Why do FPU?

[phathui5]

With the cost involved, I'm wondering, why do FPU rather than just read Dave's books and listen to the radio show?

[Gretchen]

For one - Dave is very entertaining. The way he presents the material through video makes learning it fun. Plus the visual examples, stories and antidotes that go along with the information makes it stick with you better.

Another reason is the small group discussion. It helps you to know that you aren't alone in your struggles. You also get great ideas from people who are succeeding. You form a bond with people in the class and may make lifelong friends who are like-minded. That can only help in your journey of living debt free since debt is normal today!

Last time we offered the class the cost was $89 for each family. I heard the kits are $69 right now but I'm not sure. That could be because there is an updated version coming out after the first of the year.

[b3mom]

Personally I felt like I got more info or maybe I just absorbed more that way. I guess it just depends on how you learn. He is very entertaining too!!

[cjohnston4]

For one - Dave is very entertaining. The way he presents the material through video makes learning it fun. Plus the visual examples, stories and antidotes that go along with the information makes it stick with you better.

Another reason is the small group discussion. It helps you to know that you aren't alone in your struggles. You also get great ideas from people who are succeeding. You form a bond with people in the class and may make lifelong friends who are like-minded. That can only help in your journey of living debt free since debt is normal today!

Last time we offered the class the cost was $89 for each family. I heard the kits are $69 right now but I'm not sure. That could be because there is an updated version coming out after the first of the year.

What she said.

Regarding kit price, it's good only for registering after Oct 1 and with classes starting in the month of October.

[Galadriel]

Not saying FPU wouldn't be valuable to us, but we were not in a big financial mess in the first place, and we 'got it' just with reading TMMO and chatting with folks on line.

[Roy Randolph]

Not saying FPU wouldn't be valuable to us, but we were not in a big financial mess in the first place, and we 'got it' just with reading TMMO and chatting with folks on line.

One of the biggest success stories that has come our of our 9 classes we have coordinated is from a gentleman and his wife that wasn't in a "big mess" and they where doing much better than the most people. He for several years listened to Dave on the radio, he and his wife only attended our class because he though he was doing friends of theirs a big favor by attending. As it turned out his life and and his wifes life has totally changed, and they are doing much , much better they they where, there entire outlook on life in general has drastically changed. And to her him give his testimony to our classes is just amazing every time I hear his story.

So never think you have to be in some hugh mess financially for FPU to have a major impact on your ones life, I have seen that first hand, with a couple we all would had said, and they said it, they didn't need FPU.

When he comes back to our class to give his testimony again I am going to have to record it on video.

[stacyshan]

For one - Dave is very entertaining. The way he presents the material through video makes learning it fun. Plus the visual examples, stories and antidotes that go along with the information makes it stick with you better.
Another reason is the small group discussion. It helps you to know that you aren't alone in your struggles.

Yep this is it for me also. That visual of Dave all chained up in debt, somehow doing really well standing on one foot, I won't soon forget.
Also, the live group thing last night was pretty exciting watching everyone, well me & a couple others out of a pretty large group, cut up there credit cards, with all the live cheering, clapping & encouragement, was pretty cool. Everyone was different. I had my one long term home town credit card remaining that I cut up, knowing I had no other choice to help change my behavior, then the typical housewife with a stack of cards from every department store there was & finally the low income single mom with 2 maxed out cards, that still cried as she cut them.
I say the biggest plus with FPU is how it burns real life visuals into your head.

[Galadriel]

One of the biggest success stories that has come our of our 9 classes we have coordinated is from a gentleman and his wife that wasn't in a "big mess" and they where doing much better than the most people.
Well, um, good for them! I'm glad they found it very helpful.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I've never been to FPU or listened to one of Dave's shows (gasp!) but I found TMMO extremely helpful, and have recommended it many times to my friends.

Because of TMMO we are standing on the brink of Step 7. :hdance: :hdance:

[b3mom]

Personally I just think it is so much more personable to do with a group. How awesome!! I want to lead classes at my church. Actually I want to get to the point I can help pay for classes for free at our church. Would that not be awesome!!

[puck36]

All I did was to read Dave's book TMMO and listen to his radio show when ever I can. It took my 2 years to get debt free (June 2004 - June 2006). Now I am still debt free but the house that I just bought this year. I wish I had gone to FPU but at that time there really was any classes around my area. Now there are classes but I don't know if it would help me at this point. I'm hopping that I can find some one that has Dave's FPU video's or DVDs that I could watch or even his CD's to listen too.

[Roy Randolph]

Now there are classes but I don't know if it would help me at this point.

You also have to remember, its not always about you (meaning "us" as a whole). Not only have those that have said they are doing OK been the ones after FPU was over state it was a hugh blessing to them, but you have to keep in mind you will be armed with information that will a hugh benefit to those that you come across in your lifes journey and you could very well be a blessing to them, and that is where the exciting part of this whole plan comes into play, helping others.

[Shondra]

You know, one thing about FPU that I found incredibly helpful that I rarely hear mentioned - is that it's SO MUCH MORE than just TMMO, getting out of debt, etc. Of course there's the expected 'how to budget' 'how to use the debt snowball' , etc - but there are also entire lessons devoted to insurance.... retirement planning (beyond the "invest 15%!" that you hear all the time).... real estate (not just paying off the house, but the kind of house to look for, how to go about finding a house to buy, etc etc).... lessons on negotiating, marketing, and more.

I, too, was skeptical about going through FPU. We didn't actually take the class til we were out of debt and I didn't expect to get a lot from it. We went through it, are finishing up our first time facilitating it, and looking forward to offering it again in a couple of months. At the very least, see about going to a preview class to get a good feel of how it works. :)

[mindymc73]

I am the nerd in our outfit. I love numbers. I'm also the problem-solver.

DH is very much the free spirit. He's an outdoors kinda guy with no interest in numbers on paper. He's not one for sitting still for more than 5 minutes.

DH was the somewhat reluctant spouse. I asked him to attend the orientation with me before deciding. He did and agreed to work the plan with me. By the 2nd or 3rd class, he was REALLY getting into it. Then he started telling EVERYONE about it. We have common ground from which to work. Dave's videos are informative and very entertaining.

We are now going through our 2nd FPU (the first was this past spring) and leading a discussion group.

I read TMMO back in the fall of '05. I got started by cutting back on some things and evaluating insurances, etc. But we never carried it much further. I had forgotten about it until FPU came up at church. There's so much in FPU that you just can't get by reading the book or listening to the show.

I really think, no matter what step you are on, it's beneficial.

[JimFPU]

All the PP's are great, but the best benefit may be next year when you get to see Roy & Gail, and me & Kim (hopefully we made the cut!!!)

[Gretchen]

I know! I can't wait for the new videos to come out!

[BzyBee DH]

I think that the FPU classes can help over the long term - finding accountability partners from your area, etc. Discussing details in-person can also help.

It is not a make-or-break decision.

We did not take the FPU class until we were following the program for about 4 years! We read the book and listened to the radio program. But, we are also pretty cheap. It took us a while to agree to pay the $ for the class. It was worth it for us to have the audio CDs to be able to share with others. Which we have done.

[Mustang Gal]

I know this is an old post, but I just had to add my 2 cents...

We count FPU as some of the best money we have ever spent. Second only to IF treatments to get our son.