🎆Yes! People laugh at my older car, and I don't have the brand new tech...I smile to myself knowing "I don't have to worry about repo man, and nasty calls and letters from collections." 😁
The Air fryer pays for itself quickly. It's cheaper to buy wings at the grocery store, and air fry them at home, then it is to get them as part of Pizza night delivery. Tastier too!
1) Student Loans 2) Auto loans 3) Buying too much house 4) Trying to Game the credit card system 5) Get rich quick traps 6) Keeping up with the joneses
Your videos should be part of a mandatory class for high schoolers. It is sad that we don't teach kids how to do basic budgets, etc. It's left to the parents many times who are totally clueless as well. I love your videos, even though I'm in good financial shape and have done a lot of the things you talk about, I frequently pick up a tip here and there that is useful.
Exactly! I did some stupid stuff with money because my parents never showed me what goes in saving and keeping money. When I got in trouble they bailed me out instead of teaching me how to get out of it. I always thought they were successful because they could spend large amounts of money, ran their own business, could help me out anytime if needed... until I realised they were just lucky financial idiots. If they'll live long (now in their 70s) they will run out of money despite having low monthly costs and living more frugal than people their age with their business history should have to... Yet they tell me I am doing things wrong for paying off my mortgage and investing, because they always kept their loans until the end and kept their money rotting away in savings accounts. They don't even realise how close to being broke they are, they even think I'm after their money whenever I bring up the subject and say I'll be rich when they die because I will inherit their house (a 1958 energy hog in a part of town that hasn't been fancy since the 1980s anymore, which I'll have to sell to pay the inheritance taxes and their funerals).
I got caught up in payday loans and nearly ruined my life. I was stupid to think you paid them back in parts and not on the next payday so was stuck in a loop. Thankfully I'm out of that and I have an emergency fund so will never need them again.
George is so talented and is giving such good advice. My wife and I have been debt free for 2 years (house and all) and we spent 4.5 years on the Ramsey plan and beans and rice. You can do it and the peace of mind is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears it took to rip off the chains of debt. You can do it!
Very clear and helpful. thanks! I'm working extra to keep my ROI flowing into my mortgage payment. it's the last piece of debt i have and i'm a bit overeager to see it gone. Any index fund or stock tips to help that get done?
I think stocks will plummet further before actually experiencing steady growth and there are still quite a few stocks that makes for a good buy this season, you just have to do your research, but to be on the safer side and not second guess your market decisions, I’d suggest you reach out to a proper investment manager for guidance, they’re better equipped at understanding market patterns/movements and adjusting portfolio to match up with these market trends.
my portfolio is down over 23% j and It’s been that way fsince 2022 and I really could use professional help, I’m close to retirement. have you worked with an asset manager before and could recommend any?
She's known as ’SONYA LEE MITCHELL. One of the finest portfolio managers in the field also widely recognized. Just research the name. You’d find necessary details to work with and set up an appointment.
Being house poor for about 5 years in the beginning was the best "mistake" I ever made. Everyone tried talking me out of buying a house at 20 years old too, but again, it worked out exceedingly well for me. I now own a 800K home outright at 45 and just bought the house next door.
@@jacobstrouble6631 jokes on me how? I have two paid off homes and one pays $2400 hundred a month in income and is appreciating. I could sell both and do a 1031 exchange for a 1.5 million dollar home and not pay any taxes. Get bent.
Honestly, I'm so used to being frugal now it's becoming a way of life. It's ok to buy nice things! Gives me time to think if i really want them. I think that's a good thing! Gives me peace to pay in cash and not rely on debt. Be in the driver's seat. ☺️
Air fryer is legit! I use it daily. The housing is definitely hard to overcome with the comparison trap. Praying God daily to keep focus in alignment of His will.
I started stacking to SAVE wealth. I've always been the type of person to spend my entire paycheck. I hate having money just sit in the bank. I am under pressure to grow my reserve of $950k. before I turn 60, I would appreciate any advice on potential investments.
@@Tsunaniis-j5l Very true , I diversified my $400K portfolio across multiple market with the aid of an investment advisor, I have been able to generate over $900k in net profit across high dividend yield stocks, ETF and bonds in few months.
Sooo we bought a house last year and at the time it was about 30% of our takehome pay. Then I got pregnant with our third. Long story short I’m not going back to work until the baby is older and our mortgage is now 50% of our takehome BUT we have no other debt, we own three dependable vehicles, and I’m staying home and budgeting and making it work! We’ve been following Dave’s advice for 12 years and wouldn’t look back. It’s not easy, it’s not what everyone else is doing, but you’ll be so glad when you look back and realize you made some life changing decisions.
There is merit to getting a 30 year mortgage and then sending in payments for a 15 year payoff. That gives you a little bit of extra flexibility in case something big happens like loss of job or work hours.
Absolutely. Locking in a 15-year mortgage means you have to make those payments, at a minimum, for the next 15 years. That will absolutely make you house poor. Doing a 30-year gives you flexibility when life throws a curveball, and if you make the same payments as a 15-year, you accrue no additional interest. The idea of renting for 3-5 additional years to get a bigger down payment to make the 15-year mortgage work is actually horrible advice, since it keeps you out of the mortgage for longer and means more money is getting dumped into rent. And nowadays, rent will cost you the same, if not more, than the mortgage, making it even harder to save for the down payment.
This what we have been doing for the last 10 years. We do one extra payment a year at a min. 4 years to go and that’s living in California and in a very expensive area. The baby steps work.
A 3-6 month emergency will give you flexibility in case something big happens like loss of job or work hours. A 15 year fixed mortgage will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest
I just got my student loan forgiven because I worked in public service for years. If I had to do it again, would go to community college instead. Student loans are not worth it anymore.
Money Trap of the Middle Class: Using, or utilizing financial gifts poorly. My wife and I are on baby step 4. I'd like to think we achieved this all on our own, and entirely without help, but part of what got us there, is that we were given a moderate sum... not huge, but a chunk of change as a Christmas gift several years ago. We could have just gone and bought a new TV, new furniture, etc. and blown through all that $ on 'stuff' we didn't need. Instead, it went towards paying off our car, putting a larger down payment on our home, and expanding an emergency fund when the debt snowball was finished. Years later, we received another gift as part of an estate settlement... but because we were smarter then, we can then use that $ to expand savings goals, to invest, to give some, and maybe to have a little fun.
I know someone who withdrew $14k from her 401k to get weight loss surgery in Mexico a few years ago. She got the surgery but then gained all the weight back🤦🏻♀️
Guilty of a car loan. We just got a new family car. We currently only have our house mortgage and car loan for debt. No credit card, solid emergency fund, building up our retirement fund, saving up for the kids' college funds (we have a 7 yr old and a 1 yr old). On our mid-30s and I can't wait to get out of debt (we're expecting to be done witb the house in 5 yrs) so we can max out our retirement.
I'm in baby steps 4 and 6, and still make a car payment - I just pay it to a separate "vehicle" account at my bank. Maintenance, repairs, and replacement vehicles come out of that account.
#7 - Eating out half of your meals instead of eating at home. Most middle class can afford to eat out every now and then, but not frequently. Middle class people in the 50s and 60s did not eat out anywhere near as much as the middle class does now. Put that air fryer to good use!
Eating out is the biggest tax Americans pay, compared to most other nations in the world, who barely go to restaurants, unless it’s cheap fast foods or special occasions.
One financial trap I see is "unlimited spending" on anything "for the kid(s)". Outrageous childcare choices, the best of everything with no reasonable limits. Always the newest electronic gadgets, fashions, all the extravagant "wants" fulfilled, new cars purchased for each child, high cost out of state college choice for average run-of-the-mill degree, etc. The entitlement is assumed when there is no effort/contribution from the child expected, no wait and save approach, instant gratification for unnecessary things. Example, I knew a girl who got a new prom dress but the prom was canceled due to covid so that new dress was never worn, then the next year purchasing another new prom dress happened! The old one just wouldn't do.
George, while I am a big fan of your angle on modernizing and simplifying the Ramsey message for a younger generation, I do feel that some of your advice is a bit tone deaf to what the majority of folks are feeling and experiencing right now. Instead of sitting down and doing the modern math, it seems Dave and friends just say “work harder…” which is easier to say when you are already a millionaire and all of your anecdotal feelings and data is from an era decades passed. Let’s paint an example, and I will even use above average salary numbers to make an even stronger point: pretend a couple makes 115k per year gross (more than the average). They follow Dave’s advice and invest 15% of their income for retirement (which many experts say is not even enough anymore), have no debt, and after insurance, 401k/benefits and taxes let’s say they take home 5,600 a month… using your 25% rule of thumb, they would only be able to afford a $1,400 a month mortgage (including property taxes and insurance) on a 15 year fixed… EVEN at a 30 year fixed, they would basically have to put over 50% down to afford even a 320k home… and the median home price is 388k or so… Furthermore, there are very few starter homes in the US near anywhere that pays a decent wage that have homes priced at 320k without basically being a knockdown shack. Dave’s advice would be to move to another state or area, but then the jobs in those areas pay less which basically makes it a wash, OR you are commuting 2 hours each way making your car costs eat up the savings difference… again a wash. Also, Dave is against remote work, so the idea of “just move somewhere affordable” seems to run counter to what he preaches as you would need a new job, which pays less since it’s a lower cost of living area. Is it Dave’s contention that every single person must be a doctor or entrepreneur or engineer in order to afford a 2 bed 1 bath and maybe be able to retire one day? I would like to see more acknowledgement of this from you, as you are the future of Ramsey and I think acknowledging these challenges from folks like yourself is the first step in being able to bring about change.
Enjoy your segments, George. Although I have heard the same material a thousand times, you have a unique funny creative way of presenting financial topics that keeps me wanting more. Keep up the great work!
3:30 My PITI is $1,446 per month. I like to pay $1,900-2,000 per month. My take-home pay fluctuates, but is usually $3,600 per month. (This seems slightly off as I make $31 per hour.) Anyway, I don’t feel pinched house poor. I have intentionally decided to spend as little money as possible and put as much money as possible on my mortgage.
One of the reasons that car loans have increased besides inflation is the vehicle's that most folks are buying and the dealers are pushing are the High trim level models, yes the cooled seats are great especially if you live in Florida or Arizona although to get the cooled seats you have to purchase the top 2 trim levels in most cases, which are packaged with a lot of options most folks don't care about at a premium of $5,000 or more, hope you enjoy the cooled seats!
I still remember your words when you said “credit score /cards are debt managing tools. They are not a wealth building tools “. Instantly became your fan. Now I am debt free and saving for my house & daughter’s education 😊
Thank you, George. I am currently renting and also wanting my own home. It is good to be reminded that home ownership does have costs that I simply could not afford right now and to hear that renting is a good option, for someone in my particular case.
Yeah but they can sell more by ignoring the overall tread and just focusing on what they can control. They are not trying to be honest they want other to buy a solution from them....
@@donaldlyons17 the point I was making was that as time goes on, the term “middle class” in itself doesn’t make sense/ doesn’t exist/ is quickly going away. In regards to this video, sure, average people can follow these steps to avoid getting into debt but to say these are “middle class traps” doesn’t make sense.
These traps are exactly why the government can play the people by making everything loan based, further increasing prices for everyone because of an artificial purchasing power that is inflated by debt. The more people are willing to take debts the easier it is for universities to keep tuition high. People voting Democrat also make the problem worse, as democrats love giving public money away to universities who already make a profit.
The get rich quick traps are a parasite to middle class, with so many people taking advantage of folks on social media. Solid advice, bullet proof. Some other traps are subscription services (how many do you need to watch something?), and constantly eating out.
Last year save $ 4,000 on a vacation from rewards. I got a signed up bonus of $1,000 and 5% back on first quarter. Paid all my insurance for year for three cars, house insurance, life insurance and umbrella in that quarter. Total cost was $ 5,000. Use our sinking fund to paid all the insurance on the credit card. Travel credit for this transaction was $250.00 cash back for 5 minutes of my time.
Credit card is a bonus if you pay it on time and if you use it for necessities only. In our case, our credit card rewards us with free flight tickets. A credit card is not for everyone.
Regarding the mortgage - go with the 30 year fixed, but pay it off on the 15 year schedule. If hard times come you can always fall back on the lower payment of the 30 year, then get back to the accelerated payments when things stabilize.
I know I've been fortunate. Not through any great wisdom but I had frugal parents that set a good example and I didn't totally not listen to what they said. I've screwed up a few times but never so bad I couldn't recover. When we bought our house it was crazy how much we'd have qualified for. We bought a house that was less than 2/5 of what we could have bought, and even that I was concerned may have been stretching it too far. I remember the banker saying we where the first people in many months that weren't trying to stretch how much house we could buy to the limit. I also remember her saying that most of those people were one missed paycheck away from disaster. We've been debt free, including the mortgage, for years now. That doesn't make us immune to financial rough times but it's one whopping big worry off the list.
Find a good mechanic. Totally worth it. I been fixing up my beater car for years and saved a boat load of money. Many say if it costs more to fix than it's worth you should get a new car. NO!!!! KEEP YOUR BEATER!!!! If it breaks then FIX IT!!!!! Yeah it's a pain to fix it but it's also a pain to live broke.
Scarface movie Hey, Tony. Remember when I told you when you first started working for me, the guys that last in this business, are the guys who fly straight. Low-key, quiet. But the guys who want it all, chicas, champagne, flash... they don't last." It's the same concept. Those who win the lottery, make quick money, have a hard time keeping it due to a lack of discipline.
Also, ending the “millionaire” section with tips that /they/ (a millionaire) follow, by saying, “it’s not that hard,” you are correct; for a millionaire it’s not hard to invest, pay off debt and live on less than you make. Solid advice….if you’re a millionaire.
What state are you in? 2.35% is great. How did you get that? Our interest rates on our houses are 2.99% and 3%. We are in CA. We are also not paying the houses off early.
Credit and debt get people into trouble. Too much house for too long on payments. What you make in a year is about what you can afford in a house. Bought current tax sale house and acreage up north cash. I keep my utility and insurance bills under 1000$ a month. Our 2 daily drivers and 2 4x4 winter beaters plus old wagoneer paid for. I like gold and silver, and tax sale houses. I have construction skills so tax sale houses are a store of value to me. I vacation 3 times a year 9-14 days at camp and building cottage out of pocket.
I'll send this to someone I don't like. Just to trigger them... Also, did all those things. Didn't work guys. 7 baby steps got us further than all of those things I've done combined. So yes, tried and proved.
We got a 30 year mortgage 2 years ago before we knew better. But based on the large payments we've made, we got it down to only 16 years left now. Goal is to have much less than that soon.
Love it, always! Next time you say “no” you have to show Grogu in his protection droid, IG-12 slamming the no button over and over 😂 Great job to your team too-killing it all around!
Why not approve of househacking? It seems to follow the "Live like no one else so you can live like no one else" rule. Sacrifice today by living with roommates or renting out to tenants to significantly increase your income so in the future you can better afford your own place. If it's the fear of them not paying then don't get a place that you can't afford or do your due diligence on your tenant/roommates.
Today at noon I’m heading to the bank to pay off my mortgage. That’s the last loan I’ll carry for the rest of my life. Yippee
Congratulations!
Wow that’s amazing I hope to get there one day!! Congratulations you won!!
Congrats🎉🎉 that is a huge accomplishment !!
Congratulations
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations!!!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
No student loans, no car loans, no keeping up with the Joneses - but I do have an air fryer that I love.
I love my air fryer.
same 🙌
🎆Yes! People laugh at my older car, and I don't have the brand new tech...I smile to myself knowing "I don't have to worry about repo man, and nasty calls and letters from collections." 😁
The Air fryer pays for itself quickly. It's cheaper to buy wings at the grocery store, and air fry them at home, then it is to get them as part of Pizza night delivery. Tastier too!
@@CYCO1631 I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I feel that the wings are better too.
1) Student Loans
2) Auto loans
3) Buying too much house
4) Trying to Game the credit card system
5) Get rich quick traps
6) Keeping up with the joneses
It's literally timestamped in his vid. This comment's pointless
$38,000 paid off. It really was not that bad to pay it off. Just live like a college student for awhile. People give up so easy.
Your videos should be part of a mandatory class for high schoolers. It is sad that we don't teach kids how to do basic budgets, etc. It's left to the parents many times who are totally clueless as well. I love your videos, even though I'm in good financial shape and have done a lot of the things you talk about, I frequently pick up a tip here and there that is useful.
the biggest trap of all .. listening to broke unsuccessful people tell you how to be wealthy and successful
Yup, stay off the Instagram & silly media bs
Exactly! I did some stupid stuff with money because my parents never showed me what goes in saving and keeping money. When I got in trouble they bailed me out instead of teaching me how to get out of it. I always thought they were successful because they could spend large amounts of money, ran their own business, could help me out anytime if needed... until I realised they were just lucky financial idiots. If they'll live long (now in their 70s) they will run out of money despite having low monthly costs and living more frugal than people their age with their business history should have to... Yet they tell me I am doing things wrong for paying off my mortgage and investing, because they always kept their loans until the end and kept their money rotting away in savings accounts. They don't even realise how close to being broke they are, they even think I'm after their money whenever I bring up the subject and say I'll be rich when they die because I will inherit their house (a 1958 energy hog in a part of town that hasn't been fancy since the 1980s anymore, which I'll have to sell to pay the inheritance taxes and their funerals).
Yup it’s always a sisters boyfriend lol 😂
More middle-class traps: buy now/pay later, payday loans, layaway, zero down programs.
I got caught up in payday loans and nearly ruined my life. I was stupid to think you paid them back in parts and not on the next payday so was stuck in a loop. Thankfully I'm out of that and I have an emergency fund so will never need them again.
Those are more broke/low income traps.
Pro tip: if your sticky hand is no longer sticky, rinse it off under the faucet, let it air dry, and it’ll be like new.
George is so talented and is giving such good advice. My wife and I have been debt free for 2 years (house and all) and we spent 4.5 years on the Ramsey plan and beans and rice. You can do it and the peace of mind is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears it took to rip off the chains of debt. You can do it!
How does it feel?
amaz-balls@@spvimagery3527
You will actually live longer if you eat beans and rice 😂
It feels great. Debt free including mortgage for over 3.5 years. @@spvimagery3527
Another trap we fall into is overpaying for day to day things like groceries from a particular grocer chain.
@@cjjohnson7095 Ouch!!! That's hurtful.
*COUGHS* Whole Foods *COUGHS*
@@cwhitty05 But that black truffle Gouda cheese! 😋
Very clear and helpful. thanks! I'm working extra to keep my ROI flowing into my mortgage payment. it's the last piece of debt i have and i'm a bit overeager to see it gone. Any index fund or stock tips to help that get done?
It’s a good time to buy in on the market, so seize the opportunity to purchase stocks on sales.
I think stocks will plummet further before actually experiencing steady growth and there are still quite a few stocks that makes for a good buy this season, you just have to do your research, but to be on the safer side and not second guess your market decisions, I’d suggest you reach out to a proper investment manager for guidance, they’re better equipped at understanding market patterns/movements and adjusting portfolio to match up with these market trends.
my portfolio is down over 23% j and It’s been that way fsince 2022 and I really could use professional help, I’m close to retirement. have you worked with an asset manager before and could recommend any?
She's known as ’SONYA LEE MITCHELL. One of the finest portfolio managers in the field also widely recognized. Just research the name. You’d find necessary details to work with and set up an appointment.
Thank you for sharing. I just scheduled a phone call with her. She seems proficient considering her résumé.
Also, a trap could be when the middle class make more money (like getting a raise), they spend more money still living paycheck to paycheck.
Lifestyle inflation
Being house poor for about 5 years in the beginning was the best "mistake" I ever made. Everyone tried talking me out of buying a house at 20 years old too, but again, it worked out exceedingly well for me. I now own a 800K home outright at 45 and just bought the house next door.
Nice playa
You only get 1 homestead exemption. Jokes on you.
Thank you this. ive been stocked.
@@jacobstrouble6631 jokes on me how? I have two paid off homes and one pays $2400 hundred a month in income and is appreciating. I could sell both and do a 1031 exchange for a 1.5 million dollar home and not pay any taxes. Get bent.
@@allaboutroofing2 what's a 1031 exchange?? That sounds very interesting. Something good came from that troll
Honestly, I'm so used to being frugal now it's becoming a way of life. It's ok to buy nice things! Gives me time to think if i really want them. I think that's a good thing! Gives me peace to pay in cash and not rely on debt. Be in the driver's seat. ☺️
This Jones ain't broke... baby step 7!! Thank you Ramsey team, and you too George!❤
Air fryer is legit! I use it daily.
The housing is definitely hard to overcome with the comparison trap. Praying God daily to keep focus in alignment of His will.
Be intentional with your money!
I started stacking to SAVE wealth. I've always been the type of person to spend my entire paycheck. I hate having money just sit in the bank. I am under pressure to grow my reserve of $950k. before I turn 60, I would appreciate any advice on potential investments.
@@Tsunaniis-j5l Very true , I diversified my $400K portfolio across multiple market with the aid of an investment advisor, I have been able to generate over $900k in net profit across high dividend yield stocks, ETF and bonds in few months.
@@MakeamericaGreatagain-h7j Where can I find this Advisor?
@@carolynrose1816 credits to NICOLE DESIREE SIMON, one of the best portfolio manager;s out there. she;s well known, you should look her up
@@MakeamericaGreatagain-h7j Thanks for the info, i found her website and sent a message hopefully she replies soon.
That Cisco hold music is fire.
But … did the turtle get to eat the strawberry 🍓?!?? I NEED TO KNOW!!!
You had me at George Cooney!!!
Your sense of humour rocks !! :D
Sooo we bought a house last year and at the time it was about 30% of our takehome pay. Then I got pregnant with our third. Long story short I’m not going back to work until the baby is older and our mortgage is now 50% of our takehome BUT we have no other debt, we own three dependable vehicles, and I’m staying home and budgeting and making it work! We’ve been following Dave’s advice for 12 years and wouldn’t look back. It’s not easy, it’s not what everyone else is doing, but you’ll be so glad when you look back and realize you made some life changing decisions.
He’d probably still say to sell it
You and your family have put your priorities where they should be. You will all benefit from your decision.
There is merit to getting a 30 year mortgage and then sending in payments for a 15 year payoff. That gives you a little bit of extra flexibility in case something big happens like loss of job or work hours.
Absolutely. Locking in a 15-year mortgage means you have to make those payments, at a minimum, for the next 15 years. That will absolutely make you house poor. Doing a 30-year gives you flexibility when life throws a curveball, and if you make the same payments as a 15-year, you accrue no additional interest. The idea of renting for 3-5 additional years to get a bigger down payment to make the 15-year mortgage work is actually horrible advice, since it keeps you out of the mortgage for longer and means more money is getting dumped into rent. And nowadays, rent will cost you the same, if not more, than the mortgage, making it even harder to save for the down payment.
This what we have been doing for the last 10 years. We do one extra payment a year at a min. 4 years to go and that’s living in California and in a very expensive area. The baby steps work.
A 3-6 month emergency will give you flexibility in case something big happens like loss of job or work hours. A 15 year fixed mortgage will save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest
I just got my student loan forgiven because I worked in public service for years. If I had to do it again, would go to community college instead. Student loans are not worth it anymore.
"Is that simple, and it's that hard" so true! Thanks for another great video!
Money Trap of the Middle Class: Using, or utilizing financial gifts poorly. My wife and I are on baby step 4. I'd like to think we achieved this all on our own, and entirely without help, but part of what got us there, is that we were given a moderate sum... not huge, but a chunk of change as a Christmas gift several years ago. We could have just gone and bought a new TV, new furniture, etc. and blown through all that $ on 'stuff' we didn't need. Instead, it went towards paying off our car, putting a larger down payment on our home, and expanding an emergency fund when the debt snowball was finished. Years later, we received another gift as part of an estate settlement... but because we were smarter then, we can then use that $ to expand savings goals, to invest, to give some, and maybe to have a little fun.
That is so true!
I live for these videos. You’re the man George!
I know someone who withdrew $14k from her 401k to get weight loss surgery in Mexico a few years ago. She got the surgery but then gained all the weight back🤦🏻♀️
😳
So sad… I know the struggle
There are no obese old people. If she doesn’t lose the weight she won’t need the 401k
So many people are financing plastic surgery. It’s INSANE!
Mega oof
Guilty of a car loan. We just got a new family car. We currently only have our house mortgage and car loan for debt. No credit card, solid emergency fund, building up our retirement fund, saving up for the kids' college funds (we have a 7 yr old and a 1 yr old). On our mid-30s and I can't wait to get out of debt (we're expecting to be done witb the house in 5 yrs) so we can max out our retirement.
I'm in baby steps 4 and 6, and still make a car payment - I just pay it to a separate "vehicle" account at my bank. Maintenance, repairs, and replacement vehicles come out of that account.
I do this too!
You are in babystep 2!!
@@jaythaxton2386 Did you read the whole post?
#7 - Eating out half of your meals instead of eating at home. Most middle class can afford to eat out every now and then, but not frequently. Middle class people in the 50s and 60s did not eat out anywhere near as much as the middle class does now. Put that air fryer to good use!
Not eating out at all can be a painless way to save when you need to in a limited amount of time.
Eating out is the biggest tax Americans pay, compared to most other nations in the world, who barely go to restaurants, unless it’s cheap fast foods or special occasions.
I wish you guys would talk more about how men can find love 💕 when you’re dating! Thanks George!
Best Ramsey personality content by far! Great work
I live in that town where an abandon house costs $1M. I’d have to save $750k down payment to fit within these payment parameters. 😢
Paid off my car loan the 1st , four years early ,now snowballing onto the house . It’s been tight but so rewarding.
You forgot about trap #7. Listening to your cousin about their MLM “opportunity”
One financial trap I see is "unlimited spending" on anything "for the kid(s)". Outrageous childcare choices, the best of everything with no reasonable limits. Always the newest electronic gadgets, fashions, all the extravagant "wants" fulfilled, new cars purchased for each child, high cost out of state college choice for average run-of-the-mill degree, etc. The entitlement is assumed when there is no effort/contribution from the child expected, no wait and save approach, instant gratification for unnecessary things. Example, I knew a girl who got a new prom dress but the prom was canceled due to covid so that new dress was never worn, then the next year purchasing another new prom dress happened! The old one just wouldn't do.
George, while I am a big fan of your angle on modernizing and simplifying the Ramsey message for a younger generation, I do feel that some of your advice is a bit tone deaf to what the majority of folks are feeling and experiencing right now. Instead of sitting down and doing the modern math, it seems Dave and friends just say “work harder…” which is easier to say when you are already a millionaire and all of your anecdotal feelings and data is from an era decades passed. Let’s paint an example, and I will even use above average salary numbers to make an even stronger point: pretend a couple makes 115k per year gross (more than the average). They follow Dave’s advice and invest 15% of their income for retirement (which many experts say is not even enough anymore), have no debt, and after insurance, 401k/benefits and taxes let’s say they take home 5,600 a month… using your 25% rule of thumb, they would only be able to afford a $1,400 a month mortgage (including property taxes and insurance) on a 15 year fixed… EVEN at a 30 year fixed, they would basically have to put over 50% down to afford even a 320k home… and the median home price is 388k or so… Furthermore, there are very few starter homes in the US near anywhere that pays a decent wage that have homes priced at 320k without basically being a knockdown shack. Dave’s advice would be to move to another state or area, but then the jobs in those areas pay less which basically makes it a wash, OR you are commuting 2 hours each way making your car costs eat up the savings difference… again a wash. Also, Dave is against remote work, so the idea of “just move somewhere affordable” seems to run counter to what he preaches as you would need a new job, which pays less since it’s a lower cost of living area. Is it Dave’s contention that every single person must be a doctor or entrepreneur or engineer in order to afford a 2 bed 1 bath and maybe be able to retire one day?
I would like to see more acknowledgement of this from you, as you are the future of Ramsey and I think acknowledging these challenges from folks like yourself is the first step in being able to bring about change.
Enjoy your segments, George. Although I have heard the same material a thousand times, you have a unique funny creative way of presenting financial topics that keeps me wanting more. Keep up the great work!
Lok
That’s the point, repetition is key.
I agree, even when it’s a repeat I listen and even rewind just to laugh. I really enjoy the humor with the facts
MLMs are money traps that only benefit the few. My parents have thrown more than $500,000 at Amway. And still no ROI 🥴
That sounds dreadful!
3:30 My PITI is $1,446 per month. I like to pay $1,900-2,000 per month. My take-home pay fluctuates, but is usually $3,600 per month. (This seems slightly off as I make $31 per hour.) Anyway, I don’t feel pinched house poor. I have intentionally decided to spend as little money as possible and put as much money as possible on my mortgage.
One of the reasons that car loans have increased besides inflation is the vehicle's that most folks are buying and the dealers are pushing are the High trim level models, yes the cooled seats are great especially if you live in Florida or Arizona although to get the cooled seats you have to purchase the top 2 trim levels in most cases, which are packaged with a lot of options most folks don't care about at a premium of $5,000 or more, hope you enjoy the cooled seats!
I notice friends on social media only post when they’re traveling or eating out. I always like to post more mundane stuff
I still remember your words when you said “credit score /cards are debt managing tools. They are not a wealth building tools “. Instantly became your fan. Now I am debt free and saving for my house & daughter’s education 😊
25% of your take home pay may not be realistic even for studios in high cost of living states like California & New York
The tortoise and strawberry is CUTE. It's never too late to start saving, but it's better to start earlier.
Thank you, George. I am currently renting and also wanting my own home. It is good to be reminded that home ownership does have costs that I simply could not afford right now and to hear that renting is a good option, for someone in my particular case.
You are paying those costs in the monthly rent.
The middle class is and has been eroding for years, it goes way beyond these so called “middle class traps”. This just touches the surface.
Yeah but they can sell more by ignoring the overall tread and just focusing on what they can control. They are not trying to be honest they want other to buy a solution from them....
@@donaldlyons17 the point I was making was that as time goes on, the term “middle class” in itself doesn’t make sense/ doesn’t exist/ is quickly going away. In regards to this video, sure, average people can follow these steps to avoid getting into debt but to say these are “middle class traps” doesn’t make sense.
These traps are exactly why the government can play the people by making everything loan based, further increasing prices for everyone because of an artificial purchasing power that is inflated by debt.
The more people are willing to take debts the easier it is for universities to keep tuition high. People voting Democrat also make the problem worse, as democrats love giving public money away to universities who already make a profit.
Live on less on what you make. I just want to live comfortable life and debt free and I AM. To God be the glory.
I loved the hold music breakdown!
The get rich quick traps are a parasite to middle class, with so many people taking advantage of folks on social media. Solid advice, bullet proof.
Some other traps are subscription services (how many do you need to watch something?), and constantly eating out.
Props for the Cisco hold music opus no. 1
Id say a big trap is middle class falls into lifestyle creep. They get raises and make more and end up just spending more as they get older.
The VA and Navy federal has the best “please hold” music
That phone call hold music slaps hard. It's called "Opus No. 1" - you're welcome.
That turtle 🐢 so cute
When buying a car with cash, don't tell them until after you make the deal. I will say the last car I purchased was before the covid pricing.
Core memory unlocked - I never thought I’d hear that hold music ever again 😂
I appreciate all of your insight, and I enjoy your content so much. Also, thanks for the Bible verse 🔥
George!! You are the best channel on the Ramsey network right now!! Keep up the great work!!
I am retired and I got about $2,000 back from my credit cards last year.
Of course no interest or annual fees. It was a winner for us.
That’s at least $100,000 on your credit card, maybe more. You might spend less if you used cash, or a debit card.
Last year save $ 4,000 on a vacation from rewards.
I got a signed up bonus of $1,000 and 5% back on first quarter.
Paid all my insurance for year for three cars, house insurance, life insurance and umbrella in that quarter. Total cost was $ 5,000. Use our sinking fund to paid all the insurance on the credit card. Travel credit for this transaction was $250.00 cash back for 5 minutes of my time.
Credit card is a bonus if you pay it on time and if you use it for necessities only. In our case, our credit card rewards us with free flight tickets. A credit card is not for everyone.
Regarding the mortgage - go with the 30 year fixed, but pay it off on the 15 year schedule. If hard times come you can always fall back on the lower payment of the 30 year, then get back to the accelerated payments when things stabilize.
I know I've been fortunate. Not through any great wisdom but I had frugal parents that set a good example and I didn't totally not listen to what they said. I've screwed up a few times but never so bad I couldn't recover. When we bought our house it was crazy how much we'd have qualified for. We bought a house that was less than 2/5 of what we could have bought, and even that I was concerned may have been stretching it too far. I remember the banker saying we where the first people in many months that weren't trying to stretch how much house we could buy to the limit. I also remember her saying that most of those people were one missed paycheck away from disaster. We've been debt free, including the mortgage, for years now. That doesn't make us immune to financial rough times but it's one whopping big worry off the list.
be realistic when buying a house, be able to pay it with one income because life will happen.
Great job as usual, George, I am always encouraged to save when I listen to you.
These videos are great! Nothing like financial freedom.
Loved your video, Todd loved it too! He said OMG he loves The Knack, that’s my favorite album by them. Respect George! 👏🏻💿
ok we need a George and the top G himself in a video soon. MAKE IT HAPPEN GEORGE!!
Thank you George. Loving your TH-cam channel. Keep up the great work. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you for relying on the word of God not many will use it.
Find a good mechanic. Totally worth it. I been fixing up my beater car for years and saved a boat load of money. Many say if it costs more to fix than it's worth you should get a new car. NO!!!! KEEP YOUR BEATER!!!! If it breaks then FIX IT!!!!! Yeah it's a pain to fix it but it's also a pain to live broke.
I needed to hear this! Thank you George! Especially the keeping up with the Jones’ part! It’s prob the root of all my fights with the wife!
George where did you get that Jean jacket!!!! I want it!!! George stylin on us and think we wouldn’t notice
Scarface movie
Hey, Tony. Remember when I told you when you first started working for me, the guys that last in this business, are the guys who fly straight. Low-key, quiet. But the guys who want it all, chicas, champagne, flash... they don't last." It's the same concept. Those who win the lottery, make quick money, have a hard time keeping it due to a lack of discipline.
You make great videos, luv the funny clips mixed with the finical info.. keep it up and don’t forget to water your plant
I am getting there.
In 3 years, I am planning on having 30k in savings, 75k in retirement, and 5k in stocks. And ready to buy a condo of some sort.
George, you really enjoy what you are doing and it transpires through the screen. It is a joy to watch you, kid. Blessings. 🌹 😊
Also, ending the “millionaire” section with tips that /they/ (a millionaire) follow, by saying, “it’s not that hard,” you are correct; for a millionaire it’s not hard to invest, pay off debt and live on less than you make. Solid advice….if you’re a millionaire.
That's fabulous! I will be there in a year and a half. Give us the details - what was the original amount and how long have you been paying on it?
lets not forget MLM's, affiliate marketing, and E-commerce, while sure one might make alittle extra it's not going to replace your 9-5
No debt other than our mortgage and we are trying to pay that off in
You got this! Were 28 and are planning yo knock it out the same time frame. We will see you when you do your debt free scream!
@Louis Clark makes sense from a mathematical stand point. Personally, I'll take the peace of mind owing nobody anything will bring me :D
What state are you in? 2.35% is great. How did you get that?
Our interest rates on our houses are 2.99% and 3%. We are in CA.
We are also not paying the houses off early.
@@FinancialGuyLou I completely understand! My brother is always suggesting I do the same exact thing.
Goodonya mate! Baby Step 7 by age 35! Wish I could get there, but it would involve Doc Brown and a time machine I haven't figured out how to invent.
My parents didn't get Touch-tone phones until 1982, or a car with FM radio until 1987. They didn't get a microwave or cable TV until 2005 or 2006.
Credit and debt get people into trouble. Too much house for too long on payments. What you make in a year is about what you can afford in a house. Bought current tax sale house and acreage up north cash. I keep my utility and insurance bills under 1000$ a month. Our 2 daily drivers and 2 4x4 winter beaters plus old wagoneer paid for. I like gold and silver, and tax sale houses. I have construction skills so tax sale houses are a store of value to me. I vacation 3 times a year 9-14 days at camp and building cottage out of pocket.
Wow spot on George!
I'll send this to someone I don't like. Just to trigger them...
Also, did all those things. Didn't work guys. 7 baby steps got us further than all of those things I've done combined. So yes, tried and proved.
Love the Videos George! Bringing the Ramsey principles in short Funny videos! Keep ‘em coming Sir!!!
Gotta love the Toyota advertisement during this video!
45 million borrowers chose to take on the debt. Why do i have to pay for others poor choices?
Another great, witty, and articulate vid, George! That tortoise clip and ur reaction was adorable 😅😌🙌
Soon to be mortgage free! Feels so good being this close 👏🏼👏🏼💪🏽
We got a 30 year mortgage 2 years ago before we knew better. But based on the large payments we've made, we got it down to only 16 years left now. Goal is to have much less than that soon.
I like your format, similar to Andrei Jikh and Stephan Graham. Is like a younger form of Dave Ramsey show.
Whelps we know who Uncle Dave is passing the torch to.
Home equity line of credit is a trap for most people
great video but i just cant agree on #4. I use my bilt card to pay my rent getting valuable points i wouldnt otherwise
Did the turtle eat the strawberry? 🤔
Love it, always! Next time you say “no” you have to show Grogu in his protection droid, IG-12 slamming the no button over and over 😂 Great job to your team too-killing it all around!
Legit started to dance when the hold music was playing.
Why not approve of househacking?
It seems to follow the "Live like no one else so you can live like no one else" rule.
Sacrifice today by living with roommates or renting out to tenants to significantly increase your income so in the future you can better afford your own place.
If it's the fear of them not paying then don't get a place that you can't afford or do your due diligence on your tenant/roommates.