35. Rachel Cruze | Why Money Feels So Hard (And How to Make It Simple)

If you've ever felt the quiet weight of comparison, wondered why money stirs up so much emotion, or simply wished someone would make the conversation about finances feel a little less overwhelming — this episode is exactly what you needed today. Amy and Jenny sit down with Rachel Cruze, bestselling author, personal finance expert, and daughter of Dave Ramsey, who has built her own incredible voice helping families and individuals find true financial freedom rooted in faith, self-awareness, and intentionality. Rachel opens up about what it was really like growing up in the Ramsey household — and it might surprise you. Money was never a source of rigidity or pressure, but rather woven naturally into everyday conversations, equipping her and her siblings with a foundation that only became clearer once she stepped into the real world. That contrast sparked her passion for reaching the next generation before debt and financial stress take hold. In this episode, Rachel shares: Why personal finance is 80% behavior and only 20% head knowledge — and what that means for how we change How money becomes tangled with identity, and the spiritual and emotional work it takes to separate the two The comparison trap, what's actually happening in our brains when we compare, and why celebration is the antidote Her own honest confession about where money still has a stronghold on her — and the question she asks herself before every purchase Her practical first step for anyone ready to take control: a forward-looking budget, and the free tool she recommends to get started Rachel also speaks beautifully to the intersection of faith and finances — how living with an open hand shapes not just your bank account but your character, your relationships, and your soul. Whether you're just starting out or have been on this journey for years, her warmth and honesty make the hard stuff feel genuinely approachable. We are so grateful Rachel brought her wisdom, her humor, and her whole self to this conversation. She is a reminder that financial health and spiritual health are far more connected than most of us realize — and that it is never too late to start. Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/rachelcruze/ Learn more about the Ramsey Cruise here: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/events/live-like-no-one-else-cruise Start budgeting today: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money/everydollar