A few generations ago, many kids learned a simple lesson: When they grew up, it would be their job to take care of their parents as they entered their golden years.
In the modern age, some have rebelled against this concept, putting elderly family members in nursing homes or leaving them to fend for themselves. While some find this cruel, financial pundit Dave Ramsey has an interesting — and somewhat shocking — take on the topic.
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In a new sound bite from The Dave Ramsey show, Ramsey advises a caller concerned about her financially unprepared parents becoming homeless that it is not her job to take care of them.
Marie’s parents make $280,000 a year, and she’s worried that they’ll end up homeless. pic.twitter.com/zjOfNND7Eh
— Dave Ramsey (@DaveRamsey) August 9, 2023
"My parents don't have anything saved for retirement, and for various reasons that I experienced growing up, my husband and I are not okay with them living with us in the future," Marie began.
"Why is it your job to take care of them?" Ramsey asked with a stoic expression. "If they go in the street, why is it your job to get them out of the street?"
"Because they're my parents and I love them and I don't want to see them homeless," the caller replied, explaining that her parents don't currently have a house, and they are in the process of moving because her father just got a new job where he makes $280,000 a year.
At this point Ramsey jumped back in, saying, "Stop. Stop. You don't need to do anything. You need to look at your mom and dad and say I love you, bye. People that make $300,000 a year and can't figure out a way to have housing aren't your problem. This is asinine that you feel you have to prepare for the homelessness of someone making $280,000."
While the caller continued to try to explain, Ramsey did not budge, cutting her off at the pass with his traditional hard-nosed take.
"If he screws up a $280,000 income and ends up homeless, that is not on you," he said.
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