August 28, 2012

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  Day Eleven:  Faith n’ Finances

  
  I have to admit something to you:  I hate, despise, and abhor Dave Ramsey.  I do.  I can’t stand the man.  If you mention him to me, my smile will become fixed, my body will still, and I will freeze up on you.  You become one of THEM, in my book.  The gullible and logic-deficient.  And that may rankle you.  Maybe you’re a die-hard Ramsey groupie.  I’m sorry… but here’s your sign.

  I look at Dave Ramsey as the modern equivalent of a snake oil salesman.  A Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.  The difference is that back in the 80s, Churchianity was WAY more discerning and cautious.  When scam artists came around back then, the majority could recognize it.  The church was still teaching vigilance back then, and it was a GOOD thing.  In fact, likely you remember the Bakkers and others with condescension and a snort of derision.  Because YOU weren’t going to fall for their sales pitch and dial in to give money to that telemarketing scam.  Problem is, majority within the church (and I use that term SOOOO loosely) anymore is completely lacking in vigilance.  It’s completely bereft of any discernment and it has thrown caution to the proverbial wind.  They listen to, watch, and buy into just about anything.  Including the modern day snake oil peddler, Dave Ramsey.

  Think about it:  Dave Ramsey says to save your money.  He said if you save like there’s no tomorrow, you’ll be able to live like there’s no tomorrow, later.  He promotes keeping money separate for different uses, etc… HELLO, THIS IS ALL COMMON SENSE!!  And y’know what?  You PAY your schiester Dave Ramsey craploads of money for his books, DVDs, seminars, and worksheets… ((but it’s WORTH the INVESTMENT for logic you already have, right?  Whatever)).  And the man is making millions – hand over fist! – selling you financial common sense, and you revere him as a god!  He’s SOOOO wonderful!   No, he’s a thief, taking money in exchange for what people already have and are too stupid to utilize.  He’s cheating every person who follows him, and more, he’s doing ‘fer the glory o’Gawd’.  There’s a special level of hell for him.  ((Although my Brian says Dave Ramsey is brilliant – who else can make millions scamming the idiot pew-warmers?  It’s the perfect market.))

  Dave Ramsey isn’t the first to have discovered this, either.  Anyone remember Larry Burkett?   Back in the early 90s, Larry Burkett was THE sha-bang in Churchianity.  He’s the original Dave Ramsey, promoting sound and Biblical financial advice for the masses… I remember my cousin’s wife gushing about how he was going to turn their lives around with his teachings, how she got one of his books and was AMAZED at what he had to say.   All while I was getting BIG flashing red lights and semaphore warning flags in regards to someone who preys off the moronic.  Larry Burkett wasn’t going to do a thing for her – and I was right.  They lost their house (at least once that I know of, from what I’ve read on her blog, they ran dry a second time and had to move again to wherever they are now, too).  And that was WITH churches ‘supporting’ them and ‘taking up goodwill offerings’ for them to help them make ends meet, time and again.  I’ll bet you ten to one she’s got Ramsey-itis, now, too… the same as she went after Burkett.  Didn’t work then, won’t work now.

  My British neighbor came over and gushed all over my living room about Dave Ramsey (while I sat glazed and slightly amazed – because she’s not even a Christian!) – she told me all about how her husband was investing in taking her to a Dave Ramsey seminar, because she spends too much, and how it will help them SO much… and in the next breath, she tells me she’s flying to Britain for a four-month vacation in Ireland and the North of England, while she puts her kids in daycare just so she can have ‘me-time’ without them.  It boggles the mind, I’m tellin’ ya… but then, that’s why Dave Ramsey is so popular… just like Larry Burkett before him.

  Unfortunately, Larry Burkett got an early pass to Hell, and cacked off – leaving the field open to Dave Ramsey just as the ‘non-denominational’ church was morphing into the newer, better, dumber ‘open’ church.  Burkett was before overhead PowerPoint presentations and support group heavy congregations watching clips from ‘Desperate Housewives’ on Sunday mornings.  Before ‘The Message’ and Bible studies were switched out for Beth Moore studies.  Before ATMs and cafes were in the church vestibules.  Burkett paved the way for Ramsey, who hit it at the perfect time, and has himself one heckuva cash cow.  (Not mentioning Beth Moore’s cash cow – hey, chrischuns!  You can stop reading your Bible now, because Beth Moore read it for you, and you can read her books about what SHE learned, instead of learning, yourself!  Do *NOT* get me started…)

  But I have to tell you something:  Burkett didn’t die without slightly redeeming himself.  His corporation was taken over by a group called Crown Financial, and all of his materials – that he charged the idiot masses for – are now free of charge.  So… while everyone is rushing out to spend, spend, spend to see Dave Ramsey- Live! – these same worksheets, advice documents, and more are available in .pdf form over at Crown’s website at no charge.  And yes, the last updated information was 2003, but it’s all based on percentages, so it’s easily still utilized today.

  The collection of .pdfs is found here (LINK), but my favorites are:

  • Percentage guide for family of six
    (they have it for other family sizes, as well)
  • Monthly Income and Expense Sheet

  My friend Kathi tipped me off to this years and years ago, and I have used these worksheets with great success, if only as a reference tool.  Honestly, they don’t do a whole lot for me, on a practical level.  Instead, I added in my own budget worksheet to work off on a regular basis… and believe it or not, there’s a REALLY old copy of it here on Xanga (from 2004).  Wanna see?

  
  
  Of course, that was when we were a family of four, lived in a totally different house/town and made a totally different income.  But I have an identical one (okay, it’s now green), even today, with our current expenses on it, and all our up-to-date information.  And amazingly, I don’t spend a DIME on any snake oil salesman’s stuff, don’t have to endorse any christian phenomenon, and can share with you.  I made this little credit-card sized chart all by myself using the common sense the good Lord gave me… and you can, too!

  Elul is a time to get your finances in order, so I always like to put something about finance up in my Elul countdown.  On top of that, one of the freebie sites I visit had financial budget sheets (that were benign and not useful) on it, yesterday.  Ha’Shem used that to prick me into sharing the Crown worksheets with them (in the comments), and to post this here for you.  I want to be sure people have access to what they need withOUT having to be taken by some peddler.  And to wake up to the scam of slimy spiritual money gurus who aren’t looking out for you. 

  For the record, if it’s christian and NOT free, they’re a schiester.  Anything that is gift-given from God should NEVER be sold – which is why everything I write here is open and available and FREE.  Ramsey is a businessman raping the church with his schtick, and it’s just WRONG.  Paul didn’t charge for his letters, the apostles didn’t charge for their healings, and Yeshua never made a dime on His teachings.  Every one of Messiah’s followers had a day job in addition to his ministry, you know.  Anything edifying to the Church was given freely.  And please don’t ever forget that.

  Anyhow, I hope the links help you – they’re the best I’ve seen, for if you really need help getting started.  Crown seems to understand that these gifts should’ve been free all along and offers them on-line at no charge. f you take responsibility – yourself! – with an understanding of the scam and a taking up of your own logic, you can take care of your own situation without having to buy into anyone’s advertised jingle.  We have – our cars and toys are all paid off, we have no loans, the highest credit rating, and live comfortably with no government assistance or support.  A family of seven on one income of less than $60K a year.  There’s no secret in any book that you need – just to sit down and get your ducks in a row.

  It’s Elul, friends – it’s time.
  Get your financial house in order!
  

  • 11:01 am
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