He's 28, Married, And Still Lives With His Parents

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights: "He's 28, Married, And Still Lives With His Parents"

Date: December 2, 2025
Podcast Network: Ramsey Network
Host(s): Ramsey Network team (multiple hosts)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Ramsey Show Highlights team fields a call from Drew, a 28-year-old newlywed who, along with his wife, is living with his parents to save money for a down payment on a house. The conversation quickly turns into a lively and candid discussion about adult independence, financial priorities, and the often tricky journey from living at home to true financial self-sufficiency. The hosts balance humor and practical advice as they challenge Drew’s long-term plan and offer perspective on both money and married life.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Drew’s Situation: Saving by Living at Home

• Drew shares: He and his wife, recently married, moved in with his parents to save money before buying a house due to high interest rates (00:12–00:22).
• Financial rundown:
  • $3,000/month saved (00:43)
  • No debt; both cars paid off (2020 Camry, 2009 Mazda 6) (00:54)
  • Combined income: just over $100k/year (01:04)
  • Participating in an employee stock purchase program (00:43)
  • Current savings: $60,000 (03:13)
• Drew’s goal: Move out and buy a home early next year (03:23)

2. Hosts’ Reactions: Independence and Dignity

• Surprise and candor:
  • Host 1: “Nothing in me wants to be with parents or in-laws for an extended period of time. Do we agree?” (01:20)
  • Hosts question if it’s about finances—or about codependence (01:31)
• Encouragement towards independence:
  • Host 1: “I just want y’all to be adults.” (02:05)
  • Host 2: “Are there some codependency issues going on here, Drew?” (01:31)
• Humorous visualization: Both hosts joke about Drew riding his electric bike home to his parents—highlighting the disconnect between being married and remaining at home (02:34–02:47)

3. Financial Priorities: House vs. ‘Toys’

• The bike dilemma: Drew wants to buy a $4,000 electric dirt bike (00:12, 03:36)
• Hosts challenge spending priorities:
  • Host 2: “You can’t tell me you’re doing all this ‘cause you really want to be a homeowner, and then we’re blowing money on toys.” (02:14)
  • Host 1: “You can afford both, Drew. Like, buy the bike and move out. Like, you can do both.” (03:49)

4. The Rent vs. Buy Calculation

• Rent estimates in the area: $1,100–$1,200/month for a one-bedroom (02:32)
• Host guidance:
  • Jumping directly from living at home to owning is “too big of a gap... it’s going to be a rude awakening.” (04:33)
  • “I think your dignity is more than that. Genuinely, you and your wife together—I think you just learn a lot when you’re not sharing a wall with your parents.” (04:38)

5. Notable Moments: Humor and Reality Checks

• Memorable banter:
  • Host 1: “No, mom, I’m home. I’m home from my electric bike ride around the neighborhood. Like, Drew, you’re a man. You’re a man. Like, you got this.” (02:47)
  • Host 2 (on chores): “She does not fold the laundry? ... Proud of you. That’s our boy, Drew.” (04:13)
• Practical encouragement:
  • “Y’all need to spread your wings.... Y’all gotta figure out how to pay the bills and get the water turned on in the new apartment.” (04:20)
  • “Get the bike and apply for an apartment this afternoon.” (05:17)
• Relational advice: Hosts stress the importance of newlyweds living independently to foster growth as a couple, not just as individuals shuttling between family and friends (05:17)

6. Closing: Praise and Acknowledgment

• Hosts admire Drew’s financial discipline:
  • “Y’all are awesome, though, and you’ve been very smart financially. I will give you all that.” (06:06)
  • “You’re debt-free. Y’all are very capable people. I think that’s what’s driving me crazy about it, is you’re so capable.” (06:11)

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Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• On living at home as newlyweds:
  • Host 1: “Nothing in me wants to be with parents or in laws for an extended period of time. Do we agree?” (01:20)
• On spending priorities:
  • Host 2: “But you can’t tell me you’re doing all this cause you really want to be a homeowner, and then we’re blowing money on toys.” (02:14)
• On the awkwardness of the situation:
  • Host 1: “No, mom, I’m home. I’m home from my electric bike ride around the neighborhood. Like, Drew, you’re a man. You’re a man. Like, you got this. Like, you gotta like. Come on, come on.” (02:47)
• On self-sufficiency:
  • Host 1: “Y’ all need to spread your wings. You’re. You’re leaving, Cleave. Y’ all gotta figure out how to pay the bills and get the water turned on in the new apartment. Like, y’ all need to be self sufficient.” (04:20)
• On life lessons:
  • Host 1: “I think your dignity is more than that. I mean, genuinely, you and your wife together, I think you just learn a lot when you are not sharing a wall with your parents.” (04:38)
• Encouragement for the future:
  • Host 1: “Get the bike and... And apply for an apartment this afternoon.” (05:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Drew introduces his situation: 00:12
• Financial breakdown (no debt, income, savings): 00:43–01:13, 03:13
• The debate over renting vs. living at home: 01:07–02:05
• Electric bike & spending priorities: 03:33–03:49
• Encouragement to move out, value of independence: 04:20–05:17
• Final encouragement and affirmations: 06:06–06:17

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Tone and Takeaways

The episode blends straightforward, “tough love” financial guidance with good-natured ribbing. The hosts consistently encourage Drew and his wife to embrace independence—financially and relationally—asserting that their choices shape both their dignity and their growth as a new family unit. While recognizing Drew’s sound financial footing, the hosts urge him to strike a balance between saving and living, emphasizing that “jumping from living with mom to being a homeowner is just too big of a gap” (04:33).

Listeners come away with a reinforced message: prudence in savings is commendable, but adulthood and marriage are about more than the balance sheet—they’re about stepping out to experience, and learn from, life together.

Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Drew]

Get an electric bike, but I still live at home at 28 with my wife.

[Host 1]

Whoa.

[Host 2]

What happened?

[Drew]

Nothing really. We just got married a couple of months ago. We were looking at getting a home prior to the marriage, but decided to hold off due to the interest rates. And my parents offered for us to stay with them to save some extra money.

[Host 2]

Okay, how much are you saving currently per month by living with them? Like, what's actually going into a savings account?

[Drew]

So 3,000amonth is going into the savings account, and then I have other money being set aside into, like, an employee stock purchase program.

[Host 2]

Do you have any debt?

[Drew]

No debt. Two cars paid off. 2020 Camry. 2009 Mazda 6.

[Host 1]

Good for you guys. What do you guys make a year?

[Drew]

Combined? A little bit over a hundred thousand dollars.

[Host 1]

Drew, why aren't y' all renting somewhere?

[Drew]

We just wanted to be able to buy a house and not pour more money.

[Host 1]

You'd rather live with your parents than not rent? I'm sorry.

[Drew]

The situation is not bad at all.

[Host 1]

True. Can we just be honest with newlyweds? Nothing in me wants to be with parents or in laws for an extended period of time. Do we agree?

[Host 2]

Are there some codependency issues going on here, Drew?

[Drew]

I don't believe so, no. We're just trying to save as much money as we can.

[Host 1]

Okay, I know, Drew, but do you. I mean, is there any, like. Is there any part of, like, the dignity in y' all that are like, I just want to get up in the morning and make cereal and not open the refrigerator and look at the milk. And, like, there's my mom in the kitchen making eggs in a robe. Like, do you know what I'm saying? Like, y' all are married.

[Drew]

Not ideal.

[Host 2]

What is your. How does your wife feel about this?

[Drew]

She actually doesn't mind it. We have a great relationship with my family.

[Host 2]

Okay, but you can have a great relationship with your family and also not live with them.

[Host 1]

I just want y' all to be adults. And you called about an electric bike.

[Host 2]

Drew, like, you have a vehicle.

[Drew]

You gotta have fun while you're young.

[Host 1]

Okay.

[Host 2]

But you can't tell me you're doing all this cause you really want to be a homeowner, and then we're blowing money on toys.

[Drew]

That's a valid point.

[Host 2]

How old are you two?

[Drew]

28.

[Host 2]

Okay, let's play this out. What would a one bedroom cost in the area?

[Drew]

$1,1200.

[Host 2]

Okay, perfect.

[Host 1]

I just imagine you. I'm so sorry. Can we just be honest? Like, I love you guys. Like, if we were out having a beer, I think we would really get along. I just can't imagine Drew.

[Drew]

Right.

[Host 1]

And your electric bike pulling into your parents driveway.

[Host 2]

Honey, I'm home.

[Host 1]

No, mom, I'm home. I'm home from my electric bike ride around the neighborhood. Like, Drew, you're a man. You're a man. Like, you got this. Like, you gotta like. Come on, come on. Anything? Anything. Nothing. All right, Okay. I mean, does that not kind of make you laugh?

[Drew]

We have. Does it kind of large of money saved up?

[Host 1]

So go rent an apartment.

[Host 2]

How much money do you guys have saved currently?

[Drew]

So right now we have about $60,000.

[Host 2]

Drew, what's the goal? What is the number? What's the number? Before you go. All right, Mom, I'm out.

[Drew]

The goal is just to move out at the beginning of next year. So we're planning on saving 3,000amonth until then while we look at a house and then find that and move out.

[Host 2]

Okay. What's an electric bike cost these days?

[Drew]

It's $4,000. It's like a dirt bike, but it's electric.

[Host 2]

Dude, the motocross dreams need to go for now. Like, we need, we need to put $4,000 towards our deposit for our apartment.

[Host 1]

You can afford both, Drew. Like, buy the bike and move out. Like, you can do both.

[Host 2]

How about this? If you buy the bike, can we force you to move out tomorrow?

[Drew]

I feel like that's a fair deal.

[Host 1]

Yes, that's fair.

[Host 2]

Congratulations, you're the owner.

[Host 1]

I think that's it. That's it true. You can buy the bike, but you have to move out of your parents house. And I mean, please. I'm telling you.

[Host 2]

Real question though. Does she fold the laundry?

[Drew]

She does not fold the laundry. I do all the laundry.

[Host 2]

Proud of you. That's our boy. That's our boy, Drew.

[Host 1]

It's just good for y'. All. You just. Y' all need to spread your wings. You're. You're leaving, Cleave. Y' all gotta figure out how to pay the bills and get the water turned on in the new apartment. Like, y' all need to be self sufficient.

[Host 2]

Yeah. Jumping from living with mom to being a homeowner is just too big of a gap. It's gonna be a rude awakening.

[Host 1]

Well, yeah. Well, and I guess I think I would feel a little bit better about it if y' all were like, we're $300,000 in student loan debt, and we're both lawyers, and we're about to get our law. I don't know, like, if there was some, like, big reason, but there's. There's not even that. It's just to quote, unquote, save money. And. And I think your dignity is more than that. I mean, genuinely, you and your wife together, I think you just learn a lot when you are not sharing a wall with your parents.

[Host 2]

It's true.

[Drew]

Yes. Yeah.

[Host 2]

And you'll still.

[Drew]

Well, we both have lived alone before and with roommates, so it's not like it's our first time, you know, spreading our wings and flying, but.

[Host 1]

Well, it will be as a couple. It is as a couple. And y' all are gonna now have to share a bathroom, and you're gonna have to, like. Yeah. I mean, you. Yeah, you guys are. It's a different situation than the dudes living in the rental house together, so. No, it's your wife. And, yeah, y' all will. Y' all will run into things that you're not running into relationally when you are out on your own, which is a good thing. It's how it should be. It's how it should be. So, yeah. Drew, get the bike and. And. And apply for an apartment this afternoon.

[Host 2]

And fly away on that bike to your new apartment. Make sure they have e bike parking at the new apartment. That's the big question. Where are you going to park that thing if you got to store it? This might be a nightmare.

[Host 1]

I don't know. The visual. I just can't.

[Host 2]

There it is.

[Host 1]

Into the driveway.

[Host 2]

Right into the driveway.

[Host 1]

I'm home.

[Host 2]

Oh, man, I love this so much.

[Host 1]

Y' all are awesome, though, and you've been very smart financially. I will give you all that. Y' all have a lot of money.

[Host 2]

Figures you're debt free.

[Host 1]

Y' all are very capable people. I think that's what's driving me crazy about it, is you're so capable.

[Host 2]

Slows you down six months to buy a house. I'm okay with that. For the sake of your dignity.

[Host 1]

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