Tonight was the first session of Financial Peace University. It was great! We met some seemingly very nice people, some of whom seem to be very deep in debt, and at least one couple that is debt free except for their house, thanks to what they've learned from Dave Ramsey.
I've never really watched Dave but have listened to his radio show quite a bit. He's absolutely hilarious to watch and really does a great 'show'. Learning is an added bonus. 
The kit is nice. In it is the book, Financial Peace Revisited, the Financial Peace Course Workbook, Dave's envelope system, and each course session on CD along with several bonus CDs.
The first session is basically information on Baby Steps 1 and 3, both of which deal with the Emergency Fund. Dave explains why its so important to have an emergency fund and gives some very convincing scenarios of how the EF can save your buns! I have to say that although DH was already on board with the EF concept, he wasn't really focused on it. Well, he is now!
I didn't get the savings account opened today but he said we'll have the money to get that opened this week and building that EF is a real priority for him now. Yaaaaay! It will be so much easier to stay on track if we're working toward the same goal.
On the way back from the session we talked about what constitutes an emergency and came to an agreement about that and how we'll prepare for it. We also talked about our eating out habits. We eat out a lot less than we used to and although we agreed to eat out once a week, he still likes to go to Chik-Fil-A for a particular breakfast sandwich and he likes to go get chicken wings. I don't begrudge him those things at all but if we're going to get 'gazelle intense' to use Dave's phrase we're going to have to put an end to that. So our compromise is that we'll eat out once a week only (my goal is once a month, if that) and if we get breakfast sandwiches one morning or wings for lunch that's our one meal out for the week.
So all in all, I think the first session was great and I think FPU is going to help us get on track..both of us!
Session One of Financial Peace University
January 29th, 2008 at 03:16 am
January 29th, 2008 at 03:39 am 1201577956
January 29th, 2008 at 04:33 pm 1201624418
Amen! Great news!
January 29th, 2008 at 04:49 pm 1201625388
I attended a Crown Financial presentation last weekend and was really disappointed. I much prefer Dave's teaching and intenseness on getting things done. Crown was just too vague about everything.
January 29th, 2008 at 06:57 pm 1201633037
Glad you both found it enjoyable.
January 30th, 2008 at 01:29 am 1201656562
January 30th, 2008 at 02:46 am 1201661188
We will pay off our house in the next three years - all because of a day we decided that we had had enough!
The FPU class will ABSOLUTELY WORK!!!
I actually teach finances full-time around the nation. There are a bunch of FREE budget tools available at my website to help you with your own journey!
Check it out at www.josephsangl.com - click on "TOOLS" at the top of the page!
You CAN do this!
January 30th, 2008 at 02:52 am 1201661555
Joseph, thanks for your input on FPU. I've checked your site and have it bookmarked and go there to poke around regularly.