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Host
You guys know one of my favorite and only hobbies is asking random strangers how much debt they have. Well, today I'm spicing things up. I'm turning the tables, baby. Cause I'm not gonna ask them how much debt they have. I'm gonna guess how much debt they have. So before I flex my psychic abilities, hit, like on the video, subscribe to the channel. And huge shout out to deleteme for sponsoring it. Let's get to it. We're going to play a game. I'm going to guess how much debt you have based on a series of questions. Okay. You ready to play?
Cheer Coach
Sure.
Host
I have to be within 20% or 20,000, and I can't ask any questions that end with a number. Like a dollar number. Got it. All right. What do you do for work?
Pilot
I'm retired.
Host
Oh, I love it. Are you old enough to be retired? Yes. How old are you? I'll be 70 in April. Wow, this guy looks great. I hope I look this good at 70. I mean, I can tell you work out. Do you have a degree? I do. What was the degree in? Management. What did you do for a living when you were working? I was a pilot. Fantastic. That's fun. Like airline or was it. Okay, that's fun. What kind of car do you drive? Give me the year, make and model. 2023 Honda Pilot. That's a nice whip. Okay, pilot with a pilot. Did you do that on purpose? Okay. This guy's got moves, too. Where does it stop? Okay. Do you have credit cards? Yes. How many? Three. What's your most frequently used credit card? United Airlines. Visa. I'm guessing you were a pilot for United. No, I was a pilot for US Airways and eventually American Airlines after. Oh, no loyalty. You got the. Okay. Got it. All right. Are you investing currently? Yes. Okay. I'm guessing you've been investing a long time. Quite a while. All right. And do you rent or own a home? Own. I'm going to guess it's paid off. No. No. Okay. I'm going to guess your consumer debt and then I'm going to guess your mortgage debt. OK. Double game. I'm going to guess that you have $0 in consumer debt. That's correct.
Cheer Coach
Yes.
Host
Okay. High five. Thank you. I could just tell this guy the beard has wisdom. Now, the mortgage, at 70 years old, you're living in the villages. Is it one mortgage? One mortgage. And it's on the place in the village?
Pilot
Yes.
Host
Expensive place to live? Not at all. Really? Can I live there?
Actuary
Yes, you could.
Host
It just seems fair. No, State? Yeah, same with Tennessee. All right, I'm going to guess $180,000 left on the mortgage. No. Oh. How much? 190. Come on. 190. That makes me right on all accounts pretty close. And I'm going to guess that you are a net worth millionaire. Multi. Multi, baby. Gosh. Stafford is it? Yes. Such a pleasure meeting you. Okay. What do you do for work?
Cheer Coach
I am a cheer coach.
Host
Okay, wonderful. Do you have a degree?
Cheer Coach
I am working on it right now.
Host
What is the degree in?
Cheer Coach
Business administration.
Host
Lovely. Okay. What kind of car do you drive? Give me the year, make and model of the car.
Cheer Coach
A 2015 Nissan Altima.
Host
That's what's up. Okay. Do you use credit cards?
Cheer Coach
I do.
Host
What is the most frequently used credit card?
Cheer Coach
A Discover credit card.
Host
Are you investing currently?
Cheer Coach
I am not.
Host
Do you rent or own a home?
Cheer Coach
I live with my parents.
Host
Hey. Okay. Woo. This is a tough one. Okay, so you rent with your parents, you drive an 11 year old car, you're working on a degree in business administration and you're employed full time.
Cheer Coach
Yep.
Host
I'm going to say you are $10,000 in debt.
Cheer Coach
You are incorrect.
Host
Oh, give me the real number.
Cheer Coach
$1,000.
Host
$1,000. That's amazing.
Cheer Coach
Thank you.
Host
Wow. That's as close to zero as I think I've seen.
Cheer Coach
Yep. Very, very good with my money.
Host
What's the thousand dollars?
Cheer Coach
My credit card.
Host
Credit card. Okay, so you are in a tiny bit of credit card debt.
Teacher 1
Yep.
Host
Working on paying that off. So I was not, I mean I was within 20,000 but I was not within 20%. So I think you'll win this round.
Cheer Coach
All right. Thank you. Yep.
Host
Congratulations. What do you do for work?
Teacher 1
I am a teacher.
Host
Okay. Do you have a degree?
Teacher 1
Yes.
Host
What do you drive? Give me the year, make and model?
Teacher 1
A 2015 Mini Cooper.
Host
Wow. Throwback.
Stationary Engineer
Love it.
Host
Okay.
Teacher 1
Convertible?
Host
The convertible Mini Cooper. Ok. Do you use credit cards?
Teacher 1
On occasion. I try not to though.
Host
Okay. How many do you have?
Teacher 1
I have two.
Host
What's the one you most use?
Teacher 1
Southwest.
Host
Gotta get those Rapid Rewards. Gotta get those Rapid Rewards, baby. No, we don't. Do you rent or own a home?
Teacher 1
I rent.
Host
Are you investing currently?
Teacher 1
No.
Host
Okay. Based on what you told me, I hope and pray the Mini Cooper's paid off. You might still be paying on the student loans because of your age. I'm gonna guess that you're $36,000 in debt.
Teacher 1
I, I think honestly I don't have an exact number, but it's mainly student loans. So it's probably. Do you Want me to give you a number?
Host
Give me the number.
Teacher 1
I think it's 27. 28.
Host
I'm calling that a win for me, baby. I was pretty daggum close.
Teacher 1
Yeah, you were. You were.
Host
Wow. Is the Mini Cooper paid off?
Teacher 1
It is not.
Host
What's left on it?
Teacher 1
Couple thousand.
Host
Okay, almost there. Did you buy it new or did you buy it used?
Teacher 1
Marketplace, Shout out. Facebook.
Host
Facebook, Marketplace. Okay. All right, let's see if I'm as close with you. All right. And you're a little younger.
Teacher 2
Yep. 23.
Host
Okay. What do you do for work?
Teacher 2
I'm a teacher as well.
Host
Oh, do you guys teach at the same school?
Teacher 1
Same school district.
Host
How sweet is that? Okay, do you have a degree?
Teacher 2
Yes.
Host
Teaching? Yes. Nailed it. Bachelor's?
Teacher 2
Yes.
Host
Okay, what do you drive? Year, make and model?
Teacher 2
2016 Honda Civic.
Host
That's a sick whip right there. Okay. Do you use credit cards?
Teacher 2
I have one, yes. Which one is it just like Wells Fargo, Active cash.
Host
I have that. We don't like the inactive cash. We don't want the active cash. Are you investing currently?
Teacher 2
I have accounts, but my parents were in charge of those, so.
Host
They're in charge of it.
Teacher 2
Yeah.
Host
We'll take care of this. Let's not have you messing with it.
Teacher 2
Yeah, exactly.
Host
Okay. Do you rent or own a home?
Teacher 2
I rent.
Host
I imagine San Diego. Pretty expensive. Okay. All right. I'm gonna guess that you are $20,000 in debt. Give me the number.
Teacher 2
I don't even know. I don't have any student loans.
Host
How can I be wrong if you
Teacher 2
don't even know, like, what's on my credit card right now?
Host
I pulled your credit report. What would it show as far as your open accounts that have a balance?
Teacher 2
I think I have 300. I have to pay on my credit card right now. And that's it.
Host
So pretty much debt free as far as you know?
Teacher 2
As far as I know, yes.
Host
To ask dad and Mom. Say you're the financial advisors. Wow. Okay. That's impressive. Are you shocked? Are you learning this in real time?
Teacher 1
Yeah, I am learning this in real time. I want to see her now.
Host
Now. Is this because mom and dad helped along the way with the car and school and all that?
Teacher 2
Yeah.
Host
What did they cover as?
Teacher 2
Like, as school and college?
Host
Do they pay for the car outright? Do they pay for school outright?
Teacher 2
It took me for when I graduated. College, like, paid off.
Host
Graduation gift. And you've kept it?
Teacher 2
Yes.
Host
Okay. And school was paid for as well?
Teacher 2
Yes.
Host
Wow.
Teacher 1
Okay, so mom is right over there if you want to give her A hard time.
Host
I'm gonna give her a. Well, she's doing the best she can.
Teacher 1
She's not doing. You know what they're.
Host
She raised you. Well.
Teacher 2
I'm not good at saving money, so
Host
it's definitely sounds like they were more worried about her. Yeah, yeah, it was more of protect her from herself.
Teacher 1
Mom should be more worried about me.
Host
She is. What do you do for work?
Actuary
I work as an actuary.
Host
Do you have a degree?
Actuary
Yes.
Host
What's the degree in?
Actuary
Actuarial science.
Host
Sounds exciting. What kind of car do you currently drive? Give me the year, make and model.
Actuary
2011 Toyota F4.
Host
That's what's up. Okay, so we're talking 15 years old.
Actuary
That's right.
Host
All right. Do you use credit cards?
Actuary
Yes.
Host
How many do you have?
Stationary Engineer
4.
Host
What's your most frequently used card?
Actuary
It's a Fidelity Visa rewards card.
Host
Fidelity, man.
Actuary
That's right.
Host
Look at you. Are you investing currently? Yes. Do you know what percentage of your income you invest per month? It's about 8, 8% right now, including employer match. So you invest 4 and you get 4.
Actuary
That's right.
Host
Okay, got it. So you're investing 4% of your income? Sure. All right, 130 grand. That's solid. And you rent or own a home?
Actuary
Own.
Host
How long have you owned it for?
Actuary
Two years.
Host
Okay, I'm going to guess consumer debt and then I'll guess mortgage debt separately. Is that fair?
Actuary
Okay.
Host
Okay. Consumer debt. I'm gonna say you got 68 grand total in consumer debt.
Actuary
As a household, I have 30 grand in student loans and then I pay off the credit cards each month.
Host
Wow. And no debt free to the wife.
Actuary
Correct.
Host
So 30 grand is the actual number,
Actuary
not including the mortgage?
Host
Yes. Okay. I was way off. I thought that degree cost you a pretty penny.
Pilot
It did.
Actuary
I had very, very helpful parents, so
Host
they helped with saving and cash flowing a lot of this.
Actuary
The student loans part?
Pilot
Yes.
Host
Otherwise you probably would have been in 68k.
Actuary
Probably.
Host
All right, so I was almost half right. All right, let's guess the mortgage. Now you're in New Jersey.
Actuary
That's right.
Host
Pretty expensive place to live. You bought it two years ago. Imagine it cost you a pretty penny. All right, I'm going to guess the mortgage is $340,000. 400. 400. I think that's a win for me. That's close enough for government work. That's within 20%. Okay, so let's talk about the student loans. You got 30 grand. Are you working on paying them off?
Actuary
Not exactly. I'm trying to just balance being able to live my life now with my wife staying at home and having a bigger family size. I have two kids already and plan to have more. And so we're trying to just put more money towards that than necessarily paying down the loans right now.
Host
Okay, so you got 30 grand at. What's the interest rate?
Actuary
4.125.
Host
So. And you're just going to make minimum payments until it's paid off? Essentially, yeah.
Actuary
That's the current plan.
Host
Okay. It might cost you double after all is told. After 20 years with interest, Likely, yes. That's a trade off you're willing to take in order to cover other expenses right now?
Actuary
Absolutely.
Host
Okay. What do you do for work?
Pilot
I'm in sales.
Host
Do you have a degree?
Pilot
I do not, no, actually.
Host
Did you finish high school?
Pilot
I did finish high school, yes.
Host
Did you start college or never went?
Pilot
I actually did get a degree, but it was paid for by my work. And I don't really. I don't really consider it.
Host
I don't use it. So fake degree to you?
Pilot
A fake degree that I got on my.
Host
What's the degree in?
Pilot
It was in business.
Host
Business degree. Online. Okay.
Pilot
Yes.
Host
All right. And your work paid for it. That's nice.
Pilot
Yeah.
Host
Didn't go into debt for that. I know that so far. What kind of car do you drive? Give me the year makes and models of any cars in your life.
Pilot
23 Kia Niro and a 2011 Ford Edge.
Host
Okay. Is mama getting a newer car?
Pilot
I use it more than her. Yes.
Host
All right.
Pilot
Hey, she's local.
Host
That's all right. She seems happy. Yes. All right. Do you have credit cards?
Pilot
I do not know.
Host
She. You sounded like. Well, I don't.
Pilot
But she has one.
Host
Yes. What is the card that she uses?
Pilot
I don't know. That's a Visa card.
Host
None of my business. All right. Are you investing currently?
Pilot
I have 401k. Yes.
Host
And you're investing into it every month, correct?
Pilot
Yes.
Host
Oh, and you, do you rent or own a home?
Pilot
I own.
Host
How many years did you go.
Pilot
Did you buy it three months ago?
Host
This is real fresh.
Pilot
This is real fresh.
Host
Congrats on the new home. Oh, this is tough. Okay. I'll tell you what I do know. You don't have student loan debt. You don't have credit card debt. My only guess is that the car might have a payment on it and that might be all the debt you have, which tells me you might be $28,000 total in consumer debt, off by about six grand. Boom. That's a win for me, baby. So how much is it?
Pilot
There's about 20.20k left on it.
Host
20k left.
Pilot
Don't tell Dave that I'm.
Host
Hey, he's. Trust me, he doesn't watch my channel. I wish he did. That's fantastic. Okay, so you're working on paying off the. The car. Is that the only debt? That's it. I pegged you. Are you impressed with my guessing or. Not really.
Pilot
I. I've seen your stuff. I know you know your stuff.
College Student
So that. That's.
Pilot
That's pretty on par with.
Host
He's a professional. He should get this right. Okay. How quickly are you going to pay off 20 grand? Making115.
Pilot
The goal is this year or next year.
Host
Okay, so within the next 12 to 18 months, you're thinking pay off 20 grand?
Pilot
Yep.
Host
I like this plan. I think it's very much possible, if not faster, with your income. That's awesome. Okay. Do you plan on going into any more debt?
Pilot
No, not that I can foresee. No.
Host
Okay. You want me to guess the mortgage on the new construction home?
Pilot
Go ahead.
Host
Is that a fun game? You said. Where do you live?
Pilot
Live in Hobart, Indiana.
Host
What does a new construction home cost in Hobart, Indiana? How much did you put down? Probably. You probably put down a small down payment. I imagine 5 or 10%. 10%. 10% down. I'm going to guess this mortgage balance is $310,000.
Pilot
That's money. That's money. That's Money right there. It's 310.
Host
Holy crap. Boom goes the dynamite. I'm getting cocky, right? Hey, let me take a break from guessing and have you guys guess a number. Guess how much time I've saved by using Deleteme to wipe my personal info off of the Internet in these data broker websites. I'll wait. Just kidding. 113 hours so far. That's pretty incredible. Not only is that time saved, but that's my digital life protected thanks to Deleteme, who does the hard work of scrubbing my info off these data broker sites to protect me from spam and scam. So if you guys want to check it out, they're giving you a sweet discount. Just go to this website right here, joindeleteme.com George, you get 20% off their annual plans. And you know who hates Deb almost as much as I do? Fairwinds Credit Union, another sponsor of this episode. Here's the deal. They actually want to see you win with money. They want you to become debt free, which is unlike the big banks out there. And right now, you can sign up online for their Smart Bundle, which includes a fee, free checking account and a high yield savings account. And what's really cool is they have 5,000 partner branches you can visit all over the country if you need to be in person. And 33,000 fee free ATMs. So go check it out. Get the Smart Bundle. Just go to Fairwinds.org Ramsey. What do you do for work?
Stationary Engineer
Stationary? Engineer.
Host
Do you have a degree?
Stationary Engineer
No.
Host
Did you go to school?
Stationary Engineer
Yes.
Host
Trade school.
Stationary Engineer
Trade school.
Host
Okay. What kind of car do you drive? Give me the year. Making models?
Stationary Engineer
2023 Ford Mustang Mach E. And I'm buying a brand new truck when we get back from Nashville.
Host
Whoa. And you're going to keep the Mach E?
Stationary Engineer
100% bonus, sir. It's hers?
Host
Yeah, as it should be. Okay. Do you use credit cards?
Stationary Engineer
Yes.
Host
How many do you have?
Stationary Engineer
2.
Host
Which one do you use most frequently?
Stationary Engineer
The Chase Card.
Host
Chase. Okay. Do you rent or own a home?
Stationary Engineer
Own three houses.
Host
Wow.
Stationary Engineer
It's free real estate.
Host
Okay, this is really tough for me now to guess how much. I'm gonna guess consumer debt. I'll try to guess mortgage debt separately, but it gets complex when you got multiple homes like that. Oh, okay. Currently, as it stands today, I'm going to guess that you got 24 grand in consumer debt.
Stationary Engineer
You're pretty close.
Host
What is it?
Stationary Engineer
About 21 and a half?
Host
Oh, nailed it, baby. Okay, tell us about the 21 and a half.
Stationary Engineer
Just, you know, fun money, you know, things we don't need sometimes. And we just bought a brand new house.
Host
So tell me that break down the 21 grand in debt, Is it credit cards? Is it a car loan?
Stationary Engineer
Credit cards?
Host
All credit cards.
Stationary Engineer
All credit cards.
Host
Wow. Okay, on the chase card, 21,000, what's your plan to pay that off the next couple months? Just over time. Throw as much as you can.
Stationary Engineer
Yeah, a little bit here and there every month.
Host
Okay, I gotta ask about the new truck purchase. What's the payment gonna be on that?
Stationary Engineer
About 800 bucks a month.
Host
Woo. How much are you putting down and what's the total cost?
Stationary Engineer
About 25 grand. I'm looking at about $100,000. Truck.
Host
Everything's bigger in Texas. Including the debt?
Stationary Engineer
Yes.
Host
Oh my gosh. So you're putting 25 grand down and taking out 75 grand on a car loan?
Stationary Engineer
Give or take, yes.
Host
And that's only going to be 800 bucks a month?
Stationary Engineer
Yeah, for like six years.
College Student
Woo.
Host
Okay, well, let's talk mortgages. Now you said you got three homes that one primary Two.
Stationary Engineer
Two investment properties, two investment, one primary.
Host
Now, okay, you got mortgages on all three?
Stationary Engineer
Yes.
Host
I'm going to guess between all three, you've got $830,000 in mortgages.
Stationary Engineer
About 700,000.
Host
Boom goes the dynamite. I think that counts. I think I was right. Are you impressed with my guessing?
College Student
I am.
Host
I'll take that from a guy from Texas with a cowboy hat on. Now, are you like a true cowboy or no?
Stationary Engineer
Born and raised in San Francisco, California.
Host
Okay, well, you're closer to a cowboy than most people on Broadway.
Stationary Engineer
Most people, yeah. And I married a Texan 30 plus years ago.
Host
That's what's up. You did great. Thank you so much for playing. Now, let's talk about debt. Now you're 19, you haven't had a lot of time to go into debt. But I'm gonna guess how much debt you have based on a series of questions.
College Student
Okay.
Host
I gotta be within 20% or 20 grand to be right.
College Student
All right.
Host
What do you do for work?
College Student
Mainly part time. Just side jobs. And then I work full time over the summer doing like boat rentals and.
Host
Okay. You have a degree?
College Student
Not yet. I'm in college. I don't have a degree yet.
Host
What's the degree going to be?
College Student
It's going to be a business administration.
Host
All right.
College Student
Bachelor's it will be, yes.
Host
All right. What kind of car do you drive? Give me the year, make and model.
College Student
2012 GMC Yukon.
Host
That'll do. That'll do. Okay. Are you investing currently?
College Student
I am.
Host
In what and how much?
College Student
I got a Roth IRA opened. I opened it over the summer. I put away like 200 bucks a month.
Host
Nice. Okay. Do you have credit cards?
College Student
I do not. No credit card.
Host
Is that purpose only?
College Student
Cash only.
Host
Wow. Finally. Okay. Do you rent? I mean, guess you're living on campus or what?
College Student
I still live at home. I go to a community college.
Host
Okay. Based on everything you told me, there is zero chance that you have debt to your name.
College Student
Not a chance.
Host
Boom. Let's go, baby. My guys out here debt free. Are you going to keep it that way?
College Student
Let's plan.
Host
Let's have a little more confidence. Of course, all you have right now is hopes and plans.
Stationary Engineer
Of course.
Host
Okay, I like this plan a whole lot. Well, I got to say, I'm pretty proud of myself. I did pretty good at guessing how much debt people had based on a series of questions. And the ones that I was wrong on. Well, mom and dad helped cover a lot of the costs, which I'm not mad about, but that feels like I shouldn't be knocked for that. And what was impressive is that most people actually had less than the average amount of debt, which was encouraging. People are going to school without debt or paying it off. They're getting cars without payments. You saw most people drove a car that was 10 or 15 years old and just driving to the ground because why have a car payment where you could use that money to build wealth for the future? And instead. And if you enjoyed this video, you're gonna love this next one where I'm on the same street, straight up asking how much debt people had. No games, Straight to the answers. So check it out next. Or use the link in the description. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.
Host: George Kamel (Ramsey Network)
Date: March 30, 2026
In this dynamic and playful episode, personal finance expert George Kamel takes to the street for a game-show-style challenge: he tries to guess strangers’ debt totals based solely on a series of personal and financial lifestyle questions—with no direct questions about specific amounts. Staying true to his mission of teaching financial literacy in a fun, myth-busting style, George offers observations, quick-witted banter, and candid advice as he unpacks each guest's money habits.
A. Retired Pilot (00:41 – 02:50)
B. Cheer Coach (02:51 – 04:09)
C. Teacher 1 (04:10 – 05:28)
D. Teacher 2 (05:29 – 07:29)
E. Actuary (07:30 – 09:58)
F. Sales Professional (09:59 – 12:51)
G. Stationary Engineer (14:05 – 16:38)
H. College Student (16:48 – 18:05)
On minimal debt:
“That’s as close to zero as I think I’ve seen.” – George Kamel on the Cheer Coach’s $1,000 debt (03:49)
On family support:
"I had very, very helpful parents, so they helped with saving and cash flowing a lot of this." – Actuary (08:48)
On significant credit use:
"All credit cards." – Stationary Engineer, confirming $21k in credit card debt (15:22)
On mortgage precision:
"That's money right there. It's 310." – Sales Professional, astonished George nailed the mortgage guess (12:47)
On debt-free living:
"Not a chance." – College Student, confirming no current debt (17:52)
On practical car buying:
“Most people drove a car that was 10 or 15 years old and just driving it to the ground because why have a car payment where you could use that money to build wealth for the future?” – George Kamel (18:08)
The entire episode is playful, quick-witted, and educational—full of pop culture nods, relatable money talk, and George’s signature “snark.” Guests are treated with good humor and encouragement, regardless of their debt status.
George Kamel’s "I Guessed How Much Debt People Have" is a revealing, engaging trek through America’s real-life money habits, highlighting that with careful planning, family support, and disciplined choices, escaping the “average debt trap” is possible for a broad cross-section of people. The episode’s friendly competition and memorable moments are paired with real lessons on debt avoidance and wealth-building—delivered in George’s energetic and approachable style.