"Hello Everyone and welcome to another edition of Privacy Tips, the sister podcast for Stupid Sexy Privacy.
I’m your host, BJ Mendelson
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Now, my friends we here at Stupid Sexy Privacy, have a very firm position on cryptocurrencies: They are a scam

You should not use crypto.
Generally speaking, most people don't understand crypto, and if you don't understand how something works, you shouldn't use it, and you should definitely not invest in it.
If you have a pension — or someone managing your 401K or other financial assets — you should drop what you're doing right, and make sure none of your money is invested in crypto.
Especially in light of the GENIUS Act's passage, which puts us on a path to another global financial crisis.
Now, we don't usually talk politics here at Stupid Sexy Privacy.
There are two reasons for this:
If we did, this content would age like milk.
We'd also immediately lose half of you for one reason or another.
But here's what we can say about the GENIUS Act: It's bad.
If It's Bad, Why Did It Pass?
Because the crypto industry spent $245 million in 2024 to make sure that it did
This is the same reason the United States doesn't have a national equivalent of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation.
The Big Tech companies don't want it. So we don't have it. That's what life is like in an Oligarchy.
You should remember this point, because oligarchs are the ones who financially back the fascists and weirdos.
When it comes to investing, The only thing you should ever invest in is an Index Fund.
Specifically, the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX.)
The reasons for this are best articulated by JL Collins in his book, The Simple Path to Wealth.
(The book also discusses alternatives if you can't access VTSAX, and provides guidance for those not based in the United States right now. Luck you.)
Not that you should exclusively take financial advice from us.
Anyone you hire to do so should be committed to The Fiduciary Standard. That means they work in your best interest, not in the interest of the financial industry.
But ...
There IS a section on our Privacy Tips page that does deal with financial issues.
We added this section after researching how Gen Z, doesn't separate spending and saving money from their other online activities.
More specifically, many of them don't use cash. And that's a problem.
That brings us to today’s Privacy Tip: In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash
Jean Shepard said that. And if you don't know who that is, I promise that you, that you do. And if you need a hint, just wait for Christmas to come around this year.
Now listen, You should use cash whenever possible.
Yes. I know. Cash is filthy.
But.
Money is harder to spend when it's something physically in your hands, versus something you can part with in under three taps.
Many people have found success in putting their cash into envelopes at the start of each month.
With each of those envelopes representing a thing you budgeted for.
So, if you know you're going to spend $500 a month on groceries, for example, you put $500 in cash into an envelope labeled "Groceries."
Once that envelope is empty?
You can't spend anymore on that thing.
Simple, right? That's the budgeting system we recommend.
We want you to get comfortable with using cash again.
We like cash because it doesn't leave that much of a trail when you spend it.
Unlike when you use your apps and devices to make a payment.
They track everything you do.
The only conversations cash hears is when you talk to it.
And even then, you can be reasonably sure that it's not listening.
That said, for maximum privacy, you can always wear a big ass cowboy hat to obscure your face, or better still, have someone make a purchase for you.
///
"Today’s episode of Privacy Tips was recorded in Los Angeles, California and is sponsored by DuckDuckGo.
It was written, produced, and hosted by me. B.J. Mendelson.
Before we go, I want to give a shout out to the production team at Stupid Sexy Privacy which includes Andrew VanVoorhis, Rosie Tran, and Amanda King.
And, of course, our friends at DuckDuckGo.
If you enjoyed today’s show, we hope you’ll take a moment to leave a review on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you may be listening.
This won’t take more than two minutes of your time.
You see, we have this crazy goal, and we need your help to achieve it.
We want 5% of Americans to be 1% better at protecting themselves from fascists and weirdos.
Leaving us a review can help make that happen.
That’s because your reviews will help other people find this show.
So, please take a moment to leave us a review, and we'll see you next time."