I’m a big fan of Dave Ramsey. I bought one of his books on his debt free strategies years ago and it really impressed me. I’ve read lots of similar plans, but this one really got my attention and it seemed like something I could really do, especially the debt snowball plan because at that point, I was in crushing debt.
I got the book for myself and then I studied it like it was my JOB. We started a debt snowball to pay off nearly $30K in debt, set up an emergency fund so we wouldn’t put emergencies on a credit card, and made some major changes to my spending habits.
It took quite a while, but it really made a huge difference in our financial lives. So I got to thinking about our kids. I didn’t want them to struggle like we had, but how to get their attention? Well, I went with what had always worked – BRIBERY!
Getting My Kids on Board with Dave Ramsey Methods
I really wanted my three kids to get the benefit of Dave Ramsey’s excellent advice as well, but I knew if I just told them about it, it would just go in one ear and out the other. I knew they’d really benefit from this program, but how do you get these 20-something kids to follow through and actually READ the book?
The answer – I paid them! I got three copies of the book, taped a $20 bill to each of them and handed them out. Then I told them that they couldn’t have the twenty until after they had listened to the program. Since I figured that these lessons were likely to help them for the rest of their lives, I counted that $60 as the best money I ever spent in my life.
“Then I told them that they couldn’t have the $20 until after they had read the Dave Ramsey book – best money I ever spent!”
Dave Ramsey to the Rescue
Sometimes when you really want to get serious about something, you need to literally put your money where your mouth is. And it did make a big difference.
My oldest son and his wife immediately started an emergency account and started working on paying off their debts. They will be buying their first house next month. And my middle son started building up his savings account and picked up a 2nd job to start saving for his first apartment. And the youngest son immediately started paying down his credit card. All these years later and none of my kids has had any serious issues with debt.
What is the best money you’ve ever spent? Seriously, try this with your own kids. The cost of the book plus a $20 bill could save your kids thousands of dollars and a lot of stress over their lifetime!
How to Help Your Adult Children Manage their Money without Becoming their Bank
Since I have adult children and one of them is still living in my basement, I’ve got a number of strategies on how to assist them without offering a bail-out. I see a lot of my friends giving frequent hand-outs to their kids, but I’m not a big fan. I’m more a fan of giving them practical advice and teaching them to be self-sufficient at a pretty young age.
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Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover
Since then, I’ve been teaching other people how to use a debt snowball and other sensible methods to get themselves out of debt and get their finances into a more manageable state. I’ve helped hundreds of people over the years and I can help you too. Learn more HERE.
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I've done debt-free coaching for hundred of people over the last six years and I get a lot of joy out of helping people find simple and common-sense ways to dig themselves out of debt and learn to manage their money. Check out my page for more info.
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If you are looking for any help regarding blogging, social media, or all things online, you'll want to check out my other blog - Help for New Bloggers. I've been a full-time blogger and freelancer for a number of years, so I've gathered all my BEST tips into this helpful blog.
3 Comments on Dave Ramsey Book for My Kids – Best Money I Ever Spent
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I wish I would have known about Dave Ramsey when I was younger!
One smart mama, you are! Sometimes you just do what you gotta do, and if that involves paying someone to do what’s best for them, it’s worth it. Most times. This is one of those times!
What a great idea.