by ron  at July 27 2009 4:32 PM

Always good to have a plan!

by JillsFavorites  at August 28 2009 10:39 AM

Don't forget to budget even when you do have a good income... this is the time I pay the biggest "stupid tax".

by Teresa Nielson  at September 14 2009 5:19 PM

Don't get discouraged. Keep going. Dave's plan works. Live like no one else so you can live like no one else. Do a monthly budget along with getting your $1000.00 emergency fund.

by Adam  at September 24 2009 7:16 PM

Dave's plan is so simple that it will be the hardest thing you do. You are going to have to change you. Get your budget and your emergency fund. Start the snowball. We have so far paid off $14K in 10 months, having about $13K to go. Don't let Murphy or anyone discourage you; seeing the results are incredible. What makes me sick is the $3K I am now sending Chase, BOA and AE to get out, when I could be investing it. But the light at the end of the tunnel keeps getting bigger. Quicken says according to current salaries, I can get out of debt, put 2 kids through college, buy a $200K house in 2013, and retire in 29 yrs with $2.3million in investments. That is the result of Dave's plan. Thank you, Dave Ramsey.

by Noel  at October 01 2009 8:49 AM

Today is the first day in my 12 years of driving that I have paid for my state inspection sticker on the day that it expired, and not 6 months later. Why? Because we BUDGETED for it! It's amazing that I didn't panic and flip out over "$68.00? How do they expect me to come up with $68.00?" Ahhh... Peace of mind. Come relax with me! It's great!

by Maggie  at October 07 2009 8:23 AM

My husband has been out of work for two months now and it looks like it might be a long stretch of unemployment. The good part is that we started our TMMO in 2005, and paid off over $55,000 in credit cards and car loans. We have a good emergency fund (although I hate to have to dip into it), and prior to his layoff we were living on his paycheck. Mine went for savings and paying extra on the mortgage. I've had to cut back on contributing to retirement, but because we were prepared, life isn't so bad. Putting money in the envelopes works and even now we still have our blow money(although reduced), so I am not feeling deprived.

by Chris  at October 08 2009 3:45 PM

Started Dave's plan in January, and I have paid off almost $15k in debt in 9 months with only 1 income! This plan works and it is too easy to not do.

by Tim  at October 19 2009 8:55 PM

Once we faced our finances head-on, budgeting has allowed us to see & plan where our money is going. I don't have to worry about my debit card being declined because I thought we had enough to cover it. Our budget tells us exactly how much we can spend & no more, with the benefit of actually seeing how much extra we can apply towards knocking off that evil debt.

by danielle  at October 28 2009 10:19 AM

Tears came to my eyes today when I did my budget and I had a $285 surplus after I accounted for everything. I love telling my money what to do!

by Quinn  at October 29 2009 10:22 PM

I'm 17, and I make sure that I budget and save out of every pay check. It is usually complicated to get my friends to follow in my path, but come on! It REALLY works!

by Brenda  at November 14 2009 10:57 PM

Just getting started. I have my budget in place and have payed off two small bills. I am excited and plan to pay off 25000 in two years. Thanks Dave. The first time things have looked up in a long time.

by Kim Shea  at November 30 2009 9:51 AM

As stated in a Military Financial Planning Guide...a budget is a systematic way of going into debt! Kim Shea, MSgt, USAF Ret.

by Nathan  at December 06 2009 8:18 PM

On Baby Step 3, almost to 4, no credit cards for a year now. I have to travel to U.A.E. in Feb, and all travel advisories say to take travelers checks or credit cards instead of cash. What is the best plan???

by Lindsay  at December 07 2009 11:20 AM

Dave's plan does work. It is not always easy and you will probably even cry along the way. I have! There will be tears of pain and tears of happiness. My husband and I have been doing this program for about 2 years now and yes, we still mess up if we lose focus. Our children even budget their money (4 and 9 yrs old). Now is a good time to start the program. We began in Feb 2008 (right at tax return time) and that was a kick start for us. We paid off 2 credit cards ($5000 total), my car ($1000), furniture ($800) and built ($2000 in our emergency fund. Once you get your budget down on paper you truely notice that you spend a lot of money on silly things. We saved up enough money to pay cash for a tractor in April 2009. We are still saving and paying cash for items! Cash for Christmas gifts!WOW! We still have one vehicle payment and hope to have it paid for early and live in a new home that we built with our own hands. Once the vehicle is paid for we will work on college for our children. My husband is the finacial advisor for our church and he has facilitated the FPU there. We have been blessed!

by Marie  at December 07 2009 3:15 PM

I need advice on working my debt snowball. What exactly do I need to give up, in order to work this correctly? I currently budget money for hair cuts/color, massage, pedicure/manicure. I've cut these way back but do I need to eliminate some of these items I consider a necessity?

by Evan H.  at December 11 2009 4:26 PM

Marie, Of the three things you listed, you might be able to cut out the massage and pedicure/manicure. It might take more time, but you can probably give yourself a pedicure and manicure and save a significant amount of money. With the snowball, try to find as much extra money from your budget as possible. Remember that the more you pay down on your debts, the less interest you will be paying which will really get the ball rolling! Good luck with your snowball.

by Drew  at December 19 2009 9:01 PM

Nathan- Check with your bank about using your debit card. I lived and worked overseas for a year for a Christian non-profit and used my debit card on occasion. The credit union I used automatically calculated all the exchange rates when I used the card. That would be my suggestion, but see what your bank/CU says.

by gail  at December 23 2009 10:33 AM

Nathan ... be careful on the traveler's checks. A friend just returned from Germany and France where American Express travelers checks were not accepted.

by Steve  at December 23 2009 6:21 PM

Thank you Dave we have paid off 80,000 in 24 months 42,000 to go. 12 more months and we will definitely do the scream you wont even need the phone to hear us. Please pray for our family to stay focused. And also for our small group that we just started that we can be good examples to help our members get their life back.

by Michele  at December 29 2009 11:51 PM

I tried the Gazelle Budget Lite with remaining 0 dollars but it still says I have not created a zero-based budget.

by Deirdre  at December 31 2009 10:42 AM

I'm tired of being in debt. I am a divorcee raising two children with one graduating this May from high school and the other in three years.I live in a small college town. Work is limited here. I'm in $21,000 in debt no money for my child to go to college. I only make 14,000 a year. The problem is I am disable and no one want a person that have a chonic disease. What can I do to get out of debt.