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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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

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Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

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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:

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 https://facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you. Offer has been extended to 12/31/2026. #FacetAd

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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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• Get my no-numbers journal

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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply

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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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-up

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

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• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply

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

• Get my no-numbers journal

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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply

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:

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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

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply

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:

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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

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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

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply

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

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

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Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply

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

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply