Unboxing and Reviewing the Dave Ramsey Goal Planner 2023

🎯 Overview of the Dave Ramsey Goal Planner

The Dave Ramsey Goal Planner for 2023 has arrived, and I was eager to dive into it. In the past, Dave Ramsey collaborated with Christy Wright, creating the Christy Wright Planner, which I found quite appealing due to its monthly themes and attractive design. However, this year's planner has taken a different turn.

The design isn't as pretty as previous versions, possibly due to a shift in design leadership or an intentional move towards a more masculine aesthetic. I purchased my planner from Amazon for $38.50, though it is slightly cheaper directly from Dave Ramsey’s website at $37.99.

📏 Size and Build Quality

The planner is quite large, making it a bit cumbersome to fit into a standard camera frame. It features a chipboard cover with gold foiling on both the front and back. The binding is an O coil, which seems sturdy.

Upon opening the planner, I found a bookmark with the quote, "Your outlook determines your outcome," and a pocket folder in the front but not in the back.

📝 Content and Structure

Inside, the planner kicks off with a section for personal information, followed by guidelines for goal setting. The guidelines emphasize that goals must be specific, measurable, time-bound, personally meaningful, and written down.

One notable feature is the inclusion of monthly teachings by Rachel Cruze, John Deloney, and George Kamel. However, I was not familiar with these individuals, and their inclusion left me a bit puzzled.

📚 Monthly Layout and Teachings

Each month begins with a teaching section, followed by a horizontal weekly layout. The teachings are a mix of spiritual and motivational quotes, which align with the planner's goal-setting theme. However, the content is quite different from the Christy Wright planners, which focused more on business and practical lessons.

The horizontal weekly layout is not my favorite, as I find it less efficient compared to other formats. It feels reminiscent of the layouts found in generic grocery store planners.

📖 Quotes and Inspirations

The planner includes a variety of quotes, from biblical verses to insights from the contributing authors. For instance, January features a quote from Romans 8:39, while other months include thoughts on intentionality and personal growth.

While some quotes are inspiring, others seem to lack practical application, focusing more on general motivation rather than actionable advice.

📆 Weekly and Monthly Layouts

The planner's weekly layout is horizontal, which I find less practical. The monthly layout includes a cardstock page on the left and regular paper on the right, maintaining high paper quality suitable for marker pens.

The teachings for each month are brief, usually spanning just one to two pages. This is a significant departure from the Christy Wright planners, which offered more extensive lessons.

📊 Quarterly Check-Ins

Every quarter, the planner includes a two-page spread for goal check-ins. These sections encourage reflection on progress, adjustments, and future goals. However, the content is somewhat repetitive, recapping what was already covered in the monthly sections.

While it's beneficial to have regular check-ins, the lack of new insights or practical tips makes these sections feel redundant.

💬 Additional Content and Personal Opinions

The planner also includes brief testimonials and personal success stories. While these can be motivating, they are surprisingly short and lack depth. For example, one section discusses student loan forgiveness, but it feels more like a cautionary tale than a practical guide.

Overall, the content seems to fall short of providing actionable financial advice, which is surprising given Dave Ramsey's reputation for financial guidance.

👍 Pros and 👎 Cons

Here are some pros and cons based on my experience with the Dave Ramsey Goal Planner:

• Pros:

  • High-quality paper

  • Motivational quotes

  • Monthly teachings

  • Quarterly check-ins

• Cons:

  • Horizontal weekly layout

  • Short, repetitive teachings

  • Lack of practical financial advice

  • Less attractive design

💡 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

If you were a fan of the Christy Wright planners, you might find the Dave Ramsey Goal Planner a bit disappointing. It lacks the extensive lessons and practical advice that made the previous planners so useful. However, if you are looking for a planner with motivational quotes and a focus on goal setting, this might still be a good fit for you.

The design and layout changes may not appeal to everyone, but the high-quality materials and regular check-ins provide some value. Ultimately, whether this planner meets your needs will depend on what you value most in a goal planner.

For those seeking more practical financial advice and a more aesthetically pleasing design, it might be worth exploring other options or waiting for future iterations that might bring back some of the features we loved in the Christy Wright planners.

Let me know your thoughts on the Dave Ramsey Goal Planner for 2023. Did it meet your expectations, or are you also missing the Christy Wright planners? Share your experiences in the comments!