Format: Casual host discussion filled with laughter, sponsorship plugs, and rapid-fire guesses.
- The Key Players:
- Rachel Cruz: Ramsey Solutions personality and co-host, known for her relatable family life, no-goals mindset, and witty takes on trends like Airbnbs.
- George Camel: Co-host and fellow Ramsey expert, brings energetic predictions, personal anecdotes, and a patriotic faith in the economy.
🗝️ Key Themes & Topics
The episode bubbles with New Year's energy, mixing financial forecasts for 2026, personal habits, and celebrity gossip, all delivered with insider tips and humorous asides.
- Topic 1: New Year Reset and Predictions Kickoff. Hosts toast with California sparkling wine (revealed as a cheap $25 bottle, ~$1/glass at the end), share holiday exhaustion with kids and dogs, debate staying up till midnight, and Rachel declares her "no goal era" while George pushes for habit detoxes like fewer frozen meals.
- Topic 2: Financial Predictions for 2026. Deep dive into mortgage rates dropping to 4.5-5% (buyer-friendly), sports betting exploding among young m
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:05) **New Year Celebration & Champagne Tasting**
- 2 (02:31) **New Year Vibes & Resolutions**
- 3 (05:51) **2026 Financial Predictions: Interest Rates**
- 4 (08:52) **2026 Financial Predictions: Sports Betting**
- 5 (11:55) **2026 Financial Predictions: Airbnbs**
- 6 (14:48) **2026 Financial Predictions: Stock Market**
- 7 (18:46) **2026 Financial Predictions: Self-Driving Cars**
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
💻 Register for our Take Back Your Money in 2026 livestream for free!
No one can predict the future, but sometimes it’s fun to try! Today we’re sharing our best guesses for what’s to come in 2026. From housing and investment trends to celebrity weddings and court cases—we’ve got you covered.
Next Steps:
- 🎙️ Catch our episode We Debunk Your Top Excuses for Not Budgeting.
- 🍸 Follow Smart Money Happy Hour on TikTok: @smartmoneyhappyhour
- 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Leave us a voicemail with your question at 877-306-1517 or send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it.
- 💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.
Connect With Our Sponsors:
- Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle.
- Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.
- Get 20% off with code SMARTMONEY at Cozy Earth.
Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍾 New Year’s Champagne
- Champagne of your choice
Instructions: Pick up your favorite budget-friendly bottle of champagne and toast to the new year!
Explore More From Ramsey Network:
🪑 Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman
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