what we've learned and our keys to success

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 coach, Melanie, Summit Credit Union, our friends and family, and also by our fellow competitors in Project Money.  We definitely have not been alone in this.  Below you will find some of the things that have made the most impact on our saving/debt reduction over the last seven months.

• Embrace change
  • Making changes for your life and making it a lifestyle
• Don’t give up
  • For us, after changing our financial lifestyle and living it for the last 7 months, it has become much easier
• Needs versus wants
  • Do you really need it, or is just a want, and will the extra money help you in the long run?
• Set a budget
  • Set a budget and stick to it as much as possible. Budgets can and should be adjusted as necessary.
• Set saving and spending goals
  • Set goals along with a timeline in which you would like to achieve them.
• Invest your savings in money markets or certificates
  • Earn more in interest than just regular savings or checking accounts        
• Money Minder
  • This is THE tool for watching your goals, tracking where and how you spend, and keeping a watchful eye on all of your accounts (even accounts from other financial institutions)

These are a few things that we embraced.  Everyone can do what we did.  If you need help, go see a Summit Credit Union financial advisor and they can help you get started and help you along the way.  We are amazed by what we have accomplished, and can hardly describe the feeling. Give it a try, we are positive you’ll love the feeling too!

Angie & Cris