What do snowballs and behavior have to do with each other?

I just re-read my last post, and decided that I hadn’t explained why Baby Step 2 “…has everything to do with behavior.”  It makes mathematical sense to pay down the debt with the highest interest first, right?  I mean you’ll pay less in the long run.  Well, based on what I’ve learned from Dave Ramsey’s books and radio show, the snowball method helps to gain psychological momentum.  In other words, it feels great to have a few relatively easy wins at the start.  As those smaller debts get paid off, you gain a feeling of accomplishment that helps you to stay with it, and possibly even become more “gazelle intense.”

Each Friday (I believe), Dave opens up his radio show to let people call in to do the “I’M DEBT FREE!” yell.  It’s amazing – if you haven’t heard it, and need a little inspiration this is an easy way to find it.  The first few times I heard this, I was surprised to find myself tearing up.  In those 3 simple little words you can hear the hurdles overcome – the struggles, the victory, and ultimately the hope in those people’s lives.  It’s amazing.  I want so badly to call and do that scream.  Even if I can’t manage to get onto his program I might just do the scream at home – recorded, and post it here. 

Everyone has a story, and while you don’t get the details – every time I hear people call Dave’s show and yell, I get a glimpse of their story.  You get the important stuff.

So it’s obvious – we’re all human.  We need inspiration.  We need more than raw math to win.