As you know, my husband and I are working through the Financial Peace University curriculum in our journey towards debt-freedom. It has been quite a trip already! There have been celebrations and tears, feelings of moving forward and moments of discouragement.
But what's important is that we are moving forward.
I have heard lots of nasty criticism of Dave in the past, both online and around town. In Nashville, home to Financial Peace Plaza and all-things-Dave-Ramsey, it seems that for every "Dave follower" there is also a "Dave cynic".
The cynics think he is money-hungry and selfish. That he promotes hoarding cash and building wealth for yourself. That he's got to be out of his ever-loving mind if he thinks people can live completely and utterly with.out.debt.
I am not here to speak for Dave Ramsey as a person or as a financial advisor, even... but I do want to get this little ditty out on the internet in case someone else has questions or doubts or wants to know more behind the philosophy that so many skeptics have their hay-day with.
Dave goes to our church and delivered a rather impactful message recently on "How big is your WHY?"
Now, I know lots of folks disapprove of Dave's rants on-air or of his "wealth building" philosophy, or that he doesn't stress "giving" enough for their taste. First and foremost, I can assure you that when given the platform of a church alter instead of a radio studio, his message is clear. Do I sometimes wish that he could be as clear about the end-all message on the air? Absolutely. Do I know of the restrictions (if any) that are given to him while on national radio? I don't. Am I glad that he's getting the message out anyway and making people angry enough to fight their way out of bondage that we call debt? 100%.
Moving on... "How big is your WHY?"
When we first begin this debt-free journey, our "why" is selfish. Noble, maybe, but selfish. "We want to be free! We want out of this bondage that the world calls debt. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired!"
As we pay off debt and build up "wealth", per se, our "why" morphs into something bigger -
To "change our family tree".
Having student debt from nursing school, this is very real to me. The thought of sending my children to college and allowing them to start "real life" without (what the world calls justifiable) debt puts tears in my eyes. I will not pass a legacy of debt on to my children.
"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." Prov 13:22
This inheritance may not be a lofty trust fund, but it certainly will not be a chunk of debt, either.
As our wealth grows, so does our "why"... It seems that the cynics have a problem with what they call "hoarding wealth", but Dave recommends that you not save more than 3 to 6 months of your living expenses after you are debt free. I see this "emergency fund" as two-fold.
1) taking care of your household if you were to lose your job. You are to take care of your family inside the four walls of your home first and foremost.
2) to put you in a position where "emergencies" are now just "inconveniences". You will have tires blow out. AC units will fail. There will be a major leak in the bathroom... maybe all in the same week. But that emergency fund allows you to take care of those things without dipping into your monthly income and causing a true "emergency". Now replacing that AC unit is only an inconvenience...
Which leads me to my next (and final, promise!) point - what some may call "hoarding wealth", I see as allowing one to free up their "other" money to GIVE.
Instead of having to postpone your gift to that family's adoption fund for a month because the car broke down, you have a safety net that allows you to do BOTH. And that is freedom. Too "comfortable" for some people? Maybe. But it allows you to be consistent and excessive in your giving and I do not think that the Lord frowns upon that.
You know what? It's not about money. It's not about budgets and spreadsheets and envelopes.
It's about freedom. Stewardship. About tackling something hard and rocking it in a way that impacts not only your future, but generations after you.
I, personally, am thankful to Dave - that someone finally spoke out and said that it's NOT OK for believers to be enslaved by debt. That we are not good stewards when we are in bondage to lenders. That true freedom comes when you are able to give CONSISTENTLY and EXCESSIVELY because you have been financially responsible.
I would hate for people to miss that because of a few skeptics.
Lauren
