Balancing Motherhood’s Gift Guide 2010: Financial Peace University

I decided this year to post a gift guide of the items I think would make wonderful holiday gifts. I’m starting with my favorite gift for the year: Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University course. UGH, I mentioned finances and gift in the same sentence. Hear me out — it could change your life.

Earlier this year my husband wanted us to take Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University being offered through our local church. It was a commitment of 13 weeks (one night a week) that I didn’t want to make — and I told him so. I think I said something nicer than, “no way, Jose’.” I cited not wanting to keep the kids up late once a week for that long (our location had free on-site babysitting). I cited the fact that we’d already been through another financial course and loved it. I cited the fact that I just didn’t have the time to commit. The list of why I couldn’t go was quite long.

My husband volunteered to be the site leader and therefore, had to attend each class, so wouldn’t I try to come to some of them he said. To say I went kicking and screaming would be wrong, but I didn’t go to these classes with a huge smile on my face either.

Week by week, I began to love this class. Dave Ramsey has a way of sucking you in. He preaches financial peace and how everyone can obtain it. There is nothing in this course that you probably don’t know (well, there is a lot that a lot of people don’t know, but he makes it sound so easy.) His approach is simple — quit overspending what you bring home.

To put it simply, this course is life changing. Most people don’t like hard work and change, but this is hard work and change for the good. It teaches you how to be good stewards of your money that you work so hard for. You learn that value of a dollar again and begin to think differently about debt and spending money.

This isn’t a present you can buy for just anyone, but it would be great to get for you and your partner. It could be the best present you get yourselves. And, it would make a great graduation present or newlywed present. If young people could learn the principles of Dave’s plan early in their lives, they could have control over their money from the start. Many of us, over time, have let money control us.

The class is offered in locations throughout the US and Canada at a variety of locations (many times local churches offer it and some, include free babysitting! bingo!). You can also take the course online, but I do recommend going to a location to take the class. The group discussion is one of the true benefits of the program. You realize you aren’t alone in this process and can share what you are going through with others. This is the kicking and screaming part for me — group discussion — but it was one of my favorite parts of the class. Going to a class also holds you accountable to really keep on track and finish the program. Your classmates look for you each week and want to see you there with them.

As my class finished up a few weeks ago, I was no longer complaining that I had to go. It was such a great experience and really has put us on the right track. Dave says it best when he says, if you live like no one else, you can live like no one else.

Sign up today. You’ll be glad you did. You can thank me when you graduate.

Related:

• Watch a video preview of the class
• Find a Financial Peace University course starting near you
• Don’t just take it from me, read testimonies from Dave’s website
• DaveRamsey.com
• Dave is giving away 150 FPU home study kits on his website .. win it for free!

Disclosure: Dave Ramesy nor his organization have paid me to endorse this course. I don’t make any money off of getting people to sign up. It’s just awesome, that’s all.