This series highlights real member success stories with Choice Map.
Braving the cold
Kyle walked into the credit union with a look of defeat. He had fallen behind on his truck payments—over two months behind—and had a negative balance in his account. His dream truck, the one he had bought just the previous summer, was on the verge of being repossessed. He wasn’t sure what to expect from the meeting, but deep down, he hoped for a bit of leniency. Working in construction, he hadn’t had steady income since the weather turned cold in November. That’s a long time to be without work.
A Credit Union Certified Financial Counselor at Community Choice reviewed his expenses, putting everything down on paper, to get a clearer picture of his financial state. It was evident that without a source of income, there wasn’t much they could do. Despite not being able to offer an immediate solution, our trusted advisor offered Kyle a glimmer of hope and one simple goal: get back to work.
When Kyle returned for his follow-up meeting the next month, things were still tough, but he wasn’t alone. This time, he brought his girlfriend, Eden. They had been friends for over a decade and had started dating a little over a year ago, living together at his dad’s house. Eden, too, had been struggling—working hard but tapping out her finances to help Kyle through the winter. As we talked about their dreams, it became clear that they were both yearning for something more than just financial stability. They wanted to break the cycle of financial struggle that had plagued their families for generations. They wanted to own a piece of land, a place to call their own.
We dug into Eden’s finances too, realizing that she was $150 short every month. We brainstormed ways to bridge that gap, and although the future seemed uncertain, both were willing to work toward change.
On to warmer days
Fast forward to last weekend, and Kyle’s story had taken a dramatic turn. This time, he came in with Eden again, but also brought his 19-year-old nephew, eager to help him start on a good financial path. Kyle was no longer the defeated man he was a few months ago. He had caught up on his truck payments, with only a few more weeks until the next one. Not only did he protect his dream truck, but he had managed to save about $1,300 for upcoming bills and had $600 tucked away in an emergency fund. He was already planning for his future, setting goals to fully fund his emergency fund and pay off his credit cards by November. His credit score was on track to spike over 700, and soon they would be ready to start looking at homes.
What stood out the most wasn’t just the numbers or the progress on paper—it was their outlook. Kyle and Eden had gone from feeling hopeless and looking for grace, to taking full control of their lives. They had embraced the journey, set goals, and, most importantly, kept pushing forward. Even in moments of uncertainty, they found strength in each other and within themselves.
Perseverance isn’t just about solving today’s problems—it’s about building hope for tomorrow, one step at a time. And Kyle? He’s a shining example of what happens when you don’t give up, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
*Names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of our members. *