who Will win $10,000?

Join our participants as they reduce debt and increase savings with the help of Summit financial coaches.

TOTAL SAVINGS INCREASE: $62,986 | TOTAL DEBT REDUCTION: $64,484

Join our participants as they reduce debt and increase savings with the help of Summit financial coaches.

TOTAL SAVINGS INCREASE: $62,986 | TOTAL DEBT REDUCTION: $64,484

Congratulations Angie and Cris our $10,000 winner!

Meet the season 10 Teams

Jaclyn & Kiara

Savings Increase: $4,390 Debt Reduction: $16,804

Read Their Story

Jaclyn and Kiara have come a long way during Project Money. Because they both worked two jobs, they spent a lot of money just trying to maintain their demanding schedules. Their Project Money coach helped them make lifestyle changes that ultimately allowed them to quit their second jobs, freeing them up to work toward long-term goals. In their words, “We are now able to look at our future goals more seriously. It’s as if they have gone from being future dreams to being actual plans.” These ladies are truly inspiring!

Their advice for owning your finances:

Budgeting is everything. If you stick to your plan, but it doesn’t go right, then simply adjust the best you can
When paying off debts, consider the snowball effect, which can help reduce the total amount you’re paying in the long run
Look for the best deals or free options when shopping or looking for things to do

does it really have to end?

January 2, 2019

Jaclyn and Kiara

We can’t believe that this is our last blog and that Project Money is coming to an end! During a recent conversation with our coach Jamie, we asked if we could start over or have six more months?! From the point we are at now, we’ve come to a realization that we can do it on our own from here. Granted if we ever reach a crisis, we will probably still call Jamie to ask for help.

thank you all for everything!

December 27, 2018

Jaclyn and Kiara

Since this will be one of our last blogs, we would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to a few different people! We would like to start by saying thank you to Summit Credit Union and the Project Money team for just letting us have the chance to participate in such a rewarding and educational program! We never thought we would be here and being a part of this has made us so much more aware of our finances. It has also showed us that we can accomplish so much if we just put our minds to it.

exhaustion vs. enjoying life

December 17, 2018

Jaclyn and Kiara

We are sure that all of our family, friends and anyone else that has been following us along this journey is wondering how we are doing after a week of relaxation (only working our full time jobs). Let us just say that it is everything that we have wanted it to be and so much more. You never really know how much you are missing out on until you take a step back, breathe and really look at your life.

See the rest of
their journey

Angie, Cris, Blake& Carly

Savings Increase: $23,723 Debt Reduction: $15,905

Read Their Story

Congrats to Angie & Cris, the winners of this year’s Project Money program and $10,000 prize! We couldn’t be more proud of the progress these two made throughout the season, from managing their day-to-day budget to planning to one day build their dream home. Along the way, they also worked hard to teach their kids, Blake and Carly, the importance of good financial habits.

Their advice for owning your finances:

Be more mindful of your spending
Plan to save for what you want to buy, rather than using a credit card
Open a second checking account dedicated just to bills, and multiple savings accounts to save for different goals
Use Summit Money Minder. It helps you watch your goals, track where and how you spend, and keep a watchful eye on all your accounts (even accounts from other financial institutions)
Find a few more of their tips here!

what a roller coaster ride!

January 2, 2019

Angie and Cris

We started off Project Money with what a ride this will be. We had never taken this ride before, and were willing to lift our expectations and experience this one, only starting with what the outcome may be. We never dreamed we’d be where we are today after this year. We knew it would be an uphill climb for sure, not understanding how we’d feel on the way down. Going up a roller coaster to get to the top takes a long time and a lot of commitment, as you have to work harder than the fun ride down.

what we've learned and our keys to success

December 27, 2018

Angie and Cris

There has been much to learn throughout this Project Money journey. Some things were taught, some were learned through trial and error. There have been easy lessons and some we had to learn the hard way. Nothing was given, but was earned every step of the way. We have made many changes to our spending habits, our eating habits, and our saving habits. We have learned how to budget, how to save without putting ourselves in a bind, and how to live a more financially secure life. All of our success has been helped along greatly by other people such as our coa

Night in vs. night out

December 17, 2018

Angie and Cris

Friday night at the Nelson house was a great night. Blake was away for the night at a birthday party, and we had Carly. Carly is very self-sufficient, and for the most part is willing to do her own thing. We were invited out this past Friday night, however our friends knew it was not in the cards for us to have and pay for a babysitter, so they offered to come to our house and play cards, spades, euchre, etc. Technically we could afford to go out, but it was not within our budget at this time, especially with Christmas coming. We couldn’t have been more ecstati

See the rest of
their journey

Megan & Scott

Savings Increase: $20,831 Debt Reduction: $27,145

Read Their Story

With their wedding now less than a year away, newlyweds-to-be Megan and Scott have reached their wedding savings goal and then some. By changing some of their everyday habits and making saving a priority, they’ve been able to accomplish other goals too, like paying off student debt and contributing to their retirement savings. Can you say #PowerCouple?

Their advice for owning your finances:

Communication is the key to succeeding at anything with your partner. Be an open book. Don’t lie to yourself. The more you are honest and straightforward about your situation, the sooner you will see improvement
Set up a NO-excuses budget. Set parameters for yourself, and don’t move from them. You’ll see immediate results in regard to previous unnecessary spending
Use Summit Money Minder, a free app that tracks spending and saving. You’ll get email/text updates on how much of the budget you are using for the month and how close you are to reaching your financial goals

project money 4 lyfe

January 2, 2019

Megan and Scott

Well, the year is coming to a close! It seems like just yesterday we submitted our application to Summit Credit Union with hopes of becoming finalists in Project Money Season 10! We have accomplished our goals as outlined at the start of the summer, we have blogged and posted all about our struggles and challenges along the way, and now it is time to create some NEW goals for 2019, as we continue our annual Project Money at home! Maybe the best way in starting the New Year is to think of what’s coming down the pike in 2019….

the real MVP

December 27, 2018

Megan and Scott

This has been one heck of a ride. We just wanted to recap what has happened throughout Project Money and the fact that we never would be where we are or have had the success this year without the wonderful staff at Summit Credit Union. As we mentioned last week in our blog, we had a goal to pay off one more loan by the end of the year for Scott. We accomplished this last week with a team effort that never would have happened before the “counseling” of our coach, Jamie.

ch-ch-changes

December 17, 2018

Megan and Scott

One of the best feelings you can have is when you accomplish tasks ahead of schedule. We’ve met all of our goals that we wanted to accomplish this year!

See the rest of
their journey

Sara, Grace, Miles & Isaac

Savings Increase: $14,040 Debt Reduction: $4,628

Read Their Story

Sara and her family had an incredible Project Money journey. Her willingness to learn new things helped her accomplish some big financial wins, whether it was reducing her day-to-day spending or refinancing her mortgage to have a shorter repayment timeline. She says the experience has been transformational: “As a result of my Project Money journey, I am financially independent and thriving. I have the freedom to be happy, successful, and hopefully am modeling that strength for my family and friends each and every day.”

Her advice for owning your finances:

Pay in cash and don’t fall into mindless purchasing with credit cards and living beyond your means
Summit has some amazing resources: staff, webinars, tech tools. Take advantage of these
Meet with a Summit Financial Coach to discuss debt. Lay all your debt out there and see if anything can be bundled or refinanced

finale

January 2, 2019

Sara

Hello Week 31 of Project Money! This is the final week for my official Project Money journey. Growing up I remember watching The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 movie based on Baum’s children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I loved Dorothy and Toto, Dorothy’s Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and was equally terrified by the Wicked Witch of the West and the flying monkeys. As a young girl, I watched with wide eyes as Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man, and Scarecrow proceeded on the yellow brick road to Emerald City in search of home, courage, a brain, and a heart respectively

save money in the laundry room

December 27, 2018

Sara

Hello Week 30 of Project Money! We continue to wind down with Project Money though I have reiterated more than once that the journey is only beginning. Each week I make new gains in terms of increased savings and debt reduction, fail at things and succeed at others, and take time to reflect on how I can improve while celebrating multiple successes. For this week’s blog, I want to take you to an article that discusses 16 ways to save money related to doing laundry. I have

consider your spending

December 17, 2018

Sara

Hello Week 29 of Project Money. My Project Money coach, Jess Davis shared an article with me from Frugality Magazine titled “5 Things You Should Consider Before Buying Anything.” For me and for many of my followers who want to increase their savings and decrease their debt, this article really hits home about the basics of how to eliminate the yo-yo diets of unnecessary spending while trying to understand perhaps the psychology of spending. The five tips are as f

See the rest of
their journey

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