Flashback to summer 2018 – We had just announced that we were going to be on the Dave Ramsey show to celebrate with a debt-free scream! As word got out, we were let in on a little secret – our church was going to be going through a version of Momentum, a program that aimed to take entire churches through a class to create financial mature people who are working to better their finances (and in turn, their family trees and their communities).

When we were in Nashville, we had the amazing opportunity to meet with two of the advisors/coaches that our church was working with. We talked about our experience going through FPU in 2015 and what it was like to be both a facilitator and an advisor.

Not long after, we were offered the volunteer position to direct a session of FPU. After a lot of talking, planning, and prayer, we accepted the position for ALL FOUR sessions at our campus. We wanted to be a part of seeing lives changed!

What did we measure?

The Financial Peace University class is nine weeks long.  On week two, participants turn in an anonymous “financial reality check” that has them look at their non-mortgage debt, readily-available cash, and number of credit card accounts open. These numbers get tallied up and provide a big snapshot of where the class is at. At the end of the nine weeks, they fill out a similar card that asks how much on-mortgage debt they paid off, how much additional cash they saved, and the number of credit cards they cut up.

Let’s talk numbers

The Results

We had about 209 households stick through the nine weeks of Financial Peace University, and their results are astounding! On average, each household cut up 2 credit cards (though totals per household ranged from 0-20). On average, each household saved $2873 between weeks 2 and 9. Most astounding is that on average, each household paid off $5,635 of non-mortgage debt!

These participants are ALL IN. They know that if they can live a life where they don’t have to make payments to someone else. That money can be used in so many other ways that are far more beneficial.

The Momentum Marathon

All in all, it was a little bit of a crazy ride directing this many FPU classes. We easily dedicated 20 hours or more a week for the nine weeks (and for a few weeks before as well).
It isn’t necessarily a sustainable thing for us as a couple, but we don’t regret it. But what has been so fun to see is the way that God has showed up every step of the way.

Last year, we worked hard to have around 20 volunteers helping lead groups. This year, we had over 100 volunteers step up! Every year, God seems to place the right people in each group, with the right leaders. And yet again, we have heard story after story from people that have made important connections with the other people in the class. They continue on to form small groups, stay in touch about FPU, or even build new friendships. And more than anything, God shows up in the progress and change that each of these participants make. We are so humbled to be a part of that work, and can’t wait to share with more people the effect that FPU has had on our lives!

Have you ever been frustrated by poor communication or etiquette? Email etiquette is especially frustrating to me, especially with the number of places and ways that email is used in my (and Alyssa’s) lives. I go through a few hundred emails a day easily, between work, personal, consulting, and other things we help out with. Alyssa’s job also involved a large portion of email use, as well. And across all of these different uses, we have started talking more and more about the poor etiquette that is so prevalent.

I used to think it was just me that was bothered by bad email etiquette. But as it turns out, I’m not alone! We asked what types of things bother people with email, and we were a little surprised by the responses! Here are our responses to the feedback we got over on Instagram!

FYI

Ever received a forwarded email chain, with the text at the top simply stating “FYI”? No explanation, no summary, no nothing. Now, you have to scroll through an entire conversation (usually in reverse) and try to figure out what they want you to know from the emails passed along.

Better etiquette would be to provide a (super brief) summary of the info you are passing along, and why. For example, forwarding a chain of emails with instructions on a new process for bringing on new clients. “FYI, please see the updated onboarding process below and reach out to Jim with any questions or concerns. Thank you!” Now, they know exactly what to expect in the emails, what to pay attention to, and who to contact if they don’t understand anything. This shows the recipient you value their time, and equips them to read and move on quickly!

Proper Greeting and Signature

This is a personal pet peeve of mine – emails with absolutely no greeting or signature. Just a statement, question, or information. Take the extra few seconds to address the person you are contacting with a short greeting, depending on the context.

If you know the person you’re emailing, a simple “Hi Jim,” works great. If emailing a group of people or a helpdesk-type email, a short “Hello,” or “Hi all,” is perfect.

To conclude, be sure to leave off with what you are looking for next, and any info they need. If an issue has been resolved, be sure to thank them genuinely! If you still need help, still be thankful. “Thanks in advance!” or “I appreciate any help you can provide” is just fine. And at a minimum, you should have your name at the end of the email, if not an email address or phone number to reach you as well!

What do you want?!

This happens especially frequently in my job, as we receive support inquiries via email all the time. “I have a question about how your product works.” That’s all it says. What am I supposed to do with that?

Be sure to leave any necessary details to describe what you are looking for. Are you hoping to speak with someone on the phone about a specific issue? Give them enough identifying information or details so that they can prepare to call you and have your account etc pulled up. This will save you time on the phone, and help them assist you even better.

It’s also great etiquette to state plainly what you are looking for. If you are looking for an email response, or for someone to finish a task for you, then say so! When we read emails, it is tougher to imply what the sender might mean. We don’t get the same facial expressions and non-verbal cues. A lot of times, we don’t even know the person on the other end of the message! Be clear and polite about what you need.

It’s not a text message.

While some abbreviations are a part of email as well, an email is not a text to your bestie. Think of it as a letter, sent on a computer instead of in the mail. I would recommend avoiding unnecessary abbreviations or slang, like “plz” or “thx”. These come across in emails as disingenuous, and feel fake to the receiver.

Another key is to use proper capitalization and full sentences. This might sound a bit elementary, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t do this! You will be able to communicate more effectively, and come across as more polite. Be especially careful when sending from a phone, as it can easily be overlooked.

What other tips do you have on email etiquette? What bothers you most about the messages you receive?

The last few years I have been able to compare the costs of working out at home vs the gym because I’ve tried both! One of my goals has been to move my body, because I know it helps me with my SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This winter has helped confirm that moving my body truly helps me with SAD and my anxiety.

I committed to this same thing back two and a half years ago. Cody and I both started the fall with great intentions. We went to a gym, I got a personal trainer, and we managed to drag our butts out of bed a few days a week in the cold MN winter.

The struggles of the gym

The gym, including my personal trainer, was an okay environment for me, but it wasn’t the best financially or the best use of my time. I would be there for an hour and only get half a workout in. I wasted time trying to figure out WHAT to do, and I waited for people to be done with the equipment I needed!

For nine months I stuck it out, but then I was SO OVER IT. It was hard to have the energy to go in the morning or after teaching. So, I started looking for other options.

A different option

At-home workouts came into my life right as my personal training was wrapping up. They are the ONLY reason I’ve been able to stay more consistent this year. I’ve found that I need a balance between Pinterest workouts and a full gym. I love the weightlifting I can do at the gym AND the access to the personal trainers. However, working out at home means I’m on my OWN time, and not in someone else’s sweat!

Now, I don’t think working out at home is for everyone. It’s all about finding what works for you.

Some questions to ask yourself:

1. What types of exercise do you enjoy the most?
2. Are you uncomfortable working out around others or encouraged by the competition?

For me, the at-home workouts I found were a perfect fit because:

1. I am not motivated to leave my house, especially in the cold winter!
2. I need help knowing WHAT to do, but personal trainers are SPENDY.
3. The online workouts I use are led by personal trainers that give cues for form, so I still get the help I need.
4. I don’t need a lot of space or equipment (for example running is the literal worst to me)

What REALLY made the decision for us though was cost. When I saw that I could workout for an entire YEAR at home for less than the cost of ONE MONTH at our gym, it was a no-brainer to try!

We’d love to know where you like to workout! Do you have any experience with a personal trainer? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Send us your questions or comments!

Dear high school Cody,

While it might not seem super exciting, your new job at Wendy’s is actually a great opportunity for so many reasons. The money you make, even though it’s just minimum wage, will be nice for starters. You’ll learn valuable life skills (believe it or not), and learn to work hard and have fun at the same time. You’ll get invaluable practice with Spanish that will serve you well in the future. But there are some things you might not understand yet, and you’ll just have to trust me.

Start saving for college now.

Yes, your parents have been kind enough to save some money up for your education, and that will be a huge help. And yes, you can get scholarships too. But college is expensive – and you’ll pick an EXPENSIVE school. Start saving now so you can stay out of debt and work your way through school with the same excitement you have now! Plus, you’re going to want to travel, and that costs extra! Save now, and pay for it all with cash.

Right now, your expenses are low – gas, entertainment, and that’s about it. Take advantage of this time and use the extra money you’ll earn to save. Especially over the summer – those 40 hour work weeks add up to a good chunk of change! Don’t blow it on Chipotle trips or fancy dinners with your girlfriend. It’s not worth the hassle, just trust me!

Learn to budget.

I know, you’re a math nerd and you like to save money. But the skill of budgeting and living by that budget is so invaluable. Take the time now to get used to budgeting expenses ahead of time, and spending within the limits you decide! It’s a discipline that will serve you so well, especially as you get older and are responsible for all the expenses in your life.

Keep up your work ethic.

You are a hard worker, and you enjoy learning new things. Keep growing and working hard, because it’s going to set you up for bigger and better things in the future. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the journey as well, of course. The work and saving you do now is just the beginning, and remember that the end will be worth the wait too! Save up and be thoughtful with your time and money, and don’t get too caught up in the little distractions.

Just trust God.

Sometimes, you get a little too focused on what you want for yourself. You aren’t really a planner, but once you have something in your sights, you really work towards it. This is a great skill for sure, but can also make life and faith harder. Take a step back from YOUR plans and listen to God. Spend time talking to him and working on your relationship with him, and use that to guide your life. It will be so much smoother if you just trust His plan now!

When we first took a look at our budget a few years ago, we realized we had no idea what we were spending on food (and that we weren’t eating that healthy), so we started shopping at ALDI. We had heard ALDI had better prices, but we had no idea how many benefits we would find when shopping at ALDI!

Shopping at ALDI for Health

-Cheaper fresh produce

One of the keys to eating healthier is eating more fresh foods, but purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables can add up. ALDI produce is delivered fresh multiple times a week. Plus, it is typically cheaper than other grocery stores!

-Fewer distractions help us stay on track with our our goals

ALDI grocery stores are smaller and only about 10% of what they carry is name brand. This means we can stay focused on what we need and don’t get distracted by other options that aren’t helping us towards our goals. Plus, less distractions means less impulse buying, so our budget stays on track too!

-Many options including vegetarian, gluten-free

No matter what your health goals and needs are, ALDI has many amazing options. They have a fabulous selection of vegetarian options and gluten-free options. Not to mention their other awesome lines, like the “Never Any” meats that are from antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed animals. All of ALDI’s brands are truly high quality but at a fraction of the cost of other stores in our area, which makes eating healthier that much easier.

Shopping at ALDI for they way they do things

-Amazing return policy

Have you ever bought a bag of produce only to get home and realize that there’s a bunch of mold? Or buy a bag of flour only to find the rip in the bag as you put it in the pantry? These things happen, but ALDI’s return policy is amazing. They call it the “Twice as Nice guarantee” because they replace the item AND refund you as well!

-The way they run their store make it less expensive for us

ALDI doesn’t stock shelves as nicely as other places. They bring boxes straight out of the warehouse. It’s not as pretty, but it is more efficient. And it means they don’t have to pay stockers to keep the shelves looking picturesque.

-Fast and efficient

Along those lines, employees at ALDI share tasks and are very fast-paced! They have everything set up to be as efficient as possible – even putting big bar codes on everything so they don’t waste time trying to find the bar code!

Give ALDI a try!

Replacing even a few of your regular grocery items with the ALDI equivalents could save you tons of money each week! Give it a try, and see why we’ve made this our first and main stop each week for groceries. And remember to bring a quarter (for the cart deposit) and some reusable shopping bags to make your trip a breeze!