Graduate Exclusive! Terri S. Finds Freedom, Becomes a Cash-Only Queen, and Plans Her Family’s Future
We interviewed Terri to find out about her journey and how life’s been since graduating from her Beyond Finance program in January of 2024.
- Debt Amount: $26,452
- Started: November 2019
- Graduated: January 2024
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I live in Florida, but I’m originally from Trinidad and Tobago. I’m a stay-at-home mom for now with two kids: a 9-year-old and a 4-year-old. My husband is a service technician and his income is able to cover us while I look for a position that’s the right fit for me!
How did you find yourself in debt?
I was in a low-income job at the time and my husband wasn’t working. We had to put so many things on credit cards just to live. I was paying around $750 a month across three or four cards, but with the high interest, it never made a dent.
It 100% worked for me. Beyond Finance gave me my freedom back.
It was like being in a bubble where the air was being sucked out, squeezing you tighter and tighter.
How was your experience with us?
I was hesitant at first but the representative walked me through everything, and I felt, “OK, I can do this. This is a comfortable payment for me. I can handle this.”
When I paid off the first account I was like, “Yes! One down, three more to go!” That’s when I truly felt, ‘Trust the system.’ It 100% worked for me. Beyond Finance gave me my freedom back.
You graduated a year and a half ago. What’s happened since?
It was like a big boulder and a chain that I’d been carrying around was finally removed. It put $400 a month back in my pocket, which I used to pay off my vehicle.
I’m able to treat myself and my family here and there. Just recently, I was able to take my son to a hockey game, enjoy a cruise with my girls, and take a family trip to Fort Lauderdale.
I’m able to send my daughter to a high-end daycare. And in the next few years, we’re planning to buy a house.
Throughout the years working with Beyond Finance, I wasn’t using anything but cash — and now I’ve developed a sense of just cash.
I have one credit card that I use for small discounts, but I pay it off immediately. If I can’t pay for it with cash, I’m not going to buy it. It taught me the sense of needs and wants.
Beyond Finance really helped liberate me in that way.
Real client compensated for a real story.