The Ramsey Show Highlights

Episode: My Husband Wants To Quit His Job To Drive Uber
Date: November 21, 2025
Host: Dave Ramsey
Co-Host: Jade Warshaw
Caller: Bri

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, Dave Ramsey and Jade Warshaw field a call from Bri, a stay-at-home mom expecting her second child. Bri’s husband wants to quit his salaried assistant manager position at a trucking company to drive for Uber—a move that would require taking out a new car loan in her name. The discussion centers on concerns about debt, budgeting, job transitions, and how to have challenging financial conversations within a marriage, especially under the pressure of growing family responsibilities.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assessing the Uber Plan & New Debt

• Situation: Bri’s husband believes he’ll earn more driving Uber ($2,000+/week, per a friend) than his current $1,800 weekly salary.
• Immediate Concerns:
  • To do Uber, he wants to buy a new car on credit, in Bri’s name, due to her better credit score.
  • The couple already carries $40,000 in debt.
• Dave’s Summary:
  • “He wants to quit his salary job to do Uber and take out a car loan to fund this quote unquote business.” (00:42)
  • Both Dave and Jade express concern, especially about taking on new debt for an untested venture.

Key Quote:

“Here’s what’s going to happen. He’s going to drive that car into ground and the depreciation is going to hit it so hard that you guys are going to be underwater on this car within the first week.”
— Dave Ramsey [01:17]

2. Family Situation & Why Now Is Not the Time for Risk

• Bri reveals: She is a stay-at-home mom with a one-year-old and another baby on the way.
• Jade’s advice: Now is not the time to introduce instability.
• Dave’s advice: Explore “Uber on the side” using the current car (“try it out” first), but Bri explains their only car is a 20-year-old Lexus unsuitable for Uber.

Key Quote:

“Now is definitely not the time to put our income in flux and rely on people who need rides downtown.”
— Dave Ramsey [01:58]

3. The Case Against Going Into More Debt

• General message: It’s not wise to solve one stressful job with a risky, debt-driven side hustle.
• Jade’s analogy:
  • “There’s a lot of jobs that have prerequisites to be able to do it... If you want to be in the NBA, you got to be like 7 foot tall or you got to be able to shoot like Steph Curry. And if you don’t have that, you can’t do the job. … If you need a brand new, you know, Lexus truck that you don’t have, you can’t do the job. And I think it’s just as simple as that.” [02:30]
  • Encourages boundary setting: No more debt, wait until after the baby, and prioritize a stress-free transition.

4. Budgeting, Transparency & Debt Management

• Current finances: The couple makes about $7,000/month, but is “barely managing.”
• Budgeting struggles:
  • They lack a clear, unified budget; Bri and her husband use separate credit cards.
  • Overspending is evident—Bri reports $1,000 in excess spending in September.
• Jade’s takeaways and advice:
  1. No new debt for job switches.
  2. Postpone job change until after baby is born.
  3. Improve financial transparency—one joint checking account, debit cards, end reliance on credit cards.

Key Quote:

“You want to talk about a more transparent way of handling finances that doesn’t include credit cards. Like, I want a one checking account. We both have a debit card. We both spend the money that we have on the debit card because I am freaking out because of our debt.”
— Jade Warshaw [05:29]

5. Cultural Background & The “American Dream” Trap

• Background: Bri and her husband are both immigrants (from Ukraine and Uzbekistan, respectively).
• Dave’s warning:
  • Reject the narrative of “the American dream” equaling maxed-out credit and consumer debt.
  • Focus on building real stability, not “a fake lifestyle so that hopefully we can impress people.”

Key Quote:

“The American dream is not going into as much debt as possible to fund a fake lifestyle so that hopefully we can impress people.”
— Dave Ramsey [07:00]

6. Navigating Marital Conversations & Setting Boundaries

• Approach: Lead with feelings and logical boundaries (especially about debt).
• If husband refuses to listen:
  • Jade suggests counseling if the situation escalates.
  • It’s a relationship red flag if he proceeds without Bri’s input.

Key Quote:

“If he doesn’t respect that, you have a marriage problem.”
— Dave Ramsey [08:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Did I just sum that up?” — Dave Ramsey [00:54], restating Bri’s situation with dry humor.
• “That’s a no.” — Jade Warshaw [04:39], bluntly diagnosing the lack of a real budget.
• “You helping so many people right now.” — Jade Warshaw [04:53], affirming Bri’s openness will benefit listeners.
• “He needs to find better friends who aren’t like, ‘Dude, you got to do Uber, man. I’m making great money over here.’ They don’t live your life. They don’t know your stress.” — Dave Ramsey [08:28]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05: Bri explains husband’s job-switch plan and desire for new car loan.
• 01:10: Dave and Jade respond to the friend’s Uber earnings claim and sound warning bells.
• 01:48: Bri shares she’s a stay-at-home mom with a young child and another on the way.
• 02:30: Jade offers analogies and boundary-setting advice for the job change decision.
• 03:40: Bri raises the family’s need for a bigger car after the baby is born.
• 04:35: Budgeting and credit card confusion; Jade highlights dangers of opaque finances.
• 05:29: Jade gives her three takeaways for next steps.
• 06:32: Discussion of cultural background and how it impacts financial views.
• 07:00: Dave’s warning about “the American dream” and rejecting excessive debt.
• 08:07: Clear boundaries and what to do if the husband does not listen.
• 08:28: Dave’s humorous close regarding “better friends.”

Summary Takeaways

• Do NOT quit a stable job or go into debt for an untested business idea, especially with a growing family and existing debt.
• Any career change should be made from a position of stability and only after careful trial, open communication, and clear boundaries.
• Get out of debt before making risky financial moves; transparency and jointly managed finances are crucial.
• Don’t buy into myths about debt being a means to success in America—true stability and financial progress come from discipline, openness, and intentionality.
• If mutual agreement can’t be reached on major decisions, seek counseling—marriage comes before money.