A popular finance guru made a kind gesture to a homeless woman by offering to pair her with a financial coach after she confessed to spiraling into debt.
The woman named Marie recently called into a recent episode of The Ramsey Show, a nationally syndicated finance-themed radio show when Dave Ramsey gave her advice to help get her back on her feet.
Marie explained to Ramsey how she works as a licensed occupational therapist earning $87,000 annually, but has found herself living in hotels, struggling to regain financial stability after a series of emotional and economic setbacks.
Im currently living in hotels. I cant seem to find an apartment, she shared with Ramsey.
Marie explained how despite her steady income, a poor credit score has limited her housing options later explaining how she moved across states for love and for a relationship that ultimately fell apart.
It left her with no immediate housing and only the option of short term stays at hotels costing $2,200 a month.
Marie explained how her financial challenges extend beyond housing.
I have my car payment, about $340 a month, and my student loan debt, which is $1,000 a month, she explained.
Popular finance guru Dave Ramsey made a kind gesture towards a homeless woman who had spiraled into debt after suffering a broken heart
Despite her income, Maries spending habits have only added to her struggles.
You paid a $300 payment. You make $87,000 and you pay to a hotel bill. Thats all youve done, Ramsey said. Wheres all your money going, kiddo?
Maries response was blunt, but honest. Eating out… I only have a microwave here, so I cant really cook, she admitted.
But financial expert Ramsey appears to have seen it all as he spoke to Marie with empathy noting how despite her predicament, the numbers told a deeper story.
Youre a highly educated, very intelligent lady whose heart got crushed, he told her.
The numbers arent telling me anything else because youre too smart to be in this situation if you were functioning at a normal level. And right now, youre functioning with a broken heart.
Youre not a bad person. Youre not a weak person. Youve just been stomped on and youre hurting. And it causes your math to get screwed up. And youve been in a spiral, in an emotional sense, and everythings out of control.
There was silence on the line as Marie broke down in tears. Ramseys financial diagnosis appeared to have hit the nail on the head.
Marie explained how she had resorted to living in hotels despite earning an $87,000 salary
Youve got plenty of money to go rent an apartment. Lots of places will rent somebody with bad credit in an apartment. You just put up a good deposit, Ramsey explained.
Ramsey offered Marie a glimmer of hope and pledged to connect her with a Ramsey-trained financial coach, free of charge, to help her rebuild her finances and regain stability.
Were going to get you back to sustainability. Youre hurting and you need somebody to put their arms around you. And were the people that are going to do it. And then Im also going to have that person recommend to you to get plugged into a good local church.
You need some human beings in your life because youre wandering out there completely alone, Ramsey said.
Viewers commenting had sympathy for Maries situation.
I heard $87,000 and instantly knew it was an emotional problem, wrote one.
Emotional spending is a real thing. said another.
Something is not adding up with her spending though, stated a third.
Aw I can hear the pain in her voice, wrote a fourth.