I haven't really said anything about it here but I ran across something at work today that made me feel like posting.
Ashley and I have been enrolled in a class called Financial Peace University (FPU). The course was designed by Dave Ramsey, and teaches people the basics of money and money management.
FPU is a thirteen week course that will change the way you think about money and your future. I can say without a doubt that this class is THE BEST thing that Ashley and I have ever done for ourselves, our families and our future kids (yea I said it...kids). We just wrapped up week ten in the thirteen week series and we are well on our way to living the FPU dream. This isn't something that will happen to us over night, but I guarantee you, it will happen!
One of the basic FPU principals is to not buy things you cant afford. Just like the classic SNL sketch with Steve Martin, if you can't pay for it, don't do it. end of story. Ten weeks ago this was not thee case for Ashley and I as many of you know but not now. So while reviewing an internal site today titled "How to minimize holiday debt during the holidays" I found this little nugget:
< soapbox >
Debt is NOT a tool! It is a product that is sold every day and billions are being spent to market it. There is a reason you get points, miles, same as cash or event cash back with every purchase, its because they are banking on the fact that you will mess up. Life happens! Stuff happens! And if you are without a plan, you will rely on somebody else's. That somebody else for the vast majority of Americans will be and already is the
Credit Card companies. This is not a game, don't think you are smarter then they are because you aren't. You will screw up, it will mess up your life and you will fall victim to the cheetah.
< /soapbox >
At any rate I think you can see how I feel. We are changing our life and the lives of our future kids (yea I said it again...kids) and we would encourage you to do the same.
Now I am not much of a religious man, but proverb 22.7 really sums it up:
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
