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Back to basics: the fundamentals to Financial Peace

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Dave’s website is full of quick little newsletter type articles. It’s all common sense advice that is reiterated, or somehow complementary to what has already been said. Yet, it isn’t unnecessarily repetitive. Why? Because sometimes we (i.e. I) need it said a variety of ways before we get it. Even when we do “get it”, we need someone reliable to say it again. and again. and again. Secretly, I have lofty dreams of moving to Nashville and becoming a writer for Dave. Maybe then I would actually REMEMBER the advice Dave dispenses. Today J and I took the fam to the local COSTCO with no budget, or even plan in mind. We spent $137 without even planning to do so. Not much of it was wasteful spending. However, it is still disappointing because we know better. I even used my debit card because we’ve fallen out of habit of using cash. Actually, that isn’t true. I continue to use cash, I’m just not using the envelope system.

Why oh why do I fall away from what I know works? It doesn’t require copious amounts of energy. But what’s comfortable, or “the way I’ve always done it” is hard to let go of, even if it is making us miserable. I know, it doesn’t make an ounce of sense. Before Financial Peace, I was not so blissfully ignorant of how better my financial life could be. I assumed it would be hard to be responsible. The truth is that it is in fact so simple that my ignorance is hard to swallow when I must confess to irresponsible financial behavior. Less stress is the result when you have an accurate and truthful screen capture of your financial life. It is hard to let go of the bad financial habits. We are absolutely light years of where we were when our minister first said the words “Financial Peace” in a sermon last January. Now at least I know better and have a little disappointment- even shame- when I don’t name every single one of the dollars in our income and outgo. I know now that I can blow all my hard work in one shopping trip, and that shopping trip might make the difference in how long it takes us to break free from Financial Peace. Dollars that are being frittered away because of poor planning aren’t going to pay down off our dept.

I hate balancing the checkbook. I hate paying bills (if you do like it, you’re weird). I spend more energy dreading doing the tasks than it requires to do them, and since starting Financial Peace, it’s never as bad as I feared. I’ve been conditioned to think the worse. But the truth is that the lessons really are sinking in, and one day of less than perfect (not necessarily bad) choices doesn’t throw it all away. I’ve just got to break the budget forms out again and sit down and have our budget committee meetings. We need a Financial Peace Check-up. It’s been our 3 months (actually a little less )or 30k miles.

There are a number of ways to get back on track. The easiest for me is to go to Dave’s website and do some reading. Today I read of How to Become a Stress-Free Shopper. There’s nothing new learned because the steps to Financial Peace are consistent and Biblically based. It isn’t a gimic, or membership dues. In fact, it is possible to take Dave’s advice for free. Check the books out from the library, download the budgeting forms for free. His radio shows and TV show is also free. The FPU course is reasonable, and it’s a lifetime membership. It’s necessary for hard heads like me to have accountability. I can’t begin to quantify the stress that we’ve let go of since making the commitment to start the program. I’m grateful that now, with Dave’s help, I have the common sense to know when I’m making bad decisions and can be responsible and accountable to my self. I have the fundamentals that are important to our financial plan, and must be in place in order for us to obtain Financial Peace. How long it takes us to get there is dependent on how well we stick to our plan.

~Manda

November 30, 2008 | Filed Under Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University (FPU), Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Financial Goals, Financial Peace Baby Steps, Life Goals 

2 Responses to “Back to basics: the fundamentals to Financial Peace”

  1. Susanne on November 30th, 2008

    Thank you for this post.

    So much of what you say is true for me as well. Especially: “Why oh why do I fall away from what I know works?”

    This is my story too. And for the same reason, it’s routine. But I do tend to believe there may be a little self-sabotage hiding in there somewhere. What do you think?

    I am going to check out the FP website. Thank you again for posting this info.

    Peace

  2. Sherry on December 5th, 2008

    My husband and I are going to start FPU in January. I’ve been receiving your newsletters that honestly I don’t know how I subscribed to, but I’m glad that I accidentally did :) You’re very inspirational. Thank you!

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