A caller named Angela from New Mexico asked “The Ramsey Show” for help handling her husband’s unpaid child support debt.
She said he has three kids with three wives, has $58,000 in back support, and doesn’t make enough to handle it. Personal finance host Dave Ramsey heard the details and said during the broadcast, “There is no dignity in the way he is behaving now.”
Income Disparity Deepens Housing Pressure
Angela told Ramsey that she earns $17 an hour working full time, bringing in about $35,000 a year. She said they have an additional $5,000 in debt, including a car loan.
Don’t miss:
Her husband tried to launch a landscaping business in April, but she said it only brings in $500 to $1,000 a month and drops as the weather changes. She said that the income is not stable and does not cover the obligations that are gathered around them.
Ramsey responded that the math doesn’t support their current approach. He said her husband “needs to increase his income 10x” to meet the responsibilities already in place.
Angela said he stays at home with their two children, but during school hours, “he’s not doing much,” apart from trying to market the business. Ramsey said that the effort does not match the size of the debt and told her that the issue has grown far beyond a budget strategy.
Trending: 7 Million Gamers Already Trust Gameflip With Their Digital Assets — Now You Can Participate in the Platform
Debt Back Support Raises Legal Risks
Angela said she worries about choosing one child over another if they try to use a debt-snowball method to pay off the arrears.
Ramsey said the real problem is the lack of income after obligations. He told her that the unpaid support involved “a man who has $58,000 for three kids that he’s not taking care of,” and said the situation required immediate action.
She said that the authorities have already shown up at their house, and her husband’s driver’s license has been revoked. Ramsey said that many states step in when parents fall behind and warned that ignoring the issue increases the chance of legal problems.
He told her that the pattern she described reflects “a series of behaviors” that does not allow him to support his children, contribute financially, or stabilize their home. He added that her concern for the children “in a good moral way” stands out compared to the current direction of her husband.
See also: Wall Street’s $12B Real Estate Manager Is Opening Its Doors to Individual Investors — Without the Crowdfunding Middlemen
Ramsey Calls For Community Support And New Habits
Ramsey said the arrears are a symptom of deeper problems, including stalled routines and a lack of direction.
He said that her husband needs to rebuild his habits with support from strong community voices and suggested that she find a local church with a pastor who can guide him. He told her that work ethic, character, and responsibility must change before income can change.
Read Next: From Chipotle to Red Bull, top brands are already building with a wood-free alternative to the modern mill — Here’s How You Can Invest Too
Image: Shutterstock
I LOVE YOU: 5 NEW YEARS EVERY WEEK. Click now to get the best trading ideas every dayalong with unlimited access to advanced tools and strategies to gain an advantage in the markets.
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
This article Dave Ramsey Tells $35KA-A-Year Mom Married To A Man With 3 Kids From 3 Women: ‘There’s No Dignity in the Way He’s Behaving Now’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.