Our Stories
Daniel’s Story
It Takes All of Us: Financial Empowerment is Community Work Getting a handle on personal finances is a challenge, especially for those of us, like Daniel, who have personally experienced economic hardship or received little to no financial guidance and support. While we all have unique financial journeys, the reality is the road to financial Read more Daniel’s Story
Reese’s Story
Reese*, a mother of two, first took out a payday loan to stay on top of her bills while waiting for her first paycheck from her new job. At the time, Reese felt that her credit wasn’t high enough to qualify for a traditional personal loan and believed taking out a payday loan was her Read more Reese’s Story
Blake’s Story
For Blake*, a lifetime in and out of prisons, hospitals, and other institutions was threaded together by a history of substance abuse. Blake recalled going to payday lenders and pawnshops when he “wanted a bottle, or a bag, or, maybe even just a sandwich. You just get in there, and you just show ’em that Read more Blake’s Story
Reuben’s Story
Following retirement from a forty-year teaching career and his wife’s death, Reuben found himself turning to payday loans for their convenience.* “It’s an easy, quick access to cash. Then, of course, that builds up. And you now have a financial problem, ’cause you have several of those.” “If you get several of these [loans], then Read more Reuben’s Story
Chelsea’s Story
We recently reached out to our participants and recent graduates in order to invite them to a participant-led listening session. There was much excitement from participants, like Chelsea, to attend because they were eager to share their experience. Similarly to thousands of Minnesotans, Chelsea struggled to pay off her payday loans. “I was very relieved Read more Chelsea’s Story
Anaiah’s Story
For Anaiah,* everything seemed to cave in following the death of several close family members. Emotionally drained, she struggled to keep up with bills and other family obligations. On top of all that, her poor credit score made accessing affordable financing options difficult. In a moment of heightened vulnerability, she turned to a payday lender. Read more Anaiah’s Story
Andrea’s Story
In my 43 years of life, there are only a handful of moments where I can recall the details of the conflict in my heart, the physical response of a fast heartbeat and that last moment of pause before making a very painful decision. Choosing to take out a payday loan was one such moment. Read more Andrea’s Story
Anne’s Story
When Anne’s* son lost his job, she wanted to give him a helping hand. Her income didn’t have much wiggle room, so she took out a payday loan. She planned on paying it off quickly, but interest and fees soon piled up. “The interest rates, they’re over 300%! You’re so desperate that you do Read more Anne’s Story
Isabella’s Story
Isabella* was caught in the precarious financial position of supporting both her children and her extended family. Then, she was hit hard following a minor car accident and a reduction in hours at work. The income loss and spike in expenses drained an already tight budget dry. Since her family was not able to fully Read more Isabella’s Story
Sandy’s Story
No matter how many hours Sandy* worked, her paycheck was never enough to cover housing, groceries, and car maintenance. Every time she turned around it was “car repairs, car repairs, then more car repairs.” Keeping up with the bills and everyday expenses was a constant struggle, so she took out her first payday loan. Although Read more Sandy’s Story