Meet the season 13 Teams
Katie
A single mother of four children (Jude, 15; Lucy, 12; Jason, 7; and Jaelyn, 4), Katie feels the pressure of balancing a substantial mortgage along with all the other monthly bills that pile up.
And while she continues to make her payments on time and successfully avoids credit card debt, she knows establishing a budget will open up new possibilities for her family. Between handling unexpected expenses, refinancing her mortgage and saving for long-term goals like retirement and college, she’s ready to take action.
Perhaps more than anything, Katie is excited to build a foundation of financial knowledge that will not only allow her to relieve some of her immediate financial stress, but also meet whatever challenges come her family’s way in the future.
“This program is all about bettering myself, learning as much as possible and passing that knowledge on to my children,” she says.
We can’t wait to see what you accomplish, Katie!
Katie's Journey
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Jasmine
After earning a college degree in 2019 and starting a promising career, the pieces are in place for Jasmine to build a bright future for herself and her three kids, Kamari, 8; Mekhi, 3; and Jaylee, 2.
With the added income from a second job, she knows she can make her money work harder for her – and the support of a coach would help her tap into all the habits and strategies she needs in order to get on solid financial footing.
But with some trouble budgeting and the ongoing burden of paying down debt, along with her goal to buy her first home this year, she acknowledges she will need to clear some hurdles – and she’s ready for the challenge.
Reaching a balance in her financial life wouldn’t just help pave the way toward a brighter future for her loved ones, it would also give Jasmine something she’s been seeking for a long time: peace of mind.
“This challenge won’t just benefit me – it will help my family, friends and others who see my success,” she says.
We’re excited to see what lies ahead, Jasmine!
Jasmine's Journey
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Mary & Josh
Mary and Josh know they’re capable of reaching their goals when they stick to a plan.
The couple has buckled down in the past, digging themselves out of substantial student loan debt. But after buying a house, the couple found a new list of expenses on their plate.
Now, with all three of their children (James, 7; Jack, 6; and Josie, 4) in school and daycare costs a thing of the past, the family knows this is the perfect time to make progress on their financial goals.
They know it will take work, but Mary and Josh are eager to feel the relief of reducing debt and building their savings.
“We’re excited to build confidence in our financial plan and set ourselves up for success in the future,” says Mary.
We know you’ll make it happen!
Mary and Josh's Journey
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Kelly & Eric
Kelly and Eric know they need more discipline and structure when it comes to their financial habits.
But with the constant demands of their jobs and a variety of activities for their children (Alex, 16; Barrett, 13; and Cole, 11), they’ve found making permanent changes particularly challenging.
Beyond the lack of a stable budget, the family feels the burden of credit card debt and a savings that likely isn’t big enough to withstand a substantial unexpected expense.
The couple is also looking forward to the expertise of a coach and are confident that the added accountability will help them kickstart their journey toward a financial future that includes college costs, retirement and more.
“Project Money is our chance to break bad habits and create new ones so we can finally reach our goals,” says Kelly.
We believe in you, Kelly & Eric!
Kelly and Eric's Journey
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Alex is a high school junior who plays soccer, loves art and is looking ahead to college, where she hopes to study something in the medical field. Here’s an edited Q-and-A with Alex:
Our latest addition to the list of confounding queries: Should we increase our savings or reduce our debt? The correct answer, of course, is “both” – after all, those are the two main goals of Project Money.
Cole is 11 years old and in sixth grade, plays soccer and hockey and is interested in space and engineering – and, of course, loves playing video games with his friends. Here’s an edited Q-and-A with Cole about his experience in the program so far.