My Wife Maxed Out Her Credit Cards On McDonald's

Summary

Episode Summary: "My Wife Maxed Out Her Credit Cards On McDonald's"

Release Date: April 17, 2025
Host: Ramsey Network
Guests: Zachary, George Kamel

---

Introduction to the Financial Dilemma

In this episode of The Ramsey Show Highlights, host Dave Ramsey addresses a concerning situation brought forth by caller Zachary. Zachary shares that after recently discovering The Ramsey Show, he and his wife embarked on listing their debts following Ramsey's "baby steps" approach. To their surprise, they uncovered a substantial hidden debt.

Zachary (00:17): "I had found some debt the wife's been hiding from me over and over again. Credit cards, mainly."

---

Unveiling the Hidden Debt

Zachary reveals that his wife has accrued a significant debt of approximately $11,000 on a McDonald's-branded credit card. This debt was unbeknownst to Zachary until they began their financial assessment.

Zachary (00:34): "And she is? Well, we have one maxed out credit card for about $11,000. And the biggest disappointment is, is it's actually maxed out on McDonald's because it was connected to her app."

The couple believed the credit card had been closed and was no longer active. However, it turned out that transactions were still being made through the app, leading to the accumulation of debt without Zachary's knowledge.

Zachary (01:05): "It'S really early in the morning, huh? And just stopping and getting breakfast burritos and stuff. It's easier to play on the app. Skip the line, head to work. And it just got out of control."

---

Assessing the Situation

Dave Ramsey and co-host George Kamel delve deeper into the issue, probing whether the credit card usage was intentional or a result of oversight.

George Kamel (01:05): "Was she sneakily going behind her back to McDonald's?"

Dave Ramsey (02:18): "What's your combined income?"

Zachary discloses their combined bi-weekly income of approximately $1,900, totaling about $44,000 each annually. This financial snapshot sets the stage for devising a recovery plan.

---

Developing a Recovery Strategy

Zachary expresses his intent to take over the financial responsibilities to manage and eliminate their debts effectively. Previously, each spouse handled their own expenses, but recognizing the severity of the situation, Zachary aims to centralize their financial management.

Zachary (01:36): "But she just says that out of habit, being I was still connected. You know, there was that line of credit there. She has very big problem with spending."

George Kamel emphasizes the importance of teamwork and empathy in addressing financial challenges within a marriage.

George Kamel (03:34): "I think this needs to you lead first by going, hey, I have not done a good job handling money. I haven't done a good job leading us in this area. I want to work together on this."

---

Implementing Accountability and Budgeting

The discussion shifts to practical steps for financial recovery. Zachary admits that while he has closed his wife's credit cards, he has yet to do the same for his own, citing the necessity of auto-payments tied to his debit account.

Zachary (04:44): "Right or wrong? I mean, I have all my auto pays come off of it because say we're living paycheck to paycheck."

Dave Ramsey recognizes this as a pivotal moment for Zachary to fully commit to the budgeting process.

Dave Ramsey (05:27): "You need to download it. In fact, you know what we'll do you want? Let's."

To support Zachary, Ramsey and Kamel offer him a premium subscription to the EveryDollar budgeting app for a year, facilitating a structured approach to managing their finances.

George Kamel (05:57): "It'll connect to your bank account. Here's what you're going to do. Cut up the cards, and you can set up autopay on your debit card."

---

Fostering Teamwork and Communication

George advises Zachary to involve his wife in the financial management process, ensuring transparency and mutual accountability.

George Kamel (06:06): "She can sit there and you can walk her through it. So she has total awareness about here, here's where all the bills are, here's how I pay them. Bring her into it."

Dave Ramsey adds that establishing clear boundaries and understanding the limitations of their budget is crucial.

Dave Ramsey (06:20): "There's no wiggle room on this. Do you understand? Like, I'm not trying to control you. Like, we're in this together."

Zachary and his wife agree to commit to the budget, setting a foundation for financial stability and marital harmony.

---

Concluding Insights and Encouragement

As the episode wraps up, Ramsey and Kamel emphasize the importance of joint effort and consistent communication in overcoming financial hurdles.

George Kamel (07:12): "If there's a commitment that we're both not going to eat out, it changes the game."

Dave Ramsey commends the couple for their proactive approach and assures them of the support available through the EveryDollar app.

Dave Ramsey (07:32): "Love that you just joined us a week ago. Hang on the line. We're going to get you taken care of with every dollar and you guys can do this."

The episode concludes with light-hearted banter about budget-friendly choices, reinforcing the message that financial discipline can coexist with everyday pleasures.

---

Key Takeaways

• Transparency is Crucial: Open communication about finances between spouses helps in identifying and addressing hidden debts.

• Unified Financial Management: Centralizing financial responsibilities can streamline debt repayment and budgeting efforts.

• Utilize Budgeting Tools: Leveraging apps like EveryDollar aids in tracking expenses and maintaining accountability.

• Commitment and Teamwork: Mutual agreement and consistent effort are essential for financial recovery and marital harmony.

---

By addressing Zachary's predicament with empathy and practical solutions, this episode underscores the significance of collaborative financial planning in strengthening both personal finances and relationships.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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

[Zachary]

Well, long story short, we just found the Ramsey show here about a week ago.

[Dave Ramsey]

Wow. Congratulations and welcome to get out of debt. Yeah.

[Zachary]

And as we were sitting down and going through getting our debt listed, smallest to biggest to start the baby steps, we had 30 found. I had found some debt the wife's been hiding from me over and over again. Credit cards, mainly.

[George Kamel]

Oh, how much?

[Zachary]

And she is? Well, we have one maxed out credit card for about $11,000. And the biggest disappointment is, is it's actually maxed out on McDonald's because it was connected to her app. And we had gotten rid of. Paid this credit card off twice since June. Thought we had gotten rid of it. She told me she had closed it out.

[Dave Ramsey]

And that's a whole lot of combo meals.

[George Kamel]

Yeah. Was this. Was. There's a lot going on here. Was she sneakily going behind her back to McDonald's?

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah.

[George Kamel]

And not telling you.

[Zachary]

It'S really early in the morning, huh? And just stopping and getting breakfast burritos and stuff. It's easier to play on the app. Skip the line, head to work. And it just got out of control.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay, so you thought it was coming out of the debit account. I mean, excuse me, your debit card or your bank account. And it was actually on a credit card.

[George Kamel]

So was this malicious? Did she know that it was not tied to the cards that you were aware of? No, I thought it was closed out.

[Zachary]

But she just says that out of habit, being I was still connected. You know, there was that line of credit there. She has very big problem with spending. And recently because of this, we have, we sat down, we talked, and we have decided that I am going to take over the financial side with bills and stuff.

[George Kamel]

Okay, great.

[Zachary]

Normally she paid hers, I paid mine, and I am taking over. And then we've got a budget set where we can put money in savings. We can start hitting all this. And really, we've got without mortgage 16,000 now with. With that credit card, with our joint credit card, some medical bills and a 401k loan.

[Dave Ramsey]

What's your combined income?

[George Kamel]

Hey, sorry for the interruption. This is important. No one likes to think about dying, but one day your family will have to deal with everything you leave behind. So the question is, will it be easy or a total nightmare? That's where Knockbox comes in. Knockbox is a kit with 15 categories and clear instructions that give your family an organized plan so they're not sifting through old paperwork and guessing passwords and dealing with lawyers. So leave your family memories instead of a mess. Grab your Knockbox kit [e-mail] Ramsey for the best discount available. That's knockbox.com Ramsey what's your combined income?

[Zachary]

Combined income is about 1900 BI weekly. About. We each make about 44,000 a year.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay, so. So what's your question for us, numbers guy?

[Zachary]

Yeah, how can I go about this to include her, to help. Help her with. With taking over the finances. I want to be able to include her and hopefully maybe show her the numbers and the best way to go about it, taking on all the finances, but yet help her so she can eventually, hopefully control money a lot better.

[George Kamel]

Well, I think, number one, we have to realize that this is not a, you know, you're not the chaperone here. You are as guilty of making a lot of stupid decisions as we all are. So I think this needs to you lead first by going, hey, I have not done a good job handling money. I haven't done a good job leading us in this area. I want to work together on this. Here's what that's going to look like. Do you agree? We're going to meet weekly for a budget meeting. Going to track every transaction. There's going to be nothing hidden. Everything's got to be on the table if this is going to work. Are you in. Do you feel the unity and teamwork in that conversation versus a. Well, I'm taking over because clearly you can't be responsible for, you know, very different condescending tone on that second one.

[Zachary]

Yes.

[George Kamel]

And so if you want to get her on board, it's going to start with you leading with empathy and creating a vision for what this is going to look like. And then her agreeing, yes, I agree to that.

[Dave Ramsey]

Great.

[George Kamel]

Now we can actually set some accountability based on what we agreed to in the past, which means we have cut up all credit cards. Have all credit cards been cut up and closed?

[Zachary]

Hers? Yes. Mine? No, not yet.

[George Kamel]

And why is that?

[Zachary]

Just haven't done it, I guess. It is definitely something I want to do. I want to get rid of it.

[George Kamel]

If I, if I'm the wife and I see you still with your credit cards open, I'm going, whoa, whoa, whoa. Butter. Like, how are you going to be over here telling me how it's going to go, but you won't even cut up your own cards.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah, Zachary, if I might. And I don't want you to feel attacked at all. I just am getting a sense that there's a real Reason why you haven't done it for your own cards yet. What is it? Because when you paused. I've just done this enough. I got the 10,000 hours. What's going on?

[Zachary]

There's a reason right now, the way I use my credit card. Right or wrong? I mean, I have all my auto pays come off of it because say we're living paycheck to paycheck.

[Dave Ramsey]

There it is.

[Zachary]

And my goal is to have money in the account so that we don't have to do that.

[Dave Ramsey]

Gotcha. And okay, so. So let's own that. So let's own that. So when George asked you, you were like, I don't know. No, you know exactly why you haven't done it and you haven't fully submitted to the idea of a budget. And actually, every dollar being. That's why we call our budgeting app Every dollar you haven't submitted.

[Zachary]

Download that.

[Dave Ramsey]

You need to download it. In fact, you know what we'll do you want? Let's. What can we give him?

[George Kamel]

Let's give him every dollar premium for a whole year.

[Dave Ramsey]

So you guys, we're get you started.

[George Kamel]

It'll connect to your bank account. Here's what you're going to do. Cut up the cards, and you can set up autopay on your debit card.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah.

[George Kamel]

So that's going to be a little bit of homework for you to do. And she can sit there and you can walk her through it. So she has total awareness about here, here's where all the bills are, here's how I pay them. Bring her into it. Instead of saying, hey, I'm going to handle it. You step away. Let her be a part of it.

[Dave Ramsey]

And in that process say, hey, babe, here's the deal in me leading us now and doing this like we're not using credit cards. So if we don't have it budgeted for Mickey D's, you know, burritos and hush. What do you call them? Hash browns.

[George Kamel]

Hash browns.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. I almost said hush puppy. I got seafood on the mind. But Long John Silver, there is no. There is no wiggle room on this. Do you understand? Like, I'm not trying to control you. Like, we're in this together. And so if we budget $50 a month for. For McDonald's, that's it. And I don't know how far that'll get you.

[George Kamel]

Well, I feel like maybe we got to start eating at home and cooking together.

[Dave Ramsey]

You were going to say that while.

[George Kamel]

We'Re in the fuddy duddy.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, no, I. I'm Just trying to teach a little bit. Here you come over the top of the.

[George Kamel]

Sorry, I got, I got all fired up.

[Dave Ramsey]

Go ahead, scream at them. You're not going to see the inside of a restaurant. Until when?

[George Kamel]

Well, Zachary, I just think if there's a commitment that we're both not going to eat out, it changes the game. And so then there becomes an inherent. And so if you guys get on that budget every single week, sit down, track your transactions against your one checking account that is shared, that's going to create some momentum for your money and for your marriage. I think this communication is only going to help the marriage.

[Dave Ramsey]

I think so too. Zachary, love, love that you just joined us a week ago. Hang on the line. We're going to get you taken care of with every dollar and you guys can do this. Love that you two want to work on it. Sounds like there's some harmony here early on and that's all it takes to work. All right, real quick before we go to the break. If you're going to cheat at McDonald's, what's the one item you get cuz you're Mr. Budget. It's on the dollar menu for sure.

[George Kamel]

I'm, I'm going value menu. Ken, I got you pick cheeseburger.

[Dave Ramsey]

You just wanted snack wrap.

[George Kamel]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

All right. I think it's fries for me. Create your free every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.