For a lot of us, the beginning of the new year means changing our habits. Finances usually tops the list of areas that people want to get in order. Recently, West Ridge offered the Financial Peace University through the 2014 spring session of Life Groups. The course was developed by Dave Ramsey, is Biblically based, and has been instrumental in leading many people to becoming debt-free.
I had the great pleasure of meeting with one of the course’s recent graduates, Bethany Caruso, to talk about the Financial Peace classes and to hear how the course has changed her life.
Bethany is 25 and lives in Imperial. Growing up, she was ministered to by her mom and grandma. In 2008, Bethany accepted Christ into her heart and hasn’t looked back. She’s been attending West Ridge for over two years now, ever since she was invited to a NEXT event.
Bethany felt pulled to be healthy in every area of her life. One of those areas was her finances. So when the Financial Peace courses were being offered last spring, she signed up. Seeing the mistakes that so many others had made with their finances while she was growing up and not wanting to repeat them herself, Bethany was motivated to take the classes seriously. Bethany acknowledges, “My actions were going against what the Word says. But I did not know. It was truly an area of my life I had no knowledge besides that the love of money is the root of all evil. I had a desire God placed in me to be of good stewardship. But I had to choose, key word, choose to claim what God had for me.”
Led by Mike Schuller and Phil Riggle, the group met for 9 weeks. It was a diverse group of people, of varying ages, in different stages of life. Bethany said the group setting for the class was great because it offered support and it was a “no judgment zone”. Everyone bonded and it was easy to open up and talk about their finances. Plus, they were able to learn from the mistakes that others had made.
Bethany shared that the very first thing the group learned was why Financial Peace is important. She also learned how it is based on principles from the Bible and can work for anyone in any situation. She was very excited to get started. She said that she went in to the group very open minded, “What I was doing wasn’t working, so why not try something that my church says works?”
When you learn about money and God’s view on it, your eyes are opened up to the fact that tithes and offerings are the most vital aspect of finances. Giving your first fruits to God by tithing exhibits a grateful and loving heart. It also signifies that you trust God and are putting Him first in your life. Plus it positions you to be greatly blessed! Bethany said, “I started looking at tithes differently not as money but as whatever God was trying to teach me that month. For me that was trust and that I clearly couldn't do it myself like I was trying. When I trusted God in one area of my life, I began to trust him in every area of my life. I was seeing my needs being met way beyond what I expected.”
Areas like budgeting, blew Bethany away. She never realized that the money she thought was “extra” really wasn’t and that she had been just wasting money. “Zero Budgeting” has helped her to increase her savings and make sure that each dollar she earns has a place. Bethany mentioned that when she looked back at what she had earned since she started working and then at what she had when she began the classes, it hurt! She said, “I would have had thousands in my savings and thousands in my emergency fund if I would have started this so much sooner!”
Bethany concedes that the hardest thing about going through Financial Peace was not being able to buy new clothes whenever she wanted. But she admits, the easiest part has been saving, “Once you see your savings account balance increase, it’s worth it.” Bethany has learned that budgeting helps you to achieve your goals in the right timing.
“My generation is the worst with money.” Bethany said. She’s begun to plant the seed in her younger cousins about how important it is to save when you are young. “We live in the NOW generation. I was very selfish and wanted everything now.” Bethany quotes Dave Ramsey, “Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later.” She has been sharing all she’s learned from Financial Peace on Facebook, inspiring those who know her to begin being financially responsible as well.
Bethany graduated from the Financial Peace University and has set her sights on achieving her goals by using all the tools she learned. Her goal for 2015 is to pay off all of her debt, including credit card debt. Another goal she has is to help other people her age and younger to be more financially responsible. Long term Bethany would like to be able to financially her help out her mom and eventually buy her own home. Even longer term, she would like to be financially sound so that whenever God does bring the right person into her life and they are ready to start a family, she can be a stay at home mom. Bethany also wants to be able to follow whatever call God places on her heart for ministry and not have finances slow her down.
Bethany said that the most rewarding aspect of going through this journey has been gaining a greater understanding of who God is. She’s also become more disciplined and she has more money in her pocket! She wants to encourage anyone who is dealing with the stresses of finances that are out of control to take the course, “No matter what age you start, it’s better to start now than never!”
Now that we know about Bethany’s finances (LOL!) let’s get to know the rest of her! It’s time for the Super Six Questions!!
1. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night owl!
2. What was the last book you read? “Becoming Myself” by Stasi Eldredge
3. What is your favorite way to relax? I love hanging out with my friends, either going to Sunday brunch or out on a girls’ night or even just working out together.
4. What would you have for the perfect meal? Ohh! Steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, asparagus, and cornbread.
5. What is your favorite Scripture to meditate on in times of stress? “Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10 My mind can go in a thousand different ways. Sometimes I just need to be still.
6. What is your favorite thing about West Ridge? It is a family. It’s home. It’s warm and welcoming.
Post by: Marcy Gates
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