From budgeting to a new career: Alysha’s story

When Alysha first came to Māngere Budgeting Services Trust, she wanted to regain control of her finances and create a more secure future for herself.

Unable to work due to a health condition, Alysha was relying on the Jobseeker Support benefit and disability allowances. Living alone in a rental property, money was tight and there was little room to save or plan for what came next.

That began to change when Alysha started working with MBST financial mentor Anna.

Image created to protect Alysha’s privacy

Together, they looked at Alysha’s relationship with money, her spending patterns and where her income was going. With careful budgeting, Alysha was able to live within her means and cover her expenses. But there was still a challenge: while she could make her budget balance, there was very little left to help her move forward.

Setting a goal

For Anna, financial mentoring wasn’t just about helping Alysha manage the money she had. It was also about helping her think about what financial independence could look like in the future.

With medical clearance to return to work, Alysha was ready to take the next step.

Anna supported Alysha to set a goal: save enough to buy a laptop so Alysha could create a CV, search for work and apply for jobs online.

While Alysha worked towards her savings goal, MBST was able to ease some of the pressure through food support and access to Tātou Social Supermarket.

She stayed focused and, little by little, reached her goal and bought her laptop.

From a laptop to a new career

The laptop opened the door to the next stage of Alysha’s journey.

With Anna’s guidance, Alysha developed a professional CV and learned how to search and apply for jobs through platforms such as SEEK and employment agencies.

Alysha secured a full-time job as a forklift driver in the warehousing industry.

For Alysha, gaining employment meant more than increasing her income. It was a major step towards the financial independence and security she had been working so hard to achieve.

Her journey shows what can happen when practical support, financial mentoring and a person’s own determination come together.

From learning how to manage her budget, to saving for her first laptop, to stepping into full-time employment, Alysha has continued to set goals and work towards them.