Book on eliminating debt?

[ruadisneyfan2]

Can anyone recommend a good book for helping to pay down debt? We're not overwhelmed or delinquent but would like to be rid of it permanently. Would like some tips from the pros.
Thanks!

 

[DreadpiratK]

The most popular one around, I think, is Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, or his other one Financial Peace. Both are excellent and have helped us out, even if we are not following his program to the letter. We'd be better off is we did. Very good basic principle. you might also want to check out www.ynab.com Many people find that helpful as well. Again, I wish we were following it more closely, but it does help.

 

[minnie1928]

I'll second Total Money Makeover. Get it from the library if you can, sometimes Dave Ramsey sells it on his website for only $10 if you can't get it from the library.

 

[andrews_dad]

If you buy any books, just don't put them on credit card... sorta defeats the purpose.

 

[big_red_s]

Save your money.

The bottom line to all those books is "spend less then you make".

There you go.

 

[dfchelbay]

Also, check out David Bach, Jean Czachki (sp) and Suzie Orman. They were the big ones before Dave Ramsey became the new popular financial guru.

 

[bumbershoot]

I liked Total Money Makeover, but I like the message board llnoe.com better. They follow the book, but it doesn't seem to be an official Ramsey site...it's just nice to hear it explained and talked about by people...

Not getting future debt is easy. Spend less than you make is easy. But getting rid of the *past* debt, while going forward and spending less than you make, etc, is the not-as-easy part.

 

[Imzadi]

This book is the "bible" for the Debtors Anonymous program: How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt. It also doesn't cost you money to follow the techniques the way Dave Ramsey & other programs charge you to buy & follow their techniques. Nothing like kicking a person when they are down. You can probably find a copy at your local library.

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

I also recommend Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover. I wouldnt buy anything from Suze Orman. She is paid by FICO. The only way to get a high FICO score is to borrow money.

 

[RitaE]

I personally wouldn't limit myself to one. I'd go to the library and read several...they are all right there in the same section of the shelf. Most of them have at least one or two good things to say in their books.

And no need to spend money (or at least a significant amount of money) on any of them. Financial advice books are a dime a dozen and almost always available for free or low cost somewhere. Dave Ramsey has a free radio show you can listen too online, and a tv show. Suze Orman is still on tv too last I looked.

Suze Orman's books are frequently offered as a free download on Oprah.com. Jean Chatzkey too.