Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi

227. “We bought our dream house. Now we’re drowning”

65 snips
Sep 23, 2025
Jason and Katie's dream home has turned into a financial nightmare, trapping them in a cycle of debt despite their high income. They grapple with the hidden costs of homeownership, including unexpected expenses that threaten their financial stability. Daily money talks leave them exhausted, especially with Jason's cash flow obsession clouding their judgment. Childhood lessons about money influence their spending, complicating their parenting journey. Can they break free from their repeating patterns and discover a path to financial security?
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ANECDOTE

Bought Dream House, Recycled Debt

  • Jason and Katie moved from debt-free to new house buying furniture and opening retail credit lines that they paid for years.
  • Their behavior shows how a single purchase cycle can reintroduce debt even after major payoffs.
ANECDOTE

Paid Off Student Loans Then Upsized

  • They paid off $120K in student loans then bought a 2,900 sq ft house and $15–20K in furniture.
  • Those purchases were funded with retail credit and long payoff periods that prolonged indebtedness.
INSIGHT

Cash Flow Hides True Costs

  • Focusing only on monthly cash flow hides the total cost and long-term impacts of purchases.
  • Total cost of ownership (TCO) reveals how small minimum payments can accumulate into crippling fixed costs.
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