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Take charge of your finances

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wind Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Having trouble with your finances? Need help getting out of debt? The Financial Peace University is the class for you.

Financial Peace University is a 13 week class which applies biblical principals in managing money. The class is free to Airmen; it walks them through the steps of getting finances under control and becoming debt free.

"Active duty, Guard, Reserve, Department of Defense civilians and dependents will come in for an hour and a half class each week," said Maj. Michael Howard, 92nd Air Refueling Wing chaplain. "They go through different subjects that help participants get their finances under control."

The class starts with a pre-class called 'Reality Check' where students put down on paper how much non-mortgage debt they have, such as student loans, credit cards and car payments. By the end of the course they complete another Reality Check class to see how much of that debt they have eliminated.

If Airmen are unable to attend on the scheduled day, members of the chapel will meet with them on a day and time that works for them, Howard said.

"For the 50 people that participated last fall, representing more than 25 households, we had about one million dollars of non-mortgage debt," said Howard. "That is an average of $50,000 per house hold, the average turn around for each house hold was about $8,000."

One of the participants was able to pay off $15,000 worth of debt in just over two months.

"We cut up all of my credit cards, and I mean all of them," said Shanna Kealoha, program participant.  "I did this the first night of class."

Kealoha said the class changed the way she looks and thinks about finances.

The upcoming spring semester class starts Jan. 27 at the base chapel. After that, classes take place every Wednesday night from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

"Bring a friend or family member and get ready to change the way you think about your finances, just remember you have to really want it," said Kealoha. "You can do this just stay focused every single day."