The Ramsey Show

Episode: "You Can’t Control the Past, But You CAN Control the Path Forward"

Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: Ken Coleman & Jade Warshaw, Ramsey Network

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode focuses on helping listeners break free from financial mistakes—especially around debt—by taking intentional control of their future money path. Through live calls, Ken and Jade give practical, empathetic advice on debt reduction, budgeting, navigating financial crises, setting boundaries, and finding hope after setbacks. The tone is supportive and direct, with the message that, no matter your past, you can write a new financial story with the right strategies and mindset.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tackling Overwhelming Student Loan Debt (00:38 - 09:01)

• Case: Tracy from Dallas struggles with $140k in private student loans, now down to $106k after nearly a decade, plus additional family debt and tiny home payments.
  • Debt feels crushing, leading to thoughts of default.
• Advice:
  • Default is NOT recommended—especially when young and with potential for earning.
  • Use the debt snowball method: List debts smallest to largest and attack the smallest to build momentum, rather than focusing on interest rates.
  • Consider selling items—like their car—for immediate budget relief.
  • Utilize budgeting tools (EveryDollar app recommended).

“People get tired like you have, and they don’t see it through till the end. … The method that Ken and I are going to explain is the method that we have found and has been proven to work over time.” – Jade Warshaw [05:13]

2. Navigating Business & Personal Debt After Crisis (10:52 - 20:41)

• Case: Emily from Los Angeles faced a major car accident, lost her profitable organic skincare business, has large business ($250k) and personal ($89k) debts, and complicated car/settlement process.
  • Medical leave resulted in zero personal income, husband earns $90k, struggling to make ends meet despite downsizing.
• Advice:
  • Liquidate unsold business inventory as priority ("a hundred thousand dollars in your garage") to attack business debt.
  • Husband should pick up side hustle/freelance work to help.
  • Avoid floating costs on credit cards; rely on cash from inventory instead.
• Notable Solution: Leverage their former loyal customer base for inventory sales—use their community to bridge the gap while awaiting settlements.

“This is your best chance to get some relief here while we’re waiting on settlements and all the things.” – Ken Coleman [17:05]

3. Family Disputes over Money Owed (22:11 - 31:28)

• Case: Lauren in Minneapolis—her brother damaged her car but avoids paying a $2,000 deductible; insurance deadlock and family tension.
• Advice:
  • Persistence: Repeatedly ask brother directly and involve parents if necessary.
  • If conversations fail, escalate—consider small claims court or repeated, inconvenient reminders.
  • Emotional family situations may require tough love and boundary-setting.
• Memorable Moment: Ken’s humorous (and forceful) recommendation to “roll up to his house … and start pulling stuff into the living room. … I’m adding up $6,000 worth of your stuff.” [29:39]

4. When Accidental Landlords Lose Money (34:44 - 42:44)

• Case: Oz, Miami—owns a Tampa rental at a $400/month loss, didn’t plan to rent but couldn’t sell after moving for work; contemplating waiting for property value recovery.
• Advice:
  • Sell now, take a small profit (even after early lease exit if possible), and cut recurring losses.
  • Don’t become a “default landlord”—only own rentals intentionally and make sure they cash flow.
  • Watch local market trends (Tampa cited as declining).
  • Use real math rather than emotion when evaluating property as an investment.

“When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” – Jade Warshaw [39:33]

5. Workplace Manipulation & Personal Empowerment (44:57 - 53:31)

• Case: Isabel from Wisconsin—28, earns only $20k/year as kitchen manager in boyfriend’s bar; housing and car are controlled by the boyfriend, can’t leave due to threat of eviction/job loss.
• Advice:
  • Recognize emotional and financial control as abuse.
  • Prioritize personal safety, independence, and self-worth—seek support systems, a better-paying job, and perhaps therapy.
  • Ken and Jade strongly encourage her to leave the relationship for her own financial and emotional well-being.
• Notable Quote:

“You are an indentured servant. Look it up. That’s what this guy’s got you turned into.” – Ken Coleman [50:26]

6. Retirement Savings vs. Liquid Cash Decisions (54:30 - 62:34)

• Case: Alice, New Mexico—mid-60s, $1.5M saved, home paid off; wondering whether to add to a spousal Roth IRA or bulk up cash reserves for peace of mind and upcoming travel, car purchase, etc.
• Advice:
  • Ensure 6 months of liquid savings, then comfortably use additional funds for meaningful goals or investments.
  • It's fine to set aside cash in envelopes if that offers peace of mind, although high-yield savings recommended for larger sums.

“You guys are doing really, really well. … I don’t think that you can mess this up at this point with the couple of thousand dollars that you're talking about here.” – Jade Warshaw [59:22]

7. Handling Business Asset Purchases Just for Tax Benefits (97:21 - 106:21)

• Case: Jason—his dad wants to buy a $90k truck for a small electrical business solely to reduce taxes, even though he doesn’t need the vehicle.
• Advice:
  • Don’t go into debt just to lower tax liability. “You’re going to spend money you don’t need to just to pay fewer taxes. … It never makes sense when you get it all out on paper.” – Ken Coleman [98:20]
  • Walk through real math, not just tax deductions, to reveal the false “savings.”
  • Encourage discussing any strategy like this with a tax professional before acting.

8. Should I Pull Retirement to Pay Off a Car? (118:58 - 126:13)

• Case: Sadie, Grand Rapids—stay-at-home mom, husband earns $60k, $39k left on a car (underwater), considering pulling from retirement to wipe it out.
• Advice:
  • Never cash out retirement to cover non-essential debt.
  • Consider selling the car and covering underwater amount with a small loan, or side hustle intensively to pay off as fast as possible.
  • Car value rule: don’t have more than half annual income in depreciating vehicles.
• Motivation:

“We want that same energy on the side hustle to get the actual cash to do it because you guys can do this.” – Jade Warshaw [122:04]

9. Miscellaneous Call Topics & Rapid-Fire Advice

• Should I build a tiny house for aging-in-place and income?
  Advice: Only if you can pay cash, and consider if being a landlord in your late 70s is wise. Focus on maximizing current savings and equity rather than taking on more debt. [109:29 - 117:14]
• Commission-based incomes and budgeting for debt payoff:
  Advice: Keep 2+ months’ expenses on hand, then attack smallest debts with all surplus.
• Holiday spending, couple disagreements, and the value of “happy wife, happy life”:
  Advice: In healthy financial situations, budget for meaningful discretionary spending. Respect what matters to your partner. [77:43 - 81:06]
• Balancing job satisfaction versus security:
  Advice: If two part-time jobs you love equal the pay of a full-time job you dislike, pursue your passions.

Selected Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Defaulting is not a good option. … I want you to know there’s a way out.”
  – Jade Warshaw to Tracy [01:07]

• “You are an indentured servant … you’re basically working for your livelihood. He’s got you underneath his thumb.”
  – Ken Coleman to Isabel [50:26]

• “I cannot imagine treating a family member that way … I’m sorry that you’re going through that.”
  – Jade Warshaw to Lauren [31:28]

• “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
  – Jade Warshaw [39:33]

• “Don’t get into the landlord game unless you planned to.”
  – Ken Coleman [37:10]

• “Happy wife, happy life, man.”
  – Ken Coleman [80:57]

• “Don’t go into debt for a tax deduction. If you’re flush with cash, sit with a tax pro. But if you’re going into debt, this makes zero sense.”
  – Ken Coleman [103:22]

• “There’s ultimately only one way to financial peace, and that’s to walk daily with the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus.”
  – Ken Coleman [127:42]

Notable Insights and Interactions

• Empathy and directness combined: Hosts are frank but compassionate, tailoring clarity and urging tough action, especially in emotionally difficult or abusive situations.
• Debt snowball remains king: Real-life case studies consistently showed that psychological momentum is more impactful than mathematical “best” interest rates or largest debts.
• The emotional side of money: Several callers demonstrated how relationships, stress, and burnout intersect with financial decisions—reinforcing that lasting change requires both practical steps and attention to underlying behavior and identity.
• Creative survival in crisis: Listeners learned to leverage community, liquidate assets, and adapt quickly after personal or medical disasters without turning to more debt.

Episode Structure & Flow

• Live call format with rapid responses
• No-nonsense, encouraging tone
• Skip all ads, intros/outros; focus 100% on caller content
• Key moments highlight practical tools (EveryDollar app, budgeting, debt snowball)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:38] Overwhelming student loan debt (Tracy)
• [10:52] Business hit by medical crisis (Emily)
• [22:11] Family money disputes (Lauren)
• [34:44] Accidental landlord headaches (Oz)
• [44:57] Financial manipulation in relationships (Isabel)
• [54:30] Emergency fund vs Roth IRA (Alice)
• [97:21] Tax write-off vs real value in buying assets (Jason)
• [118:58] Should we cash out retirement to pay off debt? (Sadie)

Takeaways for Listeners

You cannot change your financial past, but you absolutely can change your financial future—starting now. Use proven strategies, get clear on your priorities, don’t let shame, overwhelm, or manipulation keep you stuck, and, most importantly, don’t go it alone. There's always a next step on your path forward.