Anyone Used the Dave Ramsey Program

It works! His ideas make perfect sense. If you can't afford a seminar or the entire program, at least get his book. It has a budget worksheet, etc at the back of the book. Try it. It does not happen overnight, but it works. Good Luck!

Hi, I bought his Total Money Makeover book and implemented his "snow ball" theory which really actually DOES work. Since Oct 07 we have paid off nearly $15k in debt. I listen to him on AM talk 570 sometimes in the afternoon..as he is on from 1-4pm CST..and have got some really great deals.
I have heard Financial Peace University is great!

My husband and I have taken the Financial Peace University, we have the book and have both read it, and I listen to his Pod Cast on a regular basis.

The program works! Follow the steps and don't try to skip around and it WILL work.

There is nothing more I would recommend that Dave Ramsey and his Financial Peace University (FPU)! We completed his course and are about to payoff our 3rd credit card. Since we took the course, we have been through many life altering events and wouldn't have made it through had it not been for what we learned. I went from a very nice full-time salaried job to a work-from-home mom and my husband was laid off 2 different times. FPU taught us how to prepare and survive the rough times. Don't get me wrong....they were ROUGH but we made it!!

I am actually about to start the program with our school community. I can't wait!

I, too, recommend signing up for Financial Peace University. I'm 3/4 of the way through, and our money is already transformed--we've got $2500 in savings, paid off my student loan, and will pay off our credit card debt next month! For us, the structure and accountability of the class were key. A lot of it was stuff that we knew, theoretically, we should do, but we needed to be walked through it, on a timeline, and held accountable. GL!

D.,

The cheapest method is to just purchase the book: Total Money Makeover.

HOWEVER!

It might help more to take a class which costs more (about $100?). The support you get from a group setting is very helpful. Plus you get the TMM book, a workbook, and CDs of the program. During the class you watch the DVDs in which he talks about all the principles - and he's very humorous! (The CDs are the audio of the DVDs). The workbook is helpful in setting up your budget. The class facilitators are trained by FPU.

A.

We also LOVE Dave Ramsey. We haven't completed Financial Peace University although but we've read his book Total Money Makeover and have attended his conference when he was in Dallas last year (I believe he has another one coming up in Dallas soon). I recommend you buy Total Money Makeover and read it cover to cover. It's a very easy read. Also, check out his website www.daveramsey.com and he's also on 570 AM Monday - Friday from 1-4. He also has a show on Fox Business every week night. His methods are simple to follow and very straightforward. Good luck!

we bought total money make over and loosely followed it.
we paid off all credit card bills by only buying groceries and paying bills but we never wrote anything down. we lived as if we were poor and put all extra toward debt. we still don't have an emergency fund - well we did and we paid cash toward a honda mini van because we'd been using our 10 yr old honda civic as our family of 4 car for the past 5 years. so we jumped on buying a used mini-van when we had the funds and found a great deal.
now we are saving for our emergency fund, which is a great idea to have before you even pay off debt so that if something happens out of the ordinary then you don't feel the need to put it on the credit card. his strategies are old school - the way people used to live, and i think that the whole country should be reading his books and practicing his advice.
if you ever listen to him and the callers on the radio you can't help but be inspired. reading his book helps a ton too.
getting out of debt and paying cash for your stuff is the best thing that anyone can do for their family. stuff is stuff and you can wait on it instead of always being a slave to your bills and interest.

i dont know if this helps you but, my husband and i have followed him for some time now and it does work. Small steps is what we are doing and we have money in the bank. We our self employed so we have to do small steps. We bought his book too and my housband has been reading it when he can and so fare so good. Go and get this book " the total money makeover". I would start there,1/2 price books has it. We are like you we pay our cc bills and we have payed off one last year. One more to go. Good luck its worth it. Have a great day. =) T.

My husband ALWAYS listens to that guy on the radio. We haven't bought any books or anything but we set a budget for ourselves, a pretty tight one, and we make ourselves stick it. I clip coupons from the paper and I get them online at coupons.com and I buy great value brand in all of the items that I can at the store. We usually spend between 200-250 a MONTH on groceries, and 50 for eating out (this includes my little trips to sonic for happy hour drinks :) !! The first month that we set our budget we had an extra 250 dollars in our account by the end of the month that we normally don't have. I don't know how big your family is so I can't tell you if our grocery budget/eating out budget would even work for you but for us its my husband, little boy and I, we have a daughter too but shes nursing so she doesnt eat the groceries :). The budget is hard but it is sooo worth it. We litterally cut out everything that we just didnt NEED. In turn, after all bills were paid and everything else was taken care of we could treat ourselves with a little bit of our extra money and the rest goes to either debt or savings. I hope I helped you out a little bit!!

My husband and I have used the Total Money Makeover in the past. We read the book in one sitting (we were on a long trip home in the car and one of us read it aloud). It is very inspiring. The plan itself is pretty basic, but he states things that you already know in a way that makes you say, "Wow! Why didn't I think of that before? I can do that!". We were able to pay off a substantial amount of cc & car debt (>50K) in less than 2 years! It made a difference with us. I would recommend it to anyone. Plus, he follows biblical principles, which I think is very important.
Best of luck to you with your journey!

D.,

I would like to add my resounding YES, as well. Blessings on your family as you do this.

We took the Dave Ramsey course "Financial Peace University" at our church. It really works if you follow it!! I think you can go to his website and look for a course in your area. It wasn't really expensive and included the book and a few other things. Good luck!

Loved it! We are wanting to retake the class b/c since we last took it, I left my job to be a SAHM, my husband just started a new job, and we're moving, not to mention I'm pregnant with #2! Our life has change so much that we want to go back to make it all fresh in our minds so we can try to get back on track. I recommend the Financial Peace University to everyone I know! We didn't sign up for the computer stuff, but we did have access to his website during the 13 week course. Very useful!

Please don't go with CCCS like one mom said. That is the first thing Dave Ramsey will tell you not to do.

We are in the same boat as you...lots of debt, very tight budget, but not late on anything. Here is what we did:

We went to Half Price Books and got The Total Money Makeover book for only $12.50. We tape his show and try to listen to the radio as much as we can since we can not afford the Finacial Peace University. First thing is write a budget! He'll tell you how in the book. Next...save up $1000 dollars for an emergency fund. (I know...you are thinking where are you going to come up with that?) Pay minimums on everything and slowly save. Have a garage sale...sell stuff, clip coupons, etc to help bring you to $1000. Now...once you are there, don't use your credit cards again. If you come up an emergency that is not budgeted for...you can use that. Then you can start your debt snowball which he talks about in the book. That is what we are doing right now. Good luck to you!!! You can't go wrong with Dave!

hi D.! dave is great! he's really helped us - probably more than we even know. he addresses relationship issues around money, tells you great and common sense ways to handle your money, and has great ways to deal with creditors. he's easy to listen to & to read. you should definitely start with his "the total money makeover" book. check half price, then check his website - sometimes they run specials. that's a great overview of his program. if you can catch his radio show in the afternoons, that's a great way to learn his methods. and if you can't, fox business network runs his tv show in the evenings. if you read the book and can see where it might help you guys, then i'd look for the class being taught in your area. there is a list on his website. or check out the online version if your travel schedule is hectic. also, he comes to dallas once a year for a live show. we went last year and loved it. then went back several weeks ago with 3 friends who all "drank the koolaid!" :) if you have any questions, i'd be happy to talk more about dave & how he's helped us!
E. :)

Best thing my husband & I have ever done for ourselves. Do it! Don't question it anymore! Just do it! It changed everything for the best for our marriage!

I purchased the book. I think his program is great. My daughter and son in law are using the Total Money Makeover workbook. It is not easy but will really get you on track and help to start putting some money away for your son. I picked up my book at Half Price Book store. I think it is worth a try.

DO IT DO IT DO IT. We are almost done with step two. All we did was get the book and video. The mindset inspired us, and we quit adding debt and started attacking what we do have. I also recommend Mvelopes, and online finance tracking software that supports the envelope system. You save so much money that it's worth the investment. I could go on forever about this. Oh, and try calling in live to the Dave Ramsey show with a specific question about your debts. He frequently does giveaways, so you never know...

D.,
It is excellent. Periodically, my church does the video series (with pressure to attend church there.) It's great to do it with a group.
Contact Scott Doust at McKinney Fellowship Bible Church. www.mcfbc.org
Good luck!
Victoria

I love Dave Ramsey!!! We went to his live event in Dallas and have since paid off our van, our second house is now under contract and we will be debt free by the end of summer!! My parents took his FPU class and it has really helped them- they had been in debt for 25 yrs and are now debt free except the house which they will have paid off in a couple of years and for the first time they have a retirement plan!
Right now all of his books and cd's are on sale for $10 on his web site. He does this through out the year usally around graduation and Christmas time.
Best of luck! It was the best thing we ever did for our marriage and finances!
~C.

Dave Ramsey is the best! You can do the online program for $99. It has been such a blessing for my husband and me - for our finances AND our relationship! We don't have everything knocked out, but we have a plan, we are on the same page, and we are having positive conversations about money - whoda thunkit?!

It's a 2-3 month commitment to do the class. We do 3-4 lessons per week, and it takes 30-40 minutes three nights a week. You watch an online video presentation and then you do some other activities (varying from reading quick stories, writing in a journal, working on a budget, etc.).

Not only is he fun to listen to, but he approaches everything from a Christian perspective, which is good for us to hear, IMO. I would recommend him to anyone whole heartedly!!

Good luck & God bless!

D. - I haven't taken it but used to work for Citi. I would also recommend Susan Orman. She has a lot of good free advice on Oprah.

Best advice I have is to pay off your highest credit card interest rate first! And never be late, always pay more than the minimum.

If you can, I would transfer my debt to a low interest rate. If you are getting offers, either convenience checks or new accounts. Consolidate high interest rate balances to low ones. Avoid store cards, they are the worst. MC and VISA cards are usually better and those with rewards usually also have a higher interest rate.

Only buy what you have to and also try to see if you can earn some extra income. I sold things I was going to give away on ebay, amazon or craigslist. It starts to add up.

Good luck. I was $50,000 in debt and now have $10,000 in savings on top of my 401Ks

I know you have received a million responses already, but I had to share my thoughts/experiences as well. My husband and I went through Financial Peace at our church last fall. We were behind on all of our bills by at least two months, including our mortgage, we had no savings, and two little girls to take care of. His parents paid for us to take the class, but halfway through, we were offering to pay for others to take it (even though we were still snowed under ourselves!). It is completely life-changing. Since then, we have an emergency fund - which came in handy when my husband's transmission went out. We replenished it in less than 5 months! It is empowering, stress-reducing, and a complete blessing. Spend your money wisely and get to FPU! Best wishes - you will be blessed in your decision.

My husband and I went to the seminar at our church, which used the videos and a kit we purchased. It was well worth it. If you can find the book on Amazon for less money, that is all that is necessary, but the CD's or videos are really good. Most of the info for the first steps is basic, but we were not doing the basics! We paid off our credit cards in 6 months (really easier than you think if you stop using them!) and have started an emergency fund. There are many more steps, but we are glad to have taken the course and feel we are on our way. Hope you are able to do this method- it works.

i know you have gotten tons of responses but i just wanted to give you a little encouragement. We have been doing financial peace for 7 years now. It is not always easy. You have to stay disciplined and strong to resist temptation to spend money! I think that is why the blow money is sooo important. We (my husband and I) both get $40 a month of guilt free money!! we spend it however we want. my husband always saves his and then gets a "big" item in a few months.

anyway we are under 30. we both have college degress. we live off of under 45K (i stay at home with our two girls). We have paid cash for both of our cars, we have no debt (except the house) and we have paid cash for husbands master's degree and will again for his doctrite. YOU can do it!!! we still eat out (moderatly) go on dates and take vacations! It is a lifestyle choice! But it is a choice you are making for you and your families future! when you feel the URGE to spend money go buy a candy bar!!! : ) you also have to make a CHOICE that you will NOT spend money that you do not have. It is amazing what you can do with a little budgeting and self control. Good luck to you and your financial future!

chop up the credit cards and only have one for emergencies... pay cash for all other items. do not guilt buy or purchase because it's on sale or you think you need it. i learned a long time ago from an "older" boyfriend if you do not have the cash, the you do not need the item. wise words i have followed since. good luck.

It is super and works. Our church teaches it and you can call Tate Springs Baptist on Little Road in Arlington ###-###-####. They will let you know when classes are scheduled. Financial Peace is the best gift you can give yourselves.

The program changed our lives! I highly recommend it. I started by reading the book, and we got our mini emergency fund funded and out of debt ($22,000 in 13 months and I quit my job halfway thru). The next step is babystep 3, 3 - 6 months expenses saved - I had a harder time with that and our church offered FPU. It was worth it because it got my husband and me on the same page and we'll be done with that next month. Ramsey has classes that are not affiliated with the church that have less scriptural basis, but even if you don't attend church and share those beliefs I recommend the class at church or elsewhere (many times the churches offer discounts). Hearing it together with your spouse and digging in with a group of other people makes a big difference. You don't feel so alone and you have people to be accountable to. (And yes, once you pay it is a lifetime membership) Good luck!

My husband and I have taken the Dave Ramsey course and it is well worth it. Our friends did the course way before us and they will have their house payed for this year. It took them 5 years to pay off a 30 yr mortgage. My husband and I now have 2 savings accts., life ins., IRA's, and almost no debt! I would highly recommend it. Also, we're all under 30.

I highly suggest taking his class Financial Peace University. It includes books and CD's, plus alot of encouragement and others to be accountable to. You can find a class near you by going to his website. http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/

I am in the middle of doing the Dave Ramsey program at my church--it's good stuff. The first 7 Baby Steps are a good managle way to start and doesn't make it feel so overwhelming. It's the same as deciding that you want to feel/look better so you're willing to make sacrifices with what you eat--if you want the things you want, you gotta make choices about how you spend your money. The slogan is "Live Like No One Else So You Can Live Like No One Else"--it's not just a 'diet' but a different philosophy of living. Good luck! btw the program was $95 and includes book, DVD set, all other materials and 13 weekly classes.

My hubby and I have taught the FPU classes 8 times! Some churches will offer a scholarship program to help with the $100 cost for the kit. We allow members to pay $20 down and make payments whenever they are able. In 8 years, no one has defaulted on their promise, even coming back a year later to pay back their kit remainder. Check into this! It is well worth the effort and participation!

We're almost done with the classes and I love it. I'm not really religious either, but it's nice to have interaction with other people going through the same stuff for support and advice and other than a quick prayer at the begining of every class and quotes in the margins of the workbook, the religion is not shoved down your throat. It was $100 (for me and my husband together) for my class, but it's supposed to be a lifetime membership so you can go back and take the classes again and again for free if you need to.

D.,

It's not even 8:00 a.m., and you already have quite a few responses. I am telling you that you will be SWAMPED with positive responses by the end of today.

His program is EXCELLENT for getting out of debt. The decision to use his program needs to be based on how committed your husband and you are to getting out of debt and staying out of debt. It's not a quick and easy program (because those don't exist or don't genuinely help you). It requires commitment and sacrifice, BUT the end result is a sense of peace in your financial life which is immeasurable!

Their business truly teaches people how to do what is genuinely best for themselves. You can't ask for more than that.

For some startup motivation, listen to his radio program on FRIDAYS, which is "debt free" Friday. He is on 570 AM from 1 pm to 4 pm. You will hear the stories of people who have already walked the road and succeeded, and I guarantee you will be greatly inspired. My husband and I have been out of debt throughout our marriage, but I still cry every time some does their debt free scream because it is so powerful what they've accomplished in their life.

May you experience the gift of true financial freedom in your life!

God's Grace to you,

Lisa :)

WE LOVE RAMSEY. He has turned our family around financially. I love how specifically he holds you by the hand and says "first this then this" and so forth. The BIGGEST help was taking the Financial Peace University classes through our church. You can log on to his website and find when the next classes start. Without this, I doubt we would be where we are today. It is different living like this but it is so FREEING! You can do it, but must do it together. We started with the classes, my husband listened to the Money Make-over book several times during his commute, we have listened to his radio station ..... for awhile Dave was a part of our daily life. But it works and he will directly point out excuses we make for why we are in the situation we are in. I Can't say enough good about this program....feel free to ask questions if you need to.

YES, YES, YES!!! A thousand times YES!!! If at all possible take the Financial Peace University class. If you just can't swing it get the books and do it on your own. Listen to the radio show every chance you get. And there are some free tools on the website. Just do it!

I am 3.5 years into the program. It's simple, and it works. We have had many setbacks, but are well on our way to being debt free. I recommend the book--you can probably get it at half price books. I have the software and didn't care for it--It didn't really help me---I ended up making my own plan and spreadsheet. I didn't do the financial peace university as I am not religious and it seems all of these classes are connected to a church in some way.

I think that you could get what you needed out of the book. If your bills are on time, you are fine. Basically, have a garage sale, etc, do what you can to put $1000 in savings for an emergency fund. After that, put your bills in order from smallest to largest regardless of APR. Put all of your extra money into that small one until it is paid off (pay the minimum payment on the rest in the meantime), and then once that one is paid off, take all the money you put into that one plus the minimum payment, and pay #2 until it's paid off, and then go to #3...basically a "snowball effect". All of this is explained in the book. Make a budget, quit going out to eat, look at where you throw your money away, etc. Common sense.

Good luck!

Hello D.,

I have not personally done the Dave Ramsey but we are really considering during it thru our church. Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Mansfield is have a series starting next month. The cost is $100.00 if you are interested in taking the class. The classes are on Wed night @ 6:30

http://www.walnutridgechurch.com/News_And_Events/calendar...

Financial Peace University is the best thing you and your husband can do to get out of debt. I wholeheartedly recommend it. My husband and I just finished the 13 week class and we are finally on the same page about debt. I say "run, don't walk" to the nearest class. You can find when and where classes are forming by going to Dave Ramsey's website. Good luck!!!

We went with CCCS. They put you on a payment plan & lower your payments & interest rates. Usually the payment plan is for 4 years depending how much debt you have. Here is the phone number ###-###-#### or ###-###-####. They have a branch on Pioneer Parkway in Arlington & the branch manager, Janet Hale. The Fort Worth number is ###-###-####. Good Luck!

I do recommend the program. My family used the program very excellent i do recommend the program. The program has an excellent program for children to teach them to save as well. Have a Great Day. Financial Peace University excellent.