It’s hard to ignore recession warnings and doom-laden headlines. But personal finance expert Dave Ramsey thinks people should focus on their work and building their finances rather than dwelling on recession fears.

Discussing rising recession fears among everyday Americans on “The Ramsey Show” in August 2024, he said people feeling financially squeezed should get their house in order and focus on their finances instead of worrying about a recession or expecting the government to fix their money problems.

“If you feel like things are bad, it might be bad at your house,” Ramsey said. “And maybe there’s some reason to do something about that, maybe you should unplug the internet for a few days and see if your negativity wanes, who knows.”

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Ramsey said a recession is an objective economic term with a clear definition — two consecutive quarters of shrinking gross domestic product — and not a matter of sentiment. He said that whether the economy is in a recession is not a matter of opinion. People can debate how the economy feels or whether times seem prosperous because those views are subjective.

“Recession is not a feeling,” Ramsey said. “If you’re going to use words like recession, that’s an economic term. You should understand the definition of the word. It’s a math thing. I don’t care what you believe, this thing, a recession, is an economic term. You either is or you isn’t, it’s a math measure.”

Recession fears spiked last year after President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement in April. Those concerns later eased amid new trade deals and AI-driven euphoria in the stock market. Still, worries about the labor market have not gone away.

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Recent data from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed that job cuts in January hit their highest level for the month since 2009. A separate report from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that U.S. job openings fell to the lowest level in more than five years in December.

Ramsey said that if someone is waiting for politicians to fix their money problems, their life “already sucks,” and they need to take a hard look at themselves and get their finances in order. Financial success, he said, depends on personal effort.

“All of them put together can’t find a brain,” Ramsey said. “They can’t balance their budget. If you ran your household like they run that place, you’d be bankrupt, so please don’t tell me they helped you. Unless you got a government contract, you’re not prospering because of them.”

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However, that does not mean Ramsey believes major economic policy changes have no impact on everyday Americans. Last year, he said he had no doubt that President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico would raise prices for consumers.

“You will pay more,” Ramsey said. “If you buy something from Canada or you buy something from Mexico, you will pay more, no question about it, it’s 100%. The companies do not eat taxes.”

A proactive approach and smart investing decisions can help you thrive even during market downturns. BAM Capital is an institutional multifamily investment firm with over $1.85 billion in completed transactions, leveraging a vertically integrated platform and the economic insight of Senior Advisor Tony Landa to position investors for the 2026 market cycle. As new apartment supply slows and renter demand remains strong—particularly across resilient Midwest markets—BAM Capital targets stabilized income and long-term growth.

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This article Dave Ramsey To Those Worrying About Recession: If You Feel Things Are Bad, ‘It Might Be Bad At Your House’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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