Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover?

Question

Has anyone used this system or one of his financial counselors for financial advice and what were your experiences. I need help creating a budget for my family and getting out of debt. I am not interested in credit counseling services that makes you pay them to pay your credit card bills b/c I have good credit just having a hard time living paycheck to paycheck and figuring out how to pay off all my debt. Thanks.

Answer 1

You are right, credit counseling is not what you need.

We just used his books and we did take Dave's Financial Peace university class. Many people we know use the Total Money Makeover or Financial Peace Revisited and do up the budget. His website has budget forms, or purchase the budgeting software to help. I use excel for my budget and I have his software but only use it keep what our balances are and the future pay off amounts. I have been using Excel for years before using Dave's method of the debt snowball (old habits die hard!).

We have used one of his ELPs for setting up college funds but we didn't do a budget with him. He does have counselors that can help with that but haven't used them.

Good luck, you can do it!

Answer 2

I have heard it's good.

DO NOT use credit counseling. They say they will not hurt your credit, but I guarantee they do.  They make you close all your credit cards, which automatically lowers your score.

The website below was helpful for me. And it is free.

I use Quicken to manage my accounts, it takes a bit to set it up, but its nice because there is a budget calculator that helps put together a budget, and the reports are a cool way to view where you're spending all your money.  

MS money is a good option too.

Usually your computer comes with a basic version of one of these programs. (mine always have anyway)  And if not, they are fairly inexpensive.

Answer 3

You really need to use his system he really knows his stuff!  He does have some software to help you form a budget, and in his books he has pages that will help you make a budget.  Either way his plan works!