"Sarah's Struggles and How Dave Ramsey Saved Her Home"

Dave Ramsey is well known for his practical financial advice and helping people get out of debt. But his compassion and willingness to get personally involved in difficult cases is what really sets him apart. One such case was Sarah, a 40-year-old widow with 4 children who was facing the loss of her home due to foreclosure.

Sarah's Tragedy and Financial Struggles

Sarah's life was turned upside down 4 years ago when her husband tragically passed away at the young age of 36. He had been working for a roofing company and fell 30 feet through a skylight on the job. The injuries he sustained proved fatal. This left Sarah as the sole provider for their 4 young children, ages 8, 6, and twins age 2.

Thankfully, Sarah had been receiving Social Security and insurance payments related to her husband's death that helped her get by financially. But then the insurance company filed an appeal and froze those payments at the beginning of the year, throwing her finances into chaos.

Falling Behind on Bills

Without that steady income stream, Sarah fell behind on her mortgage payments. She had been surviving off the insurance money for years and wasn't working. By the time she was able to get a job at a nearby corporate office making $20/hour, she was already in a deep financial hole. The mortgage lender had initiated foreclosure proceedings, with the home scheduled to be repossessed in just 45 days.

Seeking Help from Dave Ramsey

In a state of panic and despair, Sarah called into Dave Ramsey's radio show for help. She tearfully explained her situation to Dave, sharing all the tragic details of her husband's death, the insurance appeal, losing her car to repossession, and now facing homelessness for her and her children. Dave listened compassionately before delivering the news that would give Sarah hope.

Dave's Plan to Save the Home

Dave reassured Sarah that she was not going to lose her home. As someone with decades of experience helping people get out of debt and financial problems, he was certain he could stop the foreclosure. His first step was to get Sarah connected with a local Ramsey Solutions counselor named Lisa to work directly with the mortgage lender.

Dave also assessed Sarah's current finances and budget. With her new job, she confirmed she could afford the mortgage payments going forward if she got caught up. The total amount needed was around $3,000 to become current plus fees. Dave then pledged to find a way to raise that money for Sarah to save the home.

Additional Support and Counseling

Knowing Sarah was struggling emotionally as well, Dave arranged for her to receive free counseling through Better Help for the next 6 months. He emphasized the importance of addressing her mental health during this difficult time. Dave also wanted to make sure Sarah had a local support system, so he committed to getting her plugged into a church community.

A Community Rallies Around Sarah

Through the power of Dave's large media platform and fanbase, word quickly spread about Sarah's story. Donations from listeners poured in to help pay the $3,000 needed. Within days, Sarah had a check to hand over to make her mortgage current again. The foreclosure was stopped in its tracks, saving her family's home.

As promised, Lisa the Ramsey counselor worked tirelessly with the lender to resolve the situation. She was able to get late fees waived and work out a new affordable payment plan for Sarah going forward. With the mortgage issue handled, Sarah could focus on rebuilding her life and caring for her children.

New Hope and Support

Staying true to his word, Dave also got Sarah plugged into a loving church community for ongoing emotional and practical support. Volunteers from the church helped Sarah get back on her feet by providing meals, childcare, rides to appointments, and more. Through counseling as well, Sarah learned healthy ways to process her grief and handle her finances going forward as a single mother.

FAQs

What happened to Sarah's husband?

Sarah's husband tragically passed away at age 36 after falling through a skylight while working for a roofing company. He suffered severe injuries that proved fatal.

How did Sarah fall behind on her mortgage?

After losing her steady income from her husband's life insurance and Social Security payments due to an appeal, Sarah fell behind while transitioning to a new job. Medical bills and other expenses contributed to her financial difficulties.

How did Dave Ramsey help Sarah?

Dave arranged for donations to become current on her mortgage, got her free counseling, and connected her with a supportive church community. He also had a counselor from his company work directly with her lender to save the home from foreclosure.

What did Sarah learn from this experience?

Sarah learned the importance of having a solid financial plan and budget as a single mother. She also gained valuable community support through Dave's connections that helped her get back on her feet emotionally and practically.