A single mother from Lexington, Kentucky, called into The Ramsey Show this week, telling host Dave Ramsey she has worked two jobs for years but still struggles financially. Charlotte, 36, said her monthly income is about $3,200, and she tries to stay current on bills while managing inconsistent child support.
"We end up going from crisis to crisis because we're trapped," Ramsey said after hearing her outline. Charlotte added that falling behind each month has made it impossible to start an emergency fund.
She has raised two children, ages 15 and 11, while working two jobs for nearly five years. Minimum debt payments total around $1,900 monthly, including a $560 mortgage. Ramsey called the mortgage reasonable and asked her to list other obligations.
Charlotte said she owes $16,000 on a car loan and another $16,000 in student loans. She also has about $6,000 in medical bills, $3,200 for braces, $1,600 from a cruise, roughly $700 for tires, and $200 for a mattress. "I just cannot get caught up to stay current on all my bills," she said.
Ramsey asked how long she had been single, and Charlotte said about 10 years. She has been a quality manager for 18 years and also worked as a server at Cracker Barrel for nearly five years.
Ramsey focused on the car loan. "You've been living on the edge for a long time," he said, addressing the financial pressure. "That's 100% true," Charlotte responded, explaining she bought the car after her previous vehicle became unreliable and added unmanageable stress.
Ramsey also pointed to other expenses like the cruise and tire replacement, which added pressure while she was stretched thin. He told Charlotte the situation would require major changes rather than small adjustments. "You're probably gonna sell your car because you can't afford this car," he said.