How to start Dave Ramsey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a pep talk here, my husband listened to Dave every day on his way to work. Within 5 years not only are we debt free but bought a new home and paid it off in under 10 years. Without being extreme like the Mr. Money Mustache people.

If you want it to happen, living stress and debt free, commit to it, no excuses, make it fit your lifestyle. Good luck.

So, is it just really discipline and self-restraint? Or is there some magical element?

If it's just discipline and self-restraint, why would you need a book and class?

Dave has a game plan. He understands the human nature side of getting out of debt. It makes sense and it works. The class is good because not everyone has the same working knowledge of personal finance. He gives a good basic grounding in it. And his podcasts can be very motivating to listen too.

What's the game plan? How far beyond tracking expenses and cutting back does it go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a pep talk here, my husband listened to Dave every day on his way to work. Within 5 years not only are we debt free but bought a new home and paid it off in under 10 years. Without being extreme like the Mr. Money Mustache people.

If you want it to happen, living stress and debt free, commit to it, no excuses, make it fit your lifestyle. Good luck.

So, is it just really discipline and self-restraint? Or is there some magical element?

If it's just discipline and self-restraint, why would you need a book and class?

Dave has a game plan. He understands the human nature side of getting out of debt. It makes sense and it works. The class is good because not everyone has the same working knowledge of personal finance. He gives a good basic grounding in it. And his podcasts can be very motivating to listen too.

What's the game plan? How far beyond tracking expenses and cutting back does it go?

https://www.daveramsey.com/baby-steps

[Anonymous]

Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

If it's not for you, great! Do what works for you. Dave's methods work for alot of people and help them get out of debt. He's popular for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

Yes, that's why a few of us above said try starting out by just reading the free stuff (such as the baby steps link above, blog posts, and following posts on Facebook.). Every dollar is great too. It's free and has a baby step page.

So yeah, op, I think you should start there. I'm on step 2 and have not paid a cent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

Why do people need personal trainers? Why do they need life coaches? Why do they need to go to Weight Watchers class if they have a scale at home? Why do so many DCUM-type kids need "tutors" who do nothing other than make sure they do their homework? Why do people need to join running clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

Why do people need personal trainers? Why do they need life coaches? Why do they need to go to Weight Watchers class if they have a scale at home? Why do so many DCUM-type kids need "tutors" who do nothing other than make sure they do their homework? Why do people need to join running clubs?

Well, life coaches are usually frauds. Tutors help students struggling to understand difficult concepts (which isn't the case when it comes to frugality). Weight watchers and trainers provide accountability to those who struggle with commitment and self-restraint. How does Ramsey provide accountability? Curious, not throwing rocks. Tracking expenses and measuring savings or hitting goals (paying off debt) seems like sufficient accountability. I can't imagine how a book or class provides accountability. A financial planner, however, likely can provide accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

Why do people need personal trainers? Why do they need life coaches? Why do they need to go to Weight Watchers class if they have a scale at home? Why do so many DCUM-type kids need "tutors" who do nothing other than make sure they do their homework? Why do people need to join running clubs?

Well, life coaches are usually frauds. Tutors help students struggling to understand difficult concepts (which isn't the case when it comes to frugality). Weight watchers and trainers provide accountability to those who struggle with commitment and self-restraint. How does Ramsey provide accountability? Curious, not throwing rocks. Tracking expenses and measuring savings or hitting goals (paying off debt) seems like sufficient accountability. I can't imagine how a book or class provides accountability. A financial planner, however, likely can provide accountability.

They provide motivation and direction. Clearly it works for a lot of people.

Are you the op? Are you trying to figure out if you should buy the book?

[Anonymous]

I'm not the op. I just realize that Ramsey is in this to make money for himself. Reviewing his website, it's clear that he is selling something---and promoting it as a concept requiring his books, tool kits, classes, etc.

Personally, if I were in debt, I wouldn't shell out money. I would follow the baby steps starting with tracking every expense and drastically cut down to the point of only spending money on critical expenses for one month to see how much can be saved. This method has worked for us when I say I want to take a big vacation that my husband says we can't afford: we go uber frugal for a few months, stockpile "new found money" from savings, and then we book the trip. Of course, we've never really been in debt since we quickly paid down student loans, bought a house we could easily afford, only buy used cars, etc.

[Anonymous]

How does Ramsey provide motivation, specifically?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the op. I just realize that Ramsey is in this to make money for himself. Reviewing his website, it's clear that he is selling something---and promoting it as a concept requiring his books, tool kits, classes, etc.

Personally, if I were in debt, I wouldn't shell out money. I would follow the baby steps starting with tracking every expense and drastically cut down to the point of only spending money on critical expenses for one month to see how much can be saved. This method has worked for us when I say I want to take a big vacation that my husband says we can't afford: we go uber frugal for a few months, stockpile "new found money" from savings, and then we book the trip. Of course, we've never really been in debt since we quickly paid down student loans, bought a house we could easily afford, only buy used cars, etc.

So clearly you're not the people Dave is trying to help. That's great for you, but there are a lot people out there who are in debt, deep debt, who need help to get out of it. Dave is a great speaker, and has personal experience with debt and can talk from the heart about the emotions of the experience. Yes, he learned how to make money from this, but if you listen to him, you'll hear that he genuinely wants to help people. It's great that you don't need his help, but there's no need to dismiss him just because he offers something you don't need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not the op. I just realize that Ramsey is in this to make money for himself. Reviewing his website, it's clear that he is selling something---and promoting it as a concept requiring his books, tool kits, classes, etc.

Personally, if I were in debt, I wouldn't shell out money. I would follow the baby steps starting with tracking every expense and drastically cut down to the point of only spending money on critical expenses for one month to see how much can be saved. This method has worked for us when I say I want to take a big vacation that my husband says we can't afford: we go uber frugal for a few months, stockpile "new found money" from savings, and then we book the trip. Of course, we've never really been in debt since we quickly paid down student loans, bought a house we could easily afford, only buy used cars, etc.

m

Well yeah. Of course he is in this to make money for himself. Isn't that why everyone works? Providing a service is his job - for money of course! Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

I have great discipline in financial matters but I can't seem to eat less even though I know how to do so, and as a result I am 20 pounds overweight. Even people with discipline in some areas can lack it in others. Plus, some people weren't raised to understand the benefits of discipline, and it helps to explain it to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

I have great discipline in financial matters but I can't seem to eat less even though I know how to do so, and as a result I am 20 pounds overweight. Even people with discipline in some areas can lack it in others. Plus, some people weren't raised to understand the benefits of discipline, and it helps to explain it to them.

Understood. Just curious how a book provides accountability. You can read all the diet and exercise books in the world, but that won't get your butt out of the kitchen and into the gym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, those baby steps seem rather self explanatory. Why do you need a book or class? It all comes down to discipline.

I have great discipline in financial matters but I can't seem to eat less even though I know how to do so, and as a result I am 20 pounds overweight. Even people with discipline in some areas can lack it in others. Plus, some people weren't raised to understand the benefits of discipline, and it helps to explain it to them.

Understood. Just curious how a book provides accountability. You can read all the diet and exercise books in the world, but that won't get your butt out of the kitchen and into the gym.

What is your point? Some people find the books helpful. In the books Dave explains how to work the baby steps, and shares stories of people who successfully got out of debt using that method. Many people who read the books find that helpful. Why is that hard to understand? You seem to be acting deliberately obtuse here.