Photo-A-Day #1749
Tonight Allison and I started Financial Peace University. What I am wondering is if anyone who reads this blog has ever gone through the program?
Our church has opened the meeting room up so that people could be a part of this program. Our instructor took the course back in September and is interesting, funny and real. We’re pretty excited but also nervous about what is coming over the next 13 weeks of the program and beyond.
So, FPU is one of the two new ventures that I have happening, the other I blogged about below. I’m now an affiliate for MakeBeer.net and I’ll be making my own beer very soon. If you haven’t read it you should certainly check out Drew can Brew, Too.
I also want to point out that there is a great recap of my panel at Affiliate Summit over on Marketing Elf.
Drew,
This is a very good program and Dave offers solid advice. I don’t know if you really want to cancel all your credit cards since you can really hurt your credit score but if you follow his program to the letter you will get out of debt. Good luck and let me know how it goes for you.
.-= Look at what Kevin wrote blog ..DADvocate Survey – Drugs, What will your teach your children? =-.
Kevin,
Thank you. I am eager to start this program. We read the book Total Money Makeover. Wait, no that is wrong, I read it almost all the way through and then Allison and I tried to read it and got through baby step 1. So we have saved out 1st emergency fund but beyond that nothing. I’ll be providing updates on the blog, so keep me honest.
Vicki and I borrowed the set of audio CDs from one of my co-workers, and we think they’re fantastic. It’s just good, solid advice. Sometimes it’s so simple that it’s a bit of a “duh” moment, but Dave Ramsey really has a creative way of doing some things that get you moving. For one thing, putting everything else on hold while you focus on one baby step at a time is extremely motivating!
Thank You. Justin that is great to hear, I am looking forward to checking out our entire package. I am hoping that they are more DVD’s than CDs because I really liked the visual stuff. Also the concentration on the steps is a great way to do things, we’ve done step 1 but now need to move on.
What is the definition of financial peace? Is the end goal to be debt free or is it to reach a financial place were you can weather most financial issues that might come along (ie loss of a job)? Obviously it is impossible to be ready to everything.
Stephen,
You cannot weather everything but being completely out of debt and living a lifestyle where saving is a priority not an afterthought is important. Being able to walk away from a job without being afraid of what will happen to my family without that income is financial peace. The freedom to do what you really want to do and not worry about money is financial peace.
Drew,
Thanks for the clarifications. Seems like it might be a good program. Some of them drive me up the wall. There are a lot of stupid programs out there like BOA’s keep the change program. People need to realize there is no way you can save by spending money.
The whole goal is to find a balance where you spend and have fun but also put some money away. Few of us ever find that. For a variety of reasons. Unfortunately the Govt does not want us to save. In order for the economy to work we need to spend and credit creates afrifical growth for the economy. It is sad but the saving rate for Americans as a whole is negative. As a country we spend more than we make which is very scary since I doubt you or I will be able to count on anything from Social Security even though we pay into it.
Personally I think lottery tickets are the way to go
Stephen,
I sincerely think that your A would be in Dave Ramsey’s camp. I’m sure of it.
Hey Drew,
I did this program last year. It was really good. Dave is really funny. I closed all credit cards except one visa for traveling. His debt snowball model works great right up until you decide you’d rather be playing than paying off debt (I speak from personal experience).
I think you’ll enjoy the class 🙂
Courtney
.-= Look at what Courtney wrote blog ..The Unideal Situation – Diabetes 365 – January 17, 2010 =-.
Courtney,
Thanks. I am noticing that quite a few people that I know have been doing or have completed the program. I read part of Total Money makeover and have tried the debt snowball thing in the past, the problem I have it the budget,t hat is going to be tough, way tough.
I love Dave Ramsey. The man offers simple advice that works if you follow the steps. We got to the debt free part (except our mortgage) and then slacked. Now working at being gazelle again and complete all the steps. Good luck!
.-= Look at what Shannon wrote blog ..Recap of My Affiliate Summit West Experience =-.
Shannon,
Glad to hear that someone made it at least for a little while. Also glad that you are getting on track again too.
The entire program is a “tough row to hoe”.. But if you just boil it down to a few basic things it’s really not so tough to do in practice.
Getting a real accounting system to track household financials was key for us. The business is covered quite well.. The household, not so much. That changed. Now we know what we’re dealing with.
Debt snowball we attacked hard. A garage sale every 90 days to gradually convert old crap (not a hoarder, not far from it though) into cash that went straight to debt. Pushed harder on a few income streams.
It isn’t a “one time thing” either. It’s simply living within your means. Creatively increasing the means you have. And treating debt as the live sucking anchor on your time and resources that it really is.
It’s simple… Not easy to do… But simple. I already had the business running this way, now getting the household in order. I think you’ll discover over time it’s worth the effort.
Now if Dave Ramsey only had an affiliate program!
.-= Look at what Scott Medlock wrote blog ..Greetings to all Affspot Members! =-.
Scott,
I hear you with the affiliate program and I am glad to hear from someone else who is working on this program and having success with it. Thanks for your input I may have to call on you if we get stuck or unmotivated to give me a kick in the butt. Thanks again for commenting with some good feedback and information.