Why Buying a Home Isn’t the American Dream Anymore
Oh my God, why aren't interest rates coming down? I'll never be able to buy a home. Why do you want to buy a home so badly? You're joking, right? If you're renting, you're an idiot loser who throws money into a black pit. Everyone says so. Who's everyone? Mathematically, it's smarter to rent than buy in all 50 of the largest U.S. metros. Any money you'd save by renting, you could invest into other things. Well, Dave Ramsey said, I have to buy a house.
Dave Ramsey is also a dinosaur. In 1990, when he was 30, the minimum wage was $3.80. In 2025, you're 30, and the minimum wage is $7.25. So the minimum wage has roughly doubled, but the median housing price in his home state of Tennessee back in 1990 was $58,000. In 2025, the median list price in Tennessee is 423 thou. So wages have been multiplied by two, but housing has been multiplied by more than seven. You see how the math isn't mathing.
Right? Wait, so I don't need to buy a home to be a real adult? If you're buying a home solely for financial reasons, especially just because someone else thinks you should, it probably doesn't make sense. And these days, buying a home is a lot more about wanting to paint the walls, put down roots, and build memories in one place.
That's okay. Not every decision has to be a financial one. But let it be known, if we're only looking at the numbers, no one would be buying houses. Don't get duped by financial gurus who are out of touch. I'm Vivian, your HBFF, and your favorite Wall Street girlie who has the financial credentials to prove it. If you want to learn more about your money, follow me.
Why Buying a Home Isn’t the American Dream Anymore
Oh my God, why aren't interest rates coming down? I'll never be able to buy a home. Why do you want to buy a home so badly? You're joking, right? If you're renting, you're an idiot loser who throws money into a black pit. Everyone says so. Who's everyone? Mathematically, it's smarter to rent than buy in all 50 of the largest U.S. metros. Any money you'd save by renting, you could invest into other things. Well, Dave Ramsey said, I have to buy a house.
Dave Ramsey is also a dinosaur. In 1990, when he was 30, the minimum wage was $3.80. In 2025, you're 30, and the minimum wage is $7.25. So the minimum wage has roughly doubled, but the median housing price in his home state of Tennessee back in 1990 was $58,000. In 2025, the median list price in Tennessee is 423 thou. So wages have been multiplied by two, but housing has been multiplied by more than seven. You see how the math isn't mathing.
Right? Wait, so I don't need to buy a home to be a real adult? If you're buying a home solely for financial reasons, especially just because someone else thinks you should, it probably doesn't make sense. And these days, buying a home is a lot more about wanting to paint the walls, put down roots, and build memories in one place.
That's okay. Not every decision has to be a financial one. But let it be known, if we're only looking at the numbers, no one would be buying houses. Don't get duped by financial gurus who are out of touch. I'm Vivian, your HBFF, and your favorite Wall Street girlie who has the financial credentials to prove it. If you want to learn more about your money, follow me.
This video went viral because it challenges one of the most deeply ingrained financial beliefs in American — and broader Western — culture: that buying a home is an essential milestone of adulthood and the smartest financial move you can make. Vivian flips this myth on its head using sharp logic, humor, and hard data — all delivered in a way that’s both bold and accessible.
The emotional hook — “OMG, I’m never buying a house!” — instantly resonates with younger viewers frustrated by today’s housing market. She follows that with a stereotype-based dialogue (like “renting is throwing money away”), which many can relate to, and then breaks it down — creating a satisfying moment of myth-busting.
Vivian uses real historical data, showing that home prices have increased over 7x, while wages have only doubled. It’s not just educational — it’s shocking, and shock performs incredibly well in algorithm-driven platforms.
She also takes on a financial icon — Dave Ramsey — calling him a “dinosaur.” That moment spikes emotional engagement and fuels the comments section, without turning into a personal attack. Vivian is clear: if buying a home makes you happy, go for it. But don’t do it just because society told you it’s the only right path.
The reel works because it hits on widespread anxiety (high interest rates, housing unaffordability), debunks cultural myths, blends personal storytelling with real numbers, and ends with a message of empathy: “Not every decision has to be purely financial. But if you’re looking at the math — don’t get fooled.”
It’s a piece that educates, relieves pressure, and gives viewers that rare feeling of both clarity and validation — which is exactly why it spreads so fast.
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