Comments on: I Think I Figured Out Why People Love Dave Ramsey

By: Pat Flanakin

Pat Flanakin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:31:22 +0000

Trent,

Real quick, Pastor Osteen is not an evangelist in the fundamentalist sense of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He communicates a gospel which is termed the Prosperity Gospel. He does not have an accurate Gospel message which if people believe will yield eternal life; he is a false teacher.

I cannot say the same for Mr. Ramsey; however, I have emailed Mr. Ramsey at least once concerning his advocacy of tithing which is not applicable today and where he even told someone to continue tithing when they were unemployed! Tithing, by definition, was from the Jews increase; therefore, those with no increase did not tithe in the Old Testament. I never received a reply from Mr. Ramsey on this.

I do not agree with Mr. Ramsey’s approach to lawsuits in most cases and his attitude many times on the air is to tell a caller that you need to get mean and nasty about that lawsuit and get them for everything they have. I heard this within the past month a few times. I do not think such advice should be peddled from someone who ends their show with something to the effect that the only peace is peace with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ (which I agree with).

Just a few thoughts.

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:13:27 +0000

I love Dave Ramsey and his approach, he makes finance fun and easy. I always lived a frugal life, and am enjoying my frugal retirement, with lots of fun things like frugal trips to Europe all paid before I set foot at the airport. If people who are in debt listen to Dave Ramsey and do as he says, they will become prosperous. If you don’t like his folksy, evangelist approach, go elsewhere. For the average person drowning in debt, he’s a lifeline to dry land. Dave can show the way to financial freedom, BUT HE CAN’T MAKE YOU SWIM THERE!

By: boardmadd

boardmadd — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:43:10 +0000

There are a number of Dave Ramsey vids from Financial Peace University (including the aforementioned “plastectomy cut-up”), and I agree, just watching these clips really lets you see Ramsey’s appeal. He’s engaging, pasionate, and he can also be quite funny in an almost stand-up comedy kind of way.

By: April

April — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:52:42 +0000

Dave Ramsey has it all . . . simple, direct, inspirational, authentic and a marketing genius. Listening to his program helps me put life AND money in perspective.

By: mary

mary — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 09:41:20 +0000

I will always be in debt to Dave Ramsey for getting my husband on board … he really appeals to men. Other financial counselors lecture in a dry tone “don’t charge balances on your credit cards that you can’t pay off that month.”

Dave Ramsey gets out a big pair of scissors and starts a “plasectomy!” He starts with the credit card companies we hate but ends with Home Depot and Victoria’s Secret in a comic routine that has everyone laughing with tears streaming down their faces.

He gets your emotion into it which makes you work your plan with a passion. I can’t sleep after one of his classes – you should see his DVD from Financial Peace University entitled “Retirement and College Planning.”

Yeah – Dave! He’s my hero!

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:20:00 +0000

(1) Dave (and his advice) is not intimidating and speaks in terms most people understand.
(2) Dave is blunt; for example, he chastises people who pay for cable tv but can’t keep the lights on.
(3) Dave is compassionate and never derogatory.
(4) Dave makes people BELIEVE they can do it, one baby step at a time.

By: Jim Lippard

Jim Lippard — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 21:37:01 +0000

I've not been exposed to Dave Ramsey's writing, but I borrowed my parents' Dave Ramsey CDs and reviewed them here. I agree with you that he simplifies, and I disagree with some elements of his program, but I think that his program works extremely well for a wide general audience. His "baby steps" are called that for good reason.

By: Jim Kane

Jim Kane — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 13:06:32 +0000

Good review (and ihomas, my wife said the same thing: “I told you all that stuff already, but you never listened to me about it!” I would disagree with one statement though: that Dave makes acheiving the financial mountaintop seem easy. I think he even mentions in the book that it is “simple, but certainly not easy.” You did bring out his #1 draw up front, though: his passion for ministry.

Full disclosure: I’ve been a Dave fan for about ten years now, and I have volunteered at one of his events and met him in person (he’s a real human and he loves barbecue). We don’t always agree, but I support his cause wholeheartedly.

By: ihomas

ihomas — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 01:34:47 +0000

I think you hit it on the head. I explained it to my girlfriend that Dave had not really told me anything I did not know, He just made me want to put it into practice. I had started to payoff my credit cards after taking out a cash advance and came to see that the big hole I had dug. I stopped digging and had started a plan before I had even heard of Dave Ramsey. He just happened to cross my path when I was a bit dejected at my progress. I agree that his plan seems simple , but it is much easier to get into a financial mess.