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459th out of 8,083 books
—
37,946 voters
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
by
Dave Ramsey
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 (expos...more
Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (expos...more
Hardcover, 223 pages
Published
February 1st 2007
by Nelson Books
(first published 2003)
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Buy it, live it! An amazing system that's not a system--just living within one's means. Worth the investment many times over!
I read Financial Peace years ago. We tried to live the plan, but looking back we could have done a lot better. The Total Money Makeover takes the same plan and breaks it down into more detailed babysteps. This REALLY works! We've had our $1000 emergency saving account for years now and have hardly had to dip into it because we really think through what an emergency is. Most of the time we have been able to wait a few weeks until the "extra paycheck," tax return or a bonus comes through instead o...more
Oct 27, 2009
Chad Warner
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
finance
Ramsey presents some sound financial principles in the book, but it came across as a sales pitch because he mentions his other books and live events, and practically every other page contains a lengthy testimonial from people gushing about their Total Money Makeover. I skipped all of these since I'm looking for practical financial advice, not feel-good stories.
I didn't like Ramsey's strict no-debt stance. The only exception he allows for is a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage. Although I agree that mo...more
I didn't like Ramsey's strict no-debt stance. The only exception he allows for is a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage. Although I agree that mo...more
Sep 29, 2007
Cori
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who don't have their finances in order
From my blog:
My friend Amanda was nice enough to buy me Dave Ramsey's book. It must mean it's pretty good if someone else is willing to shell out $25.00 to buy you a book on money management! This book was really repetitive, but I thought it was a fantastic planning tool for those of us who aren't making a gobzillion dollars doing...whatever Paris Hilton does, for example. I have a small bit of debt -- mostly due to 2007: The Year of Dental Nightmares -- and literally no savings. I had quite a b...more
My friend Amanda was nice enough to buy me Dave Ramsey's book. It must mean it's pretty good if someone else is willing to shell out $25.00 to buy you a book on money management! This book was really repetitive, but I thought it was a fantastic planning tool for those of us who aren't making a gobzillion dollars doing...whatever Paris Hilton does, for example. I have a small bit of debt -- mostly due to 2007: The Year of Dental Nightmares -- and literally no savings. I had quite a b...more
This book is so helpful, straightforward, and inspiring. I have spent my twenties in the misery of consumer debt and student loans.
I am now credit card debt free and am busting up my student loans.
I like his advice. The very first thing you do is to get 1,000 dollars together BEFORE you start tackling your credit cards. Be aggressive, take a second job, sell your prized possessions, whatever, but get that $1,000. This is not $$ to keep in a checking account but in a savings account and with dr...more
I am now credit card debt free and am busting up my student loans.
I like his advice. The very first thing you do is to get 1,000 dollars together BEFORE you start tackling your credit cards. Be aggressive, take a second job, sell your prized possessions, whatever, but get that $1,000. This is not $$ to keep in a checking account but in a savings account and with dr...more
Thank you Tulsa Blizzard 2011 for helping me finish this book in two days.
What makes this book so effective and successful is that it lays out a very appealing vision, which motivates the reader to make the dramatic changes necessary to become financially secure. By the end of the book, you are motivated and energized to do whatever it takes to achieve the vision of wealth described in this book. The best part is that it’s totally doable and no kind of hoax. Like the author says, there’s no exc...more
What makes this book so effective and successful is that it lays out a very appealing vision, which motivates the reader to make the dramatic changes necessary to become financially secure. By the end of the book, you are motivated and energized to do whatever it takes to achieve the vision of wealth described in this book. The best part is that it’s totally doable and no kind of hoax. Like the author says, there’s no exc...more
Mar 20, 2008
Jen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone. The principles apply to the general population.
Recommended to Jen by:
A co-worker and good friend
Shelves:
finance
Let me preface this by saying that I'm a HUGE fan of Dave Ramsey, so of course I'm a bit biased. I listen to his talk radio show every day without fail, and I'm an active member of his subscription website called MyTMMO (http://www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com).
My husband and I began working the baby steps in September 2005. It took us 22 long months of discipline and sacrifice to become completely debt-free. We don't own a home yet, so yes, we really are living the debt-free life. We paid off more...more
My husband and I began working the baby steps in September 2005. It took us 22 long months of discipline and sacrifice to become completely debt-free. We don't own a home yet, so yes, we really are living the debt-free life. We paid off more...more
Feb 20, 2008
Tonya Aiossa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People in debt.
Recommended to Tonya by:
Mom (Bonnie)
I probably should have given this book more than three stars, because it's a good start to figuring out a critical piece of the financial puzzle; getting out of debt. This book is debt-centric, so, if you're in debt, then yes, you really should read this book.
However, while focusing on getting out of debt is a crucially important step of freeing up your income (because if the money you make every month is spent every month, you're not financially fit), there are many aspects of your financial se...more
However, while focusing on getting out of debt is a crucially important step of freeing up your income (because if the money you make every month is spent every month, you're not financially fit), there are many aspects of your financial se...more
This is a pretty decent plan for getting out of debt and starting to invest. In the time-honored tradition of such self-help books as How To Win Friends and Influence People, Ramsey uses personal stories from other people to drive his points home.
But in essence, the plan is like this:
1) stop buying things, sell off everything you don't need, stop using credit cards, etc.
2) save up a $1000 emergency fund
3) throw all possible cash toward paying off your smallest debt
4) once the first debt is pai...more
But in essence, the plan is like this:
1) stop buying things, sell off everything you don't need, stop using credit cards, etc.
2) save up a $1000 emergency fund
3) throw all possible cash toward paying off your smallest debt
4) once the first debt is pai...more
This guy's claim is basically that the key to accumulating a lot of money is to (1) become debt free, (2) save a sizeable nest egg (3-10k)for the big emergencies that typically send people into debt in the first place, and (3) put the rest of your savings in mutual funds. He's particularly insistent that you suck it up and drive old cars that you've paid cash for rather than make payments on a new car.
Good advice, but it would help if he offered more insights on how to follow it, especially sin...more
Good advice, but it would help if he offered more insights on how to follow it, especially sin...more
I love Dave Ramsey. We have been doing the Total Money Makeover since Jan 1 of this year (we started after reading Dave's book "Financial Peace") and we are already seeing plenty of success with our baby steps. We pay for everything in cash now and if we don't have the cash, we don't buy it. We've got an emergency fund in place and have used it when things came up - auto repairs, etc. And best of all, we are in debt reduction mode - we had cut up all the credit cards Jan 1 and now we only see ba...more
Nov 18, 2007
Shane
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone wanting to get out of debt and have financial freedom from that bondage
Shelves:
personal-finances
This book is a great step by step plan to help you get control of your finances by walking you through the 7 baby steps.
1. Small Emergency Fund of $1000
2. Pay off all debt except house with debt snowball
3. Fully Fund Emergency Fund to 3-6x of living expenses
4. Invest 15% of income for retirement
5. Fund kids college fund
6. Pay off mortgage
7. Have fun, give and invest
Definitely a must read and the companion website www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com is hands down the best most practical website I've eve...more
1. Small Emergency Fund of $1000
2. Pay off all debt except house with debt snowball
3. Fully Fund Emergency Fund to 3-6x of living expenses
4. Invest 15% of income for retirement
5. Fund kids college fund
6. Pay off mortgage
7. Have fun, give and invest
Definitely a must read and the companion website www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com is hands down the best most practical website I've eve...more
Reading this book, and implementing Dave's financial strategy, has changed our life, and made it so much less stressful. We were able to do what we thought would be impossible, and pay off all our debt other than our home, plus, we are very close to completing baby step 3 (3-6 mths living expenses in savings). A couple years ago, I would have never thought it would be possible--and we even added another family member since then! So thankful we read this book!
I love Dave Ramsey. I first got stuck on his radio show. His listeners call in about financial questions and he tells it like it is with little to no tact, I think that's why I like it so much. Listening to eveyone's financial problems makes me feel so much better about myself. Search your am station for Dave Ramsey, I know you will love him and learn very uesfull info. The book is awesome with a gameplan you can live by.
This book is great and I hope to be able to find that "gazelle intensity" to get our butts out of debt in the next 18 months!
Nov 08, 2008
Morgan
added it
Inspiring- live now like no one else, so later you can live like no one else!
I read this book faster and more intentionally than any other book I can recall. That alone tells you how much I needed a laser focused explanation on what to do with our finances. Although this book does have some blatant Christian tones to it that do seem forced at times I appreciated the overall enthusiasm of the The Total Money Makeover. Sometimes a sermon is just what you need... meaning fiscal sermon that speaks to those of us needing a a serious slap in the face.
Now, let's see if we can t...more
Now, let's see if we can t...more
While the book did contain a lot of useful financial advice that I will follow, the folksy Christian wisdom of Dave Ramsey is enough to make a person gag. For example, Ramsey asserts that we don't learn enough about financial management in high school or college. Fair statement. However, he dumbs down the statement as follows: "We graduate from school, go out into the world, and get a financial master's degree in D.U.M.B." If you find this sort of statement clever, you will LOVE the book. I do n...more
Oct 11, 2011
Yolanda
added it
Recommends it for:
Everybody
Recommended to Yolanda by:
Misty Green-Brown
I can not believe that I've spent the last 12 years working in the Accounting field being such a good steward of my employers money but could never get a good grasp on my own money. The Total Money Makeover book has helped me go from paycheck-to-paycheck-thinking to wealth-building-thinking. Once my eyes were opened (I read the book in 2 days) I knew my financial life would never be the same. I asked my husband to read the book and when he started sending me texts like: Do you know that if we in...more
Nov 26, 2008
Jarrod Jenkins
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone in serious financial trouble
Shelves:
nonfiction
Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover is a great outline of how to get out of debt and attain your financial freedom. Like so many self-help books, the information is all very easy to understand and really should be classified as common sense. The ideas are not new in the slightest; Charles Dickens expressed the thesis through David Copperfield over 150 years ago: "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expend...more
This book, and Dave Ramsey's philosophy changed my family's financial life. A year ago my wife found his radio show and we both read the book. Since then we have cut up all our credit cards, paid off our cars, and are three years away from paying off the last of our debt (my USC loans). In 15 years (or less, God willing) we will have built 6-months worth of savings and paid off the house. And during the whole process, we have never felt so confident in our ability to provide for our kids and wea...more
This is the most practical personal finance advice I've ever received -- and I've read Millionaire Next Door and am a big fan of Suze Orman. Those "top 10 ways to financial freedom" lists in which a key step is "giving up your daily latte," are cute. But they don't compare to Ramsey's well-thought-out, systematic approach to getting from under debt. Ramsey moves very quickly from the reasons why you can't get ahead (having a lackadaisical attitude when it comes to debt) into the practical (now h...more
Feb 18, 2008
Bradi
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone!
Recommended to Bradi by:
Jasper Engines and Transmissions
Nope; I'm not willing to sell/swap this book as it's become a textbook/workbook for our family. I'm on page 127 of this 223 page book and am loving learning from Dave Ramsey. Lest you think I'm some weirdo constantly on the prowl for the next "Get- Rich- Quick" scheme, I'll have you know: This is the first "money book" I've read (I don't even remember reading a money book in ECON.) and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. The book seems to have entered Ben's and my life at a very opportune time, as we ar...more
Dave Ramsey makes some really great budgeting suggestions. I just passed this on to my husband and so he is reading it now. Hopefully we can start doing some of the steps and get our minivan!
Feb 23, 2008
Nicole
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone, and everyone! The younger the better, but its better to be late then never.
Recommended to Nicole by:
Emilka Kielanska
This book unlike most books on finances, and etc actually has specific steps to follow in order to get out of debt and create wealth. There are forms that help you with the process, and all through out there are stories from others that have followed this system. It will amaze you what others have been able to do in the short amount of time that they have, and the nice thing is that you can do it too.....just follow the steps. Its not complicated at all, we just tend to make things harder then w...more
I really enjoy Dave Ramsey and his process. I have never been a big spender but I always thought house and car payments would be forever. Well, he made me realize that I don't have to have payments!! We have 2 paid for new cars (sorry, I will always have a new car, but I paid cash) and in about 4 years we will have our house paid off and be debt free!!
Sometimes someone has to light a fire under your ass to get you going and you never thought you could do it but you can!!
IM ALMOST DEBT FREE (just...more
Sometimes someone has to light a fire under your ass to get you going and you never thought you could do it but you can!!
IM ALMOST DEBT FREE (just...more
First of all, Dave Ramsey is a Christian entertainer. Like Dr. Laura, Dave springboards his books from his talk radio shows and life experiences. His advice is simple and folks starting early in life do well to heed his advice on debt and that is….no debt. It all gets a bit murky for those of us who have learned essential money truths later in life, yet there are some embraceable suggestions to be found within the pages of both Ramsey’s “Peace” and “Makeover.” It is the advice my Grandparents wo...more
Nov 23, 2008
Emanuel
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Emanuel by:
Pastor Nelson Searcy
This book fell into my possession thanks to the brilliant minds at a church I attend. The book its self really takes an honest and realistic look into a subject that is changing and as I have seen in some cases, destroying lives across the United States on a daily basis.Dave gets into a readers face and pretty much throws open the gates and makes the reader take a long hard look at what they are doing with their financial affairs using a series of tools and forms contained within the book.After...more
One of my favorite lines from this book is "live like no one else, so you can live like no one else", meaning that you should be responsible with your money even if no one else around you understands why you're doing it. Just because your friends, family, society, or even your government are living in debt doesn't mean that it's a financially healthy way to live. Ramsey explains that if you choose to live differently, i.e. making financially smart and responsible decisions, that you'll have the...more
I will preface this review by saying that I enjoy listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio, don't have any debt except my house, but have not followed the Ramsey plan to become debt free. I've always despised debt to I was naturally inclined to always try to get rid of debt. I think for the majority of people the steps outlined in Total Money Makeover are sound, and if followed will enable anyone to get out of debt and stay that way. I agree with most of what Dave Ramsey espouses with regard to deb...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money Management | 1 | 10 | Oct 31, 2012 08:03am | |
| An excellent tool for getting out of debt | 4 | 55 | Nov 25, 2011 07:52am | |
| Money management... | 1 | 30 | Apr 02, 2007 09:59am |
David L. Ramsey III (b. September 3, 1960) is an American financial writer, radio and television host.
More about Dave Ramsey...
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“We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.”
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“For your own good, for the good of your family and your future, grow a backbone. When something is wrong, stand up and say it is wrong, and don't back down.”
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