Personal finance expert and radio host Dave Ramsey is known for giving simple, straightforward money advice. A recent call on Dave Ramsey’s show caught a lot of attention after a caller told him that she and her husband need $15,000 a month just to get by.
Despite being net worth millionaires, the couple said they’ve been struggling financially since her husband lost his job and two income streams.
The caller explained that they had drained their emergency savings, tapped into retirement funds, and taken on debt while waiting to sell a property.
Ramsey immediately pushed back, saying, “You didn’t have to, but you did. Why?”
When she said it took longer to sell the home and cost more than expected, he asked how he could help.
She admitted their expenses were too high, saying their household bills total around $15,000 a month.
Ramsey didn’t hold back: “So you’re net worth millionaires, but you’ve leveraged yourself into real estate and gone broke.”
He continued, “Your million-dollar net worth is not paying you enough to justify the expenses that you have.”
Real Estate Debt and Overspending
When the caller revealed they were paying $4,600 on one mortgage and $3,400 on another, Ramsey told her plainly, “You need to be selling every piece of real estate you have except your personal residence.”
He pointed out that their properties weren’t cash flowing and said their wealth was mostly tied up in debt, making it “invalid.”
Ramsey urged the couple to simplify their finances by selling off expensive properties and using the proceeds to buy a fully paid-for home.
“You bought houses you can’t afford, honey,” he said. “That’s what we’re saying.” He emphasized that owning real estate means little if it drains cash flow and forces a family into borrowing.
The Internet Reacts
The moment drew strong reactions online after Ramsey posted the clip on X with the caption, “We need $15,000 a month to survive.”
One person commented, “Nothing like being your own worst enemy.”
Another wrote, “People need to stop living in the land of denial and humbly admit they are living above their means.”
Others called it a case of lifestyle inflation, saying no amount of budgeting could fix overspending without changing habits.
Some users mocked the situation, suggesting Ramsey’s caption should have read, “We need $15,000 a month to survive our lifestyle.”
Others pointed out that many Americans live paycheck to paycheck on far less.
A Familiar Lesson From Ramsey
While a few criticized Ramsey himself, most agreed with his takeaway, that being a millionaire on paper doesn’t matter if debt and overspending make you feel broke.
Ramsey’s message was simple: peace with money comes from living below your means and keeping things straightforward.
The call was another example of his no-nonsense advice, showing that if you’re stretched too thin, it doesn’t matter how much you make or own, you’ll still feel broke.
IMAGE CREDIT: ”Dave Ramsey” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.