'I Think You Could Probably Freaking Struggle Through': Dave Ramsey Shocked By New Mom Whose Husband Makes $975,000 But Won't Let Her Quit Job

Mercedes from Toronto called into The Dave Ramsey Show with what seemed like a pretty standard question—until she dropped a number that left Ramsey practically speechless. She was on maternity leave and wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but her husband wasn't on board. The catch? Her husband was making $975,000 a year.

Ramsey, never one to sugarcoat things, responded immediately: "I think you could probably freaking struggle through."

Mercedes explained that her husband was worried she'd never go back to work if she took time off. Maybe it was because his own mother had worked three jobs, she speculated. But financially, it wasn't exactly a question of whether they could afford for her to stay home—it was more about his mindset.

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For context, in Canada, the threshold to be in the top 1% of earners is about $586,000 per year, meaning her husband was making nearly double what it takes to be in the country's top earners. Meanwhile, the average household income in Canada sits at just $67,282, according to Dundas Life. Compared to that, Mercedes and her husband were playing in an entirely different league. In the U.S., the top 1% threshold is even higher, sitting around $794,129, according to The Hill.

So, with nearly a million-dollar income, why was this even a discussion? Ramsey was baffled.

"It's not like you guys need the money. This is why this is so flabbergasting," he said. "Why does he go do all of that if it's not so that your family can do what they want to do?"

Mercedes admitted that she just didn't see the point in paying for a nanny when she wanted to stay home and raise their child. Ramsey agreed, pushing back against the idea that being a full-time mom was somehow less valuable than a traditional career.

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"This idea that somehow full-time motherhood is to be shamed or looked down upon is absolute BS," he said bluntly.

He also touched on "mom guilt," pointing out that moms often feel guilty no matter what they choose—whether they work or stay home. It's a lose-lose game society has built, and Mercedes was feeling the weight of it.

Ramsey didn't just empathize—he reassured her that staying home was a valid and even highly valuable choice. "Someone was Abraham Lincoln's mother. Someone was Billy Graham's mother. Someone was Martin Luther King Jr.'s mother. This is a high calling," he said. "It has dignity. It has value. It is worth equivalent to anything you could do in the workplace."

But Ramsey also made it clear this wouldn't be a one-and-done conversation with her husband. "Don't go into this thinking this is a one-time conversation that you're gonna sway him or get him," he said. Instead, he advised her to lead with emotion—why this mattered to her personally—rather than trying to make it a purely logical argument.

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And if that didn't work?

"Just turn off the television, take his phone away from him, set the baby in his lap, and point at the baby and say, ‘What's more important than that?'" Ramsey suggested.

And if that still didn't work? Ramsey's co-host chimed in with some advice: "Take off for about a week. Let him handle it. He will find you, honey. I'm gonna tell you right now."

Ramsey's advice might have been direct, but at its core, it boiled down to one thing: Mercedes needed to stand firm in what she wanted. If she felt strongly about staying home, it was worth pushing for—not just financially, but for the future of her family.

For families facing similar decisions, Ramsey's takeaway is clear: While finances are a big part of the equation, money alone shouldn't dictate family choices. Consulting a financial advisor can help couples align their goals with their financial reality, but at the end of the day, it comes down to values. If staying home is a priority, the numbers—and the conversations—just need to follow.

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