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My Money My Life Success Stories

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File This One Under, ‘Discipline’

As a part-time employee of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and an aspiring graduate student in Information Sciences, Jacquaia Scott knows where to find good information. So much so that she’s come to trust My Money, My Life as a valued source of knowledge on budgeting, saving and investing for the future.

Jacquaia was a high school student when her mom found out about My Money, My Life, then a brand new program for at-risk youth in Allegheny County, and she signed up for the inaugural class in East Liberty in January 2005. After graduating from My Money, My Life and from high school several months later, Jacquaia enrolled at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh and became involved in its Urban Journalism Workshop.

For Jacquaia, communicating - most especially about managing money wisely - comes easily.

“When you go through the steps of managing your money it helps you gain control of your life,” says the self-assured 20-year-old. “I used to want something but not necessarily need it. You work so hard to make what little you have. Now I preach to my younger cousins about the need for financial discipline.”

When Jacquaia graduated from the beginner’s class of My Money, My Life, she not only opened the fee-free savings account presented to her by PNC Bank (along with a complimentary $100 deposit), she also opened a checking account. And, she established a regular schedule of direct deposits to put aside savings like clockwork.

“Each time I’m paid from one of my part-time jobs, I place a little bit in my savings account for a rainy day,“ Jacquaia reports. “I now have about $200 in savings, which is mounting.”

Despite her very busy schedule, Jacquaia has also had the discipline to enroll in the advanced class of My Money, My Life - a move that put another $150 in her pocket and taught her even more financial skills. What did she learn?

“When I buy something on my credit card, I pay off the whole thing at once. I’ve also cut back on my ring tone purchases,” Jacquaia confides. “Everyone needs to watch what they spend.”