The Ramsey Show Highlights

Episode: Should I Co-Sign On A House With My Girlfriend's Mom?
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Ramsey Network
Featured Experts: [Names not given, but George and another host (possibly Dave Ramsey) are referenced]

Main Theme

This episode centers around a listener, Jeremy, who seeks advice about moving out after college, navigating financial independence, and specifically whether he should co-sign on a house with his girlfriend's mom as a means of homeownership. The hosts provide a spirited, frank, and sometimes humorous analysis of his situation, strongly cautioning against his proposed plan, and offer broader guidance for young adults transitioning to financial independence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College Grads and Financial Success Today

• Jeremy's Situation:
  • Graduating with no student debt.
  • Saved $50,000.
  • Job offer out-of-state, $65,000 salary, $10,000 moving stipend, free vehicle.
  • Nervous about moving out and personal finances.
• Hosts' Response:
  • Affirm that college grads today have similar chances for success as prior generations.
  • Advantage: Jeremy has no student loan debt, a major head start.
  • “You do have the same chance. … College students have the same exact chances of being successful.” (Host A, 00:58)

2. Fear of Renting vs. Rush to Homeownership

• Jeremy’s Concern:
  • Prefers a mortgage to renting, influenced by his father’s advice that "renting is a waste of money."
• Host Guidance:
  • Challenge the rush to buy, especially in an unfamiliar city right out of college.
  • Warn against making big decisions based solely on parental mantras.
  • “Why would you jump into a mortgage right out of college in a city you have never lived in? What’s the rush?” (Host C, 02:42)
  • Hosts observe Jeremy feels pressured to buy to meet his dad’s expectations of pride and success.

3. Co-Signing with Girlfriend’s Mom: A Bad Idea

• Jeremy's Plan:
  • Considers co-signing/mortgaging a house with his girlfriend’s mother in Tennessee.
• Host Reaction:
  • Both hosts react with disbelief and concern over the risk and complexity.
  • “You just threw the ultimate curveball. You’re considering buying a house with your girlfriend’s mom?” (Host A, 03:26)
  • Concerns:
    • Relational complications if the relationship sours.
    • Legal financial entanglements in the event of breakups.
    • The arrangement is risky even if Jeremy's and his girlfriend's families “trust each other.”
  • “You are going to call us in a year and here’s going to be the call: ‘I sunk all of my money into buying a house with my girlfriend’s mom and we just broke up. What do I do?’ ... It’s going to get messy real quick.” (Host C, 04:34)

4. Advice to Slow Down and Take Smart Steps

• Recommended Approach:
  • Rent for a year or two to acclimate, avoid hasty decisions.
  • Continue saving for down payment.
  • Refrain from co-signing or buying property with anyone except a spouse.
  • “If I waved a magic wand, you would move out, take this job offer, rent… and just learn to live on your own for a little while.” (Host C, 05:04)
  • Emphasize that at age 22, Jeremy is already ahead of most – the average homebuyer is 38.

5. Encouragement and Closing Thoughts

• Hosts' Perspective:
  • Acknowledge and commend Jeremy’s strong start.
  • Strongly urge him to “slow down” and trust the process.
  • “Just slow... slow down. You’ve done such a good job, and now all of a sudden you want to go 90 miles an hour and you’re gonna get in a wreck…” (Host C, 07:36)
  • Jeremy is in an excellent position to be a homeowner early—just not in the risky, roundabout way he proposed.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Co-Signing Risks:
  • “This is absolutely ridiculous that your parents haven’t freaked out over this.” (Host A, 04:15)
  • “Are you trolling us? …Is this a fake call?” (Host C and Host A, 04:23)
• On Doing Things the Right Way:
  • “Don’t do it with anyone else unless you’re married to them. That’s the key, man.” (Host C, 08:00)

Important Timestamps

• 00:09: Jeremy describes his situation—about to graduate, no debt, job offer, $50k saved.
• 02:42: Jeremy expresses desire for a mortgage, influenced by his father.
• 03:26: Jeremy reveals the plan to buy with girlfriend’s mom, hosts react.
• 04:34: Host C details the nightmare scenario that could result from co-signing.
• 05:04: Hosts lay out the wiser alternative—renting, saving, and waiting.
• 07:36-08:00: Hosts summarize, urge caution, and frame Jeremy’s situation in a positive, motivating way.

Summary Table

| Time | Segment | Key Point | |-----------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:09 | Listener's backstory | Jeremy details his unique, debt-free, job-secured post-grad start. | | 02:42 | Fears around renting | Reveals family-influenced bias toward owning, not renting. | | 03:26 | Co-signing curveball | Considers buying house with girlfriend’s mom; hosts “jaw drop.” | | 04:34 | Host scenario analysis | Warns of likely pitfalls and drama of such arrangements. | | 05:04 | Sound advice | Recommends renting, saving, taking slow, smart steps. | | 07:36 | Big-picture encouragement | Applauds Jeremy, advises patience, and highlights his advantage. |

Tone & Takeaway

The episode is direct, animated, and underscored by the earnest desire of the hosts to keep Jeremy from making a potentially life-altering mistake. Their tone wavers between stunned, humorous disbelief and fatherly tough love. The episode serves as a practical guide for recent grads on why it’s OK—even smart—to take your time building an independent life, and why avoiding complex financial entanglements (especially with non-spouses) is crucial to long-term success.

Bottom line:
Don’t co-sign or buy a house with your girlfriend’s mom. Rent, save, build experience, and reconsider homeownership when you have roots—and the right partner—for that commitment.