Success Story: Carmen and the Biggest Saver

When you think about learning to budget, you don’t necessarily think that a children’s museum would offer those classes. The truth is that financial instability affects a child in profound ways, either through stress, hunger, or lack of a safe, permanent home. That’s why United Way of Central Florida partnered with Explorations V Children’s Museum to offer the Biggest Saver program. When a family is able to budget, and especially when they are able to save for emergencies, everyone benefits.

Carmen and Carlos worked hard, saved money, and were looking forward to their retirement years together. They had some credit card debt and rented a small home. Unfortunately, due to their daughter’s mental health and addiction, they unexpectedly received custody of their four grandchildren, ages 10 – 14. Adding four preteens and teenagers to the household was a real challenge.

Carmen signed up for the Biggest Saver program. Because of the size of the family and their modest income, she qualified for work toward matching savings. She and the children came to every class, took home ideas, and talked to other families about the money-saving concepts they were learning. Carmen planned a family budget, and, with the help of the children, began saving a little every week. When the class ended in December 2012, the family had achieved $150 in savings, earning them a matching $150 for a total of $300 in their savings account.

When asked about what she learned in the class, Carmen said, “I see things differently now when spending money and shopping, using coupons, thinking about needs versus wants.”

Through United Way partner programs like Biggest Saver at Explorations V Children’s Museum, families are able to work together to stabilize their income. Financial stability is a building block of a good quality of life, and, along with a good education and access to health care, creates the foundation for a healthy, prosperous community. When we can measurably change the conditions experienced by one family, like Carmen and Carlos', we create a better life for all of us. That is how we Live United.