America Saves Team Inspires Behavior Change

Rita Byrd, a Las Vegas senior, originally found America Saves several years ago while browsing online and decided to take the Savings Pledge but states that at that time she just read the words and moved on. She didn’t really take it seriously or put in the work to start saving.

Rita Byrd, a Las Vegas senior, originally found America Saves several years ago while browsing online and decided to take the Savings Pledge but states that at that time she just read the words and moved on. She didn’t really take it seriously or put in the work to start saving.

It was this past year while visiting a very financially conscious relative that she received an email from America Saves announcing an upcoming virtual workshop they would be hosting.

She says the email came at the perfect time since finances had been a topic of discussion that week and was fresh on her mind. She decided right then that it was time to get serious and start working toward reducing her debt and building an emergency fund.

Rita knew she was ready to make a change financially, but was still a little hesitant to attend the workshop. She felt bad about her financial situation and feared being judged, but knew she had to do something to get on the right track.  

Once the workshop started Rita says all her fears were put to rest by the America Saves Team. Rita found them to be down to earth and says their approach to savings resonated with her and was the inspiration that she needed. She loved their tips on starting an emergency fund and creating a spending and savings plan.

During the workshop, she also learned that free financial counseling was available and decided to take advantage of it as well. The counselor worked with her one on one to review her entire financial situation and created a spending and savings plan that worked for her, while making Rita feel like she wasn’t being looked down upon. This instilled a newfound confidence in Rita and for the first time ever, she believed that improving her financial health was “do-able”.

Feeling empowered, Rita decided she was going to “take it all the way”. 

She says she frequently watches the workshop recording to review the tips provided and update her plans. She also says that hearing the America Saves team’s voices of encouragement again and again help her to stay focused on her goals and keeps her from beating herself up for the past. 

Since attending, she was able to save $500 for an emergency fund which came in handy when she had a blowout and needed new tires.

Afterwards, she focused on sticking to her spending and savings plan and has been able to not only rebuild her emergency fund but doubled it to $1000, paid off all her debt and started an additional savings for traveling in the future.

When asked what tips she would offer other savers, Rita says to not do it “haphazardly” and that it’s imperative to have a plan in place and to focus on behavior and mindset changes.

She is also a big fan of setting auto transfers to occur on each payday.

Rita says, “anyone can take the pledge” but that she learned through the workshop that you have to “want it” and “do the work”.  She also states that she wishes she could go back in time and start her savings journey earlier and wonders what additional financial freedoms she would have if she had done so.

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