Comments on: Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University: Week 2

By: HelpMeFriend

HelpMeFriend — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:09:10 +0000

In my group dynamics class we studied stereotypes. They asked us if we had experiences with being in extreme poverty, eating pretzels and mustard for dinner and being upset when the honey mustard was out because all that is left is hot . They asked us if we had experiences with being extremely wealthy, only grandchild for thirteen years with families owning two profitable businesses.
They asked if we had private school, yes Pre-k-7th. Public, three different schools in 6th alone.
They asked if we had ever lived in a small, podunk town. Bicknell, IN. Major metropolis? Washington DC. Did we have very successful people to look up to? owning your own business is tops on my list. Being your own boss? No question. Did you have experiences with those not-so-good role models? parents who drink and/or do drugs are not the best to set it up for you. You must learn to do what you know is best.
You can’t begin to cover the way money affects a person’s relationship with another. You may have so many factors determining your attitude that there isn’t room for compromise to another person and their wants and needs. Dave was smart to be vague but still shed light on the pupal’s way of approaching the “couple” situation and money.

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:35:18 +0000

Pride is a very big reason for money problems. My ex and his free spirit money spending ways helped us get into $42K worth of credit card debt–that didn’t include the mortgage for the house we had to have and the car we had to have. When I told him there was no more money and he couldn’t charge anything, his response was that I was ‘emasculating’ him! At that point our minimum credit card payments were over $1100 a month! He didn’t even bring in that much money a month! But his attitude and spending sent us into a deep hole. I got out of the hole by divorcing him, selling the house to pay off the credit cards, and selling the car for one that was affordable. For the next couple of years he just kept on piling up debt. I have no idea what happened to him at this point but I’m sure he is still spending somehow and blaming others when there is no money to even pay the minimum on the bills.

So happy that my current (and last) hubby is on the same wave length as me when it comes to money. We have had financial problems caused mostly by medical problems but it is much easier dealing with it than having a husband having temper tantrums in a grocery store because I won’t buy him something we can’t afford!

By: David

David — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:39:33 +0000

I like your insight about this class. I have been taking it online and have listened to Ramsey off and on for a couple years. The only thing I would note is that Dave has said that the “Free Spirit” is not necessarily the spender and the “Nerd” could be the spender. This juxtaposition, nerd-spender, free spirit-saver, is how he describes his own marriage.

By: rob62521

rob62521 — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:10:14 +0000

I am enjoying your comments about your class. Thanks for sharing!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:13:44 +0000

In relations to DR and his teaching of kids. I have heard him say that kids have certain things they do “because they are part of the family” as well as certain weekly chores they do where they can earn their commission. Of course, you can also offer “extra” commissions if you have an extra tasks that need to be done or the kids are trying to make extra money.

The principles are to teach kids that you must work for your money, but it does require teaching, not just paying the kids for everything they do.

He is combatting the “allowance” mentality that you get something just for existing.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:36:57 +0000

About kids and money (of which I have no kids, but do observe my sisters and their kids) – I like what Amy Dacyczyn wrote about in her Tightwad Gazette. Everyone has different, valid approaches but she said she didn’t like the approach of allowances in exchange for chores. She preferred to teach her kids that everyone in the family has reponsibilities to make sure the home is clean and enjoyable to live in.

I have to admit, after watching my sisters and their kids, I like Amy’s philosophy. My niece and nephews have learned the lesson of money for chores so well that they throw a fit and won’t do hardly anything if they aren’t paid to do it. Everything from washing dishes to mowing the lawn – nothing is considered a chore for the family good, everything is a money-making enterprise.

I have no problem with finding ways for the kids to make some money of their own, to learn money management skills and tying it to some effort on their behalf – especially when they’re too young to have a job. Where I think my family went wrong is that the kids didn’t really have any set chores to begin with, so there was no basis for making a distinction between responsibilities and getting paid to do something outside their regular scope of duties.

By: pharmboy

pharmboy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:48:46 +0000

Admittedly, I’m an avid listener of Dave’s radio show and enjoy the inspiration and entertainment that it regularly provides my wife and me. However I do agree with you regarding his over-the-top sales pitches. We went to his live event last year and were disappointed in all the attempts to sell books/classes/dvds/etc. It made his company seem cheap to me.

By: disciplinenow

disciplinenow — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:07:08 +0000

I must say I do agree with the giving part. However I feel that it should go to your church and it should be 10% off the top. Not because this is what I was taught but because It is what I have learn. Before I did this my care would break down or I would get a ticket or something would happen every time I had extra money. Now that I do pay my 10% I have never had a problem with money. I just cant understand how people can get so far in debt. I guess because of my self control and great budging skills is why I don

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:31:36 +0000

As far as finances are concerned, I am the nerd and my sweetheart is the free spirit. Which is interesting because with life in general we would both be categorized the other way around.

I agree with your take on Dave Ramsey so far. Can anyone suggest a class like this that I could attend with my sweetheart with fewer religious and marketing messages?

By: Dustin

Dustin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:39:46 +0000

I think this is my favorite FPU lesson. I think there is a lot of humor it it. It was the first CD I convinced my wife to listen to me with and finally got her on board!