The Mis(sed)education of US

I feel in today's society people of color are misunderstood in so many ways. First off this is purely from my own experiences and encounters in life, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. 

This topic I have so much to say about so this will more then likely be a revisited topic, today I'm going to strictly speak on CREDIT EDUCATION.

Recently I've noticed by asking random questions to different people how we lack the resources to be successful in life. I've encountered people from different walks of life all in different financial situations and it's been a very educational experience. 

So here is my story....

Being born to a teenage mom in the 80s without a pops(he was there but not how he wished to be, but HES STILL MY HERO) wasn't the best situation but definitely wasn't the worse. I'm definitely thankful of where I came from it made me who I am today(I think I'm pretty freaking awesome,🤓💁🏾). Where I grew up we were what I would consider middle class so we didn't want for anything but we definitely didn't get all we wanted. I had to watch my mom and grandma work day in and day out to keep my brother and I clothed, feed and housed. A lot of people thought we had it made, but it's always things going on in the background that some don't see. I thought we had it made too I was very much spoiled to an extent. Then life happened...

At the age of 16 I woke up one morning yelling at my grandma that she was burning something. Needless to say when she didn't answer I got up to realize the house was on fire.. now we gotta move....(July)

School started in August and in the first week we found out my moms sickle cell had caused her eyes to hemorrhage. So she wanted me to drive to school, cool. I got my license that Friday and headed to school Monday. Guess what happens... I hydroplane into a telephone pole...now per the docs I'm paralyzed, causing the medical bills to build up on my mom.... I forgot to mention she is now pronounced legally blind at this point. So all of this leads to her no longer being employed with the VA Medical center... no more Jordan's for me😨😨😨...

Let's fast forward I'm back walking and healthy building up student loan debt in college and get a call my grandma is in the hospital. They have to amputate...😥😪😢. Leads to her no longer working in the textile mill....dang now no more being a spoiled brat.

After these events(I'm sure there's more but trying to get to my point) I got to see what it look like to not be prepared for a turn of events in life. Savings=close to none if any because we lived the life not expecting those paychecks to stop.

After watching them struggle at this point I'm in credit card debt ...medical debt...student loans out the ying yang and buying cars..clothes..shoes. Then I was 25 and pregnant with no savings or stability I decided it was time to change this trend.

I say all that to say until that day I didn't know what credit was and how important it was. I didn't know where to start but I was tired of paying rent and needed a savings. I walked into the credit union the lady ran my credit and basically laughed at my 4xx score. From that day forth I was determined to never be told NO again. 

Not even two years later I walked into the same bank and asked for the same woman. This time she pulled it and almost fell out her chair and was like you were serious.(I felt like my appearance with colorful dreads and tattoos everywhere she had stereotyped me the first time) She said if you really want it I need you to take care of these three things in less then a week(note it's the wed before Thanksgiving so I was already out of two days). I walked out and immediately got on the phone. I was back in her office Monday morning with all the paperwork to verify I had done what she advised. She was then again amazed.

By February I was a new home owner,  an extreme couponer, and still hardly no savings. I pulled out my phone and began to read and research as much as possible. As the months passed I learned so much I never knew even exist. 

Now, presently October I've managed to maintain an almost 700 credit score(still a wip), a small business owner, multiple streams of income, and multiple savings accounts. Trust me when I tell you I'm far from bragging because I'm still not where I plan to be, and I will always remain humble.

I say this to say it doesn't matter where you come from it's never too late to LEARN and implement change into your life. Sometimes life isn't about the newest Jays or the hottest clothes. It's about what happens if everything ended today would my child be good? Would my family be good? You get my drift.

One mistake people tend to make is accruing debt and then thinking oh I'll pay it off later will fix things. Credit is complex and can discourage you. 

A lot of people of color lack the education and foundation then settle for less. We as people allow what society says is right dictate our life. More of us have bad credit then good but got what's hot now... light bill late...living paycheck to paycheck. We have to change and break the chain they have around us. This will show them our fight. It doesn't matter where you came from or what the situation maybe with just a dream we can change and exceed the expectations.... until next time I'm done for now.... 

-Fruitloop aka Tee Tee