Listening to Dave Ramsey on Youtube '10 Unbelieveable Calls' and I'm not liking it. I don't have any debt but its weirdly hitting nerves with me. I have an old car which cost me I think €1,500-2,000 can't quite remember as it was 5 or 6 years ago I bought it second hand. Its 2001 and tipping away. I have have €1,000 saved ,all things he advocates .And yet the way the way he's speaking to strangers that I have no connection to is getting under my skin. It's strange as I have read some of his advice and heard others talking about it yet didn't have this feeling. I understand not sugar coating things but he does seem to make these people feel worse first. This is even when he says he has done stupid things himself . It doesn't feel like empathy. This is probably because of my personality type,INFP according to Myers Briggs. This is dismissed by many,not sure I believe it wholesale but it's kind of usefull to give you ideas about how you operate. I think I take things too personally and am far too sensitive.I feel uncomfortable when he says they are stupid repeatidly and oh wow how bad he would feel if he was in their position. People are caught in a cycle of taking loans to pay for things including education( this is US residents) . In the US family don't seem to be able to help their kids financially as much unless they are Ritchie Rich. There seems to be this notion of 'Living the American Dream' .This 'Dream' was aquired by some through the work or land of others, a historical occurence in many countries . So the only way many can see their way to this or the appearance of it is though loans which they can't always pay ot back.This is what they have seen in their own families . Its hard to see the issues with that then. Sure if everyone else is doing it and has debt sure whats's the problem? We all find it hard to be objective.
I did feel less icky towards the end of the calls as Dave did give his course for free and did genuinely help them. It reminded me of places where I've worked in the past.The person who could come across as a bit gruff was the most helpful and the person who seemed so friendly,spoke so nicely to you often left you high and dry.
He does advocate asking for outside help even from your pastor if you are religious. Personally , I don't think your pastor could advise you financially but maybe they could help you steady yourself emotionally. He does send people to paid fro marriage counselling which is important as generally financial issues are usually a sypmtom of a wider problems.I disliked a little what he said about'Gold diggers' when a man who is financially stable and was wondering how to avoid this. Like do these people even exhist ? Or if they do is it just because there is a niche for them with rich people (not necessarily male) who want want to fund someone to be around them?
There's a group in the UK called Christians Against Poverty who help anyone with financial /practical advice .In Ireland we have St Vincent De Paul who seem to do something similar .Neither requires you to be a Christian. Generally people don't take advantage but they can be a less than clever.There was a teenager who got a cheque to help him with his education which he posted online beside a photo of a pint saying drinks where on him. Suffice to say the cheque was cancelled and he got a talking to. They will still help him but they will mange it for him.I think they gave him the benefit of being young and oblivious.
I still don't love Dave Ramsey or all his quotes .But maybe if I can be a little more thick skinned I can be like this in the New Year. Or more likley my daughter. I think she is actually my money Guru.
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