Jesse, a Tennessee caller to The Ramsey Show, had a problem many Americans would envy. His company was rewarding his strong performance with an all-expenses-paid cruise. But with roughly $20,000 in debt weighing on his mind, the "free" vacation felt anything but celebratory. His quandary underscores a challenge millions of Americans face. According to the Federal Reserve Bank, the total U.S. consumer debt reached $18.59 trillion as of September 2025, with credit card balances climbing to $1.23 trillion (1 ...

Quick Read Parent PLUS loans at 8.94% generate $13,410 in annual interest on $150,000. The balance balloons to $175,000 without aggressive repayment. Ramsey advises debt snowball method treating all $170,000 as one shared emergency instead of separate family obligations. The caller’s $91,500 income with no consumer debt supports $20,000-$30,000 in annual debt repayment. Investors rethink 'hands off' investing and decide to start making real money A caller to The Dave Ramsey Show in January 2026 f ...