What Would Suze Orman Say?
People first, then money, then things. Bring her a purchase you're eyeing and your financial foundation, leave with an APPROVED or DENIED and the list of what to fix first.
Your emergency fund vs her bar
Suze wants 8–12 months of expenses, more than almost anyone else recommends.
What she'd have you do next
In order. Straight from the philosophy.
The rules this tool applies
Her non-negotiables
An 8–12 month emergency fund (yes, really, most advisors say 3–6; she watched 2008 happen). Zero high-interest debt. Life insurance if anyone depends on your income, term, not whole life. A will, living revocable trust and powers of attorney no matter your age. Retirement funded before treats.
How the Approved/Denied works
She approves a purchase only when the foundation is solid AND you can pay cash without knocking the emergency fund below 8 months. A financed want with credit card debt in the background gets the famous “DENIED, you cannot afford it!”
The fine print
This is an educational parody applying Suze Orman's well-documented public philosophy to your numbers. All verdict lines are paraphrases in her style, not real quotes. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Suze Orman. For actual advice, talk to a licensed professional.
Common questions
Why does Suze Orman recommend a 8-12 month emergency fund?
Her standard is stricter than the typical 3-6 months because job losses cluster in recessions, when finding new work takes longest. She'd rather you be over-prepared than forced to sell investments at the bottom.
What estate documents does Suze Orman say everyone needs?
A will, a living revocable trust (in the US context), an advance directive, and durable powers of attorney for finances and health care. In Canada: a will plus provincial powers of attorney for property and personal care.
Term or whole life insurance?
Suze is emphatic: term life, 10-20x income while people depend on you, and invest the premium difference. Whole life mixes insurance with an expensive investment and she almost never approves it.