The End of Project Money—and the Start of a New Financial Path

December 17, 2025

It’s hard to believe this chapter is coming to an end, but we are so grateful for everything Project Money has given us. Being part of this program with Summit Credit Union has been an incredible experience, and one we’ll carry with us long after the competition is over.

As we shared in our very first blog, Marco had always wanted to do Project Money. What finally pushed us to apply was meeting someone in our community who had gone through it themselves. They didn’t win, but they told us it completely changed their life.

Now, we can honestly say the same.

Project Money has been truly life-changing for us individually, for our relationship, and for our family. We only wish we had done it sooner. Along the way, we learned new ways to work through financial barriers and, just as importantly, how to talk about money in a more productive way.

One of the best parts of this journey was meeting every month with our financial coach, Jess. Those check-ins were something we genuinely looked forward to. They helped us stay on the same page throughout the month and kept us moving forward as a team. Instead of spending nights arguing over small money stressors, we had shared goals and a bigger picture. Jess helped keep us accountable, and that made all the difference.

This experience put us so far ahead financially that we now feel confident taking thoughtful risks and reaching for our dreams. Before Project Money, I never imagined we’d be in a position where graduate school without student loans was even a possibility. Now, I’m about to finish my undergraduate degree debt-free and am applying to grad school next semester with a plan to pay for it out of pocket.

We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again. We didn’t just meet our goals, we surpassed them. We’re walking away from this experience as completely different people when it comes to our finances.

One of the most empowering takeaways is realizing that what we’re doing isn’t out of reach. These are tools and habits any Summit member can use. We’re excited to continue our relationship with Jess, keep checking in on our finances, and follow the five-year plan we’ve created for our future.

If you’ve ever thought about applying for Project Money, don’t wait. Truly do it. We wish we had started sooner.

Thank you to everyone who followed along with us. We hope our stories gave you insight, encouragement, and a sense of validation during a time when finances feel overwhelming and everything seems so expensive. With the guidance and support of the Summit team, your financial dreams really can become a reality.

We promise it’s worth it!

Thanks for sticking with us through this amazing ride.

Marco & Dawn