‘So much wrong with this plan’: Utah mom says her family’s on food stamps while her husband’s in school. Ramsey calls it ‘irresponsible'

Finance personality Dave Ramsey expressed incredulity, saying that his company has hired many coders and their programs took much less time.

He also wasn't shy about sharing his opinion, saying, "It’s a bad plan. There’s so much wrong with this plan, it’s unbelievable.”

His response made Rachel cry, saying it was the "best thing" she'd heard in a long time.

Here’s why Ramsey says you shouldn’t "cash out on your family" to pursue your dreams.

Prioritize essentials before chasing your dreams

"You don’t get to put your three kids on food stamps so you can go get your degree.” Ramsey fumed, calling the idea "extremely irresponsible." He also described the whole situation as a "nightmare" rather than a dream.

"Your primary focus on this planet is not to self-actualize and feel good. ‘Oh, I want to live my dream, I want to live my passion.’ Find me a waaambulance,” Ramsey ranted. “Seriously, you go get a job. You feed your freaking kids first, before we talk about your dreams. You work 16 hours a day and make sure everyone is taken care of.”

Instead, Ramsey and co-host Dr. John Delony said that Rachel’s husband should be working full-time, and studying during the evening.

The family needs a solid budget in place so that they can afford to support the husband’s dreams without living on the poverty line.

Sort out needs vs. wants

Before pursuing a degree or another large financial goal, it’s critical to be on solid footing when it comes to money.

This couple needs to get honest about what they can afford, and ensure that their needs — feeding their family adequately, paying down debt, and saving for the future — are met before any wants are covered, which includes pursuing higher education.

They should balance their short-term savings goal, paying for the husband’s education, with their longer term goals, such as their children’s education fund and their own retirement savings.

They should also get clear on whether a shorter course on coding could help the husband achieve the same end. Moreover, this dream needs a cost-benefit analysis. Can he make enough money after his coding course to justify their current tight budget?

Computer programming is no longer the gold mine it once was, with the Washington Post reporting that this industry has recorded the worst downturn it has ever seen: more than a quarter of programming jobs have been cut in the last two years (2).

To put his family’s financial future at risk, Rachel’s husband should be clear that there will be a job waiting for him at the end of the line.

They need to discuss both budgeting and their long-term financial goals as a family.