The Total Money Makeover is a straight-talking, no-nonsense guide for the average person with an average income; whether you are neck deep in debt or just looking for a better way to manage your money.

Dave Ramsey, well-known for his radio talk show, offers straight talk and doesn’t mince words with his readers or listeners. It’s a refreshing change from books that talk over the readers’ heads, or that offer advice that make readers feel fearful of being able to implement his ‘get out of debt’ strategies.

Ramsey preaches a simple no-nonsense message, which is what you need to pay off your debts and stay debt-free thereafter. “Always pay cash, or don’t buy it!” is his mantra. The Total Money Makeover gives practical advice on how to live a life uncluttered by debts or seriously money worries.

Ramsey says to first build up a savings of $1,000 to use as an emergency fund. Once you’ve done that, start paying off your debts aggressively, starting with the smallest debt first; working your way down the list of debt one-by-one, creating a ‘debt-snowball’ effect.

Eventually, you’ll have paid off all your debts except for your home mortgage. Then, Ramsey says, you should build up a larger emergency fund, something like three to six months of your salary.

Next, you should save for the kids’ college funds, and do some investing for retirement. Ramsey provides good solid details in terms of the percentage of your income that should go where.

Ramsey’s advice in The Total Money Makeover, is very basic, easy-to-understand and powerfully motivating. THAT is what makes Dave Ramsey's book, The Total Money Makeover, so valuable.

Dave Ramsey’s tone is full of timeless wisdom and realism. He doesn’t try to flatter the reader, or to fill your head with lofty dreams of wealth.

In fact, his point of view is that you should take personal responsibility for your financial problems. Own up to the fact that you’ve had poor spending habits, and that those habits have led you into debt.

Don’t blame the credit card companies, as it does not do you any good to do so. You signed the papers, YOU are responsible – and you are also responsible for cleaning up the mess you made.

Not to worry, Ramsey exposes plenty of the credit card industry’s deceptive tactics. But make no mistake about it, Ramsey believes it’s still up to each and every consumer to become educated in order to ensure their financial lives.

Accept your past mistakes and strive to overcome them through good old-fashioned work. That’s the basis of Ramsey’s motivational message. In fact, he often states the “WORK” is the best place to go when you are in financial turmoil.

The Total Money Makeover isn’t just for people who are in over their heads in debt. It’s for average Americans too; people who have credit card debt but still manage to pay their bills on time and keep their credit scores high.

Those people, the ones’ living on the edge (the middle class) Ramsey says, should get completely out of debt, in order to being to win financially - and his book shows you precisely how to accomplish this goal.

This is a great book full of honest, straightforward advice and encouragement for the average American.

Rich or poor, middle-class or wealthy, everyone can benefit from what Ramsey has to say.

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