I don't even know who reads my blog but I wanted to share the knowledge that Mike and I are gaining through going to a class called Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey.
Budgeting, reducing credit card debt, building savings and retirement are just some of the reasons we decided to take this class. Communicating about money and taking the emotional roller coaster out of the equasion (having peace) is the biggest.


So we got our kit, which had a TON of stuff in it-all lessons on CD to listen to, a book, workbook,forms, and a wallet with envelopes and notepad. Note: our membership is for a lifetime, we can go to any class any time.

Our first lesson was SAVINGS.
Here are some things from the workbook:

• You will either learn to manage money, or the lack of it will always manage you.
• "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." -Proverbs 21:20
• One definition of maturity is learning to delay pleasure. Children do what feel good; adults devise a plan and follow it.
• Give, save, then pay bills in that order.

Our first baby step is to get $1,000 in a savings account within the month for AN EMERGENCY FUND. I think we have about half of it but will have to work on getting that other half.

Another good point, money is AMORAL meaning it has no emotion or feeling, it is not BAD or GOOD, but it's the person holding it that makes it into those things.

Our first homework assignment is to fill out a quickie basic budget and read some of the book. After we watched the session, we broke into small groups with other people and that was great to go over some of the questions. At our table we had a wide range of ages, experience and life circumstances and I agree with Mike, I think we are going to get a lot out of small group time.

Until next week, I will be looking for another $500 to add to my emergency fund and learning DISCIPLINE!