During his career, my father was an economics professor. Over meals and long walks, I can recall many financial conversations throughout the years. You could say I learned economics from the classroom of life as my father’s son. But knowing something in theory doesn’t always mean you know it in practice.
Such has been the case as I’ve sometimes had to learn financial lessons the hard way. In the midst of working my way out of school loans and car debt in my 20s, I came across a passionate guy named Dave Ramsey and was subsequently introduced to Financial Peace University. FPU is a biblically based curriculum that teaches people how to handle money faithfully. The class shows you how to take control of your money, dump debt, invest in the future, and give like never before.
From the moment I was introduced to FPU, I was hooked. It gave me motivation and biblical inspiration for changing my financial future. One of the most important things I learned from FPU was how to create an effective monthly budget. While seemingly a simple task, having and sticking to a budget seems to be the things that people always talk about, but don’t always put into practice. As author John Maxwell said, “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” And it’s not just me, FPU is the plan that has help millions of people get on a budget and change their financial futures.
I’m excited to say that we are bringing Financial Peace University to BMPC. I will lead the class along with my wife Sarah beginning next week on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. FPU is a nine-week program that includes video teaching, class discussions and interactive small-group activities. It is great opportunity for individuals and couples of all ages and backgrounds.
Here are a few other reasons why I believe that FPU is so important:
- Money fights and money problems are the number one cause of divorce in the U.S.
- More than a third of Americans have debt in collections.
- The average family in FPU pays of $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 90 days!
While it took some lessons I had to learn on my own, I know that my father help to plant the seeds of my eventual interest in learning how to save, spend, and invest wisely. FPU will be a blessing to BMPC and the community and can help us become smarter and more generous with our money. There cost required to take the class includes a membership kit full of helpful resources including a book, workbook, budgeting tools, and audio CDs (scholarships are available). If you would like to sign up or you know someone who would benefit from taking FPU, sign up here by 9/14.
