The Ramsey Show – "If You Feel Stuck, It’s Time for a Reset"

Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Ken Coleman & George Campbell
Theme: Empowering listeners to reset their financial lives, tackle debt, and build wealth—no matter past mistakes.

Episode Overview

This episode of The Ramsey Show centers on helping people reset when they feel stuck financially or in life. Through live calls, Ken Coleman and George Campbell coach listeners on practical steps for moving forward, focusing on getting out of debt, facing fear or inertia around financial decisions, increasing income, and taking control regardless of setbacks. The tone is energetic, sometimes humorous, and always compassionate, with the hosts using real-life scenarios to give tailored advice rooted in Ramsey’s Baby Steps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Selling/Trading Debt-Heavy Cars & Strategic Loans

• Caller Joey (California, 01:03):
  Joey is overwhelmed by debt from a car loan and city/sales taxes but has a trade-in offer that won’t wipe out the loan.
  • Advice: Try to sell the car privately for a higher price. If not possible, consider a small credit union loan to cover the deficit and purchase a cheap used car (“beater”).
  • Quote (Ken, 05:02):

    “When somebody says, ‘I know what you’re going to say, but I want to hear it,’ let’s just save some time. No.”

  • Insight: Don’t lease a car as a shortcut. It’s just debt in disguise.
  • Memorable Moment (George, 05:09):

    "Go down to your credit union and get a loan for $9,000—that’ll cover your three and give you six to get something off Facebook Marketplace."

2. Navigating Disability & Work Benefits, Finding Flexible/Remote Work

• Caller Sabrina (Arkansas, 10:52):
  Single mom receiving disability and child support, struggling to become financially independent while managing health issues and childcare.
  • Advice:
    Move toward remote or flexible jobs (e.g., customer service, online sales), which don’t exacerbate health conditions and allow steady income that can eventually replace benefits.
  • Quote (George, 19:26):

    “If you crunch the numbers for pretty much any retail job, you’ll find out very quickly your quality of life will go up if you get outside of this system, if you have the ability to work.”

  • The hosts encourage budgeting and provide her access to their EveryDollar app.
  • Memorable Moment: Ken correcting Sabrina’s “this is an issue” mindset:

    “This isn’t an issue. This makes it challenging. But if I can work five hours a day, then I’m going to work five hours a day." (19:03)

3. Psychological Blocks Around Saving for Retirement

• Caller Tyler (Florida, 22:46):
  At age 24, Tyler is debt-free but resists retirement investing because he doubts he’ll live to retire.
  • Advice:
    The hosts challenge his logic by drawing parallels: if you don’t plan for the future, you might be caught unprepared. Use a Roth IRA and taxable accounts for flexibility.
  • Quote (Ken, 24:14):

    “You are aware that you’re going to die, right? ... You have no idea when that’s going to happen, right?”

  • Quote (George, 26:34):

    “There is a much higher likelihood that you retire broke than that you die at a young age.”

  • Suggest looking into therapy if fear is driving illogical financial choices.

4. “Out of Order” Baby Steps & Sunk Cost in Student Loan Programs

• Caller Zach (New York, 34:02):
  Paid off his house but still has $65,000 in student loans, nearing the end of Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
  • Advice:
    They highlight how much he’s paid already (over $30k), and recommend preparing to pay the remaining balance if forgiveness falls through. Encourage opening 529s for his children.
  • Quote (George, 38:16):

    “You have paid $31,000-plus toward your student loans and the balance hasn’t moved.”

  • Commentary on the pitfalls and broken promises of federal student loan programs.
  • Quote (Ken, 42:24):

    “The federal government should not be in the banking business. This is banking. Zach’s story…just really upset me.”

5. “Should We Sell Our Dream Home to Get Out of Debt?”

• Caller Joe (Massachusetts, 45:00):
  Over $240k in debt, house consumes 50%+ of income; wife wants to stay home.
  • Advice:
    Start by selling their cars and increasing Joe’s overtime work, then budget intensively for the next 2–3 years before considering selling the house.
  • Quote (George, 47:08):

    “If you did that, I mean, it’d be for a season. Like, I don’t want you to be doing this forever, … would that change the numbers on the mortgage?”

  • **Hosts emphasize a united couple’s agreement and vision for the next few years to avoid resentment or burnout.

6. Convincing a Spouse to Move Out from Parents’ Home

• Caller Renee (Michigan, 55:04):
  Making $9,000/month but still living with parents due to husband’s fear and reluctance to budget or move out.
  • Advice:
    The hosts recommend emotional honesty and, if needed, marriage counseling. Renee is urged to take initiative since her husband refuses to engage in the budget or the reality of their debt.
  • Quote (Ken, 58:43):

    “If he says to you, ‘I don’t want to look at it, you handle it,’ then guess what—put a deposit down on an apartment today.”

  • Quote (George, 61:00):

    “You’ve been an accomplice to these crimes...Both of you have been very lackadaisical in this process."

  • Humor and tough love throughout:

    “Jesus saved the world by the time he was 33. You guys can go rent an apartment.” (64:25)

7. Turo Business & Debt: Smart Leverage or Disaster Waiting?

• Question from Liam (Washington, 66:16):
  Owns 26 cars for Turo rentals, half paid off, $200k in auto debt.
  • Advice:
    Liquidate cars not underwater, run business debt-free to avoid catastrophic risk as cars depreciate faster than you can pay off debt.
  • Quote (George, 67:08):

    “My fear is… the cars might only be worth $100,000 at this point as they get destroyed by people renting them out.”

8. Huge Pay Bump in Twenties—Travel with Credit Card Rewards?

• Caller Trinity (Columbus, OH, 69:15):
  Raised income from $36k to $75k, wants to travel but wonders if travel credit cards are smart.
  • Advice:
    Don’t play the miles game. Use a debit card, save cash for travel—avoid credit card traps and fees.
  • Quote (George, 74:07):

    “If you actually looked at the value of that flight if you’d just booked it yourself…could you find one that’s $700 round trip?”

  • Memorable Moment:

    “Only broke people have to play this game to try to make videos about how they…fly for free.” (74:53)

9. Young Saver with $45,000 in Cash at Home—Too Much Security?

• Caller Caitlin (NC, 96:45):
  Paid-off car, land loan, $45k in cash stored in a gun safe at home.
  • Advice:
    Move almost all cash to a high-yield bank account. Keep $1k–$2k in physical cash max. Pay off any lingering debt, attack the land loan, and don't trust the "credit score game."
  • Quote (George, 98:10):

    “$45,000, I think we can all agree, is a wild amount to have in cash at your house.”

10. Breaking the Hustle Cycle After Hitting Financial Goals

• Caller Haley (Nashville, TN, 107:19):
  Paid off $300k house, has $250k in investments, $60k emergency fund, but stuck working 90–100 hours/week out of old trauma from growing up with nothing.
  • Advice:
    Slow down—start spending on experiences, generosity, and therapy to process money anxiety. The fear is not logical at this stage; build new habits and seek purpose beyond just saving.
  • Quote (Ken, 113:09):

    “I think that you can get freedom from this. I really do…I actually think a professional can help you…so you won’t be a victim to this fear around money anymore.”

  • George, 115:17:

    “They [fire movement devotees] get there and the goalpost shifts…Instead of ‘Well, I have $3 million but I don’t know if it’s enough.’ … Leapfrog that and just go to the seek purpose for fulfillment part.”

Other Notable Advice and Moments

• Insurance, Disability & Privacy Protection: Regular reminders to get the right insurance and keep personal data safe after big data breaches. (77:01)
• Entrepreneurial Temptations to Scale Too Fast: Caller Andy owns a chocolate shop and wants to buy expensive equipment; hosts encourage patience and reinvesting cash profit rather than more debt. (78:14)
• Older Divorcee Rebuilding from Scratch: Pay off car with inherited beneficiary IRA, stock emergency fund, boost investments after catching up on debts. (86:54)
  • Quote (Ken, 91:30):

    “…I just want you to know we think you’re sitting really pretty because don’t make me get George to get his investment calculator out.”

Notable Quotes

• Ken Coleman (20:26):

  “Run real numbers so that you get out of this mindset that I’m stuck with this benefit. You actually can do this and you have to do this. We’re cheering you on.”

• George Campbell (26:47):

  “If you plant corn, later on, you’re going to have some corn when the harvest comes. And if you don’t, don’t be surprised when you’re 61, broke, working a job you hate going: ‘I didn’t think I’d live this long.’”

• Ken Coleman (58:43):

  “If he says to you, ‘I don’t want to look at it, you handle it,’ then guess what—put a deposit down on an apartment today.”

• George Campbell (115:07):

  "We need to increase the spending; we need to increase the generosity. It's going to unlock so much and I think take the pressure out of 'well I could be saving that, I could be taking that shift instead.'"

Important Segment Timestamps

• Joey’s Car Dilemma: 01:03–08:40
• Sabrina’s Disability/Work Crossover: 10:52–20:24
• Tyler’s Retirement Fear: 22:46–31:39
• Zach’s Out-of-Order Baby Steps: 34:02–42:57
• Joe Considers Selling Dream Home: 45:00–52:48
• Renee’s Stuck Living With Parents: 55:04–64:35
• Turo Car Fleet Debt Crisis: 66:16–69:10
• Trinity’s Travel/Miles Card Question: 69:15–76:01
• Caitlin’s Cash Hoard in Gun Safe: 96:45–105:46
• Haley’s Hustle Addiction & Trauma: 107:19–116:58

Conclusion

If You Feel Stuck, It’s Time for a Reset delivers tough love, practical steps, and empathetic guidance for those paralyzed in their financial journey. Whether the barrier is emotional, logistical, relational, or just inertia, Ken and George provide a path to action grounded in Ramsey’s “Baby Steps.” The show closes with a call to face your fears, leverage your resources, and—above all—remember your self-worth is not measured by your past or your net worth.