The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness Audio CD – Bargain Price, February 6, 2007

I first saw Dave Ramsey's books in a small college bookstore six years ago. I didn't pay attention then until recently when I heard him on the radio. After listening to him for a few months, I decided to try his book. This book is very easy to digest, read and absorb. Dave's style is very motivational. It's true that his focus is on behavioral change. Personally I've no debt, but I feel I should save more. Reading this book definitely motivates me to change my financial behavior, to look at credit cards differently (even though I pay it off each month).I definitely recommend this books to anyone who's SERIOUSLY want to change their financial lifestyle..for the better. I can see a lot of people would benefit tremendously from his book especially those buried in debt. His debt snowball technique is great!I agree with his seven steps to financial freedom. I truly believe it works. It's just not that easy, but not that very difficult either. The only hard part is to have the 'discipline' to stick with it. If you read the book and stick with his steps, I'm sure we all will be 'there' at the end.Now I'm on my way to read his other books, Financial Peace and More Than Enough. Good luck to all who follow Dave's plans.

Sometimes we have to fall on our duffs to learn life's lessons. Dave fell on his and instead of wallowing in pity, he did something about it. He turned it around and learned HOW to manage money without incuring debt & in turn prospered in the process. WHAT'S DAVE'S LITTLE SECRET?: THE BORROWER IS SLAVE TO THE LENDER. When you borrow money from banks (especially credit cards) you are working for the banks. Turn that trend around & pay for stuff with cash! Pay off ALL your debt & don't EVER buy stuff you can't pay for now! Keep a budget & stick to it. HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND! Save for retirement by having compound interest work FOR you instead of against you. Dave uses common sense & sound biblical financial principals with the patience & tough love of a teacher to show us how we should be managing our money & how we can become wealthy in the process. Get rich quick? NOT A CHANCE. Wealth is built steadily by changing our perspective & behaviour in regards to money. Most people who win the lottery are BROKE within 5-10 years. Why? Because their attitudes & behavior regarding money never changed. People who learn how to manage the resources that GOD has granted them can become wealthy steadily over time & retire with DIGNITY & possibly even early. He illustrates an example of an annual household income of $40,000 who invests 15% (6,000) a year in mutual funds (which have an average long term interest rate of 11.5%)at age 25 can have upwards of $6 million dollars at age 65! Its never to late to start, but the sooner the better. If you have just graduated from high school or college & are just starting out on the road of life, THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ! Don't make the same mistakes the rest of us have. Learn early & prosper. THANK YOU DAVE RAMSEY! YOU CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER!!!

5/2006 Update on this review: I have FINALLY become debt free! I was so blessed to receive a bonus this year which allowed me to pay off all of my debts! I encourage anyone to read this book. Living on a budget is truly allowing me to live 'like no one else'!!! Okay, here is the original review:Although I am blessed to live in the same beautiful town as Dave, I didn't really know about his teachings until a year ago. 16 months ago, I was $36,000 in debt! Today, thanks to Dave and discipline, I am down to $13,500 of debt and I truly cannot wait to call into the show one Friday afternoon and SCREAM "I'm debt free" (this is what frquently happens on his radio program, for the uninitiated).Sure, a lot of the book is common sense, some people say, and they are right. The problem with most people, though, is they don't follow common sense! Just go to your local mall and see the excessive amount of debt in our country! Stuffitis, as Dave would say, is prevelent. No, I don't want to save 10% on my Target visit today by opening a new account, I say. THANK YOU Dave! You have created a paradigm shift in my life. The book is great. I am not going to pretend it is financial theory because it isn't. It is great advice, tried and true. Follow the baby steps and you will be on your way. And I am sure Dave would agree when I say to supplement this book with other readings regarding specific investments, etc. For anyone out there who doesn't know where to turn, is overwhelmed with debt, and is scared, well first pray. But then read this book. And no, I don't work for Dave, although maybe I should........