It seems alot of You here Love Dave ramsey.

I read two of his Books this past Week and A Half - total Money Makeover and How to Have more than enough.

I am not Sure what I think. I do know ALOT of his Steps would Not Work out For us.

For one , I happen to think We Can Drive a New car and still Be Financially ok by being Frugal other Ways. I Do know it is a Money waster and I Do Know that Having a Car payment Does not HAVE to Be a Necessity.... I also Know some of the Most Frugalist people I Know Drive New cars. My Parents have leased every Car in the book! Corvette, Mercedes, Audi , Chrysler , Mazda, You name it. They also are Very Frugal with their Money and actually Have TWO Houses They Own Free and Clear.

I also think I woud rather add 1 Year to our Debt than have My DH work countless hours at a job while getting us out sooner.
I read the one guys story with two little kids - he Worked 100 Hours Per week just to Be debt free in 8 months???


Maybe I dont' Agree with the Gazelle intensity ...
Some of his ways , I do Agree with though I think.

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I have no desire to read his books. This may sound stupid, but I have heard so much about him that I am sick of him and really have no desire to learn what he has to stay. We have been the working 100 hrs a week route before and believe me unless it is a matter of survival, it is not worth it!!!

__________________
~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Ive read the books and dont follow it either. It definetly wouldnt work for us. There are things more important than depriving yourself of family time (working countless hours). Life is too short to be focused only on getting rid of debt. Depending on where you live, you will have some kind of debt, its a part of life I dont care what anyone says. Unless of course youre a millionaire - which he is, Im sure, making his money from the books and talk fees!! I think a family has to find what works for them without depriving themselves of family time, fun, the basic necessities and occassional fun splurge (by that I dont mean expensive vacations, I mean going out for ice cream and a movie!).

Oh yes my DH has Worke three jobs Before for Us to Actually Make it and Keep UP with the Expensive Bills!!

I know how much He missed at home with our Son!! Times he Could never ever get Back

If He were Doing that only to Get Us out Of Debt Sooner and to save us a Few Hundred in Interest - I couldn't See it!

And Life is just TOO short to Give your everything - JUST to Insure You Future- , May not Even Be there!!

That is what I was thinking Alot through this Book too

Ok , So You got your emergency fund and You are Debt free - and You Suddenly die while Driving to job # 2 in your Paid For in cash car... You are still Dead. Right?? You just Gave up ALOT of Memories with Your Kids in the Past few Months While Going so Intense

There Just Doesen't seem to be much Room for actually Living in his plan.

I think I Learn More from Mommy savers than his Book.

I think it's great that it works for other people. And I admire their determination, but that way is not for us...

I am not In any way Putting anyone down For Using his Plan and suceeding ...

I think it does Have great points - Just not Fully Do able with Kids and a Life.

Well, I will first say that I have read Dave Ramsey's publications and ,for me personally, I think that most of the things he writes about are good ideas. I feel that if I was single and didn't have children I would be Gazelle Intense. That is not my life though. With 3 kids and a DH, we have made some modifications to his plan. We are doing the debt pay down with the snowball plan, but still have cable, internet and a semi new car. For us his whole plan means having choices. If we want to travel when we retire, we can. If we want to up and take a trip with the whole family that costs a lote of $, eventually it wont be an issue. I know people get sick of hearing the "Dave Ramsey" soap box speach, but you can't ignore the results.

I am sure it is just like anything else (FTJ included) You take out what works for you and adjust it to fit your lifestyle. I just really have no interest in his plan. I have created my own plan.

__________________
~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

I think there are a lot of good ideas but a bit extreme in some areas. Paying off our mortgage early is probably not going to happen!