Go On An African Safari Hunt or Buy Our First House?

Summary

Episode Summary: "Go On An African Safari Hunt or Buy Our First House?"

Release Date: May 5, 2025
Host: Ramsey Network
Episode Title: Go On An African Safari Hunt or Buy Our First House?

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, the Ramsey Network tackles a unique financial dilemma faced by newlyweds Ashley and her husband. With a strong financial foundation, the couple seeks guidance on whether to embark on an extravagant African safari hunt or continue diligently saving for their first home. Hosted by Dave Ramsey, the discussion delves into balancing dream experiences with long-term financial goals.

Caller’s Financial Background and Dilemma

Ashley and her husband, married for just over a year, find themselves at a crossroads between enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and securing their financial future. They recently won a raffle for a nine-day all-inclusive hunting trip in South Africa valued at $20,000. However, the prize comes with additional out-of-pocket costs ranging from $12,000 to $15,000, excluding airfare, transportation, gun rental, taxidermy, and other expenses.

Key Financial Details:

• Household Income: $275,000 annually
• Financial Status: Debt-free with a fully funded emergency fund (Baby Step 3B)
• Home Purchase Goal: Targeting to buy a house by April 2026 with an $87,000 down payment
• Vacation Savings: $2,600 allocated in a sinking fund

Ashley presents three options:

1. Take the African safari hunt, potentially tapping into their house fund.
2. Delay the safari to preserve their home savings plan.
3. Modify the safari experience to reduce costs, such as foregoing taxidermy.

Dave Ramsey’s Advice and Analysis

Dave Ramsey commends the couple for their solid financial standing and presents a strategic solution that aligns their desires with their financial objectives. He suggests postponing the home purchase by three months to accommodate the safari trip without derailing their savings plan.

Notable Advice Points:

• Delay Strategy: "You could easily say instead of spring with $87,000, we're going to do summer with $90,000 and an African trip. And that would put you about the same place, wouldn't it?" (02:16)
• Trade-Off Justification: Ramsey emphasizes that delaying the purchase allows them to fulfill their dream without compromising their financial goals. "We would rather go to Africa and buy a house three months later for the exact same money. And, yeah, I think that's not a bad trade." (02:29)
• Financial Prioritization: He highlights the importance of following the baby steps tailored for their financial stage, noting that such discretionary spending is appropriate for their position in Baby Step 3B.

Further Discussion and Insights

The conversation evolves as Ashley expresses her excitement about the trip, particularly the desire for tangible memorabilia like a zebra rug. Dave Ramsey discusses the emotional and experiential value of such trips, comparing it to priceless memories captured through photography. He also reassures listeners that such decisions are context-dependent, emphasizing that their current financial stability uniquely positions them to consider this option.

Additional Insights:

• Experiential Value: "It's an incredible trip...it's probably in the top five trips we've ever taken." (04:40)
• Long-Term Perspective: Ramsey mentions his own experience, advocating for intentional financial decisions that balance enjoyment with prudence. "The point is not Africa, John. The point is, do you do a dream thing when you have the money at the right time?" (04:25)
• Community Reactions: John interjects humorously, highlighting the uniqueness of the call, which resonates with listeners who may face similar unconventional financial decisions.

Conclusion

Dave Ramsey concludes that Ashley and her husband are in an excellent position to make this choice without jeopardizing their financial plans. By slightly adjusting their timeline, they can enjoy their African safari hunt and still achieve their homeownership goal within a manageable timeframe. Ramsey underscores the importance of prioritizing financial steps while also acknowledging the value of fulfilling personal dreams when feasible.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Dave Ramsey: "You could easily say instead of spring with $87,000, we're going to do summer with $90,000 and an African trip. And that would put you about the same place, wouldn't it?" (02:16)
• Dave Ramsey: "I would go to Africa and delay my house. I would do by three months." (02:29)
• Dave Ramsey: "If you were in baby step three or two, the answer would be a hard no. You don't go on vacation in the middle of that crap." (03:33)
• Dave Ramsey: "The point is, do you do a dream thing when you have the money at the right time?" (04:25)
• Ashley: "Jazzed, honestly." (02:38)
• Dave Ramsey: "It's an incredible trip, and it's a wonderful thing... But, yeah, you got to do this stuff, folks, if you're listening out there, in order." (04:40)

---

This episode serves as an insightful guide for listeners navigating similar financial crossroads, illustrating how strategic planning and prioritization can harmonize personal aspirations with fiscal responsibility.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

Brought to you by the EveryDollar app. Start budgeting for free today.

[Ashley]

Okay. My husband and I are trying to decide if we should go on an African safari hunt or to keep saving for a house.

[John]

This is the most Oklahoma call I think I've ever got.

[Ashley]

So here's a little situation and background. So we got married this past year and decided for our 10 year anniversary that we are going to go on an African safari and a hunt. All the jazz. And then a month ago we entered a raffle and found out that we won a nine day all inclusive hunt in South Africa. And it's a $20,000 value. It includes like the hunt, lodging, food, and lord willing, like two animals per person. But after we did our research, it does not include airfare, transportation, gun rental. But the kicker is the taxidermy and the shipping of the taxidermy. And total all of that comes out to 12,000 to 15,000 out of pocket. Which doesn't include like extra excursions or spending money. It's a lot of money.

[Dave Ramsey]

What's your household income?

[Ashley]

Hun? 275,000 a year. We're in baby step 3B. So in our first year of marriage, we are debt free with our fully funded emergency fund. We, we are targeting to purchase a house April of 2026. So in one year. And we're on track for 87,000 for a down payment. And we have a sinking fund for our vacation this year of $2,600. So we see three potential options if you could help us with our first marital financial hurdle.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, you're in a much better place than I thought you were going to be. When we started this conversation, I was thinking this was going to be a hard no when we started. But you make 275,000, you're out of debt, you have your emergency fund, vacations are on the table. You're choosing between the size of your down payment or the distance of your down payment. You could easily say instead of spring with 87,000, we're going to do summer with 90,000 and an African trip. And that would put you about the same place, wouldn't it?

[Ashley]

I suppose so, yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

So I mean, you delay, what we're saying here is you delay your home purchase and hit your exact same goals, but you delay the home purchase by three months.

[Ashley]

That's a good point.

[Dave Ramsey]

And that's really the only question. Would I trade an African trip that I get a $20,000 coupon towards which it sounds like it's a dream trip for you?

[Ashley]

Yes, it is.

[Dave Ramsey]

I mean, actually, the voice tone. Let me make sure I'm hearing this right, because the voice tone I heard was not your husband's. Exc. You are also excited.

[Ashley]

Jazzed, honestly.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay.

[Ashley]

But, like, so we. We don't know. So we're thinking we could either take the trip and either pull from our house fund. Or I guess your perspective is we wait to purchase the home. Or he's like, well, you know, we could take the trip, but don't, you know, don't taxidermy or ship anything and just take really nice pictures. And I'm like, well, I would like to have a zebra rug. You know, like, that'd be pretty cool.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. And you can buy those again.

[John]

This is the most Oklahoma call I've ever taken.

[Dave Ramsey]

This is so great. So, anyway, yeah.

[Ashley]

If you were me.

[Dave Ramsey]

I would go to Africa and delay my house. I would do by three months.

[John]

Go do it. Go do it right. Yeah, do it right.

[Ashley]

I did not expect that.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. But I'm delaying the house. If you. Again, if you were in baby step three or two, the answer would be a hard no. You don't go on vacation in the middle of that crap. Okay. And you certainly don't go to freaking Africa in the middle of that. But you guys make 275 a year. You're out of debt. You're saving for a house. And all we're saying is we would rather go to Africa and buy a house three months later for the exact same money. And, yeah, I think that's not a bad trade. It's a reasonable trade off. Baby steps 4, 5, and 6, or 3B. 4, 5, and 6 are where you go from intense to intentional. And that's what I would do. Sharon and I didn't shoot anything except with cameras. We spent three weeks in the incredible glamping or whatever you call it, with these fabulous tents and situations out in the. And got all the big five within just a few weeks on camera. And that is probably in the top five trips we've ever taken. It's an incredible trip.

[John]

Wow.

[Ashley]

Okay. That's so exciting.

[Dave Ramsey]

So it's mind blowing when you are, you know, sitting under a tree and the cheetah is above the tree. You're shooting with an iPhone. You know, it's mind blowing. So I'll just, you know, it's. It is. It's a great trip, and it's a wonderful thing, and I will load up the grandkids and take them when they get old enough. It's. But, yeah, you got to do this Stuff, folks, if you're listening out there, in order. And so the point is not Africa, John. The point is, do you do a dream thing when you have the money at the right time? That's where they are. Right. And when I saw this pop up, it says, we want a hunting trip to Africa. Should we go? That's what popped up on our screen. I'm already in hard no mode before I picked up the line because most of the people call and ask that question are going, I'm so broke, I can't pay attention and I want to go to Africa because we entered a raffle for something we shouldn't even have done.

[John]

Well. And I thought it was a scam. Like, hey, we'll will let you come to the campsite, but you have to pay for this and this and this.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, that is. It's kind of, you know, they're not paying for everything. It's not a. It's not somebody, some wealthy person is furnishing the whole deal for them.

[John]

Sure.

[Dave Ramsey]

But it was, it was a hunting trip raffle at a charity. And that's the way they're usually structured. But. And yeah, you can, then you can make the decision about, okay, do we want to trade taxidermy for another month? Right?

[John]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

Draw on the house.

[John]

And it sounds like her husband values.

[Dave Ramsey]

Based decisions you can put in front of you at any moment and go, yeah, I really want a zebra rug. Okay, yeah.

[John]

Say her husband needs to get her a zebra.

[Dave Ramsey]

Man, I'm telling you, there's guys out there that are hunters all over America going, does Ashley have a sister?

[John]

I. Oh, man. They're like, man, I'm married way wrong.

[Dave Ramsey]

She's more excited about than he is.

[John]

I know. He's like, can we just move?

[Dave Ramsey]

Create your free every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.