Edward (38) and Ellen (30) live in Hawaii with their young daughter and a new baby on the way. With a net worth of over $2 million, their finances look strong on paper, but behind the scenes, their marriage is strained by control, fear, and trust issues around money.

Edward manages every dollar, while Ellen has to ask for “permission” to spend, even on basic everyday items. He believes tight control protects their future, making her feel more like a child than a partner. As Edward grapples with his deep fear of losing everything, Ellen wants to step into her own financial power. Can they learn to trust each other and build a partnership where both voices are heard, or will control and fear continue to drive their financial decisions?

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Ellen calls their financial dynamic “like asking my dad for permission”

• How Edward’s fear of poverty leads to hyper-control over their money

• Why Edward compares their finances to the top 1%

• Ellen’s $8,000 home birth decision

• How Ellen avoids learning their finances to sidestep arguments

• The emotional legacy of Edward’s childhood poverty and Ellen’s early financial security

• Their definition of a “traditional marriage”

• Why they fight about $20 face cream despite earning $28K/month

• The weight of Edward’s “provider” identity

• Their Hawaii “dream home” vs. the financial pressure it created

• Their shared craving for safety and control

• Ellen’s realization that she’s been playing financial defense instead of building real skills

• Edward’s hope to teach their daughter financial independence

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “It feels like I’m asking for permission”

(00:16:10) “I’m in charge of the budget”

(00:23:09) “I had just come into a million dollars”

(00:34:29) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:51:41) “I don’t think he trusts me at all”

(00:56:49) “I will never be poor again”

(01:07:01) “When do we get to live like we’re wealthy?”

(01:17:38) “I shrink myself to please him”

(01:39:10) Where are they now? Ellen and Edward’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

Shopify | Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ramit

Factor | Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box at https://factormeals.com/ramit50OFF with code RAMIT50OFF

Facet | Facet is waiving their $250 enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to https://facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you

ZocDoc | Download the ZocDoc app for FREE at https://zocdoc.com/ramit then find and book a top-rated doctor today #sponsored

Leesa | Go to https://leesa.com for 20% off sitewide PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code RAMIT, exclusive for my listeners

Links mentioned in this episode

• If you want help with your finances, join my Money Coaching program at https://iwt.com/moneycoaching

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you make good money but you haven’t taken a real vacation in years, I want to talk to you. I'm casting couples for a special episode of the podcast. Apply this week only at iwt.com/apply.

Angela (31) and David (34) thought they’d built a future on $200,000 in crypto. Instead, they lost it all—and now they’re living in David’s childhood home with his mom. Angela dreams of traveling to Colombia to be with family, while David quietly panics about their finances. She sees every course and trip as a step toward freedom, but he sees their savings shrinking with no plan in sight. With only $4,000 in the bank and a 5-year-old to support, can they stop improvising and finally create a stable financial life of their own?

In this episode we uncover:

• How David blew through $200,000 in crypto

• Living rent-free with David’s mom

• The “get rich quick” approach to debt: bankruptcy talk, unrealistic timelines, and skipped planning

• Why improvising instead of planning is their default financial strategy

• A $3,000 retreat vs. moving out: how conflicting priorities reveal deeper issues

• The moment they see the truth in their spending

• How David’s mom ended up in credit card debt from supporting them

• Angela’s scarcity and rescue narratives from childhood

• Why David avoids stress and Angela absorbs it

• The cost of being “Dreamers” (big visions with no real plan)

• Signs their daughter is already noticing financial stress

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “We have no space to breathe”

(00:25:05) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:35:12) “Our vision isn’t aligned to our actions”

(00:52:42) “Like mother, like daughter”

(01:03:09) “Do you want major changes or minor changes?”

(01:15:26) “We’ve never created a plan”

(01:36:53) Where are they now? Angela and David’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

Trust & Will | Protect what matters most in minutes at https://trustandwill.com/ramit and get 10% off plus free shipping.

Wildgrain | Get $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box at https://wildgrain.com/ramit

SonderMind | Go to https://sondermind.com to get matched with the right therapist in less than a week

Gelt | Book a tax consultation with Gelt at https://joingelt.com/ramit. As a member of my community, you can skip the waitlist

DeleteMe | If you want to get your personal information removed from the web, go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit for 20% off

Links mentioned in this episode

• If you want help with your finances, join my Money Coaching program at https://iwt.com/moneycoaching

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Amy (32) and John (40) are raising two young kids in Canada, earning a solid $155,000 a year. But with $768,181 in debt and fixed costs at 168% of their income, every month feels like a losing battle. Two years ago, John hid hundreds of thousands in business tax debt from Amy—what she calls “financial infidelity.” Since then, trust has been fragile, money is tight, and they often feel like they’re fighting on “two separate life rafts.” Amy’s trying to rebuild their future, but when more than HALF of their monthly income goes immediately towards debt, they’re struggling to find a path forward. Can Ramit help them bridge the gap between good intentions and hard numbers—and finally get on the same team?

In this episode we uncover:

• How their fixed costs rose to 168% of their income

• Why John hid his business tax debt, which shattered Amy’s trust

• How years of financial strain forced Amy to shoulder household finances alone

• How Amy’s volatile income and John’s shrinking business payouts created a $4,000 deficit

• John’s Dreamer attitude collides with the harsh math of his monthly debt payments

• The emotional impact of having no safety net

• Amy’s plan to launch a new business vs. John’s struggle to keep his afloat

• Why managing risk isn’t about optimism

• Amy’s frustration with carrying the mental and emotional load of finances while John “focuses on income”

• Ramit’s direct call for decisive leadership and clear planning to get out of financial free fall

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “He spent two years hiding his debt from me”

(00:18:03) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:26:27) “I was humiliated driving that Tesla”

(00:39:52) “We’re flying blind”

(00:54:47) “I feel like I’m carrying this weight alone”

(01:02:13) “Hope is not a strategy”

(01:24:56) “This is what happens when we finally get specific”

(01:42:25) Where are they now? Amy and John’s follow-ups

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

• Join me Monday, October 20 to learn How To Nail Your Dream Job Interview. Reserve your spot at https://iwt.com/interview

This episode is brought to you by:

LMNT | Right now, LMNT is offering 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT order. Get yours at https://drinklmnt.com/RAMIT

Rocket Money | Cancel unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster at https://rocketmoney.com/ramit

ZocDoc | Download the ZocDoc app for FREE at https://zocdoc.com/ramit then find and book a top-rated doctor today #sponsored

Facet | Facet is waiving their $250 enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you.

Fabric by Gerber Life | Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/ramit

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Christine (47) and Thad (57) have been together for more than six years, but instead of building wealth, they’re buried under nearly $340,000 of debt.

Christine, the self-appointed “CFO,” is exhausted from tracking every bill, while Thad avoids the details and spends freely. Their conflicting money mindsets (Christine craving stability, Thad living for the moment) have stalled their big dreams like buying a home or taking Rich Life vacations that Christine longs for. With almost no savings and retirement looming, Christine fears she’s approaching 50 with nothing to show for her hard work, while Thad insists a single plan will solve everything.

Can Ramit help them break the cycle of avoidance and control, align their priorities, and finally start acting like teammates?

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Christine feels she’s approaching 50 with “nothing to show” for her life

• Thad’s $17,000 student loan that ballooned up to $125,000

• How Christine became the household “CFO” while Thad continues to avoid responsibility

• Their real numbers—and why Christine feels so stressed

• Christine’s frustration over micromanaging bills

• Thad’s upbringing in poverty

• The invisible power of shame and fear, and why they can’t see what’s right in front of them financially

• Christine’s childhood lessons from parents who bought an unaffordable home

• Thad’s stark admission: if nothing changes, he’ll be homeless

Chapters:

(00:00:00) When a worrier and an avoider meet…

(00:02:59) “We have a plan… don’t we?”

(00:15:52) “Where is all the money going?”

(00:19:54) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:33:46) “I never expected to live past 30”

(00:48:30) “I wish my dad was able to say no”

(00:56:33) “I don’t believe he’ll follow through”

(01:05:11) “We need to be playing way bigger”

(01:22:38) “I don’t feel like I have the power”

(01:36:54) Where are they now? Christine and Thad’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

Doola | Go to https://doola.com.ramit and use code RAMIT for 10% off LLC formation and bookkeeping.

Gelt | Book a tax consultation with Gelt at https://joingelt.com/ramit. As a member of my community, you can skip the waitlist.

DeleteMe | If you want to get your personal information removed from the web, go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit for 20% off.

Masterclass | For unlimited access to every class and 15% off an annual membership, go to https://masterclass.com/ramit

Netsuite | Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at https://netsuite.com/ramit

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Kristen (30) and Josh (36) married just last year, but their honeymoon phase is buried under $40,000 of debt and a sense of being “trapped.” Kristen is meticulous, tracking every dollar and carrying deep guilt around spending—even on herself. Josh, meanwhile, shrugs off the stress with a “we’ll figure it out” attitude, though his impulse purchases and nicotine habit don’t help.

With 82% of their income tied up in fixed costs, they’re left with almost nothing for fun, savings, or their dreams of a bigger space for pets and cars. Kristen is exhausted from budgeting every penny, while Josh wonders if more discipline is really the answer. Can Ramit help them break free from the cycle of guilt, fear, and deprivation—and finally learn how to enjoy life while paying off debt?

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Kristen describes her daily life as feeling “trapped” by debt and second-guessing over small purchases

• How Josh’s role as the “ignorant reassurer” undermines their partnership

• The moment Kristen admits she feels like the “manager” of their household finances, while Josh feels like an “employee”

• Why 82% of their income goes to fixed costs

• How Josh’s nicotine habit consumes nearly all of their guilt-free spending

• Kristen’s pride in maintaining her cars and what it reveals about her resourcefulness

• The trade-offs Kristen faced leaving a toxic job for lower pay

• How Josh’s childhood poverty and lessons in “patience” continue to shape his money mindset today

• Kristen’s upbringing in a family of secrecy and mixed financial messages

• The deep guilt Kristen feels about spending and the quiet fear Josh carries that he’ll “never get ahead”

• How Ramit challenges them to imagine freedom beyond budgeting and debt payoff

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “I feel trapped by $50”

(00:19:44) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:36:45) “Zero interest… but still stressed”

(00:43:45) “We packed coolers instead of eating out”

(00:51:54) “When money gets hard, I just work harder”

(01:06:08) “I want a partner, not an employee”

(01:13:31) Turning side hustles into new income

(01:19:45) “What do we do with too much money?”

(01:28:44) Choosing how to design their Rich Life

(01:36:03) Where are they now? Kristen and Josh’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

SonderMind | Go to https://sondermind.com to get matched with the right therapist in less than a week

ZocDoc | Download the ZocDoc app for FREE at https://zocdoc.com/ramit then find and book a top-rated doctor today #sponsored

Factor | Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box at https://factormeals.com/ramit50OFF with code RAMIT50OFF

Shopify | Sign up for a $1 per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ramit

Facet | Facet is waiving their $250 enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to https://facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Jason (38) and Katie (36) thought buying their dream home in Minnesota would be the start of a new chapter. Instead, they’re buried in debt, daycare bills, and the pressure of raising a new baby while working demanding creative jobs in an industry threatened by AI.

Despite earning $246,000 a year, they’ve been trapped in a decade-long debt cycle, and every dollar is already spoken for. With $30,000 in debt left to go and no clear plan for what comes next, can they finally break free of survival mode and build the life they truly want together?

In this episode we uncover:

• How Jason and Katie’s “dream home” quickly became a financial trap

• Why their money talks happen every single day—and why that constant communication leaves them exhausted

• The pattern of paying off debt, only to fall right back into it

• The hidden costs of homeownership

• Jason’s obsession with “cashflow”—and why Ramit calls it a red flag that blinds them to the bigger picture

• How Katie’s childhood lessons of “we can’t afford it” show up in her marriage today

• Jason’s upbringing of scarcity and mixed money messages

• The constant fear of job loss in an industry disrupted by AI

• Why their meticulous tracking of every penny isn’t working

• The moment Jason admits he’s “done” with the cycle

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “We talk about every transaction”

(00:22:05) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:36:18) When “cashflow” becomes a red flag

(00:39:39) When “asking for permission” follows you into marriage

(00:45:58) “We couldn’t afford the pool, but a new TV showed up”

(00:56:23) “I’m repeating a cycle”

(01:21:02) “You have more money than you realize”

(01:26:33) Where are they now? Jason and Katie’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

Fabric by Gerber Life | Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/ramit

DeleteMe | If you want to get your personal information removed from the web, go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit for 20% off

Leesa | Go to https://leesa.com for 25% off sitewide PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code RAMIT, exclusive for my listeners

LMNT | Right now, LMNT is offering 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT order. Get yours at https://drinklmnt.com/RAMIT

Trust & Will | Protect what matters most in minutes at https://trustandwill.com/ramit and get 10% off plus free shipping

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Laura (34) and Cameron (38) earn over $200,000 a year and save thousands each month, yet every decision feels like a crisis.

Laura, a first-generation Mexican American, grew up in financial chaos and now enforces strict rules, from tracking every purchase in YNAB to keeping Cameron on an allowance. Her dream is to hit Coast FIRE in five years. Cameron, meanwhile, just wants to enjoy life today—take a trip, fix the car, maybe even expand their family. Their daughter is four, and the question of whether to have another child looms large.

Can Ramit help them break free from fear, build shared goals, and find a balance between saving for tomorrow and living fully now?

A special thanks to DeleteMe for sponsoring this episode. If you want to get your personal information removed from the web, go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit for 20% off.

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Laura enforces strict financial rules yet still feels unsafe despite saving half their income

• How Cameron’s “passenger” role with money leaves Laura carrying the weight

• Why their $228,000 household income doesn’t feel like “enough” in an affluent Chicago neighborhood

• How childhood experiences shaped Laura’s scarcity mindset

• The emotional toll of living as if they are still poor, even with nearly half a million dollars in net worth

• How FIRE gave Laura a sense of control and safety—but at the cost of enjoying life today

• How chasing control keeps them feeling perpetually “behind” and unable to thrive

• The stark contrast between Laura’s authoritarian role and Cameron’s passivity

• How they can move beyond survival mode and start thriving by defining a shared Rich Life vision

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “I keep my husband on an allowance”

(00:09:58) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:25:05) “We feel poor… on $228,000 a year”

(00:41:37) “My parents racked up debt in my name without me knowing”

(00:54:48) “I keep us living small”

(01:10:21) “CoastFi says we’re fine—so why doesn’t it feel real?”

(01:24:06) “What would make the next 10 years magical?”

(01:33:54) Where are they now? Laura and Cameron’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

Wildgrain | Get $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box at https://wildgrain.com/ramit

ZocDoc | Download the ZocDoc app for FREE at https://zocdoc.com/ramit then find and book a top-rated doctor today #sponsored

SonderMind | Go to https://sondermind.com to get matched with the right therapist in less than a week

Facet | Facet is waiving their $250 enrollment fee for new annual members, and for my audience, Facet is offering $300 into your brokerage account if you invest and maintain $5,000 within your first 90 days. Head to https://facet.com/ramit to learn more about which membership option is best for you

Links mentioned in this episode

• Get tickets for my next live event—September 26 in Los Angeles—at iwt.com/events

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Lashan (50) and David (49) have been married for nearly two decades, raising three children and building stable government careers. But when health complications and a sudden return-to-office mandate pressured Lashan into early retirement, their income dropped. Suddenly, $5,000 a month seems to vanish into thin air. Lashan, meticulous and controlling with money, carries the full weight of their financial future, while David remains passive and supportive from the sidelines.

But the stakes are high: a mortgage, looming college costs, and the urgency to create meaningful memories while Lashan still can. Can Ramit help them uncover where the money is going, build a roadmap for the future, and finally get David to step up as a true financial partner?

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Lashan was pressured into early retirement

• How $5,000 a month in “guilt-free spending” keeps disappearing

• How David’s childhood scarcity shaped his urge to spend money now

• Evictions and shut-off notices from Lashan’s childhood have driven her obsession with control and bill paying

• Why David earned the “ignorant reassurer” label

• How compartmentalizing her terminal diagnosis keeps Lashan focused on bills instead of her deepest fears

• Ramit’s challenge to flip their money roles

• The invisible financial work Lashan handles that David barely sees

• Why paying bills feels like love and safety for Lashan

• How Lashan ended up caring for everyone else but not herself

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “I’ve cried more about leaving my job than my diagnosis”

(00:19:25) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:38:02) “Eviction notices… the electricity might be off”

(00:46:32) “I’m going to die… and I can’t do this all alone”

(01:10:44) Redefining what family memories look like

(01:20:28) Paying off debt isn’t enough—planning for life after

(01:28:23) “I feel like I see the possibility for joy and fun”

(01:36:01) Where are they now? Lashan and David’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

LMNT | Right now, LMNT is offering 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT order. Get yours at https://drinklmnt.com/RAMIT.

Gelt | Book a tax consultation with Gelt at https://joingelt.com/ramit. As a member of my community, you can skip the waitlist.

Netsuite | Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at https://netsuite.com/ramit.

Fabric by Gerber Life | Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to protect their family. Apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/ramit.

DeleteMe | If you want to get your personal information removed from the web, go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit for 20% off.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Get tickets for my next live events—September 14 in Atlanta and September 26 in Los Angeles—at iwt.com/events

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Rachel (31) and Pierre (42) have been together for four years, building a loving and stable life in Brooklyn. But one issue is holding everything back: Pierre’s $60,000 in debt from a failed business he started to support his family. His plan is to wait it out, hoping the problem disappears. But Rachel is unwilling to move forward towards marriage until there’s a plan in place.

To her, his passive approach feels like a warning sign for their future together. Can Ramit help them face the reality of this debt, make a plan, and build a shared vision?

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Rachel vowed never to date someone with debt—and why she chose to date Pierre anyway

• Pierre’s family vape shop business collapse and the $60,000 in debt he took on to try to save it

• The stark difference in how each partner views the debt

• Why Pierre believes ignoring the judgment is a valid strategy

• Rachel’s habit of minimizing her own fears

• How Pierre’s family history shaped his own sense of obligation

• Rachel’s painful history with her mother being scammed out of $60,000

• The tension between investing for the future versus paying off past mistakes

• How cultural expectations and family loyalty complicate Pierre’s decision-making around money

• The breaking point: Rachel admits she cannot say yes to a proposal without a clear plan for the debt

• Ramit’s game plan to get the debt paid off—the right way

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “If you don’t handle this debt, I won’t marry you”

(00:19:50) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:27:25) “Happy wife, happy life” — but what about the debt?

(00:41:53) He took on debt for his family — but at what cost to his future?

(00:55:01) “I don’t ask my dad for money… and I don’t ask Pierre either”

(01:07:31) How small sacrifices can open the door to big changes

(01:23:21) Logistics are a big turn on

(01:30:50) Where are they now? Rachel and Pierre’s follow-ups

This episode is brought to you by:

SonderMind | Go to https://sondermind.com to get matched with the right therapist in less than a week.

Doola | Go to https://doola.com/ramit and use code RAMIT for 10% off LLC formation and bookkeeping.

Masterclass | For unlimited access to every class and 15% off an annual membership, go to https://masterclass.com/ramit

Rocket Money | Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way at https://rocketmoney.com/ramit

Notion | Try Notion for free at https://notion.com/ramit and experience the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Get tickets for my next live events—September 14 in Atlanta and September 26 in Los Angeles—at https://iwt.com/events

Connect with Ramit

• Get my new book, Money For Couples

• Get Money Coaching with Ramit

• Download the Conscious Spending Plan

• Listen to my book—now on Audible

• Get my New York Times best-selling book

• Get my no-numbers journal

• Other episodes

• Instagram

• Twitter

• YouTube

If you and your partner have a money issue and you want my help, I occasionally select a couple to work with, free of charge. Apply for my help here.

Becca (35) and Nikki (31) are planning their wedding, but they’re already struggling with how to merge their money. Becca, a rock climbing guide with a variable income, has thrown herself into personal finance after years of scarcity thinking and now tracks every dollar. Nikki wants to feel more empowered but often defers to Becca’s lead—and sometimes hides financial stress, like credit card debt.

Together they net around $80,000, but with high fixed costs, student loans, and uncertainty about investing, their dream of building wealth feels out of reach. They want a clear, intentional financial plan that lets them invest confidently and step into marriage as equal partners. Can Ramit help them overcome ambivalence, balance their roles, and create a structure that supports both their dreams and their future together?

In this episode we uncover:

• Why Becca tracks every single dollar

• Nikki’s tendency to “not overthink” spending

• The power dynamic of one partner leading on money while the other defers

• How Becca’s deep dive into personal finance turned her into the household CFO

• Why high fixed costs and seasonal income keep them from investing the way they want

• The emotional tug-of-war between wanting to combine finances and being afraid of what that might mean

• How their childhood money lessons still show up in every conversation

• What they imagine for their Rich Life together, and why ambivalence keeps them from making clear decisions

• Ramit’s challenge to build a financial structure that balances empowerment, responsibility, and trust

Chapters:

(00:00:00) “I don’t want to steer us wrong”

(00:17:09) Ramit breaks down their numbers

(00:26:21) Childhood money scripts that carry into adulthood

(00:39:41) “Why are you playing so small?”

(00:49:22) “The freedom is in the commitment”

(01:06:12) Redesigning their Conscious Spending Plan

(01:26:23) Where are they now? Becca and Nikki’s follow-ups

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Links mentioned in this episode

• Get tickets for my next live events—September 14 in Atlanta and September 26 in Los Angeles—at iwt.com/events

• I’m casting couples right now for a new season of this podcast. If you’ve been wanting to get my advice on your situation, this is the last chance to talk to me in 2025. Apply now at iwt.com/apply

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