Should I Relocate for My Boyfriend and My Business (I'm 19)

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights

Episode: Should I Relocate for My Boyfriend and My Business (I'm 19)
Date: May 2, 2026
Hosts: Dave Ramsey & Rachel Cruze
Caller: 19-year-old aspiring nail salon owner

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Episode Overview

This episode features a 19-year-old caller seeking advice on a major life decision: whether she should relocate three hours away to move in with her boyfriend, pursue opportunities to build a clientele, and eventually open her own nail salon. Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze respond with candid, practical, and protective advice on relationships, financial independence, and career-building.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should She Move for Her Boyfriend and Business?

• Caller’s Plan: Move into boyfriend's area due to oversaturation of salons in her hometown and a poor relationship with her family. Hopes to build new connections and have boyfriend’s support in starting a business.
• Rachel’s Challenge: Rachel is critical of tying business decisions to an unmarried romantic relationship.
  • “What’s one thing got to do with the other? ... I love the idea of you going someplace where you can have the business that you want to have ... what I don’t like is you tying up your business, your prosperity, with someone that you’re not married to.” (01:14)

2. Risks of Economic Dependence on a Boyfriend

• Dave’s Warning: Being financially dependent on an unmarried partner puts the caller in a vulnerable position.
  • “You become financially dependent on a guy you’re not married to, and he’s now controlling the whole thing.” (01:53)
• Rachel’s Emphasis: Financial ties can entrap people in relationships even if things go wrong.
  • “If this starts going south but your business is doing well, you might be less likely to end that relationship because you’re economically tied up in it or...” (01:38)

3. The Business Plan Reality Check

• Dave’s Clarity: Urges the caller to distinguish between joining a salon as an employee versus starting a business from scratch.
  • “You’re wanting to start a salon at 19 years old in a strange location where you know no one from scratch and build a whole business. Which one are you saying?” (02:26)
• Caller’s Clarification: Plans to gain experience and save for 2–3 years before opening her own salon.

4. Financial Vulnerability & Preparedness

• Dave & Rachel Probe: Press for specifics about income, savings, and contingency plans.
  • No base pay at the prospective salon; caller has $1,000 saved and currently earns $11.50/hr as a home health aide. (04:37)
• Dave’s Tough Love: Highlights her lack of savings and financial cushion.
  • “How are you not going to starve to death when you go take this job on straight commission with no base pay?” (04:47)
• Reality Check on Family Dynamics:
  • Dave speculates her family might be expressing concern for rational reasons. (05:16)

5. The Dangers of Moving Without Security

• Dave’s Strong Advice:
  • “This is a nightmare looking for a place to happen... You’re going to be dependent on this guy that you’re not married to from the first moment you make this decision. And you don’t do that unless you’re married. It’s not good for you. It’s a dangerous, vulnerable situation for you. He kicks you out, you know what you are? Homeless.” (05:36, 06:07)
• Rachel’s Reinforcement:
  • “Why would you want to put yourself in that position where you’re completely dependent on him? That’s not a good thing.” (06:17)

6. Safer Alternatives & Action Plan

• Suggestions:
  • Keep current job, save more, and become financially independent before making a big move.
  • Secure her own place before considering cohabitation.
  • Set boundaries with family without needing to relocate.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rachel Cruze:
  • “What I don’t like is you tying up your business, your prosperity, with someone that you’re not married to.” (01:14)
• Dave Ramsey:
  • “I want you to be a standalone woman with square shoulders and a strong backbone.” (02:03)
  • “When you have to bet everything on someone else that is not legally bound to you, that is a very dangerous scenario for you.” (07:27)
  • “Please, honey, please, please don’t do this to yourself.” (07:50)
• Rachel Cruze:
  • “If I were her, I’d probably keep doing what I’m doing and try to get a job at a local salon, save up as much money as I think you know, I need to be able to make that leap and get my own apartment.” (07:10)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:06–01:14] Caller explains her motivation; Rachel and Dave probe the rationale for the move.
• [01:14–01:53] Rachel worries about entangling finances with an unmarried partner.
• [02:26–03:12] Dave clarifies the difference between employment and starting a business; caller outlines her plan.
• [04:14–04:47] Caller shares financial details; concern grows about financial preparedness.
• [05:36–06:29] Dave and Rachel stress the danger of economic dependence without marriage.
• [07:10–07:50] Final recommendations: prioritize independence and savings before making big life changes.

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Conclusion

Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze give the caller direct, empathetic guidance to delay relocation until she is financially secure, emphasizing the importance of personal independence before combining finances or living arrangements with a partner. They underscore the real dangers of economic dependency and encourage her to build her business dreams on her own foundation before intertwining them with a romantic relationship. This episode delivers a blend of compassion and tough love in true Ramsey style—practical, protective, and empowering.

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

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[Caller (Young Woman)]

I was wondering if it would be smart for me to move three hours away from where I live now to move in with my boyfriend so that I can build up a clientele where he's at and build my own salon.

[Rachel Cruze]

No, no. What's one thing got to do with the other? What's moving away got to do with building the salon?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So the area that I'm in right now, there's not as high of a demand because there are so many salons over here. And I also don't have the greatest relationship with my family.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay.

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So I would rather be around people that want to be around me. Sure. Such as his family and him. And he has also said that he would help me build what I am wanting to build if it's over there.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. So what. What kind of a salon are we talking about? Hair?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

No. Nails. I do nails.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay.

[Rachel Cruze]

I love the idea of you going someplace where you can have the business that you want to have. I love the idea of you exiting what might be a kind of a toxic relational environment with your family. I think that's all great. And. And if you've identified the right place to do that, I think that's fabulous. What I don't like is you tying up your business, your prosperity, with someone that you're not married to. Because what happens if this guy turns out to not be the guy that you marry? Well, now you're tied to him economically, which means if this starts going south but your business is doing well, you might be less likely to end that relationship because you're economically tied up in it or.

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. Or worse than that, your nail salon takes off really, really slow. And so you become financially dependent on a guy you're not married to, and he's now controlling the whole thing.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

Even really not a good thing for you, my little sister, I want you to be a standalone woman with square shoulders and a strong backbone.

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So we were planning in about a year, at a year and a half, we are going to get married.

[Dave Ramsey]

How long have you been dating?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

A little bit over a year and a half.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. How old are you two?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

I'm 19 and he's 20.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. And your nail salon clientele is going to be. Working in a salon with someone else, and they have the rent and they bring you in and you work for them, but you build up a client base. Or you're wanting to start a salon at 19 years old in a strange location where, you know, no one from scratch and build a whole business. Which one are you saying?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So I have a job lined up there for whenever I am out of school and I am licensed, which will be around two months from now. And I was going to work there for two to three years and then hopefully save up enough money to open up my salon. I like that on my own.

[Dave Ramsey]

Good. Very good. I like that a lot.

[Rachel Cruze]

How can we help you solve the problem to where you can go there, do what you're saying, but do it without living with your boyfriend.

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So where I'm stuck at is I'm not. I'm not 100% confident in myself that I'll be able to run and manage my own salon.

[Dave Ramsey]

No, you're not. You got a job.

[Caller (Young Woman)]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

So go take the job. What does it pay?

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[Rachel Cruze]

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[Dave Ramsey]

What does it pay?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So it's really just going to depend on how many clients I get. I'm pretty sure it's going to be based off of I'm going to pay rent to rent a chair there and then probably pay a little bit in commission.

[Dave Ramsey]

So there's no base pay at all?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

No.

[Rachel Cruze]

Do you have any money saved? Do you have any money to your name?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

I do. I work right now. I'm a home health care aide for my mom. I make 1150 an hour and I have about 1000 saved.

[Rachel Cruze]

Okay.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay. So how are you not going to starve to death when you go take this job on straight commission with no base pay?

[Caller (Young Woman)]

So I was planning on moving over there and before I get licensed, I'm going to. It really just varies on when I'm going to get licensed. I was going to start at a different job and then whenever I have enough saved up to be enough saved up besides my emergency fund to be able to.

[Dave Ramsey]

I think I know why your parents are problem for you. Because they're telling you that this is dumb and you don't want to hear that.

[Caller (Young Woman)]

It's not exactly that. I just don't. I've never really had a good relationship with my dad. My mom fully supports me.

[Rachel Cruze]

I just think you need to get yourself in a better spot before you do this.

[Dave Ramsey]

This is a nightmare. Looking for a place to happen. Okay, okay. So you don't have any money and you don't have a job lined up to eat. And so what? 100% this screams is you're going to be dependent on this guy that you're not married to from the first moment you make this decision. And you don't do that unless you're married. It's not good for you. It's a dangerous, vulnerable situation for you. He kicks you out. You know what you are? Homeless.

[Caller (Young Woman)]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

I'm not going to let anybody I love do that. And we love you and we're going to talk you out of it.

[Rachel Cruze]

And by the way, even if he was the best guy ever, why would you want to put yourself in that position where you're completely dependent on him? That's. That's not a good thing.

[Dave Ramsey]

Unless you're married. If you're married and he.

[Rachel Cruze]

Sure. Fine.

[Dave Ramsey]

If you're married and he has an income and he wants to support the family while you get your first and second job going here and all that kind of stuff, that's fine. But if he's not, then we're just playing house. This is dangerous for you, and there's

[Rachel Cruze]

no reason for you to put yourself in that position.

[Dave Ramsey]

I just wouldn't do it.

[Rachel Cruze]

So I don't.

[Dave Ramsey]

You need a different set of income, a different set of savings to protect you, to allow you to be standing as a standalone grown woman operating her own home and then be dating this guy or be married to him. I don't think y' all are wanting to get married right now because you don't think you're ready. And I don't have any money.

[Rachel Cruze]

If I were her, I'd probably keep doing what I'm doing and try to get a job at a local salon, save up as much money as I think, you know, I need to be able to make that leap and get my own apartment.

[Dave Ramsey]

And if you need to just have no contact with your family but you live in the area where they live, that's fine.

[Rachel Cruze]

Yeah, sure.

[Dave Ramsey]

It's not a big deal. Just set up a boundary. Just. I'm not gonna interact with you people. You're morons. I mean, you can just. That's fine. You can do that. But I want you to have some safety for you. Because when you have to bet everything on someone else that is not legally bound to you, that is a very dangerous scenario for you. And we get the call when this 19 year old, beautiful Madison is 25 and she's living in her car and she calls us because he kicked her out. Oh, and there's a baby now, but there's no, you know, we can't find baby daddy because he's not actually the husband. And this is a guaranteed way to end up spending the next decade of your life in poverty. Don't do it. Please, honey, please, please, please don't do this to yourself. So, okay. Create your free everydollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.