Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University

I finally registered for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. In my area, it's being taught at Our Savior's First Lutheran Church in Granada Hills on Sunday evenings now through the end of November. Today was the first class.

Before attending, I thought the course was meant for married or couples, to get them talking about finances and on the same page. But with or without a spouse, I need to deal with those same issues, and I don't think I would on my own. While I'm not bad with money, I don't save as I should, especially being a freelancer, and living in such a high cost-of-living area as Los Angeles. But I'm happy with the status quo, and need the accountability and forced study of a structured group to make real changes.

At the classes, you watch a video each week of Dave Ramsey presenting--so this could be done as a home study course, using the DVDs. The power of the group classes are the discussion and accountability groups that follow. Hearing and seeing other people's experiences and views can be affirming or lesson providing.

Right now, the first class is free, so you can come and investigate if it's right for you. If you wish to continue after that, you're paying for the materials, whether through the organization hosting the series or through the website online. I'm finding the materials on ebay, but haven't yet won an auction, so I don't know how much that will save me.

Here's what the course covers:

Week 1 Super Saving	The Beginning... A Very Good Place to Start Enough of Anything is Too Much The Basics (A Foundation) Pile Up Plunder
Week 2 Relating with Money	Single As a One-Dollar Bill Tying a Knot in Your Money: Marriage Crumb Snatchers and Money Family, Friends, and Money Carefully Consider Counsel
Week 3 Cash Flow Planning	Why Written? Baby Steps
Week 4 Dumping Debt	Lifestyles of the Rich Dumping Debt
Week 5 Credit Sharks In Suits	Cucumbers, Collectors & Credit Reports The End... Or Just The Beginning?
Week 6 Buyer Beware	Let The Buyer Beware - Caveat Emptor
Week 7 Clause and Effect	“KISS” Your Money: begin with Insurance
Week 8 That's Not Good Enough!	Buy Only Big, Big Bargains
Week 9 Of Mice and Mutual Funds	“KISS” Your Money through Simple Discipline is The Key Of Mice and Mutual Funds through To Load Or Not To Load
Week 10 From Fruition To Tuition	Of Mice And Mutual Funds: begin with Funding Those Golden Rocking Chairs
Week 11 Working In Your Strengths	Career Choice
Week 12 Real Estate and Mortgages	Buy Only Big, Big Bargains: sections Real Estate Bargains and Owner Financing Bonanza
Week 13 The Great Misunderstanding	Understand The Spiritual Aspects Of Money Do It Daily

I'm hoping I will grow a lot through this course. Have you taken it? How do you handle financial decisions in your own life? Please leave a comment on the blog.