Ken Coleman (1:53)

Well, let's talk about that first. Let's talk about that because you got Jade here to walk you through this. Describe for her what you think was the cause of you being week to week, never having enough there? Because that wasn't that long ago. So presumably we haven't solved what was going on. So describe what you think is the source of that.

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Caller (Matt) (2:41)

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Ken Coleman (2:47)

Describe what you think is the source of that.

Caller (Matt) (2:51)

I think. I think I got credit cards in the mail, and I was like, okay, I can use those. And I just started overspending and not paying attention to my spending.

Dave Ramsey (3:01)

Okay.

Caller (Matt) (3:02)

And then, you know, I had other debts that just kind of just kept piling on. I just was not being responsible.

Dave Ramsey (3:09)

Understood. What. What's your income?

Caller (Matt) (3:12)

I make about 105 a year.

Dave Ramsey (3:14)

Okay.

Ken Coleman (3:15)

So it's not like you're scrapping.

Dave Ramsey (3:16)

And is it just you, or is there a wife, kids, anything?

Caller (Matt) (3:20)

I just married my wife two weeks ago, and we have three kids.

Dave Ramsey (3:25)

Three kids. Okay. And does she work outside the house?

Caller (Matt) (3:28)

Yeah, she does work.

Dave Ramsey (3:29)

What's she make?

Caller (Matt) (3:31)

Roughly 40. Okay, so you guys have been separate, but okay.

Dave Ramsey (3:36)

But they're coming together. I think the key here is you've got to look at what you're bringing home every single month. You've got to look at what you have to spend, what's your margin? And you've got to just give every dollar an assignment. And then that's the practical part, but then the emotional part of actually sticking to it, Ken, is what's going to be your struggle? Because if you set out and say, hey, we're only spending $150 on restaurants, and you write that on paper, now it's your chance to say, am I going to be the person that keeps the promises to myself? Or I'm going to. Am I going to be a person that flakes out every single time? Am I going to be a person that I can depend on, that I. I can depend on me to say what I do, I. What I say I'm going to do, I'm actually going to do? Or are you going to let your emotions lead you and go, well, I work hard. I deserve to go to Applebee's one more time.

Caller (Matt) (4:29)

Right, Right.

Dave Ramsey (4:30)

That's where the real battle starts. So I love that he asked the question, because, you know, as much as Ken and I do know, know that the $200,000, that is a wonderful thing. You had some good luck. But that is not the solve of the problem. The solve of the problem is Matt deciding that he's going to be a guy who can look in the mirror and trust himself to do what he says he's going to do and have.

Ken Coleman (4:53)

A process for doing it.

Dave Ramsey (4:54)

Yeah.

Ken Coleman (4:55)

In other words, if you say, hey, I want to get in shape, put on muscle, cut up, or I want to put on 15 pounds of muscle or I want to lose 50 pounds of weight. You've got to have a process. You can't just say, I want it to happen, expect it to happen.

Dave Ramsey (5:09)

Right.

Ken Coleman (5:10)

You got to have a process that is attached to a willingness to change. And so I'm going to start with the budget for you. You didn't know what was going on with any of your money. So let's take care of the man. Let's get him. Let's get him in every dollar.

Dave Ramsey (5:22)

Let's get him in every dollar.

Ken Coleman (5:23)

And I think you need to give him, give him a. What does he do tonight with every dollar to, to change this around.

Dave Ramsey (5:30)

Yep. Tonight you sit down with your wife and you put all the numbers and you're going to put in what you guys earn. You're going to pull up the HR website, you're going to look at your check stubs after taxes. That's the number that you're going to put into the budget. Then you're going to go back and you're going to look at all your bank statements and you're going to put accurate numbers for, okay, we already know, yes, this is our cell phone payment, utilities, we know our mortgage or our rent payment. But what do we really spend on groceries? What do we really spend going out to eat? Really spend on gas. And you're going to plug those numbers in so you have an accurate picture of, okay, this is what it takes to run my lifestyle. And then you're going to say, okay, honey, we've got this money. That's enough to break us free. It's going to, it's going to give us a get out of jail free card on this debt on the car, and it's even going to help us get a down payment. But today we look ourselves in the eye and say, but this is our real income, 150,000. And this is what we get to live on. And we have to be okay with that. We don't have to keep up with anybody else. It's just us. And you guys, you have to kind of, you know, decide that you're both going to do that and that you're both going to hold each other accountable because trust and believe there's going to be temptations. Obviously, there's always another trip to take. There's always a better car to buy. Right. There's always a nicer restaurant to eat at. But you have to be okay with what your lifestyle is. So don't squander this. And I don't think you will if you internalize what we're saying.

Ken Coleman (6:53)

Yeah, hang on the line. We're going to get you started in every dollar. Stay tuned into the show. Create some accountability to where you go, okay, I'm now living this. I'm putting in new financial data into my head as opposed to living like everybody else. Create your free every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.