Dave Ramsey: Nyah Nyah, I Can Do Better Than You

Ok, just so you know, I am not going to try to create a better financial plan than Dave Ramsey. The title is referring to the OTHER people who seem to think that they are better at this game than Dave is. Obviously, this post is under the "Rants" page because I'm ranting against these people. People like Frank Curmudgeon, or this site, seem to be filled with other "experts" who seem to know the tricks and tools of the trade that Dave doesn't. They then criticize Dave for various things, be it not being "religiously devoted" enough, being "info-mercial salesman", or flat out being bad at math (yeah, let's see you calculate percentages and principles on the fly on a radio show *roll eyes*). These people spout opinions like Niagara Falls and seem to be just as good of experts as Dave is. Here's my reasoning for why Dave is one of the best thus far that I've found:

• The number of people that have submitted results from his program:
• I mean, come on! There's THOUSANDS of people that have said "Oh My Grash, Gals! I have succeeded using Dave's program! Yay!" I mean, seriously, how many other programs can boast that many people? And the practicality of attending his classes. I haven't heard of nearly any other program being hosted across the nation like Dave. 
• The change in mentality, not just operation:
• Dave doesn't offer a "gold-investment" plan or a get-rich-quick scheme (well, in all fairness, neither do any of the other gurus out there), however, the one thing Dave does deal with is the idea of "changing your family tree" (to quote one of his popular phrases.) He deals with the mannerisms that we tend to fall into with debt, holding credit cards for emergencies, having a NVW (need vs want) crisis, and saving for something versus putting it on payments. This kind of mentality change is what's necessary if we want to change our entire attitude about money. Often times, these people that are criticizing Dave criticize him on petty things. Yes, petty things.
• For instance, one guy comments: CDs are actually good investments because they are FDIC insured and are great investments for orphans or widows. Yeah...if you like your money doing NOTHING with no option to GET IT. Dave Ramsey wasn't commenting on how dangerous those investments are, he was commenting on how SAFE they are: safe to the point of not doing anything. They barely beat inflation, so that two hundred dollars you invest DID make money. But they can only buy 200 dollars POST-inflation.
• It's arguments like that which constitute the majority of arguments against Dave: nit-picking little arguments about math or conceptual arguments, without really assessing what Dave is really trying to accomplish: MAKING SUSTAINABLE MONEY. Doing that is his primary goal.
• As far as his not being religious enough, I don't buy it for a second. He has verses to back up every one of his principles, he talks about tithing every time you get paid (PRE-tax, mind you. How many of the lame-brains do THAT?) and that once you are set, EVERYTHING you make goes towards the church. 

The primary reason I love Dave, though, is the simple advice he uses: If you want to be where the best are, do what the best do (Oh, what a novel concept!) Last time I checked, Frank Curmudgeon wasn't a millionaire who bought a 2-million dollar home cash which is used for orphanages and week-camps. Last time I checked, Frank Curmudgeon's blog didn't have 6 million followers and a syndicated radio show. If Dave's stuff didn't work, people wouldn't continue to follow him. The reason these people complain is because either, 1. There's a "faster" "better" or "smarter" way to win, 2. Dave is a "novice" in financial planning (again, millionaire. Do you have millions?) 3. They can't be bothered to change their lifestyle radically. (Note: Radical means cutting up credit cards and never using them again, not "Oh, I'm only going to save this for emergencies. No, I mean it this time!")

The reason I bring this up is because I haven't had a chance to fully follow Dave's advice...yet. But I'm determined to do so. Once I've tried everything he suggests and find it DOESN'T work, then I'll start criticizing. But until y'all can tell me you tried everything to Baby Step 7 and failed miserably (No, making only 500,000 by retirement when Dave "promised" a million is NOT failing miserably) then you can complain.

Living like Grandma suggested: saving for everything, defining a need vs a want, and planning long term is hard. I just think people find it easier to criticize those who look like experts, rather than doing some introspection and seeing that they themselves are the morons who need to change their lifestyle, rather than bringing down the people who are doing good and are succeeding!

So, with all encouragement to try before dissing something that "doesn't work,"
Luke