He gave me a focus and a new way of thinking about things.

Pre dave:

I will always have a car payment.
Some debt is ok.
I have these payments, so I can't save enough to cover anything that breaks down, so I must charge the car repair, new tires, etc.
If I can afford the payments, a little loan or debt isn't a big deal.
0% financing is a bargain (it's still debt!!!)

The breakthrough for me, was having a 1000 EF, this one is HUGE! Before, we would have to charge the murphy moments.

Also, we never have relied on any money from part time jobs I have had, and we live on dh's income. Before, when I would get paid, I paid a little to this debt, that debt, saved a little... unfocused and didn't know the snowball concept. Which works!!!
Just a few months before I really listened and followed Dave, we took out another $6000 personal loan for house repairs. UGH, but my thinking was I can afford 128/mo, no biggie. I never truly realized how long 60 months is.

Now, what I run into is -- the thought of saving up for something big (really need some household things, carpet, furniture,etc) is overwhelming. But I will do it and refuse to go into debt---- WHY was it ok for us to charge or get loans for things and pay over years and years and years without a thought, but saving the same amount seems like such a task! I guess because you get the item NOW instead of waiting. Typical broke people thinking.

I hear you!

My husband and I have changed SO MUCH since we started following Dave's plan!

I agree, it is sometimes hard to think for the long term, to save up for purchases that we would have so easily gone into debt for Pre-Dave. But it really makes you think about what you are spending that hard-earned money on!

We used to be wasteful, like so many of our peers. DH and I were recently visiting with friends who have a 3 year old. Our friend had made hot dogs for everyone, and had cut up one for her son. When he didn't eat it she just put it down the garbage disposal. DH and I both remarked on the way home how we couldn't believe that she just threw it away. (Ok, so it was only a hot dog, but the kid could have eaten it later!) It all adds up!

Funny how your perspective on so many things changes!

Pre-Dave:

-Never had savings. If Murphy hit I would run to the bank. We really didn't believe in cc's then, is the only good.
-Retirement? Bah. We had a tiny amount deducted from dh's income, it's no where near enough to retire with dignity.
-College for dd? Well, she'd get student loans like everyone else.
-New car=$500 a month. Hey, I can afford that payment. Uh.. the car was worth $16,000 and I kept trading up to having to finance $23,000. But, as long as I could afford the payments I did it anyways cause 'I'd always have a car payment'.
-If I wanted something done to the house I went to the bank.
Bought big toys we couldn't afford and made payments on them.
-Never thinking that life happens, or someone losses a job, or medical emergencies happen. Those things happened to 'other people', not us.

Pro-Dave:

-The $1000 baby emergency fund was really a hard concept for us. Made a huge impact! You mean we can actually have SAVINGS for when life happens??
-Wanting to get out of debt. Just looking at how we paid over $8,000 last year in interest to all our debts nearly makes me sick. That could have went to fully fund Roth IRA's for dh and I. No more! We will not buy it unless we pay cash for it. I'm tired of paying for the banks new annex.
-The peace that will come knowing that if something were to happen you have 3-6 months of living expenses already saved up.
-Having your eyes open to all the ways advertising tries to get your money, it's sickening. Informed consumer, I like that.
-To actually be living in a house that we own outright. I can't imagine it and can't wait for it.
-The ability to be generous and have fun with it. I think that's the best thing of all.


I know there are a ton of more ways we are different thanks to Dave's way. I want to tell evereyone I see about it. I want everyone I know to have that peace following this plan brings.

We don't follow Dave's plan ourselves, but I do agree with a lot of his methods and have picked up lots of tips from listening to the archives of his radio show.

One thing that really struck with me yesterday was this. I feel comfortable having quite a large EF, but what would help me keep the intensity is using some of that money to pay down debt. Having a smaller EF would make me uncomfortable and so I'd want to work extra hard to get to a point where we could build it up again.

DH does not like Dave AT ALL, but he is onside with the idea of paying cash for our next car (in 18 months), we know our debt free date and he wants to have paid off the mortgage by the time he's 35. We're not exactly what you would call "gazelle intense" but it's a plan that's working for us.

WOW!! What inspirational posts!! We just recently found Dave and just completed baby step one! :) Off to start baby step two now.

Just completed step one, and am already starting step 2. My hubby is now on board. I told him, don't you feel like we are never ahead even though we work so hard? Don't you want to have a big to retire early, won't it feel good to have cash and pay cash for items, and own our home and not owe anyone a thing.......his response give me the book and let's begin. This site has helped me in so...many ways.

What a huge step you've made. Dave Ramsey's plan has made a big inpact of my financial thinking, plan and future also. It can be done, I also beleive changing our attitude like you have mentioned in your post is profound to our future.

Good luck:smball: