Can We Go See The Backstreet Boys? (We're $96k in Debt)

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights — Episode Summary
Episode Title: Can We Go See The Backstreet Boys? (We're $96k in Debt)
Date: April 11, 2026
Featured Hosts: Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruze
Caller: Rachel

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Episode Overview

This episode features a heartfelt and humorous call from Rachel, who, despite being in significant debt, wonders if she should make an exception in her journey to financial freedom to attend a Backstreet Boys concert in Las Vegas. Hosts Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze explore the tension between living life and maintaining intense financial focus, all while maintaining the show’s trademark warmth and honesty.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Dilemma: Is There Ever Room for Fun in Baby Step 2?

• [00:06] Rachel (the caller) asks: “Is there ever a time in baby step two that it would be appropriate to cash flow like a life event or a once in a lifetime experience?”
• She reveals her dream to see the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, provoking laughter and nostalgia from the hosts.

How Much Debt is Still Remaining?

• [01:22] Rachel shares that she and her husband have about $96,000 left in debt, mostly student loans. Despite high debt, they’re making significant progress, putting $3,500 a month towards payments.
  • Rachel works in health care (with an NDA), and her husband is a teacher.
  • They estimate being about 25 months from clearing the debt.

The Importance of Focus During Debt Payoff

• [02:17] Dave empathizes: He knows the appeal of one-of-a-kind experiences, recounting his own recent trip to see the Eagles at the Sphere, calling it “one of the best concert experiences of my life.”
• However, he cautions: “It’s worth every penny if you had the pennies. You don’t. You’re broke. You’re $90,000 in debt.” ([02:46])
• Rachel Cruze, clearly torn, jokingly mutes her mic, implying the emotional weight of saying “no” to such moments.

Why the Ramsey Team Says "No" in Baby Step 2

• Despite understanding the urge, Dave delivers the core message:
  • “It's inconsistent with what we teach because that loss of focus and that loss of... I give myself permission to take a minute off instead of staying on this. The way you got the $78,000 paid off in that short period of time was focused intensity without any distractions.... That's how we've taught and been able to coach people to be successful all these years in this. To not get distracted with every shiny thing.” ([03:06])
• Rachel Cruze adds humor and relatability: “It heals your inner child. I'm telling you, it is like, oh, God.” ([04:00])

Emotional and Cultural Resonance

• The show recognizes the deeper feelings attached to “once-in-a-lifetime” experiences—particularly childhood nostalgia and the desire for reward after hard work.
• “All of us millennials, it takes you back to, like, 7th grade, so.” – Rachel Cruze ([04:07])
• Dave underscores the hard truth: “The truth is, everything we teach says don't do it.” ([04:26])

Reassurance and Encouragement

• The hosts reassure the caller:
  • “If you live like no one else, I promise you later, there's going to be better things than this would have been.” – Dave Ramsey ([04:43])
  • “We will get millennial concerts in the future, Rachel. I really do believe it. I'm praying for it.” – Rachel Cruze ([05:01])
• Rachel (the caller) is praised for her attitude and maturity regarding the situation.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Focus: “Power focus is... hard to grasp in a culture that does not know how to focus, in a culture where people check their phones 2,500 times a day.” – Dave Ramsey ([06:02])
• On the Nature of Debt-Free Living: “If you do it, we'll still be friends, but I would not suggest it.” – Dave Ramsey ([05:22])
• On Making Your Own Choices: “Dave doesn't make the decisions at your house. He just gives you the guidance, and then you make the decisions at your house.” – Dave Ramsey ([06:48])

Anecdotes and Final Words

• Dave shares an old story from his TV experience, highlighting the real-life consequences of “cheating” on a debt-free journey. ([07:00])
• The episode ends with encouragement for Rachel’s efforts and respect for her honest approach.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:06 – Caller’s question about spending for special events in debt
• 01:22 – Caller explains her debt and income situation
• 02:17 – Dave’s empathy and concert story; pivots to focus on financial discipline
• 03:06 – Core teaching: why exceptions undermine progress
• 04:00 – Rachel Cruze on concerts healing the “inner child”
• 04:26 – The hard truth: “Everything we teach says don’t do it.”
• 05:01 – Hopeful note about future millennial concerts
• 06:02 – Discussion on the rarity and power of sustained focus
• 06:48 – Reminder: Listeners make their own choices, even if guided by Dave Ramsey
• 07:00 – Dave’s CBS Early Show anecdote illustrating the pitfalls of breaking focus

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Tone & Notable Dynamics

• The episode blends humor, nostalgia, and understanding with the tough love approach the Ramsey Network is known for.
• Both hosts relate emotionally but stay firm in their teaching, offering empathy and encouragement, not condemnation.
• Notable is the kindness and camaraderie toward Rachel (the caller), validating her feelings while gently steering her to stay the course.

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Conclusion

This episode strikes a compelling balance: relishing in the genuine joys and temptations of life, while steadfastly reminding listeners that financial freedom comes from focused, consistent sacrifice. The message—delivered with laughter and honesty—is clear: "Live like no one else now, so later you can live and give like no one else."

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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[Rachel]

Is there ever a time in baby step two that it would be appropriate to cash flow like a life event or a once in a lifetime experience?

[Rachel Cruze]

What would that be?

[Rachel]

So it would be to go see several good childhood friends of mine in Las Vegas named Kevin, Nick, Howie, A.J. and Brian the. At the Sphere in August.

[Dave Ramsey]

The Backstreet Boys.

[Rachel]

Yes.

[Dave Ramsey]

Their childhood friends.

[Rachel Cruze]

Shoot. I'm so glad you called on this day, Rachel. There's any hope?

[Dave Ramsey]

You know, Rachel's been twice.

[Rachel]

I think so. Yes.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

And it's so good.

[Rachel]

Oh, my gosh. And here's the thing. I'm like watching the videos and my husband yells from the other room. Dave says no.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh,

[Dave Ramsey]

I'm just gonna see if Rachel's a hypocrite. That's all I'm gonna say. Because if your husband calls and wants to. Wants to buy a Mastercraft, I've got the same problem.

[Rachel Cruze]

Backstreet Boy tickets are very different price point wise. Let's just, let's just, let's let's just continue being curious. Rachel, how much debt do you all have left?

[Rachel]

So we have. I have it right here. We have just about 96,000. And I will admit that student loans. I'm in health care and my husband is a teacher.

[Dave Ramsey]

And your household income is what?

[Rachel]

I have an NDA with work, but we are able to put about 30 $500 a month towards debt because I have a side hustle of adjunct faculty.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh, nice.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Set your household income. Oh, you can't, you can't say because you have an NDA. Is that what you mean?

[Rachel]

Yeah, I have a non disclosure agreement. I work with the government, so.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh, okay.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, nobody knows who you are, but. Okay. Anyway, protect yourself. They probably actually do know who you are, but anyway.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh, man.

[Rachel]

So we're able to put like 3,500amonth towards debt, and we're at probably about 25 months away from having that all cleared.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah, I went to the Eagles at the Sphere, which would be my version of Backstreet Boys, because the chance of me seeing the Backstreet Boys is close to zero. But the Eagles at the Sphere was one of the best concert experiences of my life. So I'm. I can get. I can get there with you and Rachel on how difficult this is. We're kind of making fun of it a little bit, but it's also, it's also a very real possibility. It's a Real. It's a real cool experience. And. And it's worth every penny if you had the pennies. You don't. You're broke. You're $90,000 in debt.

[Rachel]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruze]

So I. I'm going to mute my mic. I just can't. I can't.

[Dave Ramsey]

She can't tell you.

[Rachel Cruze]

No, just kidding.

[Dave Ramsey]

She's going to make me do it.

[Rachel Cruze]

I'm kidding.

[Dave Ramsey]

She can't do. Would be inconsistent with what we teach.

[Rachel Cruze]

I know. I know.

[Dave Ramsey]

That's the bottom line. As much as we understand and grasp, and we also know you're not going to go bankrupt if you do it, and you're probably going to be okay if you do it, but it's inconsistent with what we teach because that loss of focus and that loss of. I give myself permission to take a minute off instead of staying on this. The way you got the 78,000 paid off in that short period of time was focused intensity without any distractions. You put the blinders on and said, nothing is as important as getting this debt clean. And that level of focus created behavior change in your household, created sacrifice in your household, and got you the progress. And that's how we've taught and been able to coach people to be successful all these years in this. To not get distracted with every shiny thing. And this one's particularly funny and fun because Rachel has actually done it twice.

[Rachel Cruze]

It heals your inner child. I'm telling you, it is like, oh, God.

[Dave Ramsey]

Oh, Jesus is not up there. It's the backstreet voice.

[Rachel Cruze]

All of us millennials. It takes you back to, like, 7 7th grade, so.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, so does the Eagles. But my inner child didn't need it. But my inner child died a long time ago. The. He grew up.

[Rachel Cruze]

No, he said he's in there.

[Dave Ramsey]

He's way down in there. But, yeah. This is so fun. Rachel, I'm sorry.

[Rachel Cruze]

Sorry.

[Dave Ramsey]

The tr. I have to tell you the truth. And the truth is, everything we teach says don't do it.

[Rachel]

Absolutely. Well, no, I really do appreciate it. And we listen to, like, the podcast and stuff when I'm, like, on my way to teach on the weekends, so thank you.

[Dave Ramsey]

You're fun and you're a great sport

[Rachel Cruze]

and you're working so hard and you're

[Dave Ramsey]

doing a great job. And here's the thing. If you live like no one else, I promise you later, there's going to be better things than this would have been.

[Rachel Cruze]

And I have on my prayer list that Britney Spears heals up as a human, and she goes on Tour and that NSync, that Justin Timberlake goes on

[Dave Ramsey]

just for your generation.

[Rachel Cruze]

We will get millennial concerts in the future, Rachel. I really do believe it. I'm praying for it.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, when they want money, they will, because all the ones from my generation are 85 years. They're all on stage jumping around still, so. Because there's really good money in it right now.

[Rachel Cruze]

There is. Well. And they keep releasing more dates.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. Like, I mean, Don Henley just keeps going like the Ever Ready Bunny, so.

[Rachel Cruze]

But anyway, he is Eagles.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. Yeah, it's. Yeah, it's understandable. And it beats for a fun thing because you actually, you know, you almost got Rachel on your side, but, yeah, we also have to step aside from all the giggling and the fun about it and say, while it is an incredible experience, I would not suggest it to someone in your situation. If you do it, we'll still be friends, but I would not suggest it.

[Rachel Cruze]

That's a good point, Rachel. We would still be friends if you did it. There you go. That's a nice way of saying it. Just, you know, won't be mad at you. Just like we say, that's not a sin. It's not a salvation issue. It's not wise.

[Dave Ramsey]

This is not a biblical. It's not a biblical contract.

[Rachel Cruze]

Stay focused, Rachel. Stay focused.

[Dave Ramsey]

Power focus is. It's hard to grasp in a culture that does not know how to focus, in a culture where people check their phones 2,500 times a day.

[Rachel Cruze]

And it's hard with. With. And this is a lot of people's journeys. But, you know, they paid off 78.

[Dave Ramsey]

And they made good progress in two, you know, 90.

[Rachel Cruze]

Still have 96. Like, that's a long. That's a long journey. So, you guys, you're in the marathon. You've got it, Rachel.

[Dave Ramsey]

And I kind of think in talking to her that she was pretty. Pretty mature about.

[Rachel Cruze]

No, she knows.

[Dave Ramsey]

Consideration. Yeah, she was kind of having fun with. Wasn't like, a little spoiled.

[Rachel Cruze]

No, no, no, no, no, no. She's. She's smart. Yeah. She knows.

[Dave Ramsey]

She's like a grown woman and stuff.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh, man. I just hate that you kind of lost the argument to the husband, too. When he yells from the other room,

[Dave Ramsey]

Dave says, you can't do it. Dave doesn't make the decisions at your house. He just gives you the guidance, and then you make the decisions at your house. But, yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh, Rachel. So sorry. So sorry.

[Dave Ramsey]

I was on. When we started a thousand years ago, I was on CBS early show every two, every other Tuesday. And they got this couple for me to coach. And on the show, they revealed to me without telling me ahead of time that they had just come back from vacation after I've been coaching them for four months to get out of debt.

[Rachel Cruze]

Oh, geez.

[Dave Ramsey]

I made the woman cry on the air. When I finished with her, she was crying.

[Rachel Cruze]

You're like, I can't believe they went

[Dave Ramsey]

to break with this woman. I cannot completely ripped her.

[Rachel Cruze]

I believe you did. I believe that.

[Dave Ramsey]

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