When Yolanda turned 64, she made a promise to herself: the rest of her life would look different from the decades she’d spent just getting by. A single mother who had worked multiple jobs to raise two daughters, she’d spent years struggling to make ends meet with little savings and no credit.
Recovery from surgery left Yolanda without income for 10 months, forcing her to use money she’d saved to replace her 25-year-old car and bartering with her neighbors to survive. That experience left her reeling. Realizing she needed help, she sought out Operation HOPE and was connected with Financial Wellbeing Coach Nathaniel Petrosky.
“I realized I had to prepare better for my future as I’m getting older,” Yolanda recalled. “Before 60, I had never really done anything to focus on my future. I was just surviving.”
From Survival to Stability
With Coach Nathaniel’s help, she started with the basics: a budget.
“I used to say, ‘I don’t have any money, so how can I make a budget?’ But once I started tracking every penny, I could finally see where my money was going. That changed everything,” said Yolanda.
Nathaniel also encouraged Yolanda to start building a credit history so she opened a secured credit card. She used the card sparingly – for specific expenses like gas – and paid it off monthly. Yolanda then qualified for an unsecured card. Each responsible decision strengthened her confidence.
“I used to pay everything in cash because I didn’t trust myself with credit,” she said. “But Nathaniel showed me how to use it wisely.”
Together, Yolanda and Nathaniel built a financial plan that balanced living for today with preparing for tomorrow. Over several months, her credit score climbed from 0 to 631, and she built an emergency fund of $3,000. “Now I have money saved that helps me breathe easier,” she said. “It’s not about restriction — it’s about freedom,” Yolanda said.
Nathaniel says Yolanda’s transformation came from her commitment. “It wasn’t anything magical — just simple, basic steps,” he said. “What made it work was she did it. A year later, her life looks completely different.”
In turn, Yolanda credits Nathaniel for her success, noting that she could not have done it without his help and patience. She particularly appreciated his willingness to use communication methods like paper and pen, texts, phone calls, and in-person meetings. His personalized approach and ability to break down complex concepts into layman’s terms were crucial for her understanding and progress.
Breaking a Poverty Mindset
Growing up, Yolanda had never been taught how to manage money. “We moved from place to place, sometimes living off donations or staying with friends. I thought that’s just how life was.”
That poverty mindset followed her into adulthood, through years of hard work and hardship. But with Operation HOPE’s guidance, she’s rewritten that story.
“When you’re living in survival mode, you can’t see the future,” she said. “Operation HOPE helped me lift that veil. Now I’m content with what I have and excited about what’s next.”
Paying It Forward
Perhaps most inspiring is how Yolanda is using her newfound financial freedom to help others. She’s created a benevolence fund to assist single mothers in her community — helping them buy groceries, shoes for their children, or gas for their cars. “The Lord has blessed me, so I can bless others,” she said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
A New Chapter in her Sixties
Today, Yolanda enjoys the stability she once only dreamed about. She bought a car in cash, bought a brand-new bedroom set for the first time, and even has money set aside for travel and small luxuries. This summer, she was able to go on vacation with some of her grandkids and build lifelong memories.
A small inheritance from her father kick started her home-buying dreams and she’s set aside money in a high-yield savings account and CD dedicated to her “tiny-home retirement fund.” “I don’t touch it,” she said proudly. “That’s for my future.”
“I’m living a whole better life,” Yolanda shared. “I wish I had found this program 40 years ago — but I’m proof it’s never too late to invest in yourself.”
For those who feel stuck or think they’re too old to start again, Yolanda has a simple message: “No matter your age, reach out to Operation HOPE. You can change your life.”
For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.