Therapist's goal: how much savings is enough

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Natalie and Chris, married with two young kids and a net worth of $1.3 million. Despite their significant assets, money remains a constant source of conflict, especially when unexpected expenses arise. Chris tends to "freak out," emotionally withdrawing and becoming zombie-like, leaving Natalie feeling alone. This pattern, which Chris describes as "catastrophizing," has intensified since their kids' expenses piled up. 

Their therapist recommended they talk to Ramit, hoping to establish a financial game plan to prevent Chris's emotional collapses. Currently, 81% of their income goes to fixed costs, with 0% to savings, leading to a feeling of constant stress and no margin for error. Can Ramit help them create a financial system that provides peace of mind and allows Chris to process financial challenges with less distress?

In this episode we uncover:

• The unexpected source of Chris and Natalie’s referral to Ramit

• How large, unexpected expenses trigger Chris’s emotional “shutdown”

• Natalie’s experience of feeling isolated when Chris is financially stressed

• Why having a $1.3 million net worth doesn’t alleviate their financial anxiety

• The surprising reason for their elevated fixed costs and lack of savings 

• The emotional impact of feeling like there’s “nothing left over” at the end of the month 

• Chris’s pattern of “catastrophizing” and the fear of successive financial blows 

• The core question their therapist hopes Ramit can answer 

• How Chris’s upbringing influences his current financial anxieties 

• The challenges of discussing money when past traumas intertwine with current stresses

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “Your therapist...recommended that you speak to me”

(00:10:55) “Natalie, what’s your role in money?”

(00:25:43) The unexpected (and huge) financial blindspot

(00:36:18) Ramit discovers a massive amount of hidden money

(00:45:01) “You are financially set up for life”

(00:54:02) How "Red Bull wingsuit" leads to a Rich Life

(01:19:20) Finding an extra $1,360/month

(01:44:23) Natalie and Chris’s follow-up: “He’s at ease now”

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