Un-Broke: ABC special Friday, May 29, 9-10 p.m.

Un-Broke: The Seth Green Cribs Edition - watch more funny videos

Super Saving down

Our first Financial Peace University (FPU) class is in the books, and it was a good one on "Super Saving." We learned the importance of having an emergency fund in place, because emergencies will happen.

Baby Step No. 1 is save $1,000 in an emergency fund. One of the class members said he has already done this (he has been listening to Dave on the radio). What he learned is that it is better when you have the money in the bank for an emergency.

Lesson 2 is Relating with Money.

FPU Endorsement

Joe Boyd, a pastor in the Cincinnati area and a former classmate of Wendi at Cincinnati Christian University, recently completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.

Joe writes on his Rebel Pilgrim blog:

Debbie and I began Financial Peace University (Dave Ramsey) back in January. We just finished the last of the thirteen weeks today. There was a time in my life when I would not have been in the state of mind to embrace something like FPU. Ramsey is great at what he does, but he's not exactly my preferred style of teacher. I'm also hardwired to react negatively to any "system" that claims to change your life. No system works all the time and sometimes systems used improperly can cause more hard than good. To top it off, I have a hunch that Dave Ramsey and myself may have different political and theological positions on more than a few issues.

Read the rest of what he had to say about the experience here.

Save money by growing your own food

Have you ever considered growing your own food? If so, here are some links to help you grow your own vegetables, like tomatoes and potatoes.

Check out Texas A&M site here.

Want to grow your own potatoes in very little space? Check out this link.

If you want to grow the best ever tomatoes in containers, check out this site. However, it looks like a lot of work.

... and more to follow!

Marilyn and Dean report even more families have signed up for the Dave Ramsey class. We hope to have our order placed by Tuesday. Talked with others who have led Financial Peace University classes, and they tell me having about 25 families for the first offering is a good turnout. I thought so, too.

As many of you know, Wendi and I just wrapped up the class that was offered at Grace Brethren. Randy O. did a tremendous job facilitating the class and provided a wonderful example of how the FPU program should be led. In talking with some couples there, one couple paid off $20,000 during the 13 weeks and another paid of $27,000 over the same period. Wendi and I thought we were doing great attacking $7,100 (and paying off the Jeep, hip! hip! hooray!)

The program works, and I am eagerly awaiting to see how God works in our lives during this session. God is good. See you soon.

Great turnout at FPU preview!

What a great turnout for our free preview of the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class we are beginning at Parkview. Counting those who already signed up (and paid) and those who are still thinking it over, we could have about 25 families participating.

Think about the impact this will have: 25 families have said we are not going to be normal anymore because normal is broke! One report says 7 out of 10 families live paycheck-to-paycheck. So, normal is indeed broke.

This success story came off of the Dave Ramsey Web site. It is from a single mom in Missouri with three boys. This is what it is about:

I joined Financial Peace University in May of 2007 at my church. I am a single mom with 3 teenage boys. In 90 days, I was able to pay off over $2700 in credit card debt; which eliminated my debt and save over $1800.

I did this by putting ALL of the principles I learned into place and not only did I tithe, but I gave over my tithe each month. I got rid of all my credit cards and now pay only cash for everything.

It's been almost a year now and things are going great! I led the next FPU class at our church and am now leading our senior high students in "Next Generation".

In November, I met a widower with 3 boys of his own and he is so much like Dave Ramsey, it's scary! HA! He, too, is debt free (except his mortgage). We are planning a July wedding and from the sale of his house, we'll have a fully funded emergency fund and be able to make a huge principal payment on my house and be have our final debt paid off, our house, in 3 years! FREEDOM! We are in our mid-40's.

I am not tooting my own horn, but rather praising God for his promises. He truly does honor obedience over sacrifice. And he has given me "exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine." Think about it....we will have 6 boys altogether and we already have a fully funded emergency fund, college tuition set aside, all cars paid for, no credit card debt AND our house will be paid off in 3 years before we are 50!! That blows my mind!!!

God is so good. It truly pays to "Act Your Wage". Thanks for all you do Dave!

Save money with coupons

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Almost there!

Not debt free, but one account closer

Wendi and I paid off our 2001 Jeep Cherokee on Friday, April 3, 2009 - 20 months early!

In January, we owed $3,900. Today we owe zero! We would never have done it without going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. The course has allowed us to treat our money differently and has given us a new perspective.

I hope everyone will be attending the FPU free preview 9:45 a.m. Sunday at Parkview Church of Christ, 1912 Burbank Road, Wooster, OH.

When should you refinance?

This comes from Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Web site:

Dave explains to a caller when he should consider refinancing his house.

QUESTION: Jason asks when it’s wise to refinance a mortgage.

ANSWER: You should refinance when you can save enough on the interest rate to pay for the closing costs before you move.

If you have a $100,000 loan and you can save 1% a year by refinancing, you would save $1,000 a year. If your closing costs are $4,000, it would be 4 years before you got your money back for doing the refinance.

A good rule of thumb is to refinance only if you save at least 2% or more. If it’s less than that, you’re only looking at a break-even situation.