Financial Peace University
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Financial Peace University
| Sun, 09-04-2005 - 3:23pm |
A local church is going to offer the 13 wk Financial Peace University course by Dave Ramsey. If anyone has completed (or is going through it right now) I'd like to know what are your perceptions of the course. Any pros/cons?
OT, DH got a job Friday (YEA) However, he will be travelling a lot for work. So I am wondering how beneficial the course will be if I am the only one doing the course.
Thanks,
Susan

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I'm pretty sure Lisa (Luckyme03) took the Financial Peace University course, I remember her posting about it.
Congratulations on your husband's new job!
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
Susan, I havent taken the course, but after reading his "Total Money Makeover" I can say I would like to, and would therefore recommend it, I believe. What is the cost of the course?
Also, based what I have seen at his website, in his books, and based on other seminar programs. . . I would bet there are handouts / workbooks for most, if not all, the key points. So, in answer to how beneficial it would be if your husband didnt take the course with you, I think I would say this:
If he has had a "makeover of the mind" ~ and is also committed to getting out of debt, and would learn from you after YOU took the course, then I would think it would still be beneficial. You could show him the handouts, explain the finer points to him.. If you've read Total Money Makeover, you can imagine...what you would learn in FPU isnt rocket science. Once someone says to you, "You need to focus on 1 card, to get it paid off, THEN focus on the next....you'll never get ahead if you try to pay them all equally" and shows you the figures, you kinda go "Ohhh!" and have a light bulb moment and "get" it, and wonder why you never "got it" before. Once you HAVE a budget, budgetting isnt difficult. I expect FPU is like that on all the fine points of finances, as well as some more indepth particulars (which there would be handouts on)....
However, if your DH doesnt "get" it, or isnt committed to the basic tenats of Dave Ramsey (living like no one else lives today, so that tomorrow you can live like no one else, a zero-balanced budget, buying used cards, always paying cash, etc), then, it might just lead to frustration if you are attending the course and making the changes and find he is just 'sabatoging' your efforts, so to speak?
Of course, if you have main control of the finances, then it would probably be fairly beneficial even if he Doesnt get it. ;)
If you do decide to do it, I do hope you'll post how you like it. :)
~ Teresa
Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com
Thanks, Teresa. The cost of the course through the Church was MUCH cheaper than the website. Normally all of the material for the 13 wk course is 224. Right now it's on sale for $139, however through the church it's $96.25. They are allowing a 3 payment plan program. I'm so excited. I was hoping they had "preordered" some of the materials so I could get started today while DH was gone and I'm home for the holiday.
As for DH, I think I'll fill him in on the program. With his new job, praise God, he will be traveling so it will be hard for him to attend each session. The good thing is we have the materials on CD so if he *wanted* to he could listen to the CD as we go along. We don't have a lot of debt since we filed BK earlier this year. I think the lesson we need to learn the most is B-b-b-BUDGET. (especially sticking to it)
I'll keep you posted.
Susan
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Thanks, Becky. All of the Glory of DH's new job goes to GOD. There is a bigger plan that He has for each and everyone of us. I will post our progress as we go through FPU.
Susan
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Yep, I went through it, and can't sing the praises loudly enough! I asked for the FPU kit for Christmas 2003, and went through the classes from January(maybe February)-April 2004. I had to drive over an hour to get to the church it was being held at, but I'd do it all again, even with gas prices being so high.
In the kit, you will get a workbook to fill out as you're watching the videos. Defintely keep this book even after you're done with the class, as it has the budgeting forms you'll need, as well as other useful stuff. The CD's are the sound copy of the video, so your DH would get a very good idea about what's being presented. It's funny to listen to the audio, and not have a picture-makes you wonder what in the world he's up to, which of course you won't know until you watch the video!
Yep, one of the first things you'll do is a rough budget. This is actually good, though, because it doesn't seem so scary, LOL. After all, it's not a 'real' budget, right? ;) You will have to do the big hairy budget within the next 2 weeks, so have all your information handy, You will not (shouldn't anyway) be required to let your tablemates see your actual budget, just that you've done it. Be sure to participate in discussions-it's always interesting to know that all those other people are there to get control over their finances, but maybe they have a different focus or background than you.
It is truly a life-changing experience-I kid you not. If you work his program, and do the steps, you'll be on your way to financial freedom. Even within the 13 week class, our mindset changed about how we interacted with money, and each other. We took our daughter through the class with us, telling her that we'd go back through it when she was older. She is a Dave Ramsey fan, and although we're still trying to convince her that blowing her entire allowance on lip gloss and going to a football game with her friends isn't always the wisest plan, I don't think that she'll be fighting the same Credit Card Dragons that we are.
Have fun, and be ready to laugh, cry, hang your head 'cause you KNOW you've done 'stupid with zeroes on the end,' but most of all, even when you think what he's saying is absolute malarkey(and you will), just know that his way works, whereas ours obviously didn't!
Wishing you Financial Peace-
~Lisa
Thanks for the feedback, Lisa. I am very much looking forward to this. BTW, how old is your DD? Mine is almost 10 and I do NOT want her to go down the wrong financial path. I pray that she learns a new way and not continue on our "tradition" of misguided decisions.
Susan
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Amanda is 11 now, but she was 9 when we went through the class. Many of the classes conflicted with DH's work schedule, so she'd go with me to class, while he listened to the tapes at home.
She'd always take a book or something to sit out in the hallway with during discussion time, but she watched what she deemed to be the interesting videos, LOL. There is one, and I can't remember which lesson it is-something with credit card companies-that Dave is ranting about 'Shopping Barbie.' He is telling how the register says,"Credit Approved!" when she rings through her MasterCard. He gets this look on his face of utter disbelief, and says,"Credit Approved! You AIRHEAD!" and tosses Shopping Barbie over his shoulder. I thought Amanda was going to fall out of her seat,she was laughing so hard!
I know the lessons have stuck with her, so definitely take your DD whenever you can. Once you purchase the kit, you'll be able to go to any class free of charge whenever you want to, so you'd be able to take her through it again when she's older.
Dave's not kidding when he says it changes your family tree. I think that because our daughter has seen us buckling down and paying stuff off, it has made an impact of it's better to pay for things up front, than buy now, and pay and pay later.
Good luck-
Lisa
Hey Susan,
For your dd, also check out (from the library!) Mary Hunt's "Debt Proof Your Kids." She outlines a system for teaching kids financial responsibility that is fairly extraordinary, and probably extremely effective. I plan to use it when mine are a little older. I do say check it out of the library because, unlike some of her other books that are helpful through and through, only about four chapters of this one are meaty and the rest is fluff. But the meaty bits are definitely worth reading!
Good luck with Dave Ramsey. It sounds like a terrific program.
Blessings,
Heather
Hello, I'm a lurker here, and want to pose a question. I read "Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey, and liked it--am not ready to give up my 'luxuries' tho. I wondered, what is the point of taking his Financial Peace University seminars IF THEY COST MONEY??? Paying for the course seems to go against EVERYTHING he teaches! And it makes me suspicious that he and others employed by him are gaining while we struggle.......and struggle to come up with the money to take the course! Doesn't that seem backwards?
I am so embarassed by my financial woes, that I never wanted to post here, but I couldn't resist asking 'WHY'? Why PAY someone for a course to teach things we already know, but just can't implement. It reminds me of weight loss programs.........we all know WHAT to do, but the support is what we pay for...........it seems silly in a way to pay for something we may not be able to afford, and who does it benefit?
Just my opinion.
shels
"I am so embarassed by my financial woes, that I never wanted to post here,"
Hi Shels,
DO not ever be embarrased, you are not your debt. And yes I have a hard time purchasing a book or program regarding getting out of debt when you are in debt. But others here will say the program is well worth it and it completly changed the way they handle finances.
Personally I think if one changes the way they think about money they can get out of debt and build wealth the same as one that buys the program. Try to buy only needs, save for wants, pay yourself first, and pay more then minimums...
please post there is no reason to be ashamed,
Shannon
Shannon
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