When couples say their vows, the promise usually covers sickness, health, richer, poorer, and everything in between – but it looks like this caller’s husband didn’t exactly follow through, and Dave Ramsey was with him all the way.
That was the case for Serena from Raleigh, who called into The Ramsey Show in an episode titled, My New Husband Won’t Help Support My Family.
Serena had been married just six months when she explained her husband’s hesitation to join finances. Together, they owed $137,000 in student loans, with $111,000 of it in her name. However much to listeners’ surprise, their eyewateting debt wasn’t the issue.
Before the couple tied the knot, she had been helping cover half the mortgage for her retired parents, who don’t receive Social Security. “Before we got married I used to live with my parents so I paid for half of the mortgage and I pay for other bills still,” she told Dave.
Serena explained she was paying her parents around $2,000 a month, which became the sticking point and her husband didn’t want to shoulder that burden — especially after finding out she has seven siblings.
Dave was quick to intervene, admitting, “I agree with your husband,” adding, “There’s a toxic thing going on here, and the only one that’s getting written is you. They’re stubborn and milking you like a cow.”
The financial expert wasn’t done there as he went on to blast Serena’s siblings’ lack of support. He noted her parents owned property in Central America valued at about $60,000 — an asset they hadn’t touched while their daughter financed their U.S. housing.
“Your brothers and sisters aren’t chipping in what they can, and your parents aren’t selling their property,” he pointed out, before declaring, “That’s toxic.” He pushed for solutions that didn’t rest solely on Serena, suggesting the property could be sold or her parents could move back and live in it.
The conversation circled back to marriage itself as Dave reminded Serena that her husband had said the vows knowingly, but stressed that obligations to extended family needed to be clear before walking down the aisle.
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“He did say the vows at the altar that said for richer for poorer… did he mean it?” the host asked, before stressing that vows bind two people, not an entire family tree.
What unfolded was more than a budgeting problem. It was a case study in what happens when marital commitment collides with longstanding family responsibility. Serena wanted to honor both, but Dave continued to side firmly with her husband.
“I would have to be willing to take care of your mom and dad,” he said, “but not when no one else is participating — including your mom and dad.”
The Ramsey Show is available to stream on YouTube.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
