-Zip splits big payments into not-so-big ones and provides the flexibility and control to pay over time.

Available wherever you get your apps.

Learn more at Zip.co.

Zip is a proud sponsor of "Opportunity Knocks."

-Funding for "Opportunity Knocks" is provided by Visa.

Visa.

Everywhere you want to be.

Additional funding provided by the Wells Fargo Foundation, which seeks to strengthen historically marginalized communities by investing in pathways to economic advancement and generational wealth.

"Opportunity Knocks" is sponsored in part by the National Council for Financial Opportunities.

To learn more, visit theNCFO.org.

Support for "Opportunity Knocks" is provided by GreenPath Financial Wellness, a national nonprofit providing financial counseling and education for more than 65 years.

Learn more at greenpath.com.

Previously on "Opportunity Knocks"... -I never thought I would have to raise children alone.

It's definitely pretty heavy.

-I'm frustrated at home.

It's coming out on my kids.

The amount of overtime at work, there's no excuse why I shouldn't have a savings.

-I want to be able to break the cycle and show the boys you don't have to struggle.

-The worry is losing my home, losing my car.

How do we survive?

That's my biggest worry.

-Every day, millions of families must choose between putting food on the table or gas in the tank.

-It's desperation.

I can't juggle this much longer.

-It's not cheap to buy clothes and shoes for all four of the kids.

-"Opportunity Knocks" is back this season with four single moms, three expert coaches, and resources in their own backyards.

What happens next could change everything.

-Everyone is putting up the facade and trying to live the American dream.

It is exhausting.

-How much debt altogether?

-Talk to me about credit cards or credit.

-Mnh.

-I feel like I should not be asking for help because I shouldn't need it.

-The constant stress.

-And I don't like crying about it.

-Will it be enough to overcome the obstacles in their lives?

-I wake up every single day stressed about it because I don't know what's next.

-It's spiraling, and I can't keep up.

I need somebody to show me the way.

-This is the moment when opportunity knocks.

[ Children laughing ] -Yeah!

-That's -- That's not an elephant.

-Hey, give me that phone real quick.

-Mnh-mnh.

Yes, Lacey.

-...A-C-A... -You have to do it like that.

[ Indistinct shouting ] -Nothing?

That sounds about right.

-Look, that's my name.

-When I think about a coach coming, I feel anxious.

I definitely feel nervous.

It makes me wonder, "What are they gonna think?"

-Hi, Kristina?

-Yes.

-I'm Louis.

-Hi.

Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, too.

-Come on in.

-Thank you.

My name is Louis Barajas.

As an opportunity coach, I'm the catalyst that works with the families who are struggling with their finances.

It's my honor to be here with you today.

Most people in America today are struggling and having to deal with their children and provide housing for them.

And when they can't do that and you can find the solutions for that, it's extremely satisfying.

I'd love for you to tell me about why I'm here... -Mm-hmm.

-...what's going on, and what I can do to help you.

-I'm trying to gain financial stability right now.

I have four children the ages of 7, 6, 4, and 3.

After I had, I would say, like, my second child, that's kind of when things got a little rocky for me.

Not having that job stability, that kind of caused me to fall into a deeper hole each year.

I have quite a bit of debt as of right now.

And we pretty much just moved back in permanently with my mom.

-Okay.

-And my son asks me all the time, like, "Mom, when are we getting a house?

Like, when are we getting a house?"

And I'm like, "It's coming soon."

That's a big goal I want to get to.

-I want to talk more about the house.

-Mm-hmm.

-But before I do that, talk to me about credit cards or credit.

-Mnh.

Credit is not good.

When I went to get my SUV that I have now, the interest rate is still high.

-When you say interest rate was high, what is high?

-20-something percent?

-Wow.

Wow.

-Yeah.

I feel like I have a lot of stress at work, as well.

I'm salaried, but considering what all I have to take on and where I'm trying to get, it's definitely not enough.

-Okay.

-I have a family I have to take care of.

I have all these other expenses that I have to deal with.

And the way the economy is now, it's not easy to find another job.

I feel like if I keep going on this path and things don't change, I feel like I'm just gonna dig myself into a deeper hole.

I'm getting to the point now where it's taking a toll on me mentally and physically and even spiritually.

I just... It's starting to become a burden for me.

-I'm hearing you talking to me from your head... -Mm-hmm.

-...and not from your heart.

-Mm-hmm.

-Where are you at right now that you want to move forward?

-I've had a lot go on within the past couple of years.

Their father actually passed away April the 10th of 2024 last year.

He passed away in his sleep of a brain aneurysm.

-Okay, so -- Wow.

-Yeah, he was just the strongest person I know.

-You weren't married, correct?

-No, we weren't.

We were engaged and -- engaged at one point, but then I wasn't quite ready at the time.

But, no, we were definitely close.

That was like my -- my best friend.

[ Voice breaking ] So he did have a big influence on me.

Um... I feel like I never had time to heal from it, you know, because I still had to make a way to support my kids and myself.

-Who has been your circle of support so far?

-If I am going through something or struggling with something, I kind of just keep it to myself and try to figure it out on my own.

-She's taken all the pain 'cause she doesn't want to hurt anyone else.

She wants to take care of her children.

She wants to let the world know that she's okay.

But she's probably been the loneliest person in the room.

You can't hold it in.

You have to understand that if you're gonna take that feeling, that burden that you have that you have to raise -- No, there are people out there who are willing to help you.

And right now my feeling is that you're on such overwhelm still that you probably go to bed sometimes thinking about, "How the heck am I gonna make the end of the week?"

-[ Sighs ] I just wish -- I just wish he could come back down here.

This is when I need you, you know?

So, um, of course that keeps me up.

I think one of the hardest parts is, um... [ Sniffles ] In life, you tend to take people for granted and think they'll always be around.

Never in a million years did I think I would be, um, in this situation where... now I have to do everything alone.

-Do you feel strong enough to be able to overcome where you're at right now, to start fresh and grow?

Or do you just feel right now that you just can't do it?

I just want to know where you're coming from.

♪♪ ♪♪ -You got some crazy hours.

I know you work a lot of overtime, but you're a medic.

We see all kinds of things out here in these streets, and if you don't give yourself time for, like, a break in that, it can start affecting you, how you work and how you perform with your job.

And you don't want to do that.

-I come on people's worst days, so I need to be my best at all times.

I just -- -Yeah, it's -- -I need a little break now.

-Then you won't burn yourself out.

The money's good.

I get that.

But your mental health is more important.

You know, as your immediate supervisor and all, I want to make sure you're good, and -- -I appreciate that.

-Oh, yeah.

Definitely.

-This job is learning every shift.

You should learn something -- -Every shift.

-All right.

Thank you.

We'll see you.

-Yep, yep, yep.

[ Birds chirping ] [ Knock on door ] -Hi.

How are you doing?

-Hi.

I'm good.

I'm Jean.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, too.

-Thanks for coming.

-Thank you for having me.

-It's a little chilly.

You're welcome.

-I'm Jean Chatzky.

As an Opportunity Coach, it's amazing to help people get on the right path.

A lot of people get stuck.

It's just a matter of sorting through some pieces, building some better habits.

But I love this.

Ah.

Take a deep breath.

-Okay.

-Thank you for having me in your home.

-Thank you for having me here.

I appreciate it.

-Tell me a little bit about you.

-I'm a mom of two.

I have one daughter who's 9, a son who's 6.

I'm a firefighter paramedic.

-Wow.

That's a -- -Yes.

-That's a "wow."

Why are we here?

-I feel like I'm working so hard and not getting anything in return.

Like, I'm never gonna get out of this cycle.

Like, I'm just working to pay bills.

-Back up for me and tell me how we got here.

-It really started, I noticed, in 2020.

I got a large credit card I thought I was gonna use for emergencies and ended up becoming a way I funded some lawyer fees for child custody court.

It was like, one day I was okay, then the next, it just always kind of felt like I was playing catch-up.

-So, how much are we looking at in terms of total credit card debt now?

-All credit cards, around $22,000.

-Are you basically working your way out of this problem?

-Yep.

Sometimes it is overwhelming being afraid or timid to ask for help on top of everything else that I'm dealing with.

-How does it feel living at the margins like this?

-It feels icky, especially if I'm working, like, two shifts of overtime, I've been at work for 36 hours, and... And then my biggest concern, too, which bothers me is, when I do work these shifts, it takes away from me spending time with my kids, which is very important to me.

I don't want to be that mom.

I don't want to miss events to go work an overtime shift to pay for something.

-Is that already happening?

-I don't miss events, but I feel like I'm at work a lot.

So the kids are with grandparents, which are great, but there's still little memories.

Like, that could be us doing something.

-It's a process of opening yourself up to acknowledging what's going wrong in your life, and then taking one step at a time to right your own ship.

Can you take me through how you spend and how you figure out where the money's gonna go?

-I like to write things down, my bills.

-Can I see it?

-Yeah.

My yellow book?

Yes.

-Yeah, I want to see it.

It's a yellow book.

-It's a yellow book, yes.

Um, so, this is my car insurance.

This is my car note I pay every two weeks.

A small loan that I took out.

Cable Wi-Fi, the -- what I have -- -This is a credit card?

-Yep.

-I don't see any food.

-I buy food in the beginning of the month, and I bulk-shop.

-What happens when you're making dinner and you don't have an ingredient?

-I run across the street.

-That's where your money is going, right?

Can I write in your notebook?

-Yes.

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

-Tracking is the first thing that I have everybody I coach do.

Groceries.

-Mm-hmm.

-How often?

-Probably like 4 times a week, probably like $50 a trip.

-And how much eating out do you do?

-A lot.

It's mostly the kids.

But they're always hungry, like, especially my daughter.

She's an athlete, so I get it.

She burns a lot of calories.

So, even if I grab something, she'll be hungry two hours later.

The food is so expensive.

-I bet you're spending hundreds of dollars a month on this.

So, here's what I think is happening.

I think you think you have a money problem... -Mm-hmm.

-...but you really have a time problem.

♪♪ ♪♪ -I work from home remotely for University of Washington.

-I know this is crazy, overwhelming.

-I am now an event manager.

Traveling for work is really exhausting, especially if it's back-to-back weekends, which the spring and fall usually are.

Like, I'm usually booked every single weekend.

Gotta roll that shopper app tonight.

It's a free night.

On the off-season, I do a shopping delivery service.

The shopper app pays a certain percentage based on the order, and then you get tipped on top of that.

With tips, it's kind of hit or miss.

I don't mind working.

I love working.

It keeps my mind busy.

People are gonna be like, "Well, you have all these jobs How come you're not rolling in money?

Like, how are you struggling?"

It's embarrassing.

Their dad does not help in any way.

I'm thankful to have my parents help so much.

-You want to go sit in your bed for a minute and relax?

-Mnh!

-Oh, yeah.

You don't want to get mean.

-My parents are honestly kind of scared to be alone with him or even take him out of the house.

I just want to give a little light to the world so they can see what it's really like.

When he doesn't talk and the way he communicates is through aggression, it's... [breathes deeply] definitely not ideal.

I want to be able to do it on my own.

I want to show my boys what it's like to live life as an adult and be able to, you know, be okay.

I haven't had any financial guidance before, and I need somebody to show me the way.

Louis?

-Ashley?

-Yes.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

Welcome to my home.

-Oh, thank you so much for inviting me.

-Come on in.

-Sure.

My name is Louis Barajas, and I'm an Opportunity Coach.

Ashley, thank you so much for allowing me to come into your home today and -- and work with you and help you.

I would love to know a little bit more about your story.

-I am a single mom of two.

I have a 11-year-old who's in sixth grade and a 9-year-old who's in fourth.

My 9-year-old was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Level 3.

-And can you share with me just a little bit what that means?

-Yeah, the severity level is the highest severity level as far as aggressive and nonverbal behaviors.

-So, I have a deeper connection to Ashley.

My grandson has autism.

And I've had to go back and look at the financial aspects of what it is going to require to take care of my grandson, even maybe after his parents are gone.

And if I can help other parents take care of their children, that is what means more to me than anything else.

-It's a lot of managing, you know -- managing the temperament and the regulation.

-Are you getting much help?

Is there, like, a dad that's helping out?

-No.

-Or you have sisters and -- You know, who's helping out with it?

-Their dad left and moved out of state.

My parents have done a lot of the support since my kids were born.

And then the respite care hours that they give me every month, I typically just use them to work another job.

I don't really take it for time off.

-Talk to me about, right now, your current financial situation.

-I don't make enough.

I've been constantly going for promotions at work so I'm able to move up on the pay scale.

-Do you have car payment?

Do you owe credit cards?

-Yes.

So, credit cards -- one of them, I let default.

And so I think that's on my credit report.

-Okay.

-But I do have three standing credit cards that are all maxed out.

And I have, like, a car payment over $700 a month.

-Any kind of loans that you have or any personal loans?

-So, I had gotten into the personal loan circle.

-What did you take a personal loan out -- Like, from somebody that you knew or -- -No.

From an online creditor.

-Were you aware of the interest rate that you were paying on that, as well?

-No.

-No?

Okay.

-This place is willing to give me 1,200 bucks?

Okay, let's do it.

Like, honestly, I'm not even looking at the paperwork.

I'm just looking at the help to keep things going.

-Are you aware, when you were signing this contract, what these contracts also entail beyond just the interest rate?

-No.

-Okay.

So, this is called predatory lending, right?

-Yeah.

-All right.

Because they took advantage of you being in a very vulnerable state.

She borrowed $3,000, and the interest she was gonna pay back on the $3,000 was almost like $2,600 within, like, a three-month period.

Look at this thing.

It says here you are waiving your rights to have juries resolve these claims.

That means that you can't sue them.

-Wow.

-That you can't go after them.

That they are to be held harmless.

Ashley is a really proud person who has a wonderful heart, who doesn't want to bother anyone.

But I think she's reached a point in which she really needs help.

You are keeping so busy.

And sometimes we work a lot just to not have to think about what we're going through, right?

Where are you right now in your head?

What scares you?

What keeps you up at night?

-Parker.

-Okay.

-Parker's behavior.

-What are you worried about?

-Um, Parker's behaviors, how he's struggling internally.

Is he gonna be able to talk one day?

Am I gonna be able to take care of him for the rest of my life?

-When you have someone who has special needs like Ashley's son, the care is 24/7.

-[ Voice breaking ] I worry so much about my older son, too, 'cause a lot of times he feels like the third wheel and not as important just because he doesn't get as much attention.

I feel devastated that I failed in providing them a good father.

Really ignore a lot of things with my own health.

Like, my tooth hurts, and I haven't been able to get a root canal because they want $500.

-You're postponing it.

-There's -- There's not a relaxing moment in my life, I don't feel.

-If you can't take care of you, you can't take care of anyone else.

You're gonna run out of gas, and you won't be there for your children because people do get sick.

They get sick from the stress.

-I feel like my biggest fear is failure, and -- and I feel like I'm feeling right now.

So that's why I reached out for help [voice breaking] because I don't like asking for help.

But I feel like I'm drowning, and I just... I want to live a better life.

♪♪ -So, tell me what your goals are.

What are the financial goals that you have at the top of your list right now?

-I would really love to not have maxed-out credit cards or that, in case there's an emergency, I know that I could use that if I needed to 'cause right now, if something were to happen, I have no plan.

-And any side gigs?

Anything that you feel like you could turn into some money?

Any gifts you have?

Wow!

This is -- Okay, I was not expecting this at all.

This is a store.

-Well, I do couponing.

That's a really big hobby that turned into, like, kind of a side gig because I resell as far as, like, garage sales.

-And you get all of this inventory because of couponing?

-Yes.

-I thought when Jovanna said that she was a couponer, that we were talking a few boxes of cereal, some canned goods.

She's running a whole store out of her garage.

Razors of every type, oral care.

-Makeup, medicine.

I mean, feminine care.

-Oh, I need to go shopping.

-[ Chuckles ] -Yeah.

I'm blown away.

I'm blown away.

I really do need some stuff, though.

-I thought you were gonna say, "Now I really do want to learn how to coupon."

[ Laughs ] -Yeah.

Actually, no.

-No?

[ Both laugh ] And then I also have a TikTok.

My following is a little bit small right now.

It's like 30,000, but -- [ Laughs ] -I'm sorry.

Did you just say 30,000?

-Yes.

-30,000 human beings... -Uh-huh.

-...follow you?

-Yeah.

-On one platform?

-Mm-hmm.

-That's considered a micro-influencer.

-Really?

-That is -- Yes.

Oh, my God.

You could be monetizing that.

Are you monetizing?

-I am, but the most I've ever gotten in one month is maybe like $200.

I would love to grow that some more, but because I'm so busy with work and the kids and stressing right now, I haven't made as many videos as I would like.

-If she could get that information out there to those 30,000 followers, she could really be onto a sustainable business that'll help her and her family.

This is really impressive.

Like, I don't think I've ever seen anything like this up close.

-Really?

[ Chuckles ] -Never, actually.

I've never seen anything like this.

Incredible.

-Thank you.

It's something that I enjoy doing, and I love helping my community, and they help me, too.

-You enjoy seeing other people win, right?

-Yeah.

Yes.

-And now -- right?

-- you get to leverage something, too, that is not just about seeing other people win.

This might be an opportunity for you to win and win big.

-I see, like, a lot of couponers -- like, the bigger content creators -- that say that they were able to leave their job and couponing is just their sole income now and that they bought a house with it.

And I'm like, "How?

Like, I want to do that."

You know?

-Yes!

It is possible.

You already know it is because you've seen it happen for someone else, which means it's available to you.

-Mm-hmm.

-Okay, so, I know you have some big goals, which means we have to put some work in.

I want you to go to The Opportunity Coach.

The Opportunity Coach is one of those tools that I wish I had 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago.

The first thing that I want you to look for is the "managing debt" category.

I really want you to consider consolidating all of those credit cards and personal loans, if you can, into one manageable payment.

Now, can we get to my favorite?

-Yes.

-Business and side hustles.

I want you to find a community partner that can help you get Couponing With Jovanna off the ground.

-Yes, that would be great.

-You know, an organization that will teach you more about how to structure the business and make sure that you're setting it up to really create the opportunity and possibilities that you desire.

I know that it can be a little daunting because there's a lot there, but I really have a good feeling about her.

I think that she wants to really prove to her kids what she can do, what she's capable of, and also prove to herself.

How quickly are you going to get started?

-Tomorrow.

[ Both laugh ] -No, you're supposed to say today!

You're supposed to say right now!

-Right now!

-And when you think about those two babies, it is worth doing the work and even introducing them to a lot of the resources and things that you're learning.

It's about building that financial stability for generations to come.

-Yes.

-And it starts with you doing this work.

-Okay.

-So, when are you gonna start?

-Right now.

-Yes!

Better answer.

I love it.

-I do feel like there's a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm super excited to get started and to start taking control of my life again.

-Okay, well, I will see you in about six weeks, and I can't wait to hear all of your good updates.

I'm banking on you.

-Yes.

I'll make you proud.

-I know you're gonna make me proud.

I feel that.

-Next time on "Opportunity Knocks"... -I'm just at a point now where I'm just like, "It's now or never."

-Your eyes are open now.

If you want to, you can find your way back.

The question is if you want to.

-By the time we're done working together, you're gonna feel like you're in control.

Because I want you to be happy.

-Patrice told me to log on to The Opportunity Coach to help me find resources here in my area.

"Your journey shows that recovery is possible and that the real opportunity can begin with one brave step forward."

-Everyone deserves opportunities.

Find yours at OpportunityKnocks.net.

-Zip splits big payments into not-so-big ones and provides the flexibility and control to pay over time.

Available wherever you get your apps.

Learn more Zip.co.

Zip is a proud sponsor of "Opportunity Knocks."

-Funding for "Opportunity Knocks" is provided by Visa.

Visa.

Everywhere you want to be.

Additional funding provided by the Wells Fargo Foundation, which seeks to strengthen historically marginalized communities by investing in pathways to economic advancement and generational wealth.

"Opportunity Knocks" is sponsored in part by the National Council for Financial Opportunities.

To learn more, visit theNCFO.org.

Support for "Opportunity Knocks" is provided by GreenPath Financial Wellness, a national nonprofit providing financial counseling and education for more than 65 years.

Learn more at greenpath.com.