I briefly explained during my kitchen reveal that we were able to pay cash for our kitchen renovation thanks to Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. Which meant after the renovation was over, we just got to enjoy the kitchen, not dread paying it off over the next few months (have you ever noticed how much less fun something is when you have to keep paying and keep paying for it?) I wish I could convince everyone I knew to take this class (or at least read the book), especially newly weds/ engaged couples. It will radically improve your marriage. Couples who fight about finances are 30% more likely go get divorced than those who don't, this will help you to approach your money as a team instead of constantly being frustrated that your financial priorities don't align.
Now don't get me wrong, this class is HARD. You have to acknowledge selfish, childlike spending habits, and be willing to change them, but the reward is a HUGE peace over the marriage. Budgeting goes from being a straight jacket that keeps you from enjoying your money, to a freedom list of what you can buy guilt-free.
I just thought I would share this with anyone who would like to live with less financial stress, have a happier marriage, and change their futures. It won't miraculously increase your paycheck, but you can learn how to live in a way that makes what you have more than enough, and you will learn how to invest for the future like rich people do. Especially since WD is a teacher- the income he makes now, is not going to change much over his teaching career, it will hopefully only keep up with the cost of living increases over time. SO it is very important to live a comfortable life without resentment that we spend our money wisely, avoid debt at all costs, and live like no one else, so that later we can live like no one else.
One of Dave's big things is eating beans and rice, then rice and beans until you get out of debt. So to commemorate completing our semester of Financial Peace University, we ate beans and rice for dinner.
