Author: Emma Caplan-Fisher

After receiving an $8 million settlement following her husband’s fatal workplace accident in 2008, Mikeal, a 53-year-old widow from Charleston, West Virginia, entrusted the money to a close friend who worked at a bank.

Two years ago, she discovered it was gone.

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"He stole all the money … There was nothing," Mikeal said during The Ramsey Show.

$8 million stolen

The betrayal left Mikeal in a precarious spot. She now lives in a camper on her mother’s property and still owes $12,000 on it. She also has some credit card debt and relies on workers’ compensation benefits from her late husband’s employer.

Unemployed with ongoing expenses, her situation is challenging.

Mikael said she reported the theft and has attorneys working on it, but it appears the money is gone. She may only recover about a couple of hundred thousand dollars. She added that the alleged thief is now in Florida and has done the same thing to other widows.

Recently, Mikeal received a $531,000 malpractice settlement. She said she’s determined to grow that money quickly to secure her future.

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What can she do?

Ramsey Show co-hosts George Kamel and Ken Coleman offered a structured plan to help Mikael regain financial stability. They suggested she could sell the camper, use the profits to pay off her credit card and never have debt again. She could also build up an emergency fund with some of the settlement money and invest the rest. Here’s a breakdown of the

• Sell the camper. Selling it could eliminate the $12,000 debt and potentially find more affordable housing options.
• Pay off credit card debt. Clearing her balances would ease financial pressure and improve her credit score.
• Establish an emergency fund. Setting aside a portion of the settlement would give her a cushion for unexpected expenses.
• Invest wisely. Putting the remaining funds into diversified, low-risk portfolios could provide steady growth. Financial experts recommend options like ETFs — SPDR S&P 500 (SPY), Vanguard S&P 500 (VOO) and Vanguard Total World Stock (VT) — to get broad market exposure and build long-term wealth.
• Seek employment. Re-entering the workforce, even part-time, would bring in extra income and add structure to her day.

Kamel suggested Mikeal do something from home, like customer service, since she’s got "a good personality” and “good common sense."

He added she needs to work "for momentum’s sake.”

“It’s not about a ton of money that you need,” Kamel said. “(But) your shoulders will go back a little bit more; your head gets a little higher as you begin to see that ‘I can take care of myself.’"

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Melissa, a disabled veteran in Charleston, West Virginia, thought she’d found the perfect home for her family. She quickly discovered how wrong she was.

Within weeks of moving in, she told The Ramsey Show, they started getting sick, displaying allergy-like symptoms.

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“Long story short, [we] ended up getting someone to come in and test for mold, and it’s very high numbers,” Melissa said in a clip posted June 22. The type of mold found, she says, was Stachybotrys — often called black mold.

Melissa says the home passed an inspection before closing, but it’s unlivable in its current state, and she’s unsure where to go from here.

Hidden problems

On top of the mold problem, an adjuster came by and informed Meslissa the basement wasn’t up to code. She says the estimated cost to fix the mold was at least $10,000, while upgrading the basement would set her back $20,000.

Melissa says she explored her legal rights.

“I contacted attorneys, and they all pretty much said that I don’t have a case because it’s a buyer-beware state,” she said. “They have no duty to disclose mold in West Virginia.”

Indeed, West Virginia operates under “caveat emptor,” where properties are sold as-is and sellers don’t have to provide potential buyers with a formal disclosure about the state of their property.

Melissa suggests it would have been beneficial to have hired a specific mold inspector for the job, rather than just a general one, to hold the seller accountable for any existing mold in the home.

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Game plan

At the time of the call, Melissa says the family was living with her partner in Columbus, Ohio, and she commutes two-and-a-half hours every other day to meet with clients and maintain her business in West Virginia. She earns about $10,000 per month in disability and after-tax income from her job, but she has no savings and her costs are presently high.

Show cohosts Jade Warshaw and Rachel Cruze suggested that Melissa find a cheap, temporary rental to provide stability between her home and work life while she searches for a permanent solution.

“I would be saving, and I would do the cheapest renovation you can to get this mold out so that you can, in good conscience, sell this home,” Cruze said.

The cohosts also suggested she continue to explore her legal options, if financially feasible.

Cost of mold remediation

Mold cleanup costs can vary widely — ranging between $500 to $30,000 — depending on the location of the mold and the size of the impacted area, according to This Old House.

If you’re dealing with mold problems, here’s a rough idea of what remediation might run you:

• Small area (e.g. bathroom) — $500-$1,500
• Basement — $500-$4,000
• Attic — $1,000-$9,000
• Drywall — $1,000-$12,000
• HVAC system — $3,000-$10,000
• Large area/whole house — $10,000-$30,000

Keep in mind, there are broader impacts beyond financial costs, like potential health concerns and hidden maintenance problems.

Mold infestations can affect a property’s value and lead to mortgage issues if lenders refuse financing for mold-ridden properties.

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After sitting vacant for a decade, the former Edward  White Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida is being converted into affordable housing units for seniors. The revamp is part of an effort to address the affordable housing crisis and homelessness among older Americans.

The renovated facility will offer community services, like a health center, and give new life to a central community landmark.

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From hospital to housing

The former hospital is centrally located in downtown St. Petersburg and near public transit, and will be redeveloped into a six-story, 121,000 square-foot residential building. The total cost of the project is nearly $44 million.

The renovated facility will offer 71 apartments. The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) administrative offices will also occupy the site.

In an interview with Fox 13 Tampa Bay, Michael Lundy, SPHA president and CEO, stated, “We’re very excited about this milestone … It’s going to be a huge asset for the city of St. Petersburg.” Lundy cites the building’s "incredible importance to the larger community" as one of the reasons they decided to invest in it.

It’s set to open in 2026, and residents are expected to move in starting in the fall. Rents will be capped at 30% of adjusted income, with tenants chosen on a first-come first-served basis, along with other qualifiers such as:

• Those age 62 and over
• Priority given to St. Petersburg residents
• Those earning up to 80% of the area median income (about $63,000 for a two-person household)
• Households who are homeless or in critical need
• Those who are employed

Demand is expected to be high. Lundy shared that within the first days of applications opening, at least 500 people will sign up are — many from the 8,000 households currently on the SPHA’s Section  8 waitlist and the 1,500 on its public housing list. While those lists show the scale of housing need in the area, being on them doesn’t guarantee placement in the new building.

Unlike Section 8, which provides vouchers that tenants can use with private landlords, the Edward White apartments fall under public housing, meaning the subsidy stays with the building, not the tenant. This ensures that these new units will remain permanently affordable for eligible residents.

While the project faced setbacks, including basement floods, damaged electrical systems and mold remediation thanks to hurricanes, Lundy is optimistic: "We’ve had some ups and downs, but we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s very, very gratifying that we’re able to really serve the good citizens of St. Pete."

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Florida’s affordable housing crisis and its impact on older Americans

Florida faces a statewide shortage of affordable housing, especially among those on fixed incomes.

A report from the University of Florida’s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies explains that while home prices have risen to a median of $411,600 in mid‑2024, older residents in particular are increasingly cost-burdened.

The trend continued into 2025, with Redfin reporting single-family homes prices in Florida hitting a median of $436,600 and condominium prices at $298,000.

Spectrum News Tampa adds that hotline calls regarding emergency housing from older Americans have jumped 40% since the pandemic.

But Florida is far from alone in this, as national data reinforces the domestic crisis.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Gap 2025 report notes a nationwide shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes for extremely low-income renters. As the organization’s interim president and CEO, Renee Willis, noted, "Seniors, people with disabilities and those with low wages are most severely impacted."

Many older Americans rely on fixed incomes from Social Security or pensions, which makes them especially sensitive to rent increases. In fact, late baby boomers now make up the fastest-growing group of newly homeless individuals in the U.S., a trend that’s particularly alarming in Florida, where more than 20% of the population is age 65 or older. Without enough affordable options, more people risk falling into housing insecurity at a stage in life when stability matters most.

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Two large California oil refineries are shutting down, triggering mounting concerns from state legislators, industry groups and many others.

Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson of the Gardena district bluntly described his concern during a recent Sacramento hearing.

“This is a tremendous loss,” Gipson told NBC Los Angeles, referring to the looming closure of the Phillips 66 plant near L.A. "The jobs that it holds, the individuals… working each and every day, those individuals live in my district, they shop in my district, they add to the economy in my district."

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Shutting down refinery powerhouses

The Phillips 66 and Valero’s Benicia sites are set to close in 2026. Together, the shutdowns will eliminate nearly 300,000 barrels-per‑day of refining capacity — roughly 20% of the total used in the state.

Valero attributed its decision to “years of regulatory pressure (and) significant fines for air quality violations,” including an $82 million penalty levied in 2024. Phillips 66 similarly cited business challenges stemming from California’s strict environmental regulations.

"They have said that they cannot do business in the state of California," Gipson reiterated. “The regulatory agencies have imposed on the refiners of California very stringent regulation that makes it very difficult for them to remain in the state of California.”

The way Gipson sees it, the state should do everything it can to ensure that its remaining refineries stay in California.

"These companies have been working to make sure they meet these standards, these goals and objectives that the regulatory agencies and legislature have set."

What’s at stake

With California processing about 24% of its own crude oil needs but consuming a far greater share — some 13.1 million gallons daily — the impact of these closures is significant:

Less supply and higher gas prices

California drivers already pay the highest gas prices in the nation — around $4.85 per gallon, significantly greater than the $3.16 national average.

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With less local supply, experts warn of a potential impact that could range from modest spikes (less than $1 per gallon) to more dramatic spikes if supply disruptions occur. One particular analysis forecasts prices could even soar over $8 per gallon by late 2026.

“California can ill afford the loss of one refinery, let alone two,” said USC Professor Michael Mische in a May 2025 report.

Import dependency and emissions

With fewer local refineries, the state will rely heavily on imported fuel — both from other U.S. regions and overseas — which would escalate shipping costs and increase emissions from tanker vessels at the ports as well as possibly the other refineries where the imported oil originates (they themselves may not be meeting sufficiently stringent environmental or quality standards).

Job losses and tax impacts

Each closure risks the loss of hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. The Benicia refinery supports about 400 employees, while Phillips 66 has around 900 workers and contractors. Layoffs will ripple through communities, hurting local economies and tax revenue.

The risks and rewards

As California’s refineries close, the state stands to gain and lose in different areas. For example, while local air will potentially be cleaner, pollution will increase at ports from tankers bringing in imported fuel.

There may be a boost to clean-energy infrastructure and jobs, along with potential federal or state transition aid. However, the current industry will see large job losses and communities reliant on incomes related to local refinery work may suffer economically.

The state will also rely on foreign markets and supply chains, making it more vulnerable to disruptions beyond its control.

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For some, the road to marriage can look financially lopsided. Those in their 30s earning their fair share — say, more than $100,000 a year — may be used to covering 100% of their individual household expenses.

However, it doesn’t typically feel good when a fiance refuses to contribute, claiming their money is only for “fun,” not “responsibilities.” This scenario isn’t as uncommon as you might think.

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American household spent about $77,280 annually on expenses in 2023, including housing, transportation, food, insurance and health care.

In a two-person household, those costs can quickly add up. And when only one person is footing the bill, the financial and emotional burden becomes even heavier.

The red flags of an unequal dynamic

While differences in income are normal, refusing to contribute entirely can trigger long-term problems.

When one partner sacrifices and handles 100% of the financial responsibilities, their personal finances may suffer down the road, while the other partner gains.

This creates several challenges.

Budget strain. Even with a six-figure salary, carrying the full weight of household costs limits your ability to save, invest or spend on yourself.

Lifestyle imbalance and negative emotions. When one person is financially constrained while the other uses their full income for leisure, it can foster resentment.

Power imbalance. Financial inequality can also seep into decision-making. The partner who pays for everything may feel overburdened and unheard, while the non-contributing partner may avoid accountability.

Future financial insecurity. Without shared financial planning, big goals — from buying a home to starting a family — may be delayed or derailed entirely.

It’s about more than just paying the bills: aligning your values, goals and decisions is important in a successful relationship.

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How to address it before saying ‘I do’

Before walking down the aisle, a couple in this situation needs to be candid, in a productive, structured way. If you see yourself as the "giving" half of your relationship, here are a few practical steps to hopefully see change.

1. Have a values-based conversation

Frame the conversation not as a confrontation, but as a shared planning session for your future.

You can try something like: “I want us to feel like we’re building something together. Can we talk about how we want to manage money as a team?”

Focus on shared goals, like housing, travel, kids and retirement, and how to achieve them together.

2. Consider financial counseling

If emotions are running high, a third party can help. Premarital or financial counseling can uncover deeper money beliefs and create shared understanding.

Resources like the Financial Therapy Association can help you locate professionals near you.

3. Propose a fair cost-sharing model

A practical approach is using a cost-sharing model like a proportional contribution one.

Under this, you’d figure out the proportion of total household income you each bring in. This system keeps contributions equitable while acknowledging income disparities.

For example, say you earn 70% of your combined income and your partner earns 30%. You’d each contribute these proportions toward shared costs.

So, if those costs are $65,000 annually, you’d pay $45,500 per year, while your partner would pay $19,500 per year.

4. Set boundaries and deadlines

If your partner continues to resist contributing, it’s worth asking yourself if this is a difference in values or a refusal to partner in life. Marriage is a financial partnership as much as an emotional one.

Put yourself first by setting a deadline to revisit the conversation and being honest with yourself about your limits.

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Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Formerly friendly neighbors in Stonebriar, a quiet subdivision in northern Pinellas County, Florida, are at odds over an $82,000 special assessment the homeowner’s association (HOA) has levied.

It’s a lot of money — $1,400 per household.

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“It’s insane to ask people to pay that,” resident Ken Christensen told ABC Action News. “We have lives besides our mortgage payments. I personally have a son in hockey. There are people with kids in college.”

Unlike regular HOA dues, special assessments are meant to be one-time fees designed to cover unexpected expenses.

But this one follows another special assessment that the Stonebriar Improvement Association levied last year to the tune of $35,000, or $595 per household,

The situation has caused anger to erupt in the once-peaceful East Lake community of 59 single-family homes.

“When we all got the letter that showed why this assessment was necessary, people really reacted,” resident Dorothy King said.

What has residents at odds is the rationale. The board is raising the money to pay its legal fees in a long legal battle with one resident: John Siamas.

As with so many battles, it started over something seemingly small.

The heart of the conflict

It all began in 2020 when Siamas installed what he describes as a small "plastic, snap-together shed" in his backyard. The HOA board said the structure violates a rule prohibiting outbuildings in Stonebriar, and is suing Siamas over the matter, demanding he take it down.

“He put up a shed and the covenants indicated no sheds — and the board nicely asked him to remove it. He said no,” resident John Papa said. “One thing after another, now we’ve got a lawsuit on our hands.”

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For his part, Siamas says he told the Stonebriar Improvement Association board about his plan to install a shed, and the board never rejected it. Mind you, they didn’t agree to it, either.

Now Siamas has escalated an already tense situation with the board by attempting to trademark the HOA’s name: Stonebriar Improvement Association, Inc.

“I think it’s foolish,” Papa said. “Why would he do it?”

Many residents counter that the HOA’s costly legal battles are foolish.

The trademark case will cost an estimated $425 per hour over 141 hours through to November 2026. Former Stonebriar HOA president Stephen King says the trademark battle is unnecessary as the Stonebriar Improvement Association has served the community well for 33 years without having a trademarked name.

Meanwhile, Siamas has filed federal complaints against HOA president Gayle Zelcs over the board’s trademark challenge, saying she and the board are trying to ruin him financially and force him to “sell his home” and move out of Stonebriar.

For his part, Christensen agrees that the board and its president are causing unnecessary financial hardship in a battle he describes as “nonsense.” He wants things to return to normal.

“It’s a good family neighborhood,” he said. “It used to be peaceful, no drama.”

How HOA residents can protect themselves

Living in an HOA-governed community comes with financial responsibilities that can go well beyond monthly dues.

Special assessments for out-of-budget anomalies like legal fees, structural repairs or emergencies can cost homeowners thousands of dollars, often with little warning.

Unlike traditional emergency expenses (like a car repair or medical bill), HOA assessments may be non-negotiable and time-sensitive, with tight payment deadlines and legal consequences for nonpayment.

While you can’t avoid them altogether, there are things you can do to ensure you’re prepared:

Budget for the unexpected. Plan for financial risks by building a designated HOA emergency reserve in addition to your general emergency fund. Many HOAs set aside 25 to 40% of their monthly dues for reserves to avoid sudden assessments.

For individual homeowners planning, that translates to $2,000 to $5,000, ideally.

To estimate what you’ll need, review your HOA’s budget, reserve studies (which outline anticipated expenditures) and minutes to understand upcoming projects and potential liabilities.

If you see any red flags — lawsuits, aging buildings, vague expense reports — increase your reserve savings accordingly.

Review governing documents early. If you’re in the market for a condominium, understand the rules for special assessments before buying. For example, Florida law requires at least 14 days’ notice before forming a special assessment meeting.

Push for transparency. Attend meetings, demand clear breakdowns of fees and question exorbitant or unusual costs — like $82,000 in trademark legal expenses.

Build community alliances. Get to know your neighbors and understand their concerns and questions. When you’re in a unified front, it’s easier to vote in new board members, renegotiate payment terms or challenge unfair assessments.

Know your rights. Condominium boards can’t always apply unlimited assessments without owner approval. HOAs may face similar constraints depending on the state law and bylaws they’re subject to. If board actions seem suspect, seek legal counsel.

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Money doesn’t have to be complicated — sign up for the free Moneywise newsletter for actionable finance tips and news you can use. Join now.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Nestled in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kaimuki, a partially constructed building at 3615 Sierra Drive has become a focal point of contention.

One of Hawaii’s so-called “monster homes” — unusually large residences, sometimes occupied by dozens of people — the structure has stood incomplete for three years, drawing criticism from residents and scrutiny from city officials.

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“It’s really just a disguised apartment house with inadequate parking, so as a nearby resident, I think it really should just be torn down,” a Kaimuki resident said, according to KHON2 News in a story published May 27.

Here’s the story behind the property, and why residents are so unhappy.

What’s happening?

Three years ago, the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) revoked the property’s building permit after discovering discrepancies between the approved plans and the actual construction, per KHON2 News. A report by Hawai’i Public Radio says the structure exceeded the city’s floor area ratio threshold, had more bathrooms and wet bars than permitted and lacked sufficient side and rear yards.

After an appeal by the property owner was denied, new building permit applications to comply with the ordinance were filed, which are under review by the DPP, according to KHON2 News. A department spokesperson told the local broadcaster “the owner must pay a triple fee penalty for the permit, and possibly remove any portions of the work that do not comply with the monster homes ordinance.”

The DPP also noted that since 2022, 17 building permits have been revoked as part of a crackdown on such developments. Meanwhile, residents have voiced concerns about this particular unfinished building attracting illegal activity and being an eyesore.

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“I don’t think you can let these houses just sit there derelict indefinitely,” Elaine Evans told KHON2 News.

Another resident, Daniel, told the broadcaster: “Unfortunately, this monster home is very visible, that’s the problem … It’s just ugly.”

The problem with monster homes

Honolulu City Councillor Tyler Dos Santos-Tam spoke with KHON2 News last year to explain why monster homes can be a problem, particularly the one at 3615 Sierra Drive.

He described these homes as large and often stretching to the border of the lot. “Frequently, you’ll see numerous entry points — disguised as back doors or side doors — but really serving as the entrances to separate units. Monster homes will have dozens of bedrooms. At 3615 Sierra Drive, for example, the building had 19 bathrooms and 21 bedrooms.”

Unlike other parts of the city where there are high-rise buildings, this building was located in Kaimuki, “where no house has more than, say, five bedrooms,” Dos Santos-Tam said. Since the neighborhood wasn’t designed with high-density housing in mind, a monster home could potentially lead to problems.

“Assuming each bedroom goes to a separate person — which it often does — that’s potentially 21 new cars using street parking. That’s 21 new people using the area infrastructure — electrical, plumbing, water. That’s 21 new people who often aren’t attuned to the surrounding community. And this is assuming those people don’t have spouses, children, pets, etc.”

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Three Denver-area businesses face a combined $8 million in fines for allegedly employing unauthorized migrant workers in contravention of employment law.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agent Steve Cagen told Fox31 News that the fines are designed to uphold the law and “promote a culture of compliance."

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“The employment of unauthorized workers undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts law-abiding employers at a disadvantage,” he said.

The agency announced the fines publicly on X.

Who was fined and why

ICE said CCS Denver, Inc. — a commercial cleaning and facility maintenance company — knowingly hired and employed at least 87 unauthorized workers. It faces the largest fine: $6.19 million.

According to ICE, Denver’s PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc. demonstrated “a pattern of knowingly employing at least 12 unauthorized workers.” It was fined nearly $1.6 million.

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Green Management Denver was fined $270,195 after ICE identified 44 unauthorized employees.

ICE said its enforcement actions follow workplace audits. John Fabbricatore, a former field office director for ICE. said such audits have been going on for decades.

“They performed an I-9 audit in which they found multiple Social Security number (probably) mismatches and no matches,” Fabbricatore told Fox31.

“So, they went through with a civil violation of that and fined these companies for employing people who are unlawfully present in the United States and unauthorized to work (there).”

Undocumented workers pay a price

While the businesses face financial consequences from such audits, undocumented workers pay a high price on the job. Here’s how they’re typically impacted.

Wage theft

When employers knowingly hire unauthorized workers, they sometimes exploit that status to skirt labor laws, resulting in wage theft.

According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute, workers lose over $15 billion each year due to minimum wage violations alone — a burden that disproportionately affects immigrant and undocumented workers.

Benefits loss and job instability

Undocumented workers are rarely offered employee benefits like health insurance, paid sick leave or unemployment protections.

Their precarious legal standing often prevents them from reporting labor violations like unsafe conditions, wage theft or harassment.

For many, this is due to fear of retaliation or immigration consequences, including deportation.

But some workers also have visas tied to a specific employer, meaning that employer controls their visa status along with their livelihood.

Financial strain and tax implications

Although many undocumented workers pay taxes — often through Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) — they’re ineligible for many public benefits funded by those taxes.

They’re also more likely to face budgeting strain due to unpredictable income, lack of formal employment contracts and vulnerability to sudden job loss during enforcement actions.

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Michelle Boisjoli, a 37-year-old mom of three from St. Louis County, Minnesota, starts her days early and ends them late — not because she wants to, but because she has to.

As a full-time teacher earning $37,000 a year, she’s become part of a growing demographic of working Americans who need a second job to get by.

“It takes multiple incomes to survive in this economy,” Boisjoli told CBS News.

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A day-to-day struggle

Boisjoli’s days are a strained balance of child care, lesson plans and DoorDash deliveries. She feeds her young children — ages 1, 4 and 8 — before eating whatever leftovers remain to "try to make every dollar count.”

“I always grew up thinking about the stereotypical American dream, where you own a house and you have a yard to play in. And I think that dream is dying," she lamented.

Her story highlights a harsh reality confronting many today. A CBS News poll found that 2 out of 3 Americans are stressed about their finances, and 3 out of 4 say their income is not keeping up with inflation.

For Boisjoli, the reality is more cereal, less eggs and bacon — and the constant calculation of whether she can afford to gas up the car.

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The cost-of-living crisis

Boisjoli’s experience is far from unique. The cost of basic necessities, like food, gas and housing, has risen dramatically in recent years.

In early June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index showed a 2.4% year-over-year increase in inflation, driven largely by housing and food prices.

Wages, however, have not kept pace. According to a report by Pew Research Center, real wages — what people earn when adjusted for inflation — have fallen since the pandemic, eroding purchasing power across the board.

The median adult full-time, year-round salary dropped by more than $4,000 per year (from $64,321 in 2021 to $60,000 today).

Americans are working multiple jobs to get by. Since May 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently found that more than 5% of the workforce — about 8.5 million people — were holding more than one job.

That figure includes professionals like Boisjoli, who, despite full-time employment, must work evenings or weekends to afford life’s basics.

“I’ve had to take on a second job just because everything has gotten so expensive,” she said.

An out-of-touch system

Boisjoli’s frustration isn’t just with the cost of living, but also with the systems that allow it to persist.

“A lot of the people making the decisions for us are wealthy, don’t know what it’s like to work two jobs, don’t know what it’s like to have to pay for gas with quarters,” she said.

“If they knew a little bit about the average person who is fighting every day to make ends meet, I think that maybe they would make decisions that were actually helpful for the average person.”

She represents a disillusionment of younger working-age people with the American dream — a concept once defined by upward mobility, homeownership and economic security.

More than half of U.S. adults under 50, feel the dream is no longer possible — or was never possible.

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When Derek, 36, called into The Ramsey Show, he wasn’t just looking for financial advice, but for peace of mind as well.

Recently engaged and preparing to blend a family of five children, all aged between 10 to 12, Derek also brings something else into the marriage: $12 million in assets.

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His fiancee has about $50,000, plus some debt. That financial gap has led them into difficult conversations about whether a prenuptial agreement is the right choice.

“We started the process of looking into a prenup and it’s been an emotional one,” Derek admitted in a clip posted June 18. “And I totally understand why.”

A sticking point

Although the couple initially worked through a questionnaire together, his fiancee’s attitude shifted once the first draft of the agreement came back from Derek’s lawyer.

"She feels like I wouldn’t be fully entering the marriage in the same way that she is because it feels like I’m holding assets separately, off to the side,” Derek explained.

Cohosts Rachel Cruze and Jade Warshaw acknowledged the complexity of the situation — one that includes a significant wealth imbalance and a sensitive family dynamic.

“It’s a very tough way to start out a marriage,” Warshaw said. “Because we’re dividing ‘yours’ versus ‘mine,’ and everything else in the marriage is ‘ours.’”

Derek says any income the couple earns after marriage would be shared, and the plan is for his fiancee to leave her job to manage the household full time. Derek also said he would pay off her small remaining debt after the wedding. They’ve also discussed buying a home together with Derek’s money but titled in both their names and treated communally.

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However, the prenup, as it’s written, also states that any growth from Derek’s $12 million would remain solely his.

That point, Warshaw noted, is something she’d ponder if entering into such a marriage

“How can we protect what you’ve already created, but how can I be a player in how that grows from here on out [and] be a part of that?” she wondered aloud.

Cruze offered a way to frame the situation: “We are living our lives together as one, but if something ever happened in a divorce, this part still goes back to me.”

Derek agreed, acknowledging that the only time the wealth would not also be hers is if they legally go through a divorce, and confirmed it’s how they want to go into the marriage.

When a prenup makes sense — and how it can evolve

Prenuptial agreements are often recommended when there’s a major financial imbalance, one partner has substantial debt or either person owns a business or expects to receive a large inheritance. Prenups are a way of protecting one’s assets in the event a marriage ends — if you get a divorce without one, they may be at the mercy of state laws.

In Derek’s case, Warshaw floated the idea of a “progressive” agreement — one with clauses that loosen restrictions over time.

While Derek’s current agreement doesn’t include a sunset clause, that kind of flexibility can be introduced later through a postnuptial agreement, which allows couples to revise terms after marriage. Some prenups even allow for amendments or revocations, as long as both parties agree in writing.

Prenups have become more common. A 2023 survey commissioned by Axios found that 1-in-5 married U.S. couples had signed a prenup, while half of adult respondents stated they at least somewhat supported the use of prenups.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.