Dave Ramsey Caller said her husband made $156,000 but they couldn’t afford the groceries. He spends $700 a month on vices. Ramsey doesn’t have it
A pregnant stay-at-home mom recently called the Ramsey Show to ask if she should pay off her $20,000 in car loan. But, initially a budget issue, quickly turned into a more in-depth discussion on addiction, currency control, and security in the family.
The caller explained that her husband earned all $156,000 in the family’s income, spending about $6,000 a year on tobacco and marijuana. She added that the recent family deaths brought his usage to about $700 in just last month. “Things are very tight,” she said. “I’m afraid if I do cut the checks and pay off the car, we get $600 a month to help with groceries and other bills, then go out.”
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host Dave Ramsey Not dancing on this issue. “If I say my wife is an addict, it means our marriage is either ready to end or get help next week,” he said. “But you use it like a part of your budget.”
He challenged the caller’s description of her husband, pointing out that she allowed him full access to the joint account where his salary was deposited. “If you were going to call him an addict, you would have to do that,” he said. “If he had six packs of beer or anything… and he wasn’t drunk, it wouldn’t affect his work life, but you don’t like it, that’s different from an addict.”
Co-host Yuwasha Jump in and ask if this is a budget thing or is it an actual addiction?
The caller insisted that her husband said he wanted to ask for help, but “Jesus talks happen every two weeks.”
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When callers share more phone numbers ($3,400 in mortgage, $600 in car payments and two $3,900 in salary, reach their account every month — Ramsey doesn’t believe her claims they can’t afford groceries. “You didn’t eat because he spent $750,” he said. “Now, if he loses his job, you’ll quit the food because he’s been drunk.”
According to Ramsey, the bigger question is not to pay off the car, but whether her family is in a safe and stable environment. “You either have to reclassify this in your mind or take a more stringent action than you are willing to do,” he said.
