I think he's great at motivating people who are emotional money people, like me. Dave Ramsey's podcasts were great to listen to and who doesn't love the debt-free screams - nice theatre.
Then, somewhere along the line, I graduated. The podcasts became annoying and repetitive, I started questioning the validity of what I was doing - is this really the best approach for me?
So, I'd say he succeeded - I paid off the debt snowball.
Even though I eventually graduated from that to the avalanche concept once I found a different money blog and realized it would save me money and time. But I must say that for me, the avalanche concept was terribly hard to accept, although, in the end, I began seeing that the math does not lie.
It seemed so counter-intuitive to not pay off a small debt and enjoy the feeling of victory.
Emotional money people like me need their happy dance:)
I even tried the envelope system - drove me totally insane. I don't understand how anyone can work with envelopes. It is so restrictive, minutely so.
Why can't I freely rob Peter to pay Paul, as long as in the end the budget balances?:)
If I have X, then that is all I have to spend, end of story. How I spend that after I paid my bills and saved a little can't possibly be pre-determined - life just doesn't work that way.
It felt like a silly Kindergarten exercise.
Why would I cut up my credit card? Put it in the freezer - well, maybe:) That alone drove me to look elsewhere for advice. How else does one reserve a hotel room or buy an airline ticket or operate in the world at large?
Do people really charge McDonald's on their credit card?
Then I realized that the EF of a $1000 was a bit too low for me ... by then I graduated away from Dave for good, He was helpful to me until I began to think for myself again.
My debt was not huge and I was nowhere near the level of desperation that I am sure some people had when they found him. I think, he is a good start and then you move on.
The Christianity spin - well, I grew up Catholic, so I have a high tolerance:) for guilt and being yelled at like he does. I even found myself in agreement once in a while.
I'm not convinced that his faith is genuine, but that is not for me to say or even dwell upon. Offering the seminars at churches across America is a simply brilliant business idea. There is no doubt in my mind that he has helped thousands, perhaps millions.
The full program itself is not perfect, but people - at some point we need to take back responsibility for our own finances and educate ourselves. Take away what works for you and get on with your life.
I don't care if he lives in a mansion or what car he drives, or that his wife likes expensive shoes and purses. They've been rich and they've been poor and had to start over again after a bankruptcy. Losing everything no matter how is a tough situation to overcome and come out on top again.
Dave has found his calling. I'm glad to know he tithes, and who knows maybe G will give him extra credit for motivating so many others to tithe as well.
The world will be better off for it:)
I do think we should all share our good fortune, but I object to tithing when one is not financially sound yet.