Sweet Home Alabama Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I'm trying to decide between Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance here or Larry Burkett's Money Matter's for Teens 15-18 here. Ramsey's curriculum is $125 where as Burkett's workbook in a mere $10. I'm willing to buy Ramsey's curriculum if it is truly worth the money. In fact, it is on Homeschool Buyers Coop right now. If I were to buy through the coop, I could potentially get it for 40% off, I think. (I've never joined the coop, so I'm quite unfamiliar with how it works.) Yet, that is a lot of money if Burkett's curriculum is just as good. Can you all weigh in on the worthiness of the Ramsey curriculum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm37 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I think a lot might depend on whether you agree with Dave Ramsey. I have been watching these DVDs at our homeschool coop and one of our last sessions was all about not needing a FICO score (the "I love debt" score). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 We took the Larry Burkett Finance course and I haven't heard much from dave Ramsey that is materially different. I don't know how ther teen courses differ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 My son is using the Burkett workbook and enjoying it. Obviously, it is not quite as involved as the Dave Ramsey course, but it is definitely adequate and interesting. I made the Burkett choice based on...money. The irony! lol! I just could not justify the cost of the Ramsey course. My son is also reading Randy Alcorn's Money, Possessions, and Eternity in conjunction with the Burkett workbook. Nice combination. HTH! Jetta 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Home Alabama Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Thanks, ladies! Morning Glory, would you explain the difference in depth (involvement) between Ramsey and Burkett? Also, are using the MFW lesson plans? I think they use the very same books you're using. Cam1706, in all honesty, I have not made a direct comparison between the two. I heard Ramsey on Focus on the Family a couple of weeks ago, and I really enjoyed him. His name was familiar to me before that broadcast, so after hearing him, I naturally started looking at his material. I used to listen to Larry Burket all the time years ago. In fact, I had a long term plan at that time to use his material for high school. Now it's actually time to make a decision, and I didn't ever think there would be any competition. If you (or anyone else) could site contrasting ideas in the two curricula, that would be most helpful. Thanks, all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I own both, and had plans to use the tenn Dave Ramsey series last summer which I got on discount from the Homeschool Buyer's Coop , but we got into a major house renovation project with most of our belongings packed away and workmen in the house for several months. We really liked the first unit, which is all that we finished. I'm not 100% on board with Dave Ramsey, but my plan was to watch it with them and discuss it as we went. I wanted a DVD curriculum and figured that reselling it wouldn't be a problem, so that sealed the deal for me. We'll do this over this upcoming summer. IMHO they do indeed cover very similar material, but Dave Ramsey is a little further than I go personally but the DVD's are a plus. If you just wanted the material and were OK without DVD's, I'd go with Larry Burkett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I own Money Matters for Teens, and also the workbook. We have talked with our kids about managing money throughout their lives, so the book was just a reiteration of all the things we've discussed as the dc were growing up. The workbook was useful, but it didn't go into much depth. I liked some of the assignments in it, though, and thought it a useful supplement to the textbook we ended up using - Personal Finance from Glencoe/McGraw Hill. http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Finance-Student-McGraw-Hill-Education/dp/0078698006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425574771&sr=8-1&keywords=glencoe+personal+finance+2006 It's secular, so it doesn't discuss tithing or the "God owns everything" approach to money. It covers more financial topics and covers topics in more depth than Money Matters for Teens, but it isn't overwhelming at all. You can pick and choose which additional projects or assignments you want your dc to do. In addition to the assignments in the text, there is an online site with chapter summaries, online flashcards, and multiple choice quizzes. http://glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/0078698006/student_view0/index.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 With my older dd, I did Burkett (and another workbook from AGS, which is often used in alternative schools, maybe this one? http://smile.amazon.com/dp/078540953X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1W3JD56Z3Y36K&coliid=I1SLIHYYX917KE). With my youngest ds, we listened to Dave Ramsey on a long car trip (MN to CO, about 14 hours LOL). It was the adult CDs, not the student version, so not a direct comparison. I think they both learned some things they needed to learn. The Burkett was more practical, doing a sample budget, I think we cut some car ads out of the newspaper or maybe it was rental ads. My dd benefited from the realism about things that must be done when you are supporting yourself. I think she needed those practical practices. The Ramsey was more theoretical (again, we listened to the adult version, not sure if the teen is different). For an adult in the midst of messy finances, it might be considered fairly practical, but for my teen it was theoretical, as he had no credit cards to pay off etc. He had, though, already bought at least one car and had friends getting their own apartments, so he knew the things they had to do (or didn't do which caused problems), so he didn't really need the practical about how to find a car or an apartment that's in Burkett. He benefited from seeing the big picture and he still talks about Dave Ramsey's advice like driving the cheap car until you save enough to pay cash for a better one. I can't say he actually follows all the advice in there like a savings account with an emergency fund, and we've found that reality doesn't always match theory (e.g. we've seen a new car cheaper than a used one), but he's aware that we make these kinds of choices. I think in both cases, the Alcorn book is a nice addition. The MFW lesson plans also have some verses that keep money ideas grounded in the Bible. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I have never seen the Burkett course, but I have witnessed the Ramsey results with our oldest ds. At 25, he has a huge emergency fund, 2 cars paid for (the 2nd car was paid for with cash and not until after the first was long paid for.) He and his wife bought their first home in July. They had zero credit history. They went through one of Ramsey's recommended mortgage companies bc of the lack of a credit score. It was not a problem with that company and they got a great rate. They live on a strict budget and have a plan to pay off their mortgage in 7 yrs. Not bad for young couple with three kids and a stay at home mom. I wish we had been as financially aware when we were young as the 2 of them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Home Alabama Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Wow, awesome comments. I'm on my way to take our dog to the vet, but I hope to come back to make comments/ask questions after while. Thanks so much, ladies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet Home Alabama Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 I'm back... You know, it really sounds like either would work. The reference to Berkett's material as being practical got my attention. I do want to ask how redundant it would be to use them both together. Not that I want to spend that much, but would they mesh well together or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abacus2 Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I don't know details of the teenage focused programs, however in my personal experience I found Ramsey way more helpful. When we first married we used Burkett materials, but failed miserably in the application. Dave Ramsey taught us how to maintain and use a realistic budget and how to work together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I don't have Burkett's materials, but will be looking into them. We did the Dave Ramsey's teen program. My kids were rolling their eyes at the generalizations and the put-downs. While there were some good ideas in there, they were lost in the "everyone is sooo stupid" ranting on Ramsey's part. I can't stand to hear his voice after doing this program with my kids. ETA: I bought it at a large discount from the Homeschool Buyers' Coop. Even then, I wish I had gone with something else. But, then again, our kids see frugal, financially responsible living in our day-to-day lives. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorningGlory Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Thanks, ladies! Morning Glory, would you explain the difference in depth (involvement) between Ramsey and Burkett? Also, are using the MFW lesson plans? I think they use the very same books you're using. I am not exactly using the MFW lesson plans (although I purchased them because I like supporting MFW). We are dividing it up a bit differently to fit my son's schedule. The difference in involvement is that the Ramsey course is a DVD course that requires a heavier time commitment. Like so many of the other posters have said, my children have grown up seeing us model and directly teach wise and careful use of our money, so I just wanted a simple program to make sure we had already covered all the bases. Burkett fit the bill. And the Alcorn book is a challenging read...challenging to the modern world's view of money. My husband and I have both read it several times. Ellen mentioned a side of Dave Ramsey's "persona" that bothers me about him, too. He was probably quite nice when you heard him on Focus on the Family, but he can be almost cruelly sarcastic at times. I've watched him on TV several times and read one of his books, and I just can't bear his tone. While I realize that he has directly helped thousands and thousands of people who may (or may not) have needed his tough talk, I just wish he would sometimes be a little more gentle. But that is ME. For example, I can't tolerate how coaches often yell and berate young sports players...so it is definitely a personal preference. Your preference could certainly vary! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbollin Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I used the mfw lesson plans for Alcorn, Burkett and the list of verses in the gospels that have keyword search of money. I haven't used Ramsey, so this is not a comparison. mfw lesson plans: sorry to mfw fans out there but... nothing special about that planner. looks like the mfw author went onto biblegateway and did a keyword serach on money or treasure, limited it to gospels. they are not tied to the books in any fashion. very tagged on. which sad to say, it not at all characteristic of mfw style. hmmm. oh well. I know, I'm one of the mfw fans.. but not that lesson planner. Alcorn book: it's theory book of it all in terms of priorities and long term thinking. Not a read by yourself book for teens: plan to do it with them. help them understand the history of the time the book was written (wealth and health gospel in the late 80's). plan to talk with student on this one. Burkett workbook: felt like it was good but not complete, yet the "text" books with Burket MMFT was not worth it (borrowed it from library). and given how mfw is all of this independent learner, it didn't work that great over here for that purpose. It was easy to understand but was basically "meh... I know this..yeah yeah yeah.. sounds like the same sermons I've heard in church forever.... " So, we added in some practical things: she had to balance our check book, help with taxes and fafsa, write down some theories on some of our finances... so overall, I felt like she had good tools in high school with the burkett workbook. maybe not the fancy name brand, but when combined with growing up with us doing this stuff... and seeing how she is able to shop at 2nd hand stores and get a 10 dollar formal dress.. maybe she's on good track. I don't know. I guess in some ways, I won't really know how well we liked it until my daughter has a job and more income to deal with it all. She's willing to do some debt (small college loan this year, and major parts of it are paid off already so no interest is accruing. yeah). I don't regret buying the mfw stuff, but I don't have some rah rah rah cheerleading review either. It did a good enough job for high school. Like the OP, I have a hard time spending the extra money on Ramsey's materials. I can read some of his books at library.... In my daughter's English Comp class this semester, they are learning essay structure. The overall topic for the semester is Money Changes Everything. giggle.. my daughter asked me to find that "book from mfw finance that I hated" (Alcorn) because it had some great thoughts that she could use in her paper on the topic of money and religion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purduemeche Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 I can't speak to the teen programs, but our family lines up with Burkett's teaching more. He is explicitly Christian in his teaching, whereas Dave Ramsey tends to be more secular. Burkett teaches that all your money belongs to God and you just get to be a steward of it temporarily. Ramsey focuses on debt free. To be honest I think they get to the same place in the end, just with different paths. I am not saying either is better than the other, but you need to decide how your family wants to teach finances. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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