He called electricity and water his homemaker wife’s 'luxuries' because he paid the bills. Dave Ramsey’s blunt reply is for every stay-at-home spouse
'Because, honey, you may put up with this for a while....,' Ramsey warned
Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey (@daveramsey) brought a chauvinistic man down from his high horse after he tried to control how his wife should spend her household income. In an Instagram video of "The Ramsey Show" posted on March 15, 2026, Ramsey addressed the financial and emotional dilemma of this wife, named Christina, whose husband was trying to impose restrictions on her spending activities, also belittling her for enjoying facilities like electricity and water without paying for these. Christina asked Ramsey whether it’s logical for her husband to manipulate her finances just because she stays at home while he goes out to work for money.
It's marriage, not an allowance system
Emotion welled up in the eyes of co-host Rachel Cruz as Ramsey offered his perspective on Christina’s situation. Christina told him that lately, her husband had been displaying a sexist attitude, particularly concerning their finances. He believes that he can spend the money the way he wants to, but just because she’s a stay-at-home spouse, she can’t choose what to do with the money. “I have been told that I should just let him deal with the finances because he's a man of honor,” Christina shared. She added that her husband often belittles her by saying that she should confine her happiness to the little luxuries she has access to, for free, such as electricity and water.
He's not as powerful as he thinks himself to be
Ramsey instantly shut down the man as a “little twerp” who’s dysfunctional and “relationally bankrupt.” He demonstrated a fresh perspective to the woman with his own marriage as an example. He said his wife hasn’t worked outside the home for over 40 years, but "she" has an incredible income, and she decides to choose where she wants to spend it. He reiterated that the man "doesn’t have as much power as he thinks he has." And in case he’s unsure, a divorce attorney can “teach him” by subtracting a “big chunk” of his income and giving it to Christina to take care of their child.
Ramsey said not earning personally doesn’t invalidate the power a woman has over household finances. He also warned that the man-child that her husband is wouldn't have a wife for long if this treatment continues. “Because, honey, you may put up with this for a while, but you're going to wake up in a few years and go, I'm done with you,” Ramsey put it poetically.
Financial independence is a right
From the viewpoint of psychology, this case would probably come under the category of economic abuse. A study published in Sage Choice explained that economic abuse in intimate relationships presents an increased risk of poor mental health and financial insecurity. 15% of the ever-partnered women reported experiencing economic abuse. The most prevalent act cited by 8.8% of the responders was "refused to give money for household expenses."
Another survey of 6,035 households, published in Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, found that the relationship between a woman’s financial independence and a man’s distress is U-shaped. The study found that men experienced greater psychological distress when they were the sole breadwinners and when their wives were the sole breadwinners, reflecting traditional social norms around masculinity.
'Household income means both people have a vote. Always'
Viewers were saddened to hear the account of the concerned wife and, in general, the state of stay-at-home women in society. @kristen.a.moy commented, “How do we get to this point in society where we don’t value mothers raising their own kids?” @yoli_3.0 said, “I own a financial practice… the moment a woman allows a man to control the finances, it is over.” @zerojargon added, “If one spouse controls the money, it’s not a marriage — it’s an allowance system. Household income means both people have a vote. Always.”
You can follow Dave Ramsey (@daveramsey) on Instagram for finance-related stories and expert advice.
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