You can take control of your money! Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps will show you how to save for emergencies, pay off all your debt for good, and build wealth. It’s not a fairy tale. It works every single time!
Find Out Which Step You're On
Step 1: Save $1,000 for your starter emergency fund.
Step 2: Pay off all debt (except the house) using the debt snowball.
Step 3: Save 3–6 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund.
Step 4: Invest 15% of your household income in retirement.
Step 5: Save for your children’s college fund.
Step 6: Pay off your home early.
Step 7: Build wealth and give.
Why the Baby Steps Work
Forget everything you know about money-management plans. With Dave’s 7 Baby Steps, you don't need a degree in finance to take control of your money. Anyone can do it! With each step, you’ll change how you handle money—little by little.
Education
Learn how to better manage your money.
Encouragement
Build momentum with small wins along the way.
Empowerment
Make financial decisions with confidence in every aspect of your life.
Work the Baby Steps
Follow the proven plan that’s helped millions of people ditch debt and build wealth!
Financial Peace University
Take the course that's helped millions of people beat debt, build wealth, and live and give like no one else.
Learn More
The Total Money Makeover
Get Dave’s #1 bestselling book and readinspiring stories of people who have learned how to manage their money the right way.
Buy Now
Baby Steps Millionaires
You canbaby step your way to becoming a millionaire. Learn the quickest right way in Dave's newest book.
Buy Now
FREE Customized Plan
We’ll create a custom plan just for you to help you take control of your money. It only takes threeminutes—and it’s FREE!
Take the Assessment
Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund
In this first step, your goal is to save $1,000 as fast as you can. Your emergency fund will cover those unexpected life events you can't plan for. And there are plenty of them. You don’t want to dig a deeper hole while you’re trying to work your way out of debt!
Create Your First Budget
Baby Step 2: Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball
Next, it’s time to pay off the cars, the credit cards and the student loans. Start by listing all of your debts except for your mortgage. Put them in order by balance from smallest to largest—regardless of interest rate. Pay minimum payments on everything but the little one. Attack that one with a vengeance. Once it's gone, take that payment and put it toward the second-smallest debt, making minimum payments on the rest.That's what's called the debt snowball method, and you’ll use it to knock out your debts one by one. Find out your debt-free date with the Debt Snowball Calculator.
Get Rid of Your Debt
Baby Step 3: Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully FundedEmergency Fund
You’ve paid off your debt! Don’t slow down now. Take that money you were throwing at your debt and build a fully funded emergency fund that covers 3–6 months of your expenses. This will protect you against life’s bigger surprises, like the loss of a job or your car breaking down, without slipping back into debt.
Start Saving Money
Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of Your Household Income in Retirement
Now you can shift your focus off debts and what-ifs and start looking up the road. This is where you begin regularly investing 15% of your gross income for retirement. Because if you're still working at 67, it should be because you want to, not because you have to. An investing pro can help you build a solid strategy.
Find a SmartVestor Pro
Baby Step 5: Save for YourChildren’s College Fund
By this step, you've paid off all debts (except the house) and started saving for retirement. Next, it's time to save for your children’s college expenses (that is, if they pass Algebra II and Chemistry). We recommend 529 college savings plans or ESAs (Education Savings Accounts).
Learn to Save for College
Baby Step 6: Pay Off Your Home Early
Now, bring it all home. Baby Step 6 is the big dog! Your mortgage is the only thing between you and complete freedom from debt. Can you imagine your life with no house payment? Learn how extra money put towards your mortgage can save you tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars in interest with our Mortgage Payoff Calculator.
Talk to a Mortgage Expert
Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give
You know what people with no debt can do? Anything they want! The last step is the most fun. You can live and give like no one else. Find out your current net worth, then keep building wealth and become outrageously generous, all while leaving an inheritance for your kids and their kids. Now that's what we call leaving a legacy!
Calculate Your Net Worth
Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund
In this first step, your goal is to save $1,000 as fast as you can. Your emergency fund will cover those unexpected life events you can't plan for. And there are plenty of them. You don’t want to dig a deeper hole while you’re trying to work your way out of debt!
Free Resources for Baby Step 1
How to Make a Budget: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Budgeting can seem overwhelming, but you can do it. Learn how in just five steps.
Read More
30 Easy Ways to Save Up to $1,000
Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. Check out these quick, simple ways to find up to a grand.
Read More
34 Ways to Make Extra Money
Who couldn’t use extra cash? Here are 34 ways to line your pockets with more money.
Read More
Baby Step 2: Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball
Next, it’s time to pay off the cars, the credit cards and the student loans. Start by listing all of your debts except for your mortgage. Put them in order by balance from smallest to largest—regardless of interest rate. Pay minimum payments on everything but the little one. Attack that one with a vengeance. Once it's gone, take that payment and put it toward the second-smallest debt, making minimum payments on the rest.That's what's called the debt snowball method, and you’ll use it to knock out your debts one by one. Find out your debt-free date with the Debt Snowball Calculator.
Get Rid of Your Debt
Baby Step 3: Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully FundedEmergency Fund
You’ve paid off your debt! Don’t slow down now. Take that money you were throwing at your debt and build a fully funded emergency fund that covers 3–6 months of your expenses. This will protect you against life’s bigger surprises, like the loss of a job or your car breaking down, without slipping back into debt.
Start Saving Money
Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of Your Household Income in Retirement
Now you can shift your focus off debts and what-ifs and start looking up the road. This is where you begin regularly investing 15% of your gross income for retirement. Because if you're still working at 67, it should be because you want to, not because you have to. An investing pro can help you build a solid strategy.
Find a SmartVestor Pro
Baby Step 5: Save for YourChildren’s College Fund
By this step, you've paid off all debts (except the house) and started saving for retirement. Next, it's time to save for your children’s college expenses (that is, if they pass Algebra II and Chemistry). We recommend 529 college savings plans or ESAs (Education Savings Accounts).
Learn to Save for College
Baby Step 6: Pay Off Your Home Early
Now, bring it all home. Baby Step 6 is the big dog! Your mortgage is the only thing between you and complete freedom from debt. Can you imagine your life with no house payment? Learn how extra money put towards your mortgage can save you tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars in interest with our Mortgage Payoff Calculator.
Talk to a Mortgage Expert
Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give
You know what people with no debt can do? Anything they want! The last step is the most fun. You can live and give like no one else. Find out your current net worth, then keep building wealth and become outrageously generous, all while leaving an inheritance for your kids and their kids. Now that's what we call leaving a legacy!
Calculate Your Net Worth
Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund
In this first step, your goal is to save $1,000 as fast as you can. Your emergency fund will cover those unexpected life events you can't plan for. And there are plenty of them. You don’t want to dig a deeper hole while you’re trying to work your way out of debt!
Free Resources for Baby Step 1
Create Your First Budget
Check out EveryDollar—our zero-based budgeting app that helps you track, plan and save with just a few swipes.
Try It for Free
14-Day Money Finder
This free two-week series teaches you how to find extra money in your budget each month—to the tune of $2,000 more a year!
Start Saving
Get Started Assessment
After you answer just a few questions, we’ll give you a money plan that meets you right where you are.
I’m in
Baby Step 2: Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball
Next, it’s time to pay off the cars, the credit cards and the student loans. Start by listing all of your debts except for your mortgage. Put them in order by balance from smallest to largest—regardless of interest rate. Pay minimum payments on everything but the little one. Attack that one with a vengeance. Once it's gone, take that payment and put it toward the second-smallest debt, making minimum payments on the rest.That's what's called the debt snowball method, and you’ll use it to knock out your debts one by one. Find out your debt-free date with the Debt Snowball Calculator.
Get Rid of Your Debt
Baby Step 3: Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully FundedEmergency Fund
You’ve paid off your debt! Don’t slow down now. Take that money you were throwing at your debt and build a fully funded emergency fund that covers 3–6 months of your expenses. This will protect you against life’s bigger surprises, like the loss of a job or your car breaking down, without slipping back into debt.
Start Saving Money
Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of Your Household Income in Retirement
Now you can shift your focus off debts and what-ifs and start looking up the road. This is where you begin regularly investing 15% of your gross income for retirement. Because if you're still working at 67, it should be because you want to, not because you have to. An investing pro can help you build a solid strategy.
Find a SmartVestor Pro
Baby Step 5: Save for YourChildren’s College Fund
By this step, you've paid off all debts (except the house) and started saving for retirement. Next, it's time to save for your children’s college expenses (that is, if they pass Algebra II and Chemistry). We recommend 529 college savings plans or ESAs (Education Savings Accounts).
Learn to Save for College
Baby Step 6: Pay Off Your Home Early
Now, bring it all home. Baby Step 6 is the big dog! Your mortgage is the only thing between you and complete freedom from debt. Can you imagine your life with no house payment? Learn how extra money put towards your mortgage can save you tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars in interest with our Mortgage Payoff Calculator.
Talk to a Mortgage Expert
Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give
You know what people with no debt can do? Anything they want! The last step is the most fun. You can live and give like no one else. Find out your current net worth, then keep building wealth and become outrageously generous, all while leaving an inheritance for your kids and their kids. Now that's what we call leaving a legacy!
Calculate Your Net Worth
Who Is Dave Ramsey?
More than 25 years ago, Dave Ramsey fought his way out of bankruptcy and millions of dollars of debt. He took what he learned and started teaching people God's and Grandma's ways of handling money. Since then, Financial Peace University has helped nearly 10 million people take control of their money for good. Today, The Ramsey Show, formerly known as The Dave Ramsey Show, reaches more than 18 million listeners every week on the Ramsey Network radio show and podcast.
Get a FREE Customized Plan for Your Money!
Answer a few questions and we’ll create a custom plan just for you to help you take control of your money. It only takes three minutes!
Take the Assessment
