Dave Ramsey Says, 'He's Going To Be Miserable If…' When A Wife Asks If Her Husband Should Join The Military To Get Student Loans Forgiven

In a 2020 episode of "The Dave Ramsey Show," Mandy from Savannah, Georgia, called in to ask Dave Ramsey for advice about a big financial decision. Her husband was considering joining the Army National Guard to receive a $20,000 enlistment bonus and have his student loans paid off over three years. However, the commitment would mean six years of service and six months of training away from home. Mandy and her husband were on Baby Step 2 of Ramsey’s financial plan, working to pay off about $58,000 in debt, and they were unsure if this was the right move for their family.

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Ramsey praised the National Guard’s benefits, calling the offer "amazing." But he quickly added a key piece of advice: "If it's not something he's called to, he's going to be miserable." He stressed that joining the military solely for financial reasons could lead to regret. “Truthfully, the better people around the National Guard will tell you not to do this unless you feel called to do it. Don’t do it just for the money.”

Mandy revealed that her husband, a firefighter, had always regretted not joining the military when he was younger. This personal motivation made Ramsey more supportive of the idea. Still, the couple faced challenges, especially since they have a blended family with five kids. Mandy worried about handling the children while her husband was away.

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Ramsey and co-host Ken Coleman both highlighted the importance of everyone in the family being on board. Ramsey shared his own experience of being away from his young children during book tours, saying, "We signed everybody up for the trip. Here's what we're doing; we're going to pay a price here, and then the blessings that are going to come financially."

Coleman added that young children are often more adaptable than parents realize: "The five and six-year-old, they just want goldfish and to watch their favorite program. They're going to be fine. They don’t even know."

Ultimately, Ramsey supported Mandy and her husband taking the leap, provided they were both fully committed. "If he's wanted to serve, he's always wanted to do it, it's a no-brainer," Coleman concluded. With the financial relief and the fulfillment of a long-held dream, the hosts believed the short-term sacrifice could lead to long-term rewards for the entire family.

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