Today I completed my final session of Financial Peace University!!
I signed up for the online course in August, and 15 weeks later I’m done! Since we started FPU, Merfman and I have made some awesome changes in our finances, but I’m most thrilled with the change in HOW we look at, deal with and spend those hard earned dolla’ billz.
It’s not rocket science my friends. It’s living within your means the way your Grandparent’s did. If you follow the steps and work the plan it will blow your mind. I promise. When you control your money, you don’t let it control you. I know we’ve all had those weeks and months where we check the bank account and our lighter wallets and wonder…WHERE did that money go?
We have a plan in place, and we’re working toward a financial goal. There’s a snowball to tackel, as Dave calls it, but it’s doable and we’re sick and tired of being normal. Because Normal = Broke. Weird = Good. It’s not easy, it’s hard work. But seeing the results makes you want to work harder.
Is life all about money? Heck, to the no!
There is so much more to life than having a big pile of cash. But, this journey is about changing our family tree, and making much of ourselves. I want to retire someday, and enjoy life with my hardworking Merfman. I want to send my future kids to college debt free, with a solid hold on their finances. I want to GIVE and bless other families someday.
Tis’ the season of giving, and long lines at the mall…circling the parking lot for ANY space. I encourage you to gift someone an education that will change their lives. I’m not being dramatic…so what if I drank the Kool-Aid, it tasted good, it worked and I paid cash for it. We believe in the program and Dave knows what he’s talking about. It’s not some crazy self-help program that’s trying to steal your money, it’s legit. Read the testimonies, talk to people about it. It works.
Avoid the long lines and the grumpy people in the parking lot at the mall. Do you really need to give Aunt so-and-so another set of sunflower tea towels? Give a gift that really will give so much more.
The Merfett 
I feel like I would DO this except that it’s a “biblically based curriculum” and that turns me off… I am sure there is a financial guru out there somewhere for me!
I understand, and he doesn’t get too “preachy” with his points. He does throw in quotes from the bible to make illustrations which are helpful and sometimes funny. He pokes fun at Christian stereotypes too ;) I haven’t read his books, but he has a few NY times best sellers so maybe you’d like that better? The basic points are 7 baby steps that help you form a plan. 1. Save $1,000 for an emergency fund. Car repair, vet bill, speeding ticket. This helps you stay away from going deeper into debt when surprises come up. 2. List your debts in order of smallest to largest. Pay off the smallest debt and only the minimum on the others. Pay off a $150 Macy’s CC chunks at a time. Then take whatever that monthly payment was and put that toward your next largest debt. The momentum builds. 3. Save up for an emergency fund to cover 3 – 6 months of bills. 4. Invest 15% in a retirement fund. 5. Start finding college savings accounts for your kids. 6. Pay off your home early. 7. Build wealth and give. We’re on step 2 and will be for a bit, but it feels so so good to knock of silly little debts like lame CC balances and then work toward the bigger ones. The snowball theory is one of the most helpful things we learned. I was always so torn about where to start and by paying off the little debts first it helps you see the progress. Small as it may be ;)