217. “Are we broke…or just bad with money? (Part 1) | Ramit Sethi Podcast
Dominique (33) and Chris (34) have been together for six years, engaged for two, and share a two-year-old son. While Dominique manages parenting, full-time work, and their finances, Chris shuts down when money comes up—and has no plan for what’s next. With rising childcare costs, growing debt, and a second home draining up to $2,000/month, their finances are on the brink. Dominique has paused their wedding plans—and admits she’s considering co-parenting alone. Can Ramit help them build a future together before it’s too late?
In this episode we uncover:
• The emotional burden Dominique carries as the default parent, planner, and financial lead
• How Chris’s we’ll-figure-it-out mindset undermines Dominique’s trust and long-term planning
• The real reason their wedding is on pause—and why Dominique’s preparing for life on her own
• Chris’s internal conflict: overwhelmed by adulthood, uncertain how to change
• How avoiding money conversations became the deepest fracture in their relationship
• What happens when one partner is growing—and the other is standing still
• Ramit’s challenge to both: take action now, or risk losing everything
Chapters:
(00:00:00) “At this rate, we’ll be co-parenting next year”
(00:06:52) Can I actually afford a new vehicle?
(00:20:46) Ramit breaks down their numbers
(00:30:43) “We make $180K—but we still feel broke”
(00:46:45) Uncovering their REAL spending habits
(00:55:59) The money messages they’re passing on without realizing it
(01:18:29) “We’ll figure it out”—reacting vs. being proactive
(01:23:26) What we’ll uncover next week
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Links mentioned in this episode
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• Should you buy or rent? Get my 3-step guide to buying a house at iwt.com/house.
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