BOOK/DVD GIVEAWAY for those seeking financial peace

The term "financial peace" sounds kinda nice, wouldn't you agree? I'm not sure I'm often at peace with my finances, come to think of it.

"Financial Peace" is the title of one of radio personality Dave Ramsey's books and also the name for his 13-week biblically-based program for ordinary folks to become debt free. The program is facilitated by people all over the country, and next week there's one that starts in nearby Royersford.

Phil Cardinal, who, with his wife, Linda, is facilitating a 13-week session of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University in Royersford starting Thursday, Jan. 27, recently dropped off some promotional materials to me. I'd like to share those with one of the folks who responds/comments on this blog.

I will send to you what he gave me: Ramsey's latest book, "The Total Money Makeover: A proven Plan for Financial Fitness" (pictured above right - hardcover 2007 edition, published by Thomas Nelson Inc., 259 pp.), and a couple of DVDs, which include the first lesson, "Super Saving" of Financial Peace University.

As for the 13-week session of Financial Peace University to be offered in Royersford, here are the basics: All Health Chiropractic Center, 567 Church St., will be hosting Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University program beginning on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. The program and will meet each subsequent Thursday evening for a total of 13 weeks.The first lesson, “Super Saving,” is free. In order to attend Financial Peace University, each household will need to purchase The Lifetime Class Membership kit. These kits are $99 when ordered directly through the coordinator. Membership kits may be ordered from class facilitators Phil and Linda Cardinal on the night of the first class. A free Chick-fil-A dinner will also be provided. RSVP to Phil Cardinal by calling 610-858-6482. To learn more, visit http://www.daveramsey.com/.

The Cardinals are graduates of the program.

I have to admit I'm skeptical of paying anyone $100 to help me out of debt, but I guess that's what the free first lesson is for (to convince you otherwise).

So who is this Ramsey guy? According to his website, Ramsey, a Tennessee native and University of Tennessee business grad, is a personal money-management expert, a national radio personality, and the best-selling author of "The Total Money Makeover." In his latest book, a follow-up of his New York Times best-sellers "Financial Peace" and "More Than Enough," Ramsey "exemplifies his life’s work of teaching others how to be financially responsible so they can acquire enough wealth to take care of loved ones, live prosperously into old age, and give generously to others."

When Ramsey was 26, through his brokerage firm, Ramsey Investments Inc., he built a rental real estate portfolio worth more than $4 million and became one of Tennessee's youngest brokers to be admitted to the Graduate Realtors Institute. As Wikipedia puts it, "Ramsey's success soon came to an end as the Tax Reform act of 1986 began to have a negative impact on the real estate business. One of Ramsey's largest creditors was sold to a larger bank, which began to take a harder look at Ramsey's borrowing habits." The bank demanded he pay $1.2M of short-term notes within 90 days, forcing him to file for bankruptcy.

Subsequently, Ramsey began counseling couples at his local church and began attending "every workshop and seminar on consumer financial problems that he could find. He developed a simple set of lessons and materials based partially on his own experience and on works and teachings by Larry Burkett and Ron Blue."

After requests from clients, in 1992 wrote his first book, "Financial Peace." That same year he started his nationally syndicated radio program, "The Dave Ramsey Show," on which he offers financial advice.

Ramsey says he created Financial Peace University to help people learn "new behaviors around money that are founded on commitment and accountability." His site states that more than one million families have attended FPU classes at their workplace, church, military installation, local nonprofit organization, or community group.

Through FPU classes, he claims, "The average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 91 days after beginning FPU and is completely out of debt, except for the mortgage, in 18 to 24 months." - that's pretty astounding.