Are You Really Stuck In "The Middle Class?!" - Dave Ramsey Rant

[@hoffwell]

Champagne lifestyle, lemonade wages.

[@mrjones4249]

That's funny!!

[@annepierre9762]

😂😂😂

[@SK-gf5zk]

🤣🤣

[@ciel222]

You sounded like A HATER

[@lmnop3023]

😂😂😂

[@GS.9093_Mart]

Only reason why Dave gets too much hate is because truth hurts. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Dave.

[@blackworldtraveler3711]

GS 93 Nothing to do with truth hurting or whatever. He gets just as much hate as anyone else doing KZbin videos on any subject.

[@Scolio]

Yeah. I may not ALWAYS agree with him on every detail but I agree with most of it. Simple fact is he is successful and I am not. He can give good financial advice to grow a person into wealth and I can't even give good enough financial advice to maintain so this guy is worth listening to. Some of the best advice you are given in life is given when somebody is raising their voice.

[@blackworldtraveler3711]

Anton Zuykov Not really. A person can teach how to bake cookies on KZbin and get death threats. Too many nuts out there. People can hate Ramsey and has nothing to do with finance.

[@ronaldgreenjr1423]

Right!

[@panpluto13]

Just because someone says something doesnt make it a fact.

[@GamerNRetro]

Your wage may be stagnant but you know what is not? Your consumption. I like that.

[@ChrisMFlorida]

ain't that the truth!

[@rhettnotlink]

Basic math skills and common sense is what college should teach.

[@EJB3III]

Neither is overall compensation. But not mentioning that makes for a good talking point for those with an agenda to paint people into victims.

[@marieabner]

Not always. All my bills, rent, and the cost of food went up, but not my paycheck.

[@leifc.6045]

@@marieabner buy silver. It's real money unlike the federal reserve note. Used as a hedge against inflation.

[@Uhhlaneuh]

this rant in one sentence: Live within your means

[@virtuosowins]

Cut your coat according to your cloth - in the limited English I know this saying already exists

[@inthevault9603]

I still enjoyed the actual rant.

[@NickDawah]

Live below your means

[@jeremiahmeade710]

Actually, it was about the definition of Middle Class, but living within your means is important too.

[@jessg1372]

I'm 32 and I will be seeing my first beach/ocean this May. A condo on the beach for a week because I'm debt free.

[@dralandralarkins8443]

Yaaaay! Congrats

[@Temuville]

Slam dunk! Congratulations!

[@tomrado5249]

Good for you 👍

[@k_kelsey]

How was it?

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Great! Congrats!

[@christianlady]

I’m in Ghana 🇬🇭 and I discovered you recently and my life is getting better. Here we buy almost everything with cash. You don’t have money, you don’t buy. Simple

[@berniceacquah1495]

Very true! Cash for everything

[@oakintola8714]

Same here in Nigeria

[@franciskwofie6754]

I’m in the states and I use cash. I use credit cards too but pay them off immediately so that I get credit history. Live within your means, cut your coat according to your size, never borrow to look rich and good, save and invest

[@debrawilliams7983]

Adele Acolatse I also buy what I can afford

[@honjokun0615]

Same here in Thailand :)

[@thewhiteknight9010]

Dave You would be proud of me. I’m from the Northeast and got sick n tired of saving 300.00 bucks a month as a local trucker. Paying these crazy rents, not for me. With No kids, No wife, No bills, No obligations... I got myself a storage unit 17 months ago. I set a goal and this August I passed it and will continue to do what I do. I’m now an Over The Road trucker living in the truck. Using the truck as my home. I save 1K+ a week every week. To date I saved 104K in cash (to me that’s a huge accomplishment) and put a mint condition 2004 Tacoma in my storage unit with 19,000 miles on it. I’m only a high school graduate but I also know what the word “sacrifice” means. Thanks for all you do! I did lose the cheating gf over this but there’s always a price to pay.

[@Omonike88]

👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿💖💖💖💖💖

[@KManHU]

Sounds great man! Take care yourself on the road out there. Stay 110% focused on your goals and you will make it!

[@SensSword]

A bad girlfriend's an easy route to the poor house. Glad things are working well for you now.

[@sunnyrob5176]

You didn’t lose her ... she lost *you* 😉

[@thewhiteknight9010]

Sunny Rob Wow!!! You made me cry. I can’t say I was perfect but these days people run instead of dealing with conflict. And that is sad to me!

[@ludens1526]

It’s hard for people to imagine life without debt. It’s so sad

[@KaileiPaige]

Ludens It really is sad. I want to be out of debt and my goal is to buy my next car in cash. My family can’t imagine a world without auto loans. They’re like oh so you’ll put more money down next time?? Like no I want to pay for it in full. 😂

[@austintomkewitz7206]

You pay your cars in full? But what about your credit score have you fallen off the deep end xd hahaha

[@morbotheturtle3796]

I was making it pretty well, but stupid appendix decided to get infected, now got 20k in medical. But at least I am making it through college out of pocket. Just gotta wait till graduation, so that I can get a better job to address the medical debt

[@layparisss]

I can’t wait to be DEBT free. I have a 5 year plan

[@marcusjohnson7321]

Ludens it’s harder I’ll tell you that. But it’s worth it.

[@reallifedisneyprincess2859]

Back then there was no social media. Now people see others living these fake perfect lives on Instagram so they feel like they need to get into more and more debt to keep up and buy that same "happiness" they see online. It's truly sickening. Thanks for your common sense, Dave.

[@rg1whiteywins598]

Influencer families are allowed to live in those fancy houses for a time to promote an agenda . They don't own the fancy homes nor even really rent them per se. They probably give some percentage of what their channel makes to the owner. It's an agenda. I live debt free in a neighborhood of mostly well off people who don't do debt. I would say that currently I'm lower middle class, but on the way up.

[@DanielIles]

People create false limitations for themselves and blame others for feeling “stuck”

[@Idiotsincarshere]

Daniel Iles - Small Business Stupid points he made. He's comparing technology from the 1960s vs 2019. It's difficult to find ANY car made in the past 15 years without power windows. 1960 average income was 1/2 the price of a house. Now? 1/5.. He didn't see the ocean, well ya that's life growing up in Tennessee.. NONE of us in the middle class have $100k boats. The average house price is $400k here and most people make $50-$60k. Many people barely afford rent. Get off your high horse Dave just because you got lucky in life

[@littlemissess8942]

@@Idiotsincarshere that's not the point he's comparing being grateful for having something and being happy rather than needing the newest next thing and going broke.

[@Idiotsincarshere]

Little Missess I understand his point, but his examples were terrible and didn't support his point at all

[@nikolaig1]

Wages have been stagnant since the 1980s

[@jzplayinggame]

Growing up, I lived with my parents in a 2br apartment for 800 a month. We had cockroaches all over the place. Slowly they built wealth, and have a single family in the burbs with the mortgage nearly paid My parents drove a beat up manual window VW that had faded red paint. Now my mom has a nice lexus but is thinking of a toyota for the next one to pay all cash My parents set a college fund and my in state tuition was paid for by the time i graduated. My four year degree translated to 150k a year finance job at age 30. Vacations? Parks, lot of picnics, one trip to disney world and one to cancun. Nothing fancy. Now I carry on my parents legacy. Dad, you left us far too soon. But your wisdom and love will stay with me my whole life.

[@raynamaldonado6806]

God bless you and know your father is in a Good place.

[@JoseGonzalez-pv5ox]

Rest In Peace your father, love my pops

[@Tybward]

What kind of finance did you land paying that much right out of college?

[@coloursoftherainbow8399]

@@Tybward He did say age 30 so I guess it wasn't straight out of university

[@AnimatedIdiotGuide]

I will never understand the need to upgrade the car. Spare me the “I can pay in cash for it” irrelevent. Nice cars are a waste of money. As are nice vacations. Have a staycation at home and save that money for something important.

[@mannyjeanpierre4062]

It's something that I had to see within myself and those around me. We complain about always being broke but we live like rockstars nowadays. AC, Heating, vacations, flights around the world, eating out every other day, luxury cars, new clothes that are barely ever worn, 1000 dollar phones, tablets, laptops and desktop pc's, DLSR camera made for professional photographers, parties for every occasion every single month, constant spending with no extra work on the weekends, borrowing money to buy things we dont need with money we dont have and we complain about being broke. It's ridiculous how much we spend smh.

[@jamesgay1721]

Guess what your acknowledged it. Now you just wake up and say hey guess what live on less than the household brings in and guess what you have money. Also get rid of all that debt.

[@PinkMaeve]

BAM!! The best advice I ever got was from Grandma.She told me that if I wanted to be a full time homemaker I would need to live like a 1950's housewife! We did it and made it...saved money as well!

[@ivanroque7171]

I dislike middle class people acting like they are rich. Stop it with the LV, Gucci, and Balenciaga. Just stop.

[@coniccinoc]

How do you feel about rich people acting like they are middle class? Asking for a friend : )

[@ChrisMFlorida]

Yes!! Even if it is knock offs.. stop acting!

[@joeplem5329]

But, how am I going to get likes then? SMH

[@jeffdorego9530]

@@ivanroque7171 good for you, buddy. But i dont think its nice nor healthy for you to dislike people who buys these things. Thats what makes them happy, i just hope they will do it in moderate.

[@NotQuiteEpic]

I've never heard of those cell phone brands. Lol

[@dvran]

I remember when my mom would yell at me to get off of AOL so she could use the phone; THE phone, not phones! Lol

[@ChrisMFlorida]

Haha same!

[@Idiotsincarshere]

Serby Well ya technology changes..

[@Idiotsincarshere]

@BV The Novice In Everything That's great for you, I applaud that, but not possible for most. It's almost unacceptable in most careers to not have a cell phone, most are $500 but it's a tax write off so usually it's cheaper than you think. Every generation spends their free money: back in the 1990s-200s was CDs and PCs, 1980s VHS, tapes, video rentals, 1970s records and 8 tracks, 60s had rotary phones and new color TVs, etc.. But back then, 1 income households were common. Now most households must be 2 incomes even if spending frugally.

[@aolvaar8792]

@BV The Novice In Everything My 3 year boy has his own cell phone, he calls me for chips , milk , and Pullups change

[@littlemissess8942]

@@Idiotsincarshere most jobs require a cell phone?? This is not true, I work 3 jobs. Amazon, Carnival call center and delivery. Amazon doesn't require a cellphone. Carnival requires a land line and with delivery I could just use a cheap 100 tablet. This is now. None of my jobs ever required a cell phone and at $500!!

[@93hungryman]

Dave said what should have been said a long time ago. Look around people you're neighbors aren't rich, they are dirt poor from pretending to be rich.

[@tomj528]

Yet again, Dave nails it! My wife and I have always lived like we're in the 1960's middle class and it's a life of abundance. Wonderful home cooked meals from scratch, endless home entertainment with nothing but an antenna (29 great channels) and a library card, good looking and reliable vehicles bought with cash and driven for at least a decade and all the vacations we care to take by driving and fishing. Incidentally, we only go out for lunch and it's $15-$18 total for the 2 of us at local restaurants with great food. We only go out about 4 times/month as we love our home cooking so much. If you want to see something funny, take your homemade dinner leftovers to work the next day and heat them up. Everyone will want to know what smells so good and where you got it from. All I see are more ways to save money and make our lives better everywhere I look. We just paid off our mortgage on our 1120 sq ft ranch home that we built ourselves and now our annual expenses drop to less than $25,000/year with no need or want to spend more as we have a really nice lifestyle and we want for nothing. Needless to say, our former mortgage money is going to join the rest of our savings/investments as we continue our fantastic financial and tax plans. This is the real "good life" and it's available to all.

[@bmanscire]

He’s brilliant!! Thank you for my reality check Dave!! I love and respect You!

[@whiskers78753]

During the 2008-2009 downturn a woman in an Escalade (it was several years old, not new) drove up to me at the gas station while I was pumping gas into my Ford Ranger. She demanded that I gave her money for gas. I told her "sorry I can't." She became aggressive and demanded that I give her money; I ignored her at this point. She then went on a rant about me not caring and said that "she would not be able to make it home to see her family." I couldn't believe that someone who spent lavishly expected me, who purchased a cheap truck, to bail her out.

[@mingchi1855]

That's the kind of education which has been broken for decades. These people should learn how US got through the tough times. They should be touring places like Hoover Dam, and learn how to stand up and help themselves in those situations. US people used to be so independent and so hardworking. Now average people start to ask others and the government to help them out while themselves doing nothing to help their own lives.

[@bev7236]

Someone may have given her the vehicle or she was borrowing it, you can't necessarily judge someone and assume. However, her approach for help was all wrong no doubt.

[@shimes424]

R/thathappened

[@reubenlemn1402]

Well she probably took the GM bailout personally 😂

[@serena_collins]

Wow, as someone who grew up in the 90s it’s really eye-opening to see what becomes “normal” and “middle-class.” It can feel like “This is how it’s always been.” So refreshing to hear it’s not and that it’s okay to live like the middle-class of yesteryear.

[@warmike]

The US annual GDP has doubled since year 2000. There's gotta be something to show for it for the people, right?

[@annmarie3005]

I love how you put things in perspective. We often fail to appreciate how much we really have. Scaling back to achieve larger goals is easier than most people realize.

[@jonathonthompson8538]

After finding Dave about 5-6 years ago I have really completely changed my debt habits. Really helped me grow in my financial situation. Thanks Dave

[@Jonb01z28]

Social media drives this increase cost of the middle class aka keeping up with the Joneses! Everyday we are bombarded with how much better others are doing by their social media pics, when the reality is they are drowning in debt! While I will admit I get jealous of how well it looks like others are doing I do my best to stay focused on the end goal of living debt free.

[@istoppain62]

He has a point on people living like they are rich. We lived below our means. We immigrated from the Philippines and are financially independent but still live below our means because we are comfortable with it. We travel to anywhere we want but we still live below our means. That is the key. For the young or just starting people, don’t waste your money on things that you think people will think that you are rich. They don’t care about you! Enjoy the simple things like walking in nature, sitting down on a bench with sun shining on your face. These are better options than all those material stuff. I have lived that kind of life thinking it will give me happiness but gratitude and contentment will

[@hayleymyles6823]

Dave Ramsey on a a rant lol...it's the world of social media...people wanting to look the part with easy credit but behind closed doors they are a mess..exhusted...detached...stressed...taking out more credit to upkeep the life style as heavens forbid what would the neighbours think if we don't upgrade our car...LOVE DAVE RAMSEY...BRILLIANT TEACHER X

[@awhs5435]

Credit isn't a bad thing. You just need to be smart. I can afford a Bugatti Chiron in cash, but why would I? I'd rather just buy something nice, finance half, invest the rest and laugh all the way to the bank with low interest rates while leveraging what I kept in cash by turning it into more cash / passive income. Financing / Mortgages can be smart and stupid. The problem is, most people play the stupid game.

[@scorpio7938]

Irememberthatmrramsey

[@Idiotsincarshere]

Hayley Myles Stupid points he made. He's comparing technology from the 1960s vs 2019. It's difficult to find ANY car made in the past 15 years without power windows. 1960 average income was 1/2 the price of a house. Now? 1/5.. He didn't see the ocean, well ya that's life growing up in Tennessee.. NONE of us in the middle class have $100k boats. The average house price is $400k here and most people make $50-$60k. Many people barely afford rent. Get off your high horse Dave just because you got lucky in life

[@hayleymyles6823]

@@Idiotsincarshere Luck...haha everyone in life that hasn't made it feels it down to other people getting lucky haha you silly person...

[@papachan23]

@@Idiotsincarshere congrats on missing the point

[@ozarked2363]

Don't forget dropping $6 every morning on Starbucks coffee because you're too lazy to make it yourself at home.

[@SnakeTheBoss13]

Gotta love the 20 cent ice coffee

[@Yugiboii]

Girls gotta do something for their Instagram

[@taylor3845]

Quit coffee..problem solved and money saved. Also a lot better mental state!

[@klauser10]

$6 dollars for starbucks, my home made expresso tastes 10× better.

[@JiisTube]

Great addition

[@1redrubberball]

Thank you Dave! A breath of fresh air! I'm 72 and I recognize the middle class life you described, very well. Today my 1100 sq ft house on an acre of land is paid for. My parents 1000 sq ft home sat on a 50 X 100 ft lot. If I was filthy rich, I would have no desire for more. My 17 yr old SUV and 7 yr old car are paid for. My parents had 1 car at a time. I'm at the point of being 3 months away from total debt freedom. My middle class income rose continually thru my working years and provides me with $42K net retirement income and I only need 30% of that to cover expenses annually. I can save and give like never before. I'm middle class and God has blessed me! How could I possibly complain?

[@mrcarterfx885]

He’s so right. You can make 100k per year and be broke in 2019 just off fixed expenses 🤯

[@elliottmiller3282]

Or you can make 83k a year and save half your income while traveling the country

[@TheLifeJOGJourneyofGrowth]

Or just cut down your expenses. Discipline! We lived on 50% of a $70k gross income as a family of 3 in expensive Washington DC. Live below your means and save to invest! Simple.

[@IGamingStation]

@Sleeve Of Wizard I think the Uber/Lyft is somewhat justified. Not everyone can afford a car or car payment.

[@TheGearShots]

I don’t miss going to restaurants every since I started the baby steps. Always more work than it’s worth and never up to the expectations you have

[@ALXSSA]

Eating at home is always more lit anyway 😆

[@Lysander-Spooner]

Correct...have not been to restaurant in two years...really.

[@hartsarah12]

Not to mention it takes just as long to eat at home and it taste much better. So many good things go with just eating in.

[@deathguarddavegoogley2022]

The GearShots agreed. Find a good take away. Half the price and the food is just as good. Just eat it at home.

[@keithc6370]

I did a small experiment awhile back. We skipped going to Buffalo Wild Wings, and did it at home. I bought a pack of raw wings, uncut, at my local store on sale for under $5. I bought the Store brand frozen fries (have a fry press at home, but time consuming) for under $2. The BBQ sauce we had on hand, but let's call it $2. So, for less than $10....after tax....I fed a Family of 4. Everybody got at least 6 wings (large...baked, not fried) and a large order of fries. You just have to plan ahead and buy when it's on sale (and have a decent freezer). We always plan a menu for the week, just suppers atm. It helps us stay focused when shopping as well.

[@JASON-ug6iz]

The problem is that even with extremely tight budgeting you can’t make much progress if your income stays stagnant and expenses go up.

[@rocketdogticker]

My 16yo over heard this and asked "what is this Boomer rant" I died.

[@bonnevillebagger9147]

Hopefully you said “This is the truth”.

[@rocketdogticker]

Ya I was able to tell her that. However she works full-time and can't stand all the hoops she has to jump through these days just to get anything done. They had it rich person back then too. No code enforcement, permits, certificates and zero World competition ect. Real silver money was in thier daily circulation. I could really go on forever. The list is endless.

[@yamamancha]

@@rocketdogticker There's truth in that. Companies use legislation and litigation to destroy competition, turning police and civil servants into private army enforcers. Still, that doesn't excuse the rampant and needless consumption.

[@tsarpeteri8578]

Roman Hashon in general . Americans suffer from this.

[@davidlynch7704]

Ask that 16 year old what they will buy with their first job. I will be surprised if it isn’t “I want to buy a Xbox/PS4/PC” or a fancy car or clothing.

[@wanyinavybes421]

I totally agree. No critical thinking and instant gratification problems. Some people can’t imagine being debt free which in itself is a great motivator.

[@karlisrubenis]

This is by far your best 8 minutes I’ve ever heard since listening to your show. Fantastic stuff Dave.

[@compuwiz1937]

I don’t know where people got the idea that the 90s and earlier was an extravagant time. We hardly ever ate out when I was growing up, it was only special occasions. There were no new cars, there were used Hondas with cloth seats and crank windows. Sure, the houses were cheaper for the boomers, but they weren’t blowing their money eating out, buy new new cars every 3 years because a repair bill might come, new phone every year, etc.

[@Maxolson0206]

All of Dave's rants summarized: You're not deprived, you're just spoiled

[@ShirleyM_Anne]

I've watched some of your live talks but in my opinion they cannot compare with your you tube radio rants... radio is indeed your gift and forte! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@ghill4947]

This is one of the greatest rants he has ever done. It’s all so very, very true.

[@anthonydooley224]

This is the best rant in a while. I couldn't wait until they posted this on youtube so that I could share it.

[@somedude8538]

I'm middle class. My trip to get into the middle class from near poverty went like this. Went years being poor and not being able to provide for my family or even remotely be close to affording health insurance and then joined the Army. Retired from the Army. Got a job in CNC manufacturing working hard 50-60 hours in a warehouse with no A/C. That is how I am middle class. Also do not have any debt other then a small car loan and a mortgage. I make sure our bills are less then what we make, and save and invest. We cook 95% of our food at home. Cheaper in price versus eating out, but we get way better quality meals. We may be blue collar, but my family wants for nothing and I love life. God Bless America.

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

I did financial counseling as a minister for 7 years. I never encountered a financial situation that I couldn’t fix. Sadly, I seldom encountered anyone who was willing to take the necessary steps to remedy their financial situation.

[@bobmarker6812]

I'll never give my freedom up for " thing's."

[@mannydavidcastillo1109]

Meanwhile this is a fight at my house everyday.. I'm really getting tired.. wife cant even go out one day without admitting what other people "have" while I strugle to make her understand it's all a lie.. it's pretty draining..

[@shimes424]

Says the guy with a Google account 😆 *ok, I'll click "Accept Terms" just this one time so I can comment on KZbin...*

[@gittin_funky]

David Castillo I can sympathise. I am quite frugal earn a decent wage could be saving a decent amount, but wife and kids like to spend. I’m trying to educate and let them see the scam of materialism but not making too m us h head way yet

[@evae.5459]

Be patient. One day she ll understand. Be wiser. Save the family!

[@jimisaacs155]

At 30, I drive a 2012 Kia Forte with only 75K miles on it. It has crank windows, manual locks, joysticks to move around my sideview mirrors and goes 0-60 in about 17 seconds. We have no debt except our mortgage. Every time I think about buying a Tesla because I saw a cool video on KZbin... I just come right back here to get some sense knocked in to me.

[@birdman9265]

I grew up in the working class. My husband too. We have noticed that the working class is obsessed with being "middle class" and they spend spend spend to fit into whatever model they think is middle class. Now, we are upper middle class and we live like we are in the working class because we want to be weird and not like our parents!

[@stevegorkowski3246]

Only one parent worked when I was a kid. Now both parents work and some parents have a second job. This is caused by stagnate wage growth and inflation that they don't say isn't happening. The share of American adults who live in middle-income households has decreased from 61% in 1971 to 51% in 2019. This downsizing has proceeded slowly but surely since 1971, with each decade thereafter typically ending with a smaller share of adults living in middle-income households than at the beginning of the decade. To sum it up is people are working more hours to stay in the middle class.

[@amore_93]

Omg i cant agree more love love dave ramsey been listening to him for a year now and by this month I should be debt free thanks to him

[@raulayala7572]

I interviewed my 92-year old grandfather about our family history recently. He told me about growing up in rural Mexico in the 1930s and 40s. He didn't own his first pair of new shoes until he was 18, and his and my grandma's first "big" purchase was a gas stove when they were 30. They didn't even have a car until well after 40. Makes me realize how easy we have it and how quick we are to complain.

[@dreg5845]

Now, I love Dave!!!! I'm 47 and grew up middle class. Most of the things that people whine about today are luxuries. We've gotten so successful in America, middle class is rich in most other places and era.

[@marianneward1704]

Hi from England. Everything you say is so true. My husband and I are debt free and very happy but no one around us understands why when new items come out we do not want them. Even people who do not work expect the latest mobile phone, just a joke. Love all this common sense. You can not teach common sense. Dave Ramsey you rock.

[@Esteban-MK64]

When he explained his 240 air conditioning I died😂😂

[@emmanyalenda9475]

Me too

[@unnamedchannel1237]

I just fill hot water bottles and put them in the freezer for a while. Then put those down my top

[@pozloadescobar]

Possibly one of the most egregious dad jokes ever

[@mayamartin7359]

This was an aha moment for me! I grew up upper middle class, but as a piano teacher, I don’t make as much as my engineer father did. All the same, I have basic financial literacy; I’m not doing “poor people stuff” with payday loan rubbish etc. I still feel culturally quite middle class, but my lifestyle is a lot simpler than my “middle class” peers. My car definitely has a 240 AC 😂 I feel like my peers look down on my house and car, and I wonder why I’m not across the street in the fancier neighborhood, since I make quite a normal median income. This is exactly why. They make my income, and they outspend it outrageously to keep up with the Joneses. I’m just authentic, old school middle class. What the middle class would still look like if it cut the crap and got honest with itself. I’m ok with it. My lifestyle buys me more freedom than theirs can allow.

[@ChrisMFlorida]

Wow.. I can relate to these.. growing up middle class in the 80's and riding in a 1971 Dodge Polara we got for $500.. it started most of the time, but left us stranded a few times too. In the house we had a single 13" TV with rabbit ears and knobs to change the channel and no VCR. Taking that car in the winter and going downtown to the industrial section where they threw out old pallets and bringing them home to chop up for firewood. We never felt 'poor' it's just how we lived.

[@rickpark291]

I remember leaning way over to crank down the passenger side window in my 69 Roadrunner. I miss that car.

[@nuccalorain5]

I enjoy the simple things in life. I see a Ramsey Rant, I click on it.

[@shipwrecker37]

His rants tend to be both practical and funny. A rare combination.

[@enricmm85]

And you save money as well.

[@AdamJ3232]

Theres a thing I like to say "Luxuries once tasted become necessities"

[@cherbug1197]

I believe you are correct about critical thinking not being taught in journalism school or how to report non biased new.

[@greggonzalez859]

I grew up in the Spanish speaking only neighborhood called Washington Heights in Manhattan, in the late 60s and 70s. I thought we were poor but my grandmother said that “In America, we had food on the table.” I remember when my family was able to afford a phone and I remember when we put a lock on the rotary-dial to keep everyone from calling long distance. Today I have an iPhone and all it can do. My grandmother would say “In America, you are rich”. Amen to that.

[@workingshlub8861]

its not how much you make ..it is what you do with it....someone making minimum wage can have a higher net worth than someone making 6 figures with debt up to there eyeballs...

[@anahuidobro5018]

I remember years ago watching Suze Orman and this guy called about his investments of 1.1 million. He was a DISHWASHER at a restaurant for the past 30 years. She stopped the show and told the viewers off (like Dave did) about how we never seem to have enough and how this dishwasher has 1.1 million in investments. How you spend is EVERYTHING!

[@khadijahjones2460]

Ana Huidobro that persons pretty silly to have 1.1 mil in investments but to continue to work as a dishwasher

[@workingshlub8861]

@@khadijahjones2460 that is the point...maybye he enjoys washing dishes and wants to stay busy.....most time people who look wealthy are NOT..

[@khadijahjones2460]

working shlub my point is he’s being severely underpaid and overworked. Has nothing to do with looking wealthy at that point but if he loves it then i guess . But at that point he had the opportunity to double or triple his income Bc the money gave him many more options.

[@bobmccarthy3702]

working shlub, very true.

[@dongmingzhu666]

If you're middle class you need a brand new Mercedes-Benz parked in your driveway and you need Netflix subscription and the latest iPhone... People are just living like sheep today

[@ronabner1577]

I really like this show today. Everyone needs to hear this.

[@anahuidobro5018]

Right as always! We view of luxuries as necessities and complain that we can’t get ahead. I know many folks who make less than me and have more because they live truly middle class. Thank you Dave. Was toying with the idea of a new car, but not anymore!

[@Scorpiomaj27889]

I still live like Dave's old middle class and it's not bad at all.

[@aolvaar8792]

Buying Utilited City Lots ( 70ft x 300ft, a garden, chickens, fruit trees, ... ) for $2000 and adding a home for $15K, $8K/year as a union plant operator, 1 car, pregnant, barefoot wife and 3 kids, living the life of an entitled Boomer

[@joycekanyangii7679]

I live somewhere in Africa. My housekeeper and I listen to Dave's rants and laugh our heads off. I laugh at Dave's rants and she laughs at the way I'm laughing since she doesn't get his accent. Best part of my morning

[@adriennemuhammad2807]

The 60's... I can relate to a great degree. I strive to return to that quality of life without today's price tag. I am enjoying the fruits of living BENEATH MY MEANS...

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

I gave up fast food and soda seven years ago and take out about two years. I started with a few set menus and have been adding to my toolbox and love it.

[@mbalim_Her.journey]

I am in Swaziland🇸🇿, in Africa. Discovered your videos a month ago. I opened an emergency fund and paid off my credit card. Now I'm paying off my school loan. Thank you Dave.

[@LifeandLifeMoreAbundantly]

I like Dave rants.

[@featuredpage]

While I agree with the premise that the middle class has it better I think you are using a false equivalency. People from 1920 would say that your 1960 upbringing was ' rich'. It's not fair to compare generations as you are there is no equivalency.

[@pkal244]

Agree with both of you here. You wouldn't expect a car from 60 years ago to be exactly the same as today. You can't even buy a car with manual windows anymore. The "I had it harder than you" rant is ultimately irrelevant. If he was going for perspective then yea, makes sense. BUT, and it's a huge but, people today are living smarter and smaller than we were in the 90's. For example all we have is Netflix, a single TV, and a 700sq ft apt with two incomes. My father at the same age had a single family home, cable with multiple TVs, two cars, and a yard with one income. The jobs are now more than ever city-centric, and owning a single family home is tougher than it was 30-40 years ago. Not everything is 1:1 when comparing generations.

[@darlenepaul2934]

Nevertheless his point is on point!

[@kimberlyjames2012]

Jeff Lowe exactly! Each generation thinks that the one after it is entitled...

[@xxsmilesxxback12]

@@NickC2001 back up your statement on what makes his evaluation of the middle class "horrible"

[@justinharrell327]

Dave does this tactic all the time. He throws out some facts and then draws conclusions that are non sequiturs. His arrogant attitude is not critical thinking.

[@kakelinga]

it's true. We only had a little 13 inch black and white TV that had 4 channels. We didn't have any remote controls, cell phones, or microwaves and life was so much better. We ate at home and we learned how to cook simple meals or make our own sandwiches as kids. We only went to restaurants maybe once or twice a year. Even when we got a McDonald's in our community we never got to have a meal there unless it was a special occasion. My mom would cook our favorite meal on our birthdays and she would bake a cake at home and we appreciated it and loved it. We didn't have instant gratification. We waited for things. We wrote letters and waited for a response in the mail. We saved until we could buy things with cash. Long distance calls were only made on the holidays. We had a three bedroom house for a family of 6 and we lived just fine. We had more than enough room to do things. We played on the street with the other kids or in our yard. Our vacations were camping trips in a tent. Those were the good ole days and I feel really sad that these generations coming up will never know the fun and contentment of having a simple life.

[@confirmhandle]

we were poor growing up and I remember my folks would add on Disney or HBO for the holidays and then they would deactivate it so we had it as a treat I agree it would be good to cut back on all the services

[@gabedelgadillo6811]

The beauty of this is you can fact check most of what Dave spits out. He tried cherrypicking but most of what he said was skewed information to fit his narrative.

[@thomasmorrison3279]

I usually agree with Dave, but I do have to say that he is wrong with regard to cost of living versus salary in the past versus now. My dad made about $13000/year as a mid-level engineer in the late 1950s, and paid $16,500 for a house less than 10 years old. A mid-level engineer probably makes $85,000 now, but the same exact old house is about $425,000. A house less than 10 years old is much more expensive (e.g., 750,000). Also, the property tax, utilities, etc. have all increased in cost. As another example, child care can be $2000/month or more nowadays. It is much more expensive to live now than back in the 1950s or 1960s.

[@aolvaar8792]

Thomas Morrison- 1981, Travis County, suburban to Houston, A standard house in a subdivision $48K, My first job from engineering school $49K, Chevy Silverado $8.5K The median salary of an engineer from my school after 15 years is $135K, I live in a city of 500,000, avg house $250K

[@ASQ1Fan]

That's not his point. He even said wages are stagnant. The point is if you're making 85K then you shouldn't be buying a 425K house. It could easily cause you more financial problems.

[@XFizzlepop-Berrytwist]

DaLoneAdvocate Well its not like you can buy a decent home for 85k even anymore. XD The cost of literally everything has gone up... with stagnant wages. A big majority of it is government. The gov wants to keep you poor. Property taxes especially are a huge scam. I’m fine with wages not going up, if the gov can cut back on spending, and control, but we all know that will never happen.

[@aolvaar8792]

@@XFizzlepop-Berrytwist ???$700/year

[@XFizzlepop-Berrytwist]

A Olvaar Not only that, but most Americans would be ruined financially with just a 400$ emergency, like 40%, thats almost half! So yeah, I would say that 700$ would go a long long way.

[@user93634]

Dave, I would like to give a simple thank you for telling the truth. I look at debt a lot differently today since first hearing you on the radio a few years ago. I have been agressively working to become debt free from my financial decisions, and then plan to work on my wife's debt immediately after. By the numbers I hope to be out of this in 2 years for me, and another 2 to 5 with my wife depending on if I can get her on the same page. I just made the leap forward telling myself I don't want to live like this anymore, and have already eliminated half of my debt in 2 years using simple common sense, and self discipline. It is like trying to get in shape. When you cheat, the only one you are cheating is yourself.

[@chrisose4585]

I bet Egyptians from 4,000 years ago are calling Dave Ramsey’s middle class lifestyle “a life of the Gods”

[@joanpearl7184]

But their land in the desert was only a few shekels....

[@brettconv83]

He’s so right I see so many people complain they’re broke but yet they’re driving fancy cars buy all kinds of toys take lavish vacations all the time. They are buying electronics , camera systems for their giant homes. That’s why I stay driving my 1998 Toyota Camry does a to b just fine and has power windows heat and air

[@setholmstead8339]

Daves average middle class guy sounds like the richest guy ive ever met.

[@EditsRus747]

My favorite rant thus far! My husband and I make over 6 figures and people can't understand why we drive old cars and don't vacation more often!

[@InvestingHustler]

Times have changed Dave ! A lot more distractions and more “pointless things” to spend your money on. People who are buying more liabilities vs assets will stay stuck in the middle class ! Not to mention inflation growing a lot faster then minimum wage

[@monkas7270]

minimum wage is meant for high schoolers. if you are an adult you should have a real job. don’t cry about circumstances, every decision you make has consequences so if you are making minimum wage with three kids then boohoo you shouldn’t have had kids.

[@rhettnotlink]

It’s called saving your money and having common sense. I’m sure you learned that in college right?

[@shondathomas7825]

We've all made our share of financial mistakes but once you know better you do better. I'm cleaning up the mess I've made so i can live free from debt. You can't keep making excuses for why people are not ahead. I realize I'm in the position I'm in bc of impulse to buy "stuff" once you change your mindset and take responsibility that is only when real change begins. You can't change what you don't acknowledge.

[@BRBallin1]

I agree. Way more commercialized today and more things one can buy.

[@enricmm85]

People, people, please, stop using Robert Kiyosaki's definition of asset and liability. You look like fools for those of us who know what assets and liabilities actually are. Please educate yourself on basic accounting (it's not as hard as it seems and there are lots of free resources online), learn what assets and liabilities actually are and ditch the Kiyosaki BS.

[@davidthomas-ot4cl]

Dave is talking about his middle class life in the 60's and 70's and comparing it to the 2020s. That's was 60 years ago. That's like someone in 1900 comparing their middle class life to 1960. They would have thought his life in 1960 was ridiculously indulgent. "you had a car? Only rich people had cars when I was a boy and they were wind up. You had a television for entertainment with 3 channels? We read books by candlelight or played cards. You have an indoor toilet, central heating and electricity? What luxuries!" So everything is relative. 60 years from now the people Dave is criticizing will be criticizing that generation "you vacation on the moon? We only went to Europe. We had to clean our houses and make our food and now you have an army of robots doing it for you! You have flying cars, we had to make do with a land rover discovery."

[@Mihogan]

I don't disagree with you Dave but times do change. What you considered middle class in the 50's was considered rich in 1910. The world changes, and things like power windows in cars are standard - you literally cannot get a car with manual windows, save a few rare models. The majority of people paying $10/month for Netflix don't have a $100+/month cable bill. I don't blame Capitalism because I know it's the best system, and I don't think the wealthy are getting wealthier. But, wages are stagnant and have been for a good while. There is no way around it.

[@slyfoxx2973]

Hard to find new 1300 sq foot homes because nobody wants them. Hard to find hand cranked windows and manual transmissions and no air conditioning because nobody wants that. Times have changed and so have the people who want more and are willing to go deep into debt to get it. A revolving line of credit is still only a 50 year old concept. Dave is correct in that consumption has gone up.

[@yme3267]

@@slyfoxx2973 Basic economics says that those electric windows are now cheaper because everyone wants them.... that's how markets work..... Seems like Dave doesn't understand that for some reason..... past 20 years drops prices on those "luxuries"

[@slyfoxx2973]

@@yme3267 Basic logic says a manual hand crank is cheaper to build and much less prone to failure and easier to fix if it does fail. So yes economy of scale has made electric windows more available to the masses but it has caused the price of the car to rise over all.

[@johncipollo3409]

This, times change middle class should not be spending in surplus but this rant talks about over consumerism.....Some consumerism is not avoided. Example I live in a 1br for $1000 rent. I can't get anything cheaper because I am $2000 above the income limits on affordable housing. Am I over consuming? No but I have to pay $4-500 more a month on rent due to barely making above low income....

[@Mihogan]

@Chalet N that is what I do my friend and why I'm not hurting. However wages are stagnant - wages have not grown at the same rate as inflation and costs of a variety of services and products.

[@butterflygirl2285]

IMO - I agree with your comparisons. I can remember when there was no home central air conditioning, and my Dad would turn on the attic fan as a treat during hot southern summers .

[@confirmhandle]

I'm upper middle class and I'm canceling my Netflix right now because Dave yelled at me and I feel guilty for paying the monthly fee.

[@iamcleaver6854]

Why would you ever pay for something you can torrent???

[@EricRamz]

@@iamcleaver6854 Maybe because he has empathy, isn’t a sociopath, and his values don’t allow him to steal from other people?

[@iamcleaver6854]

@@EricRamz Stealing is when you pick pockets on the street. Torrenting isn't steeling. You just take what is out their for free.

[@EricRamz]

@@iamcleaver6854 Okay, whatever helps you sleep at night.

[@Alxsouz4]

@@EricRamz how can be a moral thing to give money to left media? Torrent is much more right than that.

[@j.x3031]

love the opinions here

[@BrandonMinguez]

Love the old school Dave Ramsey rants. Need to have your wages go up and keep spending the same. That’s the real “secret” of getting wealthy.

[@mandysimmons2769]

I thought we were middle class ( maybe lower ) my husband is a college educated govt. employed professional. I am homemaker and on and off unpaid family caretaker and a part time rental manager when I feel like it. LOL...but I put in our income and it turns out we were ( gasp ) "working class." Wow I felt pretty lucky when I got married and I felt very comfortable in my Roseanne style cottage for 30 years. We still have the same income but we saved like a squirrel and got a "middle class" house. Man I feel like a queen. We recently took a stranded crawdad to a holding pond one subdivision over and saw how the other half lives a place called "horsey Hills" LOL I'm surprised there was not a gate and a lil guard house. They were actually very nice but they didn't seem any happier than us.

[@keithc6370]

When I was growing up, when it was just me and my Mom, I didn't know we were poor. My Mom made every dollar she worked for stretch. She made a baloney sandwich (somehow) seem like something you'd get from a Deli. My favorite meal that she made me, was mashed potatoes with hamburger gravy. If we went to McDonald's, it was a rare thing....and we dressed like we were going to a nice restaurant. She made almost everything we ate from scratch. She drove an old stickshift VW Beetle...the Orange Bug. My Mom sacrificed a lot, so that I could have a good life. She passed away from cancer a few years ago, sadly. I miss her every day.

[@StatsMass]

Wage stagnation is a problem. A debt-based economy is a problem. But this is a whataboutism if I ever heard one.

[@Me-MyArmy]

This whole clip made me laugh.... it’s so true

[@hominem3731]

Thank you Mr. Ramsey, for elucidating how spoiled we are. I'm grateful every day for the blessings God has bestowed upon us.

[@PewPewPew_viper]

I was borne in the 90s and this sounds like my childhood.

[@justownyounetwork1943]

Mindset plays such a huge role. It is a seriously overlooked problem. Th idea that a certain social economic class is indicated by the material items that person owns is a horrible gauge. You spend your time associating your image with class that you end up causing yourself greater pain in the long run. Please measure the items you get based on true need and affordable wants.

[@tylersanders2388]

The middle class has access to so much amazing and unbelievable technology and consumer products for cheap now due to how much capitalism has advanced us.

[@dark_winter8238]

Heck even the lower class does

[@slmunney7760]

Agree 100%. Society has lost perspective on how much our standard of living has increased over the past generation even for the poor and working class, notwithstanding relative stagnant wages for some. I'm 44, and while growing up air conditioning was considered a luxury item and buying new cars on a regular basis was reserved to those who were relatively well off. Travel and vacations (even to places like Disneyland) were not common.

[@elevensuns]

Shame us, Dave! We have so much to be grateful for but it's human nature to reset to zero, waking up thinking we deserve everything we had yesterday.

[@SethBlackMedia]

We got rid of our satellite tv service and switched to streaming which only costs us about $20 a month, $60 cheaper than what we were paying. We also leave our thermostat on 78 when we aren’t home and 76 when we are home with the ceiling fans running and we are comfortable. We live in the south where we have long, hot summers and yet we are able to keep our light bill close to or around $100 for the most part. One month we even had it as low as $70. Just a few simple changes and the savings add up.

[@lilyann168]

Dave. You know that the technology you are ranting about gets cheaper over time right? The automatic windows in cars cost more in the past because they were new technology.

[@Jelly._.cat._.1]

I was in a line - over listening to someone that said “I failed as a parent not to take my kid to Disneyland”. Me is heavily thinking about taking my kid to Disney one time when they are a kid. I really want to and most likely will. My financial situation im borderline if I should or not... then I got thinking. The first time I went to Disney was when I was 25 years old which was a paid for vacation by another family member through their work place. I survived when I was a kid, so will my child. But kids these days it’s always “when we going to Disney? My friend went.” Ugh

[@joannadiabe6724]

Thank you Sir. You changed my life.

[@braidedsilver]

Nothing inspires me to be more gazelle intense than a reality check from Dave Ramsey! I'm truly better than I deserve.

[@kirestus]

i like dave's attitude but he is pretty out of touch with modern technology. The house size thing is crazy and peoples 'need' for multiple cars boggles my mind. Most middle class people are cutting the cord on their home-phones and cable, and facetime gchat skype etc can be used for free, and as tech improves do does the average quality of life. He is refusing to acknowledged that historic middle class jobs are vanishing people are being pushed out. Most people arent angry or asking for handouts but its not really fair to blame individuals for a nationwide trend

[@3of11]

Ryan Fry a better point would be one didn’t spend $800 every 18-24 months on a phone

[@mysticaltyger2009]

I think you make some good points. But the news media is definitely pushing a socialist agenda, typically insinuating or stating outright that more taxes and government programs will make everything better.

[@coffee-and-finance]

I think the missing part of the equation is the reality of what's gone on. The government let the wealthy oligarchs run ruff shot over the average man women and child. Birth rates are negative in most of developed world and the only people that are going to make it out of the next few decades alive are the most industrious, hardest working, smartest, and greatest planners. Majority of the population will lose a life purpose in this continual ramp up of automation. The part that's going to make the average person mad is the people with money now will most likely always have money, more so than any other time period at the very least. We are going to get socialism and ubi because if the masses don't get it the street will run red with blood.

[@eileeneclark9011]

4/26/20....WHY are ppl JEALOUS of those who have more/do more/enjoy life more? WHY do ppl try to KEEP UP WITH THE JONES? Maybe grandparents & parents lived a less consumerism type life + passed down/taught their family to save 💰 money from every paycheck + turn off the lights when you left the room + keep your car an extra year or so + drive to beach or mountains/borrow a friend's bungalow or mtn cabin + go to a public community college in state/have a part-time job while in school. Dave's RANT made sense to those of us who are older or have older family & friends who have told us their lifetime stories. Younger ppl who have never had to work a part-time job or chose an expensive prestigious out-of-state private college & DIDN'T get scholarships/grants & signed/got their parents to co-sign education loans---- THESE PPL feel ENTITLED to make others pay for their ridiculously expensive & totally worthless degrees THAT THEY CHOSE & now they can't get a job/career b/c they made their own BAD CHOICES. SAD but true.

[@silverfish2341]

Today I paid off my first snowball debt. I m elated. I m ready for this.