My Parents Are Kicking Me Out for Failing College

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ramsey Show Highlights – "My Parents Are Kicking Me Out for Failing College"

Episode Details:

• Title: My Parents Are Kicking Me Out for Failing College
• Host: Ramsey Network (Featuring Dave Ramsey)
• Release Date: January 12, 2025

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Introduction

In this poignant episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, Dave Ramsey addresses the challenging situation of Elliot, a young individual facing eviction from his parents' home after struggling academically in college. The conversation delves deep into the interplay between personal responsibility, financial independence, and overcoming obstacles related to ADHD and time management.

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Caller’s Predicament: Elliot’s Story

Elliot opens up about his tumultuous journey over the past 18 months, balancing intermittent college attendance in meteorology with a job as an aircraft ramp agent in Denver. Despite ascending to a supervisory position, Elliot found the corporate aspects of the job unfulfilling and decided to return to school. Unfortunately, his academic performance faltered, particularly in a math class, leading his parents to withdraw financial support and expect him to move out by year-end.

Key Points:

• Employment Background: Worked as a baggage handler and rose to supervisor.
• Academic Struggles: Failed a math class due to poor time management and distractions.
• Family Dynamics: Initially received financial support from parents, now being asked to become financially independent.

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Dave Ramsey’s Analysis and Advice

Dave Ramsey meticulously dissects Elliot’s situation, emphasizing the lack of specific reasons behind Elliot’s academic failures. He probes into whether Elliot's struggles stem from deeper issues like learning disabilities, only to conclude that Elliot’s primary challenge is managing distractions and responsibilities.

Notable Quotes:

• "Honestly, do you have a learning disability?" [00:44]
• "You're telling me you've been drinking and smoking dope and partying and you're flunked out of school, so your parents are throwing you out?" [02:15]

Ramsey underscores the necessity of personal accountability, suggesting that Elliot harnesses the immediate pressures of potential homelessness to drive motivation. He advises Elliot to re-engage with the aviation industry, possibly as a ramp agent again, but this time with increased hours to stabilize his financial situation.

Key Recommendations:

• Re-enter the Workforce: Return to a familiar job or a similar industry to ensure steady income.
• Increase Work Hours: Emphasize the importance of working diligently to overcome financial instability.
• Seek Roommates: Address Denver’s high living costs by finding affordable housing solutions.
• Long-term Planning: While stabilizing financially, consider night classes or alternative educational paths that align better with personal strengths and interests.

Notable Quotes:

• "You don't need to look for motivation at that point." [04:56]
• "It's called survival, dude. It's called sustainability." [04:58]
• "No excuses. No excuses. Go get it." [06:38]

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Underlying Themes and Insights

The episode highlights several critical themes relevant to young adults navigating financial independence and personal challenges:

1. Personal Responsibility: Ramsey emphasizes the importance of taking charge of one’s life circumstances without relying on excuses.
2. Financial Independence: Transitioning from parental support to self-sufficiency is portrayed as a pivotal step towards adulthood.
3. Overcoming Obstacles: Utilizing adverse situations as catalysts for personal growth and improved time management.
4. Motivation Through Necessity: The concept that external pressures, such as the threat of homelessness, can inherently motivate individuals to take decisive actions.

Notable Quotes:

• "You will suddenly be motivated." [04:41]
• "If you stay in the nest too long, eagles become turkeys." [05:37]

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Conclusion: Path Forward for Elliot

Dave Ramsey offers unwavering support and actionable steps for Elliot to regain stability. By returning to a reliable job, possibly extending work hours, and managing finances through budgeting tools like the EveryDollar app, Elliot can navigate this transitional phase effectively. Ramsey’s compassionate yet firm guidance serves as a blueprint for listeners facing similar struggles, reinforcing the value of resilience and proactive behavior in overcoming life’s hurdles.

Final Advice:

• Utilize Budgeting Tools: "Create your free every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life." [06:39]
• Embrace Change: Accepting the need to move forward and adapt to new circumstances is crucial for long-term success.

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Takeaway: This episode serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of accountability, the transformative power of facing challenges head-on, and the benefits of strategic financial planning in achieving personal and professional stability.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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

[Elliot]

So I'm in a bit of a predicament with my kind of housing. After the end of the year, I've been going to school or going to college on and off the last, like 18 months or so for meteorology. But in between there I worked as a aircraft ramp agent. So, like, baggage handler at the airport here in Denver for six months at a fair line that had high turnover. So I actually worked my way up all the way to where I was a supervisor. But I liked the work. But I liked the work environment or not the things that I would do with the job, working with it, with the planes and stuff. But I didn't like the kind of business, corporate environment of it. And so I decided to go back to school. And that didn't quite work out as well as I thought it would. And so now I am no longer getting any financial support for school from my parents, which was previously the. They were paying for my school. And now I'm being kind of told that I am expected to move out of their house at the. At or around the end of the year. And I don't really know what to do right now. I have, like.

[Dave Ramsey]

Things didn't work out at school. What does that mean?

[Elliot]

I wasn't able to pass a math class that I was taking.

[Dave Ramsey]

Why?

[Elliot]

And because I wasn't good at kind of managing time with the. Mainly, like, the homework assignments and.

[Dave Ramsey]

Honestly, do you have a learning disability?

[Elliot]

No, I have, like, adhd, but I don't. I'm not sure if that's a learning disability or not.

[Dave Ramsey]

But that wouldn't keep you from passing a math class.

[Elliot]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

Why did you not do your lessons?

[Elliot]

It's kind of getting distracted by things that I should realize when you're looking back now I shouldn't have.

[Dave Ramsey]

And you're so vague.

[Elliot]

Stuff like.

[Dave Ramsey]

I have no idea what the crap you're talking about. Are you telling me you've been drinking and smoking dope and partying and you're flunked out of school, so your parents are throwing you out?

[Elliot]

I've never been. I've never been that kid. It's just, you know, finding it hard. Hard motivationally sometimes to just, like, do work that. But I just. I have decided that, like, I'm not going back to school and.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. And you're moving out, so how can we help you?

[Caller]

So was there. Was there an agreement with your parents where they said, here's the deal, we're going to pay for school, and you're going to go to class and pass, and that will allow you to live here and we will pay for school. If not. Here's what happens.

[Dave Ramsey]

If not. And now we're at the if not.

[Caller]

Sounds like you agreed to this.

[Dave Ramsey]

Now you're moving. How can we help you?

[Elliot]

So I just am not sure, like, in terms of, like, with work, like, getting a job here is. I'm able to do that, but it. None of the jobs that I see that I can get would really pay for the. Because the cost of living in Denver is so high.

[Caller]

That sounds like you can't afford to live in Denver.

[Dave Ramsey]

What were you making on the ramp job?

[Elliot]

I was making 2250 an hour.

[Dave Ramsey]

You can get a roommate in an apartment in Denver, out on the. Out on the edges of Denver towards the airport, which is not anywhere near Denver. But yeah, yeah, move out of town, get an apartment with a roommate and.

[Caller]

Making three or four grand a month.

[Dave Ramsey]

Right. And then crank your. And then crank your hours up and work your butt off. You can make it okay, but you need to. You need. Can you get back on over there?

[Elliot]

I think I could try. Or another similar operation like that.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah, jump in, man. Because that's a known quantity. I'm not saying you need to be doing that when you're 35, but for right now, that'll get some money coming in and let you get stabilized and get yourself established as an adult, working on their own, paying their own bills, which is what your parents are demanding. And then you can reset and say, okay, while I'm doing this, what do I want to study and how can I study it and start taking some night classes to go be something else? But I would get my feet on the ground over there at the ramp, start throwing some bags, making some money, and I'd be working like 60, 80 hours, hours a week because I'd be scared. I'd be hungry.

[Caller]

And you're going to have to deal with this underlying problem of time management and responsibility.

[Dave Ramsey]

Being hungry is a motivator. You don't have to worry about being motivated. Being homeless is a motivator. You want to pay rent. You want to pay having the lights cut off and it gets cold in that apartment because you didn't go to work. That's a motivator. You will suddenly be motivated.

[Caller]

You don't need to look for motivation at that point.

[Dave Ramsey]

It'll be. It'll be finding you. It's called survival, dude. It's called sustainability. And, you know, you don't have the option of not being motivated when you need to eat and keep the lights on and not be homeless. And so that's what you're set up for. And that's going to be good for you. You're going to learn some good things about Elliot, that Elliot can work and Elliot can stay on the job and Elliot can keep focused and Elliot can push through because Elliot freaking has to now. And I think it's gonna be wonderful for you. It's gonna be the best thing ever happened to you. Maybe. I kind of like your parents. I think. I think they're pushing you out of the nest and saying, fly, little eagle, fly.

[Caller]

Otherwise, like Dave says, you become a turkey.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. If you stay in the nest too long, eagles become turkeys. But the science, I can't explain it is science. It's definitely. It's evolution, you know, Is it de evolution? It's de evolution, de escalation. Yeah. Fly a little turkey fly. I mean, fly a little eagle fly. You're gonna be fine. But you're gonna have to get your button gear, like, yesterday. And if you can't get more than 40 hours at the airport next door, there's a place called UPS and they'll let you throw boxes. It's Christmas time. They desperately need your help over there. The Amazon warehouse that's out there in the middle of nowhere, this looming beacon of light for Americans purchasing things will hire you in a heartbeat to work in their warehouse. Right now, they are stepping and fetching. It's Christmas time. And so you, you, you, you're not going to have time to worry about motivation because you're going to be at work all the time.

[Caller]

That helps. I've found that when I'm distracted by.

[Dave Ramsey]

Work, I'm rarely bored and I'm rarely broke.

[Caller]

That's a good combination.

[Dave Ramsey]

My grandmother used to say there's a great place to go when you're broke to work. So it's wisdom. You know, here's the thing. This could be the best thing that ever happened to you in your whole life if you decide it is. And, you know, no excuses. No excuses. Go get it. Create your free every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.