A Financial Fitness Story

My name is Cherice Andreason. When I first heard about Just in Time, (JIT) I was living in my car and didn’t have a steady income. I was working DoorDash and whatever side gigs I could think of. I really needed financial support so that I could stabilize and have a better foothold in adult life. I was also looking for a community. I feel like, when you grow up the way I did, a supportive community is hard to come by.  

At first, I wasn’t sure I would qualify for services. I was in foster care when I was a toddler, and a lot of programs require you to have been in care as a teenager. I was relieved when I talked to Monica at the front desk and she told me I could get services. Just in Time was the only foster youth resource to actually accept my application. 

When I saw Just in Time offered Financial Fitness (FF) classes, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. 

 At this point, I was living in a shelter for transition-age youth – a homeless shelter. I figured if I learned more about finances, I could stabilize my life, get out of this homeless situation, have a place to live, and, in my wildest dreams, save money.

I felt like I had a handle on the basics of personal finance. At the time, I had a bank account, but no credit card. I had my own workaround for doing things. I mostly dealt in cash and used my debit card when I needed to.  

In FF, I thought I’d just learn things I already knew, but I was really surprised. I learned about savings accounts and annual percentage yields. And I learned foundational things that helped me get to the next level of learning. I learned things I couldn’t possibly learn on my own, and even though I’m not really a “classroom” kind of person, I had fun in the class.  

I learned how to spend, but not just how to spend on groceries and things like that, but how to pay myself first – I learned how to save!  

The mentor that I was paired with in Financial Fitness has become a lifelong friend and mentor. At the end of FF 102 we had the opportunity to draw how we felt about the class. They passed out copy paper and markers and I drew myself with my coach, and a really shaky, cracked, unstable road with a bunch of nails in it that led to a door. The door opened to show me with my hands up and a surprised look on my face. I drew my mentor standing outside the door giving me a thumbs up.  

My coach helped me open the door to financial freedom despite all the roadblocks in my way. 

After 7 months of being in the shelter, I was able to get my own apartment. Somehow between the shelter, JIT, and Jesus, we made it work. I’ve been living in my apartment, paying rent and utilities on time. In December it will be a year, and I’ve never missed a bill. 

I feel like I’ve learned that there are opportunities for someone like me, who comes from where I come from. I don’t think I ever heard anyone say to me, “You are worth these good opportunities. You deserve to have good things come into your life.” Organizations like Just in Time, and the shelter I stayed at, and the people I met along the way – they showed me that I am worth it. I am worth the effort. I deserve opportunities.  

Cherice has been a part of the Just in Time community since 2024. She has participated in College Bound, Emergency Basic Needs, My First Home, and all three levels of JIT’s Financial Fitness service. She has found steady employment as a caregiver and is now taking steps to start her own caretaking business.