0:00 Please remember: These are real people who had the courage to come on my podcast and ask for help. Would you be willing to come on this podcast and share every detail of your financial life? Feel free to leave comments based on what you think, but remember that we are here to help in a supportive way, not to demean and criticize. Download the Conscious Spending Plan so you can use your money GUILT-FREE: iwt.com/csp-youtube

In 2019 I did a no spend/low spend year. I set a budget and stuck to it. It was a semi-tight budget but reasonable. I budgeted in $20 a week of guilt free spending. By March I found I often forgot about that because so many things I loved cost no money--reading, bicycling, watching movies on Netflix and seeing friends.I let all my friends in on what I was doing and told them I wanted to include them in meeting up for things that didn't cost money. No drinks after work unless we shared a bottle of wine at someone's house. One night we wanted to make a summer punch so we each brought an ingredient to my home and had a glorious night. No dining out for me. A few times I would actually still meet them at a restaurant with the understanding that I would not be ordering anything. I would hang out with them while they waited for a table. Then go with them to the table and talk and laugh until their food came and then would exit. We had a glorious time of at least an hour catching up at no cost. (They wanted to pay but I told them my choices should not cost them money.) We attended free plays and music in the parks. We went on long walks and to farmers markets. My favorite was we once met up at a huge bookstore and each had an identical scavenger hunt list of things like dog, monster, kitchen item, storm..etc. We split up and each took pictures on our phones of the items. Then we left the store and had a picnic while we shared each others pictures. It was so much fun and cost nothing. My point was to break the consumer habit. I stopped wandering stores when bored or sad. I stopped ads from hitting my inbox. I never went on Amazon and just took the time to shop local. At the end of the year I'd broken the consumer habit, paid off all my debt for the first time in over a dozen years and had saved enough to put 25% down on a small condo in the heart of the city. That was in 2020 and now with those habits I'm paying off my 30 year mortgage in 4 years. The kicker? I was 61 years old in 2019. It's never too late and I love my life! Anything is possible. Anything!

I love thag their rich life is to take care of their grandchildren and pay for their son's wedding. I love them and wish them a long and happy marriage

Really enjoyed this episode. This couple is one of the most self aware couples I’ve seen on this podcast. Admitting their faults and really wanting to change. Not blaming anyone for their mistakes, and taking full responsibility for where they are. Wish them the best. They can definitely get to where they want to be with that attitude. ❤

I'm from Portugal and an unwritten cultural quirk is that everyone says " we don't believe in witches", but everyone knows someone who removes their evil eye.

Her Christmas story really hit a chord for me. When I was kid, we were in tough times and my dad told me and my siblings that Christmas would be small and not to expect much (this went on for a few years). Then he'd go all out and get us tons of gifts. I know he meant it to be a nice surprise for us, but it actually made me feel really guilty and worried. I didn't know if we could afford it and would've been happy with a smaller Christmas. I felt like he was trying to buy our love or prove he was a good provider when he didn't need to. Thirty years later and this memory still brings up guilt and sadness. We loved our dad and he didn't have to earn that love. I never doubted his ability to work hard for us. I wished he'd been more secure in that.

Some of us knew ALL this at 18 and weren’t mature enough to do anything till our 30s. Better now than never!

A couple who seems to really like each other.

Great episode! Emily and John were stressed out thinking they were on the verge of financial collapse. Knowing your financial situation is empowering regardless of where you are. Fun to see this couple take this on with 100% responsibility! They are giving their son a huge gift. When my son was little we would go on hikes, go to the beach, pick blueberries, go to the farmers market every week. He got toys twice a year, birthday and Christmas. We would go to garage sales and get second hand toys at other times which he loved doing. He had his own set of garden tools and we worked together in our vegetable garden. He is now 27 YO and doing very well financially. He loves the outdoors and wilderness camping. His childhood set him up to enjoy simple pleasures and his life is richer for it.

What a lovely couple. They were so respectful to each other even in scrutinizing & vulnerable moments. My main comment is when Ramit said that they didn’t miss the reduction in salary that the husband encountered. But if they are just borrowing/spending money they don’t have to go on vacation, etc. isn’t that technically considered missing it? I would argue that they DO miss it and struggled to adjust their lifestyle to fit it. FWIW, I am taking notes as I need to apply all of these lessons to my CSP too. Thanks for all you do, Ramit!! Wishing this couple abundant financial success ahead ❤

These Boston accents warm my heart ❤ I love this couple and wish them the best on their bright future.

I liked seeing an average blue collar couple. Let’s get more of this! Everyday people that are so relatable for those of us who may not have esteemed jobs/positions and education (doctors, lawyers, multiple degrees). Also can we see some singles. Everyone is not coupled up and are working with just one income and it would be nice to see more of these types.

Ramit was particularly encouraging this episode and this is exactly what this couples needed. I am so happy for their strong marriage, their strong love for their son, and their strong desire to break the cycle. Like Emily, coming across Ramit’s show and book is one of the best things in my life this year. It’s true even though I was not in any financial trouble. I am so grateful for this. Traveling can wait while starting to build a strong financial future can’t.

These Boston accents and them meeting in a field as teenagers is very endearing. 3 weeks in Italy on a HELOC… 😂. They seem like good and capable people and that they have a solid marriage and each other. They seemed on the same page on everything, even their mistakes, and on the solutions. Benefit of being together since they were so young and molded together when they were still malleable? I don’t know but you rarely see this level of cohesion. They also have easy areas to cut ($40k a year in travel?!?).

This particular couple was so relatable. They were real and I liked this episode a lot.

Thank you for those examples on how to make a child feel secure about money. We will be sharing those with our toddler more often. Best of luck to this loving and genuine couple.

This one hit me in the feels. Blue collah, Boston, Aruba.

I have a simple rule, if I can't buy something outright, I don't buy it. It takes time, but you get used to going without and working out what you actually need in your life vs what you want. Not worrying about money is more important to me than the souless clutter and reduced bank balances that you amass through impulse spending. Learning to live without is a superpower. Sure, life isn't as fun but I'd rather that than lose my home, go bankrupt or work until I drop dead of old age.

My wife and I are like them. Met in high school, been together ever since. Because of podcasts like this, we are turning things around and making good financial choices. Bless this couple, amazing episode ❤

This was my favorite episode. I recently found your podcast through a friend and this felt the most relatable. My husband and I have been together since high school and our also in our 30s just now figuring out our financial shit. We have similar backgrounds to their families and upbringings and are also in New England. We also are the first to break free from generational trauma and poverty too. I really felt how Emily felt too feeling stupid about money and the debt I have, but what matters is I’m taking care of it now and learning. We finally got a proper budget this weekend and it’s really not that hard as I also thought. Our debt is also from similar mismanagement and overspending on things we don’t need right now or didn’t need back then, but we’re on the right track. I really loved this couple and saw me and my husband in them both. I wish them and their son all the best in life ❤

This couple is very relatable and nice. They’ll be in great shape.

Cultural: 1. Most Filipino households have The Last Supper wall decor on their dining room floor and rosary on their rear view window! 2. A lot of Filipino children are groomed and conditioned to be a nurse as their investment so that they can take care of their parents in the future and they can be successful abroad.

I don't know if it's still the same, but when I grew up other Filipino families had a giant hand-carved, wooden fork and spoon on the wall.

It makes sense you love learning about unwritten cultural quirks, because you’re actually an anthropologist Ramit 😊

Best wishes to this cute couple! Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable. ❤ I loved this episode

Love this episode. Being able to hone in on my values has really helped me keep focus on my rich life. And it’s helped me say no to things that don’t align. Because let’s get real. Spending on things that aren’t your top values and it’s beyond what you can afford is just not a good time.

I absolutely love listening to your podcast. I asked my ex to listen and he loves it as well. Very informative

this couple is a really refreshing pair who genuinely want to be better, wishing them luck.

Looked up your YT channel after watching the Netlix series. You're really exceptional, hitting where it hurts, with respect and humor. You make a great therapist, no matter how often you say you''re not a therapist; 🙂. don't know of any other channel where people / couples speak so openly about finances. Seems to be more taboo than talk about s e x 😀.

Loved this episode- felt very real. I like how Emily wasn’t afraid to go “ off script” and ramble. Also love the Boston accents.

“Aruba, Jamaica… Oooo I wanna take ya…” They’re just Kokomo fans. Next up will be “Bermuda, Bahama… Come on pretty mama…” 😎

Loved this! Thanks Ramit for ur financial advice, helped me sit down work on it & great a budgeting channel to keep me accountable!!

1:10:54 This spoke to my inner child. You'll always have a roof over your head... [you'll be fed]. We'll be a family. We save so that we can be safe. I needed to hear this when i was younger. It would have been great then, but it's just as welcome now.

Thank you so much for providing this resource. This episode really hit home for me.

beautiful, kind couple. Wishing them all the best.

A great episode, thanks to Ramit, Emily, and John. I find their honesty and introspection inspiring, and wish I'd been this squared away at their age, in terms of being aware of where changes need to be made and willing to make them. They are literally creating their future as we watch. Their son is lucky to have these parents! Good work, y'all!

OMG My mom did the same thing with the JCPenny's catalog!!! We also got everything we asked for and my mom couldn't afford it! That's insane. I've never heard anyone else mention that. I'm sending this to my sister. 😮

Aruba- that’s SO true! I ran the ad agency for Divi Resorts, our first properties were in Aruba. Our biggest/best clientele were from Boston!

Going to the gym and having a fine lifestyle are visible to others. If our financial situation was visible to others (eg emblazoned on our T-shirts!) we would be so ashamed we wouldn't let it happen! People's "money lives" are private but thats the reason so many people , sometimes those you would least expect, are in trouble.

Same feeling about money: I only feel good when I am spending it. I also sometimes spend it as if to take revenge. How/ when is one supposed to feel good about money then...? Thank you so much for helping us educate ourselves. Better now than later 💫

A Colombian Trent : every time you visit a Colombian family , first thing they offer is … Coffee 😊😊😊

Such a candid and emotional episode, thank you for providing a platform that enables us to learn and improve from one episode to the next ❤

Super charming (chahhming) couple. One of my favorite episodes in a while. 10/10 accents. I actually think they'll change and get their spending under control

Spending out of boredom is huge! Good luck guys. It’s a change of lifestyle and habits.

I do admire and praise all these people that decided to come to this show and shared their's problems. I related to so many couples that is here in this podcast. 🙏..thank you Ramit...I wanted to come and share my story..but I don't think my partner is willing 😢.

Christmas- so different at our Indiana home. Mother and Dad never asked us what we wanted (as I recall). We always got a couple of perfect age-appropriate presents- a bike, roller skates, transistor radio, record player (fun remembering these Christmases!

these two are adorable with great values. THey will do well

Its all bout earning more then you actually spending, it's tough at first but eventually u get used to it and that is the beauty of it.

I loved this episode!! I love their cohesive commutation & how open they were.

I'm rooting so hard for them

Just saying love the “accent” make me think of all my East coast family ❤ lovely couple 🌸

Amazing episode, these just keep getting better and better. This couple were lovely and will go far!

I love this podcast. Thank you so muck for these videos. Listening to you makes me realize how simple it is to just start and how blessed I am that I have not made any large commitments (house marriage kids) because that could easily set me back financially despite being in my early 30's I've still got a chance to turn things around!!!!

Never too late to start. We all wish we learn the rules of money and how to at 18, still we can do it now as well..now we know how❤👍🏽.. dont call ourselves an idiot..thank you Ramit😇

The psychology of money that comes up on these podcast episodes is so interesting! The math is clear so I overlooked this type of content for too long.

We will fix it!!! Good luck to all of you trying hard!!! When he was talkinh about food and roof in the end, it alsmost made them cry😢 so sweet❤

I vacation many times a year...but there are lots of free things to do in your city and travel

Io ti seguo dall Italia, amo i tuoi video, questo in particolare mi ha commosso profondamente grazie Ramit, perchè seguendoti imparo davvero tanto

Thank you so much for teaching me that I don't have to wait until I become a millionaire to start living my rich life. I can start living my rich life now by keeping records of all my spending plans and being in touch with my finances.

God bless this couple; I am pulling for them

Best episode yet!

I am so freaking out about getting older! Neither of my parents have much. My father passed away with nothing to his name except a land trust my grandmother had made him the beneficiary of..this was the scariest thing to me. I don’t want to work till I die. I started late investing, I never had a role model. Now I have about 20 years till retirement and I have no idea how I am going to have enough to retire. I am a single mom with 2 kids that I have financially supported for the bulk of their lives with the help of my mother. My mother is 72 years old and still works, it makes me sad and I don’t want to do that. Help me Ramit!!!

They have a solid marriage, and will be in the path to wealth in the near future.

I am amazed how much people pay for cars but that is normal. How is possible people pay so much for subscriptions when all that stuff is free online

At least this couple has the income to work this out. God bless them to do it!

More people should know about libraries and the free things they offer, like in our area park passes zoo passes, museum passes, chrome book lends, much less free books and magazines.... it saved me so much from buying books. I read 3 books a week. If i really love it, i buy it, maybe 5 a year.

Hi Ramit, Should I read your book first or listen to your podcast?

I only listened to this on the podcast and I'm so surprised how different everyone looks like compared to my expectations

I have never related to a couple more. I really think they are going to be just fine and they are going to be so happy WHILE they are making changes to accomplish their rich life

So, yes I would totally list to “I will teach you to be rich” asmr because you have a very nice voice.

👍🙏😊🙏 Sir Ramit, YOU ARE BY FAR THE REAL DEAL...😘 I adore your Passionate Podcast...GOD BLESS YOUR SERVICE!!! 🙏😇🙏

I love this couple, they are basically everyone I grew up with. Aruba, Multi-family, Somehow the last people still getting a pension - Check! Check! and Check!

Maybe every job should have courses where they talk to u about pensions, retirement accounts, HSA. Bc they dont explain this stuff. They just expect u to know it when u start a job. Also, the last yr of college should teach this stuff as well.

I like them they will be successful in the future. They are not delusional

Ramit, is there a reason you emphasize gross income as representative of how much a couple makes? John mentions how their income doesn't feel like very much, particularly because they live in a HCOL area, but you downplayed his concern by exclaiming "you make $200k!" Could his concern actually be legitimate? To me, there's a pretty significant difference between 192k (gross) and 127k (after tax). Focusing on the gross income seems like a misrepresentation of how much they actually see in their bank account.

I am hoping to teach what I didn’t know to my kids!

Pensions are so rare nowadays. Take advantage of it

There's always a good chance to back it up. Around the 30 those expensive trips would not make them hunger for their later life trips too. But the moderate life style opens up for the better trip in future with the expanding the family members. Later life there would be the time we don't feel super hungry for not spending money only feel secure without spending so much since at that time we don't need so much grandiose to show off.

I've been in Boston most of my life and never had desire to go Aruba. None of my friends has ever gone.

I LOVE YOU RAMIT!

Good listening

Everyone in the PNW goes to Hawaii, so it makes sense Bostonians going to Aruba.

How can one of them say they only want work part time and retire early vs the other one says they want a lake house and to pay for their son’s wedding and down payment.

I have a question about vacation costs in the CSP in this episode. Is there a reason why it was included in Guilt-Free Spending and not under Savings Goal/Vacations?

Best accents ever.

My cultural “thing” is Keema Samosas. They’re the only samosa I love. I want to learn to make them because they’re impossible to find in a restaurant.

Why is a couple making $200k a year having their parent pay for their kids daycare?

Aruba: it was the Divi Resorts marketing team in the late 60s early 70s that made Boston THE Caribbean vacation destination!

I have your book, I'm watching and listening to your stuff. It's great-thank you 🥰 I know the Canadian equivalent to a 401k is an RRSP (or GRSP if matched by your company) and a Roth IRA is a TFSA. Could you possibly do all of us Canadians a solid and suggest Canadian bank accounts and credit cards you like as well as a Canadian financial planning company that you would recommend? I'm looking into WealthSimple but I'm not sure-but I'm done with TD Bank! Looking for "Canadian equivalent" suggestions 😀

This is an interesting channel. The one question I have is why are the couples never interviewed together in the same room? They are always in different rooms/locations?

So, I had to leave this comment because I couldn’t leave it on your podcast… you we doing a promotion for “calm” on the “guilt free travel”ep but what’s funny is I actually listen to you or “the soul of enterprise” (another accountants show) to go to sleep on a timer lol 😂 (not that I don’t listen other times but yeah lol)

What an amazing couple 👏👏

Love it

I would love to see a single parent episode

She shouldn’t feel silly. I was 64.

I'm from Long Island, NY. Everyone who could afford to travel would always make their first trip to Florida and visit Disneyland. They would plan to become a snow bird when they retire or move there. I'm one of them. Living in spring hill fl in my 60s. 😊

Way too many vacations on this one. I know Ramit’s big thing is vacations but holy crap if you’re taking 10 micro vacations plus 2 larger vacations a year is absolutely wild to me. A 3 day anniversary gettaway MAYBE a larger annual vacation is all you should be doing til you reach half a million.

I love that Ramit mentioned Kmart! 😆🎄 I grew up putting all my Christmas gifts on lay-away 🎁 My first introduction to debt! 😆

Fair play to that couple, you can do it 👍

I need to know how they pay $20 per month for daycare in Boston! I live in the suburbs and pay $2100!!!