'Words matter': Ramsey Show hosts sound off on 22-year-old Knoxville man after he said his parents were 'financially abusing' him over a cosigned loan — what they told him to do next

He says he received around $4,000, partly from a work study and also a student loan refund, which he used to pay off some debt. His parents didn’t react well.

“They were just absolutely furious at me, saying that was their money, and about how hard they worked to put me out here and everything like that,” Tyler said.

But after getting more details, the cohosts strongly disagreed that Tyler’s parents were exhibiting signs of financial abuse.

Family matters

It’s unclear how much of the cash Tyler received was from a student loan refund. Warshaw clarified that student loan refunds can happen when, “you took out a loan and the loan was too much for what school actually costs, and so they gave you the money back in cash but it is still loaned money.”

Tyler and his mom both cosigned on the student loan, which means the money would be tied to her as well.

But Tyler described his parents as “spenders,” and while they’ve helped him financially, he also says they’ve previously haggled him for money.

“It's just a money struggle,” he said. “When I ask for money if I need it, they just never give it to me or they're 50-50 on it.”

Coleman was quick to jump in: “But that’s not abuse.” The cohosts agreed.

“Let me be very clear. You need to stop saying they're financially abusing you, because this is not anywhere close to it. It's dramatic. And by the way, words matter,” Coleman said.