A New Life for Tekeyla and Her Family

In 2017, Tekeyla, a 43-year-old single mother of two from Atlanta, was stretched to her breaking point. Despite working three jobs, she couldn’t make ends meet. Each month felt like a losing battle with bills and expenses piling up faster than her paychecks could cover.

“I wanted better for my boys,” she recalls. “But I didn’t know where to start.”

A friend told Tekeyla about BCM’s Budget for Life program, which helps participants become financially healthy by teaching them practical financial skills, better money habits, and by providing them with case management and personal coaching.

Desperate for change, Tekeyla enrolled in 2017, hoping for a lifeline.

Recognizing Potential

Tekeyla was paired with Ashby, a dedicated community coach whose belief in Tekeyla was a game-changer. Ashby didn’t just teach budgeting; he took the time to understand Tekeyla’s specific dreams and challenges.

Ashby was committed to Tekeyla’s success. While on vacation, he took time out to help Tekeyla create her resume, tailoring it to highlight her work ethic and skills. That resume, which Tekeyla still uses today, opened doors she never thought possible.

“I couldn’t believe he was helping me from halfway across the world,” she laughs.

Tekeyla’s coach also encouraged her to focus on holding one solid, stable, well-paying job, rather than three. In addition to helping increase her overall earnings, this would create more opportunities for advancement while reducing the amount of time she spent shuttling back and forth between different roles.

From Survival to Success

In 2017, Tekeyla focused on earning her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This opened doors to higher-paying jobs driving shuttles and buses for prestigious institutions like Spelman College and Georgia Tech. Over the past eight years, Tekeyla has successfully lifted her family out of poverty, more than doubling her income.

The Budget for Life program also helped transform her financial life, equipping her with the skills to pay down debt, manage her credit score, build credit responsibly, and avoid predatory debt traps.

Workshops also helped her reshape her spending habits by distinguishing “needs” from “wants,” a practice she still applies today.

“Every time I’m at the store, I ask myself, ‘Is this a need or a want?’ It’s second nature now,” she says.

A New Chapter

Today, Tekeyla’s life looks very different. She and her two grown sons live in a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house—a far cry from the cramped apartment they once shared. All three of their cars are fully paid for, and she carries no debt.

Tekeyla’s youngest son (22) serves as an Army Reservist, while her older son (23) works full-time at a Lexus dealership. Both boys have followed in their mom’s footsteps by managing their money, maintaining good credit scores, and pursuing their dreams.

Lasting Impact

For families like Tekeyla’s, Budget for Life offers more than advice—it offers a path to stability and a brighter future.

“I’m not just surviving anymore—I’m thriving,” she says. “And my sisters are now also following the program’s life lessons.”

Click below to help a neighbor begin their journey to financial freedom by supporting this and other BCM programs.