From student loan struggles to strategic saving, Suzanna Studdard shares how The Edge’s financial education platform is transforming her family’s future
For Suzanna Studdard, an Army spouse currently stationed in Vilseck, Germany with her husband and three young boys, financial wellness isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about creating possibilities for her family that she never had growing up.
“Growing up in a poor family, my parents never were able to save or contribute towards college for myself and my siblings,” Suzanna explains. “As a result, I had to take out many student loans and work my way through each semester of college. I want different for my children.”
This powerful vision for breaking generational patterns earned Suzanna second place in GoVA’s Fresh Start 2025 Contest—a competition that received over 50 entries from military members using The Edge financial education platform. Her three-step approach to financial goals captured the attention of the panel of three military spouse judges from various military organizations who evaluated anonymous submissions.
A Military Family’s Journey to Financial Wellness
Like many military families, the Studdards have faced their share of financial challenges. Their recent PCS to Germany (their second duty station) came immediately after her husband’s deployment. Suzanna had to research on her own all the details of an international move with young children.
“I was looking for resources for the budget side of PCSing, and my research led me to The Edge,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘these are some really good military-specific resources!'”
What started as a search for PCS budgeting tools soon evolved into a financial education journey. The Edge’s calculators, budgeting templates, and educational videos provided Suzanna with a roadmap she had been seeking for years.
As a former nurse who paused her career to support her family through military transitions and raise their three boys (ages 5, 2, and just 5 weeks), Suzanna understands the financial pressures unique to military life. The Edge’s personalized recommendation of resources acknowledged these challenges in ways general financial advice simply couldn’t.
Military Financial Wellness: Finding the Balance
When asked what financial wellness means to her, Suzanna offers wisdom that resonates beyond budgeting apps and spreadsheets:
“Financial wellness for me is a balance of knowing where your money is, where it’s going, and using your money for the priorities you have in each season,” she shares. “Money is a tool and also a gift. It’s about balance, knowing what’s going on, and strategically using it.”
It’s this balanced approach that forms the Studdards’ three-part financial plan—a plan that took shape after she began using The Edge’s personalized action plans:
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College Savings Strategies for Military Children
With three boys under six, the Studdards are starting early with 529 college savings plans. “It’s the perfect time to start saving,” Suzanna notes. “We budget a certain amount each month and also contribute on birthdays towards their education funds.”
The Edge has an entire Topic section called “Saving for Child’s Education,” with articles and videos about 529 plans and more. These helped the family visualize exactly how much they needed to set aside each month to reach their goals, making the abstract concept of college planning concrete and achievable.
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Military Family Mortgage Planning
Despite being stationed overseas, the Studdards are working diligently on paying down the mortgage on their stateside home. They’ve implemented a bi-weekly payment strategy that results in one extra payment per year and less interest accumulation. Plus, they chip away at the principal whenever possible.
“When we have extra money available, we throw that onto the mortgage instead of on a trip or something fun,” Suzanna explains. This deliberate choice reflects their long-term thinking about financial security—a perspective reinforced by The Edge’s home ownership resources that helped them understand the significant impact of even small additional payments.
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A Giving Strategy with Military Income
Perhaps most inspiring is the Studdards’ commitment to helping others even as they build their own financial foundation.
“We’ve been on the receiving end of gifts from friends and family. We want to pour that back and pay that back to others,” Suzanna shares. They’ve set up recurring donations to military-related ministries, including programs that provide meals for single soldiers.
“If the recurring payment comes out of your paycheck first, that is a priority and a value,” she emphasizes. “We want to be a blessing to others.”
The Edge’s budgeting tools helped them identify where they could carve out space in their finances for giving without compromising their other goals.
The Edge’s Financial Tools: Small Steps, Big Impact
What’s remarkable about the Studdards’ approach is how attainable it feels. They didn’t transform their finances overnight—they built habits consistently over time, with The Edge providing the structure and motivation they needed.
“We’ve been married for 10 years, and we always say this is the year we will budget more,” Suzanna admits. “I think last year we started really doing it and watching where our money is going and being intentional.”
Joining The Edge last year proved to be the motivation and empowerment they needed. The platform’s interactive tools, step-by-step guides, and military-specific content gave Suzanna the encouragement she needed to finally commit to making financial planning a priority.
“It feels good because as you start to save, you see results,” she explains. “The Edge’s tracking tools help us visualize our progress, which keeps us motivated even when it’s tempting to spend on other things.”
Her advice to other military families? “Just do it. It’s helpful to see when we’ve done really well, and then we have the confidence to take a trip or spend a little extra because we have the perspective.”
Suzanna describes their budgeting approach as “guardrails on a road—getting you where you need to go while keeping you pointed in the right direction.” It’s an apt metaphor for how The Edge has functioned in their financial journey—not restricting their choices, but helping them stay focused on what matters most.
Continuing the Financial Journey with The Edge
The $300 prize from the Fresh Start 2025 Contest will further the Studdards’ financial goals—either funding their newborn’s 529 plan or supporting a local hospitality house that ministers to soldiers.
Suzanna enthusiastically praises The Edge’s user-friendly design and military-specific content. “I like how it has the videos because that’s an easy way to jump into the content. Everything I’ve used has been very easy to navigate.”
The platform’s intuitive layout has made it easy for her to find resources for each stage of her financial journey—from PCS planning to home ownership to education savings.
“When I first discovered The Edge, I immediately felt like I’d found a resource that actually understood our lifestyle,” Suzanna shares. “Having all these tools in one place, designed specifically for military families like ours, has made financial planning so much more approachable.”
For military families looking to strengthen their financial foundation, The Edge offers the perfect combination of educational resources, practical tools, and community support. As the Studdards have discovered, it’s not just about managing money—it’s about creating a legacy of opportunity, generosity, and security for the next generation.
“Financial stress is a huge burden for so many military families,” Suzanna reflects. “The Edge has given us the confidence to take control of our finances rather than letting our finances control us. That peace of mind is priceless, especially with all the other uncertainties of military life.”
Ready to start your own financial journey? Join The Edge today for free military-specific financial tools and resources designed to help you build a stronger financial future.
