The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Author: Dave Ramsey
List Price: $24.99
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ISBN: 0785263268
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (11 September, 2003)
Sales Rank: 1,085
Average Customer Rating: 4.18 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Straight talk and a proven plan from this radio star!
If you're thinking about passing on this latest book from financial guru Dave Ramsey because you've already read his first New York Times bestseller Financial Peace, think again. Financial Peace is "what to do." Total Money Makeover is a step-by-step, nuts and bolts "how to do" kind of book. Dave takes the seven key principles of a healthy financial plan from Financial Peave and gives them a shot of adrenaline and a ton of muscle! He walks with you through each of the seven "baby steps" and shows you exactly how to accomplish each one. Along the way Dave shares dozens of stories from people who are working on or have completed their own Total Money Makeover. The result is a book that could replace all others on personal finance. Reader beware: If you're looking for the next "get rich quick" book from a guy with a calculator and no experience, this is not the book for you. But if you want an uplifting and encouraging book that will show you exactly how to build true wealth and will give you loads of stories from people who have done just that, pick this book up today! Dave knocks it out of the park with Total Money Makeover, and your personal finances could be doing the same very soon.
Rating: 4 out of 5
A few things I disagreed with, but great advice for most.
Dave Ramsey is right on target throughout the vast majority of this book. He deals with the debt that is overwhelming most Americans and how to get out of it. Once this is under control (with an excellent plan, I might add) he directs you in how to best save for retirement and for your children's college.All of this is done with baby steps so that the reader is not overwhelmed.
If you want to build wealth the old fashioned and proven way (get out of debt and save), this is a great book to help. There are a lot of helpful worksheets that provide concrete assistance.
It's very readable - I finished it in just over 24 hours even with a good night's sleep and taking my little one to soccer. Total read time is probably only 3-4 hours.
Some reviewers have said that you don't need this book if you've read Financial Peace. I haven't read the latter, so I can't comment on that point.
Rating: 2 out of 5
A little bit of good, but mostly fluff and common sense
I was given this book by a friend who believes Dave Ramsey hung the Sun and Moon. After reading throught this book, I was glad I hadn't paid for it.It does have a very good message that too many Americans aren't getting: DON'T OVERUSE CREDIT CARDS AND DROWN IN DEBT.
However, that is common sense and if Dave truly cared about his followers' debt problems, he wouldn't be constatly trying to sell them his junk when that money could go toward debt.
Once you get past the credit is evil song and dance, you don't get much more than establish an emergency fund and buy term insurance.
Dave Ramsey is selling hope, a little common sense, and a lot of snakeoil, not financial advice. You can pay him $20 for a book of hope ($25 for an autographed copy), $35 for an afternoon of hope at one of his seminars, $90 for a few weeks of hope at one of his taped programs at your local church, or $260 for a home course of hope.
Ramsey sells his wares in churches (Moneychangers in the temple anyone?) and even stoops to selling a $40 set of CHILDRENS BOOKS with a his same message that anyone with some self-control and an 80 IQ should know.
If you must read this book, borrow it (his legions are everywhere and will be happy to lend you one) or get it from the library.
Please don't feed his greed machine any further. Everyone has the right to market themselves and make a good living, but taking advantage of those stupid enough to run up huge debts in the first place, and then wrapping yourself in relgion, is taking it too far.
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