Leona married her husband without conducting a financial background check. After nine months of marriage, she discovered he had 17 credit cards, a $500,000 house, a $330,000 rental property, a HELOC loan, medical debt, and nearly $200,000 in credit card debt. The couple’s combined income is $200,000, but her husband was heavily reliant on her income to sustain his spending habits.
Dave Ramsey advised Leona to sell the rental property immediately, consider selling their primary home, and follow their Financial Peace University coach’s guidance. He emphasized the importance of transparency in their finances, suggesting they commit to never making financial decisions without each other’s knowledge. He also recommended a strict budget to tackle the debt.
Joni paid $200,000 for a cabin but put her two daughters on the deed, even though they contributed no money. One daughter wanted to use the cabin as a seasonal rental and refused to let Joni move in, likely as retaliation for being kicked out of Joni’s house 20 years prior. The daughters’ conflicting interests and lack of financial contribution created a legal and emotional mess.
Dave Ramsey suggested Joni either convince her daughters to deed the cabin over to her, offer them money to sign over their shares, or hire an attorney to force the sale of the cabin. He emphasized that Joni would likely have to pay a 'stupid tax' to resolve the situation, as her daughters were unlikely to cooperate willingly.
Darlie and her husband borrowed $40,000 from her in-laws at 4.5% interest to take advantage of a loan assumption with a lower interest rate of 3.125% for buying a house. They reduced the loan to $22,401 but were hesitant to pay it off completely due to concerns about depleting their savings.
Dave Ramsey advised Darlie to pay off the $22,401 loan immediately, even if it reduced their savings to $3,000. He stressed that carrying debt, especially to family, creates unnecessary stress and complexity. He also warned against borrowing from family in the future, as it can strain relationships.
Jeannie hesitated to close her last credit card because she felt it provided a financial cushion and was nervous about losing that safety net. She was also influenced by decades of marketing from credit card companies that emphasized the necessity of credit for financial security.
Dave Ramsey told Jeannie to cut up her credit card immediately, as having an open credit account prevents her from achieving an indeterminable credit score. He encouraged her to rely on her own financial discipline and budgeting skills rather than depending on credit.
Jack and his wife took out a $50,000 401(k) loan to pay off credit card debt, but the credit card debt quickly returned. Their combined income is $200,000, but they continued to overspend, leading to a total debt of $120,000, including cars, a trailer, and a failing woodworking business.
Dave Ramsey advised Jack to sell both cars, the trailer, and shut down the unprofitable woodworking business. He also recommended creating a detailed budget with his wife to live within their means and focus on paying off the debt. He emphasized the importance of working together as a team to resolve their financial and marital problems.
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While we're out for the Christmas break, we've compiled some of our favorite Dave and Jade calls from the past couple of years. Enjoy your day and we'll be back with a live show in the new year!
Dave Ramsey & Jade Warshaw answer your questions and discuss:
‘My new husband is almost $1 million in debt’
'My in-laws loaned us $40K, what should we do?’
‘How beneficial is it to close my credit cards?’
‘How do I choose a financial advisor?'
‘Can I fix my marriage after getting out of debt?’
'My parents send us a bill whenever they visit.'.
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