PERSONAL FINANCE
Why I’m Following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps to Financial Peace
Malcolm Gladwell is your man if you are looking for an evening of intellectual stimulation. If you want to sort out your money problems, grab a pencil and a sheet of paper, then sit down at the kitchen table with Dave Ramsey.
At the end of your “meeting” with “Uncle Dave,” you will have a clear picture of your financial situation and a budget. You might want to prepare yourself.
For those who don’t know him, Dave Ramsey is a financial guru that started a radio show in 1992. His opinionated style is straightforward and even abrasive. His message, however, is crystal clear.
There is only one path to true financial peace — you must rid yourself of any and all debt — and you must do it as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“You can be intentional about your character. You can have money and a career. You are the hero in your story.” ~Dave Ramsey
Dave, you’re right! I am the hero in my story. I can be intentional about my character. I can live off rice and beans while I dig myself out of debt.
My conviction stems from real-life mistakes that led me to financial ruin and my current absolute determination to snatch my freedom back from the money lenders.
I rationalized a lot of my bad financial behavior in the past. An equal mix of ignorance, lack of confidence, and willful neglect led me to a financial hell hole.
Once there, I became petrified, very depressed, and then very angry.
Angry enough to change.
And so here I am today. Fighting with myself sometimes to stay on budget, but I am marching along a new path, thanks in no small part to Dave Ramsey. His monolithic message helps me stay the course. He is focused like a laser, helping people see their mess.
I like it.
If I had a time machine, I would do many things differently, but time machines can’t help me now. I am working hard for the person I will be so that future me can say, “Thank you” and enjoy her life. I want her to have the freedom to choose. I want her to have the option to stay or go. I want her to have the power and control over her own life that all humans require to be happy.
So, yes, I’m choosing my future self by sticking to a budget right now. I’m choosing future security over new furniture, clothing, or car payments. I’m choosing Dave Ramsey videos over a vacation until my debts are paid in full.
And you know what? It feels good.
The fundamental tools that Dave Ramsey shares are free to use. I don’t purchase anything from him because I don’t need to. I use his free tools like little ice picks and ropes to slowly claw my way out of this stinking crevasse of debt that I fell into years ago.
I can’t wait to have ownership of every moment of my future life. It’s my life, after all, and I want it back.
I will take it back one baby step at a time.
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