Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey
I’m not a money person, period. I don’t understand it or care, really. I don’t think about it that much, tracking where it comes from and where it goes is a pain. I’ve heard that arguments over money are one of the main difficulties facing married couples, but that’s not true in our house, because David’s not a money person, either, which is a problem.
We read Financial Peace as part of a workshop we attended over about three months at our church. It’s simple, clear baby steps are perfect for us. Ramsey explains them in terms we can understand, gives clear goals, and encourages partners, spouses to actually communicate, not yell or let one person be solely responsible. If I had to boil it down, Ramsey advocates saving, getting out of/avoiding debt and then moving on to investing for retirement and college. I like, too, that it is Christian-based and encourages giving, but it’s still practical.
I’ll grant you, we’re still on baby step #1, but it’s been a tough 6-months for us. First they took away David’s overtime, then they knocked him down to 4-days a week and now he’s laid-off. He’s looking for a new job, but we all know they’re not as easy to come by as they have been in the past. I honestly believe 
that if it weren’t for the lessons in this book we probably would be in real trouble. I wish we had gone through it when we actually had money!
If we were doing this on our own, without the workshop materials, I would have definitely worked through the planner as a compliment to the book. It has the charts, forms and questionnaires that aren’t in the book. There are a lot of resources at his website, too, www.daveramsey.com.
Yes the economy has really messed up a lot, I went back to school again cos no jobs anyway. Sounds like a good book
Yes, excellent book and program. The steps are simple although not necessarily easy. The goals are clear. I find it interesting how many places you see these same steps repeated now that the economy has changed – steps that were not popular a very few years ago.
I’m sorry to hear about your husband’s employment situation. It is a very tough time for the economy.
I LOVE Dave Ramsey’s books & am currently working the plan myself (on baby step 2). Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be finished, but then I remind myself of how much I’ve accomplished (paid down a lot of debt) & now I have a plan. You can also listen to his shows on the internet too if you’re so inclined. Debt Free Fridays are the best in my opinion.
Good Luck!