Class is in session!

David and I have been taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (FPU) at a local Church for the past five weeks. For those who are wondering, FPU is a nine-week course that teaches "you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more" using "biblical, practical steps."

One of my biggest concerns before getting married was combining our finances (including debt and loans). I didn't even know where to begin. Luckily, we addressed some of these concerns during our pre-marital counseling sessions with our pastor/officiant, Jason. Both Jason and Priscilla, our wedding planner, as well as various friends, have recommended FPU, so David and I decided to sign up for a course at the start of the new year.

We are just over halfway through and already we have learned a lot. It hasn't been easy or pretty, and I don't necessarily agree with every single thing Dave teaches, but we have been following his guidelines such as the Seven Baby Steps, and by the end of the month, we will have completely paid off three credit cards from our Debt Snowball! Also, I cannot tell you how fantastic it feels to only be one week into February and to have already paid the majority of the month's bills, contributed to savings and retirement, and have money left over.

We actually registered for FPU on our wedding gift registry. I think it's definitely something worthwhile to register for as an engaged couple. One of the things I hear most often (when I recommend the course) is "We'd love to, but we can't afford it." This statement makes me sad, because I hear it from friends/couples who I know are struggling financially. Right now, the class costs $109 online. (There are also online and DVD packages available.) $109 may seem like a lot, but in the long run, it's really not. It is something you can easily save up for in a short amount of time just by eating out less, cutting back on Starbucks, and spending a few nights in. Some of the people in our class even obtained their class materials from Amazon or eBay. Basically, my stance is, if you are struggling financially with debt/loans, living paycheck to paycheck, or you just need help saving, you can't afford NOT to take FPU.

So that's where David and I have diligently been going every Monday night for the past five weeks. We have been good students, doing our homework and arriving to class on time. (I know. Me! On time!!)

I'd be interested to hear your experiences with FPU or any other financial management courses.

Luv,
the Bride