Dave Ramsey Check-In: Share Your Progress on His Financial Plan!

[chefjeanine]

I am having lunch today with my friend whose husband has taught the David Ramsey class (not sure what it's called). I'm going to check with her and see if and when he is teaching again. I think this is something that DH and I could use to be sure our retirement is in order and that we can have some fun along the way.

 

[katie0128]

I am having lunch today with my friend whose husband has taught the David Ramsey class (not sure what it's called). I'm going to check with her and see if and when he is teaching again. I think this is something that DH and I could use to be sure our retirement is in order and that we can have some fun along the way.

Financial Peace University.

Dave also has a few other books... one that I can think of right now is "How To Have More Than Enough."

We did FPU about 4 years ago and did well, but we didn't stick with it and now are having problems again. I need to pull out all the old stuff and find a class to pop into again. (Once you purchase the FPU system, you can attend any class at any time anywhere for no charge. Kinda nice for those that didn't just fall off the bandwagon, but seemed to take a flying leap backwards!!) The one good thing we DIDN'T do again was get any credit cards... we have been CC free since doing FPU and I love that feeling! But now back to step one... building the $1000!!!

And, Debbie J, Dave totally approves of debit cards for times when you have to have a card. But encourages all cash payments when ever possible.

 

[Kathytnt]

We actually have 6 months of my hubby's income in savings now the house fund. Both our cars are 6 years old+ But they are in fine working condition. Car dealers don't like people like us. They want people to buy a new care every 2-4 years. Maintenenance is a beautiful thing Credit card companies don't like us either because we don't pay any interest - We just take the points and perks. Some credit card companies will cancel your card if you pay off your balance on time and in full all the time. They don't make any money.

 

[wadesgirl]

I just saw an article about your credit score yesterday. They are changing the criteria for your score. Something about rather than having a card and carrying a 0 balance, they basically consider it as not having the card. It's like they are trying to get you to buy on the card to keep the card active. I don't agree with this, I'm trying to pay down my cards not purchase stuff just so it can look like I still have credit.

 

[janetupnorth]

I was just in the process of refinancing and getting rid of anything high interest so I can work on paying the middle stuff then our low interest like mortgage and student loans. I have a high credit score, but one negative criteria is "balance too close to limit on card". That is a good thing...I've ALWAYS checked my reports from all agencies once a year to make sure there is nothing extra open. Last year a line of credit appeared from when we bought our water conditioning system 5 years ago. It was free financing for 90 days then we paid it off. They never closed the account. When I went to close it they said it was too old and I couldn't do it with the company. I had to mail 3 different letters to get it closed and reported as closed. YIKES!!!! No wonder people get into trouble easily!

 

[janetupnorth]

Also note, if you do have a charge card, they are often quick to increase your limit, but if you specifically ask for a lower limit it is hard to get them to comply.

 

[SilverCeladon]

Maybe we can have a forum especially for this? We can account to each other how much we have saved and put away?

 

[DebbieJ]

Oh, Greg!!!!

 

[wadesgirl]

DH had an issue when we first started dating. It wasn't that he had bad credit, he had NO credit. He never had a CC, had paid his car off years before, rented an apartment. I swear it was harder to get his credit in good standing than it would have if he had bad credit. He tried applying for a credit card to get something to help him but was turned down every where. Finally we found a secured credit card were he put down his credit limit in a savings account and the bank gave him a credit card with that limit. After a year of good payments, etc, they chaned it to an unsecure credit card. His credit rating finally went up but it took him having to have debit to do something about it! That just seems so backwards to me!

 

[SilverCeladon]

DH had an issue when we first started dating. It wasn't that he had bad credit, he had NO credit. He never had a CC, had paid his car off years before, rented an apartment. I swear it was harder to get his credit in good standing than it would have if he had bad credit. He tried applying for a credit card to get something to help him but was turned down every where. Finally we found a secured credit card were he put down his credit limit in a savings account and the bank gave him a credit card with that limit. After a year of good payments, etc, they chaned it to an unsecure credit card. His credit rating finally went up but it took him having to have debit to do something about it! That just seems so backwards to me!

That is a bummer! I heard getting a jewelry card is the best way to go. When I was 16 Mervyns gave me a credit card with a $60 limit to establish credit. It was all my own and I remember thinking "OMG, I'm maxed out!" I wonder if they still do that now?

 

[katie0128]

Before You Post Tmi~~~

Maybe we can have a forum especially for this? We can account to each other how much we have saved and put away?

I would love to be able to share DR experiences with my cheffer buddies,. But before we start posting too much information, don't forget that this CS is public and anyone can see any information that you post on here. Might not be such a great idea to post HOW much money you have saved... that might be TMI over the internet.

Now if Greg would make this a PRIVATE forum, then we could feel a bit more comfortable... but still even then, it only takes $5 to join...

Now if any computer geeks can tell us how to create a private forum where we could restrict membership, THAT would be great!

 

[chefann]

You could always set up a Yahoo Group for sharing info - make it so that a moderator has to approve people who join.

 

[wadesgirl]

That is a bummer! I heard getting a jewelry card is the best way to go. When I was 16 Mervyns gave me a credit card with a $60 limit to establish credit. It was all my own and I remember thinking "OMG, I'm maxed out!" I wonder if they still do that now?

He tried for just a regular Target card (just to use in the store) and they turned him down. When I was 19, I wanted a new bed but my dad wouldn't buy one for me. So I went to a place that had 2 years no interest. Had no clue or idea that I would actually be taking out a loan through a company for this! I had almost no credit, just my car loan and it took them several companies to find one that finally approved me. I did good though and paid it off in 1 1/2 years. This taught me at a young age how to be good with my credit. I didn't even get a credit card until I was around 20 because I was so scared to!

 

[janetupnorth]

You could always set up a Yahoo Group for sharing info - make it so that a moderator has to approve people who join.

True, but just one more place to check....

 

[chefann]

True, but just one more place to check....

Except that, depending on how you set up your membership, it goes to your email inbox. You're already checking that, right?

 

[katie0128]

You could always set up a Yahoo Group for sharing info - make it so that a moderator has to approve people who join.

Are you actually at work today?

 

[chefann]

No- I'm still sick. I'm having a hard time breathing because I'm so congested. But I'm glad it's this week instead of last. I'd hate to be the person responsible for spreading germs at Leadership.

 

[SilverCeladon]

I'd love that! I know Greg could make a forum on here accessible by password only and then maybe make it you have to have 250 posts to be able to get that password.

 

[janetupnorth]

No- I'm still sick. I'm having a hard time breathing because I'm so congested. But I'm glad it's this week instead of last. I'd hate to be the person responsible for spreading germs at Leadership.

Yuk...

 

[finley1991]

Both our cars are 6 years old+ But they are in fine working condition. Car dealers don't like people like us. They want people to buy a new care every 2-4 years.

Being in Detroit where most people (well it seems that way anyway) work for the car companies and get a new car every other year, if not every year, puts pressure on others to do the same. My friends can't believe I drive a '99! It's SO old. A good friend of mine who works for GM just got a new leased car (gag). We talked about DR for her because she has student loan debt and was telling me the pressure they put on her at work to lease a new vehicle because her old car was getting too old. I think it was an '05. Scary.

 

[DebbieJ]

Ouchie, Colleen. My DH drives a 98 VW and I drive a 2000 Honda, both paid for They've been paid for for quite some time and we like it that way.I had borrowed my mom's Odyssey for a couple weeks while we were moving--she has a DVD player in it and DS LOVED watching Bob the Builder in the car When we were switching back to my CR-V I told DS sorry we didn't have a DVD player but we were goign to stick with this car cuz it's paid for. He was so funny, he said "yeah, but we have a light!" He was referring to the dome light in the ceiling. My mom and I burst out laughing!I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER buy a brand new car. You lose money the minute you drive off the lot.

 

[janetupnorth]

He-he - we drive a '97 and a '94. The '94 was an upgrade last year from an '89. Our motorcycle is an '82.

 

[SilverCeladon]

I have an 05 Yukon. We only have 2.5 years left on it. I didn't want a car payment but DH did. I was driving a paid off 98 Civic. I told my husband we're sticking with this car until it dies!

 

[wadesgirl]

I have a friend that even though they had two older (less than 8 years old!) that were fine, she had to have a new SUV because she felt like a bad mother for picking up her kids at day care in a car that old! She really does like to keep up with the Jones!

 

[DebbieJ]

I have an 05 Yukon. We only have 2.5 years left on it. I didn't want a car payment but DH did. I was driving a paid off 98 Civic. I told my husband we're sticking with this car until it dies!

or sell it and get something cheaper aka paid for

 

[SilverCeladon]

I could but we won't. I do love it and it's not like I can't buy groceries because of my car payment-that would be a whole different story then. I just want to learn to be better with my money overall.

 

[finley1991]

I bought one new car in my life and it ended up being a lemon! Go figure!My current '99 I got in '05 with 45k miles on it. It was cheaper than a new car and I got it for 1/3 what the original buyer bought it for! TOTAL SCORE!!!

 

[DebbieJ]

My current '99 I got in '05 with 45k miles on it. It was cheaper than a new car and I got it for 1/3 what the original buyer bought it for! TOTAL SCORE!!!

That IS a total score. The best way to buy a new-to-you car is from an elderly person who is selling it privately. They are usually very well kept with low miles.

 

[chefann]

That IS a total score. The best way to buy a new-to-you car is from an elderly person who is selling it privately. They are usually very well kept with low miles.

So true!! I got one with 15k miles for $500 from a friend's grandmother. Granted, it was 20 years old, but it was in great condition.

 

[sfdavis918]

I am getting ready to sell my '05 Odyssey with DVD. In fact just took it to get detailed a few hours ago. I am so sad, but I am trying to keep my eye on the prize. I will be driving a paid for '98 Acura with 105K miles on it. I guess Acura's have Honda motors in them so DH tells me it should go to at least 300K! I have told him that I will have another Odyssey at some point! Of course it will not be a brand new one and it will be paid for in cash!