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Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, popular national radio personality and the author of three New York Times bestsellers – The Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace Revisited and More Than Enough. In them, Dave Ramsey exemplifies his life’s work of teaching others how to be financially responsible, so they can acquire enough wealth to take care of loved ones, live prosperously into old age, and give generously to others.
Dave Ramsey knows first-hand what financial peace means in his own life, having lived living a true rags-to-riches to rags-to-riches story. By age 26 he had established a $4,000,000 real estate portfolio, only to lose it by age 30. Dave Ramsey has since rebuilt his financial life and now devotes himself full-time to helping ordinary people understand the forces behind their financial distress and how to set things right - financially, emotionally and spiritually.
Dave Ramsey offers life-changing financial advice as host of a nationally syndicated radio program, "The Dave Ramsey Show," which is heard by three million listeners each week on more than 300 radio stations throughout the United States. Dave Ramsey's syndicated column, “Dave Says” currently has a circulation of more than 5,000,000 in publications worldwide.
Dave Ramsey is the creator of Financial Peace University (FPU), a 13-week program that helps people dump debt, get control of their money and learn new behaviors with money that are founded on commitment and accountability. More than 260,000 families have attended FPU classes at their workplace, church, military base, nonprofit organization or community group. The average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 91 days after beginning FPU and is completely our of debt – except for their mortgage – in just 18 to 24 months.
Dave Ramsey created a group of products in an effort to teach children about money before they have a chance to make mistakes. Financial Peace for the Next Generation is an all-inclusive school curriculum that is currently in more than 1,500 schools across the country. Financial Peace Jr. is an instructional kit designed to help parents teach their young children about working, saving and giving their money. Through Dave Ramsey's entertaining children's book series, The Super Red Racer, Careless at the Carnival, The Big Birthday Surprise, My Fantastic Fieldtrip, A Special Thank You and Battle of the Chores, children learn about working, saving, giving and spending money.
Dave Ramsey earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Tennessee. A frequent speaker around the country at large-scale live events, Dave Ramsey is a passionate and inspiring presenter who is at ease on both sides of the mic. More than 500,000 people have attended Dave Ramsey's live events.
Dave Ramsey resides with his wife, Sharon, and their three children, Denise, Rachel, and Daniel, in Nashville, Tennessee.
By
Dave Ramsey (Dec 31, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’ve noticed that lots of people get defensive when it comes to talking about money and living on a plan. Why is this?
Tonya
Dear Tonya,
I think it’s because... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Dec 20, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’ve heard you say that people spend more with plastic than with cash. Exactly what does that mean?
Edmund
Dear Edmund,
There have been several studies done in... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Dec 14, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Our financial situation is pretty good now, and my husband and I feel it is time to start giving something back. There are several organizations we’re interested... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Dec 08, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband and I are taking your classes and following your plan. We own a roofing company. We offer six months, same as cash, and we accept credit cards. What... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Dec 07, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m about to buy my first home. My plan is to buy a duplex and rent out the other side to help pay down the mortgage quickly. A friend of mine wants to be my... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Nov 30, 2011)
Dear Dave,
When does reaching the point of being debt-free become more important than marriage? We’re following your plan and doing the debt snowball, but my husband’s been... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Nov 25, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’ve heard you tell people not to buy mobile homes. We bought one when we moved out of our apartment, and it’s been much cheaper for us. Why do you feel this... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Nov 15, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I have a couple of rental houses, and I was thinking about unloading them at auction instead of renting them out again. What are your thoughts on selling homes at... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Nov 08, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My grandfather passed away a couple of months ago. I’m 32 and the only relative still living in town, so I helped take care of him and his place so he wouldn’t... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Nov 03, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Not long ago I was laid off from my job at an auto repair shop. I have some tools of my own, and was thinking about opening my own business. The problem is there... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Nov 02, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Is it a good idea to include teenagers in financial talks and budget meetings?
Paul
Dear Paul,
I think it’s a great idea, as long as it’s not an extreme... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Oct 26, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m 21 and make $45,000 a year. I’ve heard about your 100 percent down plan to buy a house. I’d like to know more about this, and where I should put the money I’d... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Oct 19, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I just got married to a wonderful lady with two children. We’ve talked over our financial situation, and we’re determined to get out of debt within two years.... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Oct 12, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I live in New York, and even though I follow your advice and live on a budget, it’s really hard to save up for a down payment on a house. My family in South... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Oct 05, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I love your plan, but I think my husband is attached to eating out. Budgeting is very hard for him, and the cost of his fast food lunches is making it difficult... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Sep 28, 2011)
Dear Dave,
How do you feel about online trading for building a stock portfolio? Assuming that someone has done their homework on which stocks to buy, is there anything else... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Sep 21, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My older sister hasn’t worked in two years. She hasn’t even looked for a job, she’s 36, and she’s been living with our parents the whole time. They want to set... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Sep 14, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband and I have been married for three months, and we’re debt-free. Right now, we’re trying to save up a 20 percent down payment for a house. I work for a... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Sep 07, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Several months ago, my five-year-old son told me he wanted a Nintendo DS. He does little things around the house for me, and at his grandparents’ place, so I told... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Aug 31, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband needs a liver transplant within the next two years, because he has Hepatitis C. We make about $70,000 a year, but we have $25,000 in debt. He’s still... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Aug 23, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I need advice on how to handle things where my mom is concerned. She was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) a year ago, and now she wants our family to do... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Aug 17, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’ve heard you tell people that having $90,000 to $100,000 saved up for retirement isn’t enough. That’s what I’ve got set aside right now, and I’m pretty sure... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Aug 09, 2011)
Dear Dave,Can you share some tips on bargaining, whether for a used car or even a washer and dryer in the classifieds?Ray Dear Ray,This is a great question! Bargaining is one... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Aug 03, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I started my own small business a couple of years ago, and thanks to a lot of hard work and your advice, we’re seeing some growth. If you could go back and... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Aug 02, 2011)
Dear Dave,
What is unsecured debt?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
This is a great question! You’d be surprised how many people don’t know the difference between “secured” debt... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jul 27, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My wife and I are about to have our first child. She’d like to stay home with the baby after it’s born, so we’ll be losing about half our income. We’ve looked at... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jul 19, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband and I are adopting my nephew. His mom is involved with drugs and alcohol, and his father isn’t in the picture. We’ve got $1,000 in the bank, and we’re... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jul 12, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My mom makes $20,000 a year, and without telling me she took out a Parent PLUS Loan for $16,000 to help me with college. She’s saying she can’t pay the loan, and... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jun 28, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Should I continue to contribute to my 401(k) at work up to the match if I’m still trying to get out of debt?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
Nope! I know, you... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jun 21, 2011)
Dear Dave,My husband and I have been married less than a year, and already we’re having huge disagreements over money. He’s got a big heart, but often he’ll just give money... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jun 14, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I hear you talk about using an ESA when it comes to funding college for your kids. What can you do with an ESA, though, if your child decides he or she doesn’t... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jun 07, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband and I can’t agree on how we should handle the child support payments I receive. He thinks it should be put in the pool with our household budget money,... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jun 01, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I grew up in a house where my parents always lived below their means. They taught me to live that way, but they never showed me how to make it happen. Now, at 45,... more
By
Dave Ramsey (May 25, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m 42, and I haven’t started saving for retirement. I’m self-employed and not making a lot of money right now, plus I have about $8,000 in debt. It feels like... more
By
Dave Ramsey (May 17, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My wife and I have been following the Baby Steps, and we’ve paid off all of our credit card debt. We still have $51,000 in student loans left, and our combined... more
By
Dave Ramsey (May 10, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I live in Alaska, and I’m considering using a credit card for the airline miles. This would make it easier and cheaper for me to visit my family in the Lower 48.... more
By
Dave Ramsey (May 03, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I recently received a beneficiary IRA when my mother passed away. I also received a small part of her estate. I’d like to share some of this with my 24-year-old... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Apr 27, 2011)
Dear Dave,
We paid off our cars a few months ago, and that freed up almost $800 a month. We have two small children, and we’d like to take a camping trip in a few months,... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Apr 19, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I recently lost my job due to layoffs. I’m luckier than most, because I’m debt-free except for my house, and I have three months of expenses saved. I’ll also... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Apr 13, 2011)
Dear Dave,
We have two teenage daughters, ages 17 and 16, who are both in high school and work in the family business. We’ve done our best to teach them how to... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Apr 06, 2011)
Dear Dave,My broker has recommended a managed futures fund. I’ve never heard of these, and I got the feeling she doesn’t know much about them, either. She’s always been very... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Mar 30, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I had a wreck seven months ago. As a result, I lost my job and have been drawing unemployment for the last five months. I was making $1,200 a month in retail... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Mar 23, 2011)
Dave Says
Dear Dave,
I’m 26, single, and I’ve been working your Total Money Makeover plan to pay off my debt. Right now, I have just $25,000 left to pay off, including my... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Mar 15, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I recently graduated from college, and I think I’d like to get into the real estate business as an agent. I don’t have much real world experience, so what can I... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Mar 08, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My wife and I just relocated for my new job. Right now we’re renting an apartment, and we should make about $15,000 on the sale of our old house. Should we use... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Mar 02, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I listen to you often and enjoy your radio show, but why don’t you ever ask women to go to work? When a family is broke, and the woman is at home raising one... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Feb 22, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m single, and I make about $70,000 a year. I’ve been able to set aside a nice bit of money in savings, and I’m paying off my student loans and car payment.... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Feb 15, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I have three stepchildren, the oldest of which is married and has a little baby. The only time we hear from him is when they want money. We don’t mind helping... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Feb 15, 2011)
Dear Dave,
We have $21,000 in credit card debt, and ongoing medical expenses for our special-needs child. My husband works very hard, but only makes about $25,000 a year,... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Feb 07, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband likes to borrow money on fix-up projects around the house. He says he knows how to manage money, and will pay the loans back quickly. The other day,... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Feb 07, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m fairly responsible with finances, but my girlfriend is in a terrible financial situation with a lot of credit card debt, an expensive car payment, and a... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 31, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Can you explain how you view the difference between warranties and other types of insurance?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
The purpose of insurance is to... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 31, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I noticed that your Baby Steps list puts saving for retirement before saving for your kid’s college fund. Sending your kids to college would come first on the... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 24, 2011)
Dear Dave,
We currently pay to have our lawn mowed each week. This expense is figured into our monthly budget, but we’re not quite out of debt yet. My wife says this is a... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 24, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m a recent college graduate, and I’m determined to follow your plan and get out of debt. My biggest problem is when it comes to dating. Things aren’t cheap... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 18, 2011)
Dear Dave,
You’re always talking about accumulating piles of cash. I’ve gone to church for several years, and the Bible says not to lay up treasures on earth. Doesn’t that... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 18, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My wife is divorcing me, and we just had our first baby boy. I feel it’s my responsibility to take care of her until the divorce is final, and to keep her in a... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 11, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I’m 36, and I’ve been placed on permanent disability due to primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Is there a possibility I could petition to have my student... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 11, 2011)
Dear Dave,
We had just started your plan and saved $1,000 for our baby emergency fund when our laptop computer died. We do all of our finances online, including budgeting... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 11, 2011)
Dear Dave,
My husband is a landscaper who works for the state. He has his technical license and wants to start a business doing private work as well. What advice would you... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 03, 2011)
Dear Dave,
Do you have any suggestions for closing a credit card account? I just paid off my last debt, and I want to close the account once and for all.
Krista
Dear... more
By
Dave Ramsey (Jan 03, 2011)
Dear Dave,
I don’t hide debt from my spouse, but I do hide money from her. I’ve been squirreling away money for emergencies without her knowledge. She’s not terrible with... more