Dave Ramsey-where do you start?

[tonyarn]

If I wanted to look into Dave Ramsey step by step from the very beginning of his program, where would I start?

[traycanadian]

Get your hands on his book, Total Money Makeover. It spells out his program simply, step by step. I personally started by checking out his website and lurking on the DR thread here. I've been slowly working the program but I'm feeling even more motivated now that I finally got the book (from the library). It really explains why his "baby steps" will work if you do them properly.

[texmati]

If you don't want to make an investment in the book right away, you don't have to.

One thing I really like about dave's program is that everything you need to start is available free.

here's a good website to start with: getting started

It outlines the baby steps. I don't agree with everything that dave ramsey preaches, or even all the tenants of the program-- BUT I do belive that he has helped a lot of people get out of debt, and if you have a problem with debt, he might help you, too.

Also, listen to his 'archived' radio program. I catch tidbits of it on my lunch hour and know I can predict his answers before they come out of his mouth!

And as tracy said, this forum has a great Dave Ramesy (debt snowball) thread.

[tonyarn]

If I don't have any credit card debt, but do have some medical bills and piddly old utility bills, etc. laying around plus a student loan, and a small car payment could he even help me? Is this more for people with credit card debt?

[dex_millie]

Originally Posted by tonyarn

If I don't have any credit card debt, but do have some medical bills and piddly old utility bills, etc. laying around plus a student loan, and a small car payment could he even help me? Is this more for people with credit card debt?

Yes his plan can. It is not just for people with CC debt as they are just bills from something else(even medical). He promotes being debt free period. So getting rid of any and all debt is what he is about.

You can get his book "Total Money Makeover" from the library(if they have it, mine did). And check out his website www.daveramsey.com he has a radio show mon. - fri. you can access from their and he has archives. Around here are alot of people that incorporate his steps.

[jaceycat24]

dave ramsey is for any debt including student loans, medical and mortgage. his main theme is to eventually owe no one.
i think the first step is become current on any bills behind and then build $1000 in an emergency fund. i don't do dave 100% but i did read his book and because of him we are paying off our student loan this year which is $7k which on our puny salary should not be able to be done but we are doing it. good luck. you just have to be really focused for it to work.

[phathui5]

Get the book The Total Money Makeover from your library. When you're done that, another good one is Financial Peace Revisited.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by tonyarn

If I don't have any credit card debt, but do have some medical bills and piddly old utility bills, etc. laying around plus a student loan, and a small car payment could he even help me? Is this more for people with credit card debt?

I think the real trick of dave ramsey is motivating people to think about their finances.

Part of it is realizing that *any* debt, (not just credit card debt) is a liability. That was hard for me to swallow.

[griffin2004]

I'm not a Dave Ramsey groupie by any means (for example, I believe some types of debt can be "good" debt), but I think some of his ideas make really good sense for everyone:
--do a detailed budget to get a grip on your cashflow
--the "debt snowball" is a good option for getting out of debt; there are other options, but this one is easy to figure out
--"rainy day" savings

I agree with Aquarian. I think Dave's real gift is getting people to take a cold, hard look at their finances.

[MomToKandE]

You can download 1 hour of his radio show every day as a free podcast. If you use iTunes it's available in the iTunes store.

[TanyaS]

We just finished the three month Financial Peace University. If you can find one of those in your area, I highly recommend it! It goes at a nice slow pace. Feel free to join us over on the May Dumping Debt thread. :

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by tonyarn

If I don't have any credit card debt, but do have some medical bills and piddly old utility bills, etc. laying around plus a student loan, and a small car payment could he even help me? Is this more for people with credit card debt?

It's not just a method to pay off debt. The program will work for people who NEVER had any debt, because it teaches how to handle money, including saving and investing, and even shopping for bargains.