Financial Peace University - 13 Weeks DONE!!

While living in Chicago I really wanted to attend Dave Ramsey's, "Financial Peace University," (FPU) but we had way too much going on and knew we'd never be able to commit to 13 weeks of two hours of classes.  Right before we moved to Colorado Dave Ramsey came to Willow Creek and Willow introduced FPU to all their campuses but we were moving and knew we couldn't attend.  What better time than when we know no one, have no obligations and are starting a whole new lifestyle in Colorado?  After researching, I found a class at a church about 5 miles from us and signed up!

It's been a long summer of classes, especially since a lot of holidays are in the summer and we took a break for all of them but today we completed the whole course!  It has really been life-changing for us and puts money, debt and savings into a whole new perspective for both of us.  
FPU has six baby steps to complete and the idea is to "live like no one else, so you can live like no one else." Meaning, live frugally now, paying off your debt and increasing your savings so when you're older, you're set for retirement and if done correctly, you'll have lots of money to play with too.  Basically, YOU tell your money where to go, not your money being spent aimlessly and not knowing where it's all going.  

We really are trying to get to a point where we are "living like no one else so we can live like no one else!"  But honestly, it's so hard too!  Society tells us we should be able to get whatever we want, when we want it, with whatever means we have available AKA credit and loans. Sadly, my student loans are the biggest hurdle of our completing the steps but we couldn't have taken the course at a better time with our transition to Colorado and wanting to buy a new home.  Over the past 17 weeks or so we're slowly getting the hang of it, have set up a great budget and hope to set ourselves up for financial freedom. :) 

I recommend this course to everyone.  I wish it was offered and required to everyone in order to graduate high school.  Plus for anyone considering (I hope you all are!) they just changed the course so it will be only nine weeks.  I'd love to chat with anyone who is interested in learning more about the course or the financial worksheets to help begin your planning.  It is my hope that we listen to the CD's in years to come as a reminder of what we're striving towards.  If anyone has taken the course or read his books and has any words of encouragement for us, I'd love to hear them!  

Do it, do it, do it!  You'll be super thankful you did!

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*Dave Ramsey has lots of books available too so if you want to start there, check out this one...Total Money Makeover...or just check out all his books and decide what's best for you!