Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze -- Introduction and Chapter One

Recently, my former boss and great friend took me to a women's entrepreneurs conference at her church. It was sponsored in part by Dave Ramey's organization and many of the presenters based their business savvy on Dave Ramsey-like principles.

Although I was not there for the first day, my boss/friend showed me the book she had picked up, Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze (Ramsey's daughter). Not only did she get this book, but it was bundled with several other items for the price of the book. As the day wore on, I kept thinking about that book and finally wandered over to the table where Ramsey and Cruze's books were beings old. Rachel wasn't there, but the person at the table was gracious and kind and I ended up buying the book and the bundle. And...I got a signed copy of the book.

While my son, at nearly 18, is much older than the principles in the book are meant for, I think it will still be valuable to us as we navigate financial freedom. I still have a ton of debt to pay down and we aren't anywhere near being able to afford to own a place of our own. My son is about to start college too and I don't want him to end up with a pile of debt just as his adult life gets under way.

So, although I had already read the first two chapters, I am going to restart the book and have my son read it as well.

Below are our thoughts on the introduction and chapter one.

My thoughts:
My first impression of Smart Money Smart Kids is that Dave Ramsey has been-there-done-that. It's easy to forget that he once was in my position: worried about money, beating himself up over stupid money mistakes, and wondering how on earth he could get his family's financial situation back on track. From the start, he is honest about how it felt to be handling money poorly and seeing the impact on his family. His daughter also paint a clear picture of her childhood as being anything but flashy and filled with whatever money can buy. This is a down-to-earth, humble family who built themselves back up from ruin to financial stability and beyond.

Reading chapter one was a bit difficult for me as it's written from the point of view of Rachel, Dave Ramsey's daughter. I kept thinking, but I'm the parent! I'm the one that should know how to handle money! I'm the one that should be teaching my son money lessons! We shouldn't be having to learn these things together and the child should definitely not be having to teach the parent! Ramsey's daughter is only ten years older than my son and I had a moment of, "You're not old enough to teach me this!"

I got over it though...

My son and I NEED this. We both NEED to improve our financial situations. We both NEED to be financially free.

So, I kept reading...


My son's thoughts:

I read the introduction and first chapter of the book. I don't really know what to write about specifically because most of the introduction and first chapter are just the authors talking about their personal and family success and how they've helped so many other people, and then also reminiscing about events in their life which I can't really identify with or relate to. I'm not really 100% with their mindset of big success, big business, big money and all that as it is; I just want to be happy. 

Money is not necessary for happiness. It just helps you get along in the modern age and opens up new avenues for you. I see it more as a resource rather than a means of being successful; if you're an idiot, you'll mess up and burn; if you're smart, you'll get where you want eventually.

We have basically no money to spend as it is, and I generally mindlessly squander the majority of the money I'm handed because it will never, ever be enough to pay off actual college funds, and the things I immediately want are already just pointless material goods that I don't need and thus don't need to 'save up' for. They don't really matter as much as bills that I'd need to save for would, had I a house or a car. At the very least, though, they keep me happy for a month or two and provide new things for me to do with the people I spend most of my time.

I know my monetary choices may not seem smart, and they aren't smart, but when I have an actual job and am trying to feed and clothe and house myself, I'm confident enough with my intelligence to say I won't be powerwashing all of my cash down the drain.
My thoughts again:
I think we NEED to read this book together.

Pick up your own copy of Smart Money Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze at your local library or from Amazon HERE.

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