Dave Ramsey's Honest Take on Caller Who Got Dumped for Working Too Much: 'I'm Not Chasing Her. She Bailed'

Dave Ramsey has been sharing financial advice for many years, and he's also been married for more than 40 years. Both of those details came into the spotlight in a recent video. A 26-year-old called into the show and explained that his girlfriend dumped him for working too much.

Without context, we can't tell if the caller is obsessed or focused. Being focused on goals is good, but an obsession can cause people to work just for the sake of working. As Ramsey listened to the caller, he offered some advice and determined whether the caller is focused or obsessed.

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The Caller's Background

The caller and his former girlfriend are both teachers. He earns $50,000 per year while working summer school and was upset to see half of his paycheck going toward the mortgage. He decided to start a lawn care company on the side, and it earned $90,000 in net profit last year. 

This windfall has made it easier for the caller to pay off their mortgage. He plans to pay off the entire mortgage in two years. However, since he works as a teacher and mows eight to 10 lawns each day, he works anywhere from 80 to 90 hours each week.

The Motivation for Working So Long

Once Ramsey heard that the caller works 80 to 90 hours each week, he asked why the caller is working so hard. The caller explained that he wants to pay off the mortgage as soon as possible. Then, Ramsey asked if the caller would have a different work schedule after paying off the mortgage.

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The caller's response indicated that he is focused instead of obsessed. He said that he plans to hire employees to continue serving customers after paying off the mortgage. It shows that the caller has a defined goal and doesn't plan to work 80 to 90 hours each week forever.

Sometimes, you have to put in those types of hours. However, you don't have to work 80 to 90 hour weeks forever. The caller understands this and is already thinking long-term. The former girlfriend didn't agree with that approach, and he chose hard work and paying off the house over the girl.

Is It Worth Being Alone In a Fully Paid Off House?

The girlfriend posed this question shortly after dumping the caller. It came up in the episode, and Ramsey was quick to address this point. The caller conceded that he and his girlfriend were not financially aligned. 

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This admission immediately drew strong reactions from Ramsey and his co-host. They suggested that he made the right choice in not staying with someone who didn't share his financial vision.

There are a lot of ways relationships can turn sour, but money is one of the biggest reasons why they go bust. More than 70% of couples view money decisions as a source of tension in their relationships. Those small money arguments you have with a girlfriend can explode upon marriage. 

Ramsey mentions that the caller is smart enough to know that he could have delayed his goal by one year to stay with the woman. If he felt like the girlfriend was the one, he would have made some concessions. 

"I'm not chasing her. She bailed," Ramsey said when talking about the caller's situation near the end of the call. Accomplishing the goal is more important than staying with a girl who isn't aligned with your values. It's better to be alone than it is to marry someone who makes you feel lonely.

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