The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (2003)

This book is outstanding. I sell apartment buildings for a living and recommend this book for those that ask me how to get started in investing. First things first, you need to get your current financial matters in order before you start to invest in anything. Even though I was never drastically in debt, this book taught be a lot of principles that I still follow today. I learn about Dave Ramsey while flipping through my Sirius Sat radio channel lineup and have been hooked ever since. His show is on Sirius Sat stream 117 between 2pm and 7pm weekdays. Or, you can listen to archieves of his radio show on his website. His radio show is excellent and features many of the principles that he writes about in his book. His book will teach you on how not to worry yourself to tears because of how much debt your in, but to instead take an objective look at where you are, what size of hole (debt) you're in, and what kind of shovel (income) you have, and then formulate a plan of action that involves snowballing the erosion of your debt.

liked dave's straightforward manner of speaking.
gave us practical tools to get our finances in line.
wish someone had given me this book 15 years ago.
my children WILL BE TAUGHT THIS.
we are in the process of becoming the stewards of our finances that GOD wants us to be. life is not just for our own personal pleasure and consumption. same with our finances. at 40, i wish we were in a better financial postion that we are now. but we will begin NOW and get it right this time.
buy this book and allow God to show you the areas HE would like to see changed in the way you view and manage what HE has allowed you to have financially.

What a great book. From the first page, this book grabs your attention and makes you take a step back and look realistically at your current situation. I suggest everyone take the time to read this book.

A friend of mine bought one of Dave Ramseys books, when she and her husband were drowning in debt, and after reading it and applying some of his concepts, she was totally hooked and she kept singing his praises on every occasion she could find. I finally got to wondering what all the hoopla was about, so I picked up a book also, although I didn't think I was in financial trouble. It was a curiosity thing for me, when I bought his book. I left it laying around for a month and finally one day aI got bored and set down to read it. ZI couldn't put it down, it was so interesting to me. I soon found out, that although I was not drowning in debt, that I needed his advice as much as she did. I am totally hooked on Dave Ramseys teaching materials. Very informative. Whether you are a young person starting out or a person in your 50s, there is plenty in this book that we all need to know. Dave speaks to all of us, with good solid financial advice! I only wish I had his materials when I was 18 years old and just starting out in life. I have bought plenty of financial books over the years and due to my financial situation, they weren't of really any help to me, because they wanted you to start investing big money when I didn't have big money. I was always left thinking, "Okay Einstein, but how do I get the money to do these things? That's where Dave Ramsey books come in, he actually gives you the advice about how to get your financial house in order, so that you can start building that retirement nestegg. Doesn't matter if you make 20,000 a year or 150,000 a year, he can get you there! Not only that, but he gives ya good solid advice about how to handle divorces, so that you aren't left making costly mistakes that can haunt you for the next 30 years. He speaks to a lot of lifes problems, that everyone needs to know about, such as prenuptial agreements, loaning money to relatives, where to invest your money when you get it, to get it to make you the most bang for your buck, the importance of giving back to your community and many more things. Daves books and other teaching materials are worth far more than he charges for them!

I bought this book to give to others to read to help them get out of debt. I have already read the book and it has helped us to get out of debt and I want to help other people to see it can be done.

Great Shipping, Product was in perfect condition. I was really impressed with their level of professionalism and price.

The man who manages my employer's retirement plan lent me this book and I LOVED it! I think Dave's plan for a total money makeover is so simple and straightforward and actually ACHIEVABLE that I decided to buy a copy for myself for reference as I work the plan. I found a copy on ebay for $11 with shipping included, and it's the best $11 investment I ever made. I finally have hope about being debt-free someday-- and I hadn't even realized exactly how hoepless it was for me before having the plan. I have recommended this book to everyone I know-- whether they seem to be financially distressed or not.

I bought the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey after hearing everyone talk about how much I should read and listen to what he has to say. I read alot of things that I never even could imagine such as how much the lottery makes off people in debt and etc. I am hoping to catch one of his live things one day and eventually get this credit card debt paid off! I think anyone that reads his books, will understand more about money and debt in general and hopefully you can get that debt paid off also, while also gaining some money knowledge!

It came highly recommended as an excellant tool for getting out of debt. I am extremely pleased to have it. Can't think of anything I dislike about it.

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I decided to order this book after reading excellent reviews from independent financial websites. I knew the best deals would be on ebay and I was right.
This book is well written is easy to follow and understand. It has step by step simple instructions and wonderful real people stories just like myself. The writing is very motivational both from a Christian and secular perspective. As a Christian myself, the teaching by Dave Ramsey about financial responsibility from the Christian view is powerful. I am reminded, that this is God's money and I am a steward to it while on earth. Having recently experience a financial set-back in my own life, I was compelled to get back the control I had lost and this book has lit my fire! The success stories in itself is reason enough to get you motivated. My journey will begin soon and I cannot wait to be Victorious! Praise God and Thank-you Dave Ramsey for your knowledge, you are truly a blessing to us all.

Book is written so it is easy to understand and everything is clearly explained. I decided to buy it because I heard about it on TV and looked it up on the internet and there it was. I am trying to absorb as much as I can to help me in my small business and my monetary life in general. It's a great book and well worth the cost.

Ramsey gives you practical financial advise, and backs it up with proof. It is biblical advise, whether you are a Christian or not, read this book!! In this day and age it is just what the doctor ordered. We as a nation have financially gotten way out of control, thanks to the credit readily available to us, along with a brilliant but destructive advertising plan, at an unimaginable cost. The credit card companies and banks are getting rich due to our lack of knowledge. Ramsey has the knowledge, and the cures!

Thanks for the quickness in sending the book. Book was in great shape. Will shop with you soon. thanks again

I bought this beeok because it's a part of a program I'm using for a health and money makeover. This is an awesome book that is extremely easy to read. While some may find the idea unpractical, it can be done! America needs a financial wake up call and I believe that Dave Ramsey has the ideas necessary to do this.

I love that it is an easy read. You can hear the author talk as you read. The examples and success stories are encouraging.

Dave gives you a different way of thinking. He puts things into simple steps easy for anyone to understand. After reading this book I don't see why everyone could not retire a millionaire.

Dave Ramsey is an excellent author. This book shows 7 'Baby Steps' on getting out of debt and on your way to having financial peace. This book is for everyone... all ages, in debt or not... (Preferably, don't wait until you are in debt until you read this book!) I read this book and am starting to follow the 'Baby Steps'. (Some of them don't apply to me... I am not in debt!) Reading the success stories in this book, I am sure that this will work for EVERYONE if they just work hard at it with 'gazelle intensity' as Dave Ramsey puts it. READ THIS BOOK!!! It will change your life!

Dave Ramsey is a Christian and teaches Christian values along with his message on debt. "Getting-out" of debt is not about finding ways to avoid paying it--like so many scams on the market today! "Getting-out" of debt is--YOU taking responsibility for your actions of creating the debt and deciding to really do something about getting it PAID-OFF in FULL.
Buy this book today! You can even start working on the strategies before the book arrives. Begin by NEVER borrowing money again -- do this today! That includes credit cards, family & friends, the pay-day loan store, home equity loans, debt consolidations, even CAR loans -- all designed to keep you strangled by debt! And begin to work on putting $1000 in the bank as your "emergency fund", today.

Once the book arrives, you'll be eager to begin your journey to financial freedom. This book teaches things that I've never heard anywhere else. I'm living "Debt-Free"; except for a small amount remaining on my mortgage which I should be finished paying in about 2 years. And the money is building up really fast in my retirement plans! Life couldn't be better! Thanks Dave!

I bought this book because I listen to the Dave Ramsey show on the radio and I've read a couple of his other books. So I decided to read this one as well. It was AWESOME and life changing. One of the best books I've read. I have already starting implementing the principles in the book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has not read it.

MORE than excellent. A useful, encouraging help to the average person trying to make the ends meet when someone keeps moving the "ends". I highly recommend this book to anyone, any age, any situation and anytime. We've even begun buying this book for a wedding gift when invited to a wedding. Buy 2 copies because one will always be loaned out!

I love that it is straight and to the point. i like the stories about others. I listen to Dave Ramsey on the radio and wanted the book as a further guide and inspiration to be debt free. i am on my way!

Hi -- The original version that I wrote of this guide was on August 12, 2007. It's now October 29, 2007 and in the last two months of practicing the information outlined in this book so much has happened to us besides paying off large amounts of debt, cutting up credit cards, and really started to learn how to live within our means. The first step we did was to make a list of all of our debt with the smallest one on top of the list and ended with the largest amount on the bottom. Rather than debt consolidation, we started paying off the smallest one first while paying the minimum on the others. I must say that this list made me fill with dispare over the fact that it was smack in my face what huge amount of debt we accumulated and the fact that we really couldn't pay the minimum on each bill. I'm not totally sure how we managed to make this happen but we did. One month we had 5 pay checks instead of 4 weeks. We had tax rebates come back in. We made a grocery list and stuck to it. Actually I do think this was the biggest help and the hardest accomplishment. Because the only way we could make this happen was to make a menu for the week and then a list of what we needed. O.K. so I know that this is the obvious solution but lets face it, when you get to the grocery store there is always something that you forgot to put on the list or it looks good. Here is the hard part --- Only bring cash. No checkbook, No credit card, No ATM or Debt card. Just cold hard cash. Thats your budget and no going over or you have to put it back. It certainly makes you evaluate necessity of what in your cart. We never when hungry for one meal ever using this method but talk about trimming the fat out of a diet. It took me about 3 to 4 weeks to not squirm at going to the grocery store using this method. I truely believe that this was a major part in coming up with the cash we needed to pay our bills. We are now on the 4 year plan to pay off all debt, not including the mortgage. Dave recommends 2 years or less and to sell off things if you have too. Right now we are living in our means and snowballing the amount to pay off. 2 years here we come! FREEDOM! I hope this helpful.

August 12th version:
I love this book. Dave Ramsey is helping us get out of debt because we are following this book step by step. We have already paid off $1000 of dollars of debt by following his easy to understand steps. We already have financial freedom by having a good solid plan and made changes in our life style to make this work. This is not a get rich quick book or gimmick. I found a review under someone's eBay guides and reviews they had wrote about and then decided to buy the book. This book has been one of my best investments ever because we were ready for a change.Do you have debt? Are you willing to change the way you live in order to make that happen? Do you want prosperity and happiness for you and your family? If you are willing to make these changes, you will reach your goals to financial freedom and Dave Ramsey will map it out for you step by step! If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, this book is for you. Dave Ramsey has helped us pay off $1,000's of dollars of debt and live a happier well managed life. As Dave puts it in his book "You will learn to live like no one else and you will live like no one else." Are you ready to have money in your pocket and be debt free? Then this book is for you.

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we really enjoyed this book and got many positve ideas from it. Dave does not overwhelm you with charts and graphs, just real life stories from real life situations. many of us have been there and see ourselves in his narrative and also see a way out.. we highly endorse this book and the ideas in it. buy it, read it and share it with someone you care about..

Honest,fast, prompt, good book. We love it and have learned so many good things that we give it out to friends and family for gifts.