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has officially come to a close, and these four teams have been impressive. And they’re leaving this program with less debt, more savings and a positive mindset about their financial future.
Throughout the course of all 15 Project Money seasons, participants have reduced debt by nearly $611,000 and saved over $649,000! And they’ve done it through seven months of dedication, working with their Summit Financial Coaches and discovering new ways to take financial control. This year’s participants are sharing their top insights and “aha” moments below. Check them out – you just might get inspired to make a financial change for yourself!
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, who’s taking home the title of Project Money Season 15 Winner – and a $10,000 grand prize. Raising her four godchildren plus working extra hours, Hannah lives an extremely busy life, and applied for the program hoping to be able to take a more proactive approach to money. By cutting back on impulse buys and limiting her credit card usage, Hannah was able to boost her savings and her credit score. We’re celebrating right along with you, Hannah!
Her top insights:
Create a separate savings account and routinely put a certain amount of money into it, even if it’s a small amount, to reach a set goal.
Take advantage of interest rates, whether it’s low loan rates to help out your budget or higher savings rates to make the most of your money.
Invest in yourself.
Her “aha” moment:
“I started seeing how much money I had left between pay periods instead of scraping by because I was carelessly spending. I also started a new account with $0 in it, and I have been able to watch that grow.”
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learned that successful money management really is a team sport. They used to operate as individuals, but now they’re a well-oiled machine, making smart financial decisions to help support their daughter’s college education and save more while Travis is on the road for work. With the help of their Summit Financial Coach, they made real change by consolidating debt and increasing their credit scores significantly. The sky’s the limit, Kelly and Travis!
Their top insights:
You don’t have to face your finances alone.
Meet with a professional – they have the training, resources and experience to help you with your financial situation.
Take small steps to improve, which will help you develop new habits over time.
Their “aha” moment:
“When we saw both our credit scores go up so many points after consolidating debt, it made us realize how quickly we could improve our financial situation. It made us want to work even harder to reduce debt.”
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: passionate. She entered Project Money feeling ready to soak up every bit of knowledge from her Summit Financial Coach, in hopes of gaining back her financial security and being able to purchase more income properties. Thanks to her driven nature and crafty ability to pick up new skills, Steph successfully paid off four credit cards and one personal loan and saved thousands of dollars. Keep crushing it, Steph!
Her top insights:
Use Summit’s Climbr®
app consistently to see spending in real time and stick to a budget.
Use a calculator! I spent a lot of time using my calculator at the grocery store or creating a budget every time I got paid. When money was super tight, I found myself really paying attention to wants vs. needs.
Try a checkbook app – I found one that helps me track how much is in my checking account after I pay all my bills on payday.
Her “aha” moment:
“I created a spreadsheet of my expenses. I was struggling to understand how someone like me, who makes a decent living, was struggling financially. That spreadsheet was very apparent – I was clearly overspending. It was then that I realized I was in trouble if I didn’t change.”
DIANA & GREG
With dreams of having more money for what truly matters, like days on the lake and spending more time with family,
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entered Project Money ready to cut down debt and get unnecessary spending in check. After developing a strong, trusting relationship with their Summit Financial Coach, Diana and Greg were able to develop habits that helped them budget better and spend smarter. The future looks bright, you two!
Their top insights:
Trust the process and the tools you have – like Summit’s Climbr®
.
Keep track of your progress.
Talk regularly about your spending and needs vs. wants – we actually made a game out of how much we can put in our savings!
Their “aha” moment:
“The Summit team did a deep dive into the mortgage company we were using and discovered how much we were spending on interest and NOT on principal. Even though our interest rate was fairly low, we were gaining NOTHING! After looking at some options, our coach, James, and his team helped us eliminate a TON of debt and made our monthly payments really low!”
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Whew – what a journey! has officially come to a close, and these four teams have been impressive. And they’re leaving this program with less debt, mo
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Breaking Free of the “nsf” Fee
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3 Reasons Financial Wellness Should Be One Of Your New Year’s Resolutions
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Are you struggling to come up with the perfect New Year’s resolution? Here are three great reasons why focusing on your finances should be a priority this year!
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Three Smart Things To Do With Your Tax Refund
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It’s not every day that someone gives you hundreds, or maybe even thousands, of dollars for (seemingly) no reason. That’s what makes getting a tax return so exciting. So before that much-anticipated check arrives, stop and consider what you should do with your tax refund, as well as what you want to do.
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8 Ways To Be More Eco-friendly (and Save Money)
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4 Financial Tips To Consider When Borrowing Money For The First Time
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Sometimes having a little extra cash is the only thing between you and your dreams. Check out these financial tips to be smart about borrowing money and avoid common mistakes.
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5 Ways To Save Money During The Holidays
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With a little planning, you may be able to actually save a little money during the holidays. Check out these tips to keep costs down without missing out on the holiday fun.
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5 Tips To Your Home Improvement Sweet Spots
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Your home is your castle, your refuge and—let’s face it—a place where it can be very easy to sink a big chunk of money. Which is why you’re always on the lookout for “sweet spots”: those home improvements that add comfort, safety or a little zing of style while you’re living in your house and will boost the asking price when it’s time to sell. And if you can find a way to save money on those improvements or cut home expenses at the same time, well that sweet spot just got a little sweeter!
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