Last night, I taught my very first Financial Peace University Class!
If you don’t know what Financial Peace University (FPU) is, it is a course for personal finance created by Dave Ramsey. The course uses biblical principles to teach people how to get out of debt, save money, and build wealth. If you’ve ever heard anyone talk about the “Baby Steps,” this is the course they were referring to.
I should mention, I’ve been a huge Dave Ramsey fan since my dad purchased FPU for me in 2016 when I was 22 years old, fresh out of college. It was actually on my Christmas list! My redneck father was more than happy to purchase me the course and materials which were developed and taught by a fellow redneck.
I was what Dave calls, “gazelle intense” when I first began. I paid off around $10,000 of my student loans in the first year of working the program. For a relatively broke college graduate making little over $1,500 a month at the time, I was really cracking down!
And then…life happened. My, now husband, proposed to me, my car started giving me trouble, and I was having “growing pains” living in my parents house again following the freedom of college.
So I started to save up for the wedding, found a place to rent with my soon-to-be husband, and decided I knew better than Dave, and leased a car.
When I tell you, “I have done stupid with money,” I literally mean, “I HAVE DONE STUPID WITH MONEY.”
From then til recently, my husband and I have been very “Diet Dave” or “Dave-ISH.” It’s almost disgusting to think where we could be with our finances now if we had buckled down and submitted to the plan then.
Alas, I cannot change the past.
In May, we really submitted ourselves to the plan. We decided, as a unit, that we weren’t going to live this way anymore. All of our hopes and dreams for our futures literally hinged on our financial stability, which currently was NOT stable. In Dave’s words, “We were sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
So sometime in May of this year, we sat down with our children and made a paper chain to hang in our hallway. Each chain represented $1,000 in debt. It was a little daunting to watch it drape all the way down our hallway and around the end above our door.
I wrote about this in a previous blog post if you’d like to know more about the beginning of our journey!
It turns out, we NEEDED that physical, visual reminder looming over us every day to keep us devoted to this mission.
Dave says you can wonder into debt, but you have to RUN to get out. We are certainly finding that to be true.
As I began sharing our journey on social media, I started receiving lots of questions about the process, how we were doing it, and where others could learn the steps we were following to tackle our finances. I didn’t expect so many people to identify with what we were doing! Shortly after, our pastor asked if I would teach an FPU class at our church.
This might surprise you, but it actually wasn’t an immediate or emphatic, “YES!” I actually asked if I could have some time to pray on it and think about it before I committed.
I had thought about coordinating a class for a while, but never actually pulled the trigger. I thought, “I am so inconsistent with my financial journey with this, how could I model the right behavior for people wanting to take this class and change their lives?”
So I prayed. I asked God for wisdom and discernment, clarity, and honestly, a sign that this was His will.
After a couple days, I felt God had given me an answer. I was going to be teaching this class.
Like most things that fall in line with God’s plan, there were plenty of metaphorical “wrenches” thrown into the planning of this class. From budgeting questions that required board approval to seemingly no interest in the class, it seemed the enemy may not want this to happen.
But in “Field of Dreams” fashion, we decided, “If we build it, they will come!”
We did modest advertising for the class for about one month before it was scheduled to start. I had only one name on my interest list until the weekend before. I checked my online coordinator dashboard the day class was to start and….I had zero people signed up for my class. To say I was discouraged is an understatement.
I was so sure that God gave me a clear answer that I was going to be teaching this class.
After some follow up, it turns out, I had just enough for a small group and I started getting excited.
I started getting nervous as the reality set in that I would actually be teaching! I prayed God would settle my nerves, calm my spirit and let me be in the moment. I also prayed about His plan for my life and my role in following it. My nerves calmed once I got there and set up the room, had dinner, and chatted briefly with some of the folks taking the class.
I’m proud to report the class went well! I left so inspired and excited to be on this journey with all of the participants and I hope they felt that same buzz!
This feeling of joy is totally God’s work. He created me knowing I enjoyed relating to people, teaching, and building connections with others. I have so much to learn, but I’m excited to continue to grow and learn with this group of individuals!
In conclusion, sometimes the period of waiting can be difficult, long, and sometimes even painful. But in the end, when His plan becomes clear, you’ll be so glad He built you up and prepared you in that time for the blessings He had for you.
One of my favorite worship songs (Yes I Will- Vertical Worship) says, “In the waiting, the same God who’s never late, is working all things out.” While it can be hard to remember through every season, I’m so glad I waited and trusted in God’s timing this time around.
I’m looking forward to next week! If you’re reading this and in the area, please join our class! It isn’t too late to get caught up!