The Ramsey Show: "Good Intentions Aren’t Enough—Be Intentional With Your Money"

Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Dave Ramsey (Ramsey Network)
Co-host: Dr. John DeLoney
Featuring: George Kamel, Rachel Cruze, Jade Warshaw

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the importance of intentionality and unity in financial decision-making. Dave Ramsey and Dr. John DeLoney field real-life questions from callers experiencing stress and setbacks related to money, debt, and life transitions. The key message: Good intentions don’t cut it—you must be proactive and collaborative with your finances to achieve security and avoid recurring mistakes. The episode’s discussions cover communication in marriage, bouncing back from disability and debt, avoiding ill-advised purchases, and balancing ambition with family life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Intentionality Over Good Intentions

Dave and John repeatedly stress that positive outcomes with money require a deliberate plan, not just hope or good feelings.

“Normal is broke and common sense is weird. So we're here to help you transform.”
— Dave Ramsey [00:25]

Key Takeaways:

• Intentional communication and unified decision-making in marriages are critical to preventing financial chaos.
• Many financial problems are symptoms, not root causes. The underlying issues are typically behavioral or relational.

2. Caller: Joan’s Marital & Financial Tension

[00:55–09:04]
Joan, married 45 years, struggles with her husband’s recent $40,000 splurge (boat, truck, bikes) from their savings. Despite previous financial struggles, she and her husband never aligned on money management.

Highlights:

• Joan feels betrayed by her husband’s surprise purchases and lack of communication.
• Her husband justifies extravagance after witnessing a loved one die young without ever “enjoying life.”

Notable Quotes:

“For people that have been married 45 years, you all suck at communication.”
— Dave Ramsey [04:10]

"Listening to your language... I'm wondering if there’s not a dynamic in your marriage... of you’re the good one and he’s the bad one.”
— Dr. John DeLoney [06:29]

Guidance:

• The couple needs joint ownership of all assets: "There is no 'my' 401k, only ours.” [08:01]
• Communicating with “I” statements rather than blame is essential.
• Counseling is recommended to rebuild trust and reset communication patterns.

3. Caller: Danielle’s Disability & Debt Struggles

[11:44–16:36; 17:57–20:31]
Danielle, 57, single, living in NYC, disabled after an accident and deep in debt (Social Security overpayment, IRS, credit cards).

Situation:

• Owes $87,000 (including to Social Security and IRS).
• Just secured permanent full-time work at $50,600/year, but struggles with manageable housing and costs.

Support & Guidance:

• Dave offers Danielle a free Ramsey coach to help navigate government bureaucracy and negotiate debts.
• Explained mechanisms of disability overpayment, its financial traps, and the deep challenge of returning to work.

Memorable Moment:

“You need somebody to love you well and walk beside you. And we're just those kind of folk.”
— Dave Ramsey [16:17]

4. Caller: Garrett’s Business Debt

[22:38–32:13]
Garrett, 25, in New Hampshire, owes $156,000 in business debt. Considers bankruptcy, regretful over poor business decisions and overconfidence.

Discussion:

• Debt breakdown includes vendor bills, a high-interest merchant cash advance, and money owed to parents.
• Dave dissuades bankruptcy: It's not appropriate with his earning potential and the intent to repay his parents.
• Advises tackling vendor debts first, settling merchant advance for less, and repaying family last.
• Urges discipline, focus, and emotional fortitude.

Notable Encouragement:

“You can do this, Garrett. I promise you can.”
— Dave Ramsey [31:22]

5. Caller: Steve's Family Vacation vs. Emergency Fund

[35:07–42:54]
Steve, single-earner with 7 kids, cashed out savings to finish a home renovation and now wants to splurge on a big family vacation before his oldest leaves for college.

Discussion:

• Only $1,500 saved toward the $6,000 trip; wants to pause o rebuilding emergency savings for the vacation.
• Dave and John stress that every financial choice equals a tradeoff: spending on vacation now can leave the family exposed.
• Advise taking a smaller vacation with the saved amount and involving the kids in creative trip planning.

Tone: Firm, empathetic reminder about opportunity cost and family safety.

6. Caller: Kim’s Disaster & Medical Debt Spiral

[44:15–52:23]
Kim, South Dakota, faced a natural disaster, inadequate insurance, mounting college/medical expenses, and subsequent unexpected debts.

Key Issues:

• Long-term hotel living due to insurance delays, while also paying mortgage and daughter’s college.
• Daughter faced open heart surgery, incurring ongoing travel and accommodation costs.

Analysis:

• Dave and John highlight the importance of recognizing and responding flexibly to new realities.
• Question the continued spending on college/renovations during severe hardship and urge revisiting “absolutes.”

“The life you had is over and you got a new one now. And what most people try to do is keep parts or the whole of their old life going while navigating this new reality.”
— Dr. John DeLoney [51:29]

7. On Behavioral Causes of Money Problems

[55:51–58:32]
Dave points out that financial issues are almost always rooted in behavior, not math.

“Money is such an interesting topic because...it lures us to our own death because it makes us think we can fix it by fixing the math. And the math is very seldom the problem.”
– Dave Ramsey [57:27]

8. Caller: Taylor’s Pilot Training Ambitions

[59:33–64:17]
Taylor, 30, wants to borrow $85,000 to become a pilot.

Advice:

• Dave strongly warns against accruing debt for training.
• Suggests exploring National Guard and local flight paths that can be paid for gradually.
• Warns entry-level pilot pay may not support high loan payments; urges patience and alternative funding.

9. Caller: Lynn Wants to Borrow for Mom’s Kitchen

[86:44–94:42]
Lynn from New York wants to take a $10,000 loan to help her 80-year-old mother, whose DIY kitchen disaster has become a safety risk.

Dave’s Stand:

• No loans! Even for kindness.
• Lynn is encouraged to organize help via her mom’s church—especially as unqualified church “handymen” caused the issues.
• Empowers the church community responsibility: “The handbook says that’s real religion, widows and orphans.”

10. Caller: Matt’s Three Jobs vs. Family/Health

[76:35–84:38]
Matt, 40, in Seattle, works three jobs, saves $100k/year, but is exhausted and missing family life.

Key Insights:

• Matt has built wealth but not a life.
• Dave and John say the FIRE (“Financial Independence, Retire Early”) movement can be unsustainable, keeping people on a treadmill of “never enough.”
• The real regret is missing time with family, not another rental house.

“Your brain is telling you what to do. You already know what to do.”
— Dave Ramsey [80:49]

11. Caller: Jenna’s Dilemma—Pay Off Boyfriend’s Loans?

[65:18–71:32]

Jenna wants to use her savings/stocks to relieve her boyfriend’s $125k student loan debt. He refuses to move forward in life together until his debt is gone.

Advice:

• Do not pay his debt unless married.
• Beware emotional manipulation.
• On marriage, assets and debts become shared decisions—otherwise, protect yourself.

“Do you want to help your boyfriend pay off student debt? No… Should you cave to his blackmail?…No!”
— Dave Ramsey & Dr. John DeLoney [65:53–66:43]

12. Caller: Patrick—Gift Daughter a House?

[71:46–74:56]

Patrick, 67, has $2.8 million invested, just sold a business. Wants to gift daughter, a responsible teacher, enough for a house after years of IVF depleted her savings.

Advice:

• Do it, but have a meaningful conversation—frame it as a reward for prudent behavior, not entitlement.
• Get estate/gift advice to avoid tax complications.

“I do want this to be a gift without strings, sort of… But I would sit down in person and make this a big deal.”
— Dave Ramsey [73:13]

13. Caller: James’s Airbnbs & Partnered Real Estate Risks

[97:07–105:17]

James and fiancée run multiple Airbnb micro-lofts, considering expanding further but banks demand big down payment.

Dave’s Cautions:

• Never partner in real estate with someone you aren’t married to.
• Airbnb is risky, labor-intensive, and can be regulated out of existence.
• Scaling only makes sense if it actually creates less work (not more).

14. Caller: Pastor Zachary—Is a Mortgage Hypocrisy?

[107:00–114:38]

Zachary, a pastor, asks why Dave allows for mortgages if “the borrower is slave to the lender.”

Explanation:

• It's the only “hypocritical” advice Dave gives; he personally hasn't borrowed since his 20s, but recognizes how homeownership can build wealth.
• Car loans are strictly opposed—cars depreciate and don't build wealth.

15. Caller: Drew Asks—Can You Be a Business & Family Success?

[118:25–126:45]

Drew, airline pilot with a lucrative agricultural side business, faces conflict: his wife resents the time away from family.

Insight:

• Yes, business and family can both thrive, but only if timing and mutual support align.
• With young kids, his wife rightly prioritizes his time at home over extra income.

“Yes, you can be a successful businessman and a family man, but the spouse has to be able to carry whatever weight that you’re not carrying. And you’re asking her to carry more than she’s willing to carry right now.”
— Dave Ramsey [126:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Marital Money Fights:
  “For people that have been married 45 years, you all suck at communication.” — Dave Ramsey [04:10]

• On Financial Symptoms:
  “Financial problems are never the problem. They’re always the symptom.” — Dave Ramsey [54:36]

• On Self-Awareness:
  “You did a really good job in 2 sentences describing what happened. Most people aren’t that self aware when they’re in this much pain. Well done.” — Dave Ramsey [26:11]

• On Money and Behavior:
  “Money is such an interesting topic because it lets us—it lures us to our own death because it makes us think we can fix it by fixing the math. And the math is very seldom the problem.” — Dave Ramsey [57:27]

• On Family vs. Ambition:
  “When you’re 50, you can hand the kids a key to a rental house. I promise you, they would have exchanged it for time with their dad.” — Dr. John DeLoney [80:01]

• On Relationships and Debt:
  “He’s a leech... either you need to leave or you need to get married.” — Dave Ramsey (re: Jenna’s boyfriend) [70:03]

Recurring Themes

• Money is Behavior: You must attack behavior and relationships, not just numbers.
• Opportunity Cost: Every dollar spent on one thing is a dollar you can’t use elsewhere.
• Communication & Unity: Financial unity in marriage and family is essential to success.
• Emergency Preparedness: Always maintain (and rebuild) an emergency fund; don’t rationalize its depletion.
• Boundaries: Don’t rescue others (including family) through debt or at your own financial peril.
• Scaling Life: Don’t scale business, rentals, or ambition at the cost of family, health, or sound decision-making.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Joan’s call—marriage & spending: [00:55–09:04]
• Danielle’s debt after disability: [11:44–16:36, 17:57–20:31]
• Garrett’s business debt & bankruptcy: [22:38–32:13]
• Steve’s vacation vs. emergency fund: [35:07–42:54]
• Kim’s disaster/medical debt spiral: [44:15–52:23]
• General: behavior & money: [55:51–58:32]
• Taylor: pilot training debt: [59:33–64:17]
• Lynn: borrowing for mom’s kitchen: [86:44–94:42]
• Matt: three jobs vs. family: [76:35–84:38]
• Jenna: paying boyfriend’s loans: [65:18–71:32]
• Patrick: gifting a house: [71:46–74:56]
• James: Airbnb partner risks: [97:07–105:17]
• Pastor Zachary: mortgage “hypocrisy”: [107:00–114:38]
• Drew: business vs. family: [118:25–126:45]

Tone & Style

The episode combines tough love, humor, and compassion, true to Dave and John’s straight-shooter style. They offer practical advice, but pull no punches on issues of behavior, boundaries, or foolish financial moves. They reinforce that lasting change means facing hard truths—not just hoping for better outcomes.

For Listeners:
This episode is a masterclass in why intention must give way to action. Your financial transformation awaits—not just with math, but with courage, unity, and relentless honesty.