Financial Audit Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Financial Audit
Host: Caleb Hammer
Episode: Deadbeat Dad Steals Money From His Child | Financial Audit
Date: November 5, 2025
Guest: Christian

Overview

This episode centers on Christian, a 28-year-old mailman from Biloxi, Mississippi, who has severely mismanaged both his finances and family responsibilities. Caleb confronts Christian over his irresponsible spending, heavy debt, lack of financial discipline, and—most notably—raiding his four-year-old son’s savings to fund vacations, which Christian openly admits he does not regret. The episode dives deep into Christian’s marriage, mental health, and the fallout of his choices on his child and spouse.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Christian’s Background and Income

• Christian works as a mailman, earning about $27/hour, which amounts to roughly $1,500 biweekly ($3,000/month).
• Lives in Biloxi, Mississippi, with a low cost of living, owns a house purchased in 2021 (interest rate: 3.19%).
• His wife, Oksana, recently rejoined the Army to pursue a paid training program. She is 27, plans to train as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, and will make $4,000–$5,500/month with a housing allowance.

2. Marital and Family Dynamics

• Marriage of convenience ("we had to get married so I could get all the military benefits"), lacking joint finances.
• Wife left largely due to financial stress ("she got back in the Army because I put us in a financial hole").
• "Do you think she's actually sticking around just because of the kids?" – [34:26]
  • Christian admits it’s possible; tensions and arguments about money are routine.

3. Financial Negligence and Savings Raids

• Christian emptied his four-year-old son’s savings ($8,000–$10,000, mostly birthday and family gifts) to fund multiple vacations.
• Spent over $15,000 on travel in the past year, including four trips to New York, Disney World, Atlanta, the Bahamas.
• Rationalizes it as "building memories," shows little remorse:
  • “I figured I valued building memories with him and stuff, taking him experiences. It was worth it.” – Christian [11:21]
  • “How could you do that? Pay your son back? Do you hear that? You're paying a four year old back. Do you hear that?” – Caleb [15:18]

4. Debt and Out-of-Control Spending

• Debt load approaching $80,000–$90,000 (excluding mortgage), including:
  • $14,000+ in credit card debt and personal loans
  • Two car loans (Ford Maverick: $32k owed, Tesla Model Y: $27k owed—both underwater)
  • TSP loan (retirement loan) used to pay off credit cards (but then ran them up again)
• Christian frequently consolidates debt—only to run balances back up.
• Eats out daily, spending >$1,200/month on fast food and restaurants.
  • “Chick Fil A every day. Shut the fuck up. This is insane.” – Caleb [59:12]

5. Severe Lack of Financial Responsibility

• Will not use a budget even after friends make one for him and after downloading budgeting apps.
• "You begged your friend to make a budget for you... And I did not apply anything." – Christian [28:22]
• Makes minimum payments while keeping high balances; still accumulates debt on all cards.
• Bought an AR-15 for himself and his brother, spent about $2,000 on collectibles, figurines, and Pokémon cards.
• Justifies spending with YOLO/momentary satisfaction, resists lifestyle change or accountability.

6. Marriage in Crisis

• Wife “gets on him” relentlessly about money—Christian admits to tuning her out and letting her get angry daily.
• “She says I stress her out.” – Christian [33:38]
• Caleb highlights Christian’s actions as “one of the more disgusting things I’ve seen,” indicating stealing from his child’s gifted savings will cost the child about $40,000 in missed compounding by adulthood. [20:22]

7. Mental and Physical Health as Excuse for Spending

• Christian identifies fast food as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety. He went a single week without eating out, then immediately relapsed [39:43].
• Downplays health risks; wife pressure over his weight.
• Stopped anxiety medication due to side effects, still deals with ongoing anxiety and unhealthy coping.

8. Long-Term Consequences and Future

• Even in months where take-home pay is higher (e.g., three-paycheck month), Christian spends double or more than comes in.
• Only solution seen is for Christian and his wife to combine finances, fully budget together, and make drastic spending cuts.
• Realistic timeline for debt payoff, if both spouses combine efforts and incomes: about three years; otherwise, Christian cannot survive financially.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Raiding Child's Savings:

  • "I ran up [vacation expenses] on my credit cards and then... I don't want to pay interest, so let me take from my kid's future." — Christian [12:04]
  • "That is actually one of the more disgusting things I think I've seen." — Caleb [20:22]

• On Marital Trouble:

  • "You think she's sticking around just because of the kids?" — Caleb [34:26]
    "Potentially." — Christian
  • "She says I stress her out." — Christian [33:52]
  • "This is so unhealthy." — Caleb [35:51]

• On Refusing to Change:

  • "You begged your friend to make a budget for you... And I did not apply anything." — Christian [28:22]
  • "What can I do? You are a person that steals from your kid. That's not something I can change. You're a thief in the night." — Caleb [28:57]

• On Escalating Debt:

  • "You stole $10,000 that you didn’t even contribute to your kid so that you can go on vacation." — Caleb [18:36]
  • "If you make minimum payments, only, without doing any purchasing... This took 28 years to pay off." — Caleb on Discover card [42:14]

• Self-Awareness and Rationalization:

  • “I only get—he’s only little for so long. Want to go out there and build the memories, the experiences.” — Christian [15:24]
  • “I want to do better. That’s why I’m here.” — Christian [29:30]
  • “Shut the fuck up. Get your teeth straight. That's why you're here. You want to do better. I want to do a lot of things. That doesn't mean I'm doing them.” — Caleb [29:33]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro/Raiding Kid's Savings: [00:00–01:00]
• Background & Income: [01:00–02:30]
• Marriage & Wife's Military Service: [02:30–05:56]
• Discussion of Vacations & Savings Raid: [11:17–17:00]
• Debt Breakdown: [26:00–27:00], [41:00–43:00]
• Dining Out Habits: [37:54–39:14], [72:03–73:53]
• Impact on Marriage: [33:09–36:08]
• Credit Card/Loan Analysis: [41:00–49:00]
• Collectibles & Extraneous Spending: [70:29–72:07]
• Budget Math (Minimal Scenario): [85:48–88:08]
• Conclusion & Hammer Financial Score: [91:14–92:39]

Tone and Language

The tone is blunt and direct. Caleb alternates between incredulity, sharp criticism, and bewilderment, trying to shock Christian into realizing the severity of his actions. Christian is at times sheepish, defensive, but often rationalizes his behavior, deflects with humor, or downplays consequences. The conversation is peppered with expletives and sarcasm, maintaining the show’s signature, high-energy confrontational style.

Conclusion

This episode stands out for its raw examination of how irresponsible financial behaviors—especially when justified as "for the kids" or "building memories"—can sabotage a child’s future, strain a marriage, and erode self-respect. Caleb underscores the urgent need for behavioral change and accountability, warning that only through genuine discipline, budgeting, and spousal partnership can Christian hope to escape his current pattern. Without fundamental change, the trajectory for Christian, his wife, and especially his child looks increasingly bleak.

Memorable Line:
"You are a person that steals from your kid. That's not something I can change. You're a thief in the night."
— Caleb Hammer [28:57]