Her husband is a trained welder in his late 30s and, according to his wife, is “very physically capable.” But he refuses to hold a steady job, relying instead on annual gifts of $10,000 to $20,000 from his parents and doing the occasional odd job.
His wife, Hannah, shared her story on a recent episode of “The Ramsey Show,” revealing the emotional and financial toll his behavior has taken on their family.
A Marriage Strained By Financial And Emotional Imbalance
“I work for a school district, so it’s not like I make a ton of money,” Hannah explained. “But I make enough to cover the bills.” She owns their home, which she bought before they were married, and she pays the mortgage and all household utilities. They’ve been married since 2023 and have a toddler together. Her teenage daughter from a previous marriage also lives with them.
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Hannah said she recently insisted they split daycare costs for their child, which had previously all fallen on her. Her husband watches the toddler one day a week, but otherwise spends most of his time an hour away in his hometown, “hanging out with friends.” When she asks what he does during those days, she said she gets “weird ambiguous answers.”
“He has no character,” co-host John Delony said in response. “Speaking on behalf of all men: this is not a man. This is not somebody taking care of their kid. This is not somebody taking care of their wife.”
“All of that to me is a breakdown of character,” co-host Rachel Cruze added, “which will be a breakdown in the marriage.”
Hannah expressed concern about the potential financial risks of divorce. She’s debt-free aside from her mortgage and contributes to retirement accounts through her job. Her husband, on the other hand, has “a ton of debt.” She fears he could be entitled to part of her retirement and home equity.
Delony urged her not to make assumptions: “Sit with an attorney and get those answers.”
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A Path Forward, With Or Without Him
Delony asked Hannah what she was going to do next, emphasizing she couldn’t keep waiting for her husband to change. “You can’t make him do anything,” he said. “So where that leaves you is a series of really hard choices.”
He told her she had two options: leave and rebuild, or stay and accept the reality.
There was another layer to the situation: their lack of intimacy. Hannah said her husband resents her for it, but she’s still dealing with both physical and emotional trauma after a near-death childbirth experience. “It’s been a series of surgeries and medical things that have happened since then,” she explained.
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Financial stress, emotional disconnection, and resentment are eroding the relationship. Hannah is clearly capable and responsible, but without a true partner, the weight is unsustainable.
For those in similar situations, juggling family, career, and money, working with a financial advisor can provide clarity. Domain Money offers personalized, professional-led financial planning for households earning $100,000 or more. Their free strategy sessions are designed to help people make smarter, more confident decisions about their money.
If you’re feeling stuck, like Hannah, it may be time to get expert guidance and start putting a plan in place, whether you’re managing everything solo or trying to build a future with someone else.
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