amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

maryalene · 12-11-2005, 09:51 PM

I just signed up for Financial Peace University at our church this morning. It's a 13 week program put together by Dave Ramsey. I'm curious to hear what others' experiences with it has been. Has anyone here done it before?

khkelley · 12-11-2005, 10:21 PM

Dh and I did it last year. I am very glad we went through FPU. We really learned a lot - I knew next to nothing about the various insurances, investments, etc. before taking this class. DH missed 4 of the key lessons because he had to go out of the country right after we started. He took the FPU book and CD's but wasn't able to follow along as well as we would have liked because of his work schedule. For that reason we are considering taking the course again (once you've taken the course once you can take it as many times as you'd like at no additional charge). Plus, we are at a point right now where we could use the extra bit of motivation

Suzie · 12-12-2005, 10:16 AM

That sounds wonderful. I wish our church offered something like that.

maryalene · 12-12-2005, 02:16 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience Karen. Btw, I love your av.

I'm pretty excited to do the FPU. DH and I have covered a lot of ground in our marriage during the past year, and I think finances might be the last great frontier. My Christmas present is that he is going to attend without complaining. We'll see how that goes...

3Gs4Me · 12-12-2005, 11:16 PM

I got your message tonight but figured it was to late to call since it was after 9:30. Give me a call tomorrow if you get a chance. Terry and I would be interested in taking the class if non church members are welcome.

maryalene · 12-14-2005, 10:18 AM

I talked to the church, and they said it is open to anyone. I'll call you later with details.

mthomas · 01-10-2006, 04:58 PM

how is this going Maryalene? I'm looking into it right now. What do you think so far?

3Gs4Me · 01-10-2006, 09:20 PM

Maryalene was helping her little boy get his pj's on one night this weekend and his hand flew up and caught her in the face. His nail scratched her cornea and she wasn't able to open her eye for a couple of days. I talked to her today and she is doing a bit better but is still trying to take it easy.

mthomas · 01-11-2006, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Gs4Me

Maryalene was helping her little boy get his pj's on one night this weekend and his hand flew up and caught her in the face. His nail scratched her cornea and she wasn't able to open her eye for a couple of days. I talked to her today and she is doing a bit better but is still trying to take it easy.

OUCH!!! Did you decide to take the classes too? I've been reading the FP book that goes along w/the course and WOW, seems a little scary. But I guess the alternative (being in debt and broke for life) is scarier. lol

Hope her eye heals well.

maryalene · 01-11-2006, 10:53 AM

I'm back online now. Took a couple days, but I can finally open my eye again to see and read.

We went to our first class last night. It actually started last week, but I came down with the stomach flu, and we missed the first session. Someone else is borrowing the week one dvd right now, but we were told that we could borrow it and watch it at home next week.

The program cost $96, and I think the materials they provide alone are worth the money. It comes with a copy of Financial Peace Revisited, a hardcover workbook for the program, a computer CD, an audio library of the program and an envelope system book.

The session itself was basically watching an hour long tape of Dave Ramsey. Last night's program was on creating a cash flow plan, and you follow along in your workbook as he explains things. I'm a big Dave Ramsey fan and personally, I would have been happy just to watch the tape and leave it at that. However, the man who is running our program felt the need to try to add on at the end, but I don't think public speaking is his thing. He kept shuffling through his paperwork looking for something to say and then saying things like "uuuuhhh, yeah, so balancing your checkbook is really important." My husband commented on the ride home that it's too bad we can't just get the tapes and watch them at home by ourselves. I think in theory that would be nice, but I told him, I thought the reality is that I'm not sure if we would ever be disciplined to sit and watch them on a regular basis and give them our full attention. I don't think the tapes are available independently of the class either.

So anyway, based on our first class, I am happy with the program. I think it is going to be worth the money we paid. The cash flow presentation seemed a bit overwhelming, but I think we'll work through the workbook pages on that a little at a time. And if this program can motivate my husband to be at least marginally interested in our finances, it will be priceless.

mthomas · 01-11-2006, 04:59 PM

where did you buy your materials? I looked on his website and the package he was offering was 139.00 w/5.00 shipping. Did you get yours thru the ppl giving the class?

maryalene · 01-11-2006, 06:06 PM

Ours came through the class. I didn't even bother to look at the website before, but it looks like this is what we got:

http://www.daveramsey.com/shop/Finan...01dc8b43482e7b

But ours was only $96. We wrote a check to the church and they ordered it for us. Maybe churches/organizations get some type of discount? Hmmm...

xt · 01-11-2006, 09:36 PM

Your church can choose to charge less. I'm pretty sure they only charged you cost on the program if you paid $96.

You can get the program to watch at home on DVD, but it's about $300 that way, and you don't have the group accountability, feedback, and congratulations.

I'd love to find FPU in a secular setting around here, but I haven't come across one. So I just listen to the show and hang out in the My Total Money Makeover forums for support.

mthomas · 01-19-2006, 06:25 PM

reviving this thread. Prob won't take the classes for just a bit, but I wanted to get started on some of the stuff anyway. I'm trying to locate budget forms and what not. On his website you can print out a cash flow and quickie budget plan. Is there any other way to get a complete set of his financial forms? You can't even buy them seperately on his website.
Maybe I should ck ebay.

maryalene · 01-20-2006, 08:40 AM

During the class, he says on the tape that you can make copies of all his forms and share with your friends. He doesn't care so long as you are not selling them. So I can mail you copies, but I won't be by a copier again until next Tuesday.