FARMINGTON – Before the economy tanked, Diane Bolduc and her husband, Michael, took a class that started them living simply.

“The economy hasn’t impacted us as badly as it could have because we were all ready working on cutting back. When gas was $4 a gallon, it was hard, but not as hard as it could have been,” she said.

The Bolducs had attended a 13-week course led by Simon Thorne, a Trinity United Methodist Church member. The course, called Financial Peace University, was developed by Dave Ramsey to teach people how to pay off debt, save and avoid future debt, Thorne said.

Another class runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church.

Ramsey had money, but also high debt. Bolduc says Ramsey went through bankruptcy then back to being a multimillionaire.

Ramsey’s Web site, www.daveramsey.com, details that journey.

After vowing to never borrow money again and with friends in similar circumstances, he began to study personal finances and developed lessons and materials to help other people, according to his Web site.

Only a day away from losing his job, Thorne caught Ramsey on the radio talking about getting out of debt.

“We (he and his wife) bought into it as a couple, sold everything and have tried to stay debt-free since,” Thorne said. “It takes away a lot of stress and arguments … we haven’t fought about money in years and we’ve been debt-free for quite a few years.”

After Ramsey’s work affected his life, Thorne went to church members who bought the program to share with the community, Bolduc said. Couples and singles watch Ramsey’s DVD promoting actions or “baby steps” as Ramsey calls them to get out of credit card debt, set up a family budget and stay on it, she said. The DVD is followed by a confidential discussion among participants.

“Our culture has become a credit-based society where even Monopoly games use credit cards now instead of money,” Thorne said. “It’s not an easy task to get out of debt and requires a lifestyle change.”

The course is Bible-based, but it’s not necessary to be a churchgoer to gain from it, Thorne said.

The course cost $99.50.

For more information or to enroll, call 712-8248.