The Ramsey Show Highlights I Owe $62,000 On A Leased HVAC System
Nov 13, 2025
A retired federal employee calls in to discuss his $62,000 HVAC lease, seeking advice on whether to pay it off now or later. Dave Ramsey emphasizes checking the lease for early buyout options and suggests saving for a discounted lump sum instead of making accelerated payments. He treats the lease debt like a mortgage lien in Baby Step 6 and critiques predatory leasing practices, especially how they exploit military families. The conversation reveals hidden high effective interest rates that make long-term leasing a costly decision.
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Leases May Hide Predatory Costs
- Leases sometimes lack transparent buyout terms and can be structured to be unusually expensive.
- The caller paid $15,000 and still faces a $47,000 buyout, which signals predatory structuring.
Get Legal And Consumer Reviews
- Re-check the contract with an attorney and consumer protection because lease buyouts should usually be lower.
- Seek legal review to verify if the buyout terms are proper.
Check For An Early Buyout Discount
- Reinvestigate the lease buyout and look for an early-payoff discount before making payments.
- Save the payoff amount in a bank account and write one check if a discount exists.
