'I Lied To My Girlfriend,' Says Debt-Free Man Driving A 1995 Toyota — 'Ramsey Show' Host Pushes Him To 'Come Clean' After Two Years
- - 'I Lied To My Girlfriend,' Says Debt-Free Man Driving A 1995 Toyota — 'Ramsey Show' Host Pushes Him To 'Come Clean' After Two Years
Casey B. RennerJanuary 12, 2026 at 12:01 AM
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A debt-free homeowner told "The Ramsey Show" that the way he talked about money became an issue as his relationship grew more serious.
"I lied to my girlfriend," Eli, a caller from Indianapolis, said. For about two years, he told her he "can't afford" certain things, even though he was out of debt, owned his home outright, and could afford most purchases he wanted to make.
His girlfriend often asked why he still drove a 1995 Toyota Tacoma, and Eli told the hosts that buying another vehicle was not a priority because he covered his own expenses and did not rely on her financially.
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How ‘I Can't Afford It' Became His Go-To
Eli told hosts George Kamel and Jade Warshaw that he realized a couple of months earlier that he had been lying.
"Usually behind every lie, there's a fear — there's a lie that you told yourself long before you lied to someone else," Kamel said.
Eli agreed and said the concern came from past relationships, where partners leaned on him financially after learning he was stable. He added that those experiences shaped how he talked about money.
He also told the hosts that his girlfriend knew his house was paid off. Eli said he shared that milestone with her about six months earlier and that she was the first person he told.
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Where ‘I Can't Afford It' Didn't Match Reality
The pattern continued when his girlfriend's family planned a cruise. Eli said he declined the trip after telling them he could not afford it, despite having the money to go. He added that the relationship had not been affected by missed trips or activities and that his girlfriend also preferred a simple lifestyle.
"You're not telling her your true motivation," Warshaw told him.
Kamel told Eli to speak directly with his girlfriend and "come clean," saying the outcome would be up to her, including the possibility that the relationship could end. "That's the only way forward," he said.
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