In 2022, Courtney stood at a crossroads. Her marriage had ended. The three incomes that once sustained her home—her salary, her husband’s earnings, and his military pension—were gone, leaving her solely responsible for her mortgage, her son, and their future. "I immediately had to get on my own bank account and start from zero," Courtney recalls. "I didn't have any savings of my own." Courtney is not alone, among SaverLife members with children under the age of 18, 34% reported that they had no emergency savings.

Starting from scratch wasn’t just daunting—it was terrifying. At the time, Courtney was working as a secretary and barely making enough to keep up with the mortgage, utilities, and everyday expenses. As she described it, "I could barely afford that by myself—let alone everything else like the car payment, food, and daycare." Unfortunately, this is a common experience for many SL members living in the South—42% said that without debt they could only cover their expenses for less than a week.

There were moments when the financial strain became heartbreakingly real. "I had to ask for help. My son's dad contributed more for our son's needs during times when I was unable to even put food on the table," she says. "I didn’t want my son to see me struggle."

Courtney knew she had to find a way forward—not just for herself, but for the little boy who depended on her.

Taking Control: “I Just Had to Figure It Out”

With no spousal or child support to rely on, Courtney got serious about changing her financial reality. She made swift, painful cuts.

"I quit all the extras… quit drinking, quit smoking, quit going out to eat—anything that wasn’t absolutely necessary," she explains.

She tackled her bills one by one, signing up for budget billing through Alabama Power to make her monthly expenses predictable. She meal-planned religiously. She combed through her finances with a "fine-tooth comb," finding small leaks and plugging them wherever she could.

But cutting back wasn't enough. Courtney needed to bring in more income—without sacrificing time with her son.

“I started picking up odd jobs, including cleaning houses and doing children’s consignment sales.”

Every dollar mattered. Every hustle added up. And due to that hard work and hustle, Courtney has also been recognized at work as an outstanding employee, "I've received two promotions in the last three years and have earned multiple bonuses at work from my hard work and dedication, and I've sunk that extra money into my debt and savings."

Facing Debt: “My Four Walls Came First”

Even as Courtney stabilized her cash flow, debt loomed large. She had accumulated balances buying Christmas presents, groceries, necessities when there was no other way. When the minimum payments ballooned, it became impossible to keep up. A third (33%) of SL members with children under age 18 disagreed with the statement "I have a manageable amount of debt.

"I called my creditors and worked out payment arrangements," she says. "I told them, 'I can’t afford this payment, but I’ll pay something.' They let me stop the interest with the understanding my cards were canceled, so my payments are more manageable and I will still be able to pay my debt off one day."

Courtney made a tough but vital choice: her basic needs came before her credit score.

"My four walls were most important," she says firmly. "The mortgage, the lights, the food, the car—those came first. If a collector wanted to call me about a missed payment, fine. But my son was going to have a home."

It wasn’t an easy road. Her credit score and longer-term financial planning took a hit. At one point she even put her retirement savings on the back burner. “I temporarily quit investing into my 401K, even though I knew I was going to miss out on the match. Because that money I was investing added up and I needed it for groceries. I even took out a small loan against my 401k to prevent having early withdrawal fees." It's not just Courtney who is faced with the hard choice of saving for the future or paying for today. 17% of SL members with children under the age of 18 took money out of a retirement plan account.

Finding SaverLife: “Exactly What I Needed”

In the middle of this transformation, Courtney found SaverLife.

"I came across SaverLife while I was researching how to save money," she says. "It was exactly what I needed.” Through SaverLife’s challenges and tools, Courtney stayed motivated to save even when it felt impossible. She loved the accountability the challenges provided—and the small rewards didn’t hurt either.

"There was one time I got $100 from a SaverLife challenge," she recalls. "I needed gas so bad. That $100 saved me. It’s not just about the money—it’s about feeling like someone out there is rooting for you."

SaverLife’s financial content also helped her become more confident, especially around tax season. "I used to think you had to pay someone a bunch of money to do your taxes," Courtney says. "SaverLife showed me free or affordable ways to file and actually get a refund I could use to pay off debt."

In a world where so much felt overwhelming, SaverLife made saving—and believing in herself—a little easier.

Saving vs. Spending: A Real Emergency

By 2025, Courtney had accomplished something she once thought impossible: she built her emergency savings to a place that felt comfortable. But then the floor in her house started to show signs of water damage. Insurance wouldn’t cover the repairs. The quotes she got ranged between $5,000 and $7,000. 18% of SL members living in the South faced a large expense from a major house or appliance repair.

"I had to really sit down and think," she says. "Do I wipe out my emergency fund to fix the floor? Or do I take out a loan and go back into debt again?"

Her boyfriend offered to take out a loan to help, a gesture Courtney is deeply grateful for. But the decision still weighed heavily on her.

"I try not to touch my savings unless it’s a true emergency," she explains. "What if something happens to my car? What if something happens to my grandmother and I need to travel? I worked so hard for that savings."

This wasn’t an easy choice—and that's what real financial health looks like: the ability to stop, weigh your options, and decide from a position of strength, not panic.

Beyond just emotional support, Courtney’s boyfriend, John, has played a real role in her financial healing.

"He actually helped me by taking out a loan to pay off my car," Courtney explains. "I had a high-interest loan from a buy-here-pay-here lot, and it was killing me. With John’s support, I was able to take the money I had been paying toward the car every month and start building my savings."

Still, when it came time to face the home repair decision, Courtney hesitated to lean on him again. "It’s the 'independent woman' mindset I have," she says. "I always think I have to do it alone. But I’m learning that asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s just my trauma talking—and I’m working through it. I’m learning it’s okay to ask for help and to reach back and help others too."

Being in a partnership where the load is shared, not shouldered alone, is new for Courtney—and it's something she's learning to trust, step by step.

The Bigger Picture: Strength Rooted in Love

Courtney’s grit isn’t something new. It’s part of a legacy.

"My mom was a single mom too," she says. "She raised three girls on her own. She waitressed, bartended, cleaned houses—she did whatever it took."

Her mother’s example is never far from her mind. "If my mom could do it with three, I knew I could do it with one," Courtney says.

That deep well of strength fuels her every day as she raises her son, builds their future, and navigates the ongoing balancing act of modern motherhood and financial independence.

"I just don’t want my son to ever feel like he’s a burden," she says. "I want him to know that we’re okay—and that we’re strong."

What Financial Health Means Now

For Courtney, financial freedom isn’t about having endless money. It’s about peace.

"It’s being able to lay down my head at night and not worry that someone’s coming to get my house or my car," she says. "It’s knowing that if something happens, I can figure it out."

Today, Courtney works remotely as a federal employee, giving her flexibility and stability. She’s paying off debt. She’s saving. And most importantly, she’s proud of the life she’s rebuilding.

"I’ve come a long way," she says. "Two years ago, I didn’t know how I was gonna make it. Now, I know I can."

Advice for Others: “You’re Not Alone”

If she could speak to someone starting over—standing where she once stood—Courtney would tell them this:

"You’re stronger than you think. And you’re not alone. There are people out there who get it, who have been where you are. And you will figure it out."

Because she did.

And she’s still writing her story—one budget, one hard decision, one proud moment at a time.

Courtney’s journey shows that financial health isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence, growth, and believing that you—and your future—are worth fighting for.

And thanks to her strength—and support from SaverLife—she’s proving it every single day.

We extend out gratitude to JPMorganChase for their generous philanthropic support, which has made it possible for this story to be shared.

(Survey data were collected by SaverLife from over 1,400 of its member panelists in March 2025. Member panelists are SaverLife members who have agreed to participate in SaverLife research and were provided a financial incentive to participate in our research and storytelling efforts.)

*The views and opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of JPMorganChase or its affiliates.

On Solid Ground: How Courtney Found Strength in Saving