Graduation

On this past Monday night (December 6th), a group of 12 couples and individuals watched the 13th and final lesson from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. What a wonderful class it has been! We have spent over 13 hours with an incredible financial advisor who has a heart for God. And although I can honestly say that there was a lesson that I didn't enjoy, here were my favorite classes:

• Lesson 3 - Cash Flow Planning. Unlocking the secret of developing a monthly spending plan that really works.
• Lesson 4 - Dumping Debt. Debunking some common debt myths! Dave reveals the truth about credit lies and gives a plan to walk out of debt with confidence.
• Lesson 5 - Credit Sharks In Suits. What is a credit score, anyway? Dave unpacks your credit rating and shows how to handle collectors when they call.
• Lesson 7 - Clause and Effect. Dave walks through the world of insurance, carefully explaining what we need—and what we need to avoid.
• Lesson 13 - The Great Misunderstanding. This lesson challenged the way most people think about money. Dave showed how generous giving can completely revolutionize attitudes and improve finances, business and relationships.

The facilitators of the class, Joe and Bonnie, did an excellent job during our discussion time, and Bonnie always had the greatest "reminder goodies" (for example, a dum-dum lollypop to remind us not to spend like dumb-dumbs, smarties to remind us to use our money like a smartie. My favorite was the 100 grand candy bar during the saving lesson, so good and a good reminder to save now!)

For the last class, Bonnie and Joe had a cake made up for us as we celebrated our 13 weeks together. 

As a class we kept track of a couple of numbers. 

1. Debt Paid over the last 13 weeks of class.

2. Amount Saved over the last 13 weeks of class.

3. Debt Avoided (from credit card offers, etc.) over the last 13 weeks of class.

AND HERE ARE OUR CLASSES NUMBERS (minus a few who were absent)

Debt Paid over the last 13 weeks of class... $39,363!

Amount Saved over the last 13 weeks of class... $24,555!
Debt Avoided over the last 13 weeks of class... $277,437!

Wow... I am so thankful to have taken the class, and I will miss gathering with my brothers and sisters on Monday nights. 

If you have never taken Financial Peace University, I'd like to personally recommend it to you. We have another class starting on January 22nd from 9am-11am. Normally, FPU costs $100, but the church is covering the first $50, so your cost is only $50. Please consider this class, it will change your family's financial future.