- 2 hours 1 minute280. "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 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
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29 September 2026, 10:00 am - 2 hours 14 minutes279. “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 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
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Connect with Ramit:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
22 September 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 34 minutes278. "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 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
This episode is brought to you by:
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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:
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
15 September 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 39 minutes277. "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 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
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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
• 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
8 September 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 41 minutes276. "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 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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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
1 September 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 39 minutes275. "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 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
• 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
25 August 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 58 minutes274. "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 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
This episode is brought to you by:
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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
18 August 2026, 10:00 am - 2 hours 1 minute273. "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 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
11 August 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 58 minutes272. "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 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
4 August 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 58 minutes271. "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 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
• Twitter
• YouTube
Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply
28 July 2026, 10:00 am - 1 hour 38 minutes270. “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 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
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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
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