Real Life FPU Testimony - Think This Stuff Works?

I received this email this morning from an FPU Alumni. Read what she wrote about how this has effected her family. Great Stuff!

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." III John 1:4

Hi Alex and Stacie...

Just wanted to share with you yet again about what a blessing Financial Peace University has been to my family. I know that, ideally, I would have brought them all to sign up for a regular class, but God has used our little family class in ways that I never could've imagined. Last week we did our final lesson, #13, and we were sad to think that we weren't going to listen to Dave on Family Nights anymore.

At tonight's Family Night, though, my family surprised me by writing and reading notes of thanks about FPU to me. I was blown away by their comments and just have to share them with you. I know it's a lot of reading, but I think it's worthwhile. [I went onto the blog, but couldn't figure out how to post this, so you're welcome to share any of this on the blog that you'd like.]

Here's what my family said to me...

A modified limerick from my husband, Pete...
There was a young lady from Chino –– Hills
Who knew to to pay off those mean ol' –– bills.
So she gathered her family,
They all heard Dave Ramsey
And, Praise God, they learned some financial –– skills.

From my new son-in-law, Eric...
Going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University has changed my life. I have a completely different outlook on finances and because of that I have a total peace in my future. Even with the recent economic struggles I feel completely confident that we will not only survive, but that we will thrive. I know how to budget and plan and finally learned... what it truly means to buy only what you can actually afford. Because of Dave Ramsey I truly have Financial Peace.

From my 22-year-old daughter, Miriam (Eric's wife)...
Mom, Dave Ramsey and FPU has changed my entire outlook on finances. It has rocked our world! Thank you for having our family learn so much wisdom, because I'm serious when I say Dave Ramsey has set Eric and I up for great financial success in our lives. That is a truly wonderful feeling! I'll still never forget the first time my ears perked up at Dave on the way home from Cambria. Thank you for helping open our eyes to the TRUTH. "Now we live like no one else, so later, we can live like no one else."

From my 20-year-old daughter, Marjorie...
Mom, thank you for all of the hard work and care that you put into all of our financial futures. Even though I wasn't very fond of Dave Ramsey when you first brought the CDs home and when we listened to him in the car, I am very happy that you have shared the information with me. I know that because of it, the way I handle my money when I'm out of the house will be very different than I previously anticipated. I have learned a lot about how credit and debt can ruin your life and now, thanks to you and Dave, I will be successful financially and I will never have to deal with the problem of debt because I will "live like no one else, so later I can live like no one else." Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

A cute story about the first time my kids heard Dave Ramsey...
The first time I put one of Dave Ramsey's CDs on for my family was on the way home from a trip to Cambria, CA. We had just begun FPU a month before and I had heard some great principles that I thought would benefit the kids. I purposefully chose FPU CDs that I thought would interest them, "Dumping Debt" and "Credit Sharks in Suits" and decided to play them in the car. My kids were all listening to their iPods. Miriam confessed tonight that she turned her iPod off, but left her earplugs in so that I wouldn't know she was listening to the FPU CD. Monty (age 16) was in the very back seat and I thought he was sleeping. Miriam sent Monty a text message and said, "Are you listening to this!?" and he sent a reply back, "Yep!" That CD burned principles in their brains that they will never forget! What a return... the cost for FPU was an investment in the lives of my descendants!

Okay, that's enough! I know you can relate to the absolute blessing it is to see lives changed. Thank you for your part in facilitating the class that started all this. I plan to trim this down and send some excerpts to Dave Ramsey, too. I'm SO glad he heard the Lord's voice about FPU and listened!

Accountability and Money

We learned this week the importance of accountability and money. Most of us don't have this yet. If you are married you have a perfect accountability partner already there. However, this requires that you actually sit down and talk about money. Step #1 is to start doing exactly that.

For you singles out there I have a few suggestions. Use this blog to let people know you are looking for an accountability partner. You have access to not only everyone in our FPU class currently, but also the 67 others who have already taken the class. Anyone can be your partner in this. It's better if they already practice Dave's methods themselves. If you want help finding someone, let me know.

New ways to save money, do it yourself!

By taking FPU you learn to look at money differently. You learn to take control of your money and make it work for you. Last night our 5 year old refrigerator stopped cooling. I was like, "great, this is not what we need. Now we have to call a repairman and pay through the nose. But then I remembered all of Alex's great Do-It-Yourself stories and I thought, "I can do this." So my wife calls a repairman just to make sure it isn't the compressor ($30.00 service call) and after he says it is working, she thanks him and he leaves. I then did some research on the internet and discovered what the problem was, a $48.00 part (Starter Relay). So I installed the part a couple of hours ago, and Whala! Bingo! The frig is working!!! Yes!!!!!

The nice repairman was going to do the job for $185.00. I did for less than $85.00.
Do you know how much $100.00 is in 50 years invested in good growth stock Mutual Funds at 12%? :)

With FPU saving money just becomes second nature, and it makes you think outside the box!

Week 1 - Wow

I have had the pleasure of experiencing this week 1 feeling 4 times now. I have to tell you, this never gets old. It's hard for me to go to sleep on Tuesday and Wednesday night and I don't think that anything will change for another 12 weeks at least. We had 56 people attend! That is absolutely outstanding. The good news is that we have two fantastic locations and there is plenty of room for more people. I hope that those who missed will be returning. I also want to remind you to invite others. It is not too late to come to class in week 2 or even 3 but week 3 may be pushing it. I will be posting again soon with reminders and updates on homework and other important stuff.

13 Weeks Sure Is A Long Time...

So here we are. Once again on FPU Eve. I may be the only one up at 10:30 thinking and preparing for tomorrow, but this I do know this for sure. Many of the people who will come to class over the next two days are really wondering what the heck they signed up for. Perhaps you are thinking to yourself, "I will come to the first class, and if it's any good, then I might come back."

If you feel that way you are certainly not alone. Most people don't want to discuss their finances. The best part is you don't have to discuss anything. What you will have to do however if you want this class to work for you is this. You must look at the man/woman in the mirror and face reality. Reality is this. All of your combined financial decisions have brought you to where you are today. Like it or not, it didn't happen over night and it certainly won't go away that fast either. The next 13 weeks could save your marriage. It could save your home. It could give you hope. It could improve your most important relationships. It could give you a plan. It could provide retirement. It could help you prepare for your children's college. It could change your family tree.

It "could" be all of that and much more. But one thing is for certain. Just as in the game of life that we play every day, in FPU ... You must be present to win! See you in class

Normal is...Not Within Your Budget

The other day I came across an article about affordable housing markets. The article itself isn't incredible, but the premise behind it is. Part of the article discusses how when the housing marketing was increasing like crazy, people were able to purchase homes that were way above their means through "cheap adjustable rate mortgages." The article later states, "A fallout from the real estate slump is that once again many homeowners are forced to look for homes that are within their budget."

Isn't that an amazing idea?! Purchasing a home you can actually afford?!

Once again I'm thankful that Dave educates us on the truth that normal is broke. If living way out of my budget is normal, count me out!

By the way, if you want to read the full article, here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20080904/bs_bw/aug2008bw20080828371262

-John

Get Ready To Live Like No One Else

Previews have started for the upcoming offering of FPU on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. We have had some great turnout for the first two and I expect to see even more people show up this week. Please keep these preiews, and those who show up in your prayers.