Financial Peace; what is it? What does it mean to me? In my life, it means that I have control over my finances; that I’m not living paycheck-to-paycheck, that I have a plan to govern my major purchases and my retirement. That I have a savings account with enough set aside to get me through almost any emergency, including a 6 month period of unemployment. It means being Debt Free (well, except my home) and not having to worry about payments.
Up until 2007, I didn’t even have any idea that I could achieve this state; in fact, I never thought about my finances enough to know that I didn’t have Financial Peace. You may have heard of Financial Peace University, a personal finance class usually taught in churches, well it was in taking FPU (Financial Peace University) that I discovered that there was such a thing, and that I didn’t have it.
Before then, I was normal. I had several credit cards, a car loan, student debt, a mortgage, and only a couple thousand in a retirement account with out any understand of what I had. I earned a good living and enjoyed my income by eating out (a lot), buying new “toys,” and going on vacations. I thought I was doing well.
Like a lot of people, my parents didn’t know enough about personal finance to teach me much beyond how to balance a check book and that if I wanted any money, I had to work for it. They were not taught about the importance of an emergency fund, saving for retirement, or the dangers of debt. So I followed in their foot steps, worked hard, bought stuff with plastic, and looked at my W-2 every year and wondered where it all went.
It was due to the information taught in FPU that I was able to learn how to budget, save, invest wisely, and have a plan for my finances. Since becoming debt free in late 2008, I’ve developed a passion for helping people become free, to have Financial Peace. I’ve spent a lot of my own money and free time learning all I can about personal finance, including completing the CFP curriculum, taking a week long financial counselor training course from Dave Ramsey’s team, reading about current issues, and practicing what I know.
So, what does all this mean for you? Chances are that you are very similar to the “normal” I described above, but you are looking for a change, that you are looking to take control of your life! That’s where I can help you; I lead FPU at my local church in Groton, CT, where you can attend and start your journey, or you can contact me for a personal coaching session, where I will provide you the information, guidance, and accountability you need to achieve Financial Peace.
With this blog I intend to bring you useful content, inspiration, and even some great deals to help you along your journey! Please let me know what you want to read about!