A popular personal finance influencer believes a handful of habits can make any American stand out from the rest.

Being in good financial shape comes down to five things, according to a TikTok post from author and finance expert Dave Ramsey this week. That list is: paying off debt, saving, investing for retirement, owning a home and being content.

“Everyone is always looking for the next best thing, and they feel like the goalpost is always moving,” he wrote. “If you are content with what you have, you are ahead of the game.”

Some 90 percent of Americans carry debt, a July 2025 study by Debt.org found. Of those who have debt, the average is $104,775, according to a November 2025 analysis by credit bureau Experian. Gen Z has the least debt of all age groups at $34,328, while Gen X has the most with $158,105.

But while Ramsey’s post attracted a lot of support, some social media users appeared cynical.

“Financial progress isn't about perfection,” user Carolina Strategic Group said. “It's about consistent, intentional steps. Great reminder!”

“It’s not a competition,” another user replied.

Ramsey’s list highlights an American consumer base that is struggling to save money, pay off debt and own a home. Around three in 10 Americans have more credit card debt than emergency savings, a February analysis from personal finance site Bankrate found.

Paying down debt isn’t for a lack of motivation, either - one in three consumers is focused on both increasing emergency savings and paying down debt, the analysis found. But some 40 percent of consumers are living paycheck-to-paycheck - using most of their income to cover necessities with very little money left to save, according to an April survey from financial data and news site PYMNTS.

With little money left each month to save for a down payment, let alone an emergency fund, buying a home is a dream that’s fading quickly for many Americans. Around 15 percent of the U.S. population has given up on homeownership by age 30.

Recent home sales and mortgage data suggest the pessimism is warranted. The median price of a sold home was $410,700 at the end of June - higher than the median price at any point in the country’s history before the final three months of 2022, according to Federal Reserve data.

Mortgage rates have punctuated America’s affordability woes. Mortgage rates have fallen below 6 percent just once since September 2022, according to mortgage backer Freddie Mac. Not since the 2008 housing crisis has the nation seen rates stay above 6 percent so consistently.

Overcoming the housing hurdle is more difficult now than it was a decade ago. The monthly payment for the average-priced home at the average mortgage rate is roughly $1,500 more now than it was in 2016, according to federal housing and mortgage data.

Ramsey’s advice for the consumer? Focus on small steps to financial success amid what can be an overwhelming economic season.

“Small wins build momentum,” he wrote. “Momentum builds habits. Habits build wealth.”