Dave Ramsey

[TLO]

What do you think of him/his program?

I'm trying to take my finances more seriously, and want to start paying off debt and getting my financial house in order.

Let's hear your thoughts.

[BigRedChief]

When I was looking at retirement info, he always came up. So I watched his stuff on retirement. Way too conservative. You don't need a Million $'s in cash to retire at 67. Maybe if you want to spend your retirement traveling the world. I can see that number.

For those who go on vacations every once in a while in a year. Way too much cash stashed away. You should have done those big trips why you were younger to really enjoy those trips.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by loochy

Well this may be just what the doctor ordered for the OP. He has admitted in the past to have issues, so he may do well with that type of guidance style.

I'd be debt free if this wasn't part of my past. I've made great strides in conquering my demons with gambling, but son of a bitch I lost a lot of money over the years.

[jd1020]

I started digging into investing so I was asking a buddy of mine for some top books to read and he recommended some Peter Lynch books and my mother bought me a Dave Ramsey book one year, which none of it applies to me because it's his step by step book to debt free, but I read some of it... Most of it is common sense, but his stance on credit cards is criminally stupid. If you use a credit card responsibly, like you would with cash or a debit card, and pay it off every month, there's no ****ing reason to not use a credit card. Even the cards that dont have an annual fee have nice perks, why the **** would you not take advantage of that? Now if you think a credit card is free money, then stay the **** away. But to suggest you should never "borrow" money is just ignorant.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by jd1020

I started digging into investing so I was asking a buddy of mine for some top books to read and he recommended some Peter Lynch books and my mother bought me a Dave Ramsey book one year, which none of it applies to me because it's his step by step book to debt free, but I read some of it... Most of it is common sense, but his stance on credit cards is criminally stupid. If you use a credit card responsibly, like you would with cash or a debit card, and pay it off every month, there's no ****ing reason to not use a credit card. Even the cards that dont have an annual fee have nice perks, why the **** would you not take advantage of that? Now if you think a credit card is free money, then stay the **** away. But to suggest you should never "borrow" money is just ignorant.

I think most of the people Ramsey is talking to have no self control with credit cards. So he just preaches to them to stay away from them altogether

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Yeah, I've just never been much for the whole emergency fund thing when people say you need $x in your bank account so you can write a check today... how often do you need $10k+ in cash right the **** now, especially if you have a decent credit limit.... plenty of options even within 3-5 days to get money out if you really need it.

I barely pay attention to the exact timing of transfers since, as you alluded to, I'm usually not desperate for the money to move instantly. I did a transfer from my Discover HYSA to my Schwab checking account yesterday, though, and the money is there today.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

When I was looking at retirement info, he always came up. So I watched his stuff on retirement. Way too conservative. You don't need a Million $'s in cash to retire at 67. Maybe if you want to spend your retirement traveling the world. I can see that number.

For those who go on vacations every once in a while in a year. Way too much cash stashed away. You should have done those big trips why you were younger to really enjoy those trips.

Yeah....I never subscribed to his " gotta have a million in the bank to retire" mantra. And I get most of whom he is talking to are people who have no control over their spending habits.

But sometimes he just comes across as belligerent and overbearing...sometimes even condescending.....and the people who listen to him regularly are just as bad....

[loochy]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

When I was looking at retirement info, he always came up. So I watched his stuff on retirement. Way too conservative. You don't need a Million $'s in cash to retire at 67. Maybe if you want to spend your retirement traveling the world. I can see that number.

For those who go on vacations every once in a while in a year. Way too much cash stashed away. You should have done those big trips why you were younger to really enjoy those trips.

Really? My initial planning was for $1 mil (sans Social Security, because I don't trust the government). Barring catastrophe, I'll hit that, but I'm realistically thinking $1.5 to $2 mil with inflation to keep up the same lifestyle. Specifcally, I'm anticipating a major drain for health care costs.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by loochy

Really? My initial planning was for $1 mil (sans Social Security, because I don't trust the government). Barring catastrophe, I'll hit that, but I'm realistically thinking $1.5 to $2 mil with inflation to keep up the same lifestyle. Specifically, I'm anticipating a major drain for health care costs.

It's lifestyle driven, IMO. Like you, I didn't plan to have access to SS, so that's a bonus for me. I want to be able to travel the world for as long as I am healthy, so I probably need a bit more than most. Everything I own is paid off, so I'm debt free for now. I've had a magic number in my head for several years, and I was getting dangerously close to it before February sent my shit into a free fall. It's steadily coming back, so I'm guessing I can get there by the end of 2026 (I'll be 59).

Either way, it's all good. I'm retiring at the end of 2026 come hell or high water. I'll be fine with or without that magic number

[The Rick]

I use YNAB:

https://ynab.com/referral/?ref=PizNp...tomer_referral

(full disclosure, that's a referral link but doesn't matter to me if you actually use it or not)

Pretty similar to Dave Ramsey in terms of "give every dollar a job", but not as harsh and old school. Has made a huge difference for me in terms of how I think about money.