When Dave Ramsey lost his 4 million dollar real estate portfolio and went bankrupt in his late 20s, he probably did not imagine that millions of people would one day flock to him for personal money management advice. But 20 years later, Ramsey has built a second fortune teaching people how to avoid his own money mistakes and other financial pitfalls.
About the Total Money Makeover Book
The revised third edition of his book, The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Thomas Nelson, 2009) reached #6 on the New York Times bestseller list in January 2010. Earlier editions also made this and other bestseller lists.
Ramsey's commonsense financial advice centers on self-reliance and attaining financial security. His particular brand of financial wisdom is especially relevant after the global recession which began in 2008 caused so many people to struggle financially, falling behind on payments or losing their homes.
In 13 short chapters, peppered with personal anecdotes, catchy slogans and the success stories of people who have followed his plan and are now debt free, Ramsey frankly and enthusiastically serves readers an intense yet sensible plan for regaining control of their financial lives.
Motivation to Pay Off Debt
Ramsey readily admits that his plan, which teaches readers to create a monthly budget, live within their means, and pay off debt with "gazelle-intensity" and save for emergencies, college and retirement is nothing new or revolutionary.
In his introduction to this book, Ramsey writes, "Most of us know what we need to do; we just have trouble doing it." Like a diet book for over-spenders, The Total Money Makeover simply provides people who want to get out of debt and save money with the motivation, inspiration and tools they need to do what they already know they should be doing.
Though some readers will find Ramsey's prose repetitive and (as he notes in the book) some will either love or hate his approach to weaving scripture into the book and his financial philosophy, the intensity and enthusiasm with which he writes will leave most readers pumped up to begin setting goals and making better financial decisions.
Financial Advice and Money-Management Tools
Features of The Total Money Makeover and topics covered in the book include:
- Plan of six "baby steps" to achieve "financial fitness"
- Inspiring success stories from people who have followed this plan and are now debt free
- Appendix with 18 pages of budgeting worksheets
- Advice on paving for college
- Retirement planning advice
- Very simple investment strategies
About Dave Ramsey
Ramsey is the author of several other books about money management and personal finance, including a series of children's books about money. He is also the host of The Dave Ramsey Show, a radio call-in show with 4 million weekly listeners that can also be seen on Fox Business network.
His 13 week course, Financial Peace University, is taught in churches, community organizations and workplaces around the country. He also does live seminars. Although Ramsey does have a degree in finance, he writes in The Total Money Makeover that his best credential for providing personal finance advice to others is that he has "done stupid with zeros on the end."
Ramsey's work is dedicated to teaching others to avoid his mistakes. For the millions of people who have too much consumer debt, live paycheck-to-paycheck, and are falling behind or are worried about planning for the future, a few hours spent reading about Dave Ramsey's entertaining financial guide might just prove to be life changing.
Publication Information
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey
Thomas Nelson, 2009
Hardcover, 259 pages, $24.99 US
ISBN::978-1-59555-078-1
Alison Fletcher - Alison Fletcher is a freelance writer, editor and proofreader. She has nearly a decade of experience in the craft and picture framing ...
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