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Many people have tried to pull themselves out of debt by following Dave Ramsey's advice. The personal finance expert and host of "The Ramsey Show" has amassed a considerable following over the years as he advises people on clever ways to pay off debt and build wealth.
However, not all of Ramsey's opinions are popular, and other financial experts sometimes question his guidance. Here are 10 of Ramsey's most controversial and contested tips.
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Cutting up credit cards
One of Ramsey's financial philosophy's most well-known and hotly debated aspects is that there's no real "responsible" way to use a credit card. He's even been quoted as saying, "There's no good reason at all to have a credit card."
There are a myriad of reasons financial advisors and consumers contest this advice. Using a credit card responsibly can help build credit, and points can be used for travel and other purchases. Many consumers do, in fact, consider themselves responsible enough to use credit safely.
Investing only in mutual funds
Ramsey's investment advice involves creating an emergency fund, paying off debt, and then moving on to investing. He recommends putting 15% of your income into mutual funds.
However, some experts have pointed out that it's hard to consistently invest in high-performing mutual funds, even for top financial managers, suggesting other investments as well.
No debt is good debt
In Ramsey's famous "7 Baby Steps" to financial freedom, step two involves paying off all debt except for your home, as his philosophy is that no debt is good debt. He prioritizes eliminating debt on cars, credit cards, student loans, and more before beginning to invest.
Not all financial advisors agree; many believe people can pay down debt and invest.
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Financial peace over high-risk investments
"Financial peace" is a key part of Ramsey's philosophy, and you can even enroll in Financial Peace University courses through his website. The lessons coach students to spend less, save more, and get rid of debt.
Not all money managers agree on foregoing an investment strategy. Many believe a balance exists between paying debts and allocating money for investments simultaneously.
Emergency fund size
Step one of Ramsey's baby steps towards financial freedom is to create an emergency starter fund with $1,000 in it. Yet critics point out that these days, there are few true emergencies that this amount would cover.
It's worth noting, though, that after debt elimination, Ramsey's approach involves expanding the emergency fund to cover three to six months of expenses.
Living like no one else so later you can live like no one else
A key Ramsey phrase is to live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later. The idea is to avoid the temptation to keep up with the Joneses and work on saving and smart investments so that you will have the freedom to do what you want later in life.
Some critics have called the advice too simplistic, and many people would prefer not to live quite so frugally for the many years it takes to reach so-called financial peace.
Paying off debt using the 'snowball' method
A key component of Ramsey's "7 Baby Steps" is using the "snowball" method to tackle existing debts. Essentially, this method involves chipping away at all debts, starting with the smallest balance and working your way up, regardless of interest rate.
But this method doesn't make sense to everyone, particularly those who crunch the numbers and realize they'll pay more if they leave significant balances with high interest rates for last.
Paying off your home early
Step six in Ramsey's plan for financial freedom involves paying off your mortgage early, but even with budgeting and expert guidance, this is impossible for everyone.
Ramsey believes that putting a little extra toward your mortgage every month can save you thousands of dollars in interest. This may be true, but it's certainly not a step that fits all budgets.
Avoiding financed cars
Ramsey's philosophy for buying a car is simple: only buy what you can afford today. He advises against financing a vehicle, instead encouraging his fans to buy what they can afford in cash.
Yet many people finance cars. Recent data from the National Automobile Dealers Association suggest that 80% of all new car purchases in the U.S. are financed. So many, even most, are not taking this advice.
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Couples should combine finances
Many married couples these days decide to keep their bank accounts separate and may opt to split bills down the middle, but Ramsey takes a hard line against this.
The financial guru stresses that a married couple's money is a "we thing" rather than a "me thing," and all money should go to a place to which both parties have access.
Bottom line
Ramsey's solutions don't work for everybody, and they are certainly not right for every budget. However, if you're dealing with growing bills and are looking for a way to grow your wealth, his baby steps to becoming debt-free and financially secure can be a huge help.
There's a reason he's amassed millions of followers and authored eight best-selling books.
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