She sees that her trading is profitable. Proverbs 31:18 (NIV)
Husband and I have been in the Dave Ramsey class for eight weeks now. I get his basic principles and agree with them. Save an emergency fund, pay off your debt, don’t get into more debt, set aside money for your kids’ college and big expenses like cars and furniture. All very good, common sense things that our world would rather we ignore. At the beginning of class, we were told to save all the credit card applications sent to us. Though we are only halfway through, husband and I have already received $500,000 worth of offers for credit cards. I don’t have a complaint about what we are learning. In fact, I am proud to announce that I managed to save enough money to buy a brand new kiln to use for my fused glass work and enameling. The best part is that I got it for half price because I found it on Craig’s List. A lady who had obviously not taken Dave Ramsey’s class bought a brand new kiln before she took a fused glass class and then, decided she didn’t like the craft so she never used her kiln. She advertised it on Craig’s List and because I had saved the cash to buy one, I was able to get a great deal. No, my complaint is with his delivery. He uses the words stupid and dumb a lot and when I am done listening to one of his tapes, I don’t feel so good about myself anymore. Take for example tonight’s lesson on finding a deal and striking a bargain. I think I did really well. Brand new kiln, never used, actually bigger than what I could afford otherwise, but Dave Ramsey tells me I did a stupid thing because I did not bargain with the seller. According to him, I should not have paid her asking price. I should have waved my cash in her face and magically she would have come down in price. Hey, can’t I just get points for having the cash in the first place and waiting to find one marked down instead of getting all excited and running out to buy one on credit and at full price? No, now I get to beat myself up because I decided it would be insulting to the seller to offer less than she was asking. Dave says it doesn’t hurt to ask. I disagree. I was afraid she would laugh in my face and go to the next person who was willing to pay very reasonable price. I will never be a money expert, but at least I am trying. It made me think about how we as Christians can set our standards and opinions so high that people cannot reach them, and how they must get overwhelmed and feel like giving up. Instead of being encouraging and inspiring, we just make them feel stupid and discouraged. Let’s cut each other some slack, shall we? That goes for you, too, Mr. Ramsey.
I lived and worked in Haiti for three and a half years, and the thing that was the hardest for me was the bargaining for what one wanted to buy. Our house girl did all the haggling when merchants came to the door.
I know that Dave Ramsey has some very good points. I should take his course, but I think I’ll pass.
My husband loves to watch his TV show – I think it’s painful. We have made many “stupid” financial decision over the years. We are now trying to follow his basic tenets, but we haven’t taken a class or listen to tapes. The guy who always used to get on my nerves was Larry Burkett, now deceased. His radio show used to get under my skin. Advice is easy to give, but hard to follow sometimes – and having made good financial decisions might make some people feel they are “better”, but they’re not. Their mistakes and sins are just different from ours.
I agree with you – I don’t like the way he talks about people being stupid. I agree that people don’t always make the best financial choices but to call them stupid is harsh.
And also like you – I hate to haggle. Hate it. If the price is fair I pay it and if it’s too much I move on.
Congrats on the kiln! Sounds like you got a really good deal. I’d love to see some pictures of your work!!