Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps (2024)

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.

Work the Baby Steps

Follow the proven plan that’s helped millions of people ditch debt and build wealth!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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!