When Maria found herself raising two young boys alone, she was doing everything she could to keep her family afloat. With no child support, no family in the United States, and a controlling former marriage that left her with little financial experience, her only option at the time was to put essentials on credit cards and take out loans she didn’t fully understand.
“I ended up with me and my two boys and no other help. I don’t have any family here in the United States,” she said. “My ex-husband was gone overseas.”
How Her Debt Began
Maria had never managed her own finances before her divorce. “My marriage was very, very controlling. I never went to a bank. I never managed my paycheck,” she explained.
To file for divorce, she had to hire a lawyer and pay expensive international document fees. “I took a loan from the bank, and that was the first time I took a loan. I didn’t know that once you take a loan… you still have to pay every month.”
At the same time, she was working two jobs and paying around $1,000 a month for a babysitter. “I was using credit cards to buy food and all the things that my kids need… and toys, of course, because they were little. So I exhausted all my cards.”
Then a fitness club trial she tried to cancel kept charging her card until it was drained. “I was actually scammed… I paid for something for services that I didn’t actually have, and I ended up in a lot of debt.”
Feeling the Weight of Debt
With nearly $29,000 in debt and her income stretched thin, Maria reached a breaking point.
“I couldn’t sleep in the night. I would put my kids to sleep and I would stay late thinking what’s going to happen with us?” she said. “I was very worried that we would end up homeless.”
She even tried to get help from her bank. “I was told it’s better to sell my house because there’s nothing can save me. Nothing.”
Finding National Debt Relief
Maria first noticed National Debt Relief through online ads, and one day she received a call that changed everything.
“One afternoon, I got a phone call from a lady from National Debt Relief. She was telling me that if I’m serious and committed, National Debt Relief can get me out of this horrible situation.”
After being burned by the fitness club, Maria was hesitant. But the representative was patient and reassuring. “She was very honest, very upfront from the beginning… I was very, very reluctant after all my bad experiences.”
Making One Payment Instead of Many
Before enrolling in the program, Maria knew she couldn’t keep up with multiple bills on her own. When she spoke with a National Debt Relief specialist, they walked through her situation step by step and helped her understand what a single monthly program deposit could look like based on her full picture.
Maria remembers how meaningful it was to have someone listen and explain things clearly. She said it was the first time she felt like there might be a structured path forward. Her estimated program deposit was far lower than the total she had been trying to juggle on her own, which made it feel possible to start making progress.
Even when emergencies came up, Maria said the team supported her:
“They were very understanding… They’re not going to kick you out of the program. That counts a lot.”
The First Settlement and New Hope
Maria remembers the moment her first settlement arrived.
“I was so happy. I immediately accepted it.”
From there, she stayed committed and looked forward to every update:
“After that, I started to ask, when is the next offer coming?”
Graduation Day
When Maria graduated from the program after nearly four years, the feeling was instant relief.
“It was great. It was actually awesome. I felt really light, you know, like a huge burden was taken off my chest.”
Building a New Future
Now debt-free, Maria is focused on her long-term goals.
“I’m in the last year in the nursing program… I’ll start working as a nurse and then I’ll do good financially.”
She dreams of one day owning a small house with a yard where she can garden. She also wants her sons to have every opportunity. “I want to see that they are able to go to whatever college they would like to go.”
Maria says none of this would have been possible without getting her finances under control.
“I don’t know if I would have been able to think about going to school knowing that I have to work extra hours to pay for my debt.”
Her Advice to Others
Maria encourages others not to ignore their financial struggles and to look for support early.
“As soon as you see your debt accumulating, go and find help,” she said.
When people ask her about the program, her answer is straightforward.
“I would definitely recommend them 150%,” she said. “You guys can show my story, how a single mom with almost 30,000 in debt was able to graduate and then even able to go to nursing school and do so many things for her children.”
Looking back, Maria feels empowered. She found a path that allowed her to regain control, focus on her goals, and build a future she feels good about.
