The Ramsey Show
Episode: You Still Have Time To Change Your Financial Situation
Date: November 17, 2025
Overview
In this engaging and spirited episode, Ken Coleman and George Kamel take calls from listeners facing a variety of financial and relational crossroads. With the trademark Ramsey blend of tough love and practical advice, they help callers navigate student loan debt, credit card traps, relationship money conflicts, entrepreneurial dilemmas, and growing pains—and even dig into deeper issues of trust, control, and family. The hosts reinforce the show's core belief: "You still have time to change your financial situation," no matter the past mistakes or the size of the challenge.
Key Discussion Points
1. Money and Commitment in Relationships
[00:39–09:01] | [10:51–21:24]
-
Caller “Penny” from New Orleans is struggling with a Parent PLUS loan taken for her son’s college and her boyfriend’s reluctance to marry her until it’s gone.
- Ken and George challenge the boyfriend’s “principled stand,” suggesting it’s an excuse to avoid marriage since he’s already committed to having a child together.
- Key Quotes:
- Ken (02:16): “This is a convenient principle to not marry you and you've bought it hook, line and sinker. . . .I think this is a relationship issue.”
- George (05:59): “This is a DTR—Define the Relationship—conversation.”
- Advice: Address the root relational issues. Financial excuses should not mask a lack of commitment.
- Memorable Moment: The realization that they own separate homes (07:13), rarely live together full-time, and have not truly merged their lives.
-
Caller “Tonya” from Louisville faces getting out of debt on low income and disability, compounded by a manipulative, unhealthy relationship.
- Her partner controls finances, pressured her into bad investments, and forces her to stay in his house after jeopardizing her financial independence.
- Ken bluntly advises: (16:00) “You need to break up with this guy. This is done. This guy’s completely not long term material.”
- George summarizes the path forward: Move out, find employment elsewhere, focus on covering essentials first, and stop letting debt collectors run your life.
- Notable Reflection: Both callers highlight how financial issues are often symptoms of deeper relational and empowerment problems.
2. Young Entrepreneurship: Growth Without Debt
[22:46–31:13]
- Riley, 18, Atlanta: Home-schooled, runs a $50k/month landscaping company, wonders whether to rent, buy, or rent-to-own a dump trailer.
- Advice: Rent equipment until buying makes clear sense and always pay cash.
- Ken: (23:54) “Don’t rent to own. Just rent until you have the cash to buy.”
- George: Encourages Riley to run competitive calculations and warns against premature, emotionally-driven purchases: “Move at the speed of cash, not at the speed of how fast you want the business to grow.” (28:47)
- Memorable Moment: The hosts gush over an 18-year-old already employing others and generating real wealth, urging parents to reconsider the “default path” of college-for-all.
- Advice: Rent equipment until buying makes clear sense and always pay cash.
3. Rebuilding After Disaster—Making Big Money Decisions
[32:59–41:34]
- Randy in Los Angeles is rebuilding after his house burns down in the LA fires, trying to bridge a $400k gap between insurance payout and rebuild costs.
- George: Advises using liquid cash and future income, not retirement savings, to bridge the gap: (36:47) “Why not use the 300 and only take 100 from your retirement?”
- Warns about the opportunity cost of withdrawing from retirement: “That money's gonna double every seven years.” (36:52)
- Ken: Encourages careful insurance review, annual re-shopping, and understanding what your policy actually covers.
- Memorable Commentary: The hosts discuss how major upheavals expose whether you’re truly protected—and the value of community when rebuilding.
- George: Advises using liquid cash and future income, not retirement savings, to bridge the gap: (36:47) “Why not use the 300 and only take 100 from your retirement?”
4. Financial Control and Emotional Abuse in Marriage
[44:13–52:29]
- Emily from Dallas: Married 14 years, never allowed access to family finances, now working and considering a separate account—husband responds by removing her from joint accounts.
- George: Diagnoses emotionally controlling behavior: (46:31) “There's either one of two things, maybe both: He's super controlling or he's hiding something.”
- Ken: (49:07) “Something is really going on. . . .This is very extreme.”
- Advice: Seek marriage counseling, set firm boundaries, and do not accept gaslighting or financial abuse.
- Memorable Quotes:
- Emily: (45:30) “Not equal.”
- George: (52:26) “That's called gaslighting.”
5. Navigating Inheritances Amid Family Conflict
[54:35–63:41]
- Nick from Boston inherits $340k life insurance, pressured by family to split with siblings but faces abuse and betrayal.
- Ken: “I think your gut is the one you go with here. . . .I'd sleep very well at night not giving them a nickel.” (61:47)
- George: Acknowledges peace of mind vs. family obligations—no perfect answer, but urges Nick to not sacrifice his well-being for dysfunctional relationships.
- Memorable moment: Nick’s struggle encapsulates the complexities of money, family, and boundaries when “blood isn’t always thicker than water.”
6. Student Loan and Credit Card Debt Crisis
[86:54–95:14]
- Michelle from Phoenix: $270k in student loans (plus mortgage), only one income (~$92k), freelance writer unable to find paid gigs.
- Ken: Urges a mindset shift: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way . . . you need to be targeting something in the $50–$75k range.”
- George: Cuts to the chase—stop charity work, focus ALL efforts on paid employment (content/copywriting, grant writing, adjunct teaching), and get creative about remote income.
- Advice: Prioritize the four walls (food, shelter, transportation, utilities), pause debt payments while in survival mode, and relentlessly pursue any job to increase income—even if it’s not ideal.
- Memorable Moment: Ken gifts “The Proximity Principle” book to help Michelle network her way into opportunities.
7. Dealing with Parental Dependents (and Real Estate Tangles)
[68:01–75:48]
- Carol in Knoxville: Wants to sell an Iowa house but can’t get disabled in-laws (who pay minimal rent) to move.
- Ken: “You guys are being taken advantage of, the more detail we get.”
- George: Summarizes options—keep letting them live there until they must move (health/death) or husband needs to take direct action.
- Advice: Do not go into debt fixing up the house for them; subsidize alternate housing only if able and willing.
8. Car Payments Are (Still) Killing Wealth
[76:34–84:20]
- Hayden, 25, entering the Air Force: Wants financial advice but has a $53k truck loan with an $825/mo payment on $32k salary.
- George: "Sell the truck yesterday.” (83:15)
- Ken: Stresses walking the Ramsey Baby Steps and not letting family enable poor financial decisions.
- Key Quote:
- George: "All your goals are in direct opposition to your actual behavior.” (82:45)
- Memorable moment: Both hosts incredulously grill Hayden on why he financed such an expensive vehicle.
9. Business Focus: When to Let Go
[117:17–126:18]
- Casey from Long Island: Divided focus between several businesses, with an HVAC company floundering due to neglect.
- George: “You don’t care enough about the business to keep it alive. . . .Don’t put a dime into it.” (120:48)
- Ken: Recommends either personally reinvesting time or shutting it down and moving on.
10. Listener Stories and Inspirational Moments
[108:05–116:47]
- Debt-Free Scream:
- Jose and Maria, LA: Paid off $215k in four years via radical lifestyle change, teamwork, and faith-based FPU classes.
- Quote: “Everything we owned, we financed. . . It just became a regular form of living. . . and it became something that was just out of control.” (109:02)
- Memorable Moment: They cash out their daughter’s quinceañera fund to pay debt, trusting God to provide later. True sacrifice.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Enabling Partners:
- Ken (16:00): “You need to break up with this guy. This is done. This guy's completely not long term material.”
- On Buying Equipment for Business:
- Ken (23:54): “Don't rent to own. Just rent until you have the cash to buy any equipment.”
- George (28:47): “Move at the speed of cash, not at the speed of how fast you want the business to grow.”
- On Financial Control in Marriage:
- Emily: (45:30) “Not equal.”
- George: “That's called gaslighting.” (52:26)
- Family Inheritance Conflicts:
- Ken (61:47): “I'd sleep very well at night not giving them a nickel.”
- On Massive Student Loan Debt:
- George (93:06): “The charity work, passion project stuff needs to stop because we need to cover our own household right now.”
- Debt-Free Scream:
- Jose & Maria (115:52): “We are debt free!“
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:39 – Penny: Marrying with Parent PLUS loan/commitment issues
- 10:51 – Tonya: Debt, disability, manipulative relationship
- 22:46 – Riley: Teen landscaping entrepreneur and equipment financing
- 32:59 – Randy: Rebuilding after fire, insurance/retirement dilemma
- 44:13 – Emily: Locked out of finances in marriage
- 54:35 – Nick: Inheritance family conflict
- 68:01 – Carol: In-laws in rental house issue
- 76:34 – Hayden: Air Force, $53k truck loan
- 86:54 – Michelle: $270k student loan and freelance employment
- 108:05 – Jose & Maria: Debt-free scream
- 117:17 – Casey: Letting go of a failing side business
Tone & Style
The hosts speak directly, with warmth and candor. They mix humor with hard truths, unafraid of confronting avoidance or denial. The show’s energy is positive but disciplined—no coddling, but plenty of encouragement that listeners have the power (and responsibility) to turn things around.
Takeaways
- Financial problems often expose deeper relational, emotional, or character issues—fixing the math is only part of fixing your life.
- Don’t let "principles" or family narratives justify unhealthy, controlling, or unloving behavior—from others or yourself.
- Building wealth requires discipline: avoid debt, be patient in business, and live beneath your means.
- Don’t trade peace of mind or personal boundaries for family “harmony.”
- True change is possible—"You still have time to change your financial situation"—but it always starts with courageous honesty.
End of Summary