The Ramsey Show Highlights - “You Don't Have A Plan”

Date: September 15, 2025
Main Theme:
This episode tackles the challenges of budgeting with a large family. A caller, who has seven children, seeks advice on whether her family might be saving too much and why they continue to feel financial pressure despite a strong income and no debt. Dave Ramsey and his team identify lack of a detailed monthly budget—not excessive saving—as the core issue and stress the importance of disciplined money management, particularly for large families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller’s Dilemma: “Are We Saving Too Much?”

• [00:06] The caller wonders if saving aggressively is causing her family's financial strain, given they have a good income ($150,000/year) but little “breathing room.”
• Family budget feels tight; sometimes they dip into savings for everyday expenses.
• Her husband is anxious about money despite paying off their house and having substantial savings.

2. Breakdown of Income and Spending

• No mortgage or other debt.
• Saving heavily: 10.5% to 401k, $3,500/year to HSA, $15,000/year to Roth IRA.
• Main variable costs identified are insurance and groceries (about $1,500/month for food and school lunches).

3. The Real Problem: Lack of a Detailed Budget

• [04:11] Dave Ramsey:

  “You guys are not doing a detailed every dollar budget that the two of you sit down and agree to before the month begins. You’re throwing money at savings and hoping you can live with what’s left over. And when chaos hits, you dip back into the savings.”

• Explains that a proper budget would prevent the monthly back-and-forth between savings and spending.
• Emphasizes the need for both spouses to agree on a budget before each month starts.

4. Confusion Over Paycheck Deductions

• The caller reports only about $100,000/year hitting their account after taxes and deductions, which doesn’t add up based on stated withholdings.

• Possible over-withholding for taxes, leading to a large refund each year, which Dave critiques.

• [06:15] Dave Ramsey:

  “We don’t need a tax refund. That’s a savings account with the IRS that pays no interest and they give it to you once a year. Santa Claus does not live in Washington, D.C.”

• Suggests adjusting their W-2 so they aren’t overpaying taxes, which would free up their take-home pay and reduce monthly strain.

5. The Role of Organization for Large Families

• Dave insists that large families don’t have the luxury of chaos; detailed planning is even more critical.

• Directs her to use the EveryDollar budgeting tool (offering a free premium upgrade) and to “give every dollar an assignment.”

• [07:29] Dave Ramsey:

  “You gotta set [the dollars] down, make them, every one, behave. ...You have the money to be okay, but you don’t have a plan. And I’ve given you the antidote. Now the only question is whether you’re going to do it or not.”

6. Reassurance: It’s Not About Family Size or Savings Rate

• Addresses a stereotype that large families can’t “do the Ramsey plan.”

• Organization is even more essential with many kids; in fact, it’s “the only way to be responsible with a large family.”

• [08:31] Dave Ramsey:

  “It’s the only way you can be responsible with a large family is to be responsible and work a plan. …You don’t have an option.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Budgeting Rigidity:

  “If you don’t make these dollars behave, they are not going to behave, and your husband is going to remain stressed out…”
  — Dave Ramsey, [07:51]

• On Over-withholding Taxes:

  “Santa Claus does not live in Washington, D.C. …adjust your W2s and get the proper amount coming home so that there’s no tax refund. That will help your cash flow.”
  — Dave Ramsey, [06:15]

• On Planning With a Large Family:

  “When you have seven kids, you don’t have an option of one of them being a brat. They have to behave. …You have to be organized.”
  — Dave Ramsey, [08:31]

Important Timestamps

• [00:06] - Caller introduces concern about saving “too much”
• [01:30] - Family income and budget details emerge
• [03:18] - No debt, substantial savings confirmed
• [04:11] - Dave identifies lack of planning as the issue
• [06:15] - Explanation about tax refunds and paycheck withholdings
• [07:29] - Dave delivers the core solution: a written, detailed budget
• [08:31] - Discussion on necessity of organization for big families

Episode Summary

This episode highlights that financial stress—even with a strong income and paid-off home—often stems from a lack of planning rather than a shortage of money or excessive saving. Dave Ramsey underscores (with signature candor and humor) that a diligently planned, agreed-upon monthly budget removes financial anxiety and chaos, especially for large families. The main takeaway: “Make every dollar behave, or it will misbehave for you.” The episode wraps with a call to action to use EveryDollar, reinforcing that budgeting effectively is possible—and non-negotiable—regardless of family size.