Clark Howard vs Dave Ramsey - What a difference!

[disneychic2]

His selling of everything backfired on me because I take to heart very seriously the idea of devoting every penny to debt so I won't pay hundereds for his class!

The class only costs $99

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Ramsey is as rude and obnoxious as anyone on the radio, thought it was funny when Fox dumped the clown..

 

[RachelsMommie]

I think all of the financial guys have their place. I love DR but I don't always agree with every single thing he says. I'll check out Clark Howard.

I do find it troubling how many commercials are now on DR's podcasts. I will say that DR is running a business. If he makes less money, he can't employ as many people. He's employing hundreds of people, and it's supposedly a great place to work.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't watch/listen to either one regularly, but of the two I like Clark Howard better simply because his advice is more relevant to where I am in life, financially and mentally. I don't need help getting out of debt but I love a new money-saving idea that I didn't think of on my own. And I don't like all the selling on Dave Ramsey's site/show either; it just seems contradictory to me to be listening to someone promoting frugality and debt reduction all the while trying to convince people to buy products they really don't need.

 

[DawnM]

WHAT???????? Are you serious? That really bothers me too.

I don't listen to DR. DH and I do Crown Financial, but I do follow similar principals to stay out of debt.

The ONLY time I listened to DR, he commented that a father should "babysit" his kids since he had lost his job and his wife had hers.....Um, Dave, we call that PARENTING!

He is very arrogant.

Dawn

I have been a fan of Dave since the 1990's. I saw him live in 1994. I still listen to his show. Several things have changed about Dave. I notice that he often spouts off now about things that he knows nothing about. A caller today had a child with Sensory processing disorder, a serious disorder, and Dave referenced how he would fix that problem with a belt. Really ignorant comment.

He often makes references to fat people. Dave struggles with his weight and has ever since I can remember, and he should be more forgiving. His comments are often offense with respect to weight.

As for timeshares, there are alot of people out there who get alot of use and really know how to use timeshares to get value and it is a hobby of sorts for them. Dave just says it is all bad. He just once again is not aware of the right way to benefit from the timeshare over time. And although most timeshares are WAY too expensive to purchase new, they can be great bargains on the secondary market if you know what you are doing.

 

[vegasnative]

I have never heard of him. I've never spent any $ on Dave Ramsey, just checked his book out from the library. I've never listened to him on the radio, but he bother's me in other ways. I like his "financial" advice, I think it is great, but his other advice he offers I can do without. With that said, I just tried to request a CH book from the library, and they do not have any of his books? I looked him up on Barnes & Noble. Is Get Clark Smart his only book? I did just sign up to be on his site, so I can poke around there and see what advice there is to learn. Thanks for the tip.

 

[dvcgirl]

I listen to both all of the time. I download Clark Howard's free podcasts and I purchase the commercial free version of Dave's show daily. Why? Well, I'm a personal finance junkie...yes, I'm that boring. And I own and operate a dog walking and pet sitting business. I listen to podcasts and audiobooks on and off pretty much all day long. I'm completely debt free (house and all), but I still enjoy Dave Ramsey's show.

I can honestly say that I enjoy both Clark and Dave's shows. They're incredibly different obviously. Say what you will about Dave Ramsey, but here's more entertaining than Clark Howard. Do I always agree with him? Absolutely not. Does he spout off a lot about things that he knows nothing about? Yep. Can he be incredibly arrogant. Yes. Still, I like his "old school" no compromise position on debt. I live my life that way. But I do use credit cards and manage to stay on a budget without my life falling apart

Clark's show is much broader in scope, and so I enjoy that too. And he just comes across as the sweetest man. And I like that he doesn't endorse a single thing....it really increases his credibility.

The biggest thing that I don't like about Dave Ramsey is his "Endorsed Local Provider....ELP" program. I don't mind that he's selling his books and live events on a regular basis. That's his business. But I don't like that he receives a fee from mutual fund and real estate brokers, and accountants as well....and then sends his followers to these people because "they have the heart of a teacher". It's sleazy, especially in the case of mutual fund brokers. Many of his listeners aren't financially savvy and they can end up paying exorbitant fees and commissions to mutual fund brokers.

Still...I listen to the show because I find it entertaining.

 

[holycow]

I love Clark!

I also love Mary Hunt. Cheapskatemonthly.

She helped us get out of debt. I had heard of Dave but when I saw how much he charged it really turned me off him!

I got Mary Hunts book for 5$ yes! at a bookstore! That made me realize she was serious about helping people.

I feel that way about Clark too. I think he is a great guy.

If you can afford Dave I say good about it but I think people get too obsessive about him. It's weird.

 

[TnTWalter]

I actually listen to both. Enjoy both. And have gotten great advice from both. I listen to the free podcasts all the time from both.

Clark belives in establishing and keeping good credit whereas Dave is very against credit in all forms. Clark wants you to have credit cards but not carry balance. I think he is ok with car payments whereas Dave is not. So he's more lenient on debt. Dave is ANTI-debt period.

I like Clark's investment advice better than Dave's.

They both belive in saving more and spending less and that's the important part. I am so thankful to have discovered them many years ago.

The hate that Dave Ramsey receives is weird to me. People are so passionately against him.
Trish

 

[EMom]

I love to watch Clark Howard. He tickles me!

I live for the times when someone calls in and he can give them GREAT advice or save them a bundle. He literally jumps up and down like a kid, he's so excited to help. It makes me grin just to watch him.

Then when someone calls and they're about to be scammed or ripped off and he gets that deer in the headlights look and starts grabbing his head and yelling, "NO! NO! NO! NO!" And you'd think someone was holding a gun to him.

He loves to save people money.

 

[rparmfamily]

I like both but I enjoy Clark's show more, I like that he's more positive.

 

[rparmfamily]

I love Clark!

I also love Mary Hunt. Cheapskatemonthly.

She helped us get out of debt. I had heard of Dave but when I saw how much he charged it really turned me off him!

I got Mary Hunts book for 5$ yes! at a bookstore! That made me realize she was serious about helping people.

I feel that way about Clark too. I think he is a great guy.

If you can afford Dave I say good about it but I think people get too obsessive about him. It's weird.

Thanks for the recommendation on the cheapskatemontly.com site! Looks great!

 

[DawnM]

Not if it costs money!

Thanks for the recommendation on the cheapskatemontly.com site! Looks great!

 

[angwill]

I agree with the majority in liking Clark Howard better. IMO Clark is just more personable and someone you would love to know or work for where Dave is less personal and seems more judgemental. I did hear of Dave Ramsy first and bought his book off ebay and did his plan my way to get out of debt and live off cash only but never listened to him again after that once I found Clark an Suze. DS and I watch Clark all the time on HLN. I had no clue he was from Atlanta.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

So ,
i have never heard of this clark man, but will check him out.... thanks op.
As far as Ramsey, I found it funny that he is asking ppl to spend money in order to help them save money.

It's actually good human psychology - most people don't value something that is given for free. To use a regional aphorism "the don't have a dog in that hunt ".

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Well, I'm a Suze Orman gal myself, but I like Clark too. Dave is waaaay too commercial for me.

 

[khgreen]

OP, We must listen to the same station. I just heard DR for the first time This week and was shocked. I thought he was very preachy and negative. I was disappointed to hear him do endorsements. I love CH because he is so kind and considerate and upbeat.

 

[nunzia]

I agree with the majority in liking Clark Howard better. IMO Clark is just more personable and someone you would love to know or work for where Dave is less personal and seems more judgemental. I did hear of Dave Ramsy first and bought his book off ebay and did his plan my way to get out of debt and live off cash only but never listened to him again after that once I found Clark an Suze. DS and I watch Clark all the time on HLN. I had no clue he was from Atlanta.

Clark sounds interesting...for some reason I really can't stand Suze..I mean REALLY..the thing is, all these people are doing the same thing..telling people to use common sense, which somehow disappeared along the way...be frugal, pay cash, don't carry debt..THINK about what you spend and how. And that they've managed to make a living out of it, well good for them.
I do a modified DR which I basically did before I ever heard of him, but have been more serious about it in the past several years. DR can come across as really arrogant, but he is also the first one to say that HE made all the stupid mistakes he warns you about and HE paid the stupid tax, etc...He probably does ramble about things he doesn't know anything about, but I've never heard him call his callers names..he has said their DECISIONS were nuts..but they are and sometimes we need the hard truth. The only time I've ever heard him call someone a name he was referring to someone who scammed someone or a deadbeat dad or something. I also very often hear him tell someone to stay on the line so his person can send them all his stuff for free and also set up for them to go to FP for free..like everyone else in the world he's multifaceted...I think the thing I admire most about hms is that he TOTALLY screwed up and found a way to not only get out of the hole but to make a living teaching others how to do it..he can also be a real hoot if you watch his lessons on DVD.

 

[Purseval]

OP, We must listen to the same station. I just heard DR for the first time This week and was shocked. I thought he was very preachy and negative. I was disappointed to hear him do endorsements. I love CH because he is so kind and considerate and upbeat.

They just started his show out of WSB in Atlanta because Herman Cain resigned to run for President and they had to reshuffle the nighttime lineup. Don't know if that's where you live but I live north of Atlanta.

 

[KigerKat]

I had never heard of Clark Howard until I moved to Atlanta almost 9 years ago and I had never heard of Dave Ramsey until I started posting on DIS.

I remember checking out DR's stuff, and not really liking what I found. I can't remember specifically what it was I didn't like, but I know I found myself thinking about how different it was from CH.

I totally love CH! I enjoy watching his short little advice bits during the evening or weekend news and I especially love his prime time specials where he talks to real people about their money problems and gives them real, doable advice on how to get out of the messes they've gotten themselves into.

And as far as what a nice guy he is, I remember seeing an interview with his wife about what it was like being married to one of the world's cheapest men. She said one of the things he likes to do is buy umbrellas at the dollar store or whenever he can get them for about a $1 each and keep a bunch in his car. Then, he'll roll down the window on a rainy day and offer them to people that are walking outside without one. What a nice guy and a great way to "pay it forward." How can you not love and respect a guy like that?

HAHA! I'm watching the news right now, and he's doing a story about how Hollywood Video is reporting late fees from YEARS ago as negative reports to credit reporting agencies. How ironic that I'm posting on a thread and there he is on TV...