Meet the season 9 Teams
Jenniffer & Ashley
Savings Increase: $10,313 Debt Reduction: $4,664
Jenniffer first heard about Project Money last year during a Summit Credit Union seminar at her workplace. She didn’t know it then, but her desire to develop healthy financial skills to model for her daughter, Ashley, would lead her to become a participant herself.
A single mother, Jenniffer lives in her own home with Ashley (14) and their black lab, Jett. Short-term goals include paying some medical bills (Ashley sustained a soccer injury requiring surgeries) and eliminating her credit card debt. Jenniffer would also like to set her sights on investments like establishing savings for Ashley’s college and her own retirement.
“Right now, my spending habits are based on convenience instead of meeting long-term goals,” says Jenniffer.
To reach these goals, Jenniffer knows she will have to develop healthier financial habits and maintain them. While this is sometimes overwhelming, she is excited about sharing this journey with Ashley.
“I am committed to working with my financial coach to learn all that I can and share that knowledge with Ashley,” Jenniffer says.
We look forward to seeing the results!
Jenniffer's Journey
Follow along to see their progress.
Karl, Heather, Shannon, Hadley & Phoebe
Savings Increase: $11,272 Debt Reduction: $3,624
Karl and Heather are used to a challenge. With three active daughters—Shannon (15), Hadley (13) and Phoebe (10)—and full-time jobs, they’re constantly on the move.
Between going back-and-forth to school, ice skating lessons and Girl Scouts (among other activities), Karl and Heather find it easy to lose track of daily expenses. They look forward to tracking that spending right away to spread their money further.
With college approaching for Shannon, and Hadley and Phoebe not far behind, they’d also like to establish a more robust education fund. Other goals include installing another bathroom in their home and adding a second family car to accommodate their busy lifestyle.
By addressing their budgeting goals, Karl and Heather know they can reduce the stress of paying bills each month and focus more on their girls. Primarily, the couple views Project Money as a chance to translate learnings to their daughters and set themselves up for the long-term.
“More than anything else, Project Money is the ideal opportunity to start having financial accountability to a coach, to ourselves and to our girls,” they say.
We couldn’t agree more!
Karl and Heather's Journey
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Moriah, Terrance & Daylen
Savings Increase: $5,632 Debt Reduction: $10,055
Initially hearing about Project Money almost a decade ago in 2008, Moriah is excited to be a part of the program with her husband, Terrance, and their 1-year-old son, Daylen.
After moving into a larger home in October, the couple kept their previous home and now use it as a rental property. While this provides another source of revenue, Moriah says the added mortgage and responsibility can be stressful.
Between Terrance’s work as a fitness coach and Moriah’s 12-hour shifts as a respiratory therapist, the couple is busy. When Daylen came, they saw a decrease in family time and increased difficulty in arranging their schedules to accommodate childcare, which caused Terrance to reduce his workload—and therefore paycheck—to make things work.
The couple would like to reduce debt to help maintain their two mortgages while making renovations to their new home. They also want to evenly allocate paychecks to finally become “money-married.”
Moriah and Terrance acknowledge that the journey will be difficult at times, but are ready to take it on. “There will be setbacks, but with the knowledge we gain, we should be able to correct ourselves going forward,” they say.
We know you can do it!
Moriah and Terrance's Journey
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Venus & Madison
Savings Increase: $1,374 Debt Reduction: $751
Venus, single mother of 7-year-old daughter, Madison, has always been a go-getter. It’s what makes her successful as a self-employed personal trainer and health coach. Now, she is ready to put that same motivation toward being a participant in Project Money!
With income that varies based on each contract deal, Venus knows that it is important to stay diligent and disciplined with her finances. To help meet this challenge, she aims to set and stick to a budget for expenses each month.
Venus’ other Project Money goals include paying off her credit card debt, paying her student loans and moving into a new home with Madison. She also hopes to learn how she can apply new financial skills to her business. “As a fitness entrepreneur,” Venus says, “it’s very important to get a better understanding of how to budget my money.”
Given her expertise in the health and wellness industry, it should be no surprise that Venus is also excited to find out how Project Money can improve their quality of life. “I’m looking forward to sharing financial education and seeing what it can do for our own health and well-being,” she says.
We’re excited to watch your journey!
Venus' Journey
Follow along to see their progress.