‘We are the poor people': This couple with 2 children has a healthy income of $113,500 — so Ramit Sethi couldn't understand why they were 'stuck.' Then it became clear

‘We are the poor people': This couple with 2 children has a healthy income of $113,500 — so Ramit Sethi couldn't understand why they were 'stuck.' Then it became clear

In a recent episode of his podcast “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” financial expert Ramit Sethi spoke to a couple who said they make "decent money for a middle-class family" but are still struggling to make ends meet.

Bebe and her husband, Paul, find themselves in a precarious position that’s common across the U.S. Sixty-six percent of U.S. adults earning between $50,000 and $100,000 annually are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a December 2022 survey by PYMNTS and Lending Club.

"I found today's conversation pretty confusing at times," Sethi says in his introduction. "I wasn't sure why they were stuck in this financial situation."

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During the ensuing conversation, the couple admitted to being just as confused as Sethi.

"We don’t understand where the money’s going," Bebe said. "And in comparison to everyone else around us, and our peers, and our children’s friends, we are the poor people."

Here’s how their finances got stretched and what Sethi recommended they do to recover.

Unexpected challenges and bad habits

Real median household income was $74,580 in 2022, per the U.S. Census Bureau. Bebe and Paul have a household income of around $113,500, which puts them in the "middle class," according to the Pew Research Center.

However, unforeseen circumstances are partly to blame for their current position.

They had an unplanned pregnancy that led to the birth of their first son, Liam. That compelled them to change their lifestyle and move closer to Paul’s mom to seek support.

They later moved to be with Bebe's dad when he was diagnosed with cancer, before moving again to live with Paul’s dad who was also, unfortunately, diagnosed with cancer.

Struggling to keep up, the couple maxed out their credit cards. Paul even took out what sounds like a payday loan. He borrowed $750 at an extremely high interest rate which compelled the couple to make $200 bi-weekly payments. Eventually, they spent $3,500 on this short-term loan alone.

Paul said he regrets his decision because it made their financial situation much worse. “All it did was push us further down the road in the wrong direction,” he said.

Sethi acknowledged their struggles but also highlighted that reckless spending habits had a role to play in the couple’s predicament. For instance, Bebe described her $2,000 mattress purchase as “basic and midline” even though they had to use a line of credit to afford it.

They also have multiple credit cards and frequently use “buy now, pay later” apps to shop. "...before we realize it, all of these monthly payments are his entire paycheck, and we can’t afford rent," said Bebe.

Poor spending habits and excessive borrowing seem to have magnified the problems created by the curve balls life threw at them. Fortunately, Sethi had a plan for them.

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Dramatic changes

By the end of their conversation, it was abundantly clear that Bebe and Paul wouldn’t be able to pull themselves out of their financial hole without dramatic changes. Ramit Sethi had the following recommendations for the couple:

Reduce expensive debt

Paying off credit card balances and avoiding high-interest short-term loans is key.

Set modest goals

Aiming to save a modest sum of money to pay for a quick trip to Gavelston or Legoland would give the family something to work towards and motivate them to save.

Eliminate recurring payments

Cancelling subscriptions and memberships and avoiding "buy now, pay later" schemes would noticeably improve their finances.

Be honest with your kids

Bebe and Paul tend to shield their children from money issues, but Sethi recommends being honest with them and making changes together as a family. This should help them learn from their parents' mistakes and develop a better relationship with money over time.

Ask for higher pay

Sethi believes Bebe is getting underpaid and could boost her income by roughly $30,000 just by negotiating or switching to another employer.

Plan and constrain spending

Eliminating impulsive and wasteful spending is another top priority for the couple.

Some of these changes could also help other families living paycheck to paycheck.

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