Dave Ramsey or Carmen Ulrich

[Bimmer]

I've only seen ads, but Carmen's show seems like it might be sensationalized a bit. The ads make it look annoying.

Dave R is both great and annoying. Some great advice/commentary, but he drives me nuts when he cracks a joke and laughs hysterically at himself. The joke might deserve a chuckle, but he's a bit over the top sometimes.

Just follow the advice that works best for you. If you are a numbers person, go with Carmen. If you need a psychological boost, go with Dave. Or combine them, which is what I did. Paid off a few small balances first, then went by interest rate.

[ceejay74]

I so agree that knocking out big, higher-interest debts is much less motivating. It takes sooo long. But my highest-interest is 8.99% and all my other debts are under 7%, so I can't in good conscience stop hacking at this biggie till it's done!

I enjoyed DR's TV show for awhile. He seemed pretty sharp and has a commonsense way of talking. I didn't mind that we're polar opposites in many fundamental ways (atheist vs. Christian, for one). But he drove my husband nuts so finally I stopped watching of my own accord, but for his sake. LOL.

Me and Suze are GLBT so you'd think I'd like her better, but she scares me with her big rolling eyes and frequent use of "girlfriend."

I like docudramas that follow one person or family in their quest to overhaul their financial lives, a la Big Spender and Maxed Out, but neither of those shows is running new episodes, alas.

I should check out this Carmen show. I need a financial show to relate to; my one friend who was going to go on a debt-payoff, budgeted lifestyle has fallen off the wagon and I have no one outside my family to talk to!

[maat55]

I have seen her show many times on CNBC and found her to be generic. Not that she is not insightfull, just nothing to get excitied about.

[disneysteve]

I have seen her show many times on CNBC and found her to be generic. Not that she is not insightfull, just nothing to get excitied about.

I think that's my problem. Carmen's show just doesn't have a draw for me. With Suze, I love the Can I Afford It? segment. I'd watch the show if that's all it was. Carmen's show just doesn't grab me.

[FrugalIII]

My biggest draw to these shows is my fascination with how so many people rack up such huge credit card balances. It's amazing to me how anyone could get into $40k or more debt on a credit card. Sure, I have used credit cards plenty, didn't always pay off the balance every month, but have never been that far in debt with plastic.
Fortunately, after listening to DR for so long, I no longer use credit cards for anything. Debit card or cash........
I'm debt free except my house and I'm working on that!
I hate the Clark Howard show. I watched it a couple of times but just can't handle his personality.

[disneysteve]

My biggest draw to these shows is my fascination with how so many people rack up such huge credit card balances.

Us, too. We watch Suze as a family and it has been very educational for my teen daughter (at least I hope so). That's why we love the Can I Afford It? segment when people call in and say what they want to buy and then list their finances. Some callers are in great shape and can easily afford the purchase but many others are totally clueless. It is sad but, admittedly, also entertaining to hear the stories.

[nmboone]

I love Suze's emotional appeal to the things she says. I don't mind Clark Howard but his weird accent which I guess is southern kind of gets on my nerves. It's like he tries to hide it but he can't? DR I'm not sure about, I've never watched him or read the books, I just know what he's about through the forums. I don't mind Carmen, she seems sweet. I wish another reality show about people's finance problems would come out. I think a team of us should host it! I do know that 'Big Spender' was canceled basically because no one would sponsor the show because it told people to stop spending.

[Tree0164]

I must admit I've tried to watch Carmen a few times simply because I'm a personal finance junkie and suck up that stuff, but I just can't get into her show. I don't know if it is her or the format or the guests or what but I just can't stick with it. I enjoy watching Suze Orman's show. Can't stand Dave Ramsey but fortunately it isn't aired in my area anyway. I watch Clark Howard occasionally and he's okay.

When is Clark Howard on-what channel?

[creditcardfree]

When is Clark Howard on-what channel?

Clark Howard Website

[buildmybudget]

I think most people just aren't trained to understand compound interest and the power it can hold. Most people don't even have a budget! I think that if personal finance and budgeting were taught earlier on it might help... But in some cases, like medical emergencies, it simply can't be avoided.

[spock0149]

Dave has become kinda arrogant recently IMO. Also, his advice would not have worked for me. He is all about getting out of debt even if it means dropping out of college and going back when you have the cash.

[spock0149]

I think most people just aren't trained to understand compound interest and the power it can hold. Most people don't even have a budget! I think that if personal finance and budgeting were taught earlier on it might help... But in some cases, like medical emergencies, it simply can't be avoided.

Compound interest looks more impressive than it really is when you take into account inflation. True, if you put something like $100 a month away for 50 years by the time you'll be a millionaire, but what will a millino bucks be worth in the year 2060?

I think Daves whole compound interest spin is waaay over-rated.

[ActYourWage]

He is all about getting out of debt even if it means dropping out of college and going back when you have the cash.

More like holding off on college instead of dropping out......

[wincrasher]

I'm not a big fan of this hero worship or "cult of personality"

Most of these "gurus" are just spouting common sense. You already know what to do, but need someone to tell you to do it.

Everyone looks to these people for a magic bullet that doesn't exist.

[spock0149]

More like holding off on college instead of dropping out......

I heard him on the radio tell someone who was 4 years into his PhD, but in a sh** load of debt that he needed to drop out and pay off the debt.

Thats's really bad advice IMO.

He's follows a really strict code of paying off debt no matter what. He simply can't start making exceptions because once he makes one exception he will have to start making more and more and then the line betwen exception becomes hazy so its simpler for him to follow a single mantra.

It's not necessarily good advice, it's more like a religion (as someone pointed out). Like don't eat pork. There's no good reasons these days but you can't start modifying your philosophy as you are already committed.

There's no room for following dreams in Dave's philosophy/cult.

TG