Debt paid off: $72K in 6 months
Matt from Chicago paid off $72,000 in debt in 6 months by working 12-hour days, 7 days a week, then funded an emergency fund and pre-paid a Costa Rica vacation.
Where this was said
Ramsey Goal Planner Promo
At 1:06:01 · chapter starts 1:06:00
George and Jade break to promote the 2027 Ramsey Goal Planner, noting the lowest price of $35.97 is only available until August 23rd. Jade confirms she contributed new content to this edition alongside Rachel Cruze and Dr. John Delony. George warns listeners not to wait for Black Friday, as the price only increases over time.
Matt Paid Off $72K in 6 Months Working 84-Hour Weeks
Matt paid off $72,000 in 6 months working 12-hour days, 7 days a week — and still has his house left. His fiancée wants him to ease up. The hosts agree with her: Baby Steps 4–6 demand intentionality, not intensity. Burning yourself out for a self-imposed deadline will cost you your health, your marriage, or both.
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An 85-year-old nursing home resident wants to spend $50,000 — a quarter of his entire $200,000 nest egg — flying 10 family members to the Holy Land.
$31.9 million in forgotten 401(k)s
An estimated $31.9 million worth of 401(k) balances have been abandoned by former employees and are sitting unclaimed.
80-hour work weeks to pay off house
Matt continues working 80+ hours a week after becoming debt-free in order to pay off his house by age 40, against his fiancée's wishes.
Couple: $180K debt + pregnant
Elizabeth and her husband in Nashville carry $180,000 in combined debt — $115K in student loans plus medical bills and a car — and just discovered she is 5 weeks pregnant with their second child while also having a 4-month-old.
Extra debt payment margin: $747/month
Despite $180K in debt and a surprise pregnancy, Elizabeth's EveryDollar budget shows a $747.39 monthly surplus on top of minimum payments and living expenses.
Side hustle income: $1,900/month
Elizabeth and her husband earn $1,900 per month from side hustles — she does Lyft and house cleaning while he does additional gig work — on top of their regular income.
Gold average return since 1971: ~7.8%/yr
Gold has averaged approximately 7.8% annual return since 1971 when the U.S. dollar was untied from it, which George Kamel notes is lower than historical stock market returns.
House paid off in 26 months
George Kamel shared that he and his wife paid off their own home mortgage in 26 months — far ahead of their original 4-year goal.
$500K–$600K inherited property sitting vacant
Joel's late mother's paid-off home in Sacramento is worth roughly $500,000–$600,000 but has been sitting vacant because his sister refuses to cooperate on a sale.
