Session 1 -- Super Saving....

WARNING! WARNING! This post is one of my long ones...Grab a Pepsi. You'll need some endurance. But, I promise it'll be worth it. It won't let you down :)

If you aren't familiar with Dave Ramsey and his financial advice, please click HERE!

Marc and first started following bits and pieces of Dave Ramsey's financial tactics (for lack of a better word) several years ago. We used his debt snowball plan to agressively pay off all debt except for the house (the house will take a little bit of time). We can honestly say we're debt free except for the mortgage!

We have a few of his books.

I used to spend quite a bit of time talking with a coworker about finances and Dave Ramsey -- when I was working full-time -- before Luke.

We had a budget, but we honestly can say we didn't stick to it real well. You see, before Luke, Marc and I were true DINKs -- you know, Dual Income No Kids....We had a great household income. Our bills were always paid. Our excuse was that "we didn't really need to stick to a budget." (We KNOW MUCH BETTER than that now because even though we had money and bills were always paid, we have learned that we could've been MUCH better stewards with God's provisions for us).

Then, last summer, our friends, Joel and Kendall, asked us if we'd want to help lead a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class at our church.

We prayed about it and talked about it, and then, we decided we'd do that with them. Another couple, Eric and Karla, also joined us in leading this class.

So, last fall, we "kicked off" the class at our church.



It's not like Marc and I didn't realize this class was really needed in people's lives (as well as our own), but our eyes were opened to just how desperate some people are to change their financial habits -- in a God-honoring manner.

We also didn't realize how much we needed to "fine tune" some of our own habits. Like I said, we had all debt (except the house) paid off. We had a budget that just needed to be used a bit better.

The first class last fall was a success. People were interested in making changes. We saw goals being made.

At the same time, Marc and I fine tuned our finances a lot. We now have a budget we use. We have a "budget meeting" each month -- without fail. We are using Dave's cash envelope system.



Have we attained complete Financial Peace yet? Nope. But, I feel as if we're getting closer each month.

And, I can MOST definitely say that I would not be staying home with Luke full-time if we weren't following Dave Ramsey's plan.

We're believers in Dave's biblical finance plan!!!!!

Last night, we began another Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class.

We have roughly 25 household represented this time....Yeah God!!!!



Here are Joel and Kendall -- leading at the front of the room. (We take turns with them in leading).



The first session was on "Super Saving."

Last night, as we were going through the class, I just really felt a nudge from God to really pray this semester for this class -- specific prayers for each session.

So, that's my goal....

My specific for the session last night is that attendees would have open hearts and open minds to what Dave teaches. He emphasizes the fact that change is VERY HARD. It's incredibly easy to make up excuses for not doing something he recommends -- not even trying something.

That's where Marc and I were several years ago. We had excuses. Then, we tried some new things. Guess what? They worked for us and worked for us well.

It's just that hard first step.

A key verse Dave talked about in last night's lesson is in Hebrews. It's now at the top of this blog -- at least for this week. It's going to hang above my kitchen sink. It's the verse I'm praying for the attendees of this class.

Here it is....

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

On a final note, several people have asked me about where Luke goes on Tuesday evenings during class...(This photo is merely a courtesy photo because we think he's cute).



Last semester, my parents graciously drove to our home on Tuesday evenings to watch Luke. It was especially nice of them because they both work -- my mom works VERY full-time, and my dad works part-time plus is a caretaker for my grandmother.

We didn't feel like we could ask them again (though I'm sure they would've done it). So, we're taking him with us. Childcare is provided in the nursery. It just gets late, but as of tomorrow, Luke will be 18 months old. He can handle it one night a week. Plus, Joel and Kendall's kids come each Tuesday, and one of those kids is younger than Luke. The three of them will just have to "roll with the punches" on Tuesday evenings.

It's now late too late to start in our particular class this semester as we're very full. But, there may be some other classes in the area which haven't yet started. We'd love to have you in our class if we provide it again next fall (don't know yet); however, if you want to get started on changing financial habits now, see if there is a class....Click HERE!

Otherwise, I'll keep you posted via this blog if we'll be offering it again in the future!