The Ramsey Show Highlights – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Parents Asking Their 10-Year-Old For Money?
Date: October 26, 2025
Hosts: [Unspecified, but advice aligns with Dave Ramsey & team]
Main Theme:
How to handle a family situation where parents are asking their underage children, as young as 10, for financial help with basic household needs—examining the ethics, practical steps, and emotional fallout.

Main Takeaways

1. Caller’s Dilemma and Context

• [00:06] The caller describes a troubling family situation:
  • His in-laws have been asking their own children (aged 10, 12, and 17) for money to cover basic bills.
  • The 10-year-old gave $400 (earned from dog sitting) for groceries, and the 17-year-old “lent” $1,000 for monthly bills.
  • The in-laws’ business is struggling; the caller’s wife overheard they are $10,000 short per month.
• The caller seeks guidance: "We're kind of confused on what to do."
  (B, 00:06)

2. The Ramsey Team’s Initial Response

• [00:47 & 01:26] The hosts ask clarifying questions to confirm the extent of hardship and stress the seriousness of involving children in financial problems.
  • Key Quote: “Before that I'm always going to protect kids of course. And if you got a 10 year old that's coming to you saying dad is saying I don't have enough money for groceries, I need your dog sitting money, then I would personally I would insert myself into that situation.”
    (C, 01:47)

3. Ethics and Family Boundaries

• They acknowledge their usual advice: “You can't help family unless they come ask you.”
  (C, 01:47)

  • Exception here due to children's welfare: it's financial, not physical abuse, but still unacceptable.

• Caller's Frustration:

  • Struggles to respect people who rely on their kids and others, making poor financial choices.
  • “It’s hard for me to have respect for people like that... A lot of this is self cause.”
    (B, 02:12)

4. How to Approach the Conversation

• [02:53–04:10] Strategy: The wife (not the caller) should gently approach her parents—preferably alone and without confrontation—to avoid decades-long family rifts:
  • “If the two of you go over there…and insert yourself in this situation, you are changing the trajectory of the next 40 years.”
    (A, 02:53)
  • “If you show up saying I don't respect you guys, they're going to take it out of the house. That's not going to help either.”
    (C, 03:57)

5. Practical and Emotional Impact

• Recognize that discussing money with parents is very sensitive and likely to be met with resistance or denial.
  • “If she sits down with her mom and dad and says, y' all need to stop this, y' all need to become responsible adults, my guess is about a zero percent chance that that's going to have any impact.”
    (A, 03:44)

6. Best Course of Action

• [04:10–06:16]
  • Have an honest conversation, led by the daughter, about actual needs and ways to help.
  • The aim: open a dialogue about the family's struggles without blame.
  • Don’t give money directly (it won’t solve the $10k/month deficit).
  • “We only give Ramsey's only give into situations where we create a sustainable story. We don't throw money at something.”
    (A, 06:16)
  • Instead: Offer to pay for financial coaching, budgeting help, or other sustainable resources.

7. Protecting the Children

• The hosts stress keeping lines of support open for the kids:
  • Even if the parents refuse help, make sure the children know they have a "safe place" and are loved.
  • Recognize that a bad financial upbringing doesn’t have to be a permanent roadblock:
    • “It's a bad on ramp to life, but it's not an on ramp that can't be corrected. A lot of us have bad on ramps.”
      (A, 05:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• C [01:47]:
  “Before that I'm always going to protect kids of course. And if you got a 10 year old that's coming to you saying dad is saying I don't have enough money for groceries, I need your dog sitting money, then I would personally I would insert myself into that situation.”

• A [02:53]:
  “If the two of you go over there at two years into this and insert yourself in this situation, you are changing the trajectory of the next 40 years.”

• A [03:44]:
  “If she sits down with her mom and dad and says, y' all need to stop this, y' all need to become responsible adults, my guess is about a zero percent chance that that's going to have any impact.”

• A [06:16]:
  “We only give Ramsey's only give into situations where we create a sustainable story. We don't throw money at something. $5 at something that's $100 problem.”

• A [05:16]:
  “It's a bad on ramp to life, but it's not an on ramp that can't be corrected. A lot of us have bad on ramps.”

Timestamps & Segment Highlights

• 00:06: Caller presents family situation (parents borrowing money from kids)
• 00:47–02:12: Expanding on the children's financial involvement and parental struggle
• 02:12–03:10: Discussion of respect, family dynamics, and length of financial issues
• 03:10–04:10: Strategic advice: who should approach and how, avoiding direct confrontation
• 04:10–06:07: Conversation mechanics: planning, potential parental reactions, what to say
• 06:07–07:23: What real help looks like (coaching, not cash); defining sustainable support
• 07:23–07:42: Framing conversation with parents – sharing personal budgeting success as invitation, not accusation

Summary Table

| Timestamp | Section/Topic | Key Point/Quote | |-----------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:06 | Caller Story | "Parents asking kids (ages 10, 12, 17) for money for bills and groceries." | | 01:47 | Children Involvement | “Before that I’m always going to protect kids of course…” (financial abuse angle) | | 02:53 | Approach & Family Dynamics | “Insert yourself and you change the trajectory of the next 40 years.” | | 03:44 | Likelihood of Parental Change | “Zero percent chance that’s going to have any impact.” | | 05:16 | Long-Term Outlook | “It’s a bad on ramp to life, but it’s not an on ramp that can’t be corrected…” | | 06:16 | Sustainable Solution | “We only give into situations where we create a sustainable story… not just throw money at the problem.” |

Conclusion

The hosts recommend a delicate but firm approach—protecting the children emotionally, not giving money to perpetuate unsustainable habits, and offering support via financial education. Confrontation should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, with the daughter leading a caring, open conversation. The episode underscores the importance of setting healthy boundaries, giving without enabling, and believing that bad financial beginnings can be overcome.