Don’t Blame This on Golf!

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ramsey Show Highlights - “Don’t Blame This on Golf!”

Release Date: December 29, 2024
Host: Ramsey Network
Duration: Approximately 3 minutes and 38 seconds

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Introduction

In the episode titled “Don’t Blame This on Golf!”, Rachel Cruze addresses a listener's financial dilemma involving her husband's golfing expenses. The discussion revolves around balancing hobbies with financial responsibility, especially in the context of long-term financial planning and budgeting.

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Listener's Dilemma: Mary from New Mexico

Mary contacts the show with concerns about her and her husband’s financial management. They have successfully adopted several of Dave Ramsey’s financial principles over the past 30 years, such as using cash envelopes for groceries and eliminating credit cards. However, Mary's husband has maintained an expensive golfing habit that disrupts their budget.

Key Points:

• Husband’s Golfing Habit:
  • 40-year avid golfer.
  • Uses credit for golf-related expenses, causing unpredictable costs.
  • Generates unexpected invoices due to untracked spending at the golf club.

Mary’s Concern:
"The one expense that my husband refuses to use cash for is golf in all caps with an exclamation point." (00:08)

She seeks expert advice on managing this recurring issue without curtailing her husband's hobby entirely.

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Rachel Cruze’s Advice on Managing Golf Expenses

Rachel acknowledges the difficulty in addressing the issue but offers a structured approach to integrate golfing expenses into their budget.

Recommendations:

1. Line Item in the Budget:

   • Rachel suggests treating the golf expenses as a fixed line item within their budget.
   • “He’s got to put that in the budget and if it’s not going to be cash…” (00:36)

2. Understanding Costs:

   • Encourages detailed awareness of all golf-related expenses, including membership fees, cart rentals, taxes, and personal expenditures at the club.
   • “He knows what it costs to get a cart if they adding that in. He knows what the taxes are on that…” (00:36)

3. Discipline and Tracking:

   • Emphasizes the importance of discipline in controlling and tracking additional expenditures.
   • “He’s just got to be disciplined with it and it’s pretty easy to track.” (02:10)

4. Compromise:

   • Suggests finding a middle ground, such as reducing the number of rounds played or limiting post-round activities like drinks.

Rachel stresses that the goal isn’t to eliminate golf but to manage it responsibly within their financial constraints.

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Dave Ramsey’s Insights on Financial Responsibility vs. Hobbies

Dave Ramsey builds upon Rachel’s advice by differentiating between maintaining a hobby and financial irresponsibility.

Key Perspectives:

1. Right to a Hobby vs. Financial Prudence:

   • “He has a right to continue his hobby because he’s the breadwinner.” (02:08)
   • Contrasts the right to pursue personal interests with the necessity of financial discipline.

2. Responsible Spending:

   • Highlights the importance of setting and adhering to budget limits.
   • “He’s got to put that in there and you guys got to come to an agreement on this is what we can spend as we’re having to tighten up right now.” (00:36)

3. Avoiding Extremes:

   • Advises against forcing the husband to quit golfing but rather encourages moderating the associated expenses.
   • “Step one for him, for you, is not try to get him to quit. It’s try to get him to reign in the additional expenses.” (02:35)

4. Observation of Underlying Issues:

   • Dave notes potential underlying marital tensions reflected in Mary’s language about golf.
   • “So I think there’s more going on here than the golf. Capital letters, all exclamation points. Right. Is pretty much, I hate golf, wife language.” (02:10)

5. Practical Solutions:

   • Reiterates the feasibility of managing golf expenses through budgeting and responsible spending.
   • “What can we do to limit that and put a number on it that we’re not going to go over? And that’s very doable.” (02:35)

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Conclusion

The episode concludes with a reaffirmation of maintaining hobbies within financial boundaries. Both Rachel and Dave emphasize the importance of communication, budgeting, and mutual understanding in resolving financial disagreements related to personal interests.

Final Thoughts:

• “But that doesn’t mean you can’t. That’s right. Manage what you’re spending. And you should.” (03:38)
• “Lighten up on the golf hating.” (03:38)

Rachel and Dave encourage couples to collaboratively find solutions that honor personal hobbies while upholding financial stability.

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Notable Quotes:

• “He’s just got to be disciplined with it and it’s pretty easy to track.” — Rachel Cruze (02:10)
• “He has a right to continue his hobby because he’s the breadwinner.” — Dave Ramsey (02:08)
• “So I think there’s more going on here than the golf. Capital letters, all exclamation points. Right. Is pretty much, I hate golf, wife language.” — Dave Ramsey (02:10)

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This episode offers valuable insights for listeners grappling with balancing personal hobbies and financial responsibilities, illustrating practical steps to achieve harmony in household budgeting.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

Brought to you by the Ramsey Network app. Download today to go further with Ramsey.

[Rachel Cruze]

Today's question comes from Mary in New Mexico. My husband and I have been listening to you for 30 years. Being empty nesters now, we have found that we had to pull back the reins a little bit. Went back to using an envelope for groceries. We also eliminated credit cards and mostly used cash. The one expense that my husband refuses to use cash for is golf in all caps with an exclamation point. He has been an avid golfer for 40 years. Being the main breadwinner, he feels somewhat justified in deserving to continue this hobby. He never remembers what he spent. So we're constantly having to adjust for extra money that's coming out because he changes everything at the club and then we get an invoice. Could I please get your expert advice on dealing with this type of scenario? Well, I was a member of a local club for a while. We had one of the things I'm very thankful for. We had a corporate membership at a great golf course here and, and Stacy and I had to put this in the line item. And so he's got to put this in the budget and if it's not going to be cash because I understand the way these clubs do this. He knows what it costs to golf. He knows what it costs to get a cart if they adding that in. He knows what the taxes are on that. He also knows what it costs for a Twix at the turn or a turkey sandwich. So these are things that are all very controllable. And he's got to play ball and so you know, you know what it costs to play golf beyond your membership or whatever. So he's got to put that in there and you guys got to come to an agreement on this is what we can spend as we're having to tighten up right now. He doesn't have to give up golf, but he's going to have to maybe cut back. So maybe that's rounds, maybe it's a drink after the, the round. Whatever it is, he's just got to be disciplined with it and it's pretty easy to track. He's just not wanting to do it because he's never had to. That's my take. Dave. I don't know what you think about that.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, there's a difference between continuing the hobby and you know, she, she wants him to quit. I mean, feels like things dripping in I hate golf wife language.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah, the all caps give us away. Gives it away.

[Dave Ramsey]

And so, you know, there's a difference between he has a right to continue his hobby because he's the red winner. He says that's different argument than, hey, you know, you can't buy all the expensive stuff and play.

[Rachel Cruze]

That's right.

[Dave Ramsey]

You know, because we're having to tighten up and so we're going to. We can put a line item to this and we can manage it if he chooses to be responsible. There's a difference between choosing to be responsible and choosing to play golf.

[Rachel Cruze]

That's right.

[Dave Ramsey]

I mean, you can be irresponsible. You can be irresponsible, not bother with it, which is what he's doing. And so I think step one for him, for you, is not try to get him to quit. It's try to get him to reign in the additional expenses, whether you're buying food or drink or whatever he's doing while he's there. And, you know, what can we do to limit that and put a number on it that we're not going to go over? And that's very doable. It's very doable. So. But I think there's more going on here than the golf. Capital letters, all exclamation points. Right. Is pretty much, I hate golf, wife language. I saw it, you know, no question about it.

[Rachel Cruze]

And in his defense, you don't walk into the golf club with your cash envelope. It's, it's.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, a lot of courses don't. I mean, if you're a member of something, they won't. No, they don't. You have to sign.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah, that's exactly how it works.

[Dave Ramsey]

Choice. It's the only way to handle it.

[Rachel Cruze]

But it is track.

[Dave Ramsey]

But that doesn't mean you can't. That's right. Manage what you're spending. And you should. So he needs to be responsible and you probably need to light up. Lighten up on the golf hating. Brought to you by the Ramsey Network app. Download today to go further with Ramsey.