The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey

BUY IT NEW

  • $24.99 List price
  • $17.49 Online price (Save 30%)
  • $15.74 Member price
    • Join Now
    • skip to cart
  • Add To List uiAction=GetAllLists&page=List&pageType=list&ean=9780785289081&productCode=BK&maxCount=100&threshold=3

Usually ships within 24 hours

BUY IT USED

11 used from $11.27

Used Copies Available from our Authorized Sellers.

FIND & RESERVE AN IN-STORE COPY

Enter a zip code

(Hardcover - Revised & Updated)

Reader Rating: (39 ratings)

See All Detailed Ratings

  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson
  • Pub. Date: February 2007
  • ISBN-13: 9780785289081
  • Sales Rank: 295
  • 223pp
  • Edition Description: Revised & Updated
 
  • Overview
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Features
  • Full Product Details

Synopsis

The success stories speak for themselves in this book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health.

Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. "Don't even consider keeping up with the Joneses," Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. "They're broke!"

The Total Money Makeover isn't theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you.

Publishers Weekly

Radio talk-show host and bestselling author Ramsay (Financial Peace) is less a financial analyst and more of a preacher, which explains both his popularity and the appeal of this book, which jsut 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. Ramsay 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 Ramsay 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 Ramsay 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. (Sept.) Forecast: Nelson plans an aggressive-and unusual-campaign: a financial makeover contest, promoted through Ramsey's 31-city author tour and broadcasts; the winner will receive $55,000. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

More Reviews and Recommendations

Customer Reviews

Take our money back!by BigMommaMV

Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings

October 27, 2008: Love Dave Ramsey. I listen to him on the radio and decided to read his book. I thought that I would fall asleep reading a financial book but what it did was wake me up. I read this book from cover to cover in a day and now our family is on Step 2. Thanks Dave Ramsey! I 'm telling everyone I know about your book.

Reality Check...by Anonymous

Reader Rating:
See Detailed Ratings

January 10, 2007: If you owe money to anyone, you need this cd. Dave Ramsey doesn't mess around, he tells you how it is and how to fix it. When you're done feeling sorry for yourself or if you feel you just can't get a financial break, listen to this cd. When you're done - listen to it again and again and again. If you feel yourself weakening, play it again. He has a very animated voice, so it doesn't put you to sleep with monotone dialogue. He is real and to the point. He will tell you what your friends and family won't. He will tell you how to work with what you have and not ponder on what you don't have. He gives explicit direction and you won't be guessing what to do when you're done listening to this cd-set. So buck up, take the criticism and make it work for you. He will change your life.


More Customer Reviews