WIESBADEN, Germany - Had a few more people showed up to the first night of this year’s Financial Peace University, it would have been standing-room only.
As it was, Leary Henry, Army Community Service financial readiness manager, had to bring in several more chairs to accommodate people who showed up at the last minute. More than 40 people packed the room in the Wiesbaden Army Airfield Chapel on the evening of Jan. 23.
Henry, who teaches the class, said the 13-week financial management class designed by personal finance expert Dave Ramsey is popular because it helps people get out of debt and take control of their finances. It is also free.
Ramsey has written several personal finance books and has a call-in radio show called The Dave Ramsey Show. The class, which meets once a week at 6:30 p.m. for two hours, includes videos, lectures, discussions and homework, Henry said.
Ramsey’s class works because it provides a step-by-step process for getting out of debt, Henry said. And debt is the biggest financial problem he sees military families facing.
Not only are credit cards a problem, Henry said, but high-interest payday loans as well.
Ramsey’s philosophy is that people make sacrifices now so they can live comfortably later, Henry said.
Lisa Jones, a civilian, said she wanted to take the class last year, but did not have the time. This year she made the time. “I need to learn to handle my finances better in order to be a better example to my daughter,” she said.
Chaplain (Maj.) Scott Brown, who is helping Henry teach the class, said he had his doubts about Ramsey’s class when he first took it, but became such a believer that he has helped teach 18 classes since then. This class is his 19th, he said.
The class helped him get out of debt and stop using credit cards, Brown said.
The class helps many couples because it removes one of the biggest troubles they have: communicating about money, Brown said.
From a pastoral perspective, Brown said the class helps him immensely.
Sgt. 1st Class Dan Woerheide, who is also helping teach the class, said he first took the class in 2009 and learned so much from it that it changed his life.
As a result, Woerheide said he was traveling to Riverside, Calif., later in the week to attend Dave Ramsey’s financial counselor training.
He would like to help people by teaching the classes, Woerheide said.
Henry said that during the sixth class, he asks students if they have been living by the financial rules taught in the class. People often report a lot of change.
Although ACS offers the class only once a year, people can take the class online for $99, according to the Dave Ramsey website. There is also a version in Spanish, taught by Andres Gutierrez.
For more information on Financial Peace University visit www.daveramsey.com/home. For information on the Spanish version, visit www.andresgutierrez.com.