The Ramsey Show You Can’t Fix People by Funding Their Bad Decisions
Dec 2, 2025
Dave Ramsey and Dr. John Delony tackle key financial dilemmas, from guiding children towards independence without enabling bad decisions to dealing with elder financial issues and scams. They discuss the complexities of living together before marriage, the risks of reverse mortgages, and the practicalities of flood insurance. Listeners hear advice on fixing a bad annuity, managing a growing Airbnb portfolio, and the importance of living without a credit score. With real-life caller questions, this episode delivers vital insights on money management.
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Redefine What 'Help' Actually Means
- Define 'help' as what makes the person a better 30-year-old, not what temporarily soothes them now.
- Avoid rescuing by giving money that enables bad behavior and instead set boundaries and growth-focused offers.
Be A Coach, Not A Bank
- Stay in steady relationship contact: scheduled calls or weekly meetups prove long-term commitment without being the person's bank.
- Offer coached, limited support like matching funds or short-term help tied to progress, not open-ended bailouts.
Take Financial Control With Consent
- If an elderly relative is repeatedly overspending and being preyed upon, take control of funds with their voluntary consent to stop ongoing harm.
- Move Social Security to a new account you control, close the old accounts, and document all transactions for family transparency.
