What Would Dave Ramsey Say?
Enter your numbers and get graded by the strictest voice in money radio, which Baby Step you're on, where he'd yell, and what he'd have you do next.
Your numbers vs his rules
Emergency months, housing share of take-home, and retirement savings vs the Ramsey targets.
What he'd have you do next
In order. Straight from the philosophy.
The rules this tool applies
The 7 Baby Steps
1) $1,000 starter emergency fund → 2) pay off all non-mortgage debt smallest-to-largest (the snowball) → 3) grow the fund to 3–6 months of expenses → 4) invest 15% of income for retirement → 5) save for kids' education → 6) pay off the house early → 7) build wealth and give.
His other rules used here
Housing should stay at or under 25% of monthly take-home pay. No credit cards, ever, pay cash. Debt snowball over avalanche because behaviour beats math.
Where mainstream advice disagrees
The snowball costs more interest than the avalanche (compare both here); many planners are fine with responsible credit card use; his 12% return assumption is far above the FP Canada planning guideline of ~6%.
The fine print
This is an educational parody applying Dave Ramsey's well-documented public philosophy to your numbers. All verdict lines are paraphrases in his style, not real quotes. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Dave Ramsey. For actual advice, talk to a licensed professional.
Common questions
What are Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps?
$1,000 starter emergency fund; pay off all non-mortgage debt with the snowball method; save 3-6 months of expenses; invest 15% of income for retirement; save for kids' education; pay off the home early; build wealth and give.
Does the debt snowball or avalanche save more money?
The avalanche (highest interest rate first) always saves more interest mathematically. Ramsey prefers the snowball (smallest balance first) because quick wins keep people motivated. Both beat minimum payments by years.
Is 15% enough to save for retirement?
15% of gross income invested consistently from your 30s is a solid baseline, but the right number depends on your start age and goals — run a full projection with a retirement planner.