For Jennifer Betances Brito, building the life she dreamed about came with a financial cost.
The 32-year-old said she moved to South Florida in 2021, determined to finish her education and build her own business.
Today, she works a full-time job while running Brito Beauty, a makeup artistry and styling business. But as her dreams grew, so did her debt.
“Just everything was piling up,” Brito said.
Between credit cards and student loans, Brito said she eventually accumulated about $37,000 in debt, much of it tied to high-interest credit cards.
“It was really hard for me to just manage all the debt that I had at the time,” she said.
The financial pressure took a toll.
“I was nervous, anxious,…