Ten years ago, my life was a huge mess, emotionally, spiritually and financially. I owed three check advance companies money, I owed past due utility bills, and I had bounced so many checks that most grocery stores wouldn’t let me pay with a check. I was engaged to a man whose financial habits were worse than mine. The ironic part was that I was working for my family’s business, Kentucky Rebuild Corp (KRC), as the Accounting Manager. Here I was keeping the books for a multi-million dollar company, but I couldn’t even keep my own checkbook balanced. I felt like a hypocrite. One spring day in 2000, I went to lunch with my Dad (who is also my boss’s boss), and instead of harping on me about my “no good fiancé”, he just looked at me and said, “I’m worried about you, Christine. You just don’t seem happy.” I was quiet for a minute, and then finally said, “You know what? I’m not… So, now what?”
That was the turning point for me. I broke off the engagement and moved into my Dad’s house for three months (which is very humbling when you’ve been on your own for six years). During this time and for several months after, my Dad began to teach me about how to handle my money responsibly. He helped me devise a plan to start saving money, to pay off my debt, and encouraged me to start giving to charity.
Over the next several years, I kept following my Dad’s advice and my finances improved steadily. I also started dating my husband, Nick, who was doing almost all of the Dave Ramsey stuff (before we knew who Dave Ramsey was!). Nick modeled to me what being a “Super Saver” and debt-hater was. We were married in 2003.
One day, it dawned on me that I hadn’t worried about money in a long time. I never realized the amount of stress and worry I had when I was the under the burden of debt until I was finally out from under it. At that point, my Dad encouraged me to teach others what he taught me. He told me that I’d learn even more by teaching other people. I informally coached several of my siblings and friends on financial matters. I asked the leaders at my church (Vineyard Christian Church in Florence, KY) when we were going to have a class to help our members succeed financially. Finally, four years ago, we started offering Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at the Vineyard! I was so excited! I co-facilitated the very first class of FPU, knowing that I would help others but never expecting to learn so much myself.
I was very impressed by Dave Ramsey’s style of teaching people sound financial management principles in a way that is fun and easy to understand. So much so, that I decided to become a Dave Ramsey Certified Financial Counselor.
I really have a heart for offering people hope in their financial struggles. I enjoy helping both individuals and small business owners succeed with money. There is nothing more satisfying for me than to sit across from someone, helping them with their financial plan, and seeing hope stir in them that they too can achieve financial peace of mind!
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