I'm Debt-Free and Have Spent Years Saving and Investing. My Girlfriend Is Bringing $350K in Student Loans Into Our Marriage

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Most people hope to start married life on solid financial footing. But one man is wondering whether years of careful saving and investing are enough to offset the massive student debt his future wife is bringing into the relationship.

Justin, 28, from Pittsburgh, called " The Ramsey Show " with a question that many couples face before marriage, although few at this scale. He has spent the past several years staying out of debt, building investments and retirement savings, while his girlfriend recently graduated from veterinary school with about $350,000 in student loans.

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Justin explained that he is entering the marriage debt-free, with about $21,000 in cash, $60,000 in retirement savings and another $110,000 in investments. He works as a program manager in the oil and gas industry while serving in the Navy Reserve and expects to earn more than $100,000 this year.

He wanted to know how they should balance paying off such a large debt while also saving for milestones like buying a home or replacing their cars.

"You are walking into a mess," personal finance expert Dave Ramsey didn't sugarcoat the situation. "She has made an unbelievably large mess."