“I carry the baby, the bills, and the stress”

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Monica (36) and Michael (33) who have been married just over a year and are navigating the pressures of new parenthood — but Monica feels like she’s doing it alone. She pays the rent, covers childcare, and works a demanding job, while Michael juggles three jobs and carries shame about his income and past financial mistakes — including an eviction he never told her about. Despite a recent 50% salary increase, Michael didn’t share the news, reinforcing Monica’s sense that she’s carrying the emotional and financial load. Can Ramit help them rebuild trust, communicate transparently, and step into a true financial partnership? In this episode we uncover: * Michael’s quiet shame about earning less * How an eviction early in their relationship shattered Monica’s trust * The $95K salary increase Michael never told her about * Why Michael’s “Swiss Army knife” mentality is sabotaging their relationship * What Monica really means when she says she wants a financial partner * Why transparency is still a major hurdle * The emotional gap in their relationship, and how it’s showing up in everything from birthday celebrations to debt payoff plans * What finally shifts when Michael shares his debt-free timeline ⏩ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) “I feel like a leech” (00:18:28) Ramit breaks down their numbers (00:25:56) “I got a 50% raise…and didn’t tell her” (00:33:24) Why she’s always the last to know about his money (00:42:59) The secret that shattered her trust early on (00:46:26) He paid off half his debt — but still struggles to celebrate it (01:00:03) Torn between faith and financial goals (01:04:38) When earning more still isn’t enough (01:26:25) Are they finally rowing in the same direction? (01:35:17) Where are they now? Monica and Michael’s follow-ups 💡 RAMIT’S PODCAST NEWSLETTER * I share new ways to think about money every Saturday. Get the emails here: https://iwt.com/podcastnewsletter 🙌 GET HELP FROM RAMIT SETHI * Order my new book: Money for Couples: https:/