Together for Lincoln offers classes on money management and debt elimination

[February 27, 2009]  Together for Lincoln, a nonprofit organization comprised of volunteers from 14 local churches, is looking to address another aspect of need in the community. The group will offer classes on money management and debt elimination to the entire community in an effort to financially equip and educate the people of Lincoln.

Together for Lincoln has worked on construction and beautification projects throughout Lincoln, including a day of service in which over 1,000 volunteers worked on 118 different projects for many elderly, handicapped and single-parent residents. Now Together for Lincoln will help people of all ages, backgrounds and income levels to rebuild and improve their finances.

Together for Lincoln will use Financial Peace University, a financial planning approach, to teach people to plan for the future, rather than living paycheck to paycheck. This program will equip the citizens of Lincoln to take control of their financial destiny, despite the economic recession the world is facing.

"We're developing our own stimulus package by investing in the people of Lincoln," explains Greg Wooten of the Church of the Nazarene. "We're giving them the tools to get out of debt and improve their financial situation so the community will be more resilient during times of recession.”

Classes will be offered at various locations at different days and times, beginning Sunday. To register or for more information, contact Together for Lincoln at 217-671-1444 or www.togetherforlincoln.org.

Together for Lincoln hopes to see as many people in the community take advantage of this program as possible. The registration fee is $100, and scholarships and financial assistance are available.  No one will be turned away if they cannot afford the registration fee.

The first group of sessions in March will kick off this program, with classes continuing throughout the year to provide frequent availability.

Financial Peace University, a 13-week program taught by Dave Ramsey, has helped more than 500,000 families alter their financial future. This life-changing program teaches families and individuals how to handle their money through common-sense principles. Individuals and couples may take the classes all together or in two segments, with the first six weeks focused on getting out of debt and the remaining seven weeks focused on saving money and building wealth.

Each class is approximately 90 minutes, once per week. Multiple class dates, times and locations are being offered to accommodate a wide range of schedules.

As they work on a total money makeover, 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.

"We've actually relieved ourselves of over $50,000 worth of debt in two years just from using these principles," said Russ Lee, a former FPU participant.

During the last course, held at Lincoln Christian Church, the class participants were able to put $2,228 in savings and pay off $4,744 in debt on average per family. In addition to those figures, one family saved up and bought a car with cash; another family started saving for their children's college education; another family began saving for their vacation so they could pay cash; every family began to but money into an emergency fund so they would not have to rely on credit cards when those emergencies arose; many of them had over $1,000 in their emergency fund at the end of the 13 weeks; and as a class they cut up and canceled over 250 credit cards.

Topics covered in the program include:

• Saving for emergencies

• Budgeting

• Relationship and money issues

• Buying big bargains

• Getting out of debt

• Understanding investments

• Understanding insurance

• Retirement and college planning

• Buyer beware

• Real estate mortgages

• Careers and extra jobs

• Collection practices and credit bureaus

Included in the cost of the class materials is a lifetime family membership to FPU, allowing the participant to return to any class anytime for a refresher course. The kit also includes an FPU workbook, an FPU envelope system, 13 audio lessons, bonus CD, budgeting forms, debit card holders and Ramsey's best-selling book, "Financial Peace Revisited."

"FPU classes are changing lives across the country every day," says Louis Falzetti, executive vice president of Financial Peace University. "There is something for everyone in this program, whether you are barely making ends meet, just trying to plan for retirement or seeking to build wealth. No matter what your financial situation, you will find FPU to be the best motivational tool available across the nation to help you attain financial peace."

The locations and contact information to learn more about the program are:

Carroll Catholic School
111 Fourth St.
Orientation: March 1, 4 p.m.
First class: March 15, 4-6 p.m.
Contact: Sister Mary Lou Owen,
217-732-4019
E-mail: [e-mail]

ADI Education Center
305 N. Kickapoo St.
Orientation: March 3, 6:30 p.m.
First class: March 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Contact: Greg Wooten, 217-732-8362
E-mail: [e-mail]

Integrity Data
110 N. Kickapoo St.
Orientation: March 9, 6:30 p.m.
First class: March 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Contact: Todd Parmenter, 217-732-7618
E-mail: [e-mail]

Jefferson Street Christian Church
1700 Jefferson St.
First class: Feb. 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Contact: Dustin Fulton, 217-732-9294
E-mail: [e-mail]

You can also receive more information about Together for Lincoln's Financial Peace University classes by contacting Together for Lincoln at 217-671-1444 or www.togetherforlincoln.org.

[Text from file received]