The Ramsey Show Highlights – Episode Summary

Episode: "Kick My In-Laws Out Of The House They've Been Renting From Us?"
Date: December 5, 2025
Host(s): Dave Ramsey & George Kamel
Caller: Anonymous

Overview of the Episode’s Main Theme

This episode centers on a listener struggling with a family and financial dilemma—her aging in-laws have been renting her house for 12 years at a low rate. Now that her own living situation has changed, she’d like to sell the property but feels trapped because her in-laws are elderly, have health issues, and lack the means to relocate. Dave and George dissect the emotional, ethical, and practical facets of “kicking out” family, especially when they're financially dependent and physically frail.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Background of the Caller’s Situation

• Caller’s Home Ownership & In-Laws Renting
  • The caller owns a house in Iowa, rented to her in-laws for over a decade at a minimal price—just enough to cover her old mortgage, now fully paid off.
• Desire to Sell
  • She wants to sell the house but can't “get [her] in-laws out.” The in-laws are not physically or medically capable of moving on their own.
• Family Dynamics and Responsibility
  • The caller’s husband has told his parents multiple times they need to move, but has not taken decisive action.

2. Assessing the In-Laws’ Situation

• Physical Health Problems
  • The mother-in-law cannot walk, and the father-in-law had a heart attack. They cannot manage the 11-acre property.
• Financial Reality
  • The in-laws’ income is approx. $2,000/month, making it unlikely they can rent a suitable new place in their area.
• Efforts to Facilitate a Move
  • The caller offered to buy them a trailer, but a solution hasn’t materialized.

3. Evaluating the Options

• Frank Discussion of Choices
  • Dave and George note that until the in-laws’ health decompensates further (requiring assisted living, hospitalization, etc.), the caller is “kind of stuck.”
  • Quote [04:50] - George Kamel:

    "It sounds to me like until that becomes the situation where their health requires them to move out, you're kind of stuck in the situation."

• Ethical Considerations
  • The hosts recognize that simply putting the in-laws out isn’t morally or practically feasible, as it would effectively render them homeless.
• Long-Term Stalemate
  • The hosts suggest that, without direct involvement from the caller’s husband to physically help his parents relocate, nothing will change.
  • Quote [06:43] - George Kamel:

    "If you guys really want them out, your husband needs to grow a spine and fly back to Iowa and solve this problem."

4. Emotional Toll and Caller’s Struggle

• House Tied to Personal Loss
  • The house has sentimental value—built with the caller’s (now deceased) father, which adds emotional complexity.
  • Quote [03:53] - Caller:

    "My dad and I built this house, and my dad passed away in 2007. And I just can't go back there no more. I'm done."

• Resignation to the Situation
  • The caller and her husband feel powerless; her husband’s conversations with his parents have led nowhere.

5. Practical Advice

• No Debt for Upgrades
  • The hosts sternly warn against taking on debt to fix or upgrade the house for the in-laws.
  • Quote [07:19] - Dave Ramsey:

    "Whatever you do, do not go into debt over the situation."

• Minimal Investment Until Change Is Needed
  • Only maintain the house for basic inhabitability, don’t invest further.

6. Hard Truths and Final Takeaways

• Costs are Inevitable
  • “Either you let them stay and you can't sell, or you try to get them to an assisted living senior living or a rental that makes sense for them financially. But either way, this is going to cost you.”
    — Dave Ramsey [07:25]
• The “Wait It Out” Strategy
  • Without immediate alternatives, the hosts advise waiting until a crisis or shift in the in-laws’ health makes a move necessary.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being Taken Advantage Of:
  • George Kamel [02:36]:

    “You guys are being taken advantage of. The more detail we get.”

• On Family Responsibility:
  • Dave Ramsey [06:05]:

    “Unless [your husband] wants to go back to Iowa and handhold them... unless he, as their son, goes back and cleans this mess up, then you're holding until it takes care of itself.”

• Commentary on Health and Longevity:
  • Dave Ramsey [04:22]:

    “People can live into their 90s, even if they're, you know, they physically can't get around. So I'm wondering, is there a condition... that says, hey, this might be ending in the next five years?”

• Practical Wisdom:
  • George Kamel [07:03]:

    "As long as it's inhabitable by them, don't spend a nickel on it."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06: Caller explains situation with in-laws renting property
• 01:27: Confirmation husband is on board but not proactive
• 01:48: In-laws’ serious health decline revealed
• 02:36: Hosts call out that caller is being taken advantage of
• 03:22: In-laws’ low monthly income discussed
• 04:22: Dave questions about realistic future lifespan and capacity
• 04:50: George sets the reality of being “stuck”
• 06:05: Direct advice for husband’s role
• 07:19: Warning not to take debt for repairs

Conclusion

This episode delivers a candid, practical, and sometimes hard-nosed discussion about family obligations, boundaries, and the personal cost of “helping” when there seems to be no way out. The hosts sympathize, but their advice leans toward drawing boundaries, holding realistic expectations, and avoiding further financial entanglement. Ultimately, they outline that there are no easy answers—just better and worse outcomes, all of which require action, honesty, and sometimes, the courage to say no.

For listeners facing similar dilemmas, George and Dave’s message is clear:
Take care of your own finances, avoid sinking more resources into unsustainable situations, and, if necessary, have the tough conversations—preferably led by those with the most direct relationship and responsibility.