Make Financial Peace Your New Year's Resolution

If you’ve decided this is the year you will straighten out your finances, you’ve got company. Money-related new year’s resolutions are always among the most common.

The problem is, many people who want to save more money, or pay off debt, or fund their retirement don’t really know how to do it. They go after their goal without a specific plan, in a haphazard manner. As a result, they don’t succeed.

If you want to achieve a financial goal this year, increase your chances of succeeding by taking Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU) class.

Ramsey’s FPU classes have been helping people accomplish their financial goals for almost 25 years. According to his website, FPU “teaches you how to pay off debt, budget, save money, and give generously”. Almost six million people have taken the course.

Financial Peace University is a nine-week course where you’ll meet with other individuals intent on improving their finances. Each meeting lasts about 90 minutes. You’ll watch a video where Dave Ramsey talks about how to set and accomplish various financial goals.

Ramsey’s teaching style is entertaining, funny, and engaging. You won’t find any rocket science or magical formulas in his teaching. Instead, you’ll find a great deal of common sense and a few hard truths.

He covers multiple financial topics, such as paying off debt, investing for retirement, and buying the right type of insurance. He also discusses how to handle real estate and mortgages and how to save for your children’s college education. It’s all useful information, but I’d especially recommend FPU if you’re trying to pay off your debt. His system will get you debt-free if you’re serious about it.

While you can take the class alone by watching Ramsey’s videos online, I recommend joining a group so you can go through the class with people who share the same goals. The power of support and encouragement you’ll receive from sharing the same goal can be tremendous, and will help you in your financial journey.

Financial Peace University costs $129.99, but a couple local churches are offering the classes at a discount.

Though I wish it was cheaper, I believe FPU is worth the price. Think about it. What if, as a result of this class, you are debt-free in a few years? Or what if you finally have peace of mind because you’ve learned how to save for retirement? Is that worth $129? Absolutely.

If you’re struggling to straighten out your finances, I cannot recommend Financial Peace University enough. Think how nice it would be, one year from now, if you didn’t have to make a new year’s resolution about finances.

The following churches in Springfield are offering Financial Peace University classes soon. If you don't live in the Springfield, Illinois area, and want to take the classes in a group-setting, go to daveramsey.com/fpu to find classes near you.

Calvary Church, at 501 W. Hazel Dell Road, will offer FPU starting January 19th. They’ll meet every Sunday at 5:30. The cost is $95.

Cherry Hills Church’s FPU classes will be every Wednesday night from 6:30-8:00pm, starting January 29th. For more info, call (217) 546-4818. Cherry Hills is located at 2125 Woodside Rd. The cost is $109.

Christ the King Parish Center, at 1930 Barberry Drive, will offer FPU starting on February 5th. Classes will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

First United Methodist Church, at 2941 South Koke Mill Road, will offer FPU starting January 15th. Classes will meet every Wednesday at 6:30pm.

South Side Christian Church's FPU classes will be every Sunday morning from 9:00-10:15, starting January 26th. I’ll be teaching these classes. For more info, you can email brandon@southsidechristian.com or call (217) 525-0304. South Side is located at 2600 S. MacArthur Blvd.

Trinity Lutheran Church, at 515 S. MacArthur, will offer FPU starting on January 26th. Classes will meet on Sundays starting at 6pm.

West Side Christian Church’s FPU classes start on Tuesday, January 28th at 6pm. For more info, email stephanied@wschurch.org or call (217) 793-2800. West Side is located at 2850 Cider Mill Lane, just off of Veterans Parkway.