Dave Ramsey Quotes & Sayings that Will Change Your Perspective on Money (2024)

By Liv

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If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know I’m borderline obsessed with Dave Ramsey. There was a time that I listened to his radio show every day. Yup, 3 hours, each day.

He repeats a lot of the same phrases as he hands out money advice to the people that call in. Many of these sayings kept me encouraged during my debt payoff.

Here are my favorite Dave Ramsey quotes and phrases:

1. Beans and rice, rice and beans

Dave only wants you to eat the beans and rice while you’re still in debt! Not true, but close to it. Dave uses this phrase when he is talking to someone about living on a bare bones budget. He is trying to drive home the point that you should be minimizing your expenses if you are in Baby Step 1 ($1,000 emergency fund) and Baby Step 2 (debt payoff). Minimizing your food budget is a low hanging fruit….it’s an easy win. He is suggesting that you eat low cost foods like rice and beans. You shouldn’t be going out to restaurants, getting sushi, or having five course meals when paying off your debt. Remember, it’s only for a short time – you only have to sacrifice for a little. Turns out, I actually don’t like beans. I don’t think I’ve ever had beans and rice. During my debt payoff, my “beans and rice” was pasta.

2. Gazelle intense

Dave wants you to be “gazelle intense” when you are paying off your debt. He wants you to pay off the debt as quickly as possible (quick like a gazelle) – sacrificing, selling, working more (being intense) to pay off that debt. I actually had to look up what a gazelle was a few years into my debt payoff. I loved the phrase, knew exactly what it meant, but could not picture a gazelle. In case you were wondering…it’s an antelope that lives in Africa or Asia and runs really fast. Baby Step 2 is a short period of your life when you are so intensely paying off debt and intensely sacrificing.

3. I’m debt freeeeeee

Every hour on Dave’s radio show, he invites a family who has gone through his plan and has become debt free. The family shares their story with Dave (and his millions of listeners) about the details of their debt payoff – what was their motivation, the struggles, the fights, the little wins. At the end of the discussion, each family screams “I’mmmm debt free”. It’s easily my favorite part of listening to the show.

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4. Change your family tree

Dave insists that following his financial plan, and becoming debt free will not only change your life, but will change the lives of your children, and grandchildren, and so on. You will change your family tree. I love Dave for this phrase. When you are in debt, you’re pretty selfish – you think of how difficult things are for you, how you can’t buy that nice purse, how you can’t go out with friends, you you you. You just feel bad for yourself and you don’t really think about anyone else. This phrase will snap you back to reality, and remind you that you are in control of your life. It’ll remind you that you aren’t just getting out of debt and making good financial decisions for yourself – you’re doing it for so many other people that care about you.

5. If you live like no one else, later you can live like no one else

Basically, sacrifice now to live your dreams later. If you ever are feeling discouraged, think about your future self (and your future family). If you live like no one else (the first part of the phrase) by working harder, sacrificing “extras”, being intent with your money, then later you can live like no one else (second part of phrase) by swimming in money, not worrying about money, and giving selflessly to others.

6. A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went

There have been many times I’ve wanted to forget about budgeting. I’ve lost motivation, don’t have time, or it’s just too stressful thinking about how little I make and how much debt I have. However, at the end of a month where I don’t budget, I do always wonder where my money went! I feel even more broke than usual! This common phrase by Dave is so true – you need a budget to tell your money where to go. It’ll make you more aware and in control of your financial situation.

Do you listen to Dave Ramsey? What are your favorite phrases or quotes from him?