Can you really build wealth with a simple formula? Do you need a budget to succeed financially? Should you cut up all your credit cards, or is that just a dramatic TikTok trend?

In this episode of The Stacking Benjamins Show, Joe Saul-Sehy is joined by Paula Pant, Doc G (Jordan Grumet), and Jesse Cramer for a roundtable discussion that peels back the truth behind popular advice from so-called financial “gurus.” The conversation is rooted in a provocative blog post by Christine Luken that calls out four common money mantras—and the team dives into each one with classic basement wit, spirited debate, and hard-earned wisdom.

Topics on the table:

Do you really need a budget, or can you thrive without one?

Are rigid financial formulas helpful or harmful?

Is willpower the key to financial success—or just a scapegoat?

Does cutting up credit cards actually solve your spending problems?

Along the way, you'll hear banana jokes (yes, multiple), a heated trivia contest about obsolete technology (looking at you, LaserDisc), and some good-natured trash talk that might just surprise you with how insightful it gets.

This episode is packed with nuance, laughs, and practical takeaways for Stackers who are tired of the one-size-fits-all guru approach. Whether you’re team budget or team spreadsheet freestyle, there’s something here for you—plus a solid reminder that when it comes to personal finance, the best advice is the advice that fits your life.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/lies-damn-lies-and-statistics-1701

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices