Meet The Families
Boggs Family: Chris (35), Tonia (33), Jessica (15), Marissa (9) & Addison (1) – New Carlisle
“Without credit cards, we wouldn’t have been able to put food on the table.”
Chris and Tonia have been on their own since they were 19 and 17 years old and say their relationship has only grown stronger despite their challenges over the years. The couple purchased their starter home when their first daughter was four years old and hoped to buy a bigger house as their family grew. Eleven years and two more children later, they still live in their original three bedroom, one bath house and currently share their bedroom with their youngest daughter. While they have done their best to keep their credit in good standing, Chris and Tonia hope the Savings Race can help them save enough for a down payment on a larger home and start on the right path to saving for college for their daughters.
Law Family: Jim (35), Anastacia (8) & Tatiana (6) – Moraine
“I have scrambled over the years to provide for my daughters and plan for our future.”
Jim is a single father who works full time and attends college part time. After putting down roots for his family by buying a house, home repairs and the rising costs of everyday expenses such as child care, fuel, food, and property taxes have made it difficult to pay down the debt he has accumulated over the years. He focuses on his daughters by eliminating what he considers unnecessary expenses – including dating – so he can provide them the opportunity to participate in activities that he believes will benefit them later in life. Jim hopes to pay down his debt, save for college for his daughters, and pay off or upgrade their home while sharing financial knowledge with his daughters to make them more successful as adults.
Lively Family: Kevin (33), Danielle (33), Thaliyah (10), Calleia (5) & Keeley (3) – Fairborn
“Credit cards have become a huge crutch for us.”
Kevin and Danielle are struggling to pay off Danielle’s student loan debt while also paying for daycare and other activities for their three daughters. Their savings was depleted after medical bills for two high-risk deliveries of their children, and regular expenses prevent them from building their “911” emergency savings. While they have made attempts to increase savings and reduce debt on their own, they feel they need the help of WPCU’s Savings Race coaches to point them in the right direction and help them set a better example for their daughters. Their goals include saving for their children’s education, retirement, and a new home.
Roberts Family: Matt (29), Candice (27), Ella (4) & Lyla (1) – Wilmington/West Carrollton
“We NEED to buy a home!”
The Roberts were forced from their last apartment after they discovered black mold that was making their daughters sick. The resulting medical bills – combined with existing medical bills of their own – made their dream of buying a home seem impossible. Matt and Candice have since been living in separate homes so they can save money on rent and gas. Matthew lives with his father to be near his job in Dayton, while Candice, Ella, and Lyla live with Candice’s mother in Wilmington. The Roberts hope the Savings Race can help them save for the home they need and bring their family back together under one roof.
Schaefer Family: Eric (31), Marcie (29), Benjamin (2) & one on the way – Springfield
“We have never been able to catch up.”
Both Eric and Marcie work in public service, and while they love what they do, they know it's never going to make them rich. They’ve always managed to pay their bills on time and maintain good credit scores, but they’ve just never been able to get ahead and put money back for savings, investments, or college for their son. In fact, when they went to buy their home, their enormous amount of student loans earned them a discouraging response – “The good news is you both have good credit. The bad news is you owe a lot of money.” Now with a second child on the way, the Schaefers hope to pay down their student loans and revolving debt so they can afford to upgrade from their small two bedroom home and start saving for their expanding family’s future.