‘The point is not Africa’: Oklahoma newlywed asks Dave Ramsey if she and her husband should take an African safari or keep saving for a house — and his answer surprises everyone, even himself

“We entered a raffle and found out that we won a nine-day all-inclusive hunt in South Africa,” she explained.

Although the $20,000 package is described as “all-inclusive,” she discovered they’d have to pay up to $15,000 in out-of-pocket expenses — including airfare, transportation, gun rentals and taxidermy. The taxidermy piece was important to Ashley.

“I’d like to have a zebra rug,” she explained. “That would be pretty cool.”

“You can buy them,” Ramsey noted.

Ashley wasn’t sure whether they should spend so much money on a luxury vacation while they’re still saving for a home.

“If you could help us with our first marital financial hurdle,” she asked Dave Ramsey.

Ramsey’s advice surprised her — and, he admitted, even himself. Because her answers surprised him.

Decision time: African hunting trip or first home purchase

When Ramsey asked about the couple’s finances, Ashley said they made $275,000 a year.

“In our first year of marriage, we are debt-free with our fully-funded emergency fund,” she added.

What’s more, they are on track to buy their first home in April 2026 with an $87,000 down payment.

That’s when Ramsey came around. He told Ashley he had expected to declare a “hard no” on the trip and advise the couple to stay on track with saving for their first home.

“You gotta do this stuff in order,” he said.

But he noted that based on what Ashley revealed about their financial position, the trip would only set them back a few months on a down payment — but be a priceless experience.