Learning, Earning, and Growing

 “When Maria sets her mind on something, you know she’s going to do it.” That’s how financial coach Norma Gomez describes her client, Maria Frias.

When Maria first came to Mary Rigg, she was working for a catering company. The inconsistent hours and low pay weren’t enough to support her family of seven. She knew she needed a change. Drawing on her past experience in construction, a field she enjoyed and knew could offer better pay, Maria enrolled in our construction training class in August 2024, made possible through our partnership with BY Construction.

As part of the program, Maria met with financial coach Norma Gomez. Their conversations opened up a new world for Maria, who, like many, had never received formal financial education. Together, they set new goals, made a budget, and improved Maria’s credit score.

Norma helped Maria identify small but meaningful changes, like enjoying picnics in the park instead of going out to eat and watching movies with homemade popcorn instead of visiting the theater. These adjustments made a big impact, helping Maria stretch her income.

Still striving for stability, Maria sought more consistent employment. Despite facing rejection due to not having a high school diploma, she didn’t give up. She enrolled in High School Equivalency classes at Mary Rigg and eventually secured a steady job with the United States Postal Service.

With stronger budgeting habits and a better-paying job, Maria achieved a major milestone: purchasing a larger home for her family. She didn’t stop there; she kept her first home and began transforming it into a rental property using the skills she gained in construction training. Maria is doing the renovation work herself, saving money on labor and building a new, steady income stream.