Financially Free But Feeling Like A Failure: The Ramsey Show's Surprising Advice To A 33-Year-Old

Hillary, a 33-year-old from Salt Lake City, UT, called into The Ramsey Show disheartened that everyone around her is going on lavish vacations, buying nice cars, and ultimately having it all together. However, while discouraged, this caller doesn't seem to be doing too bad herself. She is single, making $60,000 per year, and is debt-free aside from the $140,000 balance left on her mortgage. 

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"I see a lot of people my age or younger bragging and boasting about their nice cars, houses, and vacations, and I just feel like I’m losing at life," Hillary says. "I live a pretty humble lifestyle, but what am I doing wrong? How do I afford that?" 

Dave Ramsey and co-host Dr. John Delony assure Hillary that she is doing everything right and that those around her may not be doing as well as they portray their lives online and in conversation. Ramsey shares that comparing ourselves to others has been a much greater struggle for millennials with the evolution of social media. He expresses that you’re comparing yourself to perceived perfection when you don’t know everything that’s going on behind the scenes.

On top of that, Hillary revealed later in the call that she recently paid cash for her master's degree. "So all that money that I had saved," she said, referencing her education fund, "I’m just like, ‘that could have been a vacation or a car. I shouldn’t have done that."

Delony remarked, "You just put an investment in yourself for the next 50 years of your life," while Ramsey said that a master's degree is much more expensive than going to the Bahamas. 

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Hillary isn't alone in her feelings, though. According to an Edelman Financial Engines study, about 25% of people feel less satisfied with their money because of social media. Feeling that sense of "keeping up with the Joneses" can quickly become discouraging, and it can feel like you're not enjoying the other pleasures that people share online. 

However, what people post on social media isn't usually all it's cracked up to be. Many consumers who take extravagant vacations or purchase fancy cars are taking out serious debts to do so. Bankrate found that 36% of Americans are willing to go into debt for a vacation this year. 

Near the end of their call, Delony asked Hillary an interesting question that resulted in some surprising advice to her original question. He asked, "How much of these videos you’re seeing, these pictures you’re seeing of these trips, are reinforcing a sense of loneliness?"

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She told him that a lot of it probably reinforced her own loneliness, so he told her to focus on that rather than what she could or couldn't buy. "I want you to start creating opportunities to have friends and community and connection and laughter right where you live," Delony said. "Start cultivating that, and it’s just going to make the other shiny stuff — it’s just going to not be that big of a deal. You’re right where you need to be." 

Hillary’s story reminds us that financial success isn’t always about flashy purchases or extravagant vacations but about making wise decisions that secure long-term stability. If you are uncertain about your financial journey or need personalized advice, consulting a financial advisor can provide valuable insights and help you align your financial goals with your values.

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