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Despite earning an estimated combined income of $500,000 to $600,000 a year, Bill from San Diego admits he and his wife struggle to save any money — and it’s easy to see why.
“Our monthly expenses are about $30,000, and then add taxes to that, so we pretty much even out every year,” Bill told Dave Ramsey on an episode of “The Ramsey Show” in a clip posted Jan. 13.
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An exploration of the San Diego, California, couple’s finances and spending habits reveals how even high-earning households can struggle and end up living paycheck to paycheck.
Spending problem
A 2023 Empower survey found that 71% of U.S. adults believe earning more money would solve most of their problems, a mindset Ramsey once shared. However, he learned that higher earnings can’t fix poor organization and lack of detail.
Bill’s case shows that increasing income isn’t enough. He and his wife spend $12,000 a month on mortgages, $8,000 to $10,000 on charity, and $750 on a leased vehicle.
Ramsey considered their spending excessive, comparing it to “throwing a bale of dollars over the fence and coming back to see what’s left.” He advised them to create a detailed budget that tracks every dollar in and out.
Budgeting and tracking can help you understand where your money is going, so you can make every dollar work for you.
With YNAB, you can track spending and saving all in one place. Link your accounts so you can see a big-picture look of your expenses and net worth growth. You can prioritize saving for short or long term goals — like a vacation or a down payment for a house — with the app’s goal tracking feature.
If you want to pay debts faster, you can create personalized paydown plans to calculate how much interest you’d save if you topped up your monthly payments with a little extra.
The easy-to-use platform allows you to simplify spending decisions and clarify your financial priorities. Plus, you don’t need to add your credit card information to start your free trial today.
Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Easy targets
Data from Bank of America shows that 20% of households earning over $150,000 lived paycheck to paycheck in 2024, often due to expensive homes and high mortgage payments.
However, Bill and his wife seem to be spending just as much on their mortgages as they are on easily avoidable expenses. For example, they lease a vehicle, which Ramsey believes is unnecessary given their income. He suggested buying the car outright instead.
Additionally, nearly a third of their monthly expenses go to charity. While Ramsey supports generosity, he advised the couple to adjust their donations temporarily, especially since they aren’t investing.
Even high-income earners can struggle to save and invest, often facing lifestyle inflation and increased spending. You can significantly increase your savings by automatically investing your spare change with Acorns.
The app automatically rounds up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into a diversified portfolio. This means that while you’re still earning an income, every transaction — from your morning coffee to grocery shopping — contributes to building your wealth.
For example, when you spend $3.50 on coffee, Acorns will automatically invest the 50-cent difference. These small amounts add up over time.
Plus, with an Acorns Gold plan, you get a 3% IRA match on new contributions and the ability to customize your portfolio by selecting your own stocks.
Get help from a professional advisor
Seeking professional help from a financial advisor can be a game-changer when it comes to managing your money. According to Vanguard’s research, people who work with financial advisors see a 3% increase in net returns. This difference can be substantial over time. For example, if you’re starting with a $50,000 portfolio, you could potentially retire with an extra $1.3 million after 30 years of professional guidance.
Finding a financial advisor that suits your specific needs and financial goals is simple with Vanguard.
Vanguard’s hybrid advisory system combines advice from professional advisers and automated portfolio management to make sure your investments are working to achieve your financial goals.
All you have to do is fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial goals, and Vanguard’s advisers will help you set a tailored plan, and stick to it.
Once you’re set, you can sit back as Vanguard’s advisors manage your portfolio. Because they’re fiduciaries, they don’t earn commissions, so you can trust that the advice you’re getting is unbiased.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
