5 Reasons We Try to Follow Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps

If you have read our blog for very long, you know that we are big fans of Dave Ramsey. We own two of his books (Financial Peace Revisited and The Total Money Makeover), have been to a live event, led a Financial Peace University class at Lebanon Road, and I also listen to the podcast each day. Beyond just “knowing” the stuff, we also try to follow his plan. [If you are unfamiliar with Ramsey’s “Baby Steps” plan, here is a great overview.]

There are many ways to handle money, but we like Ramsey’s plan. Here are 5 reasons why.

1. The approach is common sense based, and has a Biblical background. Ramsey is unashamedly a believer in Christ. He often provides Scripture as the reason for an answer he gives to a caller on his radio program. Also, Ramsey simply has a gift for being able to take somewhat complex situations or answers, and bringing them down to a common sense answer.

2. The “Baby Steps” are just that: steps. Leah and I are both fans of things that have a step-by-step approach. Simplicity and focus are two things we strive for in our lives. We like to be able to focus on one thing at a time. During the most difficult part of Ramsey’s plan, it is simply one thing at a time. One of Ramsey’s favorite phrases is to have “gazelle intensity,” because it is focus that is the key to the entire process.

3. Having that focus forces husbands and wives to work together. When a husband and wife are budgeting each month and are focused on one goal (saving for an emergency fund, paying off debt, or whatever), it forces them to work together. Now that Leah and I are out of debt, we have a list of a few goals we are working toward, but our focus are on those goals and we work together on them.

4. It takes (and teaches) discipline. While there is the ability to “blow” money in the budget, the more you blow, the slower your progress. A great definition of maturity is “delaying pleasure.” Ramsey’s plan teaches you to delay pleasure. One of his catchphrases is “If you’ll live like no one else, later you get to live like no one else.” It is simply learning to say “no” to yourself, which takes great discipline. However, in the end, it pays off! I’m a bigger fan of when Ramsey says, “We don’t sell microwaves; we sell crock pots.”

5. It works…if you do! Will you “fall off” the plan at times? Yes. Will you have months that are still very tight? Absolutely. Will every pay period pay off huge amounts of debt? Of course not. But, if you will remain focused, the Baby Steps work. Leah and I are on step 3 (building our emergency fund) and aren’t too far from finishing that step. Why? It is a high priority with us. We want to get that step finished, so that our kids’ college and our “retirement” (like preachers ever retire!!!) can start building, and so we can move on to some other goals we have in mind.

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We have said “no” to a lot of things over the past couple of years. We don’t eat out much. We don’t do a lot of activities that cost money. The car that I drive as “my car” is always an older car that isn’t very good looking and is usually close to dying at any point in time. But it is worth it! Here is our story.

Have we been perfect? Nope. But we want people to see that this works. If you struggle with money, get on Ramsey’s plan. If you need encouragement, please contact us. We aren’t professional money counselors, but we love to help folks who are willing to work.

To end this with a Christian perspective: can you imagine how much you could give to the Lord’s service if you had no debt? What would your congregation look like if every member were debt free? What a picture! Why not get started today!!!