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The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness Hardcover – January 1, 2009
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The success stories speak for themselves in this book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health.
Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. "Don't even consider keeping up with the Joneses," Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. "They're broke!"
The Total Money Makeover isn't theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you.
- Print length259 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherThomas Nelson Inc
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2009
- Dimensions7.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-10159555078X
- ISBN-13978-1595550781
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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER
A Proven Plan for Financial FitnessBy Dave RamseyThomas Nelson
Copyright © 2009 Dave RamseyAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-59555-078-1
Contents
Introduction..................................................................................ixWhat This Book Is NOT.........................................................................xiiiFlying Turkeys and Skinny Dipping.............................................................xix1. The Total Money Makeover Challenge.........................................................12. Denial: I'm Not That Out of Shape..........................................................93. Debt Myths: Debt Is (Not) a Tool...........................................................174. Money Myths: The (Non)Secrets of the Rich..................................................525. Two More Hurdles: Ignorance and Keeping Up with the Joneses................................776. Save $1,000 Fast: Walk Before You Run......................................................937. The Debt Snowball: Lose Weight Fast, Really................................................1098. Finish the Emergency Fund: Kick Murphy Out.................................................1339. Maximize Retirement Investing: Be Financially Healthy for Life.............................15110. College Funding: Make Sure the Kids Are Fit Too...........................................16811. Pay Off the Home Mortgage: Be Ultrafit....................................................18312. Build Wealth Like Crazy: Arnold Schwarzedollar, Mr. Universe of Money.....................20313. Live Like No One Else.....................................................................219Meet The Winners of The Total Money Makeover Challenge........................................225About the Author..............................................................................229Budgeting Forms...............................................................................231Index.........................................................................................251Chapter One
The Total Money Makeover Challenge"As lost as a ball in tall weeds!" That is exactly how I felt. Although it was twenty years ago, I can still taste the emotion as if it were yesterday. Out of control, lost, no sense of power, I felt dread creep across the room like the afternoon shadows on a cold winter's day. Sitting again at the kitchen table with too much month left at the end of the money, I was not having fun. This "adult" stuff where a wife looks to you to provide and kids expect to be fed and kept warm was not exactly working. I didn't feel like some powerful adult; instead, there was a little boy inside me who was very afraid-afraid of this month's bills, afraid of this month's mortgage, and absolutely terrified when I considered the future. How was I to send kids to college, retire, enjoy life, and not live at the edge of money worries?
The "Normal" American Family
It seemed every month I sat at that same table with the same worries, fears, and problems. I had too much debt, too little savings, and no sense of control over my life. No matter how hard I worked, it seemed I couldn't win. I was to forever be slave to some banker, to the government, and to the "needs" of my family. When Sharon and I "talked" about money, we ended up in a fight, leaving her feeling afraid and me feeling inadequate. The next car purchase, the next house, the kids' college-our entire future seemed out of reach.
I didn't need a get-rich-quick guy to pump me up or tell me to be positive. I didn't need a secret formula to riches. I wasn't afraid of hard work or sacrifice. I didn't want to "feel" my way into being "positive." I was positive of only one thing: I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was tired of sitting down to "do the bills" and having a heaviness come over me. The hopelessness was overwhelming. I felt like a gerbil in a wheel-run, run, run, no traction, no ground covered; maybe life was just a financial illusion. All the money came in, all the money went out, and only the names were changed to protect the innocent. I owe, I owe, so off to work I go. You know the drill and all the clichs that go with the drill.
Oh, some months everything seemed to work, and I thought maybe we were going to be okay. I could tell myself then, "Oh well, this is how everyone lives." Those times offered enough wiggle room that I could continue to lie to myself that we were making headway, but deep down, I knew we weren't.
I Did It My Way, and My Way Wasn't Working
ENOUGH! THIS STINKS! I finally decided that this nonplan wasn't working. If you have ever had any of those feelings, you are going to love this book, and, more important, you will love your Total Money Makeover.
More than 20 years ago, my wife, Sharon, and I went broke. We lost everything due to my stupidity in handling money, or not handling it, as the case may be. Hitting bottom and hitting it hard was the worst thing that ever happened to me and the best thing that ever happened to me.
We started with nothing, but by the time I was twenty-six years old, we held real estate worth over $4 million. I was good at real estate, but I was better at borrowing money. Even though I had become a millionaire, I had built a house of cards. The short version of the story is that we went through financial hell and lost everything over a three-year period of time. We were sued, foreclosed on, and, finally, with a brand-new baby and a toddler, we were bankrupt. Scared doesn't begin to cover it. Crushed comes close, but we held on to each other and decided we needed a change.
So after losing everything, I went on a quest, a quest to find out how money really works, how I could get control of it, and how I could have confidence in handling it. I read everything I could get my hands on. I interviewed older rich people, people who made money and kept it. That quest led me to a really, really uncomfortable place-my mirror. I came to realize that my money problems, worries, and shortages largely began and ended with the person in my mirror. I realized also that if I could learn to manage the character I shaved with every morning, I could win at money. That quest, the one that ended with me staring at myself in the mirror, led me on a new journey over the last twenty years: the journey of helping others, literally millions of others, take that same quest to the mirror. Live Events, Financial Peace University, The Dave Ramsey Show (talk radio and TV show), and the New York Times best-sellers Financial Peace, More Than Enough, and The Total Money Makeover have enabled me to tell millions of Americans what I have learned-the hard way-about money.
The Big Challenge: Find a Mirror
I have a challenge for you. Are you ready to take on the guy or gal in your mirror? If you are, you are ready to win. I rediscovered God's and Grandma's simple way of handling money. Wealth building isn't rocket science, which is a good thing for me (and probably you). Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge. What to do isn't the problem; doing it is. Most of us know what to do, but we just don't do it. If I can control the guy in the mirror, I can be skinny and rich. We will let other books work on the skinny, and I will help you with the rich part. No, there are no secrets, and yes, this will be very hard. Hey, if it were easy, every moron walking would be wealthy.
So my Total Money Makeover begins with a challenge. The challenge is you. You are the problem with your money. The financial channel or some DVD sets aren't your answer; you are. You are the king of your future, and I have a plan. The Total Money Makeover plan isn't theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of your money problems: you. It is based on a series of prices that must be paid to win. All winners pay a price to win. Some losers pay a price and never win, and that is usually because they didn't have the benefit of a proven plan for financial fitness.
Ordinary People
Tens of thousands of ordinary people have used the system in this book to get out of debt, regain control, and build wealth. I've scattered their stories throughout the book. If at any point during your makeover you are tempted to quit or you just need a little encouragement, read one of these stories. These people have sacrificed for a short period of time so they will never have to sacrifice again.
If you are looking for a road map to get you home, you've found it. If you are looking for something easy or fast, you have the wrong book. If you are looking for a book to help you pass your CPA exam in the area of financial knowledge, you have the wrong book. If you are looking for a writer who has intricate academic theories (that don't work in the real world), you've got the wrong guy. I have many of the academic pedigrees, but I ended up broke. I have actually twice become a millionaire from nothing. The first time I was in my twenties, the money was in real estate, and I lost that due to my stupidity; the second time I was not yet forty, but I did the money thing right that time, and I am debt-free.
I often hear about broke finance professors who bemoan that I am way too simple, or as an e-mailer told me on The Dave Ramsey Show one day, "You are a one-trick pony." To those of you who say you have great but unexecuted plans, I say, "Prove it. I have." I like the way I've built wealth better than the way you haven't. You will meet people, educated and uneducated, throughout this book who have won, or begun to win, with money for the first time in their lives. The Total Money Makeover works!
The Total Money Makeover Motto
This plan works, but it will cost you. It will teach you to say new words, like "no." In short, your Total Money Makeover will be a personal money makeover where you learn this motto: IF YOU WILL LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, LATER YOU CAN LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE. This is the motto of your Total Money Makeover. It's my way of reminding you that if you will make the sacrifices now that most people aren't willing to make, later on you will be able to live as those folks will never be able to live. You will notice the motto all through the book, even across the bottom of the pages. I'm sorry there isn't an easier path to feature in the motto, but the good thing about this one is that it works. You can repeat the motto to yourself as you pass up a purchase in order to hit your goals. When you work late and are tired, you can say the motto to yourself. Of course, this isn't a magic formula; I'm not into that. But it does remind you that you will win, and the payoff will be worth the cost.
Some of you are so immature that you are unwilling to delay pleasure for a greater result. I will show you exactly how to get the result you want, so the price you pay will not be in vain. I don't want to walk across hot coals because it is fun, but if I can be shown how a short, painful walk will do away with the lifetime of worry, frustration, stress, and fear that being constantly broke brings me, then bring on the hot coals.
My Promise to You
My promise to you is this: if you will follow the guidelines of this proven system of sacrifice and discipline, you can be debt-free, begin saving, and give as you've never given before. You will build wealth. I will also promise you that it is totally up to you. The Total Money Makeover isn't a magic formula to wealth. This system will not work unless you do, and then only to the degree of your intensity in implementing it. In the following pages, you will meet many individuals and families who have won many money victories, but not one of them won until they won the battle with the guy in the mirror. Your situation isn't your spouse's fault (well, maybe, but we'll talk later), it isn't your parents' fault, it isn't your children's fault, and it isn't your friends' fault. IT IS YOUR FAULT!
My financial life began turning around when I took responsibility for it. People all across America have used these steps to become free, regain a sense of confidence and control, and build a future for their families. Please join me on a journey away from the young man I was, the one I described earlier who was racked with worry, fear, and guilt over money. Take this journey with me to your own Total Money Makeover, but remember, the first part of the quest is confronting the man in the mirror. That man in the mirror is your Total Money Makeover Challenge.
Chapter Two
Denial: I'm Not That Out of ShapeSeveral years ago I realized I had let my body dissolve into flab. I had worked so hard for so many years that I had abandoned the care of my physical condition. The first step to getting into shape was to realize I needed to change my ways, but the second and equally important step was to identify the obstacles to getting there. What would stop me from getting into shape? Once I understood those obstacles, I began a process to lose weight, grow muscle, and become more fit. Your Total Money Makeover is the same. You need to realize there's a problem, but you must also see what could hinder your move toward financial fitness. The next few chapters will identify some major obstacles to YOUR Total Money Makeover.
Look in the mirror. Take a long look. What do you see? Suck in that gut; hold up your chest, and really look at yourself. It doesn't matter how many angles or poses you take, the mirror is cruel. "Well, I'm really not that fat, maybe just a little flabby." My dad used to say that 90 percent of solving a problem is realizing there is one. Focused intensity, life-or-death intensity, is required for you to reset your money-spending patterns, and one of your biggest obstacles is DENIAL. The sad thing is that you can be financially mediocre in this country, financially flabby, and still be average. And if the truth be known, being average, normal, and financially flabby is pretty much okay by most folks' standards. This, however, is not a book for the wimpy among us. This is a book about winning, about really having something.
Don't Wait to Have Denial Knocked Out of You
For several years I have spoken multiple times a year to live audiences of two thousand to twelve thousand people, teaching them the ideas this book. After one live event where I spoke to four thousand people, Sara told me that her Total Money Makeover came only after life placed a call to her. She said she had heard me quote the Wall Street Journal as reporting that 70 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, but she honestly thought she was in the 30 percent who were fine. She had financially struck a pose, and the pose was denial.
With two sons from her previous marriage, Sara had just remarried and was happy and secure in her job, as was her husband, John. Their new life together seemed awesome. Their household combined income was about $75,000 per year, with the "normal" debts of a small student loan, a car loan, and "only" $5,000 on a credit card. With life under control and even going well, Sara and John decided their new family needed a new home, so the builder was selected and construction began. Somewhere deep inside there may have been uneasiness, but it was very deep. Finally the day came when the new home was complete. Everything was going to be fine now, the new family in the new home, the way it is "supposed" to be. In May they moved into the new home, complete with big new payments.
In September Sara's boss asked to see her in his office. She was excelling at work and braced herself for a big "atta, girl" followed by a nice bonus or raise. Instead, the boss explained her job was being eliminated. "Downsizing, you know," he said. Her life's work was cut from her-and $45,000 of their $75,000 income-with the boss's chilling words. Not only was her pride hurt and her career path cut short, a creeping terror grew deep down inside as she drove home to tell John. That night there were tears, fears, and the sudden stark realization that she and John were financially fat. Suddenly, Sara and her family were facing foreclosure on the house and repossession of the car. The basics of life had become precious.
Sara and John had listened to The Dave Ramsey Show on the radio, but they always thought someone else needed a Total Money Makeover. After all, they always held their stomachs in when standing in front of the mirror. The night after her layoff was the first night they looked in the financial mirror and saw fat people. The sight wasn't pretty-big house payments, fat car payments, large student loans, bloated credit cards, anorexic savings, and no budget. They saw fat people.
When you are physically fat, it is hard to be in denial, because there is the ever-widening belt line. When you are financially fat, however, you can fake it and look good for a while. Your friends and family will participate in your fantasy/denial, which makes you believe you are doing just fine. One of the four major factors that keep people from winning in money by getting a Total Money Makeover is not realizing they need one. Sadly, some of the most dramatic makeovers I've seen have been by people who had life smack them so hard they got the denial knocked out of them, like Sara. If life isn't smacking you around at the moment, you are actually in greater danger than Sara and John the night of the layoff. You are a real candidate for financial mediocrity or even a major crisis brought on by denial, and you have to see the need to make dramatic changes. If you are apathetic because everything seems "just fine," then you will be unwilling to make the huge changes needed to get huge results.
Mmm ... Frog Legs
Years ago, in a motivational seminar by the master, Zig Ziglar, I heard a story about how mediocrity will sneak up on you. The story goes that if you drop a frog into boiling water, he will sense the pain and immediately jump out. However, if you put a frog in room-temperature water, he will swim around happily, and as you gradually turn the water up to boiling, the frog will not sense the change. The frog is lured to his death by gradual change. We can lose our health, our fitness, and our wealth gradually, one day at a time. It might be a clich, but that's because it is true: The enemy of "the best" is not "the worst." The enemy of "the best" is "just fine."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVERby Dave Ramsey Copyright © 2009 by Dave Ramsey. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Product details
- Publisher : Thomas Nelson Inc; 3rd edition (January 1, 2009)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 259 pages
- ISBN-10 : 159555078X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1595550781
- Item Weight : 1.68 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #119,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #487 in Budgeting & Money Management (Books)
- #521 in Finance (Books)
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About the author
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Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He’s a #1 National bestselling author and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. Dave’s eight national bestselling books include The Total Money Makeover, Baby Steps Millionaires, and EntreLeadership. He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth, and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO of Ramsey Solutions.
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Customers find the book provides helpful advice and principles for living by. They find it realistic and a good value for money. The book is easy to understand and follow, with simple and straightforward plans. Readers appreciate the well-thought-out ideas and powerful plan. The book works well and produces results quickly. Many customers consider it a great gift for friends and graduation presents.
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Customers find the book provides helpful advice and principles to live by. They say it provides inspiration and motivation to tackle financial issues. The book helps them set their priorities and avoid making mistakes. It contains life stories, examples, and common sense that can help avoid making mistakes while tackling financial issues.
"...Awesome and uplifting read." Read more
"...I have also found Dave's book to be useful in fine tuning my plans...." Read more
"...Yes, the advice is simplified, and is hammered home repeatedly, but look around you...." Read more
"...ASIN:1570713383 Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You]] [..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's realistic approach to finances. They find it an exciting read that helps them get better at managing money. The book teaches them how to save and spend carefully, and it's a good reminder to stay in control of spending. It explains how to get out of debt and become financially free.
"...not so much knowing what it takes to clear your debts and live a life of financial freedom; it is about DOING what it takes with a "gazelle like..." Read more
"...I have struggled, but I have also improved and I now have no consumer debt, I eliminated my credit cards, I am now saving for an emergency fund, I..." Read more
"...ASIN:1118375637 Takin' Care of Business: The BIG IDEA for Small Business]] Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us..." Read more
"...Mutual funds are great, particularly low-cost funds (think Vanguard, Fidelity), but I would consider adding hard assets as well...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to understand and follow. They appreciate the straightforward advice and charts provided. Readers find it a quick read that explains the how and why of owning your life. The steps are simple and effective, according to customers.
"...This book truly does state the obvious...." Read more
"...key thing is to get the material to as many people as possible, in a clear, digestible, and (dare I say?) fun format...." Read more
"...not be easy to work your way through the seven steps, the system itself is a simple one...." Read more
"...Some straightforward books that help to simplify investment ideas -- The Little Book of Big Dividends by Charles Carlson, and the Millionaire Real..." Read more
Customers find the book's plans well-thought-out and accessible. They appreciate the simple, no-nonsense approach that helps them overcome financial challenges. The book provides a clear outline for action and is described as an eye-opening read.
"...The plan is a good, basic, and as easy to follow as a personal financial plan worth the paper it's printed on can be...." Read more
"...Dave has been there, and his plan is real-world...." Read more
"...Dave Ramsey is well known and highly recommended. His plans and goals are very good, my husband is obsessed...." Read more
"...financial goals and I am very happy with this purchase because the plan is great...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's sturdiness. They find the principles in it practical and straightforward for financial success. The book provides positive reinforcement and a solid program to avoid pitfalls.
"...When you can comfortably live on your investment income, you are financially secure. Money is a hard worker, harder than you...." Read more
"...His advice provides great, immediate, positive reinforcement...." Read more
"...in this book how you can work through this and begin building a very solid future for yourself and your children." Read more
"It was the exact book I needed for my class in great condition." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the product's functionality. They say it works well, provides immediate results, and is worth the investment. The product arrived on time without any issues or problems, and was received positively by friends and clients.
"...I am a believer in the snowball and trust me, it does work...." Read more
"...It worked very well for us as we followed it religiously at time and then meandered at times too...." Read more
"...It is very motivational and rational thinking which works perfect for me...." Read more
"This plan, takes commitment, but it works very well." Read more
Customers like the book as a gift. They say it's a good wedding or graduation present for couples or young adults.
"...This book makes a great wedding or graduation present, to start a couple or a young adult out in the right direction...." Read more
"This book has great principles for people to live by. Very good gift for people trying to be more financially successful." Read more
"...families get their financial houses in order, it would make a great wedding gift, to give young couples a solid foundation to start out their lives..." Read more
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Customers find the book practical and easy to understand with great analogies and real-life examples. However, some feel the author is repetitive and spends too much time relaying stories.
"...Dave helps you through his book by way of true life stories, examples, and plain old common sense...." Read more
"...My only complaint is the constant religious references, hence on the 4 stars...." Read more
"...If you want a very down to earth, practical, easy to understand book, then this is the book for you...." Read more
"I found the book to be a little repetitive but if you are seriously trying to become debt free this is the book for you...." Read more
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2012I cannot completely disagree with the people who have given this book 2, 3, and 4 stars. This book truly does state the obvious. I started from the introduction and Mr. Ramsey definitely highlights that a lot of what is in this book has already been preached by other "experts" and the vast majority of what he puts out there is common sense for a great many people. These are all points that have been argued by those who are not so pleased with the book. I figured it behooved me to point that out just in case anyone read my review anticipating the reasoning behind my giving this book five stars had to do with some amazing new revelation of how to save money.
You could probably place me in the category of the people who know what to do and how to go about doing it, but never ACTUALLY do it. Am I uncormfortable? Not at all. I have a respectable job with very fair compensation, and my wife does well too. However, we have also done well to accumulate debts over time: many of the debts are as old as our relationship (which is pretty young...six years). It wasn't until recently that I realized something. While we have money saved aside for the imminent rainy day, we could be doing so much better if we were saving without the concern of applying those savings to our debt. Like I said, for many of you this is obvious.
I was in denial for quite some time. I didn't want to admit that I was horrible with money because I didn't want to sacrifice control of my own money. When I came across this book, I did research on the author, and determined that this would be a solid investment. Upon reading the first few pages, I was immediately hooked! The part that got to me the most was looking in the mirror and realizing where our financial woes were originating from. I know, it sounds like a 12 step program: it kind of is! It's a program for binge spenders! I realized that I was financially intoxicated, or financially overweight (Mr. Ramsey correlates the Total Money Makeover with working out...pretty good tie-in considering that I need to get in shape too!).
I probably could have finished this book in a day if it wasn't for my obligations to work and family. Instead it took two whole days to get this book finished! Since then (four days ago) I have already created an Excel sheet listing all our debts from smallest to largest, and have created an allocated spending plan for our upcoming paychecks in two weeks. The first step is to come up with $1,000 dollars, but we already have that covered, and are prepared to get a head start on our debt snowball by depleting our savings accounts. I have even set a target date for us to be debt free.
While I read the whole book, I sometimes think I should have stopped reading at baby step 2, which deals with clearing your debt. I don't necessarily want to get ahead of myself.
Anyway, the point of this review is simple: it is not so much knowing what it takes to clear your debts and live a life of financial freedom; it is about DOING what it takes with a "gazelle like intensity". Again, there are no crazy new revelations or revolutionary ideas. Mr. Ramsey makes no claims to being an expert. He simply puts out what everyone already knows. Besides, it's also good to know that he was in a position - becoming rich, filing for bankruptcy, only to become wealthy again - to employ these methods.
As with any other review, take mine with a grain of salt. Determination and sacrifice will ultimately lead to true freedom in the future. "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." Awesome and uplifting read.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2010Initially I was given this on CD by a friend who has recently become a "disciple of Dave". I listened to it twice over and even hit the repeat button quite a lot. When I got home I ordered his book and have read and re-read this so that it has come to live on my nightstand.
Why?
Well, for starters, I, like far too many of us had hit a financial sinkhole about 15 years ago and then spent more than a decade digging myself out. Much of what Dave has to say is common sense: Save, pay cash, budget, avoid consumer debt (ie. if you can't afford it don't buy it.) and rather than compete with the Jones' live the life you can afford and eventually you will live like no other. To do so we must be willing to avoid peer pressure and remain focused on our reality - Not the fantasy.
My own personal sinkhole occurred when I was a college student. Dave brings up a very important argument for higher education. College is a luxury NOT a necessity. Higher education only plays a role in the success of an individual in only 15% of the population. 15% is NOT very much, which means a great deal of parents are needlessly sending their children to college, many like myself are either disinterested or academically unqualified for college yet too many of us are willing to throw money at an ultimately empty quest which becomes a money pit. Tho my family & I saved for my education we were still short and even with pell grants I had to take out student loans. I actually took out a modest sum in comparison to my schoolmates but tie that in with the credit card that practically came in a goodie-bag, and NO immediate job when I graduated the end result was disasterous.
Had I been more knowledgeable about finances and unafraid to ask for help I actually would have cleaned my mess up more quickly. Instead I took the first piece of advice from an individual who appeared to be knowledgable based on his profession - he was a lawyer. He might be great in a trial but the man was ignorant of financial matters & my situation only got worse. Ironically, had I talked to my dad, who did bring me up on many of Dave's principals (save, if you can't afford it than earn it, pay yourself first and pay your bills off ASAP) and I taken the very basic, but good advice of a very good accountant I could have been on Dave's path earlier.
I have struggled, but I have also improved and I now have no consumer debt, I eliminated my credit cards, I am now saving for an emergency fund, I also have a savings and I can now feel excited about the future rather than fear it.
Since I did this for the most part without Dave before hand you might wonder why I champion his book. Because I realize that despite Dave and I eventually having the benefit of commonsense advice from previous society as a whole our nation has lost touch with the reality of financial responsibility. There is no quick fix but there is truly salvation to be had if we are willing to be smart and earn it. I have also found Dave's book to be useful in fine tuning my plans. Now it is time to learn how to make my money work for me and make proper investments. It's good to have Dave there to explain it all in a language that neither bores me or goes over my head.
Quite frankly I intend to start giving this book out as gifts to, unfortunately, too many people I know and particularly to all future Highschool graduates in my acquaintance and hopefully prevent future financial sinkholes.
Top reviews from other countries
- JuliaReviewed in Canada on September 6, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent advice
I previously read this book and followed it. Allowed me to retire early. As such - this purchase was a gift for my daughter as she starts out. Hoping she follows as well and has a great debt-free life.
- RabbitReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best money book I have ever read
I love the total money makeover. I have read it several times from cover to cover and even have it on my Kindle. Following Dave Ramsey's simple 7 step plan and listening to his wise advise I built up an emergency fund, got myself out of credit card debt and now I pay cash or use my debit card for everything. This book has genuinely saved me thousands of pounds that would have otherwise been wasted on paying credit card interest. The real life accounts from other people he has helped which feature in the book bring the whole thing to life.
- CWReviewed in Germany on April 6, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars very good read even if you are not in debt
one of my American is currently doing the 'total money makeover'-program and I was curious.
It is a very good read and will certainly help you to look differently at your spending habits and investments.
It might be wise to skip the rather long introduction because it is all repeated in the book.
- Craig D.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Financial Planning that works
This book really has changed my life. Before reading Dave's book I had never made a budget before and always just spent on what I wanted not what I needed. After reading this book I set a budget stuck to it and have now paid off £7000 on credit cards, have savings for the first time ever and am working on saving for a deposit on a house. I would recommend this book to everybody as I believe there isn't anybody who wouldn't benefit from reading it and using the principles in this book.
- tproverbReviewed in Canada on October 28, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
We bought this book because this is an absolute must-have for any household and we needed some help to get out of our debts. Dave is a life-saver and his book gave us hope. Great book. It arrived in absolutely new condition, the packaging was excellent. The delivery time was within the limits. Thanks.