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

[janetupnorth]

Ok Deb, tell me why I should pay $89.95 to join the site for a year. (Besides the free book which I already have thanks to a wonderful person!) Tell me what it does to help you please!

 

[DebbieJ]

Ok Deb, tell me why I should pay $89.95 to join the site for a year. (Besides the free book which I already have thanks to a wonderful person!)

Tell me what it does to help you please!

Janet, the site is a lot like here---motivation and ideas to keep you on the path, to keep working. There are lots of people to bounce ideas off of, to share ideas, prayers, and other silly things. Sometimes, Lampo (Dave's company) will extend specials to TMMO.com subscribers only. For example, DH and I got to take FPU online for FREE as part of a beta test.

I heard there is also another (free) board called Live Like No One Else, although I have not visited it.

I think it is well worth the money. You can pay forward the book. You also get an envelope system when you sign up for a year.

 

[janetupnorth]

Janet, the site is a lot like here---motivation and ideas to keep you on the path, to keep working. There are lots of people to bounce ideas off of, to share ideas, prayers, and other silly things. Sometimes, Lampo (Dave's company) will extend specials to TMMO.com subscribers only. For example, DH and I got to take FPU online for FREE as part of a beta test.

I heard there is also another (free) board called Live Like No One Else, although I have not visited it.

I think it is well worth the money. You can pay forward the book. You also get an envelope system when you sign up for a year.

I DEFINITELY would pay forward the book!

Thanks for the comments. That is what I was looking for. I read the site information but wanted to hear it from someone currently using the plan.

I haven't dug into the envelope system in its entirety yet...just dabbled in my own way. I need to dig into it MORE!

 

[janetupnorth]

Hey, for those who do Dave Ramsey, I just started a Total Money Makeover Group. Check in!

 

[janetupnorth]

I just want to bump this again. I've dabbled with the steps Dave Ramsey offers and someone wonderful on here sent me the book which I've been gradually reading.FINALLY this month I jumped in with both feet to apply the principles. I'm already feeling less stress and better about life. If you are living beyond your means, have debt sitting, or just feel unsure about your job or the economy, get on task now!!!! You'll be glad you did.DebbieJ has a great story on how far she's come, Colleen I know does the plan and many others. If you can find a FPU and get your spouse on board with you, it will do wonders!I started a group on here...feel free to join if you need help sticking to the tasks.As Dave says, "If you live like no one else, later you can LIVE like no one else."It's not rocket science, it's basic principles you KNOW you should follow but psychologically don't always.

 

[DebbieJ]

Yay Janet!

 

[janetupnorth]

Yay Janet!

Hey, yeah to you too! You're still doing great!

 

[JAE]

Dave's take on Washington fixing the economy. Leave it to Dave to tell it like it is.

Real Debt Help - Dave Ramsey's October 2008 Newsletter

 

[itsjustCarla]

I just spent the last however-many-minutes reading this entire thread. I am amazed at how this system has worked for all of you. Unfortunately, all of my debt will be paid off soon, but at a huge cost - my credit score. I'm not even sure I have a score anymore.

We had thousands and thousands of medical bills the past few years. And hubby's hours were cut, so I paid what I could, but some have gone to collection and the credit cards have too. I have payment arrangements will all my credit card companies (only 3) and those will be paid off in about 4 months. We have basically been forced to use cash/debit only. My first priority after the credit cards will be to pay off the items in collection. After that, the only debt is the house and hubby's truck that we had to get him....which is at a high interest due to our lousy credit - but he had to have it.

After reading all of this, I am going to find a DR program in our area that will help us in the future. I'm re-reading what I typed, and I'm not really sure if any of this applies to this thread; I guess I am glad that I am not the only one struggling financially.

 

[DebbieJ]

Carla, I hope you can find a Financial Peace Class in your area. If you can't, I encourage you to do what we did--start your own! Check with your church leadership and ask them to purchase the leadership kit and allow the class to meet there. We are halfway through our first class and lives are being changed. It is incredible.

 

[janetupnorth]

Carla - also go to Dave Ramsey's site and look around - sign up for a 7-day free trial. Also look for the book Total Money Makeover. You are already doing a good thing using cash, but you'll learn so much more with budgeting. The FPU class would be wonderful for you but don't stand still. There are many even more worse off than you turning their finances around. Stick to it!!!!

 

[DebbieJ]

Oh, and by the way--FPU coordinators get FREE access to the website.

 

[janetupnorth]

Oh, and by the way--FPU coordinators get FREE access to the website.

Sure, rub it in Deb! Seriously, that is AWESOME!

 

[Stampaholic1961]

I don't have the time right now to read all 10 pages of this thread so I don't know if this has been covered or not. I apologize if it has. My hubby has his own maintenance business & we don't have a "regular" income. We take "draws" from the business when we need money but if the company doesn't get paid, we can't get money either. Does Dave's program cover situations where you don't have a regular weekly or bi-weekly paycheck?

 

[DebbieJ]

I don't have the time right now to read all 10 pages of this thread so I don't know if this has been covered or not. I apologize if it has. My hubby has his own maintenance business & we don't have a "regular" income. We take "draws" from the business when we need money but if the company doesn't get paid, we can't get money either. Does Dave's program cover situations where you don't have a regular weekly or bi-weekly paycheck?

Yes, he does. I don't know much about it because it's not my situation, but I know he addresses it.

 

[jwpamp]

I just purchased the FPU Lifetime Family Membership Kit (it was $199 and on sale for $109). We have several classes going on in our area, I am so excited to go!

I felt that it is a wonderful investment. Thought I would bump this for anyone who has made a New Year's Resolution to get their finances in order!

 

[chefjeanine]

Thanks for the heads up. I discussed attend FPU with my DH and he has agreed. I'll have to check into getting the membership.

 

[DebbieJ]

Good idea Janice!Also, for anyone else interested--if you take FPU through a church, they often offer the membership kit for less. You don't have to buy the kit through the website to take the class, you order it through the church. The church purchases kits in bulk for people that enroll in the class. Most churches have the kit for $93-$100.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

I'm so excited! We made the last payment on our van on 12/31. We are starting off 2009 debt-free. We don't even have a mortgage. Budgeting & using the envelope system has really helped us see where we were wasting money.

 

[DebbieJ]

Congrats Crystal!! That is AMAZING! It's such a great feeling, isn't it?We just did our January budget last night and dumped another $1k into our savings account last night. I love it! The budget is key!

 

[mscharf]

we have officially signed up to the TMMO online program. My husband and I read the books and have "dabbled" in the program for a couple months, but we are sooo serious about doing this NOW!! I am really excited.

 

[pckrissy]

ok, it is late and my mind is overloaded...what is the best way to start this program? online? read the book? are the TMMO hard cover and workbook seperate? sorry to sound so "stupid"....i have wanted to start this for MONTHS and after reading all your posts I don't want to procrastinate another second but don't know where to start...I usually wind up spending $ on stuff I don't REALLY need but i THINK I do...sorry if this is rambling...

 

[mscharf]

I have read financial peace and Total money makeover before. Tonight I went to www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com to get started. For $70 or 80 you can get TMMO book, 1 year subscription to the site, and a couple extra bonuses. You can do a 7 day trail on the site, but I signed up for the year, it will hold me more accountable. I am so excited to get out from under the college living debt!!

 

[DebbieJ]

Awesome! You can find me on the TMMO forums as mommachef. Janet is there too with her same screen name.

 

[christinaspc]

wow I just sat and read this whole thread. Me and hubby talking while reading it we might take a look into this we don't have much debt except the van payment and house cause when we sold our business a yr ago we paid off everything but the house and van.

 

[erinyourpclady]

I am very excited about DR! We are seriously working the envelopes (though I was not so good when my mom visited and over Christmas-though we didn't incur more debt!). I thought from the beginning that budgeting would bite but it really is a freeing way to live. Knowing that I have my allowance, DH has his, some for the kids, groceries and some for the entertainment pot makes life SO much easier! On the road we are on we will be out of cc debt by April of 2010. We will still have both truck payments but since we bought them new in 2005 and 2007, we just have to really pay them off.

I am so thankful for being introduced to DR..and I love my envelopes!!

 

[jwpamp]

What is nice about this program is that it's not all about starting it because you are deep in cc debt. I bought the book for each of my adult children for Christmas. One is in no debt and one has only one cc to pay off....what I loved was that he shows you what to do with the money AFTER you pay off the debt.

I personally can't wait to get my money working for me! I am taking my daughter with me to classes. Hubby works crazy hours and he is like "go for it". We talk about large purchases and it is a joint decision if done, we are working on budgeting (which I think I do well for never really doing it) and discussing our investment options together instead of just me doing it alone.

I would use it for the opportunity to have more $$ to invest each month!

 

[heather223]

I started reading the book a week ago. I can't wait to start this full force. My thinking has already changed and I am only a few chapters into the book. Once I am done reading it, I am going to make my hubby read it just becuase even with me telling him, he still just doesn't get it.

Debbie you really helped me make my mind up about doing TMMO. I have had the book for months after hearing about it on here and never opened it. I sent her a PM after reading one of her posts and she helped answer some questions... it was then I decided to go ahead.

Here is one question I have for those who have completely done TMMO- Is just the book enough or do you need the website too?

 

[janetupnorth]

You'll see earlier that I questioned Deb about the website. I wasn't going to "spend money" on a website. However, I've gotten some wonderful recipe ideas, money saving tips, can bounce a quick question off someone, etc.I love the Gazelle budgeting system online, keeps me accountable to what I'm doing, easy/quick entry and I can watch my debt numbers decrease. You can also download the .mp3 files of Dave's show. If you are uncertain, sign up for the 1 week free trial and check it out.There are a lot of new people on the forum since January 1st.Many post their budgets and have people help them figure out what to cut. It takes some humbleness and some work but it is all for a GREAT result!

 

[janetupnorth]

wow I just sat and read this whole thread. Me and hubby talking while reading it we might take a look into this we don't have much debt except the van payment and house cause when we sold our business a yr ago we paid off everything but the house and van.

That's EXCELLENT, you have an advantage, but do you have an emergency fund saved so you don't use CC if an emergency comes up? With where you are, I think you'd embrace the concepts and it will help protect you as things get more expensive and jobs get less.