The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness »

Dave Ramsey conducts financial workshops through Lampo, Inc., and is the host of a popular nationally syndicated radio talk show. He holds a degree in finance from the University of Tennessee.

The success stories speak for themselves in this audio book from money maestro Dave Ramsey. Instead of promising the normal dose of quick fixes, Ramsey offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health.

Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. "Don't even consider keeping up with the Joneses," Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. "They're broke!"

The Total Money Makeover isn't theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you.

Publishers Weekly

Radio talk-show host and bestselling author Ramsay (Financial Peace) is less a financial analyst and more of a preacher, which explains both his popularity and the appeal of this book, which jsut might gain a wide audience. The bedrock of his system is simple: work hard, pay what you owe and stay out of debt. His main commandment is "Pay cash." He first exhorts the reader to take "baby steps," which are designed to build on each other: first, save $1,000 as an emergency fund; then, pay off all debts from smallest to largest; save a larger three-to-six-month emergency fund; finally, start to save for college and pay off your home mortgage. Ramsay understands the difficulty in putting these steps into action, and therefore packs his book with personal testimonials from everyday people who have used his system and have become debt free, with obvious struggles. The key is what Ramsay calls "Gazelle intensity," which is to live a financial life the way a gazelle saves itself from an attacking cheetah-"outmaneuver the enemy and run for your life." While Ramsay provides some helpful charts and graphs so readers can keep track of their efforts to follow his steps, the strength of this book is that it is a straightforward motivational tool. He provides the brutally direct truth about the hard work it takes to become free of debt, and his directness is a great part of the book's charm. (Sept.) Forecast: Nelson plans an aggressive-and unusual-campaign: a financial makeover contest, promoted through Ramsey's 31-city author tour and broadcasts; the winner will receive $55,000. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Introduction     ix
What This Book Is Not     xiii
Meet The Winners of The Total Money Makeover Challenge     xix
The Total Money Makeover Challenge     1
Denial: I'm not That Out of Shape     9
Debt Myths: Debt is (Not) a Tool     17
Money Myths: The (Non) Secrets of the Rich     52
Two More Hurdles: Ignorance and Keeping Up with the Joneses     77
Save {dollar}1,000 Fast: Walk Before You Run     93
The Debt Snowball: Lose Weight Fast, Really     109
Finish the Emergency Fund: Kick Murphy Out     133
Maximize Retirement Investing: Be Financially Healthy for Life     151
College Funding: Make Sure the Kids Are Fit Too     168
Pay Off the Home Mortgage: Be Ultrafit     183
Build Wealth Like Crazy: Arnold Schwarzedollar, Mr. Universe of Money     203
Live Like No One Else     219
Budgeting Forms     225