Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread centers around participants sharing their experiences and thoughts on Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover program, discussing its effectiveness for managing finances, debt reduction, and savings strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, considering the program, seeks insights from others who have used it.
  • Another participant expresses strong enthusiasm for the program, sharing their past experience and the need for a refresher course.
  • Several users mention their plans to read the book and participate in the online program.
  • One participant highlights the importance of group support and shares their positive experience in a class setting.
  • Another participant discusses their excitement about starting the program after paying off significant student loans.
  • One participant notes their interest in treating savings like debt to improve their financial situation.
  • Several users express that they find Ramsey's approach to be practical and straightforward.
  • One participant shares their experience of using the program primarily for budgeting, while balancing work and family life.
  • Another participant mentions the availability of resources for budgeting with irregular income.
  • One participant reflects on the challenges of starting the program and the unexpected financial burdens that arise.
  • Another participant shares a personal success story about managing a large medical bill due to the program's teachings.
  • One participant inquires about the suitability of the program for self-employed individuals and older children.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the necessity of group support and the effectiveness of the program for various financial situations, with no clear consensus emerging on the best approach to starting the program.

Contextual Notes

Participants share a range of personal experiences with the program, including its application to different financial situations, such as debt management and savings strategies.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and individuals interested in personal finance management may find the shared experiences and insights relevant to their own financial journeys.

Is there a way to find out what channel DR will be on? I'd really like to check it out. DH and I actually came up with our own "get out of debt" plan, and will have all of our credit card debt paid off by March 1st. (Can't wait!) Then we'll just be left with cars and student loans (why did I get a degree and not use it?! lol). I'd like to learn more about DR's program though. I guess I'll check out his website when my kids decide to nap! :)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #62
Now I have a question on FPU... can you do this on your own or do you have to attend the classes?

I checked into the class here and it's only on Friday nights and I course I have every Friday booked through Christmas! woo-hoo!

Can I get this and do it on my own or does it have to be done with the class?
 
You can do FPU online or buy a home study course, I think.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #64
Thanks Deb!
 
DebbieJ said:
You can do FPU online or buy a home study course, I think.

You're right Deb!
 
Well, this will be our first month following Dave's plan. The envelope system is getting really hard to get used to. I seem to loose track if I am getting gas, going to the store and taking a kid to the doctor in the same errand run. LOL:confused:
I am hoping it will get better. At least with us getting paid once a month it does make the initial dividing easier.
 
My hubby and I graduated from FPU last year. We did the in-person class and it was amazing. There's just something about getting together with others. The discussion time generates so much more to love about the course.

I learned SO much about retirement, insurance, home buying (wish I had experienced this part before we bought our house), credit collector practices, and a ton more. Our debt snowball is rolling very slowly after undergrad and graduate school at a private university (ALL on student loans), but it's at least moving, right? ;) I highly recommend the course. You bring your homework to each meeting, discuss questions, support one another, and see just how many of us are hurting or confused over our financial mistakes. By the time we reached the last session, I'm sure I wasn't the only one in tears. It's such a moving experience.

Once you've graduated from FPU, you can take it as many times as you need to for FREE in the future. :thumbup:
 
I've spent the last half hour reading EVERY post on this thread. I really need to do this. I have a boyfriend who has EXCELLENT credit and I'm too embarassed to tell him mine's in the crapper. I was married to a man to took everything from me and when we divorced 5 years ago I went nuts and some very bad habits are still sticking with me. I live in HIS house and I contribute by paying most utilities and he pays mortgage (I make about 1/3 of what he does). I want to do this! This sounds wonderful by reading all of your posts. It keeps me up at night. Problem? PC, working full time, taking full time classes online and single mom of an 8 yr old. What is the most effective way for me? I dont have time for classes (none are even in a 25 mile radius for me anyway). I would prefer to read the book, but which one?

This means the world to me. I would LOVE to pay off debt (no credit cards, just other crap) and be able to have a nest egg, college for my son. Please help me.....

Thank you,
Dena
 
Go get The Total Money Makeover from the library. It will change your life!
 
sfdavis918 said:
Go get The Total Money Makeover from the library. It will change your life!

Im there tomorrow, Sarah. Mark My Words.

Thank you for your inciteful words...you've opened doors for me...thank you so much. I'm so excited....
 
Denarella said:
Im there tomorrow, Sarah. Mark My Words.

Thank you for your inciteful words...you've opened doors for me...thank you so much. I'm so excited....

I would be very interested to see how you like the book. Keep us posted.
 
sfdavis918 said:
I would be very interested to see how you like the book. Keep us posted.


I'm sure if I get it tomorrow, I'll be done soon! I'm inbetween classes right now and I start again next Wednesday so I will definitely have it done before then....I hope its at the library. If not, it will be worth the purchase at B&N!
 
Suze Orman is on Oprah tomorrow, btw.....
 
Denarella said:
I'm sure if I get it tomorrow, I'll be done soon! I'm inbetween classes right now and I start again next Wednesday so I will definitely have it done before then....I hope its at the library. If not, it will be worth the purchase at B&N!

Don't forget you can ILL the book if your library doesn't have it. Just ask what form you need to fill out (Interlibrary Loan) and they'll usually have it within a week. :)
 
I have read DR Total Money Makeover four times now. I love the book and each time I read it I get more inspired and learn a new tip to help us where we are in our baby steps.
Anyone who says "I'll always have a car payment" needs to read this book. We downsized our SUV to an older one and it will be paid off this month. NO MORE CAR PAYMENTS!!!!!!!
We are doing the FPU online. For military it's free when you buy the kit which was $69. Go to Real Debt Help - Get out of debt with Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Plan. and click on FPU

I can tell you that having freedom to use the money we make our own way and not have chains of debt sounds SOOOOOO good to me!
 
We learned so much during this class, but one thing that BLEW my mind when we went through the 14-week course was discovering that we could put our kids through ANY college of their choice for LESS than what our car payment was $190/month. If we set that aside each month into an interest bearing account and it began to snowball through the years, by the time they were 18 years old they would have it made (probably even for graduate school, which is becoming necessary for most professional careers). We discovered that we didn't need the materialistic stuff--the fancy cars, big homes, lavish extras. We now have a goal in mind and a date/time to shoot for and it will be here before we know it. We don't want our children to have the pain we've suffered from our lack of knowledge and now we know we can begin equipping them with financial education from the age of 3. Amazing!

When we finished school we had a 6-figured student loan debt (no kidding). Yes, we're very well educated, but we're very much in debt and can't do even half of what our friends do for fun. It's been killing us to begin paying for our past mistakes, but Dave Ramsey's class inspired and liberated us. We saw what it looks like on the other side. There IS a way out with diligence and persistence. It may take 20 years for us to become debt-free, but we CAN do it and we CAN put our kids through college at the same time and we CAN have a very nice retirement fund. It's all based on his saying, Live like no one else NOW so that you can live like no one else LATER. In other words, live within your means NOW (by paying off debt, setting aside $$ for retirement, getting the best insurance, budgeting the RIGHT way, etc.) so that you can have all the financial peace in the world LATER.

We lo-o-o-o-oved this semester-long class. I can't say enough!
 
LibrarianChef said:
We learned so much during this class, but one thing that BLEW my mind when we went through the 14-week course was discovering that we could put our kids through ANY college of their choice for LESS than what our car payment was $190/month. If we set that aside each month into an interest bearing account and it began to snowball through the years, by the time they were 18 years old they would have it made (probably even for graduate school, which is becoming necessary for most professional careers). We discovered that we didn't need the materialistic stuff--the fancy cars, big homes, lavish extras. We now have a goal in mind and a date/time to shoot for and it will be here before we know it. We don't want our children to have the pain we've suffered from our lack of knowledge and now we know we can begin equipping them with financial education from the age of 3. Amazing!

When we finished school we had a 6-figured student loan debt (no kidding). Yes, we're very well educated, but we're very much in debt and can't do even half of what our friends do for fun. It's been killing us to begin paying for our past mistakes, but Dave Ramsey's class inspired and liberated us. We saw what it looks like on the other side. There IS a way out with diligence and persistence. It may take 20 years for us to become debt-free, but we CAN do it and we CAN put our kids through college at the same time and we CAN have a very nice retirement fund. It's all based on his saying, Live like no one else NOW so that you can live like no one else LATER. In other words, live within your means NOW (by paying off debt, setting aside $$ for retirement, getting the best insurance, budgeting the RIGHT way, etc.) so that you can have all the financial peace in the world LATER.

We lo-o-o-o-oved this semester-long class. I can't say enough!

Congratulations on changing your family tree! Now your kids won't be burdened with the student loans like you have been. Teach them all the benefits of being debt free and they will end up living like kings!!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #78
If you do the class online, do you still get the books and cd's or is it all downloads?
 
finley1991 said:
If you do the class online, do you still get the books and cd's or is it all downloads?

I'm not sure since I haven't taken the online version, but surely someone here has. I can say that we bought the books/CDs set and then attended the class. In other words, the $85 we paid for FPU was NOT for the actual class--it was just for the books and supplies. The class is always free once you've bought the necessary supplies which include all of the forms and reading/listening materials.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #80
thanks! :)

I looked online but can't tell when I look at the info.
 
big thumbs up!!i haven't done the dave ramsey class myself - but my in-laws are and they swear by it!! they have changed their financial situation and mindset so much in just a short time. it is really inspiring!!! i think everyone needs this kind of 'training' for life!!
 
I just bought the book this afternoon at Barnes and Noble! I can't wait to read it! Of course, with trick or treating tonight, I don't see it happening....:(
 

Similar Pampered Chef Threads

Replies
2
Views
2K
Admin Greg
  • esavvymom
  • Pampered Chef Finances
Replies
6
Views
2K
NooraK
  • esavvymom
  • Pampered Chef Finances
Replies
2
Views
1K
Admin Greg
  • Kodeysmom
  • Pampered Chef Finances
Replies
29
Views
4K
pamperedlinda
Replies
9
Views
2K
wadesgirl
  • esavvymom
  • Pampered Chef Finances
Replies
2
Views
1K
Admin Greg
  • KellyRedHead
  • Pampered Chef Finances
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
candiejayne
  • smspamperedchef
  • Pampered Chef Finances
2 3
Replies
76
Views
9K
lakamper
  • NooraK
  • Pampered Chef Finances
Replies
13
Views
2K
NooraK
  • chefheidi2003
  • Pampered Chef Finances
Replies
4
Views
3K
AnaCash
Back
Top