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)

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.

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)

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)

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

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.