What I learned by going deep into the other side...

[Anonymous]

So I haven't been on here in a while. I don't really know how long; maybe a month or two, maybe just a few weeks. I really can't remember. Anyway, I decided I could take a break from the forums since I have accomplished my current credit goals (got the cards I wanted, good scores, and the NFCU mortgage). Somewhere along the way I decided to join the other team to see what it was like... and by that I mean the Dave Ramsey side. I thought, 'well my ultimate goal now is to pay down my debt, so I'll check out the dedicated debt-payer-offers.' I watched his youtube videos. I listened to his podcasts. I joined some FB groups.

What I learned from this is I CAN'T FREAKING TAKE IT!! They are so militant about everything. Now I think I thrive in an organized environment with clearly set goals in mind, but these people are on a whole other level. One innocent newcomer to a FB group (the one that says they have "compassion" for people who don't follow his steps exactly) asked if it was ok for her to use credit cards for the cash back if she always paid her balance in full. Geeze you would have thought the world imploded on itself. I bet she had 20 replies instantly telling her, "No!!! Credit cards are evil! Dave says [insert random Dave-ism here] and because he says this, you should never ever use credit cards!" I made a feeble attempt to explain that I use my cards and make a significant amount of cash back each year and never carry a balance, except for my current balance on Lowe's card for my new appliances that is on a 0% promo right now. This infuriated the mob. Even after explaining that I have the money sitting in the bank to pay it off, but I would rather let my money earn interest and wait until the end of the period to pay it in full. They didn't understand. It was bloody. There were tears.

If you thought election season was bad, you should join a Dave Ramsey Facebook group. Reps and Dems have nothing on those "gazelle intense" Dave Ramsey followers. The good news is, I escaped, with my cards and cash back in tact. There's no place like home...

[Anonymous]

if they offer you koolaid dont drink it!

[Anonymous]

I have been anti-Ramsey for a long time now.  I realize without anyone telling me there are certain folks in the right financial strains that he does help and there is no denying that.  BUT.....

First I consider the man an absolute hypocrit hiding behind the premise of the bible.  BUT, his **bleep** followers are as the OP said, freaking militant!  It's like if you get just one credit card your soul is ordering a one way Uber ride to hell!

Not sure how many folks here may have listened to Rush Limbaugh back in the day well before XM/Sirius radio where all talk radio was on AM.  Whether you did or not you certainly know he had a huge following of people and those folks never had one unique thought, they just could recite what they heard Rush say on the radio that day.  Well those folks wore the label of "ditto head" with immense pride because Rush was that level of greatness to them.  The **bleep** Ramseyites make those ditto heads seem rational today.

[Anonymous]

I read the Total Money Makeover and I get some of his ideas. Pay your bills, save, pay off debt, save more, fund retirement, save more, and on and on. My parents would probably benefit greatly from reading the book. Maybe it would get the to stop spending every last red cent in their checking account like they are getting a prize for doing it. And he can really motivate people to get rid of their debt. But man... I just can't get down with the cult-like atmostphere. Dave says this. Dave says that. I give glory to Dave because he saved my life. Dave is amazing.

They are right about one thing. Dave is amazing at telling you to save your money and simultaneously convincing you to spend money to buy his books and then more money to see him speak in person and attend his classes. Dave is an amazing con artist.

[Anonymous]

Lmao on point OP. My Dad has been lured to the Koolaid watering hole and refuses to leave. Ramsey has an excellent business model though, targeting conservative middle class.... My main question to him is what mutual funds are currently able to give the rate of returns he claims to get LOL. You do you, IMO if you buy something without a credit card you are throwing money away.

[Anonymous]

The cash for gold scam sites he takes a cut from are the height of hypocracy. 

I don't need a second rate con artists mantra to know don't spend what you can't pay back.

The things that ramsey says that have merit I can absorb from his, uh, scriptures, but for the most part I think he is about selling his books.

Some of the best advice that I have heard in life is not to put too much faith in gurus especially if they are self appointed.

[Arago]

It is a matter of principle.  Credit card "rewards" drive up demand for credit, but at the expense of people who have poorer credit than those with excellent credit.  The credit card company certainly doesn't give you "free" money.   They just charge their other customers more.  You may ask yourself, "why should I care?" Well, you just might experience a financial crisis someday and be on the "other side" where you are paying high interest and another person is getting "rewards" off of your interest payments. What goes around comes around.  Just because you are offered something, doesn't mean it's okay ethically to take it.  

[Anonymous]

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@Arago wrote:

It is a matter of principle.  Credit card "rewards" drive up demand for credit, but at the expense of people who have poorer credit than those with excellent credit.  The credit card company certainly doesn't give you "free" money.   They just charge their other customers more.  You may ask yourself, "why should I care?" Well, you just might experience a financial crisis someday and be on the "other side" where you are paying high interest and another person is getting "rewards" off of your interest payments. What goes around comes around.  Just because you are offered something, doesn't mean it's okay ethically to take it.  

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Hi. Welcome to America my name is Capitalism. 

[Kenny]

Everyone please remember the:  "5 things we don't talk about". 

Thank you...

[Anonymous]

Good read! Thanks for sharing your experience Annipoo!