On the Ramsey Show – Highlights YouTube channel, the finance expert offered advice to Michael on how she could get out of debt.
Michael had $300,000 (around £235,000) worth of non-mortgage debt.
This included $10,000 (around £8,000) in credit card debt, $67,000 (around £52,000) in student loans, car loans $90,000 (around £70,000) and $50,000 (around £40,000) in other debts regarding his divorce.
He also has two rental properties and a pension worth $600,000 (around £470,000)
Michael said: “I don’t know what to attack first. I feel lost.
“I’ve lived like this my entire life. I want to get my life back; I’ve been ready for a long time.”
He has an annual income is $210,000 (around £164,000) working as a physician assistant.
The American finance personality was confused about how he had not been able to tackle any of his debt before this point as he makes a good amount of money each month.
Michael’s home is worth £900,000 (around £700,000) and he owes around $575,000 (almost £455,000) on it.
He wanted to know if he should take money from his pension to pay off some of his debts, however, he feared the tax penalty attached to doing this.
Mr Ramsey said: “Are you ready to get your life back because I’m getting ready to sell everything in your life.
“Sell both rental properties and cars this week. Then you can pay the rest of your debt off in two years.
“Your life sucks you’re drowning. Nothing is producing you joy. You sounded so overwhelmed and stuck that you were willing to do everything. You’re so stuck you can’t breathe.”
He suggested Michael buy two cars if he needs them worth £5,000 each (around £3,500).
Mr Ramsey said: “Who are you impressing? Why do you need this stuff?
“This didn’t happen all at once. This has been death by a thousand cuts layer after layer.”
Michael explained that he will be charged $50,000 (around £40,000) once he sells his properties for the capital gains charge however the finance guru said this is the price he has to pay to clean up his life.
He should get enough money from his rental properties to pay his taxes and be free so it’s worth it.
