Michael from Davenport, Iowa, appears to have his finances completely under control. At just 31 years old, he owns three hog farms, has zero debt, lives in a fully paid-off home, and has saved $431,000 in cash. Yet, during an episode of The Ramsey Show last spring, Michael shared a serious disagreement with his wife—one that host Dave Ramsey swiftly identified as a significant blind spot.
The issue? Michael's wife wants to purchase a modest home in town for $45,000. Their current home sits too close to their hog sheds, and the persistent odor has become unbearable for her. They had previously rented the home in town, but after the landlord passed away, his daughter offered them the opportunity to purchase it outright.
Michael, however, is hesitant. He prefers to use his savings to fund a new hog shed—a hefty business investment totaling approximately $930,000.
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Ramsey's Blunt Response: "Buy the house."
Ramsey directly confronted Michael's reasoning, quickly highlighting the underlying issue:
"You're a great farmer and a great businessman. You know your numbers inside and out. You take care of all the details—I can hear it. I think you're very, very good at what you do. You suck at taking care of your wife."
Ramsey emphasized the stark difference between Michael's willingness to invest nearly a million dollars in another hog shed versus his hesitation over purchasing a $45,000 house for his wife.
"She's not asking to buy a $4 million house," Ramsey emphasized clearly. "She's not asking you to sell off your hog farm… and she's not even asking you to slow down. The $45,000 is not even going to slow you down."
The Real Problem: Balancing Marriage and Money
While Ramsey applauded Michael's financial discipline and savvy business sense, he and co-host Rachel Cruz identified a deeper issue—Michael's failure to consider his wife's perspective. Cruz specifically pointed out Michael's repeated focus on himself, noting he frequently said "I" instead of "we," suggesting a lack of balance and teamwork in his thinking.
Cruz reminded Michael that marriage works best when both people are treated as equal teammates. "You guys are a team, and part of a team is there's an A and a B—it's not just an A," Cruz said. "Bring her in. She has as much weight and as much value to the conversation and how she wants to live her life as much as you."
She also emphasized that Michael's wife wasn't asking for much. Cruz pointed out how simple it would be to grant her request, and how meaningful it would feel for his wife to have her desires recognized.
Ramsey backed up Cruz's point by sharing some personal wisdom gathered over decades of marriage and running a business. He explained that keeping life peaceful at home helps him handle stress better at work, making him more effective overall. "The best thing I can do is have no drama at home because I've got enough of it at work," Ramsey said. "It makes me more valuable when I'm at work."
See Also: The average 401(k) balance soars to a record-breaking high – Here's how to know if your nest egg is keeping pace.
Is Michael Really Taking Good Care of His Wife?
From a neutral perspective, Michael's resistance to spending just $45,000 of his significant savings on a home his wife wants raises legitimate concerns about his marital priorities. Ramsey made it clear that marriage involves compromise, emotional support, and valuing each other's comfort—not just financial discipline.
Some Investments Aren't Measured in Dollars Alone
Ramsey's advice drove home a simple point. Money matters, but your marriage matters more. Michael clearly knows how to grow a business, but Ramsey reminded him that the smartest move sometimes has nothing to do with profit margins or hog sheds. His advice was straightforward and impossible to miss: "Buy the house."
When your spouse asks for something reasonable—especially something as modest as a $45,000 home—it's probably the easiest decision you'll ever make.
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