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I first came to the center because I was having problems with my debt and I wanted to learn
how to fix it and still be able to manage my money properly and pay my bills and not
feel like it's a strain. The toughest part about getting out of debt is paying it back
and you know, you work hard, I work hard for my money. So it's like, it's hard to actually
to not buy something for myself or something like that and just pay it off to fix it.
That was my hardest part. I'm very proud of myself because I feel
like I accomplished something that I set out to do and it's going to benefit me in the future.
I'm teaching my daughter about how important it is so save your money and the
worth of each dollar and not to just spend it, you know, on foolishness and just throw
it away, to actually put it in a bank, save it, and have something in the future.
You can come to the center, you can learn how to budget your money, you can learn how
to tackle all your debt, you can feel free. It is just a breath of fresh air.
You just feel like you accomplish something with yourself if you come to FE Center.
I was recently released from incarceration so I didn't have money or nothing.
This is like, the Parks is my first job ever in my life. I'm not proud of it
but it was my first job so you know I wanted to keep it.
And then I met Santos. And he went inside, we talked, he told me that he can help me.
But you know I have to be honest with everything. And I did tell him and it worked out good for me.
I have a spending habit, you know, as I have money,
I have to spend it. So I needed to learn how to save, how to manage my money,
and stuff like that. And if I can do it, you can do it too.
First, before I came here, I was completely lost. I was completely lost, I really did
I really did not have any idea where to go, where to turn, who to ask, to help me. Because I could have
done it by myself, but because of my visual impairment, I needed somebody's help.
And that somebody is Ms. ___. She took it, she was helping me like it was her problem,
she was helping me that way. She has got so much passion, she is a professional.
The way she was handling all these things, it was very efficient and professional way.
And god bless her passion. You can get the help, but you have to look
for it.
Before I seeked help in the empowerment center, I was going through a lot of anxiety and
a lot of sleepless nights because, I was having an overwhelming amount of debt that I needed
to pay off and I was just piling up and I wasn't really getting any help
and it was just a lot of calls from people that I owe money and it was coming from everywhere and
I just couldn't sleep at night. So it was just a very tormenting ordeal and I was going
out of my mind. I didn't know what to do and I needed help.
My chancellor and I worked on learning how to create a budget,
how to get rid of credit card debt, and how to preside with paying off one and then moving on to the next, and
always keeping track of my spending. So right now I feel not that I'm free of
debt yet but I am working on it, I'm getting it cleaned up. My scores, my credit scores
are getting better and I am able to go on vacation and I am able to eat a piece of steak
if I choose to. I am able to do stuff with my children and be able to spend.
I'm spending carefully, not going crazy, but it is something that I wasn't able to do before.
I just want everybody out there to know that even if you're going through a financial
situation or any situation that you might be going through, there is light
at the end of the tunnel.
I came to the FEC to learn about my credit score.
I do tell people, I recommend that they go get their credit checked through the FE
it is free you can call 311 and get all the info from there. So I do, I have been encouraging
since the day I left that office. He appeared to be very honest, I could tell
that that was his job. His job was to get to the bottom of whatever was right or wrong for me.
It is free to get your credit checked and if there's something they don't recognize,
it can be disputed, but if it was done, they can help you make a budget where you could lower
your finances, as far as what you owe. So I do, I tell everyone. You can have a great
credit score.
It was a low level stress all the time and I just kind of lived with it. But you know
we couldn't answer the phone, my kids, the phone would ring and it was always a debt
collector, they're very aggressive and really you know called constantly and we stopped
answering our phone, completely, the kids would, the phone would ring and I'm like,
"Don't answer the phone! Don't pick it up! Don't pick it up!"
I walked by a poster on a bus stop and saw this woman and she was all stressed and looked
like me and I thought, Really? NYC really has a program? But there was a bank right
near where my shop was where I was going to work so I called and stopped in and made
an appointment. For the first time, I have my head above water,
a little bit. And you know maybe I can even get a little higher than that.
I had so much fear about money and about banks and debt. So I got over that, that was probably
the biggest thing that I learned was that like yeah I mean and maybe a little more faith
in the city and government for helping. You can open your mail. You can answer your phone.
You can succeed.
When I came, I had no credit score and I owed $6,000 to $7,000 in credit. That might not
seem like a lot of money to you or maybe you but to somebody that's not working,
someone that's a single parent, it's a lot. You know when you have mouths to feed and clothes
to put on their back. Before I came, I was very uptight, very lost,
confused. I didn't think that I would be able to clear my cred..
I didn't think it'd be as easy as it was, you know. It's all in baby steps. You know with a little determination
and little payments, it works. And I haven't been working and I've done
all of this on unemployment and the child support I receive for my kids.
So I feel pretty good, I pat myself on the back. You know, I came a long way.
So to any New Yorker that's listening or looking at me right now, you can make a difference to
better yourself by coming to the Financial Empowerment Center.
Their life will change for the better.
Before I came to the Financial Empowerment Center, I was actually gloomy and disappointed
in myself because I thought that at this point that I would be in a different position financially
actually and I thought that I was more financially educated but there's a lot you can learn
especially when someone guides you.
Luis and I, we started with a financial plan, a budget. That was the first main goal. We
took it as a step program, three, four step program. The first step was actually to mediate
and advocate and speak to my creditors, we started there. He also, in the second step,
he had me budget myself or a whole month. I had a little notebook and I was taking down
everything that I spent, even a penny, 10 cents. At the end of the month we sat down
and went over the actual spending and what I thought I was spending. The actual spending
was a lot horrible and I was killing myself. The third step was paying, which was really
hard. I call it the dentist experience cuz it was really hard for me. Right now we're
at the fourth step which is basically saving, I'm saving every month and in three years
hopefully have enough for a down payment in a small apartment or something, let's see
what happens.
I think the biggest thing I learned is basically love goes a long way. When you have people
guiding you it's very important.
You can definitely succeed, you can definitely be empowered and you can definitely see the
light at the end of the tunnel with the help of the Financial Empowerment Centers.
That's what I'd tell any New Yorker.