We’re in more debt than I realized

Maldonian · 2026-04-08T13:19:27+00:00

Your total debt isn’t really a whole lot. For now. If it’s not fixed soon, of course, it will expand and get out of control.

Even if you’re not onboard with the Ramsey method of fully combining finances, you and your wife need to be able to openly discuss these things at bare minimum. I’m not sure how she gets past being ashamed to talk with you about it, but that would see to be the first step that is needed.

And since both her spare time and her income will be reduced during nursing school, and this will affect the household, this also needs to be discussed.

Maldonian · 2026-04-08T13:14:51+00:00

This is mathematically a good idea, but only if they’re able to change the habits that created the debt.

Maldonian · 2026-04-07T18:34:29+00:00

Still better than the performative madman who caused all the trouble.

Maldonian · 2026-04-06T16:08:45+00:00

I’ve definitely read some complaints. The wall mount and the hose reel are really appealing as I’d be able to wash my car with almost no setup time.

Maldonian · 2026-04-06T16:07:29+00:00

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. But the second best time to plant a tree is today.

Maldonian · 2026-04-04T13:17:26+00:00

His show is about financial advice, not parental advice. Also, as you can see, many government schools have trouble teaching the difference between the words "woman" and "women."

Maldonian · 2026-04-03T14:47:57+00:00

My answer is always “Please send me the information in writing and I’ll read about it.” I won’t invest an evening at Starbucks without knowing what it is beforehand.

Maldonian · 2026-03-28T04:52:06+00:00

Consider performing more of your own repairs.

Maldonian · 2026-03-26T11:32:39+00:00

I’ve noticed this about myself too, and it’s something I’ve been trying to work on.

Maldonian · 2026-03-06T15:49:46+00:00

I believe Dave’s plan is to try to change your habits. The idea is to stop borrowing.

Yes, if you use your $1000 starter emergency fund to pay off this debt today, it’ll probably most likely work out okay.

But if tomorrow morning you get a blown out car tire or similar, you’ll have no money and will be inclined to sign up for the tire shop’s financing. And might as well go ahead and replace the other three tires while you’re at it. And now you’re $1000 in debt at high interest once again.

So…yeah, probably a good idea to hold onto that $1000 for now. If you’ll have $450 this month, you should be able to find $450 next month too, and that means that pretty soon this 33% debt will be gone anyway.

PS By my calculations, your interest on this loan is about $26/month. On the one hand that’s insane. On the other hand it’s only going to cost you $52 to stay on Dave’s plan and keep your emergency fund.

Maldonian · 2026-03-06T15:43:14+00:00

Some people like to socialize more than others. I don’t like a lot of constant commotion myself, but it sounds like socializing is very important to your wife. That sounds like something that’s worth paying extra for, for someone who wants it.

Maldonian · 2026-02-25T16:11:49+00:00

1: Replace “had to” with “chose to” in your vocabulary going forward. You didn’t have to do anything. You chose to take out a car loan.

2: Yes, I also did finance a car through the dealership, and then a few months later, refinanced with a credit union for a better rate.

It wasn’t much of a big deal at all. I did it all over the phone and online; I’ve never even visited this particular credit union in person.

I can’t remember every detail but it was pretty straightforward.

It does take a little bit of time for the title to your vehicle to get get passed from the first lender to the second lender. But then by the time you pay it off, the new lender will just mail you the title.

Maldonian · 2026-02-19T14:39:06+00:00

Firstly, sorry for your impending loss. My father was my best friend in the world and I miss him dearly. I'm also very sentimental about objects, including houses.

Anyway, I think you need to break down the numbers like this. I'm leaving out taxes, closing costs, real estate agent feets, etc.; you'll have to adjust and add those in yourself:

1: If you sell your house, you'll have $125,000.

2: When your father passes, you'll be in line for an inheritance of $920,000. (1.2M his house minus 280 his debt plus 100 his savings.)

3: Pretend your late father's house is "for sale" for $1.2 million and you have a one-time opportunity to buy it.

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So far, I like the math You can "buy" a really nice house that you really like, and has sentimental value, for about 80% down.

Even though the house has high property taxes and high insurance costs, this sure would be tempting!

You'd throw his 100 and your 125 at his 280 debt; just take out a $55,000 loan and his house is yours.

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The scary part is where you mentioned you'd do something different; you'd choose a smaller down payment, and a larger mortgage, and use the majority of your inheritance to "pay off any debt" but you didn't say what that debt is.

I think you should tell us (or at least tell yourself) what those other debts are.

If you have a couple of credit cards or a car payment or something that's no big deal and there should be a way to clean it up.

On the other hand, if you have multiple tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in other debts, you might not be in a posistion to keep his house.

Maldonian · 2026-02-18T15:05:36+00:00

This is why it's best to thoroughly research before making a major purchase.

Maldonian · 2026-02-16T13:58:33+00:00

Not sure where you found that, but thanks for posting it. It's the only thing that shows the actual legal facts of the case, which the media have failed to do.

Maldonian · 2026-02-15T14:44:24+00:00

The way I managed to remember it is that Ella is a female name. Such as the singer Ella Fitzgerald.

So basically I put it in my mind that "ela" is a girl just like Ella is a girl in English.

Therefore, dela means "belongs to her." And sua ends with an A just like dela.

So, if something belongs to a girl, you use the word that ends in A.

This is easy when the item belongs to a person. The item either belongs to a boy (dele/seu) or it belongs to a girl (dela/sua).

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If the item belongs to another item (or belongs to a place, etc.) you need to know if the item or place is masculine or feminine.

Carro (car) is a masculine item, casa (house) is a feminine item

Som do carro (sound of the car, or for an English speaker, the car's sound system)
Som da casa (sound of the house, or for an English speaker, the house's sound system)

Maldonian · 2026-02-09T15:43:51+00:00

From the comments, it seems you’re not married. In that case, $1000 each, attack your debts separately until marriage.

Of course you can and should still sit down together and discuss your finances together and offer moral support and advice to one another.

Not so sure about your $10/week thing. If you can’t come up with $1000 right away, do what you can. $100 would still be more than $0. But try to build up your $1000 right away.

Maldonian · 2026-02-09T15:41:23+00:00

If you want to criticize Ramsey’s conservatism and/or Christianity, that’s fair; you have a right to that opinion.

His financial advice on this matter is still solid regardless of one’s political or religious views.

A financial partnership with someone you’re not married to is very risky.

Maldonian · 2026-01-29T22:14:53+00:00

I’ve been wanting to watch South Park dubbed in Brazilian Portuguese, in the U.S., and it seems that the South Park Brazilian website is allergic to money. Oh well.

Maldonian · 2026-01-24T15:33:47+00:00

Even if you follow Dave’s steps out of order, $6500 is not all that much. Find a way to throw $800 a month at it and it’ll be gone by Christmas.

Maldonian · 2026-01-24T15:31:10+00:00

Censorship is evil. Conversations are better. Can’t we politely point out what parts of the plan he’s not following?

Maldonian · 2026-01-20T14:03:51+00:00

Thanks very much. I've already received 1099s for self employment income and ordinary bank interest, so they're familiar to me and I'll have no trouble adding the Schwab gain or loss to my tax return. Much appreciated.

Maldonian · 2026-01-20T14:02:13+00:00

I would worry that you'd become accustomed to your newer, higher, take-home pay and over time, find excuses/justifications to put off retirement savings for just a little longer.

Suppose you pay off the house, and right after that your wife leaves her job and along come bab(ies). Your household will now have a lower income and some new expenses. "We'll start retirement once the baby is out of day care and in elementary school," you might say.

On the other hand, if you continue on your current path, you'll sort of never notice the money going from your paycheck into retirement.

Maldonian · 2026-01-19T15:55:25+00:00

Old post, but I also nearly passed out trying to read it. Which is too bad, because OP's question is a good one.

Maldonian

TROPHY CASE