I first tuned into “The Dave Ramsey Show”, Ramsey’s national radio talk show, soon after marrying and moving away from my family. It was neither intentional nor accidental, his show just happened to follow the one to which I had been listening.

Initially I enjoyed listening to his conservative financial advice because he reminds me so very much of my father, a man who grew up dirt poor and has become, over the years, financially independent. His financial advice (pay for everything with cash, the best way to get rich is NOT to do it quickly, save, invest, save, invest, and save some more) is so similar to that doled out by Ramsey to his loyal listeners that I could have sworn my dad was on the radio.

Then I began analyzing our financial situation at home (ah, self-analysis – the preferred pastime of aspiring psychologists). I was not working because I was pursuing my B.S. in Psychology, and while my husband makes more than enough to support the two of us and our comfortable lifestyle, I quickly realized that we were falling victim to the “I want it now, gotta have it now” mentality that afflicts our nation. We were not properly saving and investing for the future, we were buying more and more STUFF that we didn’t need and we were quickly running out of storage space in our new house, a house for which, of course, we took out a mortgage, and which, of course, needed repairs that went on, what else, a credit card because we hadn’t planned or saved for the repairs... the same credit card that re-floored, re-wallpapered, re-painted the house because I didn’t like the colors and textures that had been the choice of the previous owners.

I promptly found my way to Barnes and Noble and purchased More Than Enough and Financial Peace.

On the contents of More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey

While Ramsey’s book Financial Peace is primarily focused on helping the reader analyze and improve his finances and any financial difficulties by eliminating debt, giving, saving, and investing, the book More Than Enough delves more into the aspects of analyzing and improving the reader’s values, priorities, and personal relationships and the roles such aspects play in his financial life.

Ramsey refers to the main points addressed in the book as the “keys to the More Than Enough mansion” (sounds a little corny, I know, but he makes some excellent points). A few examples of the “keys” include:
1. Change Change is difficult, but is only possible when the pain associated with continuing in familiar behavior is more painful and difficult than changing.
2. Values and Integrity Without these, personal relationships, finances, careers, and lives are destroyed.
3. Vision and Goals These are the building blocks of success in any aspect of a person’s life. Without them, life feels meaningless and mundane.
4. Kids and Money Leading by example in teaching your children about values, integrity, giving, and money.
5. Marriage and Money Dealing with a reluctant spouse when it comes to changing your financial habits and building your financial future; holding one another accountable; the importance of honesty and integrity within the marriage.

Ramsey addresses 32 “keys” in all, each time making a valid point.

In the appendix of the book, as he does in Financial Peace, Ramsey provides the reader with his helpful financial worksheets, including a monthly cash flow plan, recommended percentages to apply to personal budgets, allocated spending plan, the “debt snowball”, and retirement monthly planning.

On Ramsey’s writing style

While I enjoy working on our personal finances and strategizing over budgets, savings, and investments, I am definitely a financial novice, which is why I thoroughly enjoy Dave Ramsey’s writing style. He is forthright, candid, and effectively illustrates his main points with well-told personal stories. He writes so that anyone with an 8th grade education can understand him, allowing the reader the ability to contemplate his own life rather than confused and trying to understand what the hell the writer is talking about (let’s face it, we’ve all read books we didn’t understand by experts who didn’t know how to use anything but professional jargon).

In conclusion...

Personally, I found this book to be a wonderful resource and was able to use it to analyze my life and lifestyle, both of which I was able to improve. My husband and I have improved our relationship and our finances, and have re-examined and improved upon our values and priorities.

I believe that this book is an excellent read for anyone familiar with Dave Ramsey, anyone who wants to improve their financial life and life in general, and for anyone who just knows that what they’ve been doing in life or with money isn’t working and need and want to change but don’t know quite where to begin.


Recommended:
Yes