George Kamel - I Asked People at Disneyland How Much Debt They Have

Episode Date: June 8, 2026

💵 Start your free budget today. Download the EveryDollar app! I’m here at downtown Disney to find out how much the happiest place on earth is costing people by asking one question: How much debt do you have? It’s a tale as old as time.   Next Steps: • 🎥 Watch my video I Asked People at Disney How Much Debt They Have! • 📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.   Connect With Our Sponsors: • Get up to 20% off Cozy Earth with code GEORGE. • Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. • Go to Boost Mobile to switch today!  • Go to FAIRWINDS Credit Union for an exclusive account bundle!   Explore More From Ramsey Network: 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 📈 EntreLeadership   Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine going to Disney, the land of escapism and fantasy, just to have someone remind you about your crushing debt. Well, today, I am that someone. I'm here at Disney in Anaheim to find out how much debt people have and how much this trip is costing them. And before we get to the harassment, shout out to delete me for sponsoring this very expensive field trip. Let's get to it. How much consumer debt do you have aside from a mortgage right now? Well, 500, because I'm almost about to pay off my car. Oh, man down.

So how much is left on the car loan? $400, so. $400 total left on the loan? That's all. You could pay it off today. Yes, I can. How much you got in savings? Like $3,000.

So you could pay it off today and still have tons of money left over. Why aren't you? Just waiting, you know, because it's about to be the first of the month. So I'm just waiting for that. Waiting for the next payment? And then it'll be done. And that's all the debt you have. No credit card debt, no student loans, nothing.

Okay. How about you? I just got me a brand new car, a 20, 2025 of Acra ADX. I don't know if you know about cars. Acura ADEX. ADX? ADX. It's the new one.

That's the new one. Yes. What does that run? Out the door like 42,000. Really? Yes. Credit card, a low $3,000. Okay, we're up to, you know, 45 now.

Yeah, and then no student loans. You know what, a little target, another $1,000 for a target credit card. Okay. And then... Number 46? That's about it right now. So $46 grand in debt. What's the car payment on that ACURA?

It's about $600 a month. Okay. years. Do you even know? Or interest rate? My interest is like a 6.7 and it's about six years. Six years. Are you going to take six years to pay it? Like just make the payment every month or what? Hopefully I can do a little extra payment, monthly payment, then I'll throw it on the principal. Okay. All right. You're up next. How much debt do you have? My car is like 42,000 also. Oh, nice. Yeah, I got a 2025 Hyundai, Santa Fe. Okay. Because I got four kids. So, yeah. They all fit in the Santa Fe. Is that a lot?

a third row situation? Yeah. Okay. Third row. Yeah. Nice. And then. What's the payment on that? It's a little high because I was upside down. So you rolled over negative equity from another car. Because it wasn't worth it. Like the car I had was almost 19,000 left on it and the car's worth was like 5,000. So you double down. So it was like I rather get something that I love that I will keep long term and just bite the bullet now. When you be underwater on that already now because car isn't worth it because you had the negative equity? So I sold it. So like they took it. They sold it. So I got some. some money on it. So it made my payment go a little lower. Okay. So what's the payment now with all that

negative equity? It's like a seven. Seven something? Seven. Yeah, 700. Okay. Any other debt? And then I have probably like with all my credit cards like 10,000. Another 10. Okay. So she got you beat. She's at, she's at 52. Real. 10,000. Let's do some math. Let's say you never took on a car payment again. You just saved up and paid cash for your car and we just invested that payment. So let's ride this out for 20 years, let's say. 26 to 46 for easy numbers. Okay? So 26 to 46, we're going to invest that car payment instead. And let's say you have nothing in retirement, which you have some, right? I do, yeah. How much you think you have? I would say maybe close to 20. Okay, great. Let's put you at 20 because that's your real numbers. And then monthly, we're going to contribute that car payment, which was how much? 435. 435. I'm going to go with a 10%

average annual return. That's what we've seen in the stock market. You'll probably see that in your TSP over 20 years, you know, took the average of it. Now hit calculate for me. Let's see where you'd be at. $400,000,876 and $887. About half a million bucks. And that's just 20 years. Now imagine someone going to their 60s because that's going to hockey stick. Is that impress you? That does impress me. Yes. You ever seen half million dollars sitting in one of your accounts? No. It's going to feel pretty good. Not in this economy. Exactly. Okay. You want to play a the game? Sure. Okay. How old are you? I'm 35. 35. Okay. You want to ride it out for 20 years too? Sure. Are you like, I'm not going to 55 investing? Every day is a different day. So I'm going to say yes today

because I'm not at work. All right. So you want to go 55. Let's say that you had income coming in. You were continuing to invest. Okay, for 20 years. 35 to 55. How much do you have an investment so far? So I have about $3,000. Okay. So we'll put $3,000. Are you talking about TSP? or savings? Oh no, I have like about because I put 10% on my check there. So I have close to $30,000. Nice. Okay. I'm going to bump to $30,000 for you.

And how much is that car payment? 600. 600. So let's say you got aggressive, you paid off the car and you didn't go back into car loan. All right? You just started investing that payment instead. It started building wealth for yourself. Let's see. You hit Calculate.

$675,416. Wow. Does that surprise you? Yes. What'd you think it was going to be? Not, I mean, it's about $200,000 more than hers. And that's if you just invest that. You're already investing more than that with your 10%. That's correct.

I imagine it's 15%. Wow. You're probably investing $1,000 or $1,500 a month at that point, right? Right. So you're probably going to have seven figures in that account once you retire. If you just stay focused and avoid debt. Correct. Does that make you change your plans to get rid of this card debt?

For sure. How about you? Oh, yeah. I'm guessing your numbers would be very similar, if not more, with your... Because I've been in a longer. You've been in a longer, and you've got a slightly bigger payment. So you start investing that. Yeah, no, it'd be a lot.

I'm looking at future millionaires here. For today, we're having fun at Disney. Yes. Oh, I got a gift for you guys. So this is every dollar. This is our premium budgeting app so that you can make a plan for every dollar you got coming in. So it's an app. You list your income, your expenses.

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Have a little budget, you know, girly pop meeting. Yeah, period. That's right. You're like, now we're talking. Make it a party. Doesn't have to be boring. That's right. I love it.

How'd you pay for the trip today? Was it on a card, like credit card, cash? The trip, I used the card, but I also had the money saved, so I like to build credit. that way. So I had most of the money. I bought the trip, spent for half of it. And then before we came, I spent the other half on the card. So the trip was good. Okay. What's the current balance to pay off on all of your cards? I'm paid off right now on all my cards. Oh, we're not playing

that game, dude. I know a lot of money. What's the total balance? You couldn't shock me. I'm probably about 14 grand into the cards right now. On credit cards. On credit. Credit cards. Okay. And that's probably, I don't know, 26% APR. Like that, like that 22%. Yeah. Do you ever add up the interest and and go like half and it hurts. Yeah. I missed the payment yesterday. So it'd be No, it irritated me a little bit. So they hit you? Yeah, they got me good on that one. It bounced, and the interest hits immediately when they do that.

Oh yeah, man. Okay, do you have any other types of debts like car loans, suit loans? No, no. We're good on that. I'm paid off on that stuff. I didn't go, I was, I'm a trade worker, so. And those student loans for me. You find people in the trades can avoid debt better?

I, well, they don't like to tell you you can make $80,000 to $90,000 a year without owing them $200 grand by the end of it. You know what I mean? I mean, I make a good amount of money doing carpentry, and I didn't pay $200,000 to go to school. Yeah. I know what I mean? And I still make close to $100,000 a year. So what is the device for people in the trades? Are they getting a big truck with a payment or what? I mean, if you own the company, everything's a tax write off, right? So if you own your company, you have a license or anything like that, you can ride off your trucks. You can ride off

as long as it's for your work. You know what I mean? It's a good way around. Who's writing it off? You write it off. As an expense for your business. Okay. You get reimbursed in the end. Yeah. So what's the game plan to pay off the 14 grand in credit card debt? Just keep grinding, bro. That's what I do. No, you know, you know, You know, my wife has a good job also, so we kind of pulled together and we, we've paid off debts before, so we'll get this one knocked down too. But I mean, there's never, there's not really a game, it's just I keep grinding. I try and stay under the interest.

Don't miss payment. That's what it is. Do you ever think about just cutting up the cards and just going to all cash and debit? I'm paying all the time, seeing what they're going to do. What can you really do about it? What are you doing? What are you doing? Actually, yes.

Put me in jail? It's real. And that's the funny part, right? Like what are they actually gonna do, you know? Yeah, they'd probably get a judgment against you and garnish your wages. That's a worst case scenario. Take your money. Yeah.

Just force it out of your banking. They're already taking the money, you know what I mean? But yeah. Do you guys have any consumer debt right now that you're working on paying off or that's sitting around? My car. Car payment. What's the total loan balance and what's the monthly payment?

Total loan balance is going to be 29. That's the remainder. I just got the car. What kind of car is it? Hyundai, Kona, 25. Nice. And what's the monthly payment on that? It is 450.

$450. Okay, how about you? I do have a credit card debt, totally about $5,000, but that's about it. $5,000 credit, no credit card. You got no car payment here. You have the car payment, what about credit card debt? I think it's $400. That's all I have on my Apple card right now.

On the Apple card? Okay. And no other debt, no student loans, personal loans, medical debt, anything like that. So what's the game plan to knock out the car loan? Like, you just kind of pay the minimum payment until it's done? Well, I've been paying about $600. every month. Okay. So like the base, the pay. An extra 150 a month? Yeah. So I know my brother, he was the one that kind of taught me to do that. And how about your plan to pay off the credit

card debt? What's, are you doing anything strategy wise? No charging on it. And then, uh, pay double as much as you can and make sure it goes down. Would you ever consider just like cutting up the card or something after you pay off the debt? Yeah, I would. Yeah. Of course, um, I have about five right now. So maybe tricking it down to like two would probably be more feasible when I paid at all. Okay. Like when you open the credit Did you ever, were you like, I'm never going to go into debt? What was the mentality? I was just aggressive, like, oh yeah, I have a car. I want to do this. I want to do this. I was also happy. Thank you for the honesty. Because most people do, right? They're excited. It's like,

it feels like, ooh, someone gave me some money to spend. Exactly. And then I learned like, easy, like, they come after you. It's always like, you know, just pay your bills off. And I, I daily look at my credit score to make sure it's going good, going up, going, you know, staying at what this to be. So I'm very active on that too. So, yeah. Okay, how about, do you know your credit score? 7.52. Oh. Do you have some credit score envy right now?

A little bit, but I know I earned. I deserve it because I do have a high debt ratio right now. You deserve it. You deserve the punishment? Yeah, because I'm going to charge a lot on the debt. So you know what? I have to pay it down. And I'm sure it's going to go back up to seven.

Okay. You want to guess my credit score? You's looking at me like, uh, this guy. I will say $6.95. I would say like 790. That's very generous of you guys. It's so much lower than you would ever think. Really?

I mean, go as low as you think a credit score can go. 790? I mean, I'm sorry, $490? It's as close to zero as possible because it doesn't exist. Oh, really? Yeah, I don't have one. Okay. I'm off the grid, man. Oh, okay. I don't have any credit.

I don't have any debt. No credit cards open, and so therefore, six to 12 months after your debt-free with no accounts open, poof. Oh, wow. Yeah, your credit, invisible is what it's called. Oh. Like a cloak of invisibility. Talking about debt isn't exactly comfortable. But you know what is? Everything from Cozy Earth, a sponsor of today's video.

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So go to boostmobile.com slash Ramsey and make the switch today. $25 forever requires customers to remain active on Boost Unlimited plan. What is your total debt right now if you added it all up? Probably like 300. What are you doing at Disney? We have animal passes. Oh, wow. So you come here a lot?

Yeah, yeah, I do. How often? How many times a year? This pass, we were trying to go 20 times. I've probably been about 14 times within the past year. So you didn't hit your goal? No. It was a huge fail.

Yeah. How much does an annual pass cost? I have the highest, so mine's 1800. Woo! Yeah. How'd you pay for that? Payment plan. Oh, a payment plan.

Is it an interest? No. 0%. $1,800. Who do you owe the money to? Just to Disney. Mickey? Yeah.

Are there any other payment plans you wish to disclose at this time? No, I want nothing else. You don't do any buy-now pay later? No. Clarna, a firm, afterpay? No. Can we have anyone verify that you don't have any other debt outside of the payment plan? Yeah, you can tell you ask my mom.

Ma'am? Yeah. Is she telling the truth? Okay, do you co-sign on her decision so far? No. All right, mom does not go sign. How much debt do you guys currently have? I don't think that I have any right now.

I'm too young. No credit card debt, no student loans, no car payment. Luckily, my dad pays my car payment. So you do have debt, but dad's paying the bill? I have debt to my family. Is it in your name or is the debt in his name? That's a good question. I should probably figure that out.

Thank you. But he's paying the payment. Do you know what the payment is? I do not. I don't drive my, like, it's not my car. And I don't drive it right now. So not your car, you don't drive it. He pays the payment.

What is going on? She's a California girl. Yeah, so basically when I moved, I don't have a car. I guess that's how I save money on payments. I have a bike. Okay, you bike around. So your car's on the East Coast? Yes, it is.

Oh, okay. Well, that changes things. Okay, and that's all the debt that you know of so far. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Doesn't instill confidence, but we'll continue. How about you?

Do you know anything about your money? I am indebted to like an employment program in a way. How does that work? I have to work for them for three years, but because of that, I don't have any... I think that's a form of modern slavery. A little bit. An indentured servant? For working my job.

They also, they pay for her education. She just has to like work, like, sell her soul to the company. Oh, okay. For that, it's true. traded your everlasting soul. So you can't leave? No. Golden handcuffs. Yeah. But if I did leave, I would be in a lot of

debt. How much are we talking? About $120,000. No car payment, no credit card debt? I don't have any credit card debt. I don't have a car payment. Congratulations. So you feel debt-free as long as you continue this job. Yeah. I feel emotionally

full of debt, but in terms of my financial records, as of now I'm debt-free. Okay, but in the back of your mind, looming that like hopefully this all works out? Yes. Yeah, I can't get fired. That would be so bad. Yeah. I'm a vacation ruiner, I've been told. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah. But you guys are fine. You're gonna be okay. We're gonna be fine. I'm not so sure about that. Well, depending on your definition of fun, that was fun. The debts range from minimal amounts of credit card debt to massive amounts of car loans and student loans.

And here's what I found the common denominator debate. Most people weren't intentional about paying off their debt. They were maybe making an extra payment here or there, but not a lot of planning like it took to plan this trip to Disney. So I want to encourage you to get out of debt, stay out of debt so that your life is more peaceful and more full of magic. And if you want to use that investment calculator, I'll drop a link in the description below. And if you want to find out if the East Coast is just as crazy as the West Coast,

I went to Disney on the other side of the country to find out how much debt they have. So click here to watch it next or use the link in the description. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time. Now time for fun. Thank you.