Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

As described

Dave Ramsey, in only a few words I can honestly say: Life Changing. I was the "free-spirit" in my relationship, and I would spend every penny I made and struggled and lived paycheck to paycheck. My credit score was so bad I couldn't get any credit cards, by the grace of God, and only had 5 debts eqauling over $10k. My fiance, at the time, and I had a lot of opposing views of money. We were told that our pastor would only marry us if we had pre-marital counceling and this book, "The Total Money Makeover", was part of the counceling. We got married and started a budget and failed the first month. Tried again in the 2nd month and failed yet again, but every time we failed, we still had small successes. We might have gone over budget we used it as an opportunity for growth. In the 3rd month we did it. Things clicked and my now wife and I were feeling like this debt she and I brought to our Unity was finally getting under control. We, or I, struggled and saved and learned to tell myself "NO", and to delay my pleasures. We lived in a tiny apartment and saved every penny above bills and necessities, and we were able to put 50% down on a house and and do thousands in repairs. We have not gone into debt, besides the house, and we are on schedule to pay out 15 year mortgage in only 9. My wife and I had a lot of struggles, and our families thought we were poor, even though we have 6 months in our emergency fund. They think we're weird and that our kids are struggling, but nothing could be farther from the truth. We teach our kids using Dave Ramsey's Jr. Series and they're learning to work for their money to spend, save and give. We have 3 kids and our marriage is strong. Now 11 years later I can honestly say: If a free-spirit, like me, can do this, literally anyone can. It's tough and requires a lot of sacrifice, but it has been well worth it. We're on baby step number 6 and we are having the time of our lives. We haven't had an argument about money in 9 years, we have a retirement of 15% going and we are saving for our kids college. Thanks Dave!

It's an easy to read, down to earth, bull eye truth and writing from the heart kind of book. I totally love it. The book is full of exercises and a lot of homeworks for debtors to work on themselves. Which is very very useful because many debtors (like me) tend to blame outside factors for our own failure despite the fact that it's we and we alone can dig ourselves out of the pit. Dave Ramsay guide on debt-free came from his own experience so it feels like he is talking to you directly, not reading any money expert preaching you about financial technical terms. Highly recommend to all of you.

This book has awesome points to follow and consider in daily life. I used the majority of the principles taught in the actual boom. This allowed me to put everything down on paper.

I have always tried to follow Dave Ramsey on the radio and then on the TV, as the result we are enjoying our retirement income now. I purchased this book for my grandson - it's about time that he learns the correct way to use a budget to track his money.

Dave Ramsey teaches how to SIMPLY manage your money, develop a working budget and to become DEBT FREE!! It's a weird concept, especially for Americans, but since reading this book and taking Dave's Financial Peace University, my husband & I have our $1K emergency fund, pay cash for EVERYTHING, and so far have paid off over $5K in debt in just a few months. We will be completely debt free (except the house) within 2 years and plan to pay off the house w/in 7 years (21 years shorter than the mortgage note). That was something we could have NEVER wrapped our brains around in the past. Now, instead of working to pay Visa and Mastercard, we will be working to pay for our FUTURE!! It's a great read and every person in the USA needs to read this book. I have no doubt, it would do amazing things for our ecomony!!

This book is a game changer I have gifted it to five people thus far if you follow Dave Ramsey's plan you would be successful and is common sense.

If you've read The Total Money Makeover, you don't really need this workbook. But if you haven't read Total Money Makeover, I wouldn't use this as a substitute - just go get the Total Money Makeover instead. The baby steps are pretty straightforward: Baby Step 1 – $1,000 to start an Emergency Fund - you'll find this way easier than you expect to. Baby Step 2 – Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball - this takes a LOT of patience, but you can do it. Baby Step 3 – 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings Baby Step 4 – Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement Baby Step 5 – College funding for children Baby Step 6 – Pay off home early Baby Step 7 – Build wealth and give The rules are simple: 1) Live and breathe by your budget. 2) Attack your debt with a vengeance. Think about how your debt is holding you back and get mad at your debt. 3) Don't stray from the path. 4) As Dave says, "Live like no one else so you can live (and give) like no one else." I listen to the podcast as well and it helps keep me thinking forward and remembering why I started my journey. Dave Ramsey's work can be life-changing, but you have to follow it to the letter. Don't try to do your own thing. That said, know that the rules are available widely online, and Ramsey didn't create this philosophy, he just made it easier to understand than anyone had in the past.