Ask the Readers: Who Is Your Personal Finance Role Model?

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Guest, Amanda, and Jeff for winning this week's contest!

We look to our role models as guides and inspiration for different parts of our lives. They show us how to be better parents, how to succeed in our career, or how to be more caring and conscientious. Personal finance role models show us how to make the most of our money and make it grow in ways that align with the life we want to live.

Who is your personal finance role model? What do you admire most about them? What lessons have you learned from their example?

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Guest's picture
Karen

Unfortunately, I don't have a financial role model, but I've learned a lot by reading the articles on Wisebread.

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Mami2jcn

I guess my mother taught me the most about personal finance. She was always very frugal.

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Matt

Warren Buffet. I admire how he doesn't fall for flashy companies and has been so successful for so long.

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Elena

I would say Dave Ramsey. His money strategy works

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Elle

My parents are my personal finance role models. They have managed their money well.

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Julie Wood

My Dad is my personal Finance Role model. He taught me how to save and invest. That is why I am not in debt today and I have never been in debt!

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Renee

My parents. They taught me the importance of education and hardwork, savings and wise investing, and simple living from an early age.

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Gina

Steve Harvey. He shows that you can hit rock bottom and climb up to the top if you try hard enough. You can go from being broke and homeless to being a millionaire if you set goals and keep working hard.

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Olivia

Amy Dacyzyn of "Tightwad Gazette" fame. You can still find her stuff bouncing around yard sales. As a fellow graphic designer, her little drawings resonated. She tackled a wide range of frugal hacks, and primed my personal pump to think outside the ordinary. She's no armchair frugalista. She's a fellow learner. When going through weary times, I'd reread her stuff. She helped me realize there were more options, and thus hope.

We're currently headed towards an unknown future. Once we land, I plan to break out her well worn books and regroup.

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Eric

Dave Ramsey

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Guest

Not sure who my financial role models are... It's easier to name who they AREN'T haha

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Dani

Definitely my mother--she grew all of our vegetables, made almost all of what we ate from scratch, and clipped coupons with a vengeance before it was a well-known thing. She also never treated shopping like an activity or entertainment--if we went, it was because we needed something we couldn't otherwise obtain.

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MELISSA HANSSON

I don't have one! No wonder my finances are such a mess.

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Mary W

My Dad was our financial role model. He taught us early on how to write a check, manage money, invest and save and how to watch where your money goes. He taught us so much about money and investing that has impacted our lives every day.

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Susan P.

My Dad is my personal financial role model and he still influences me after his death. Invest wisely and conserve. He was kind of a cheap skate but was generous when it was beneficial to all of his children.

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Christina

I don't have a role model - I do have some family members that model how I don't want to be with money.

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Susan Smith

My financial role model is my FIL. He retired at age 55 and is living comfortably thanks to his retirement savings.

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Sarah

My grandparents. They have always lived within their means and saved money to be able to give to others. Their good money management has ensured they have enough to retire and enjoy their life after many years of hard work.

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Guest

Hands down Ben Franklin. "The Way to Wealth" and "Poor Richard's Almanac"

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Catseye

My current financial role models are Donna Freedman and Abby Perry, mother and daughter personal finance bloggers.

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Amy

Dave Ramsey! He's my guru :)

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Luke Blaney

My personal finance role model is my Mum, she taught me about savings and playing it safe for a rainy day. She went from nothing to own house, no mortgage in a very short space of time. Very clever lady!

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Paul Goad

My grandparents have been good financial role models in certain ways. They were raised in an era where saving and simplicity mattered. I think these are values that should make a comeback in a time where we overspend and lead somewhat complicated lives.

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Kishore

I also don't have a personal finance role model. I admire many authors and bloggers for their excellent work, but did not see how they manage their finance. I want to learn PF and manage my money well, so that I will be the role model for my kids.

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Monique Hubert

My grandmother is my finance role model because she has shown me that you can have the things you care about most if you prioritize and work hard.

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Jean S.

My personal finance role model is Suze Orman! Suze has been called “a force in the world of personal finance” and a “one-woman financial advice powerhouse” by USA Today. A two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times mega bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today, Orman is undeniably America’s most recognized expert on personal finance.

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Guest

My parents have always been very responsible with their money, paying bills on time, paying debt down quickly, and saving for future expenses. I also have learned a lot listening to Dave Ramsey podcasts.

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HC

My role model would be Suze Ormon for telling it like it is, no sugarcoating. Her advice helps me strive for a better financial life.

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Rebecca Ross

I really look up to my grandparents and their personal finances. I would really like to get to the point where we could give away half of our money and still be okay.

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Tabathia B

I really don't know, my mom was always financially responsible but she never gave me any advice. I would say websites like wisebread and bloggers who are about being frugal

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Yvonne

The Depression generation which included my parents. They got things done with very little. They saved, sacrificed and had integrity.

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Kerrin

My personal finance role model is my dad. He has taught me to always live within my means, save as much as possible, and invest.

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Jenny D

My Mom taught me a lot, from an early age, on how to stretch the budget. I have really good memories of her taking me and my older sister grocery shopping with her - it couldn't have been easy since we always tried to sneak junk food into the cart. Feeding a family of eight was a lot of work, but my Mom cooked from scratch, grew a garden with us kids, and canned with us girls. She was a wonderful example to me and my other siblings.

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Greg

I would have to go with Paul Merriman as my financial role model. He provides sound advice on investing for retirement and has helped get my retirement plan on track.

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Sarah

My mom because she is frugal but still lives well.

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Guest

My uncle. He has been self-employed for 40+ years, has no debt and is quite wealthy but also remains completely down to earth and does the maintenance on all his properties. He's a cool person.

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Jeff

when I was young, my parents, as they didn't spend money foolishly so they were good role models. And as I got older, Ric Edelman, as his financial advice follows the same mindset that I already had.

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Tracy Hirsch

When I met my husband, I was a young, single parent who lived paycheck to paycheck. He taught me a LOT about finances and saving. Now that we are more ... mature ... we look to our financial advisor, Ric Edelman. Check out his radio and TV programs; simple, logical advice that makes an impact!

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Donna D

My grand parents and parents, it's in my German blood.

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Pam ricks

My mom is my financial role model

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Ernest S.

I can't say that I have a financial role model, which is why it took me so long to figure it all out!

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Michelle D.

My mom is mt personal finance role model.

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Louly

I would say my mother. She is always investing and making sure she has funds working for her in different places.

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Lynda

my mother since she's always very frugal and was able to raise 3 kids plus pay the mortgage on 1 salary

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BRB

Probably Gail Vaz-Oxlade from Til Debt do us Part, she is so no nonsense about finances, it always motivates me to stick to my budget better!

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Bethany

There's a lady at my church. I just can tell she's thrifty, and I take cues from her.

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Laurajj

Oh I have to say my financial role model is hands down...my dad! He is so money smart, I wish I had even 1/4 the knowledge that he does.

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Miss kim

My financial role model is Suze Ormann

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Michael

My dad is my role model.

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April

Wisebread is my financial role model! I learn so many great tips!

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CF

I would have to say my dad.

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amanda sakovitz

I would say my mother!

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SKB

My Mother who grew up during the depression knew how to save. She used the envelope system for budgeting, had money in the bank, knew how to cook and bake from scratch, and was able to sew clothes, slip covers, etc. Obviously a different generation and mind set compared to today.

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Guest

First, my grandparents & my dad. They taught me that it is better to have a few good quality things and to maintain them well than to waste money on cheap fads. The times I haven't followed this rule, I have regretted it. Second, Amy Dacyzyn of the "Tightwad Gazette" and third, Vicky Robbin & Joe Dominguez of "Your Money or Your Life." I was already pretty frugal, but the lessons from "Your Money or Your Life" really help me stay focused on my values & goals.

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Carmen N

I don't really have one.

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Happy Love

Amy Dacyczyn, author of "The Complete Tightwad Gazette".

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Ashley P.

I don't really have a personal financial role model.

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Ana

My mom is my personal finance role model.

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Kat

My dad is my personal finance role model. He taught me how to balance a checkbook and everything I need to know about saving.

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Thomas Murphy

My dad is my personal finance role model