Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace together?

[february2003bride]

I've read Dave Ramsey's FP book myself and want DH to read it. But I'm wondering now if we shouldn't also do the DRFP online course. Have any couples taken the course together? Was it worth it? DH and I are on the same page when it come to finances and spending but we've really taken a closer look to our goals, especially emergency and retirement. I know of only one other couple that did and my friend said they quit about 1/4 of the way through because it caused them to fight incessitantly.

 

[Steel]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth


I'm just replying because nobody else has yet.

I don't know about the book or online course but if you have found the book helpful then I imagine you have already discussed the areas you are improving with your DH- you mentioned emergency funds and retirement. So, do you feel you have more to learn or that there are other ways your finances should be improved?

What kind of advice/scheduling etc does the book suggest?

 

[Miss Sparkly]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth

Not a fan at all. Dave pretty much says to cut out everything extra, take on extra jobs etc. until your debt is paid down or financial goal is met. Your life becomes all about money. When you have two people, how do you decide what is not needed? DH and I would fight all the time because things I felt that I needed to look professional and put together (makeup, haircut, styling products - keeping in mind that I worked to not buy the expensive stuff). We both tried to find an extra job like Dave says to do but nobody even called either of us for part time which caused more fighting. DH felt like he wasn't worth much because he couldn't find a second job and thought that I wasn't even trying. It felt like money bootcamp hell and I was so glad to leave! That's my 2cents

 

[luv2sparkle]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth

I was thinking about it, just as a tune up kind of thing on budgeting. Then I found out he advocated the envelope system and
he lost me. I once knew a couple who did that. The hubby gave the wife a certain amount of money and put it in cash in envelopes
every month. It really bugged me. It felt like he was lord and high master and she was the lowly peon to do his will. I'm sure that it is not
how they viewed it, but it really turned me off to the idea.

 

[annadragon]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth

Haven't taken the course either, but Dave Ramsey isn't for everyone.

There is an entire section of the web devoted to this subject and it isn't esoteric, complex financial stuff either. I would highly recommend perusing the blogs of J.D. Roth @ Get Rich Slowly, Trent @ The Simple Dollar, Ramit @ I Will Teach you to be Rich and the Wisebread forums.

All of these offer solutions to getting out of debt, securing finances, intros to investing like starting a Roth IRA, putting away money into an e-fund, saving for goals, etc. And they discuss different approaches couples have taken to do this together including taking second jobs (Ramit's site is great for this).

 

[february2003bride]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth

Thanks everyone! We're debt free except for our mortgage so it's more long term goals and cutting out the everyday purchases that we don't realize (Starbucks, Chickfila, etc). I actually do like the envelope system but I do it in a slightly different way than DR recommends and the way DH and I handle it doesn't feel demeaning in any way. DH really just wants to visit a financial consultant but I wanted us to try and tackle it ourselves.

Thanks so much!

 

[NewEnglandLady]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth

I'm a DR fan, but didn't do the online course with DH. I'm very similar to you--DH and I are on the same page financially, we've read DR's books and we're debt free except for the mortgage (darned mortgage!). I don't know, I feel like FBU is best for couples who are just starting to think about getting out of debt, e.g. What is an emergency fund, how should I go about paying off my debt, etc. Once you and your spouse are on the same page, the emergency fund is fully funded, the debt is gone and you're focused on getting that mortgage paid off, it seems like you're passed the point of needing FPU.

If you and your DH are still discussing how much to keep in your emergency fund, how much to put in retirement, I wonder if it's worth it to talk to an investment ELP? The ELP might be more beneficial since it would be one on one and you could create a solid roadmap for retiremen and paying off the mortgage based on your own situation. We've been talking about doing that for at least 6 months now (basically since we bought our house).

ETA: Sorry, I just read your last post again and saw that your DH wants to see a financial consultant and you'd rather not. I still think seeing an ELP would be beneficial since you know they would keep you in line with DR's MO and you could create a great plan for yourselves.

 

[PumpkinPie]

Re: Have any couples done Dave Ramsey Financial Peace togeth

There is an entire section of the web devoted to this subject and it isn't esoteric, complex financial stuff either. I would highly recommend perusing the blogs of J.D. Roth @ Get Rich Slowly, Trent @ The Simple Dollar, Ramit @ I Will Teach you to be Rich and the Wisebread forums.

I read these two blogs a lot - as well as Frugal Dad. They're great!