Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi
- Episodes
- 286
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Oct 22, 2026
About the podcast
Get Ramit's new book, Money for Couples at iwt.com/moneyforcouples. From Ramit Sethi, host of Netflix’s ‘How to Get Rich’ and author of NYT bestselling books, ‘I Will Teach You To Be Rich,’ and ‘Money for Couples’… Imagine listening in on raw, unfiltered conversations with real couples, to explore how money psychology affects their everyday lives. Ramit talks with couples from all walks of life, helping them to get past guilt, resentment, & fighting over purchases, to help them create a shared vision for their Rich Life. Ramit asks the questions we wish we all could ask, presenting a new philosophy on money: spend extravagantly on the things you love, and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t. Follow Money For Couples on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X to start living your rich life today. In Money for Couples, Ramit delves into the often-hidden dynamics around money issues in marriage, which can be some of the biggest challenges couples face. Money psychology impacts everything from everyday decisions to long-term dreams, and Ramit's finance coaching sessions with couples offer an eye-opening look into the deeper emotions behind financial choices. Whether you're wondering how to save for a big goal, how to invest in a shared future, or simply looking to understand personal finance in a relationship better, this podcast delivers practical, actionable insights. Each conversation reveals that money in marriage isn't just about numbers—it's about values, trust, and working together toward a Rich Life that's unique to each couple. Ramit provides a safe space for couples to unpack the beliefs and habits that may hold them back financially, guiding them toward a shared vision for their lives. With humor and empathy, Ramit's finance coaching shows couples that they can learn to save and spend in ways that enhance, rather than hinder, their relationship. Money for Couples is not only a finance podcast but a journey into what makes a marriage strong, financially and emotionally. Through the lens of personal finance, Ramit provides a blueprint for couples to navigate the challenges of managing money together, offering tools to make confident, aligned choices. So, whether you're a fan of the Ramit Sethi podcast or new to his philosophy, tune in and learn how to save, how to invest, and how to create a financial future with the person you love. Ramit's unique approach to money psychology helps couples overcome common money issues in marriage, from guilt and resentment over purchases to aligning on long-term financial goals. By exploring real couples' stories, Ramit offers insights into how money mindset affects everyday decisions and bigger life dreams. His finance coaching provides couples with a safe space to unpack their beliefs and habits around spending, saving, and investing. Rather than focusing solely on the numbers, Ramit emphasizes the importance of values, trust, and working together toward a shared vision for a Rich Life. Couples will learn practical strategies for managing money as a team, from saving for big purchases to building investment portfolios. Ramit's philosophy of "spend extravagantly on the things you love, and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don't" empowers listeners to make financial choices that enhance their relationship. Money for Couples is an essential listen for any married or committed pair looking to improve their personal finance skills and deepen their emotional connection. Ramit's finance coaching and the real-life stories of the couples he features offer a blueprint for navigating the challenges of money in marriage. Whether you're a long-time listener of Ramit's work or new to his approach, this podcast will transform how you think about spending, saving, and investing as a couple.
Episodes 286
Inside the Secret World of Ultra-Wealthy Vacations
What does a $400,000 family vacation actually look like, and what could possibly make a hotel villa worth $15,000 a night? Ramit goes behind the scenes with luxury travel advisor Hao Tang to uncover the secret …
Show notes
What does a $400,000 family vacation actually look like, and what could possibly make a hotel villa worth $15,000 a night? Ramit goes behind the scenes with luxury travel advisor Hao Tang to uncover the secret world of luxury vacations that most people never get to experience.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:57 What Does a $400,000 Vacation Get You?
03:11 The VIP Hotel Experience Nobody Sees
05:24 Inside a $15,000 a Night Villa
07:17 Private Chefs Who Make Anything You Want
13:10 The Butlers Who Take Care of Everything
21:15 The $60,000 Vacation Disaster
25:06 Spending $300,000 for $1 Million in Travel
This episode is brought to you by:
Gelt | Gelt is taking on new clients now. Find out if you qualify at https://joingelt.com/ramit
Ramit Sethi is the host of Netflix’s “How To Get Rich” and New York Times bestselling author of “I Will Teach You To Be Rich” and “Money For Couples”
Come to me next live event:- Virtual and In-Person Events: https://iwt.com/events
Connect with Ramit:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramit
- X: https://twitter.com/ramit
Connect with Hao:
- Check out Hao's business, Besvisor: https://www.besvisor.com/
- Follow Hao to see behind the scenes of ultra-luxury hotels: https://www.instagram.com/besvisor
283. “We have 3 kids and live paycheck to paycheck. Are we screwed?”
Ramit digs into how years of impulse spending, money avoidance, and unequal financial responsibility have left a couple earning around $178,000 a year with $186,000 in debt and just $571 in savings. Ramit Sethi …
Show notes
Ramit digs into how years of impulse spending, money avoidance, and unequal financial responsibility have left a couple earning around $178,000 a year with $186,000 in debt and just $571 in savings.
Ramit Sethi talks with Michelle and Jeff, both 45, who have three children and are approaching 20 years of marriage. They’re earning more than ever, but still living paycheck to paycheck, with fixed costs consuming 87% of their take-home pay. Michelle feels responsible for making everything work, while Jeff admits that avoiding the numbers helps him avoid worrying about money and leaves her carrying the burden.
A closer look at their spending reveals a $76,000 car purchase, buy-now-pay-later spending, and more than $9,000 spent eating out reveal how their everyday decisions keep them stuck. The conversation reaches a turning point when he asks them to step away and decide whether they’re both ready to commit to change. Together, they explore the childhood experiences behind their money habits and begin building shared rules, a spending plan, and a different financial future for their family.
A special thanks to our new partners at Monarch for sponsoring this episode. Try Monarch for free today, and get 50% off your first year of Monarch’s core tier at https://monarch.com/ramit, promo code RAMIT. When you sign up with my link only, you’ll get your Monarch account customized with my exact CSP categories so you can see exactly how you’re stacking up to your plan each month. That’s https://monarch.com/ramit, promo code RAMIT.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why earning around $178,000 a year hasn’t stopped Michelle and Jeff from living paycheck to paycheck
How Michelle became responsible for managing the money and deciding which bills could wait
Why Jeff avoids the numbers, even while acknowledging the pressure it puts on Michelle
What $186,000 in debt, $571 in savings, and 87% fixed costs mean for their family
How a $76,000 car purchase left them with a roughly $1,000 monthly payment
Why Ramit pauses the conversation and asks them to decide whether they’re ready to change
How childhood experiences with money still shape their spending, trust, and communication
How they spent $9,275 eating out by August, including $2,747 in a single month
Why they agree to weekly money meetings, shared purchase rules, and a $75 monthly dining-out limit
What their follow-ups reveal about sharing responsibility and automating savings, retirement contributions, and extra debt payments
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:13) Earning more, still living paycheck to paycheck
(00:16:50) The purchase arguments putting pressure on Michelle
(00:32:04) Ramit asks them to step away and commit
(00:39:04) Facing their debt and high fixed costs
(00:49:08) The childhood money patterns they’re repeating
(01:05:53) Where their money is really going
(01:13:34) Building shared money rules
(01:20:18) Reworking their budget, savings, and debt plan
(01:28:51) Follow-ups
💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER
• I share new ways to think about money every Saturday. Get the emails here: https://iwt.com/podcastnewsletter
🙌 GET HELP FROM RAMIT SETHI
• Order my new book: Money for Couples: https://iwt.com/moneyforcouples
• Take control of your money with the Conscious Spending Plan: https://iwt.com/csp
• Optimize your credit cards with the 1st chapter of my book: https://iwt.com/chapter1-pod
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program: https://iwt.com/100k
• Listen to my book — now on Audible: https://amzn.to/48zko28
🤳 CONNECT WITH RAMIT SETHI
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramit/
• X: https://twitter.com/ramit
✅ SUBSCRIBE SO YOU DON’T MISS ANY EPISODES https://youtube.com/user/ramitsethi/featured/
This episode brought to you by:
Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
Leesa | Go to https://leesa.com for up to 30% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code RAMIT, exclusive for my listenersFabric by Gerber Life | Go to https://meetfabric.com/RAMIT and apply today, risk-free
Grow Therapy | Visit https://growtherapy.com/ramit to find a therapist today
Gelt | Gelt is taking on new clients now. Find out if you qualify at https://joingelt.com/ramit
Want to know exactly when you’ll hit your first $100K? Rich Life: Road to $100K gives you a step-by-step system to automate your money, accelerate your timeline, and build your Rich Life along the way. Join today: iwt.com/100K
Connect with Ramit:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
282. "We spend 154% of what we make. Will we ever stop drowning?"
Ramit digs into how years of overspending, money avoidance, and relying on future income have left a couple with more than $428,000 in debt, no savings, and a financial life they can no longer sustain. Ramit …
Show notes
Ramit digs into how years of overspending, money avoidance, and relying on future income have left a couple with more than $428,000 in debt, no savings, and a financial life they can no longer sustain.
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich talks with Addison, 39, and James, 43, who earn around $138,000 a year but have $0 in savings and fixed costs consuming a staggering 154% of their take-home pay. Addison feels responsible for keeping their finances afloat, while James admits he's spent years relying on optimism and money he expects to earn in the future.
As Ramit digs deeper, it becomes clear they are both contributing to the problem through restaurants, concerts, Ubers, shopping, and pet spending that has reached thousands in a single month. He helps them uncover the childhood money patterns behind their behavior, confront what they can actually afford, and make some of the biggest lifestyle changes attempted on the show all in an effort to stop living on future money and build a financial life they can actually sustain.
A special thanks to our new partners at Monarch for sponsoring this episode. Try Monarch for free today, and get 50% off your first year of Monarch’s core tier at https://monarch.com/ramit, promo code RAMIT. When you sign up with my link only, you’ll get your Monarch account customized with my exact CSP categories so you can see exactly how you’re stacking up to your plan each month. That’s https://monarch.com/ramit, promo code RAMIT.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why Addison says they may divorce if their relationship with money doesn’t change
How more than $428K of debt, $0 savings, and 154% fixed costs have left them financially exposed
Why James admits he has been “betting on money that’s not there yet”
How Addison became the financial safety net while increasingly feeling like a caretaker
Why restaurants, concerts, Ubers, shopping, and convenience spending became part of their everyday life
How they planned to spend more than $3,300 a month on food and over $1,000 a month on their dogs
Why Addison’s frustration with James is only part of the story and how her own spending contributes too
How growing up around financial stress and poverty shaped the way they both think about money today
Why 30% of their spending went toward shopping and why they couldn’t even remember some of what they bought
How they radically restructure their spending, savings, investments, and rules around money
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:31) Why divorce is already on the table
(00:08:54) The spending habits keeping them stuck
(00:19:09) How Addison became the financial safety net
(00:34:54) The true scale of their $428K debt
(00:55:29) The childhood patterns behind their spending
(01:17:08) Their shopping wake-up call
(01:18:08) Making a radical lifestyle reset
(01:30:26) Building a new financial plan
(01:47:02) Follow-up
💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER
• I share new ways to think about money every Saturday. Get the emails here: https://iwt.com/podcastnewsletter
🙌 GET HELP FROM RAMIT SETHI
• Order my new book: Money for Couples: https://iwt.com/moneyforcouples
• Take control of your money with the Conscious Spending Plan: https://iwt.com/csp
• Optimize your credit cards with the 1st chapter of my book: https://iwt.com/chapter1-pod
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program: https://iwt.com/100k
• Listen to my book — now on Audible: https://amzn.to/48zko28
🤳 CONNECT WITH RAMIT SETHI
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramit/
• X: https://twitter.com/ramit
✅ SUBSCRIBE SO YOU DON’T MISS ANY EPISODES https://youtube.com/user/ramitsethi/featured/
This episode brought to you by:
NetSuite | If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, get the free business guide “Aligning for the Agentic Era: How AI Is Changing Everyday Work” at https://netsuite.com/ramitGranola | Try Granola totally free at https://granola.ai/RAMIT.
Ladder | Get a free 7-day trial and $10 off your first month at https://ladder.fit/RAMIT
Fabric by Gerber Life | Go to meetfabric.com/RAMIT and apply today, risk-free
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Want to know exactly when you’ll hit your first $100K? Rich Life: Road to $100K gives you a step-by-step system to automate your money, accelerate your timeline, and build your Rich Life along the way. Join today: iwt.com/100K
Connect with Ramit:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
281. "We have 4 kids and nearly $1M in debt. Are we screwed?”
Ramit unpacks what happens when inconsistent income, mounting debt, and years of avoiding difficult money conversations leave a couple in their 40s feeling like they’re running out of options. Ramit Sethi of I …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks what happens when inconsistent income, mounting debt, and years of avoiding difficult money conversations leave a couple in their 40s feeling like they’re running out of options.
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich talks with Rebecca and Matthew, who have been married for 16 years and have four children. They earn around $185,000 a year, but their income is unpredictable, their fixed costs are at 84%, and they have just $1,000 in savings and $45,000 invested. They also have more than $633,000 in debt plus another $350,000 in law school loans that could bring their total debt close to $1 million.
Their biggest challenge isn’t simply learning how to budget. Rebecca feels constantly in the dark about when they’ll get paid and where their money is going, while Matthew avoids difficult conversations and tries to solve financial problems on his own. Ramit helps them confront the chaser-avoider dynamic they’ve repeated for years, why borrowing money and moving cash between accounts has never solved the underlying problem, and whether Matthew may need to walk away from his business and choose a stable income to protect their family’s future.
A special thanks to our new partners at Monarch for sponsoring this episode. Try Monarch for free today, and get 50% off your first year of Monarch’s core tier at monarch.com/ramit, promo code RAMIT. When you sign up with my link only, you’ll get your Monarch account customized with my exact CSP categories so you can see exactly how you’re stacking up to your plan each month. That’s monarch.com/ramit, promo code RAMIT.
In this episode, we uncover:
How inconsistent income has made it almost impossible for them to plan their finances
Why Rebecca says their financial situation feels “hopeless”
How their money system keeps them overspending, borrowing, and blaming each other
Why their $633K of debt could actually be closer to $1 million
How Matthew’s $350K law school debt has doubled since graduation
Why 84% fixed costs, 1% savings, and 0% investing are putting their future at risk
How their spending reveals they’re regularly buying things they haven’t actually planned for
Why Rebecca says she feels in the dark about money, paychecks, and their financial situation.
How their chaser-avoider dynamic mirrors the money patterns Matthew saw growing up
Why Matthew may need to leave his business for a stable job and why earning more alone won’t fix their relationship with money
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:07:56) The money arguments keeping them stuck
(00:22:25) Ramit opens up their finances
(00:40:54) Why their fixed costs are so high
(00:51:48) The spending they couldn't afford
(01:05:08) Why Matthew avoids money conversations
(01:14:11) Creating new rules to manage money together
(01:23:16) Should Matthew leave his business?
(01:32:30) The difficult financial choices facing their family
(01:43:41) What their retirement could look like
💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER
• I share new ways to think about money every Saturday. Get the emails here: https://iwt.com/podcastnewsletter
🙌 GET HELP FROM RAMIT SETHI
• Order my new book: Money for Couples: https://iwt.com/moneyforcouples
• Take control of your money with the Conscious Spending Plan: https://iwt.com/csp
• Optimize your credit cards with the 1st chapter of my book: https://iwt.com/chapter1-pod
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program: https://iwt.com/100k
• Listen to my book — now on Audible: https://amzn.to/48zko28
🤳 CONNECT WITH RAMIT SETHI
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramit/
• X: https://twitter.com/ramit
✅ SUBSCRIBE SO YOU DON’T MISS ANY EPISODES https://youtube.com/user/ramitsethi/featured/
This episode brought to you by:
DeleteMe | Get 20% off all consumer plans when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit and use promo code RAMIT at checkout
Factor | Head to https://factormeals.com/ramit50off and use code RAMIT50OFF to get 50% off and one free breakfast item per box for one year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026. See website for more details.
Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
Wispr Flow | Try Wispr Flow for free at wisprflow.ai/ramit
MasterClass | For unlimited access to every class and at least 15% off any annual membership, go to https://masterclass.com/ramit
Monarch | Try Monarch for free today, and get 50% off your first year of Monarch’s core tier with code RAMIT at monarch.com/ramit
Want to know exactly when you’ll hit your first $100K? Rich Life: Road to $100K gives you a step-by-step system to automate your money, accelerate your timeline, and build your Rich Life along the way. Join today: iwt.com/100K
Connect with Ramit:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
280. "We have $11M in assets. Why are we still living month to month?"
Ramit unpacks what happens when a couple earns more than $1 million a year but still feels like they’re living month to month, and how a lifestyle built around family, community, and tradition can become almost …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks what happens when a couple earns more than $1 million a year but still feels like they’re living month to month, and how a lifestyle built around family, community, and tradition can become almost impossible to afford.
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich talks with Margo and Kevin, 42 and 52, who live in Brooklyn with their five children. They take home around $600,000 a year and have approximately $11 million in assets, yet only around $50,000 in savings. Once Ramit uncovers expenses missing from their original plan, including private school tuition and summer camps, their fixed costs climb above 100% of their take-home pay, revealing that they’re spending more than they make every month.
Their biggest challenge isn’t simply earning more money. Kevin has taken on most of the finances while Margo has had limited visibility into their overall financial picture, and neither of them has a clear picture of where their money is actually going. Ramit helps them confront how community norms and family traditions shape what they see as non-negotiable, and the difficult choices they may need to make around private school, their homes, their children, and the lifestyle they’ve built.
In this episode, we uncover:
How a couple earning over $1 million a year can still live month to month
Why they describe themselves as “rich poor people”
How missing expenses push their fixed costs above 100% of their take-home pay
Why $160K in tuition and camps completely changes their financial picture
How a $400K–$500K mold crisis wiped out much of their financial cushion
Why they have $11 million in assets but only around $50K in savings
Why Kevin manages most of the money while Margo has limited visibility into their finances
How childhood money lessons shaped their “earn more, spend more” cycle
How community and tradition shape their spending
Why they may need to make major changes to their homes, education costs, and spending to finally start saving and investing
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:00) Why they call themselves “rich poor people”
(00:25:00) Ramit opens up their numbers
(00:43:00) The hidden expenses pushing them over 100%
(01:06:00) How their childhoods shaped their money habits
(01:11:00) How community and tradition shape their spending
(01:15:00) They finally confront what has to change
(01:33:00) Why $11M in assets still leaves them cash poor
(01:36:00) Private school, their homes, and the difficult decisions ahead
(01:58:00) Follow-ups
💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER • I share new ways to think about money every Saturday. Get the emails here: https://iwt.com/podcastnewsletter
🙌 GET HELP FROM RAMIT SETHI
• Order my new book: Money for Couples: https://iwt.com/moneyforcouples
• Take control of your money with the Conscious Spending Plan: https://iwt.com/csp
• Optimize your credit cards with the 1st chapter of my book: https://iwt.com/chapter1-pod
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program: https://iwt.com/100k
• Listen to my book — now on Audible: https://amzn.to/48zko28
🤳 CONNECT WITH RAMIT SETHI
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramit/
• X: https://twitter.com/ramit
✅ SUBSCRIBE SO YOU DON’T MISS ANY EPISODES https://youtube.com/user/ramitsethi/featured/
This episode brought to you by:
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Want to know exactly when you’ll hit your first $100K? Rich Life: Road to $100K gives you a step-by-step system to automate your money, accelerate your timeline, and build your Rich Life along the way. Join today: iwt.com/100K
Connect with Ramit:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
279. “He lost his $150k job, but I make every decision - can we fix this?”
Ramit unpacks how to manage money as a couple after a job loss and what happens when one partner carries most of the financial responsibility while the other starts stepping back. Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks how to manage money as a couple after a job loss and what happens when one partner carries most of the financial responsibility while the other starts stepping back.
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich talks with Isabelle and Ryan, 37 and 40, who have been married for 12 years and have a four-year-old daughter. After Ryan was laid off from his $150,000 software engineering job, Isabelle became the sole earner. They have around $1.2 million in assets and an $800,000 net worth, but two mortgages and fixed costs at 83% of their income have left them trying to figure out how to manage their money on one income.
Their biggest challenge isn’t simply how to budget or save money. Isabelle manages most of their financial planning and decision-making, while Ryan struggles with money anxiety, guilt around spending, and feeling shut down when he tries to get involved. Ramit helps them understand how childhood scarcity shaped their relationship with money, how to communicate about finances without falling into a parent-child dynamic, and how reducing their fixed expenses could give them more freedom to actually enjoy the money they’ve built.
In this episode, we uncover:
How to manage money as a couple after a job loss
How to budget on one income without letting financial anxiety take over
Why Isabelle feels exhausted managing their financial future
Why Ryan feels guilty spending money despite their $800K net worth
How a $3,000 espresso machine exposes his money anxiety
Why their fixed costs have reached 83% of their income
How two mortgages are putting pressure on their monthly budget
How childhood scarcity shaped their relationship with money
Why their dynamic has started to feel like a parent-child relationship
How clear money rules and lower fixed expenses could help them become a team
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:00) Why Isabelle feels responsible for their financial future
(04:00) The purchase that exposes Ryan’s money anxiety
(09:50) How losing his $150K job changed their roles
(39:00) Ramit opens up their numbers
(48:00) Why they’re paying two mortgages
(01:04:00) How childhood scarcity shaped their money dynamic
(01:23:00) The parent-child dynamic they’ve fallen into
(01:38:00) Ryan and Isabelle make a new financial plan
(02:07:00) Follow-ups
💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER
• I share new ways to think about money every Saturday. Get the emails here: https://iwt.com/podcastnewsletter
🙌 GET HELP FROM RAMIT SETHI
• Order my new book: Money for Couples: https://iwt.com/moneyforcouples
• Take control of your money with the Conscious Spending Plan: https://iwt.com/csp
• Optimize your credit cards with the 1st chapter of my book: https://iwt.com/chapter1-pod
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program: https://iwt.com/100k
• Listen to my book — now on Audible: https://amzn.to/48zko28
🤳 CONNECT WITH RAMIT SETHI
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramit/
• X: https://twitter.com/ramit
✅ SUBSCRIBE SO YOU DON’T MISS ANY EPISODES https://youtube.com/user/ramitsethi/featured/
This episode is brought to you by:
ZocDoc | Taking care of your health just got easier – start here with Zocdoc: https://zocdoc.com/RAMIT #sponsored
ElevenLabs | If you run a business or handle customer operations across support, sales, or marketing, start with a demo at https://elevenlabs.io/ramit
Granola | Try Granola totally free at https://granola.ai/RAMIT.
Leesa | Go to https://leesa.com for 25% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code RAMIT, exclusive for my listeners
Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
Connect with Ramit:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
278. "We spend 108% of what we make. Are we screwed?"
Ramit unpacks how to stop overspending, take control of your money as a couple, and prepare financially for starting a family. Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich talks with Grace and Chris, who are 30 …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks how to stop overspending, take control of your money as a couple, and prepare financially for starting a family.
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich talks with Grace and Chris, who are 30 and 29 and have been married for six months. They have around $119,500 invested and unusually low housing costs, yet their finances feel chaotic and unstable. They spend more than they make, struggle to understand where the money goes, and have never had a substantive conversation about money as a couple.
The deeper problem is the dynamic they’ve fallen into. Grace handles most of the money while Chris takes a back seat, and both avoid the uncomfortable conversations they know they need to have. With children now part of their near-term plans, Ramit pushes them to confront where their habits came from and what has to change before the stakes get even higher.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why Grace feels like she’s managing their money alone
How Chris’s avoidance keeps the same cycle going
Why “we’ll figure it out later” keeps costing them
How a $100 weekend budget disappeared at a baseball game
Why 108% fixed costs are only part of the problem
How Amazon, eating out, and social spending keep slipping through the cracks
How inheritance, a mortgage-free home, and family support shaped their relationship with money
How their childhoods taught them to avoid talking about money
Why starting a family makes their financial situation more urgent
How they can finally start making financial decisions as a team
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:36) “I’m crying for help on a sinking ship”
(00:16:53) The baseball game that exposes their money dynamic
(00:24:22) Ramit opens up their numbers
(00:40:37) Where their $119K investments came from
(00:47:40) What their childhoods taught them about money
(00:56:46) They’ve never defined their Rich Life
(01:04:04) What happens if nothing changes?
(01:18:32) Can they make the next 15 months work?
(01:31:43) Follow-ups
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277. "He has $100K of debt. Should I still marry him?"
Ramit unpacks whether Randy can move toward marriage while Mack brings $100,000 of debt into their future together and whether that debt could become a problem they both have to live with. Randy and Mack are in …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks whether Randy can move toward marriage while Mack brings $100,000 of debt into their future together and whether that debt could become a problem they both have to live with.
Randy and Mack are in their early 30s, and are talking seriously about marriage. But their financial lives look completely different. Randy has a net worth of around $102,000, while Mack is at roughly negative $56,000, largely because of $100,000 of debt. Randy feels increasingly “handcuffed” by what that debt means for their future, while Mack worries that he has gone from being supported to becoming a problem to solve.
Ramit quickly discovers that the real issue is not simply the debt. Mack already has an aggressive payoff plan that could make him debt-free in under four years. The deeper problem is trust, avoidance, and the way they manage money as a couple. Ramit helps them rethink their 50/50 split, build a more equitable system, and create a plan where Mack takes ownership of his debt while they start making financial decisions as a team.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why Randy feels “handcuffed” by Mack’s financial situation as they discuss marriage
How a couple earning $309,000 ended up with radically different financial lives
How Mack accumulated $100,000 of debt
Why Randy’s fixed costs are 47% while Mack’s are 87%
Why Mack avoids money even though he manages large budgets professionally
How Mack’s debt went from his problem to their problem
Why Ramit thinks Mack’s debt payoff plan is actually a strong one
The hidden trust issue underneath their arguments about money
Why splitting their shared expenses 50/50 no longer works
How they can become debt-free in under four years while still saving, investing, and enjoying life
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:53) Randy feels “handcuffed” by Mack’s debt
(00:23:20) Their numbers reveal a huge financial divide
(00:34:47) How Mack accumulated $100K of debt
(00:43:08) Mack’s debt payoff plan surprises Ramit
(00:53:35) How their childhoods shaped their money beliefs
(01:06:43) The real issue underneath the debt: trust
(01:10:43) Building their shared Rich Life
(01:15:58) Why splitting everything 50/50 no longer works
(01:31:32) Follow-ups: what changed after the conversation
This episode is brought to you by:
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Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd Grow Therapy | Visit https://growtherapy.com/ramit to find a therapist today
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Got a money question you’ve always wanted to ask me? Join me live on September 17th for “Why Your Budget Keeps Failing.” I’ll show you how to build a Conscious Spending Plan and answer your questions live. Join me: https://iwt.com/budget
Ever wondered what recruiters actually think when they see your application? On September 16th, Google recruiter Nicky Slavich will reveal what makes recruiters keep reading and when to apply even if you’re underqualified. RSVP free: https://iwt.com/expertsession
Connect with Ramit:
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
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• Twitter
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
276. "I resent carrying our finances. Can we fix this?"
Ramit unpacks how resentment, unequal workloads, and conflicting ideas about money can push a marriage to breaking point, even when the numbers suggest a couple should be doing well. Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks how resentment, unequal workloads, and conflicting ideas about money can push a marriage to breaking point, even when the numbers suggest a couple should be doing well.
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Lauren and Robert, a married couple who have spent years building resentment around work, spending, and who carries the financial load. Lauren works three jobs, often 55–60 hours a week, while managing most of their finances. Robert, a retired Navy veteran who once believed retirement meant he wouldn’t need to work again, has recently returned to work.
On paper, they’re doing better than they think, but they have just $24,000 in savings, around $70,000 in debt, fixed costs at 81%, and almost nothing currently being directed toward savings or investments. Along the way, a $700,000 inheritance, a $40,000 pool scam, a $3,200 bounce house, and a $150,000 pool became major sources of conflict.
Lauren believes Robert needs to earn more. Robert feels like his opinion often doesn’t matter because Lauren earns more. But Ramit quickly discovers that more income isn’t going to solve what’s happening between them. Their resentment has reached the point where they’ve talked about divorce. To move forward, they’ll need to stop keeping score, create a shared vision for their money, and learn how to operate as a team.
A special thanks to DeleteMe for sponsoring this episode. Get 20% off all consumer plans when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit and use promo code RAMIT at checkout.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why Lauren feels like she’s been carrying the financial weight for years
Why Robert believed retirement meant he wouldn’t need to work again
How a $700,000 inheritance shaped the life they built together
Why a second $150,000 pool became a major source of conflict
Why Robert feels like saying “no” rarely changes the outcome
Why Lauren struggles to say no to herself and their children
Why Ramit tells them Robert earning more money won’t fix the real problem
Why they earn more than they realized but still barely save or invest
How Robert’s childhood shaped his views on work, scarcity, and spending
How Ramit helps them rebuild their financial system around partnership
Whether Lauren and Robert can stop keeping score and start acting like a team
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:05:09) Lauren receives a $700,000 inheritance
(00:19:00) When the resentment started building
(00:31:59) Ramit reviews their financial numbers
(00:37:06) Why they’re barely saving or investing
(00:50:40) Lauren has been managing the money alone
(00:56:31) They’ve never created a shared financial vision
(01:03:41) Ramit changes how they talk about money
(01:24:39) What their retirement could actually look like
(01:27:21) Rebuilding their Conscious Spending Plan
(01:35:26) Lauren and Robert’s follow-up
This episode is brought to you by:
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If you’re ready to stop putting off your money goals, Road to $100K gives you a step-by-step plan to reach your first $100,000, focus on what matters, and accelerate your timeline while building your Rich Life. Join Road to $100K at https://iwt.com/100K
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
275. "We escaped debt so why are we still spending like this?"
Ramit unpacks how to stop overspending, stay out of debt, and start building wealth as this couple confronts the spending habits they thought they had already fixed. Three years ago, Mason and Becca finally …
Show notes
Ramit unpacks how to stop overspending, stay out of debt, and start building wealth as this couple confronts the spending habits they thought they had already fixed.
Three years ago, Mason and Becca finally confronted a financial reality they had been avoiding. Despite good careers and the appearance of success, they had accumulated nearly $50,000 in credit card debt. They cut back hard, aggressively paid it down, sold their house, and moved to Florida. Now they have around $100,000 from the home sale sitting in savings, but they’re worried the same habits that got them into debt are starting to creep back in.
They still don’t properly track their spending. Shopping, expensive date nights and a large “miscellaneous” category make it difficult to see where their money is actually going, while Mason experiments with day trading and considers ideas for generating passive income. On paper, they’re doing far better than they realize: they have around $204,000 invested, $124,000 in savings, and a net worth of roughly $326,000. But without changing how they spend and manage their money, Ramit sees a real risk of them falling back into debt.
Ramit helps them figure out what comes after getting out of debt: how to stop mindless spending without giving up the things they love, save and invest intentionally, and start building real wealth. They rethink their plans for an $800,000 dream home, confront the scarcity they both grew up with, and discover how increasing their income and investing more could completely transform their financial future.
In this episode, we uncover:
How Mason and Becca built nearly $50,000 in credit card debt
The conversation that finally forced them to change their spending
Why they used a 401(k) loan to aggressively pay down debt
How selling their house left them with around $100,000 in cash
Why having that much money makes Becca anxious
Why they’re scared of slipping back into their old spending habits
How shopping, expensive date nights, and impulse purchases added up
Why they still don’t properly track where their money goes
How their $3,000 Disney annual passes fit into their Rich Life
Why Ramit sees a real risk of them falling back into debt
What Ramit sees in Mason’s day trading and passive income ideas
Why their $326,000 net worth surprises them
How Becca’s childhood shaped her belief that she would never be rich
How Mason grew up seeing money as stress and struggle
What they want their son to learn about money
Why buying an $800,000 house would require major trade-offs
How Ramit helps them rebuild their Conscious Spending Plan
Why increasing their income becomes the biggest lever for their future
How their retirement projection jumps from around $3.1M to $4.7M
How they finally become completely debt-free
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:45) How they built nearly $50K in debt
(00:06:39) Using a 401(k) loan to escape debt
(00:08:53) Selling their house leaves them with $100,000
(00:11:15) “We just swiped the card”
(00:14:37) Their old spending habits start creeping back
(00:16:31) They disagree about buying another house
(00:24:05) Ramit reviews their financial numbers
(00:31:13) Ramit digs into their 71% fixed costs
(00:37:30) Day trading and the dream of passive income
(00:38:46) How Becca grew up around money
(00:47:50) How Mason grew up around money
(00:52:43) What they want to teach their son
(00:56:41) Ramit starts rebuilding their financial plan
(01:07:26) Redirecting their money toward investing
(01:11:59) The reality of an $800,000 dream home
(01:19:18) Why earning more becomes the priority
(01:24:01) Their retirement could reach $4.7 million
(01:32:15) Their house timeline changes completely
(01:33:25) Mason and Becca become debt-free
This episode is brought to you by:
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If you’re ready to stop putting off your money goals, Road to $100K gives you a step-by-step plan to reach your first $100,000, focus on what matters, and accelerate your timeline while building your Rich Life. Join Road to $100K at https://iwt.com/100K
Connect with Ramit:
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
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• Twitter
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
274. "We have a newborn and 89% of our income is already spent...Now what?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Shelby and Calvin, 31 and 43, who have a new baby and feel trapped by their financial situation. Together they earn about $102,000 a year, but they have …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Shelby and Calvin, 31 and 43, who have a new baby and feel trapped by their financial situation. Together they earn about $102,000 a year, but they have just $3,500 in savings, more than $20,000 in debt, and $0 currently going toward savings or investments.
Shelby wants more structure and transparency, while Calvin admits that talking about money makes him uncomfortable. Their relationship has also been strained by financial secrecy, including a personal loan Shelby believed had already been paid off.
Once their baby expenses are fully accounted for, their fixed costs rise to 89%. Ramit pushes them to stop relying on vague plans and small cuts and instead make bigger changes to how they manage money together. By the end of the conversation, they have a plan to reduce expenses, aggressively pay down debt, save automatically, and become more active financial partners.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why Calvin kept a personal loan secret
Why Shelby does not fully trust him
How they earn about $102,000 but still struggle
Why their fixed costs reach 89%
Why $0 currently goes toward savings
Why Calvin says he has been in debt his whole life
How he quietly sabotaged their money meetings
How their childhoods shaped opposite money habits
Why Shelby takes on more financial responsibility
Why cutting small expenses isn’t enough
How Calvin confronts the impact of his financial decisions
How they could pay off their debt in around 11 months
How they begin saving automatically
Whether they can follow through on the plan
Chapters
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:01) Shelby discovers Calvin’s hidden debt
(00:04:55) Why Calvin kept the loan secret
(00:05:52) One layoff away from needing help
(00:08:28) Calvin wants Shelby to manage the money
(00:12:48) Shelby admits she does not fully trust Calvin
(00:21:14) Ramit reviews their financial numbers
(00:23:59) Calvin has been in debt his whole life
(00:24:42) They earn more than $102,000 a year
(00:27:36) Their fixed costs reveal the real problem
(00:35:39) Calvin admits sabotaging their money meetings
(00:38:08) Their fixed costs reach 89%
(00:44:58) How Calvin grew up around money
(00:50:10) Shelby’s childhood experience with scarcity
(00:59:05) Rebuilding financial trust
(01:03:03) Ramit rebuilds their Conscious Spending Plan
(01:09:17) Creating a bigger financial vision
(01:21:07) Redirecting spending toward debt
(01:27:38) Calvin confronts his financial decisions
(01:54:14) Shelby and Calvin’s follow-up
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Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
273. "We Spend 139% of our Income and still fund our adult kids"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Mary and Harry, 57 and 62, who are approaching retirement while spending more than they earn every month. They have a blended family of seven adult …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Mary and Harry, 57 and 62, who are approaching retirement while spending more than they earn every month. They have a blended family of seven adult children and continue stepping in whenever one of them needs money, housing support, childcare, repairs, or help managing another crisis.
Mary handles nearly all of their finances and feels overwhelmed almost every day. Harry’s income is inconsistent, and about a year ago, he revealed that he had accumulated $43,000 in credit card debt without telling her. Mary initially feared he was about to confess to an affair. Instead, she discovered that decisions she had been making were based on an incomplete picture of their finances.
Today, they have approximately $476,000 in assets, $499,000 invested, just $3,000 in savings, and $435,000 in debt. Their net worth is around $542,000, but their fixed costs have reached an unsustainable 139%. With retirement approaching, Ramit makes it clear that small cuts will not be enough. Harry needs to substantially increase his income, they may need to sell their home and rent, and both of them must stop treating their adult children as financially dependent.
In this episode, we uncover:
Why Mary thought Harry was confessing to an affair
How Harry accumulated $43,000 in secret debt
Why their fixed costs reached an alarming 139%
How they spend more than they earn every month
Why they have only $3,009 available in savings
Their $476,000 in assets and $435,000 in debt
Why Mary thinks about money almost every day
How supporting their adult children created more debt
Why they gave one child between $20,000 and $30,000
How financial secrecy damaged Mary’s trust in Harry
Why Mary became solely responsible for their finances
How guilt prevents them from saying no to their children
Why Mary continues covering some expenses for her adult son
The text Mary sends removing him from their phone plan
Why Harry needs to increase his income to $5,000 monthly
How renting could reduce their fixed costs to around 59%
Why selling their house feels like failure to Mary
How renting could free up more than $2,000 each month
Why boundaries could make their adult children stronger
Whether they can transform their finances before retirement
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:38) Adult children, broken trust, and income imbalance
(00:05:16) Harry reveals his hidden credit card debt
(00:06:50) Mary fears Harry is about to confess to an affair
(00:08:44) Their blended family of seven adult children
(00:11:19) Rebuilding trust after financial secrecy
(00:18:07) Why Mary manages the finances alone
(00:24:21) Mary fears carrying a mortgage into her 80s
(00:28:04) What happens if nothing changes?
(00:32:20) Would they fund another family emergency?
(00:35:53) How Mary inherited her beliefs about money
(00:52:03) Their retirement savings and pensions
(00:59:39) The true cost of rescuing their adult children
(01:16:23) Ramit reviews their Conscious Spending Plan
(01:18:27) Their fixed costs reach 139%
(01:22:32) Mary texts her son
(01:26:59) Cutting groceries, clothes, and subscriptions
(01:29:00) Harry must dramatically increase his income
(01:32:25) Should they sell their house and rent?
(01:54:48) Mary and Harry’s follow-upThis episode is brought to you by:
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If you’re part of a small group listening to this podcast that is willing to take action, I built Road to $100K for you - a step-by-step program on how to reach $100K. Join Rich Life: Road to $100K at iwt.com/100K.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
272. "We own two houses, but can’t afford dinner out"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Nicole and Drew, 39 and 40, who are expecting their first child in just two weeks. They split their time between Southern California and Maui, where they …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Nicole and Drew, 39 and 40, who are expecting their first child in just two weeks. They split their time between Southern California and Maui, where they each own a home. Nicole bought her house after Drew made it clear that continuing to stay with roommates was not an option.
Today, they earn $296,700 a year, own $1.25 million in assets, and have a net worth of more than $500,000. But their two homes consume over 40% of their income, and once their numbers are corrected, their fixed costs rise to 85%. Despite their high income, they feel unable to eat out, attend concerts, or enjoy the life they have worked to build.
Nicole is a psychology professor who plans everything down to the dollar and worries about having enough savings. Drew is a life coach and therapist-in-training who admits that she often goes by “vibes” and trusts that things will work out. With a baby arriving and their savings falling, they must decide whether Drew can realistically double her income or whether they need to sell the Maui house.
In this episode, we uncover:
• Why Nicole bought a house within months of Drew’s housing non-negotiable
• How they ended up supporting two homes in two different states
• Why earning nearly $297,000 still leaves them feeling financially trapped
• Their $1.25 million in assets and nearly $1 million of debt
• Why their fixed costs jumped from 77% to 85%
• How their two homes consume more than 40% of their income
• Nicole’s numbers-first approach and Drew’s habit of going by “vibes”
• How grad school, flooding, and a $29,000 sewer repair drained their savings
• Why the baby may not increase their expenses as much as expected• How Nicole’s sabbatical gives them a temporary financial window
• Why their Maui house is co-owned without a clear written agreement
• Whether Drew can realistically double her income after graduating
• Why depending on one future income increase is a major financial risk• How selling the Maui house could release around $150,000
• Why selling could reduce their fixed costs to approximately 65%
• How they could keep Maui in their lives without owning property there
• How they can build a plan that does not require everything to go perfectly
• Why “spaciousness” becomes the center of their new Rich Life vision
• The decision Ramit believes they need to make before their savings fall further
Chapters
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:09) Two homes in two different states
(00:07:03) Nicole kept her housing costs at just 12%
(00:08:18) Drew’s housing non-negotiable changed everything
(00:14:43) Nicole tracks the numbers, Drew goes by “vibes”
(00:21:26) What does their Rich Life actually look like?
(00:24:47) Ramit reviews their Conscious Spending Plan
(00:25:53) $1.25 million in assets and $986,000 of debt
(00:28:15) They earn $296,700 but still feel squeezed
(00:29:46) Their fixed costs are higher than they realised
(00:32:50) Two homes consume 40.5% of their income
(00:34:50) Grad school, flooding, and expensive home repairs
(00:40:16) Their real fixed costs jump to 85%
(00:45:19) Can they afford their new baby?
(01:06:01) Drew’s “life will provide” money mindset
(01:12:00) Are they actually on track for retirement?
(01:24:39) Ramit reveals their retirement projections
(01:33:19) Selling could reduce their fixed costs to 65%
(01:50:07) Redefining their Rich Life around “spaciousness”
(01:53:04) Ramit’s final assessment
This episode is brought to you by:
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If you’re part of a small group listening to this podcast that is willing to take action, I built Road to $100K for you - a step-by-step program on how to reach $100K. Join Rich Life: Road to $100K at iwt.com/100K.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
• YouTube
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
271. "He hid $30K of debt a month before our wedding"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Sana and Arhem, both 27 and newly married. One month before their wedding, Arhem revealed that he had hidden $30,000 of credit card debt. After they both …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich speaks with Sana and Arhem, both 27 and newly married. One month before their wedding, Arhem revealed that he had hidden $30,000 of credit card debt. After they both lost their jobs, Sana discovered that he had fallen even further into debt without telling her.
Today, they earn $188,000 a year and have created an aggressive plan to tackle their $165,000 of total debt. But while their numbers are improving, the betrayal has fundamentally changed their relationship. Sana has become the financial orchestrator, while Arhem feels like a student trying to prove that he can be trusted again.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Arhem hid $30,000 of credit card debt before their wedding • How Sana discovered that the debt had grown again
• Why the financial betrayal nearly ended their relationship
• How they are rebuilding trust after years of secrecy
• Their professor-and-student dynamic with money
• Why Sana feels responsible for supporting her entire family
• How cultural expectations shape her financial decisions
• Their $188,000 income and $165,000 of total debt
• Why their highly organized financial system still feels joyless
• How Arhem accumulated his credit card debt
• Why earning more money will not stop Sana from worrying
• The danger of postponing happiness until they are debt-free
• Why their debt payoff plan may be too aggressive
• The connection between joint finances and rebuilding trust
• Why Ramit recommends couples therapy
• How they can start prioritizing their marriage • The changes Sana and Arhem made after the conversation
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction (00:03:09) Arhem hid $30,000 of debt before their wedding (00:08:06) “If things don’t change, the relationship is done” (00:12:40) Can Sana ever completely trust Arhem again? (00:15:26) Their professor-and-student money dynamic (00:17:35) Why Sana feels responsible for supporting her family (00:28:18) Their $165,000 debt and negative net worth (00:30:27) They earn $188,000—but live like they’re struggling (00:35:12) “When do I actually get to enjoy my life?” (00:46:26) Sana’s childhood money rules (00:56:26) How Arhem accumulated his credit card debt (01:04:02) What does their Rich Life actually look like? (01:09:14) Why their relationship keeps coming second (01:17:53) Ramit reviews their aggressive debt payoff plan (01:21:46) Why they need to start spending on joy now (01:29:47) Joint finances, trust, and couples therapy (01:36:35) Putting their marriage ahead of everyone else (01:47:33) Sana and Arhem’s biggest realizations (01:55:02) Six weeks later: what changed?
This episode is brought to you by:
Fabric by Gerber Life | Go to meetfabric.com/RAMIT and apply today, risk-free
Wispr Flow | Try Wispr Flow for free at wisprflow.ai/ramitDeleteMe | Get 20% off all consumer plans when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit and use promo code RAMIT at checkout
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If you’re part of a small group listening to this podcast that is willing to take action, I built Road to $100K for you - a step-by-step program on how to reach $100K. Join Rich Life: Road to $100K at iwt.com/100K.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
270. “We’re sacrificing our retirement to pay for our kids’ college”
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Mia and Jake, a couple in their late 30s and early 40s in a blended family with three children. Mia wrote in because she’s afraid paying for their children’s …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Mia and Jake, a couple in their late 30s and early 40s in a blended family with three children. Mia wrote in because she’s afraid paying for their children’s college will cause resentment in their relationship. With no idea how much they are spending, why, or what they truly want their money to do for them, Ramit helps them uncover the root of their money woes. Will they finally get on the same page, create a financial system that works, and feel confident making money decisions together?
In this episode we uncover:
• How financial discussions lead to frustration and anxiety
• The surprising cost of their previous “dream” home
• Why they sold their house and downsized
• The connection between “feeling” and making financial decisions
• How money scarcity is fueling guilt and fear
• Why Jake doesn’t understand how to make his money work for him
• A deep dive into Mia's family money rules
• Why Jake was afraid to talk about money
• How their pension influences their financial outlook
• The hidden costs of everyday living
• Why just “cutting costs” isn’t a long-term solution
• The powerful connection between clarity and confidence
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:54) “I feel resentment from my husband because our money supports my kids”
(00:08:00) Mia and Jake’s money conversations
(00:10:28) Mia and Jake bought a huge house they couldn’t afford (00:13:38) Moving on from the house-broke mistake
(00:23:23) Mia’s old budget felt like “paper pushing”
(00:38:43) Why does Mia feel scared about money?
(00:41:39) Adjusting their fixed costs
(00:48:43) Why cutting costs is easy for Mia and Jake
(00:50:33) Their pension: a financial safety net
(01:03:03) Trading anxiety for guilt
(01:06:35) Jake’s money messages
(01:07:54) What is your rich life vision?
(01:13:40) Mia and Jake’s money system
(01:25:10) Building Jake’s confidence with money
(01:32:20) How Mia and Jake feel about their money now
(01:35:22) Mia and Jake’s next steps
This episode is brought to you by:
Leesa | Go to https://leesa.com for 25% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code RAMIT, exclusive for my listeners
Trust & Will | Protect what matters most in minutes at https://trustandwill.com/ramit and get 20% off
Gelt | Gelt is taking on new clients now. Find out if you qualify at https://joingelt.com/ramit
Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
If you’re part of a small group listening to this podcast that is willing to take action, I built Road to $100K for you - a step-by-step program on how to reach $100K. Join Rich Life: Road to $100K at iwt.com/100K.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
• YouTube
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
269. "I want to retire, but my wife is too scared"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Meg and Jo, a married couple in their 60s with more than $6 million in net worth, strong incomes, and a retirement problem that is not really about money. Meg …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Meg and Jo, a married couple in their 60s with more than $6 million in net worth, strong incomes, and a retirement problem that is not really about money.
Meg is ready to stop working. Jo wants to retire too, but feels terrified of making the wrong decision and carrying the responsibility for their investments alone. Despite having millions, speaking with financial advisors, and living well below their means, they remain stuck between fear, resentment, and “vibes.”
A special thanks to Facet for sponsoring this episode. As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving their enrollment fee for new annual members, and for Ramit’s audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
Facet is a SEC registered investment advisor. Ramit is not a member of Facet, and has an incentive to endorse Facet as he has an ongoing fee based contract for cash compensation based on this endorsement. All opinions are his own and not a guarantee of a similar outcome.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Meg feels entitled to retire and Jo feels alone carrying the financial responsibility
• How Jo became the financial gatekeeper in their relationship
• Why Meg has avoided learning the details of their investments
• How different childhood experiences with money shaped their fears
• Why Jo’s experience during the 2008 financial crash still affects her decisions today
• How emotional labor around money can quietly create resentment in a marriage
• Why their disagreement about renovating their home is really about control and security
• What their $6.1M net worth, pension, investments, and spending actually allow them to do
• Why working longer could leave them with $14M they may never use
• The three retirement scenarios that show they can retire sooner than they thought
• Why Ramit says Meg needs to “step into her wealth”
• What Meg and Jo decided after seeing the numbers clearly
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:26) Meg wants to retire, but Jo is hesitant
(00:05:40) How Jo became the financial gatekeeper
(00:10:19) “I wish you were a partner”
(00:19:18) Why Jo is scared to manage retirement alone
(00:27:22) Jo’s scarcity mindset and family history
(00:41:02) Renovating the house reveals deeper resentment
(00:46:46) “What do you base that on?” “Vibes.”
(01:01:24) The 2008 crash and Jo’s fear of losing security
(01:04:57) Their Conscious Spending Plan
(01:09:07) “I spent for dopamine. I gambled like an addict.”
(01:16:57) They have enough money but do not believe it
(01:19:22) Three retirement scenarios
(01:30:01) Why Meg thought Jo was saying they could not retire
(01:30:49) “God, I wish you were a partner”
(01:32:38) Choosing their retirement timeline
(01:36:07) Creating a retirement paycheck
(01:40:48) What happens if one of them dies?
(01:48:21) Meg and Jo’s follow-up
(01:49:54) “We have more money than time”
This episode is brought to you by:
MasterClass | For unlimited access to every class and at least 15% off any annual membership, go to https://masterclass.com/ramit
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Ready to stop wondering where your money goes and start building your first $100K? Join Rich Life: Road to $100K at iwt.com/100K.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Join my Rich Life: Road to $100K program
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
• YouTube
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
268. "We Make $150K… So why are we broke?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Lauren and Mick, a married couple in their 30s with two kids, $93K of debt, and a dream of moving into a bigger home. They earn around $150K a year combined …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Lauren and Mick, a married couple in their 30s with two kids, $93K of debt, and a dream of moving into a bigger home. They earn around $150K a year combined, but with 89% of their take-home pay already going to fixed costs, just $5K in savings, and years of impulsive spending, their money is stretched far beyond what their lifestyle can support.
Both Lauren and Mick have ADHD, which they say makes it harder to manage bills, avoid dopamine spending, and follow through on financial systems. Ramit acknowledges those challenges while encouraging them to explore a deeper issue: ADHD can make money management more difficult, but finding ways to navigate those challenges is still an important part of making the financial decisions their family depends on.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Lauren and Mick earn $150K but still only have $5K in savings
• How $93.5K of debt is keeping them trapped
• Why their 89% fixed costs make a bigger house impossible right now
• How ADHD affects their impulse spending, overdue bills, and financial systems
• How consolidating $35K of credit-card debt did not solve the behavior behind it
• Why they have avoided fully combining their finances after seven years of marriage
• How Mick losing his job for a year changed their relationship with money
• How both of their childhoods shaped their current spending habits
• Why wanting a third child and bigger home is creating pressure they cannot afford
• Why small cuts will not fix a structural financial problem
• Why Ramit says their household needs a clearer path to $200K in income
• What it takes to turn a fantasy of a better life into a real financial plan
• How Lauren and Mick responded after the conversation
Chapters:
(00:00:00) They admit their biggest money mistake
(00:01:18) Meet Lauren & Mick
(00:02:04) Their shocking financial numbers
(00:05:05) How ADHD affects their spending
(00:07:08) LEGOLAND, LEGO, and impulse purchases
(00:12:22) How job loss changed everything
(00:17:38) Breaking down their finances
(00:21:22) "Do you respect money?"
(00:24:40) Why 89% fixed costs is a disaster
(00:26:24) Breaking down $93,500 in debt
(00:33:15) Why they still want a bigger house
(00:35:11) How childhood shaped their money habits
(00:42:43) Why they keep resisting a financial plan
(00:53:00) Rebuilding their spending plan
(01:02:21) Can they earn more money?
(01:08:36) Ramit rebuilds their budget
(01:14:16) The income they actually need
(01:16:56) Their new financial plan
(01:21:23) Lauren & Mick's biggest takeaways
(01:24:17) Ramit follow-up: ADHD & money
This episode is brought to you by:
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When will you finally feel rich? Join Ramit’s free live event on July 13 and learn how to build real financial security and more options with your money. Save your seat at iwt.com/liveevent
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
267. "She makes 2x more than me. I feel ashamed."
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Maria and Andre, a married couple in their 50s navigating a difficult retirement gap. Maria has built nearly $500K in net worth, a strong pension, and a clear …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Maria and Andre, a married couple in their 50s navigating a difficult retirement gap. Maria has built nearly $500K in net worth, a strong pension, and a clear path toward retirement. Andre, who moved from Brazil and only recently received his green card, is rebuilding his career in the United States with just $16K saved for retirement.
They earn around $187K a year combined, but their financial tension is not really about the numbers. Andre feels ashamed that Maria earns twice what he does, while Maria worries that she will have to carry their future alone. Ramit helps them unpack the pressure Andre feels to be the provider, the cultural beliefs shaping their relationship, and how they can build a retirement plan that gives them more time together not less.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Andre feels ashamed that Maria earns twice as much as him
• How Andre’s recent green card changed his ability to build a career
• Why $16K in retirement savings feels so frightening at age 50
• Why Maria’s pension could transform their retirement future
• Why Andre believes a man should earn more than his wife
• How their finances are combined, but still feel separate
• Why Andre’s business expenses are creating confusion and resentment
• The hidden cost of working six days a week
• Why Maria wants more time with Andre, not just more money
• Why Andre keeps defaulting to “work harder” instead of building a plan
• How Ramit reframes retirement from fear into options
• Why their future may be much stronger than they realize
• The importance of acting like a team rather than competing with each other
• How Andre could double his income after getting his HVAC licence
• Why their Rich Life includes time in Brazil, leisure, and being present together
Chapters:
(00:00:00) “What would you do if your partner had no retirement plan?”
(00:00:48) Meet Maria and Andre
(00:02:12) Andre’s career, green card, and starting over
(00:03:32) Andre has just $16K saved for retirement
(00:04:48) Building their Conscious Spending Plan
(00:05:54) Their $496K net worth revealed
(00:07:35) “She makes double what I make”
(00:10:11) How Maria increased her income as a teacher
(00:12:05) Learning to spend consciously
(00:14:16) Maria wants Andre to have a retirement plan
(00:20:03) Their fixed costs and uneven financial burden
(00:25:43) How long their savings would last
(00:29:20) The reality of rebuilding your life in a new country
(00:39:43) Andre’s childhood beliefs about work and money
(00:45:17) What if Andre never earns as much as Maria?
(00:52:07) Ramit’s message to Andre
(00:58:33) Rebuilding their Conscious Spending Plan
(01:07:15) What their retirement could actually look like
(01:11:11) “None of this means Andre has to work until 80”
(01:12:09) “It’s not a competition. It’s a team.”
This episode is brought to you by:
Superpower | Head over to https://superpower.com and use code RAMIT for $20 off your membership. #sponsored
Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
LMNT | Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order at https://drinklmnt.com/RAMIT
Gusto | Try Gusto at http://gusto.com/ramit and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
• YouTube
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
266. "We’re in our 30s fighting over $1000. Can we fix this?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Alexis, 29, and Edwens, 30, a married couple with a 10-month-old baby and two completely different ideas of what money should look like in a marriage. Edwens …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Alexis, 29, and Edwens, 30, a married couple with a 10-month-old baby and two completely different ideas of what money should look like in a marriage. Edwens immigrated from the Dominican Republic less than two years ago, and personal finance is still new to him. Alexis has been trying to teach him, manage the bills, build the budget, and create a future for their family. And yet, their biggest fight keeps coming back to one question: Why won’t Edwens open a joint bank account?
But the account is only part of the story. What Ramit uncovers is a marriage where Alexis wants partnership, transparency, and a shared family system, while Edwens is still holding on to independence, privacy, and the idea that giving her $1,000 a month should be enough. Alexis feels like she has become the household manager, the bill payer, and eventually more like his mother than his wife. Edwens feels criticized and controlled, especially around credit cards and spending. Underneath all of it are cultural differences, childhood money patterns, and a couple with a baby who are still trying to turn two separate money lives into one shared future.
In this episode we uncover:
Why a joint bank account becomes the breaking point in their marriage
What Alexis means when she says Edwens still acts like a single man
Why Edwens sees separate money as independence, not betrayal
The $1,000 arrangement that leaves Alexis managing everything alone
How cultural differences shape their money rules
Why Edwens struggles to understand credit cards and debt
The moment Ramit almost ends the session
Why Alexis feels like she has become Edwens’s mother, not his wife
How childhood money patterns are showing up in their marriage
Why their cheap rent is a financial gift they are not fully using
The moment they finally start building a shared money system
Chapters:
(00:00:00) “He still operates like a single man”
(00:01:58) The joint bank account fight
(00:07:19) “I don’t want to be married without a joint account”
(00:12:19) She wants partnership. He hears control.
(00:18:05) The credit card argument
(00:25:50) Why does he listen to Ramit, but not his wife?
(00:30:56) Ramit almost ends the session
(00:35:31) Their real income changes the conversation
(00:45:20) The bills, the $1,000, and who actually manages the money
(00:55:04) Repeating their parents’ money fights
(01:02:25) Building a new money culture as a couple
(01:07:13) Alexis has been carrying the household alone
(01:15:20) “I feel like his mom, not his wife”
(01:21:52) Breaking the generational money pattern
(01:27:54) Why therapy needs to happen before it’s too late
(01:32:33) Rebuilding their Conscious Spending Plan
(01:43:16) From separate money to real partnership
(01:48:02) Follow-up
This episode is brought to you by:
Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
Fabric by Gerber Life | Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/ramit
Shopify | Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ramit
Gelt | Gelt is taking on new clients now. Find out if you qualify at https://joingelt.com/ramit.
DeleteMe | Get 20% off all consumer plans when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit and use promo code RAMIT at checkout
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
• YouTube
Single in LA? Apply now to star in my new reality series about love and money at https://iwt.com/datingshow
Calling LA couples: Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
265. "We spend 179% of what we make. Are we screwed?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Melissa and Taryn, a married couple in their 40s living in Los Angeles with five children. They have a net worth of over $700K, nearly half a million …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Melissa and Taryn, a married couple in their 40s living in Los Angeles with five children. They have a net worth of over $700K, nearly half a million invested, and a successful business, but their finances are on the edge.
After Taryn took a $75K pay cut and was later laid off from Netflix, they continued building a $200K pool, took on a $100K family loan, and now face fixed costs of 179%. Ramit helps them confront the brutal math behind their situation, the emotional reasons they keep avoiding it, and the radical changes they may need to make before they run out of money.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Melissa and Taryn built a $200K pool after a major pay cut
• How Taryn’s Netflix layoff changed everything
• Why their fixed costs hit a shocking 179%
• The real cost of their $100K family loan
• Why “everything goes on a credit card” became normal
• How they ended up with $1.2M in debt
• Why selling the house may not solve the problem
• The hidden danger of renting another expensive home
• Why Melissa’s successful business still may not be enough
• How grief and loss shaped their relationship with travel and money
• Why Taryn feels like she just “makes the money”
• The emotional power dynamic behind their spending decisions
• Why small cuts like subscriptions won’t fix a structural problem
• Ramit’s warning that they may be setting themselves up to struggle again
• The uncomfortable reality of moving out of Los Angeles
• Why their marriage needs a mission, not just a budget
• How their kids are already affected by their money choices
• Ramit’s advice for making radical change before the clock runs out
⏩ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) “I just want the debt gone”
(00:01:23) Meet Melissa and Taryn
(00:02:40) Taryn’s Netflix layoff
(00:04:18) Buying the house after a $75K pay cut
(00:05:39) The real cost of the pool
(00:07:48) Taking a $100K family loan
(00:10:50) Why the debt cycle keeps repeating
(00:15:25) Taryn’s role as the “money maker”
(00:18:03) Their income no longer matches their life
(00:20:03) Ramit reveals their 179% fixed costs
(00:21:20) Why selling the house isn’t enough
(00:22:51) The rent math gets even worse
(00:26:46) The clock is ticking
(00:31:25) Could they move to South Carolina?
(00:41:24) The power dynamic in their marriage
(00:57:16) Defining their Rich Life
(01:02:18) What happens after selling the house?
(01:15:28) Ramit confronts the decision they’re avoiding
(01:28:48) Talking to their kids about money
(01:36:58) Final thoughts and next steps
This episode is brought to you by:
Trust & Will | Protect what matters most in minutes at https://trustandwill.com/ramit and get 20% off
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Leesa | Go to https://leesa.com for 25% off mattresses PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code RAMIT, exclusive for my listeners
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
• YouTube
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
264. "We’re worth $4M. Why is she so terrified to spend?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to J and Ana, a couple in their early 40s with three children who have built nearly $4 million in net worth through decades of hard work, saving, and real estate …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to J and Ana, a couple in their early 40s with three children who have built nearly $4 million in net worth through decades of hard work, saving, and real estate investing. On paper, they are in an incredible financial position. They have around $4.8 million in assets, more than $1.2 million invested, $136K in savings, and a net worth just under $4 million. But despite all of that, they still don’t feel free.
J applied because he feels like they’ve had their foot on the gas since they were teenagers and don’t know when they’re allowed to cruise. He wants to relax, travel, and enjoy the life they’ve built. Ana wants that too, but her fear of debt, her desire to protect their kids, and her instinct to keep building make it almost impossible for her to stop. What looks like a conversation about rental properties, credit cards, cars, and spending is really about safety, identity, immigrant family scripts, and learning how to enjoy money after a lifetime of working.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why J and Ana still feel stressed despite having nearly $4 million in net worth
• How decades of hard work and real estate investing shaped their money dynamic
• Why J feels ready to slow down, but Ana struggles to believe they have enough
• Why selling one house feels like both a financial decision and a family decision
• How credit card spending, shoes, cars, and hobbies became recurring conflict points
• Why J feels like he has to justify his spending
• The parent-child dynamic that shows up in their money conversations
• Why Ramit challenges them on changing the CSP numbers
• How immigrant family history shaped Ana’s relationship with work, money, and worry
• The question of whether multiple properties are still part of their Rich Life • How becoming more decisive may be the real work ahead
Chapters:
(00:01:44) Meet J and Ana
(00:03:34) “Our foot is stuck on the gas”
(00:04:28) Ana doesn’t know when it’s time to sell
(00:05:21) Why they are never on the same page about money
(00:07:11) The credit card statement fights
(00:08:44) Ana’s dream: take away the card and pay off properties
(00:10:14) Shoes, cars, and spending guilt
(00:13:04) The parent-child dynamic in their money conversations
(00:14:47) Looking at the Conscious Spending Plan together
(00:18:08) Income, rental properties, and CSP confusion (
00:30:32) The family house they can’t agree on selling
(00:34:12) Why making more money hasn’t made them feel better
(01:38:30) Ana’s challenge: learning to spend on herself
(01:42:53) Ramit’s final warning: they need to become decisive together
This episode is brought to you by:
DeleteMe | Get 20% off all consumer plans when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit and use promo code RAMIT at checkoutNetsuite | Get the free guide “Demystifying AI” at https://netsuite.com/ramit
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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply263. "We spend 102% of what we make. Will we ever stop drowning?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Freya and Blake, a couple in their mid-40s with two young children who are facing one of the most urgent financial situations we’ve seen on the show …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Freya and Blake, a couple in their mid-40s with two young children who are facing one of the most urgent financial situations we’ve seen on the show.
Together, they earn around $143K a year, but their fixed costs are at 102%, they have $0 in savings, only $180 invested, and more than $96K in debt. Freya applied because she feared they were close to becoming homeless.
On the surface, their problem looks like debt. Underneath, it’s avoidance, guilt, lack of partnership, and years of “we’ll figure it out later.” Freya carries the emotional labour of the household and money decisions, while Blake admits he avoids the numbers and tries to solve problems by simply making more money.
Ramit helps them confront the reality of their situation, stop tinkering around the edges, and build a radical plan that gives their family a chance to get stable.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Freya and Blake are spending more than they make every month
• How their fixed costs reached 102% of their income
• Why having a $143K income still isn’t enough when there’s no system
• The $96K debt number that forces them to face reality
• Why Freya feels like she has to manage everything alone
• Blake’s “ostrich” approach to money and avoidance
• How trips, skiing, and everyday spending became symptoms of a bigger issue
• Why being intelligent doesn’t protect you from bad money decisions
• The emotional cost of having $0 in savings with two young children
• How childhood, privilege, resentment, and guilt shaped their money habits
• Why hustling stops working once fixed costs get too high
• Ramit’s warning that they are weeks away from not being able to pay rent
• Why Blake may need to aggressively increase his income
• How they move from blame and panic into a shared plan
• Their follow-up reflections on what finally felt doable
Chapters:
(00:01:20) Meet Freya and Blake
(00:03:30) Why Freya applied to speak with Ramit
(00:05:23) “Do you want to have a budget conversation?”
(00:05:56) The skiing trip that became a money fight
(00:08:22) The Mexico trip they couldn’t afford
(00:13:52) Savings are gone and the safety net has disappeared
(00:15:16) Freya carries the planning, groceries, kids, and money stress
(00:21:54) Looking at the Conscious Spending Plan together
(00:24:01) The real debt and net worth numbers land
(00:31:24) Why 102% fixed costs means they are broke
(00:32:04) Ramit warns they are weeks away from not paying rent
(00:34:54) Childhood money lessons and blame
(00:43:57) Borrowing money to avoid eviction
(00:48:11) Blake’s belief that more income will solve everything
(00:57:14) Guilt, family, and saying yes when they should say no
(01:03:00) Defining a realistic Rich Life from where they are now
(01:08:30) Childcare costs disappearing
(01:15:03) Freya asks Blake to help with grocery planning
(01:18:00) Why savings comes before debt payoff right now
(01:34:00) Why the plan finally feels doable
This episode is brought to you by:
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Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
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Have you or your partner realised you’re paying a 1% financial advisor hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees over your lifetime? Maybe you feel stuck because they’re your “family money guy,” If so, I want to talk. Apply to be on my podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
262. "We make $167k. Why do we feel poor?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Drew and Amanda, a married couple earning around $167,000 a year with a net worth of over $800,000. On paper, they look financially successful but behind the …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Drew and Amanda, a married couple earning around $167,000 a year with a net worth of over $800,000.
On paper, they look financially successful but behind the scenes, their fixed costs are dangerously high, their savings are low, and their spending decisions are causing tension in the relationship.
Drew admits he struggles with spending, while Amanda finds it difficult to say no, leaving them stuck in a pattern where money feels stressful instead of empowering.
In this episode we uncover:
• Their household income of around $167,000 a year
• Why they still feel financially stretched despite a strong net worth
• Their surprisingly low savings compared with their assets
• How fixed costs reached around 89% of their gross income
• Drew’s struggle with spending and impulse decisions
• Amanda’s difficulty saying no without feeling like the “bad guy”
• The hidden relationship dynamic behind their financial stress
• Why eating out 6–8 times a week became a major spending leak
• The role of bonuses in justifying bigger spending decisions
• Amanda’s childhood experiences with financial instability
• Drew’s “you only live once” money mindset
• How their daughter is learning from their financial behaviour
• Ramit’s challenge for them to stop making emotional money decisions
• Why vacations may need to pause while they rebuild savings
• Their plan to create a family money philosophy and emergency fund
⏩ CHAPTERS
(00:03:15) Why Drew applied to the podcast
(00:07:00) The hidden decision-making problem
(00:10:30) Why they don’t feel like a team with money
(00:16:15) Their financial numbers revealed
(00:21:15) The reality of their household income
(00:29:25) Fixed costs are the real problem
(00:33:10) The truth about eating out
(00:35:50) How bonuses fuel spending
(00:39:30) The couple who struggle to say no
(00:45:30) Amanda’s childhood money story
(00:56:30) Their inherited money beliefs
(00:58:20) Starting their Rich Life vision
(01:04:00) Pausing vacations to rebuild stability
(01:10:00) Drew practices saying no
(01:16:30) Amanda’s role changes
(01:20:30) Cutting subscriptions and eating out
(01:29:30) Redirecting money toward savings
(01:36:00) Creating a family money philosophy
(01:44:30) Ramit’s final advice
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Connect with Ramit
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• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
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• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
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Calling LA couples: Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply261. "We’re in our 40s with nothing saved. Will we be ok?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Sebastien and Hope, a married couple in their forties who have been together for 20 years, married for 16, and have a nine-year-old son. They earn around …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Sebastien and Hope, a married couple in their forties who have been together for 20 years, married for 16, and have a nine-year-old son. They earn around $195,000 a year, have $674,000 in assets, $129,000 invested, just $11,000 in savings, and $437,000 in debt.
On paper, they are not broke, but emotionally, Sebastien still feels like they are constantly scrambling, while Hope believes their personal finances are in the best place they have ever been.
Both recently became business owners, with Hope running an architecture firm and Sebastien running a wine importing business, but the risk of entrepreneurship, debt, low emergency savings, and under-investing for retirement has left them stuck between optimism, fear, and avoidance.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Sebastien still feels broke, even though their finances are stronger than they used to be
• How Hope’s optimism clashes with Sebastien’s fear about the future
• Their combined income of around $195,000 a year
• Their assets of $674,000, investments of $129,000, savings of $11,000, and debt of $437,000
• Why having only one month of emergency savings puts them in a risky position
• How both Hope and Sebastien became business owners after buying existing companies
• Hope’s architecture business and Sebastien’s wine importing business
• Why Ramit says they are talking around the numbers instead of confronting them directly
• How their current retirement projection could give them only around $35,000 a year
• Why Hope’s $130,000 retirement dream requires a much more aggressive investing plan
• Why their guilt-free spending and fixed costs are squeezing savings and investments
• How one final credit card payment could drop their fixed costs from 67% to 52%
• Why their grocery spending becomes one of the first practical areas to tighten
• Ramit’s math mistake in the episode and why the overall lesson still stands
• Sebastien’s need for a clear business runway and decision point
• Hope’s realization that she was not being fully honest with herself about their finances
⏩ CHAPTERS
(00:00:53) Introduction: is it too late to be successful with money?
(00:02:40) Sebastien and Hope’s financial snapshot
(00:04:11) Their annual “executive household planning retreat”
(00:06:01) Ramit asks if their planning system is actually working
(00:08:02) Sebastien’s fear about his wine importing business
(00:11:31) How they each became business owners
(00:15:31) Feeling broke vs actually being broke
(00:16:47) Ramit reads Sebastien’s application back to Hope
(00:20:08) Assets, investments, savings, debt, and net worth
(00:21:21) Ramit pushes them to say: “It’s not enough”
(00:23:20) Their projected retirement number
(00:25:31) Ramit points out they only have one month of emergency savings
(00:33:31) Their CSP: fixed costs, investments, savings, and guilt-free spending
(00:34:24) Breaking down their $437,000 debt
(01:01:22) The $45,500-a-year investment target
(01:15:59) Sebastien’s business plan and runway
(01:24:20) Ramit’s final advice: redo the CSP and lock in the numbers
(01:25:46) Hope’s follow-up
(01:27:40) Sebastien’s follow-up
(01:29:22) Their updates: increased IRA contributions and Vanguard investing
This episode is brought to you by:
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Get 25% off my programs until Friday May 15th at iwt.com/programs with code RESET26.
Connect with Ramit
• Get my new book, Money For Couples
• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
• Twitter
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Calling LA couples: Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
260. "We’re in our 40s and forgot to invest. Are we screwed?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Nicole and Shane, an engaged couple in their forties getting married in just 11 days. Together they earn $241,000 a year, have a net worth of $588,000, and …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Nicole and Shane, an engaged couple in their forties getting married in just 11 days. Together they earn $241,000 a year, have a net worth of $588,000, and hold $265,000 in savings, but their financial lives are still tangled.
Nicole has built a rich life around travel, dining out, and intentional spending, while Shane is a natural saver whose job has covered most of his living expenses. As they prepare for marriage, a future child, and a major shift in Nicole’s income, Ramit helps them confront the messy reality of combining money, separating business and personal finances, investing more aggressively, and turning vague dreams into a real shared Rich Life.
In this episode we uncover:
• Why Nicole’s $10,000-a-month spending shocked Shane early in their relationship
• How Nicole built a “Rich Life” for one through travel, dining out, and dedicated savings
• Shane’s unusual work setup where housing, food, and utilities have been covered
• The tension of combining finances just 11 days before their wedding
• Why Nicole feels judged for her lifestyle, even though her numbers are strong
• Their combined income of $241,000 a year and net worth of $588,000
• Why Shane has a higher net worth despite Nicole earning slightly more
• Nicole’s concern that her income could drop by half after having a child
• How Nicole’s business and personal finances became dangerously tangled
• Their surprisingly low fixed costs and unusually high savings rate
• Why having $265,000 sitting in savings may actually be holding them back
• Shane’s habit of trying to time the market when investing
• Why their projected $1.7 million retirement portfolio may not be enough for the life they want
• Ramit’s advice on turning their messy numbers into a shared financial vision before marriage
⏩ CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Teaser: “You spend $10,000 a month?”
(00:01:02) Introduction: combining money before marriage
(00:02:47) Nicole and Shane’s financial snapshot
(00:06:53) Nicole feels judged by her lifestyle
(00:08:50) Nicole’s Rich Life: travel, dining out, and $500 dresses
(00:12:45) How marriage changes Shane’s living situation
(00:15:38) Reviewing their Conscious Spending Plan
(00:19:42) Their $241,000 household income
(00:24:01) Ramit explains why letting the prenup discussion go was a mistake
(00:27:20) Nicole’s business and personal finances are mixed together
(00:35:00) The problem with saving 42% but under-investing
(00:40:32) Nicole’s guilt-free spending doesn’t add up
(00:45:26) Ramit explains the danger of tracking without understanding
(00:48:53) Their retirement projection
(00:50:13) Why $1.7M may not be enough
(00:52:05) Reallocating savings instead of only cutting spending
(01:20:12) Turning dreams into a realistic financial vision
(01:47:11) Ramit’s final advice: use the time before income changes wisely
(01:50:00) Follow-ups and closing thoughts
This episode is brought to you by:
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Connect with Ramit
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• Get Money Coaching with Ramit
• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
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• Twitter
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Apply to be on my podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
259. "We’re worth $1.5M but I refuse to buy new pants"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Mikaela and Dave, both in their early thirties, parents of two young children, and earning an impressive $278,000 a year. Despite a net worth nearing $1.5 …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Mikaela and Dave, both in their early thirties, parents of two young children, and earning an impressive $278,000 a year. Despite a net worth nearing $1.5 million, they struggle to spend money, even on necessities. Mikaela wears clothes with holes, and Dave sits in an uncomfortable chair, all rooted in a scarcity mindset developed from past challenges and recent life events. Ramit helps them explore their money beliefs, encouraging them to redefine their rich life beyond just accumulating wealth.
In this episode we uncover:
• Their surprising net worth of nearly $1.5 million in their early thirties
• Mikaela's struggle to replace workout leggings with holes, even when she can afford it
• Dave’s discomfort with his office chair despite working from home
• The recent health scares that have frozen their spending decisions
• Why Mikaela still views money through a lens of scarcity despite their wealth
• The shocking realization of their actual household income versus their perception
• The invisible labor dynamics in their financial management
• Mikaela's childhood experiences with financial stress and lack of fun
• How past trauma and family loss continue to influence their spending habits
• The challenge of transitioning from a "hoarder's mentality" to enjoying their money
• Their vision for a Rich Life that includes travel and personal well-being
• Ramit’s advice to ban the word "need" from their financial vocabulary
⏩ CHAPTERS
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:03:08) Why they struggle to spend money
(00:06:08) The impact of past health scares
(00:14:00) What it means to be "frozen"
(00:16:32) The origins of their frugal mindset
(00:33:51) The shock of their true income
(00:40:00) Rebuilding financial foundations
(00:46:08) Mikaela's childhood and money lessons
(00:52:19) The profound impact of family loss
(01:06:00) Building an amazing relationship with money
(01:14:38) How to get help from Ramit
(01:16:40) Reimagining the concept of "need"
(01:19:15) The value of Mikaela's time
(01:27:00) The invisible labor in financial planning
(01:31:00) Ramit's challenge for Dave to initiate fun spending
(01:35:10) Setting boundaries for family finances
(01:37:00) Defining their rich life together
(01:44:30) Ramit's parting advice
This episode is brought to you by:
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Have you or your partner fallen for a scam? Maybe gotten bad financial advice from someone who didn't keep their promises? If so, I want to talk. Apply to be on my podcast at https://iwt.com/apply258. "We had $900K. Now we’re $100K in debt"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Kristina and Erin, a married couple who have been together for 10 years, raising two children in Toronto. They make good money, but they have no system for …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Kristina and Erin, a married couple who have been together for 10 years, raising two children in Toronto. They make good money, but they have no system for their finances, which has led to years of avoidance. They've accumulated $106K in debt and have only two weeks of savings. While Erin, the "stable one," has a full-time job, Kristina’s entrepreneurial journey has been marked by wildly inconsistent income, including a $50K loss on NFTs. They both admit they don’t trust each other or themselves with money. Ramit helps them confront their fears, redefine their relationship with money, and finally start working as a team.
In this episode we uncover:
• How Kristina lost $50K in NFTs
• Why Erin struggles with "spending with emotion"
• The cultural component of their Catholic guilt around money
• How their childhood experiences influence their money habits
• Kristina's fear that her income won't last
• The surprising truth about their combined income
• Why they avoid tracking their spending
• Their identity as "coach collectors" who avoid real change
• Ramit's "60-second truth-telling" exercise
• Why they need to be aligned as partners to achieve their goals
• The true cost of credit card debt
• Why their "guilt-free" spending is holding them back
• Ramit's radical advice on cutting fixed costs
• How they can quickly pay off their debt
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:40) Feeling stupid about money
(00:05:23) Unspoken financial conversations
(00:08:44) Fear that money won't last
(00:09:25) Lack of trust around money
(00:15:16) Emotional spending and guilt
(00:19:55) The surprising truth about their net worth
(00:22:52) The impact of high fixed costs
(00:27:00) "We work too hard to feel like we don’t have anything"
(00:30:45) Why past coaching failed
(00:34:54) Childhood money lessons and scarcity
(00:41:46) The impact of Catholic guilt
(00:49:30) Goals for debt and savings
(00:54:30) Ramit's 60-second truth-telling
(00:58:33) Fixing the Conscious Spending Plan
(01:07:07) Aligning on a Rich Life together
(01:17:35) How Kristina and Erin are going to get on the same page
(01:21:40) Why they're afraid to talk about money with their kids
This episode is brought to you by:
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Connect with Ramit
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• Download the Conscious Spending Plan
• Listen to my book—now on Audible
• Get my New York Times best-selling book
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Have you or your partner fallen for a scam? Maybe gotten bad financial advice from someone who didn't keep their promises? If so, I want to talk. Apply to be on my podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
257. "We really want a house - but have $0 in savings"
Molly and Jason are 45 and 46, living together with a 2-year-old daughter. They earn $142,000 a year combined. They have $0 in savings, $46,000 in debt, and a net worth of just $4,842. They dream of buying a …
Show notes
Molly and Jason are 45 and 46, living together with a 2-year-old daughter. They earn $142,000 a year combined. They have $0 in savings, $46,000 in debt, and a net worth of just $4,842. They dream of buying a house, investing in real estate, and retiring early. But when Ramit opens their Conscious Spending Plan, the picture is stark. Fixed costs at 77%. No savings rate. $25,000 in credit card debt in Molly's name that Jason can't fully account for. And a financial system built entirely on Venmo transfers, separate accounts, and crossed fingers.
What Ramit finds underneath the numbers is a relationship where one person is managing everything alone, and the other has quietly checked out. Molly researches, opens accounts, tracks the bills, and covers the overdrafts. Jason works, pays rent, and sends Venmo transfers when asked. Neither of them planned financially before having a baby. Neither of them has seen what a real financial partnership looks like.
But something shifts. When Ramit shows them that working together they could reach $1.75 million by retirement, something clicks. They stop explaining why things are the way they are and start talking about what they are going to do.
In this episode we uncover:
Why two people earning $142,000 a year can have $0 in savings and $46,000 in debt
The Venmo money transfer system that has kept them financially disconnected for years
What it looks like when one partner manages everything alone while the other disengages
How $4,000 in annual subscriptions disappears when nobody is looking at the full picture
Why dreaming about real estate investing is the wrong move when your own finances are on fire
The moment Jason admits he feels resentful and apathetic about money
The plan to sell the truck, wipe the credit card debt, and combine finances for the first time
What Ramit means when he says the biggest savings anyone can make is on housing costs
The follow-up update from Molly and Jason
Chapters:
(00:00:00) "We wanna be rich. We have $0 in savings"
(00:03:01) Meet Molly and Jason
(00:10:00) How often do you talk about money?
(00:14:00) Jason completely disengaged
(00:19:00) No decisions are ever made
(00:30:00) Dreamers who won't save $250 a month
(00:34:11) Opening the Conscious Spending Plan
(00:40:15) Fixed costs at 77%
(00:46:50) Separate accounts, Venmo transfers, no shared vision
(00:59:20) "Resentful. And apathetic."
(01:03:00) Money psychology and upbringings
(01:17:46) "You're gonna sell a truck and pay off debt"
(01:41:13) Follow-ups
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If you or your partner get stressed spending $150 on dinner, or are covering up spending, I'd like to help. Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at iwt.com/apply
256. "We moved abroad for fun. Now we can’t afford to leave"
Liza and Bradford earn $120,000 a year as expats in Colombia, South America. They have three kids, $273,000 in net worth, and by the standards of expat life, they live well. But they have $1,500 in savings, no …
Show notes
Liza and Bradford earn $120,000 a year as expats in Colombia, South America. They have three kids, $273,000 in net worth, and by the standards of expat life, they live well. But they have $1,500 in savings, no savings rate, and a line of credit they treat like a rainy day fund. And for five years, Liza has been pushing to move back to Canada almost every single day.
When Ramit opens their Conscious Spending Plan, the income isn't the issue. Investments are protected at all costs. Savings are non-existent. And the same debt cycle they've been running for years keeps getting treated like a victory every time they pay it off. If nothing changes, moving back to Canada, the thing Liza wants most, will never actually be an option. They can't afford the flights, the furniture, or the fresh start.
But this episode goes deeper than the numbers. What Ramit finds is a dynamic that has been quietly running their marriage for years. Bradford takes on every financial burden alone, and every time he does, Liza is left feeling like she has no purpose and no reason to contribute. After years of this, both of them are stuck in roles that aren't working.
In this episode we uncover:
• The expat "money hack" that turned into a trap, and why Liza hasn't been able to find traction in Colombia
• Why doubling Liza's income in Canada wouldn't actually improve their financial position
• The taxi fleet that lost between $60,000 and $100,000, and the pattern it revealed
• How Bradford's "I'll handle it" efficiency has been disempowering his wife for years
• Why Liza ties her self-worth to what companies are willing to pay her
• The debt cycle they've been treating as a win, and why Ramit sees it differently
• What a shared financial vision actually looks like for this couple
• The follow-up update from Liza and Bradford
Chapters: (00:00) Cold open: Can we afford to leave? (01:08) Episode intro + financial breakdown (02:31) Meet Liza and Bradford (05:07) The “money hack” that became a trap (09:30) Five years of the same argument (25:00) The debt cycle begins (32:30) Opening the Conscious Spending Plan (38:00) How much can Liza actually earn? (41:39) The line of credit problem (45:52) Breaking down their system (01:30:00) The pattern hurting both of them (01:33:30) What do you each need? (01:47:00) Follow-up
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255. "I’m 40 and work 2 jobs. How are we still broke?"
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Gabriella, 36, and Chris, 40, a married couple from Pennsylvania with four kids, zero savings, and $32,000 in credit card debt. They both work multiple jobs …
Show notes
Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Gabriella, 36, and Chris, 40, a married couple from Pennsylvania with four kids, zero savings, and $32,000 in credit card debt. They both work multiple jobs. Chris travels all week and picks up extra shifts on weekends. Gabriella juggles three income streams while running the household alone. And yet their fixed costs sit at 109% of their income and the debt keeps growing.
What Ramit uncovers goes much deeper than the numbers. For years, Gabriella has been managing everything alone, building budgets Chris never looks at, covering purchases she never agreed to, and quietly losing hope. Chris has been avoiding the conversation entirely. And buried underneath it all is something neither of them mentioned in their application: they've been here before. They filed for bankruptcy. And now, with four kids in tow, they're on the exact same path.
In this episode we uncover:
Why two incomes and two extra jobs still aren’t enough when your fixed costs are 109%
The treadmill purchase that broke Gabriella's trust
What Ramit means by "95% of your money relationship is in the shadows"
The bankruptcy reveal that changes everything
Why Chris can't give a straight answer and what it's costing the marriage
The moment Gabriella admits she stopped doing everything just to see what would happen
How Gabriella's new $70K job changes the numbers overnight
The Florida plan and why Ramit says it won't fix anything
What it looks like when a couple finally starts working as a team
Chapters:
(00:00:00) "I've never not worried about money in our marriage"
(00:07:10) Do you have trust issues around money?
(00:15:18) "What if you just stopped doing it all?"
(00:17:32) "95% of our relationship with money is in the shadows"
(00:22:17) Ramit reads the separation ultimatum from her application
(00:34:00) The power dynamic: who earns more, who leads?
(00:46:05) "So you all are broke"
(00:52:27) The bankruptcy reveal
(01:00:36) The Florida plan and why it won't fix anything
(01:03:31) Gabriella's new income changes everything
(01:05:57) "I'm too tired of being alone"
(01:58:09) Follow-ups
Calling LA couples: Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
This episode is brought to you by:
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Facet | As of the date of this recording, Facet is waiving the enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd
If you or your partner get stressed spending $150 on dinner, or are covering up spending, I'd like to help. Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at iwt.com/apply
Connect with Ramit
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