Freedom Friday- Financial Peace Giveaway!

* This is going to be a giveaway blog, so be sure to post a comment! I will be using a random number generator to pick the winner! *

I know, I know- I'm supposed to be sharing my progress on clearing out the dining room today... BUT it's not quite done and I need to find a new home for our extra Financial Peace University kit- so I'm killing two birds with one stone!

Back in 2003, I started listening to the Dave Ramsey Show everyday at work. At the time, I was in a BIG financial mess. I took my first FPU class in early 2005 when Havie and were still dating. I was determined to fix my mess before we potentially got married. I got a 2nd job selling fine Jewelry at Foley's evenings and weekends. My mess was just too big to make an impact. Or so I thought at the time.

When we got engaged, I found out pretty quickly that Havie had his own mess. It wasn't as big as mine and it was totally different. He has never had a credit card (and never will!) or student loans (and never will), but he had a leased vehicle that went bad and tons of medical bills. I didn't feel as bad knowing that he had bad credit along with me.

So, happily we ignored our debt together. For three years! We were making a decent living between the two of us, and we were spending it all! We had some "stuff" to show for it, but mostly we were always left wondering where it went. It makes me ashamed to admit that we were constantly behind on our bills. There was no excuse for it! Just utter immaturity on our parts. Sure, we were paying cash for everything, but our electric was about to be cut off... duh!

Anyway, about a year ago, we decided to take action. We signed up for a FPU class as a couple, finally. I had been trying to convince Havie for years, and he reluctantly decided to go with me. All it took was the first class and he was hooked. Dave's no-nonsense style is just what he needed! We were so far behind on everything that we couldn't even thing about getting to babystep 1! It took us the entire class to just get our monthly bills on time and get on a working budget.

We've been on a monthly budget ever since and it is our biggest lifesaver. Money is something we simply DON'T fight over anymore. We both know where our money is going before the month even starts. We've also accomplished baby step #1- $1,000 in Savings for an Emergency Fund, and I'm proud to tell you that we still haven't had to touch it even with Havie not working! We were starting our Debt Snowball (babystep #2) this summer when everything got turned upside down.

We are REALLY looking forward to tackling our debt when Havie gets back to work soon. To get ourselves back in gear, we are reading Total Money Makeover. I would recommend it to anyone- whether you are in a good financial state or not. It is full of hope and inspiration and real life stories of people who have found financial peace.

We already are one of those couples who have found financial peace eventhough we have a way to go. We are changing our family tree. It is amazing! All it takes is living like no one else so later we can LIVE like no one else! Normal is broke- we wanna be wierd!

***** You could have your very own FPU kit! Just comment below to be entered into the giveaway!***** (Ends Friday, August 14, 2009)