Here’s a few things I tweeted or heard Dave say during the event:

• When things are going well, we get a little sloppy.  We’ve become a bit sloppy. 
• When things are going good any idiot could make it.  Even a turkey can fly in a tornado.  Stupidity has been officially stress tested.
• When the tide goes out you can tell who was skinny dipping.
• Fear is not a Fruit of the Spirit.
• Bush decided to bailout stupidity and then the new administration decided to stimulate stupidity.  I’m not a big fan of government interference in the marketplace.
• You can be sincere and still be wrong.
• I’m a believer in capitalism, but the not the kind of capitalism we’re seeing.
• Those of us in business are supposed to take care of our customers, not milk them like a cow.
• Commerce without morality will destroy us. ~Ghandi
• Life’s not fair. Sometimes it hurts. We need to allow failure. Failure is good. Failure brings clarity. It’s cleansing. Failure will steer you toward excellence.  A little desperation is good for the soul.
• I don’t do business with big banks because they have no soul.  Use a local hometown bank.

Listen to Town Hall for Hope for free on Hulu.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

A study of Harvard graduates showed that those with with written goals achieve more than others.  Some words from Dave Ramsey:

Your budget is a written goal for your money.  People who win at anything have written goals.  Goals are what you are aiming at.  Your money won’t behave unless you tame it.  You need to have a budget for every month.  Spend every dollar on paper before the month begins. Give every dollar of your income a name before the month begins.  This is called zero-based budgeting.  Income-outgo=exactly zero.  Match up every income dollar until you have given it an outgo name (this includes savings).

We have learned the importance of saving for rainy days and having an emergency fund.  We are trying to live a debt free life, even with two house payments.  (Yes, it still hasn’t sold!)

How is your budget?

image from daveramsey.com

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

One of Dave Ramsey’s tips for budgeting is to use an envelope system.  You simply make an envelope for every area spending which can include: groceries, gas, childcare, entertainment/eating out, clothing, and more.  The envelope system is a great way to keep you from spending more than you had allotted.  It may take a few pay periods to find the right amount for each category.

No Credit Needed has posted a great envelope tutorial on youtube.  Check it out.

Are any of you using the envelope system?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Dave Ramsey

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Well, I’m here to remind you that you’re going to fix the economy because your personal economy is up to you. It’s not Washington’s job to fix what’s going on with you. If you are waiting on Washington to change something, you’ve got a long wait!

You’re going to give yourself money as a result of your hard work and persistence. Waiting for money to be taken from others and given to you is a spirit of envy, and it’s wrong.

I’m not here to tell you who to vote for. But I am here to tell you that the government doesn’t have the capacity to fix your problems. Washington is full of bozos, and I am doing my part to send a lot of them home!

 . . . . .

As bad as USA Today meant a recent article to be about what we think of the suffering economy and upcoming election, I think it’s rather encouraging that no one thinks that President Bush or Barack Obama or John McCain can fix the economy!

Read the rest of the article here.

Thanks Dave.  As usual, that’s great advice!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

If you’ve been here long, you’ll know I’m wild about Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes.  The classes helped to get our family on track financially and to pay off thousands of dollars in debt in just one year!

I was at Dave’s site today and saw that he is having a tremendous sale on a Starter Special.  The starter special includes:

• The Total Money Makeover Book
• Financial Peace Revisited
• Dumping Debt Video – DVD
• Cash Flow Planning Video – DVD
• Financial Peace Software (available for PC users only – not MAC compatible)
• Starter Envelope System

The Starter Special will show you how to:

• Design a sure-fire plan for paying off all debt – pay off the cars, the house, credit cards, everything!
• Recognize and avoid the 10 most dangerous money myths
• Secure a big fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement!
• Give you the knowledge and tools you need to change your financial behavior and win!
• Change your life, relieve the stress that surrounds money, and empower you with the ability to help others

These tools would normally cost you $125, but right now you can get them for $49.98.  Sorry to sound like an infomercial, but I really believe in what Dave teaches.      We’re living proof that it works!

Order the kit at Dave Ramsey’s site.

image from Dave Ramsey’s site

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Dave Ramsey’s site has a list of places in your area where his Financial Peace classes are being held.  All you have to do is type in your zip code to find out more information.  Click here for the Class Finder.

These classes are becoming more and more popular, as people are seeing the bondage that debt holds and that they can successfully follow this program.  I was amazed to find two upcoming classes where my parents live and seven in my area.  I hope you’ll see if a class is offered where you live.

Also, some of you have asked about Dave’s books.  Although I haven’t read it, I’ve heard great things about his book Total Money Makeover.  Right now, the book is on sale at his site for $14.99.  My friend also told me that this book is on sale at the Christian bookstore right now. 

I hope you’ll join the many others on the journey to Financial Freedom.  It truly is freedom!  You’ll be amazed at how things flow more smoothly once you’re debt free.

Good luck and please let us know how it goes.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Last year, I told you about the Financial Peace classes my husband and I were taking at church.  These classes helped my husband and I to get on the same page financially.  We both saw the bondage that debt had on our lives and ever since then we have worked hard to get out of debt.

It didn’t take long for my husband and I to start selling some of the things we had accumulated.  We’ve been married for over 10 years, so you can only imagine the hobbies, toys, and things we had collected.  One time a friend of ours said that our basement looked like an ebay store.  lol

In the last year, our family has nearly completed baby steps 1, 2, and 3 for financial freedom.  In case you don’t remember, here are the steps:

1.  Save $1,000 to start an emergency fund
2.  Pay off all debt using debt snowball
3.  Save 3-6 months of expenses (This does not mean 3-6 months of income.)
4.  Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
5.  College funding for children
6.  Build wealth and give!  Continue to invest in mutual funds and real estate.

In the past year, we have paid over $12,000 in debt!  Isn’t that amazing?!?  We have our $1,000 emergency fund and were working on 3-6 months of expenses.  And in case you’re wondering, we don’t make a lot of money.  You can do this too!

Let me tell you a fact that most people don’t know.  Within the past year, my husband has been laid off from his job for more than four months!!!!!!  It wasn’t long ago that something such as that would have sent us scrounging for money, stressing to the limits, and racking up tons of debt to stay afloat.  I can’t honestly say that we’re doing fine.  Some days are hard because thoughts of uncertainty sink in, but we’re ok. 

God has provided by allowing us to sell a bunch of stuff that we no longer needed and through other unexpected ways.  Of course, our tax refund and stimulus check helped out too.  I’m just amazed when I think back to where we were last year and where we are now.  I’m looking forward to where we’ll be in another five years.

Have you heard of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace classes and his book, Total Money Makeover?  What do you think of it?

image from Dave Ramsey

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

It is no surprise that the media is putting fear into the hearts of voters during an election year. Dave Ramsey shows how the media is encouraging recession fear.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Those rebate checks are coming out. What will you do with yours? I hope this will provide you with a little motivation.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy