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The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness [Hardcover]

Dave Ramsey (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (624 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Radio talk-show host and bestselling author Ramsey (Financial Peace) is less a financial analyst and more of a preacher, which explains both his popularity and the appeal of this book, which just might gain a wide audience. The bedrock of his system is simple: work hard, pay what you owe and stay out of debt. His main commandment is "Pay cash." He first exhorts the reader to take "baby steps," which are designed to build on each other: first, save $1,000 as an emergency fund; then, pay off all debts from smallest to largest; save a larger three-to-six-month emergency fund; finally, start to save for college and pay off your home mortgage. Ramsey understands the difficulty in putting these steps into action, and therefore packs his book with personal testimonials from everyday people who have used his system and have become debt free, with obvious struggles. The key is what Ramsey calls "Gazelle intensity," which is to live a financial life the way a gazelle saves itself from an attacking cheetah-"outmaneuver the enemy and run for your life." While Ramsey provides some helpful charts and graphs so readers can keep track of their efforts to follow his steps, the strength of this book is that it is a straightforward motivational tool. He provides the brutally direct truth about the hard work it takes to become free of debt, and his directness is a great part of the book's charm.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

"Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge." So states Ramsey, author and radio show host, offering a comprehensive plan to get out of debt and achieve financial fitness. Our current financial position represents the sum total of the decisions we've made to this point, he tells us, and we must take personal responsibility for our financial problems. His seven-step plan includes paying off all debts except the home mortgage at an accelerated speed, creating a financial safety net that covers three to six months' expenses, investing 15 percent of income in a retirement fund, and saving for children's college expenses. He effectively shows how regular people can rid themselves of debt and grow their wealth using current income. While many of Ramsey's concepts are not new, his simple approach and client testimonials will resonate with a broad range of library patrons. This is important information in a society buried in debt, with unprecedented numbers of people facing bankruptcy. Mary Whaley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 2 edition (February 6, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0785289089
  • ISBN-13: 978-0785289081
  • Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.7 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (624 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #6,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #5 in  Books > Business & Investing > Personal Finance > Credit Ratings & Repair
    #20 in  Books > Business & Investing > Finance
    #17 in  Books > Business & Investing > Personal Finance > Budgeting & Money Management

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Dave Ramsey
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
"As lost as a ball in tall weeds!" That is exactly how I felt. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
debt snowball, payday loans, gazelle intensity, finish the emergency fund, money makeover, security gland, funded emergency fund, retirement investing, financial peace, written budget, risk denial
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Total Money Makeover, Baby Steps, Dave Ramsey, Baby Step Two, Pinnacle Point, Financial Peace University, Whole Life, Money Market, Cash Value, Social Security, Secret Santa, The Bible, Percent of Your Income, Consumer Reports, Harold Fisher, New York, The Roth
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The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
93% buy the item featured on this page:
The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness 4.6 out of 5 stars (624)
$24.99
The Total Money Makeover Workbook
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The Total Money Makeover Workbook 4.6 out of 5 stars (82)
$12.23
Financial Peace Revisited
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Financial Peace Revisited 4.5 out of 5 stars (105)
$16.47
The Financial Peace Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Your Family's Financial Health
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The Financial Peace Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Your Family's Financial Health 4.8 out of 5 stars (45)
$11.56
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624 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (624 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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177 of 189 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Dave Ramsey Will Help You Become Financially Fit, February 28, 2004
By FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Hardcover)
I enjoy discussions about my finances about as much as I enjoy talking about my weight. I certainly need to work on both, but I'd prefer to avoid the topics if at all possible, thank you very much. Can I get an "amen"?

Dave Ramsey, radio talk show host, author and all-around financial guru, is no stranger to this ostrich routine. After his own bankruptcy he came to the conclusion that the key to financial (and physical) fitness isn't knowing all the tricks of the money trade; it's being honest with yourself. "If I can control the guy in the mirror, I can be skinny and rich," he says in his new book THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER.

In other words, you have to get your head out of the sand. Okay, I have to get my head out of the sand.

Leaving the skinny to other books, Ramsey is a prophet to those who want to be rich but would settle for being financially stable. It's clear that this is a large group, given the popularity of Ramsey's radio show and books. After reading THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, I can see why they flock to him for advice.

Ramsey's principles are simple and straightforward. Pay cash. Pay off debts from smallest to largest. Create an emergency fund. He provides easy-to-understand answers to many seemingly complex questions about budgeting, retirement funds, saving for college education, and more.

Large pullout quotes scattered throughout the book offer bite-sized financial advice and factoids in Ramsey's typically direct manner:

"A new $28,000 car will lose about $17,000 of value in the first four years you own it. To get the same result, you could toss a $100 bill out the window once a week during your commute."

"Looking to spend $100 per month on life insurance? You could pay $7 a month toward term insurance and invest the remaining $93. But go with a cash-value policy if you'd rather have someone else earn interest on your investments."

"49% of Americans could cover less than one months' expenses if they lost their income."

"If your mortgage payment is $900 and the interest portion is $830, you will pay that year around $10,000 in interest. What a great tax deduction! Right? Otherwise, you'd pay $3,000 in taxes on that $10,000. But who in their right mind would chose to trade $10,000 for $3,000?"

All of this advice is helpful and eye opening, but what Ramsey really excels at is presenting inspirational tales of those who were once, but are no longer, in financial disarray. Their stories make up at least a third of the book, and the cumulative effect is that of a published pep rally designed to get people pumped up about saving money. And it works.

This is a must-read book for anyone whose looking for a little basic financial information and a whole lot of courage to finally put away the ostrich suit.

--- Reviewed by Lisa Ann Cockrel

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71 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Straight talk and a proven plan from this radio star!, August 29, 2003
By "kchthomas" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Hardcover)
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.
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98 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read for people with major problems and for those with little debt, August 15, 2005
This review is from: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Hardcover)
Finally, a book that speaks to everyone, from those who are complete financial disasters to those who pay their bills on time, but overpend and need to reduce their debt load. Too many books about debt focus only on paying your bills on time and reducing your interest rates, while ignoring the people who have too much debt and are too smart about it, never paying a late fee and keeping it all at low interest.

I have never heard Ramsey's radio show, but this book was a huge wake-up call for me. It is motivational and it will get you pumped to get intense about reducing your debt load and living only with the cash you have today. The strategies are excellent, the advice is solid, and people have turned their lives around under Ramsey's guidance. There are a lot of testimonials in this book, perhaps a few too many, but I enjoyed seeing the success stories and seeing the different kinds of people who turned to Ramsey's method.

This book has wide appeal and everyone should check it out once to give their finances a good sanity check.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Total Money Makeover
Dave Ramsey's plan is very common sense and easy to follow. No need to be a financial genius. I recommend every single person (business and government too!! Read more
Published 5 days ago by Audrey A. Hall

5.0 out of 5 stars Saved my life
This book isn't for everyone obviously. But for me, a recovering "chronic consumer", this was what I needed in order to change the course of my life, and it did. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Quina Quen

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK YOU CAN BUY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
The Total Money Makeover has not only changed my entire life, but it has changed the lives of all of my friends and family. Read more
Published 12 days ago by L. Lewton

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful
This is an insightful book that gives you many options to help increase your wealth.

Very easy to read and understand.

Published 13 days ago by J. Mueller

4.0 out of 5 stars If you're in truly dire financial straits, this book will help guide you through to the other side...
... if, however, you've only floundered occasionally, as almost all of us have, you can probably find a different book out there that speaks more to your particular situation... Read more
Published 15 days ago by M.D. Edwards

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
This book was clear and straight to the point. I read it in 24 hours. I was immediately motivated to get started. I've explained it to my husband and he is on board. Read more
Published 15 days ago by Ms. Hill

2.0 out of 5 stars Rate of return
I just finished this book on my Kindle and it is a solid review on how to get out of debt, get the kids through college and retire comfortably. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Bryan Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Great book so far. Still reading it. I kind of feel like I want to get through steps 1-3 before I continue reading it.
Published 17 days ago by K. Robertson

5.0 out of 5 stars Some people think they are too cool for school
I have to admit, I thought Dave Ramsey was below my level. I thought I wouldn't get much of anything out of this campy book, that I haven't already heard i.e. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Previously Ignorant

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Listen to Broke People!
I love when Dave Ramsey preaches, "Don't listen to broke people." haha! So true. I hear people say, "Everyone has debt," all the time and I cringe. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mary Santos

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