"I Have To Donate Plasma To Afford Gas"

Summary

Summary of "I Have To Donate Plasma To Afford Gas" - The Ramsey Show Highlights Release Date: June 30, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, hosted by the Ramsey Network, Aiden, a 22-year-old man, reaches out for financial advice. Struggling to manage his and his fiancée's finances, Aiden finds himself in a precarious situation, resorting to donating plasma to cover essential expenses like gas. Experts Rachel Cruze and Dr. John Delony provide actionable insights to help Aiden navigate his financial challenges and improve his economic standing.

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Aiden's Financial Struggle

Aiden explains his current financial predicament, highlighting the difficulty in managing bills despite having multiple jobs.

• Income Breakdown:
  • Aiden: $800/month from working three jobs (as of 00:46)
  • Fiancée: $400/month from being an at-home CNA nurse (02:40)
  • Total Household Income: $1,200/month

Aiden and his fiancée are renting an apartment with a monthly rent of $1,000, leaving them with only $200 to cover other expenses (06:29). This minimal surplus forces them to rely on donating plasma for gas and food banks for sustenance.

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Expert Analysis and Advice

Rachel Cruze immediately identifies the core issue: insufficient income relative to living expenses.

• Rachel Cruze: “Twelve hundred dollars a month. That is. I mean, you barely can live in a cardboard box for that.” (00:51)

She critiques the efficiency of Aiden's current employment, suggesting that his roles do not provide adequate compensation for the hours worked.

• Rachel Cruze: “$800 divided by 30 hours ain't much. All right, that's crazy to me.” (02:44)

Dr. John Delony reinforces the need for Aiden to seek more lucrative employment opportunities, encouraging him to explore different job markets or create his own opportunities.

• Dr. John Delony: “I just want you to go out and be able to do that work. Because what you're describing is just a couple of hours, a whole, for the whole week.” (03:09)
• Dr. John Delony: “I think that it's your own mind that's kind of getting in the way of that.” (07:27)

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Aiden's Side Business and Obstacles

Aiden mentions having a side business and his efforts to increase income by working at a mowing company. However, an injury forced him to leave that job, limiting his earnings.

• Aiden: “I have a side business on my own, but I've applied to other drum companies because I did work for a mowing company at the beginning of the summer. But they let me go because I got injured...” (05:14)
• Rachel Cruze: “What were you making when you were mowing lawns for them? … I was making $16 an hour.” (05:52)

Rachel underscores the potential earnings lost and advises Aiden to return to higher-paying roles or seek better opportunities elsewhere.

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Emotional and Mindset Challenges

The conversation delves into Aiden's mental barriers that may be hindering his financial progress. Rachel and Dr. Delony challenge Aiden to reassess his mindset and take proactive steps toward improving his situation.

• Dr. John Delony: “He's a hard worker, I'm a smart guy. Like, I deserve more than this.” (04:13)
• Rachel Cruze: “What's going on in your mind around making more money?” (05:16)
• Dr. John Delony: “I just think that it's your own mind that's kind of getting in the way of that.” (07:27)

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Solutions Offered

Rachel Cruze presents Aiden with a practical solution to help him realign his career with his strengths and interests:

• Pre-Wedding Gift: Aiden receives the book "Find the Work You're Wired to Do" along with an 18-20 minute assessment designed to identify his innate talents and how to leverage them for better job opportunities (08:06).

Rachel emphasizes the importance of Aiden taking this assessment to uncover his potential and encourages him to act on the insights provided.

• Rachel Cruze: “You're worth more than this. It's time to start acting like it. And it's going to change everything for you guys.” (08:06)

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Conclusion

The episode concludes with Aiden acknowledging the advice and committing to take proactive steps toward improving his financial situation. Rachel and Dr. Delony leave Aiden with motivational encouragement to utilize his strengths and seek out better employment opportunities, reinforcing the message that with the right mindset and actions, financial stability is attainable.

• Aiden: “Yeah, I completely Understand what you're saying.” (05:14)
• Rachel Cruze: “Please do it for your future. I'm telling you, you can do this, but you got to start acting on this today.” (08:20)

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Key Takeaways

1. Assess and Optimize Income Sources: Aiden's case illustrates the importance of evaluating current job roles and seeking higher-paying opportunities.
2. Leverage Personal Strengths: Identifying and utilizing personal talents can lead to more fulfilling and financially rewarding careers.
3. Mindset Matters: Overcoming mental barriers and believing in one's ability to improve financial circumstances is crucial.
4. Proactive Planning: Taking actionable steps, such as engaging in assessments and educational resources, can pave the way for better financial management and stability.

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*For more financial advice and strategies, consider exploring resources like Rachel Cruze's "Find the Work You're Wired to Do" and utilizing budgeting tools such as the EveryDollar app mentioned by Dave Ramsey at 00:02.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Rachel Cruze (00:51): “Twelve hundred dollars a month. That is. I mean, you barely can live in a cardboard box for that.”
• Dr. John Delony (03:09): “I just want you to go out and be able to do that work. Because what you're describing is just a couple of hours, a whole, for the whole week.”
• Dr. John Delony (07:27): “I just think that it's your own mind that's kind of getting in the way of that.”
• Rachel Cruze (08:06): “You're worth more than this. It's time to start acting like it. And it's going to change everything for you guys.”

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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

[Aiden]

I need some advice on how I can control my money better and finance it better with my fiance because we are struggling to figure out ways to pay our bills the correct way.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, our bills. Does that mean you guys are sharing finances before getting married?

[Aiden]

In theory, yes. We have separate accounts and everything, but we're trying to, in theory, control them as one set of separate people.

[Rachel Cruze]

So you're living together?

[Aiden]

Yes.

[Rachel Cruze]

Is this a rent or a home mortgage?

[Aiden]

This is a rent. We live in an apartment.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, what do you guys make?

[Aiden]

I make probably about $800 a month, and she probably makes about 400amonth.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, well, there's your problem. Twelve hundred dollars a month. That is. I mean, you barely can live in a cardboard box for that.

[John]

How old are you?

[Aiden]

I'm 22.

[John]

22.

[Rachel Cruze]

What do you do for a living?

[Aiden]

Well, I have three jobs. I work at two restaurants, and then I just got a third job. Today I'm firing.

[Rachel Cruze]

You are not doing much work at all. $800 a month is what you're bringing in. With three jobs, roughly, it was.

[Aiden]

I just got my third job today.

[John]

How many hours are you working?

[Aiden]

I'm working at one of my jobs, about 30 hours, and then I'm about to quit my second job.

[John]

Okay, so what. Can you. Can you tell us what they are so that we can let them know about themselves live on the air? Because anybody that's not paying you to work 30 hours and you're not even.

[Rachel Cruze]

Are you waiting tables?

[Aiden]

Basically, yes, but I just bring out the food.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, listen, dude.

[John]

Oh, gosh.

[Rachel Cruze]

How old are you again?

[Aiden]

22.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, you need to go get a job at a grocery store or Walmart, anywhere else or somewhere else where you're making way more than you're making Amazon Flex.

[John]

Anything else?

[Rachel Cruze]

Like you bringing out food. I don't know if you've done the math on that. $800 divided by 30 hours ain't much. All right, that's crazy to me. So you call, and I appreciate that you call, but you need some income, and so you're shooting for 15 an hour, $12 an hour, $20 an hour. I mean, anything more than what you're making right now. And what is she doing for 400 bucks a month?

[Aiden]

She is an at home CNA nurse.

[Rachel Cruze]

How many hours is she working? Three.

[Aiden]

She works about probably four to five because she only has one client right now.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, what is she doing with the rest of her time?

[Aiden]

She does like, doordashing. All to make up the extra money that we can't.

[John]

And how much does she make from that? Because you said she makes 400 bucks. Is that total?

[Aiden]

She's not what I'm aware of.

[Rachel Cruze]

Probably she's not working.

[John]

Aiden, can she, instead of trying to build up her own book of business, can she go work for a company that will do work for hire for her, like Care Doc, like she.

[Aiden]

Probably she can. We've talked about trying to get her a better paying job because she loves what she does. But this job that I've tried talking her about isn't working her of what?

[John]

She's not actually doing it. That's. Yeah, that's the problem. She might love the idea of doing that work, which is great. She's just got to actually go out and be able to do that work. Because what you're describing is just a couple of hours, a whole, for the whole week. So either she needs to get with a company that will send her out on jobs, or she needs to get very, very serious about getting on all the sites that would book her as, you know, individually to come out and be a care nurse.

[Aiden]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

Are you stumped right now? I'm just doing some math over here. I didn't want you to think I left you hanging. I'm just doing.

[John]

He's making 26 bucks a day.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah, 26 bucks.

[John]

You can do that. You can triple that today just by mowing lawns. It's summertime. Just by going out and being like, can I? Do you see what I'm saying? I just want you to. I don't want you to fall into just this pattern of, well, this is what I got and that one's not enough. I'll just go get another one just like it and just keep stacking up these, these bum jobs. I want you to go, this is not good enough for me. Like I, I'm a hard worker, I'm a smart guy. Like, I deserve more than this. And if. Look for the opportunity and if you can't find it, start creating it for yourself.

[Rachel Cruze]

Get in the car and go to construction, construction sites and say, I'd be willing to be a laborer. That means you're carrying bricks around, you're carrying drywall, I mean, excuse me, plywood, and throwing it up to these guys. I did this as a 19 year old. You can make more money as a laborer on a construction site than you can carrying out food. Do you understand what I'm saying? Aiden, I need to hear something from you.

[Aiden]

Yeah, I completely Understand what you're saying.

[Rachel Cruze]

Is there a reason why you've not gone after these things? Did Jade hit the nerve here where you just think, well, I, I live in a small town, there's not a lot there. I got what I got and it's just not getting me through. What's going on in your mind around making more money?

[Aiden]

Well, I have a side business on my own, but I've applied to other drum companies because I did work for a mowing company at the beginning of the summer. But they let me go because I got injured and they didn't want to keep me from for however long I was going to be gone from my injury.

[Rachel Cruze]

What were you making when you were mowing lawns for them?

[Aiden]

I was making $16 an hour.

[Rachel Cruze]

Boom. So you're healthy, go back to them and if they won't take you, go somebody else. But this idea of you don't need a side hustle, you don't need a side business, you're broke and you got a woman that has said yes to marry you. When's the wedding?

[Aiden]

Next year, June 28th.

[Rachel Cruze]

Great.

[John]

Who's paying for it?

[Aiden]

So we actually have a free venue and we're not going to cater any food so that we're going to keep it on the cheaper end and more kind of like a potluck kind of thing.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay, love the potluck idea.

[John]

Well, how much is your rent by the way?

[Aiden]

Our rent is $1,000.

[John]

So you guys are existing off of 200. How are it must be going on credit cards?

[Aiden]

Well, actually we don't have any credit cards.

[John]

So how are you eating and putting gas in your car?

[Aiden]

So I donate plasma every for two days a week. So that normally is for my gas. And then we have to normally go to food banks.

[John]

Can I ask you, why are you make? You're a 22 year old, smart, bright guy. Why are you putting yourself on a struggle slice? Why are you doing that? Why are you choosing that? Going down and donating plasma, that's like, that's pursuit of happiness. Next level broke. You don't have to be there. You are fit, you are young, you are smart, you have. The world is your oyster.

[Rachel Cruze]

What's the answer to that? She asked you a direct question. What's the answer? What's really going on that that's your option?

[Aiden]

I mean I shouldn't be in theory punishing myself for these low labor jobs and I should probably go out and find these higher paying jobs that are going to help me get through life.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah, yeah.

[John]

And you can. I, I, you know, I just. What I want you to hear from me is I think there's something in your own mind that's making you feel like maybe you're not able to. To accomplish, but I think you can. I, I did not hear anything, Aiden that would make me think, well, he's got a good reason for kind of having to, you know, reach lower. I, I only hear reasons that you should be reaching higher. And I just think that it's your own mind that's kind of getting in the way of that.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah. I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I want to give you guys a pre wedding gift. It's called find the work you're wired to do and it's got a. About an 18 to 20 minute assessment in it. If I give it to you, will you promise me you'll take it?

[Aiden]

Yes, sir.

[Rachel Cruze]

All right, now here's what it's going to do. It's going to spit out for you how you're wired, in other words, what you're really good at, doing what you enjoy doing and the results that motivate you. Because all work creates result. You agree with that, yes or no?

[Aiden]

Yes, sir.

[Rachel Cruze]

All right, so if you could spend most of your day using the talent that you have to do something you love to produce a result that mattered, that pre be a pretty good day, wouldn't it?

[Aiden]

Yeah.

[Rachel Cruze]

Do you also agree that that's your best chance of making income?

[Aiden]

Yeah, I truly believe that.

[Rachel Cruze]

All right, I'm going to give this to you as awareness to hopefully shake you out of this cycle of I'm just down on my luck and life got me behind the eight ball as I think Jay nailed it. You're worth more than this. It's time to start acting like it. And it's going to change everything for you guys. You guys are subsisting on less than the poverty level and there's no reason for it other than sheer belief and the effort that comes with it. So hang on the line. We're going to give you the book. Find the work you're wired to do. Please take the assessment and then read the book. It's about a 45 minute read. I'm going to coach you to move forward. Please do it for your future. I'm telling you, you can do this, but you got to start acting on this today.

[Dave Ramsey]

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