I bought Dave Ramsey's book

[HeyIt'sMe]

I read "Total Money Makeover" about a year ago. I like how Dave Ramsey calls an emergency fund "Murphy Repellant" (as in Murphy's Law).

Since reading TMM my DH & I have a much more detailed budget than we ever had before. Now our budget has 'home maintenance/repair', 'auto maintenance/repair', 'medical/dental/vision', 'clothing', etc. It is so nice to know that, in addition to our emergency fund, we also have funds set aside for specific things. Specific things that don't happen all the time - but they ARE going to happen.

It was ironic because right after DH and I started our more detailed budget I had a co-worker come to me asking about how he could take a loan against his 401(k) (I handle our 401(k) plan as part of my job) because his hot water heater died and he didn't have the cash to replace it. If he'd only followed Dave Ramsey's plan and put away money for home maintenance/repairs each month he would have had the cash he needed.

 

[gilby]

I read his book in March since then I have paid off 1 loan and 4 CC's and our medical bill. I am very proud of my accomplishments, have a little ways to go, but we only had less then 10,000.00 in debts.
We have been very good at spending money. We think twice and What would Dave Ramsey say if we are thinking of a purchase.

 

[robinb]

I read Total Money Makeover and I listened to a week or two of Dave Ramsey's shows when they were on my local radio station until his show was canceled. Why a liberal radio station had a conservative like Dave Ramsey on, I'll never know! I found the show interesting in a "they are a lot worse off than me!" kind of way ... like watching Dr. Phil, KWIM? Anyway ... I think that Dave has a lot of good ideas but it was difficult for me, as an atheist, to get through his religiosity. I knew nothing about Dave Ramsey prior to reading his book other than he was a budget/debt reduction guru and I was pretty surprised at how much God there were in his books. Of course, I know now that he started by giving advise through his church so that makes sense.

 

[tonilea]

I read Total Money Makeover and I listened to a week or two of Dave Ramsey's shows when they were on my local radio station until his show was canceled. Why a liberal radio station had a conservative like Dave Ramsey on, I'll never know! I found the show interesting in a "they are a lot worse off than me!" kind of way ... like watching Dr. Phil, KWIM? Anyway ... I think that Dave has a lot of good ideas but it was difficult for me, as an atheist, to get through his religiosity. I knew nothing about Dave Ramsey prior to reading his book other than he was a budget/debt reduction guru and I was pretty surprised at how much God there were in his books. Of course, I know now that he started by giving advise through his church so that makes sense.

IMO, his advice is still valid. You can still give, just to a charity you feel strongly about.

 

[robinb]

IMO, his advice is still valid. You can still give, just to a charity you feel strongly about.

I actually wasn't talking about that but now that you mention it, DR's importance on tithing thing makes me . I keep all my money for myself. FWIW, we don't need DR's books. I sell books on the internet and I found a copy of it and read it out of curiosity. He does have a lot of good ideas (I have passed on the "snowball" idea to friends) but there is way too much religion (specifically, Christianity) for my atheist tastes. I do admire anyone who can work their way out of debt and I think that following DR's program works for people who are motivated.

 

[disneydave]

sometimes you gotta live like no one else so that later you can live like no one else in a sute at the GF.