i keep hearing you and others mention him. and i am starting to wonder if i should get his book. but i am curious... is his book mostly focused on the ill advised ways people can lose money (cash advances, rent to own, credit card over use) or will it help someone like me who is fairly good with the money i do have... but i have lots of student loan debt, home debt, and vehicle debt that soaks up my money? (yes i know vehicle debt is something to be avoided......)

so anyway, what do you think? is he only for people who are really in deep or will he also work for people who are relatively stable but would like to become more so?

I think 99% of people could benefit from him.

When we started his program, we had a HELOC (from taking an 80/20 mortgage to avoid PMI), 1 small student loan, and 1 vehicle payment.  I thought - WOW, we are doing great.  We have no credit card debt and only 1 car payment. 

 Then I realized that I could be doing SO much more.  I can't remember the exact date we started.. probably a little over 1 year ago, but I will tell you that we now have NO student loans, and are 2 months away from paying off our HELOC (and it was $20k+ when we started).  In August we will have our mortgage (about 25% equity in our home) and 1 car payment.  THAT IS IT!!  And $2K in savings for emergencies.

It really did change my life.  I dont' think DR is the ONLY authority in budgeting.  There are some things we don't follow to the tee (we didn't stop 401K contributions because that made me too nervous), but we are truly on our way to living like no one else.  Cheesy :)

So yes, I think he is worth a read.  See if your library has a copy - several of our area libraries do!  Then if you don't think he is for you, no loss.

Oh.. I also wanted to add that I am actually an accountant.. so I have always thought I had an average to above-average knowledge of budgeting, money, finances, etc.  I learned quite a bit from him!!

I know that you didn't pose this to me, but thought I'd give my view.  We are on the Dave Ramsey plan.  We are like you.  We had little credit debt (now we have none), my student loan is huge, car payment and house.  My husband is a huge DR fan.  He listens to him daily.  Finally he got the book and put us on the plan.  It really makes sense and in two years we will have ALL but the house paid off.  That will free up over a thousand dollars a month for us.  That is an amazing thought.  I was a sceptic when he first wanted to begin.  I thought we'd never make progress on it all but seeing it go down is amazing.

I think it's even easier for people like us who don't have tons of CC debt.  That takes much longer to pay off with everything else.  We will have our van paid off in FEb and then we knock out my loan over the next year.  I can't wait to know that we have the money to pay for sports and camps for the kids without even blinking.  Then we can focus on out retirement too.

HTH

that is good to hear!!! right now dh is on a budgeting kick (we have been on a budget for a while... but i thnk finally dh is ready to kick it into high gear! im thinking i might get the book for him! thanks to you both for responding. you guys rock!!!!!!!

I also wanted to add that we did the Dave Ramsey program as well. CREDIT card free now! We are working on our cars and house now. It will be so amazing to have an extra $1500 dollars each month. The program is worth it and the book is great. He also has podcasts that you can download for free onto your ipod. Good luck!

My husband and I did DR 3 years ago and it is amazing how uneducated people can be, me being one off them! His budget works because there is a catagory for everything! Lets face it if you don't have some fun once in a while like( going out to a movie,nice dinner or special purchase) do tou think your honestle going to stay on a budget! The only difference id you plan for your BLOW fund and event ahead of time!

It's like getting advice from great grandma and grandpa! The humor the brings to it is also fun!! He's been through it so he knows unlike others that might give you advice sitting with thousands of $'s in debt! My favorite saying is Why would you take advice from a broke person?

If nothing else you will get something out of reading his book even if it's not for you!!

Good Luck but I don't think you'll need it!

Gidget

I know this post is pretty old...but hopefully someone will answer.

Which DR book should I get?  Going to amazon, there are so many to choose from.  I need one to budget and pay down some cc debt and other debt (cars, student loans) and now on a tight budget since I don't have a job to go back to after maternity leave (they are downsizing).  We are really not making ends meet...but somehow I think we may be able to if I could get on and stick to a budget.

Thanks!