- Dave Ramsey has sparked a backlash among Generation Z for his out-of-touch advice
- The ultra-frugal, conservative host is known for his no-nonsense approach to debt
- TikTok hashtag ‘#daveramseywouldntapprove’ now has more than 66 million views
Dave Ramsey has been one of the country’s most trusted sources of financial advice for thirty years thanks to his no-nonsense approach to debt.
But it seems there’s one audience Ramsey can’t captivate: Americans in their 20s and 30s.
Gen Z and millennials have criticized the 63-year-old host of “The Dave Ramsey Show” on TikTok for his “out-of-touch” advice that generally recommends households give up luxury and avoid debt at all costs.
The trend has already been viewed more than 66 million times under the hashtag ‘#daveramseywouldntapprove.’
Much of the criticism has been directed at Ramsey’s ultra-conservative approach to finance, advising his listeners to eat rice and beans and work multiple jobs to get out of debt.
TikTok users take aim at Dave Ramsey’s ultra-conservative approach to finances as he advises his listeners to eat rice and beans and work multiple jobs to get out of debt
A user named Jackie (pictured) explained: “He personifies boomer financial advice for millennials. He is in favor of selling your stuff and taking a second job to pay off your debts, while people sell their stuff and take a second job to pay their rent.”
Many social media users point to rising inflation and the increasing prevalence of student debt as evidence that his guidelines are outdated.
A user named Jackie explained, “He personifies boomer financial advice to millennials.
“He’s a proponent of selling your stuff and getting a second job to pay off your debts, while people sell their stuff and get a second job to pay their rent.”
“The debt is how they pay their grocery bill.”
Similarly, real estate agent David Wilson said in an excerpt: “I don’t disagree with anything he says. And some of the things he teaches actually help people, like saving for an emergency fund and trying to pay off your debts, from small to large.
“But the things he’s been saying especially lately are so far removed from reality and what’s going on in today’s society. There are so many who are barely making it and are doing everything they can to survive.’
Ramsey first came to prominence in the early 1990s when he started a radio show answering callers’ money questions in Nashville, Tennessee.
His frugal advice was inspired by his earlier life, when he incurred too much debt early in life, buying real estate, a Jaguar, jewelry for his wife and a trip to Hawaii.
In 1988 he was forced to file for bankruptcy.
Today, he has a net worth of $200 million, 4.4 million Instagram followers, and 1.9 million followers on TikTok.
Advice on his website includes curbing your daily $4 coffee habit, which he says could save individuals $22,995 over the course of 30 years.
Real estate agent David Wilson (pictured) said in a video: ‘I don’t disagree with anything he says. And some of the things he teaches actually help people, like saving for an emergency fund and trying to pay off your debts, from small to large.”
But younger Americans argue that treats like daily coffee are essential for their mental health.
Jarrod Benson, a 32-year-old comedian from Orlando, told Business Insider, “Self-care is extremely important and if that means buying a $6 cup of coffee every day, then do it.
“I’d rather be caffeinated than depressed on $6.”
Households are currently facing a perfect storm of rampant inflation, high interest rates, and rising college costs.
The annual inflation rate fell to 3.1 percent in January, down from a high of 9.1 percent in June 2022. But it means prices are still more than 13 percent higher than in 2021.
White-hot inflation led to one of the Federal Reserve’s most aggressive tightening cycles in recent history, sending interest rates soaring to a 22-year high.
Higher interest rates are theoretically intended to control consumer spending and reduce costs.
As a result, mortgage rates also hover around 6.77 percent, meaning homebuyers now have to spend an extra $700 per month on a typical home than if they had purchased two years ago.
Meanwhile, the average student debt for federal loans is now $37,000, according to the Department of Education.
DailyMail.com contacted Ramsey for comment.