Christina Notowny loves to budget. She also loves her husband, Emerson. So when they had been married a few months and money problems started to pop up, Christina jumped on a chance to sign up for the Rock Financial Life course on "Adopting God's Principles for Handing Money." What happened next changed their marriage, and their life.
Christina and Emerson talk about how Rock Financial Life helped save their marriage.
"We could not come to an agreement as to how the finances in our household would be managed, so while he did not understand the concept of budgeting we were not going to have joint accounts," said Christina. "I could not trust that he would not use money that was intended for bills."
Emerson agreed to attend the course with Christina. The couple started the class in February 2008, owing about $50,000 to people and credit accounts.
"We managed to finish the six-week course. We never missed a class," said Christina, who said Emerson was attentive the entire time. "He got it! He realized that we do need a budget, that his money is not his money--its HIS money. Praise God!"
By the end of 2008 the Notownys had reduced their debt by $20,000. They plan to be debt-free by the end of 2010. "Never in a million years would I have thought this to be possible," said Christina.
By the end of 2008, Christina and Emerson had paid off seven accounts, reduced their debt by $20,000, built a budget and stayed on it, started a savings account/emergency fund, and purchased term life insurance. They plan to be debt-free by the end of 2010.
"Never in a million years would I have thought this to be possible," said Christina. "God answered my prayers by my husband committing to attend. I thought it would be a long shot, but still a shot that he would understand what it is what I was trying to do for our new family."
The Notownys took seriously Pastor Miles McPherson's advice to DO Something, and have answered a call to a small Hispanic church in the Eastlake neighborhood of San Diego. "I now go around telling anyone that wants to listen to our story. God has put it in my heart to help others the way RFL has helped us."
