The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (2003)

Dave Ramsey presents a straight-forward, tough-to-follow financial path to security and success with money. Not everything he says will apply to you (yet, or ever), but pursuing the 7 Baby Steps to Financial Peace can't hurt. His writing (and speaking) style is common-sensical, frank and conservative Evangelical.
The Bible verses are a way to motivate those who are interested, but if you're in the least offended by "preachy" Christianity, you might just want to go to Dave's website and look at the Get Started page. Frankly, all of the Baby Steps are listed on his website, free of charge. However, certain finer points of each step as well as success stories to motivate you, can be found in The Total Money Makeover.
Good roadmap; just be prepared to adjust the steps to your life situation (a dorm-dwelling college student won't have the same problems as a single mom with 2 children). ( )

Ramsey takes you through his steps to financial freedom with down to earth advice on things like how to handle debt collectors and how to raise the money to establish an emergency fund. It is very practical and I like the way it is organized better than Financial Peace. Get it, follow it with "gazelle like intensity", and change your life for the better! ( )

Inspiring. The best personal finance book I have ever read. Clear advice and stories from people who have made the mistakes with money you did or are doing right now. Dave spells out the issues that cause you to be normal, meaning broke. The car section alone is worth the money for the book price. Forget Suze Orman, and Robert Kiyosaki. Dave does a better job at getting you on the path to financial wisdom and wealth. ( )

This is a fantastic book. It gives you, literally, step by step instructions on how to change your financial situation and get out of debt. It was a simple read and the principles are easy to follow as long as you're willing to work at it.

My husband and I are working at it and we can definitely see the rewards to the hard work that we have put in. It's been very hard but with both of us being on board with this, it makes it a lot easier to stay dedicated to this system. It will change your life, and make you rich. We have more money then we've ever had and we never worry about not making it til the next check comes in anymore. At times we can even treat ourselves and spend "carelessly" and still not be worried about our finances for the month!! ( )

Well, I've read the book, but I certainly haven't gone through all the steps yet. Dave has some very sound advice that sounds a lot like my Grandfather. Live within your means, pay cash for everything, save for a rainy day, etc. but with a bit more of a plan to it all for those of us who have already gotten into some kind of debt. ;-) I just bought a new, energy efficient car in October. According to Dave I should sell it and get rid of that debt right away, but I can't help thinking that it was still a good purchase, even if I shouldn't have bought it new. I have a o% loan, service milestones are free and I can go twice as long without filling up as I did with my last car. Since the car is virtually the only debt I have I'm thinking I may just suck it up and try to pay off the loan as quickly as possible. We'll see if I can still "run with the intensity of a gazelle" while keeping the car to get around. ( )