This video uses adult language. Not recommended for youngsters!
Loud. Brash. Egotistical. That’s how I would describe Ramit Sethi, the New York Times best selling author of “I Will Teach You To Be Rich”
After the conference my friend, Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, chatted me up on Skype.
Jen: Ok, I just watched the video…Funny, yes, but a TOTAL insult to frugal bloggers. So, was it funny in the context of his talk, or if you are a frugal blogger sitting there, would you still have been totally insulted?
Don’t want to read into it, but thought it was pretty nervy.
I understand his point, since his whole thing is about making money and don’t get caught up in saving $3 here and there. But what he forgets is that 80% of finances are behavior and emotion and if you can’t get your spending under control in the little things, it doesn’t matter how much you make, you’ll still have money issues.
So that is my beef with that. And since you were there, wondering your feedback. (Not like I am about to take on a NYT best seller or anything, BUT…… 😉
Julia: Yeah, the video was making fun of frugal and coupon bloggers, but I didn’t take it personally. Ramit is known for being inflammatory and making waves, so I guess I just saw it as another attempt to rile people up.
I believe in what I do and I know I save my readers thousands of dollars, not the pennies he showed in his video.
Not that I would try to convince him of that. Not worth my time, if you know what I mean!
Jen: I thought that probably was the take, that even frugal bloggers would chuckle if you were there and that out of context, it was just rude, but I did laugh and kind of laughed at him since he has no clue how the mentality of saving a bit here and there adds up to a lifetime of $100,000. Not everyone can be making 6 figures by just being entreupeneurial. But glad that everyone has that chance if they want to go for it.
What’s your take on Ramit’s video making fun of coupon clipping and frugality? Is this guy a total jerk?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Hilarious .Clever. It’s satire and he does it beautifully. Check out his crush on Suze Orman videos. Very funny. I bet she thought so, too.
Prior to watching the video:
I love Ramit. He’s the provocateur who really makes you feel the push. I’ve found the best way to benefit from an in-your-face rant is to find some way to be amused by it. Wear your thick skin – this is just a measured bit of adversity from a really edgy guy who’s influencing you to think!
After watching the video:
Go, Ramit! A little overboard on the tree leaves (ah, cloth handkerchiefs, anyone?), but a hugely entertaining takeoff on the genre. Amusing? Hilarious!
I was at the Financial Blogger Conference and I understood how it did play into his keynote talk. One of his points is that his own program IWTYTBR, isn’t for everyone. He only wants to work with people that are truly committed and invested. I wasn’t offended by his video, and his talk was really captivating and interesting. At the end of the day, I still wouldn’t pay the $11 on Amazon for it. Instead I was frugal and went to the library to check it out. Because why should I pay for something when I can get it cheaper or better yet, free!
The same methods don’t work for everyone and several people at the Financial Blogger Conference mentioned this point.
I love Ramit’s blog. I am subscribed to his newsletter. And I fully agree with his point in this video. It is a parody of frugal bloggers, a caricature. But he does not people whose financial advice is mainly the “stop going Starbuck’s twice a week, just go once a week” kind of tips. Ramit emphasizes the bigger wins where you can save hundreds, not tens. He has the best financial blog on the Web, with the next being Get Rich Slowly.
the only words that come to mind, are moron, idiot, jerk and time waster. His book I will teach you to be rich is a piece of crap.
I found the video very funny. Don’t take it seriously folks. Ramit likes to push the envelope.
I’m a fan of Ramit and I think that his advice and focus is simply different that what most frugality blogger focus on. I think the real reason for his video is because his advice and background is not on frugality on the small things but on larger issues. It’s more of a shot at his own readers that are constantly asking him for advice that is not what he focuses on. I have blog that talks about endurance running and if people constantly were asking me how to run 100 meter races I’d probably do the same thing. I don’t think Ramit is against saving money at any amount.
I think people who make fun of things they don’t understand are somewhat small-minded. I agree that we don’t all need to be saving dryer lint (or reusing plastic baggies, or things of that nature)… but parodying something that many people find useful in their own lives is not how you win people to your own way of thinking. Just saying!
jenni –
i think he understands the topic more than you realize. The point is what is funny to some is humorless to others. That’s why Baskin Robbins makes 31 flavors.
I love that video! He is a funny guy.
I am a frugal blogger and was in attendance at the conference. I found the video to be hilarious, and wasn’t offended at all. Sure, I suppose it was poking fun at those who like to save money, but I am not so overly sensitive as to let it bother me. If you don’t like it, move on. It isn’t worth getting upset over things like this!
@Jon I couldn’t agree more!
The video was funny. I laughed as I drank my bargain cup of coffee.
I’m sorry, but you know absolutely nothing about Ramit if you can even attempt to claim “what he forgets is that 80% of finances are behavior and emotion.”
Ramit’s a funny guy and this video has grains of truth to it – that’s why it’s funny to most.
The only thing about him that’s a turn off – and the reason I’ve recently unsubscribed from his blog – is that every 3rd post there is a self-promotional plug – buy my program and etc, etc. Kind of gets annoying.
Ramit has a point in that you need to earn more money to save more money. However, on the flip side you also need to know when NOT to spend your money too – and that has nothing to do w/ being frugal, but rather making better choices. And if cutting coupons is that choice, then more power to you. As someone mentioned above, not everyone can/wants to be an entrepreneur.
I’d agree that Ramit is more likely poking fun at readers who put down his work before trying it, and then bug him for frugality tips they can find quite easily elsewhere on the web. It’s not his game. His game is making money on the side.
The guy who said Ramit’s book is a piece of crap is a perfect example. His book is a step-by-step, six-week program laid out easily so that anyone can simplify his or her finances and save or make more money. I’d bet a million bucks this guy didn’t even try out one of Ramit’s tips to see whether it was actually useful. What sort of critique is that?
Ramit’s current work on his blog deals with saving money by cutting down on your two biggest areas of expense over a period of six months. It’s frugality, but on a larger scale. It’s one way he plays the money game, and many people find it very helpful, engaging, funny… understanding that everyone has his or her own methods for improving finances, and different things work for/are entertaining to different people!
As for the self-promotion on his blog, the man runs a business. He is working both to help readers (with his GENEROUS free content every few days) and to turn a profit and earn money from his efforts. He’s allowed to advertise his programs, and he further earns that right by doling out so much free advice. I took part in his Earn1K program last fall, and so far, it’s earned me $8,000 PER YEAR from here on out, plus whatever I use it for in the future. I’d say that’s worthwhile.
We’re all trying to save money and make money, and the important thing is to have many different ideas available so that we can all benefit.