The Ramsey Show
The Ramsey Show

Build Habits That Build Wealth

August 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"Normal is broke," Jade Warshaw says early in this episode of The Ramsey Show, and the calls that follow illustrate just how many flavors "normal" comes in. Over the hour, co-hosts Rachel Cruze and Jade Warshaw field questions that reveal a consistent pattern: the money problems people face are almost never just about the numbers. Whether the caller is a high-earner whose budget keeps getting blown up by a spouse, a retiree paralyzed by fear of the market, or a young husband whose avoidance of a car payment has pushed his marriage to the brink, the throughline is the same—financial discipline is a symptom of deeper alignment, communication, and personal maturity.

The Budget Is a Marriage Problem

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What you'll learn

  • 1 Timestamped Outline
  • 2 (00:41) **Budget Discipline and Marital Tension** - Robbie from Oklahoma City describes a decade-long cycle where the family budget keeps getting blown up by his wife's spending on non-essentials like furniture, decor, and parties
  • 3 (10:24) **IRA Withdrawal Rate and Bond Allocation at 70** - Sherry in Orlando is 70, on high-flow oxygen, and was told her $130K IRA will only last seven more years
  • 4 (22:22) **Pre-Marriage Debt and a $50K Car** - Keisha in Atlanta is engaged to a man earning $58K who owes $50K on a 2024 Ford Mustang, while she makes $120K and is on Baby Steps 4-6
  • 5 (28:28) **Teaching Kids About Money at Age 9 and 12** - Mandy in St. Louis describes how she took her parents' savings and invested it in index funds, then started bringing her 9- and 12-year-old children to annual financial planning meetings
  • 6 (33:04) **Divorce Threats Over Avoidance, Not Just Money** - Terry in Orlando says his wife is talking about divorce after two years of marriage because he avoids financial responsibility, including letting his car get repossessed even though they had the money
  • 7 (44:04) **Once-in-a-Lifetime Family Trip vs. Financial Uncertainty** - Cambria in Virginia Beach wants to take a $15K trip to Sweden with her 80-year-old father, but her husband is retiring from the military and they're remodeling their house

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Guests on this episode

Show Notes

📈 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a Free Personalized Plan.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

❓ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have a money question? Ask Ramsey is here to help.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Rachel Cruze and Jade Warshaw answer your questions and discuss:

  • “Should we take a lump sum offer from a cell tower company for the rights to my grandma’s property?”
  • “My wife told me she wants to leave me because of my financial habits. What should I do?”
  • “Are we doing too much by involving our kids in our financial planning meetings?”
  • “We’re behind on our bills and stuck in a cycle of daily payments. How do we get ahead?”
  • “Should I invest more to catch up on retirement while still paying down my house?”


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