With discipline and consistency, 13 weeks of the financial guru Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University classes can change a family’s or single person’s financial conditions for the better.

The First United Methodist Church of Clanton will begin offering Ramsey’s classes at their church’s Crossroads Café Thursday, Jan. 6, at 6:30 p.m.

“We have people not only in church but in Clanton who have credit card debt and loan debt who just can’t make ends meet,” said William McCallum, a member of First United Methodist Church in Clanton. “We just want to help them grasp their finances and help them get out of debt.”

This is McCallum’s fourth time presenting this class and the fifth time it is being offered at the church.

“It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme,” said McCallum. “It takes a little time, but you can get there if you follow his plan.”

McCallum said Ramsey teaches seven “baby steps” and “we don’t sell microwaves to do this quick, we sell crock pots because you have to take it slow.”

“Dave Ramsey has developed a plan for saving money for emergencies and getting out of debt,” said McCallum.

Those seven steps include:

•Saving $1,000 for an emergency fund.

•Listing all of your debt, including credit cards, car loans, student loans — everything except what you owe on your home — and paying them off, beginning with the smallest debt.

•Saving three to six months’ living expenses.

•Investing 15 percent of your household income into Roth IRAs, pretax retirement plans or other qualified savings plans, like 401Ks.

•Saving for college for children.

•Paying off your home early.

•Building wealth and giving money.

Total cost for participants in the course — whether an individual or a family — is $93, which includes all materials, workbook and 13 audio CDs.

The first 10 people to pay for the series will receive the material for $83, said McCallum.

The book explains step by step how to get out of debt and remain that way, he said.

Last year, 11 families and single people participated in Ramsey’s popular Financial Peace University series, and so far five have signed up. Once a person or family pays for the course they become lifetime members and can take the course for free thereafter, as long as they have their workbook.

“It’s good to hear the stories of those who have participated closing their credit card accounts,” said McCallum. “We ask them if they want to get up in front of the room and cut up their credit card, and when they do you can see relief when they gain control.”

For more information or to register, contact McCallum at 755-5334 or the church at 755-0490 or e-mail secretary@clantonfumc.org. First United Methodist Church-Clanton is located at 207 8th St. N.