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 of using our savings. The debt snowball really works. I was amazed when I saw how much money is going toward our last debt! It will only be a few more months to get it paid off. Yes, we did stop retirement for the past year--it was a simple form to fill out at work and only took a couple minutes. The money that was previously in our IRA is still growing, but we're not adding to it right now. When that debt is gone and we have our 3-6 month savings we'll start it up again. What doesn't make sense is having debt when you retire and using your money from your 401K/IRA to pay off the debt.

This book is just common sense in a big way! There is so much peace in being in control of our money and our marriage is so much better because we have GOALS that we plan together.

This book is a great gift for college graduations and weddings! We buy it on Dave Ramsey's website when it goes on sale for $10 a copy.