The total money makeover
by Dave Ramsey · first published 2003
76% recommend24% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Step-by-step plan for getting out of debt and building good money habits, with a focus on basics and discipline over theory. Suits people in debt or living paycheck to paycheck who want simple, specific steps.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Dave condenses his 17 years of financial teaching and counseling into 7 organized, easy-to-follow steps that will lead you out of debt and into a Total Money Makeover. Plus, you'll read over 50 real-life stories from people just like you who have followed these principles and are now winning with their money. It is a plan designed for everyone, regardless of income or age. With The Total Money Makeover, you'll be able to: Design a sure-fire plan for paying off ALL debt; Recognize the 10 most dangerous money myths; Secure a big, fat nest egg for emergencies and retirement; Positively change you
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2018–2022Representative men
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 31 recommend · 3 mention1 recommend · 31 recommend
2009–2026I will teach you to be rich
Ramit Sethi
Recommended by 38 · mentioned by 4938 recommend · 49 mention38 recommend · 4938 recommend
2008–2024The Bogleheads' guide to investing
Taylor Larimore
Recommended by 27 · mentioned by 3027 recommend · 30 mention27 recommend · 3027 recommend
2007–2026Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Robert T. Kiyosaki, Sharon L. Lechter
Recommended by 96 · mentioned by 27496 recommend · 274 mention96 recommend · 27496 recommend
Hermann Hesse
Siddhartha
Recommended by 42 · mentioned by 5442 recommend · 54 mention42 recommend · 5442 recommend
2007–2025The Dip
Seth Godin
Recommended by 40 · mentioned by 5940 recommend · 59 mention40 recommend · 5940 recommend
2012–2026The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg
Recommended by 127 · mentioned by 191127 recommend · 191 mention127 recommend · 191127 recommend
…unexpected $400 bill would ravage them. If you want to live a un-average life, you need to have un-average priorities and sacrifice. Few on HN should be living paycheck to paycheck. Check out Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover for a starting model. And yes, you'll have to sacrifice now to benefit later.
on “As the Pandemic Recedes, Millions of Workers Are Saying 'I Quit'” ↗…settle for as low as $5k. You might even call them up now, explain the situation, and start trying to negotiate settlements. I highly recommend listening to The Dave Ramsey show and reading his book The Total Money Makeover. He walks you through how to get out of a mess like this. feel free to contact me if you'd like to talk in more depth. I have been through bankruptcy and learned a lot about this stuff. d@dylanized.com
on “Ask HN: 20k In Debt from company collapse, what are my options” ↗…appropriately for the amount and variability of your income. I just recently left the consulting game, but did so for nearly a decade. If you're truly interested in making a change I recommend reading The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.
on “Living on $100k a Year” ↗I'm going to say Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. Hear me out -- when you're debt-free in a modest paid-off house, you have so much extra "brain space" that used to be devoted to managing bills, worrying about layoffs or the next job, etc. Whereas…
on “Ask HN: What are the best books for professional effectiveness?” ↗Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover is my most life-changing book as well. My life is much more peaceful now. Often referenced in TTMM, is The Millionaire Next Door, which is also excellent. The common conception of millionaires completely…
on “Ask HN: What is the best book you have read with the greatest impact on you?” ↗…do not buy things on credit cards unless you can pay off the balance monthly, check out Rich Dad Poor Dad, just take in the overall message don't follow all his advice to the letter and Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover to build good money management habits now while you're young.) Stage 2: I would push you to plan on (or at least think about) having your own business (eventually). Freelancing or working for a company…
on “I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.” ↗…cash, would be a emergency. You can pay off $4000 in debt (and that doubling is probably hyperbole, but whatever), If you can handle small emergencies that will come up. Read Chapter 6 of Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" for a more thorough analysis.
on “Many don't have $2,000 for a rainy day” ↗…specific steps you can take, Suze is more general advice. I'd recommend reading them both and combining their programs into something that works for you. Dave Ramsey's main book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Total-Money-Makeover-Financial/dp/... Or the audiobook: http://www.audible.com/pd/Business/The-Total-Money-Makeover-... Suze Orman's main book: http://www.amazon.com/Money-Class-Create-Future-Deserve/dp/0... Or the audiobook:…
on “Ask HN: Good books on managing finances?” ↗For basics and a kick in the ass - Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. (Or listen to the Radio show for a bit) Also, the Mister Money Mustache blog for a anti-consumerist viewpoint. Beyond the basics, I haven't read much, but enjoy the Radical Personal Finance podcast.…
on “Stanford CS007: Personal Finance For Engineers” ↗It's not particularly intellectual, but The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey has definitely changed my life for the better. I wish I had read it years ago.
on “Ask HN: What was the one book that you read and it actually changed your life?” ↗…Mukherjee * The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho * Getting Things Done - David Allen * The Worthing Saga - Orson Scott Card * The 4-Hour Work Week - Timothy Ferriss * The 5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman * The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗For boring but sound financial advice, I recommend Dave Ramsey. His book “the total money makeover” changed my financial life in my mid 20’s. I sleep much better being completely debt-free and knowing that I’m on-track to retire well even if I never hit it big or get another raise in my life.
on “Ask HN: How to get boring once again?” ↗I didn’t read the article. If you want to become wealthy without learning a ton about finances then read the total money makeover by Dave Ramsey or spend a few months listening to his podcast (go back a couple years before some of the new personalities who will be replacing him have started to come on). Then, if you get curious…
on “Money, Money, Money (and Investing) (2015)” ↗…retirement than 401k vs. IRA and Traditional vs Roth. I recommend you invest some time and money in some good books / audio books. They will pay themselves back 1000X, literally. 1. Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover 2. The Millionaire Nextdoor (and the Millionaire Mind sometime later) 3. The Little Book of Common Sense Investing 4. http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ 5. http://earlyretirementextreme.com/ 6. Predictably…
on “Since Devs change jobs every few years now: 401k or Roth?” ↗I've listened to Dave Ramsey and I've read his book, The Total Money Makeover. He believes basically that you don't need to worship a credit score, or have credit cards, and the only loan you take is a mortgage from the bank with 20% down on the house. You always keep an emergency…
on “Whats the right way to handle your finances?” ↗