“I took on debt to help my family. Now she won’t marry me.”

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Rachel (31) and Pierre (42) who have been together for four years, building a loving and stable life in Brooklyn. But one issue is holding everything back: Pierre’s $60,000 in debt from a failed business he started to support his family. His plan is to wait it out, hoping the problem disappears. But Rachel is unwilling to move forward towards marriage until there’s a plan in place. To her, his passive approach feels like a warning sign for their future together. Can Ramit help them face the reality of this debt, make a plan, and build a shared vision? In this episode we uncover: * Why Rachel vowed never to date someone with debt — and why she chose to date Pierre anyway * Pierre’s family vape shop business collapse and the $60,000 in debt he took on to try to save it * The stark difference in how each partner views the debt * Why Pierre believes ignoring the judgment is a valid strategy * Rachel’s habit of minimizing her own fears * How Pierre’s family history shaped his own sense of obligation * Rachel’s painful history with her mother being scammed out of $60,000 * The tension between investing for the future versus paying off past mistakes * How cultural expectations and family loyalty complicate Pierre’s decision-making around money * The breaking point: Rachel admits she cannot say yes to a proposal without a clear plan for the debt * Ramit’s game plan to get the debt paid off — the right way ⏩ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) “If you don’t handle this debt, I won’t marry you” (00:19:50) Ramit breaks down their numbers (00:27:25) “Happy wife, happy life” — but what about the debt? (00:41:53) He took on debt for his family — but at what cost to his future? (00:55:01) “I don’t ask my dad for money… and I don’t ask Pierre either” (01:07:31) How small sacrifices can open the door to big changes (01:23:21) Logistics are a big turn on (01:30:50) Where are they now? Rachel and Pierre’s follow-ups 💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER * I share new ways to think about money every Sa