Utah mom says family’s on food stamps while husband’s in school. Ramsey calls the plan ‘irresponsible’
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During an episode of The Ramsey Show, a caller asked for advice on how she could support her husband while he earned a four-year degree in computer science.
Rachel from Salt Lake City, Utah, explained that her husband wanted to learn to code, but that the family — including the couple’s three kids — was paying for it in a serious way: living on food stamps and barely scraping by.
Finance personality Dave Ramsey expressed incredulity, saying that his company has hired many coders and their programs took much less time.
He also wasn’t shy about sharing his opinion, saying, “It’s a bad plan. There’s so much wrong with this plan, it’s unbelievable.” (1)
His response made Rachel cry, saying it was the “best thing” she’d heard in a long time.
Here’s why Ramsey says you shouldn’t “cash out on your family” to pursue your dreams.
“You don’t get to put your three kids on food stamps so you can go get your degree.” Ramsey fumed, calling the idea “extremely irresponsible.” He also described the whole situation as a “nightmare” rather than a dream.
“Your primary focus on this planet is not to self-actualize and feel good. ‘Oh, I want to live my dream, I want to live my passion.’ Find me a waaambulance,” Ramsey ranted. “Seriously, you go get a job. You feed your freaking kids first, before we talk about your dreams. You work 16 hours a day and make sure everyone is taken care of.” (2)
Instead, Ramsey and co-host Dr. John Delony said that Rachel’s husband should be working full-time, and studying during the evening.
The family needs a solid budget in place so that they can afford to support the husband’s dreams without living on the poverty line.
Before pursuing a degree or another large financial goal, it’s critical to be on solid footing when it comes to money.
This couple needs to get honest about what they can afford, and ensure that their needs — feeding their family adequately, paying down debt, and saving for the future — are met before any wants are covered, which includes pursuing higher education.
They should balance their short-term savings goal, paying for the husband’s education, with their longer term goals, such as their children’s education fund and their own retirement savings.
They should also get clear on whether a shorter course on coding could help the husband achieve the same end. Moreover, this dream needs a cost-benefit analysis. Can he make enough money after his coding course to justify their current tight budget?
Computer programming is no longer the gold mine it once was, with the Washington Post reporting (3) that this industry has recorded the worst downturn it has ever seen: more than a quarter of programming jobs have been cut in the last two years.
To put his family’s financial future at risk, Rachel’s husband should be clear that there will be a job waiting for him at the end of the line.
They need to discuss both budgeting and their long-term financial goals as a family.
Their budgeting process should include:
Tracking their current or previous spending to understand their costs
Paying down debt and building an emergency fund before saving for education costs
Determining if they can balance necessities with saving for education costs
Understanding how much the education will cost, including tuition, materials and other expenses
Outlining other financial goals, including retirement savings and emergency funds
Their long-term planning discussion should include:
Discussing their money styles, including whether they tend to be savers or spenders
Understand the risk tolerance of each spouse and respecting these differences
Researching their potential future incomes
Aligning on financial goals for their family, including how they will support their children in adulthood
Making a list of short and long term goals that they should save for
Making talking about their money a regular habit
Ultimately, this may be a selfish choice that the husband is framing as something he’s doing “for his family.”
As Ramsey said to Rachel, “you play this [recording] back for him. It won’t be pleasant.”
‘We’re Not Going To Salute That Stupidity,’ Dave Ramsey Says After Husband Claims College Is A ‘Waste Of Money’ And Rejects Paying For His KidCasey B. RennerJanuary 2, 2026 3 min readA disagreement over paying for college turned blunt on “The Ramsey Show” after a father dismissed higher education as a “waste of money.”Sierra, from Portland, Oregon, raised the issue after she and her husband reached Baby Step Five, a stage in Ramsey’s plan that focuses on saving for a child’s education, and began discussing whether to save for their son’s future.”We’re not going to salute that stupidity either,” personal finance host Dave Ramsey said, adding that “the idea that all kids don’t need a four-year education is ludicrous.”Don’t Miss:
Trade Success Reshapes The DebateSierra said she supports saving for education, while her husband is opposed to contributing to college costs. She said both she and her husband earned bachelor’s degrees, but her husband later left his degree-based career and switched to a trade.She said that within two years of changing careers, his income doubled. After that change, she said, he began viewing college as unnecessary.”He thinks that college is like a waste of money now that he’s been in a trade,” Sierra said. She added that he believes requiring their son to pay for school himself would lead to greater appreciation for money.Sierra also said a union program connected to her husband’s trade may eventually cover college costs, though the available degree options are limited and the program is not guaranteed.Trending: $100k+ in investable assets? Match with a fiduciary advisor for free to learn how you can maximize your retirement and save on taxes – no cost, no obligation.Ramsey Pushes Back On The Character Argument”The idea that the only way your child learns the value of a dollar is to make sure they have no dollars is bullcrap,” Ramsey said, adding that paying for college does not prevent children from developing a work ethic or understanding the value of money.He said he understands the husband’s focus on hard work, earning one’s way, and self-reliance. Ramsey said those values can be taught regardless of whether parents set aside money for education.He also said paying for education does not prevent parents from setting rules for their children, expecting them to work, or holding them accountable.See Also: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion –they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividendsRamsey said he agrees that some degrees lack practical application and criticized students who accumulate debt for programs without clear career outcomes. He said that concern does not apply to education as a whole.Saving Money Keeps Doors Open”When you have money allocated, you’re giving your kids options,” Ramsey said, adding that saving for education does not commit a child to a four-year college. He said those funds can be used for trade school, certifications, licenses, military training, or college, and that without money set aside, many of those options are removed.Read Next: An EA Co-Founder Shapes This VC Backed Marketplace—Now You Can Invest in Gaming’s Next Big PlatformImage: ShutterstockUp Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge’s one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today’s competitive market.Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
A Caller Told Stunned Dave Ramsey His Cancer-Stricken Wife Should Pick Up A Side Hustle, Saying She’s ‘Stable’ NowAdrian VolenikSun, January 11, 2026 at 9:32 PM GMT+7 4 min readA husband called into “The Ramsey Show” to ask why his wife always seems upset during their monthly budget discussions. By the end of the call, personal finance expert Dave Ramsey was the one asking questions, and not about the money.The Moment Everything Changed“It always feels like there’s a fight every time we go to discuss the budget,” Adam from Knoxville, Tennessee, told the hosts. They recently started using a budgeting app to create a monthly budget.Adam admitted he usually creates the budget and then presents it to his wife. “She always feels like I just make it and don’t give her any input,” he said. “That’s immature pouting. She’s having a little girl fit,” Ramsey told the caller.Don’t Miss:
“You’re the nerd in the house and she’s the free spirit,” Ramsey said, referencing a well-known framework from his Financial Peace University course. He urged Adam to stop dominating the budget and instead ask his wife to suggest changes, even small ones, so it feels like a shared plan.But then Adam casually added that his wife has stage four cancer. “But she is stable,” he said.“Well, there’s a detail,” Ramsey responded, clearly caught off guard. “Let’s not bury the lead there,” co-host George Kamel added.Adam explained that while his wife is on disability, he had asked her to contribute by doing Uber Eats a few days a week to help boost their income. She agreed that yeah, she could do that,” he said, but added that she often ends up too exhausted to do much after spending time with family.Trending: Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth — Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP ProThat’s when Ramsey’s tone shifted sharply. “I absolutely apologize to your wife for calling her a whiner in stage four cancer. And I have discovered that now you are the whiner,” he said. “Did you hear yourself? Seriously.”“Dave is aghast,” Kamel said. “No wonder she doesn’t want to talk to you. I’m serious,” Ramsey added.Ramsey then laid it out plainly: “That’s thing one, beat cancer. Get out of debt is way down the list after ‘beat cancer.’Kamel said that even if their debt payoff plan is delayed by six months because his wife isn’t well enough to deliver for Uber Eats, that’s perfectly acceptable.Ramsey urged Adam to show more empathy. “You just say, ‘All right, honey. I want to make sure more than anything we take care of you,’” he said. “‘And given that this is how much money we have… how do you want to spend the money?’”Story ContinuesTerms and Privacy PolicyPrivacy Dashboard
Dave Ramsey Says Making Kids Work Through College Isn’t ‘Child Abuse.’ He’d Take A B- Worker With Grit Over An A+ Student With No ExperienceAdrian VolenikDecember 18, 2025 4 min readA father named Corey recently called into “The Ramsey Show” to ask for financial guidance. He and his wife make $200,000 a year, but lifestyle creep and $50,000 in debt have complicated their goal of cash-flowing their son’s college tuition. Now that financial aid is off the table, Corey expects to cover up to $30,000 for the coming year if his son lives on campus.Let The Kid WorkPersonal finance expert Dave Ramsey pushed back on the idea that parents need to cover everything for their college-age children.“Junior could go get a job delivering pizzas and pay for his own dorm,” he said. “I worked when I was in college. Did you go to college, Corey? Did you work?”Don’t Miss:
Corey responded that he had been a full-time father and full-time worker during school. “Yeah. Me, too. I wasn’t a father, but I was a full-time worker,” Ramsey answered. “It’s not child abuse. It’s actually very good.”Ramsey then emphasized that experience matters more than grades.“I would rather hire a B- student who worked 40 hours a week and knows what a callous is than I would an A+ student who’s never worked a dime and doesn’t even know what it means to show up eight hours a day,” he said. “So, it’s okay if the little boy goes and gets a job.”Research backs this up, co-host Rachel Cruze added. Students who work 15 to 20 hours a week often have higher GPAs and better graduation rates. Ramsey also noted that many student-athletes maintain high academic performance despite demanding schedules.Trending: Have $100k+ to invest? Charlie Munger says that’s the toughest milestone — don’t stall now. Get matched with a fiduciary advisor and keep buildingRamsey: You Can’t Prioritize EverythingRamsey also called out Corey’s attempt to balance debt, college costs, and an upgraded lifestyle all at once. “You can’t have three goals at once. You have to have one,” he said. Ramsey urged the couple to get clear on their priorities.Instead of maintaining vacations and restaurant outings, Ramsey suggested a temporary scorched-earth approach. That means cutting all non-essentials, pausing retirement contributions, keeping the kid at home, and paying tuition with cash.“You knock this debt out,” Ramsey said. “If you want to do it even faster, sell the car. But otherwise, keep the car and pay it off.”Cruze agreed. “It’s just like one year, the year of 2026. This is our year of just getting everything cleaned up,” she said. With their income, the couple could be debt-free and still pay for college, if they live on $70,000 for the year.Story ContinuesTerms and Privacy PolicyPrivacy Dashboard
‘You’re Freaking Broke,’ Dave Ramsey Tells $130K-A-Year Couple With $190K Debt And $60K In Cars — ‘That Lifestyle Is Absolutely Asinine’Casey B. RennerJanuary 8, 2026 3 min readA $130,000-a-year income left little room to breathe once a Florida caller laid out nearly $200,000 in consumer debt and just $3,000 in savings.Alyssa from Naples, Florida, contacted “The Ramsey Show” after reviewing her finances with her husband. Once their combined figures were tallied — including nearly $200,000 in consumer debt, $60,000 tied up in cars, and just $3,000 in savings — personal finance host Dave Ramsey delivered a blunt assessment.”You’re freaking broke,” Ramsey said, adding, “That lifestyle is absolutely asinine.”Don’t Miss:
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Six Figures, Little MarginDespite earning about $11,500 a month, Alyssa said the couple feels ongoing financial pressure. She works as a mental health therapist and earns most of the income, while her husband works in construction. Before remarrying, the two handled their finances separately.”Between our combined finances, we’re bringing in about $11,500 a month and still feel like we can’t,” she said, raising concerns about stability as a self-employed parent with a 9-year-old daughter and the difficulty of building savings.Debt That Crowded Out ProgressWhen asked to list their obligations, Alyssa said the couple carries about $140,000 in student loan debt. Roughly $90,000 belongs to her, while about $40,000 belongs to her husband. They also owe about $60,000 on vehicles and have a mortgage balance of approximately $240,000.Trending: 7 Million Gamers Already Trust Gameflip With Their Digital Assets — Now You Can Own a Stake in the Platform Before the Raise Ends 1/19After those figures were laid out, co-host George Kamel shifted the focus to cash flow. “How much margin can we create every month to throw at that smallest debt?” he said, pointing to spending reductions as the primary lever rather than income growth.A Narrow Path ForwardAs Alyssa raised concerns about emergencies, Ramsey emphasized the need for immediate changes.He said the solution would require immediate, uncomfortable changes, including selling vehicles, eliminating vacations, and cutting spending deeply. “The more dramatic we change our life, the faster this is going to turn around,” he said, adding that continuing to “goof around with it” would only prolong the stress. Ramsey urged the couple to redirect all available cash toward eliminating consumer debt.”You deserve freedom,” Kamel said. “Not this life of stress.”Read Next:
Image: ShutterstockUp Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge’s one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today’s competitive market.Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
Casey B. RennerJanuary 2, 2026 3 min readA disagreement over paying for college turned blunt on “The Ramsey Show” after a father dismissed higher education as a “waste of money.”Sierra, from Portland, Oregon, raised the issue after she and her husband reached Baby Step Five, a stage in Ramsey’s plan that focuses on saving for a child’s education, and began discussing whether to save for their son’s future.”We’re not going to salute that stupidity either,” personal finance host Dave Ramsey said, adding that “the idea that all kids don’t need a four-year education is ludicrous.”Don’t Miss:
Adrian VolenikSun, January 11, 2026 at 9:32 PM GMT+7 4 min readA husband called into “The Ramsey Show” to ask why his wife always seems upset during their monthly budget discussions. By the end of the call, personal finance expert Dave Ramsey was the one asking questions, and not about the money.The Moment Everything Changed“It always feels like there’s a fight every time we go to discuss the budget,” Adam from Knoxville, Tennessee, told the hosts. They recently started using a budgeting app to create a monthly budget.Adam admitted he usually creates the budget and then presents it to his wife. “She always feels like I just make it and don’t give her any input,” he said. “That’s immature pouting. She’s having a little girl fit,” Ramsey told the caller.Don’t Miss:
Adrian VolenikDecember 18, 2025 4 min readA father named Corey recently called into “The Ramsey Show” to ask for financial guidance. He and his wife make $200,000 a year, but lifestyle creep and $50,000 in debt have complicated their goal of cash-flowing their son’s college tuition. Now that financial aid is off the table, Corey expects to cover up to $30,000 for the coming year if his son lives on campus.Let The Kid WorkPersonal finance expert Dave Ramsey pushed back on the idea that parents need to cover everything for their college-age children.“Junior could go get a job delivering pizzas and pay for his own dorm,” he said. “I worked when I was in college. Did you go to college, Corey? Did you work?”Don’t Miss:
Casey B. RennerJanuary 8, 2026 3 min readA $130,000-a-year income left little room to breathe once a Florida caller laid out nearly $200,000 in consumer debt and just $3,000 in savings.Alyssa from Naples, Florida, contacted “The Ramsey Show” after reviewing her finances with her husband. Once their combined figures were tallied — including nearly $200,000 in consumer debt, $60,000 tied up in cars, and just $3,000 in savings — personal finance host Dave Ramsey delivered a blunt assessment.”You’re freaking broke,” Ramsey said, adding, “That lifestyle is absolutely asinine.”Don’t Miss:
