Financial author shares wisdom with Portland audience, Herald reporter

Saving for retirement, planning for our daughter's college education and paying off our debts became priorities for my family this year.

And having a plan for these goals makes all the difference. That's why my husband Kyle started listening to financial author Dave Ramsey on the radio and recently bought his book "The Total Money Makeover."

Ramsey writes and speaks from experience. Over four years, he lost a $4 million real estate portfolio because of financial problems and had to rebuild a new life for himself and his family. He's even appeared on "60 Minutes" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show" because of his work.

My family isn't on such an extreme end of the financial spectrum, but realized we needed guidance to reach our financial goals.

Of course, everyone's situation is different and any single plan may not be the answer. But we decided to give Ramsey's plan a try.

Nationwide, the statistics on American debt are sobering. Forty-three percent of American families spend more than they earn annually and average households have $8,000 in credit card debt, according to an online article from MSN Money.

Kyle thought seeing Ramsey live in Portland on Oct. 19 would be just the thing to refocus us (actually, just me) in a motivational environment. Kyle had already written a budget for our family. So we were mostly following Ramsey's plan of paying off bills and saving for our future.

But adjusting to a budget takes some getting used to. I missed the freedom of spending money on my terms - when and where I wanted to. My weakness is buying iced mochas, which really add up at nearly $4 each.

Considering how our spending affects us also takes discipline and a certain amount of time, which are two areas I lack. Like so many others, my life is full with work and family commitments.

But I know I'm not alone in wanting to keep closer tabs on our money. That's why myself, Kyle, his parents and hundreds of others arrived at the Rose Quarter in Portland to see Ramsey.

After we found our seats, we picked up packets filled with highlights of his book and the night's two-hour presentation.

Ramsey's paid talk was similar to his book and much of the information offered on his Web site. His tips on saving and paying off debt aren't rocket science. But they must be followed in order to get results, he claims.

Ramsey's talk was peppered with his personal anecdotes. His dynamic delivery reminded me of a church sermon aimed at getting your attention and speaking to your heart.

After the show, I walked out feeling inspired and uplifted.

If you want to refocus and change a habit, a motivational talk could make all the difference. It did for me.

Lynne Lynch returns to the Columbia Basin Herald as the county reporter. The staff feels her iced mochas are a well-deserved treat.