They raised seven kids while drowning in debt. Here are the lessons they’re passing on.
The Kunziers were rich in the things that matter most—family and love—but their finances were in shambles. John Kunzier had been running a successful construction business when 9/11 happened and changed everything. When the business started struggling, John didn’t want to fire his employees, so he made some decisions that, in hindsight, were the wrong…
The Kunziers were rich in the things that matter most—family and love—but their finances were in shambles.
John Kunzier had been running a successful construction business when 9/11 happened and changed everything. When the business started struggling, John didn’t want to fire his employees, so he made some decisions that, in hindsight, were the wrong ones. The following year, the business failed.
“It was a big blow to my ego,” says John, “to have something you built completely collapse.”
John had to declare bankruptcy. John’s wife, Liz, was pregnant with twins at the time, and the family had to rely on loans to make ends meet. “We actually took out a loan that would never end,” says John.
“It was a horrible financial decision for us,” says Liz.
The Kunziers began, slowly but surely, picking up the pieces of their financial life but then the 2008 Great Recession hit. “It was literally like somebody ripped the rug out from under us,” says John.
Liz kept a “money tree”—a good luck tree people sometimes keep in their homes. The tree wasn’t in great shape, but it limped along, and then one day one of the twins cut it down. It was the perfect metaphor for the family’s financial situation.
As a result, the family took no vacations, never ate out, and didn’t buy any new toys. Despite that, they weren’t unhappy.
The Kunziers are a large family. John and Liz have seven kids including the twins and two grandchildren. So when they hit financial hard times, they had to cut out everything but the necessities. The couple didn’t even give each other birthday or Christmas presents.
They’ve been real with their kids about their situation, especially as they’ve gotten older. The family lives in a very affluent area, and the kids are used to seeing people with lots of material things. But John and Liz maintained the philosophy that “things don’t make you happy.”
“I took it as us being a different kind of rich,” says the Kunzier’s daughter, Claire. “Us being rich in family.”
Not wanting their kids to feel a sense of deprivation, Liz says, “We didn’t say, ‘Oh we can’t do that because we can’t afford it,’ we would just say, ‘No, we’re not doing that. That’s not something we’re going to do.’”
“We wanted to make sure your upbringing was good and memorable and fun, and that you guys didn’t know any different,” John tells his kids.
What’s more, the Kunzier kids have learned valuable lessons from their parents’ financial experiences.
When the market turned around, the Kunziers were able to refinance their home, which helped them climb out of their financial hole. “All of a sudden, things got better and better and better,” says John. “It’s a snowball effect, either way.”
Because the Kunziers are open with their kids about their financial journey, their kids will have a better sense of how to financially plan and make sound monetary decisions.
“I think it’s really important for me to hear this,” says Claire. “Because I am a freshman in college, and I am starting to make these financial decisions for myself, especially with loans.” Claire says she won’t live on campus next year so she won’t have to take a loan out to pay for room and board.
“For me,” she says, “deciding what’s important to do is being shaped by what you guys did.”
The Kunziers now have loads of financial wisdom, guidance, and proven advice to pass on to their kids and grandkids. But perhaps the most crucial lesson is one they’ve already imparted — how to maintain a resilient spirit and focus on what’s most important when times are toughest.
“We didn’t have all the money in the world, but we had each other,” says the Kunziers’ son, Jack.
“Not having a whole lot of money isn’t the worst thing in the world,” says Liz, “because if you’ve got your family with you, and you love each other. That makes it not sting so bad.”
In a small village in Pwani, a district on Tanzania’s coast, a massive dance party is coming to a close. For the past two hours, locals have paraded through the village streets, singing and beating ngombe drums; now, in a large clearing, a woman named Sheilla motions for everyone to sit facing a large projector screen. A film premiere is about to begin.
It’s an unusual way to kick off a film about gender bias, inequality, early marriage, and other barriers that prevent girls from accessing education in Tanzania. But in Pwani and beyond, local organizations supported by Malala Fund and funded by Pura are finding creative, culturally relevant ways like this one to capture people’s interest.
The film ends and Sheilla, the Communications and Partnership Lead for Media for Development and Advocacy (MEDEA), stands in front of the crowd once again, asking the audience to reflect: What did you think about the film? How did it relate to your own experience? What can we learn?
Sheilla explains that, once the community sees the film, “It brings out conversations within themselves, reflective conversations.” The resonance and immediate action create a ripple effect of change.
MEDEA Screening Audience in Tanzania. Captured by James Roh for Pura
Across Tanzania, gender-based violence often forces adolescent girls out of the classroom. This and other barriers — including child marriage, poverty, conflict, and discrimination — prevent girls from completing their education around the world.
Sheilla and her team are using film and radio programs to address the challenges girls face in their communities. MEDEA’s ultimate goal is to affirm education as a fundamental right for everyone, and to ensure that every member of a community understands how girls’ education contributes to a stronger whole and how to be an ally for their sisters, daughters, granddaughters, friends, nieces, and girlfriends.
Sheilla’s story is one of many that inspired Heart on Fire, a new fragrance from the Pura x Malala Fund Collection that blends the warm, earthy spices of Tanzania with a playful, joyful twist. Here’s how Pura is using scent as a tool to connect the world and inspire action.
A partnership focused on local impact, on a global mission
Pura, a fragrance company that recognizes education as both freedom and a human right, has partnered with Malala Fund since 2022. In order to defend every girl’s right to access and complete 12 years of education, Malala Fund partners with local organizations in countries where the educational barriers are the greatest. They invest in locally-led solutions because they know that those who are closest to the problems are best equipped to solve and build durable solutions, like MEDEA, which works with communities to challenge discrimination against girls and change beliefs about their education.
But local initiatives can thrive and scale more powerfully with global support, which is why Pura is using their own superpower, the power of scent, to connect people around the world with the women and girls in these local communities.
The Pura x Malala Fund Collection incorporates ingredients naturally found in Tanzania, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Brazil: countries where Malala Fund operates to address systemic education barriers. Eight percent of net revenue from the Pura x Malala Fund Collection will be donated to Malala Fund directly, but beyond financial support, the Collection is also a love letter to each unique community, blending notes like lemon, jasmine, cedarwood, and clove to transport people, ignite their senses, and help them draw inspiration and hope from the global movement for girls’ education. Through scent, people can connect to the courage, joy, and tenacity of girls and local leaders, all while uniting in a shared commitment to education: the belief that supporting girls’ rights in one community benefits all of us, everywhere.
You’ve already met Sheilla. Now see how Naiara and Mama Habiba are building unique solutions to ensure every girl can learn freely and dare to dream.
Naiara Leite is reimagining what’s possible in Brazil
Julia with Odara in Brazil. Captured by Luisa Dorr for Pura
In Brazil, where pear trees and coconut plantations cover the Northeastern Coast, girls like ten-year-old Julia experience a different kind of educational barrier than girls in Tanzania. Too often, racial discrimination contributes to high dropout rates among Black, quilombola and Indigenous girls in the country.
“In the logic of Brazilian society, Black people don’t need to study,” says Naiara Leite, Executive Coordinator of Odara, a women-led organization and Malala Fund partner. Bahia, the state where Odara is based, was once one of the largest slave-receiving territories in the Americas, and because of that history, deeply-ingrained, anti-Black prejudice is still widespread. “Our role and the image constructed around us is one of manual labor,” Naiara says.
But education can change that. In 2020, with assistance from a Malala Fund grant, Odara launched its first initiative for improving school completion rates among Black, quilombola, and Indigenous girls: “Ayomidê Odara”. The young girls mentored under the program, including Julia, are known as the Ayomidês. And like the Pura x Malala Fund Collection’s Brazil: Breath of Courage scent, the Ayomidês are fierce, determined, and bursting with energy.
Ayomidês with Odara in Brazil. Captured by Luisa Dorr for Pura
Ayomidês take part in weekly educational sessions where they explore subjects like education and ethnic-racial relations. The girls are encouraged to find their own voices by producing Instagram lives, social media videos, and by participating in public panels. Already, the Ayomidês are rewriting the narrative on what’s possible for Afro-Brazilian girls to achieve. One of the earliest Ayomidês, a young woman named Debora, is now a communications intern. Another former Ayomidê, Francine, works at UNICEF, helping train the next generation of adolescent leaders. And Julia has already set her sights on becoming a math teacher or a model.
“These are generations of Black women who did not have access to a school,” Naiara says. “These are generations of Black women robbed daily of their dreams. And we’re telling them that they could be the generation in their family to write a new story.”
Mama Habiba is reframing the conversation in Nigeria
Centre for Girls' Education, Nigeria. Captured by James Roh for Pura
In Mama Habiba’s home country of Nigeria, the scents of starfruit, ylang ylang and pineapple, all incorporated into the Pura x Malala Collection’s “Nigeria: Hope for Tomorrow,” can be found throughout the vibrant markets. Like these native scents, Mama Habiba says that the Nigerian girls are also bright and passionate, but too often they are forced to leave school long before their potential fully blooms.
“Some of these schools are very far, and there is an issue of quality, too,” Mama Habiba says. “Most parents find out when their children are in school, the girls are not learning. So why allow them to continue?”
When girls drop out of secondary school, marriage is often the alternative. In Nigeria, one in three girls is married before the age of 18. When this happens, girls are unable to fulfill their potential, and their families and communities lose out on the social, health and economic benefits.
Completing secondary school delays marriage, and according to UNESCO, educated girls become women who raise healthier children, lift their families out of poverty and contribute to more peaceful, resilient communities.
Centre for Girls’ Education, Nigeria. Captured by James Roh for Pura
To encourage young girls to stay in school, the Centre for Girls’ Education, a nonprofit in Nigeria founded by Mama Habiba and supported by Malala Fund and Pura, has pioneered an initiative that’s similar to the Ayomidê workshops in Brazil: safe spaces. Here, girls meet regularly to learn literacy, numeracy, and other issues like reproductive health. These safe spaces also provide an opportunity for the girls to role-play and learn to advocate for themselves, develop their self-image, and practice conversations with others about their values, education being one of them. In safe spaces, Mama Habiba says, girls start to understand “who she is, and that she is a girl who has value. She has the right to negotiate with her parents on what she really feels or wants.”
“When girls are educated, they can unlock so many opportunities,” Mama Habiba says. “It will help the economy of the country. It will boost so many opportunities for the country. If they are given the opportunity, I think the sky is not the limit. It is the starting point for every girl.”
From parades, film screenings to safe spaces and educational programs, girls and local leaders are working hard to strengthen the quality, safety and accessibility of education and overcome systemic challenges. They are encouraging courageous behavior and reminding us all that education is freedom.
Experience the Pura x Malala Fund Collection here, and connect with the stories of real girls leading change across the globe.
When Cashia and Terrance Bryant first met, they knew they had something special. But Cashia was keeping something important from her man. The couple, who has now been married for two years, connected very quickly. After a short time together, they knew that their love was real, (even though they still argue about who said…
When Cashia and Terrance Bryant first met, they knew they had something special. But Cashia was keeping something important from her man.
The couple, who has now been married for two years, connected very quickly. After a short time together, they knew that their love was real, (even though they still argue about who said “I love you” first).
However, before they could take their relationship to the next level, Cashia had to come clean about something that had been worrying her since the start of their relationship — her bad credit.
“I didn’t tell you for a long time because I was so scared you were gonna run,” Cashia admits to Terrance.
Cashia’s bad credit has been following her since she was 18-years-old.
As a 42-year-old woman, Cashia knows how to build up and retain good credit. But when the family therapist was 18 years old, she had no idea what responsibility came with owning a credit card. She also racked up some considerable student loans.
Unfortunately, that has affected Cashia’s credit up until this day.
And she’s not only one with credit issues. Terrance’s credit isn’t where he’d like it to be either, and when he has money, a good portion of it goes to supporting his 17-year-old daughter, Ty’asia.
The couple’s been making progress, though, because they have a major goal ahead of them. They want to own a house by next year.
At first, this goal seemed completely insurmountable. How could two (now successful) people with low credit afford to own their own place?
In order to get to on the right path, Cashia and Terrance had to take a long look at their finances and make the decision to save rather than spend. It’s easier said than done, and considering where they’re at in their lives — with so many expenses that need to be taken care of right now — it sometimes felt like they were chasing an impossible dream.
While it took hard work and patience, the Bryants are now much closer to making their dream a reality.
Here’s how they’re doing it:
First, the couple dissected how much money they bring in versus how much goes out each month. Based on that information, Cashia created an aggressive budget for the pair — one that cuts down on spending while still allowing them to have a little fun as they save for a down payment.
As they get into the habit of saving, they’re crafting a future in which making wise financial decisions comes easily and naturally to them.
Due to their lower credit scores, the Bryants may have to put more money down on the house they eventually choose, but thanks to their financial planning efforts, that’s no longer an insurmountable task.
Ultimately, the process of buying a house is bringing the couple closer together. While the decisions that they’ve had to make have been difficult, sharing this mutual goal is like a recommitment to each other.
And all their planning and saving has made it possible for them to afford a down payment on a house next year. With that hurdle behind them, they can now pursue their greater goal beyond home ownership.
“We want our own family,” says Cashia “I want our baby to experience a home.”
“It took both of us,” Terrance beams. “I’m glad we found each other.”
To learn more about the Bryant’s journey to homeownership, check out this video:
When Nyna Sorn came to America, her family had nothing. So she’s had to spend her life making tough financial decisions. When Nyna was only five years old, she and her parents escaped the Khmer Rouge — the brutal regime of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) in Cambodia. The family had lost everything, and…
When Nyna Sorn came to America, her family had nothing. So she’s had to spend her life making tough financial decisions.
When Nyna was only five years old, she and her parents escaped the Khmer Rouge — the brutal regime of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) in Cambodia. The family had lost everything, and that meant that they had to scrimp and save in order to get by in their new country of the United States.
When she grew up, Nyna made a promise to herself: she would work as hard as she could in order to ensure that her children didn’t have a childhood like hers. She would do her very best to provide for them in ways that her parents couldn’t provide for her. She would make sure that their future was bright and full of possibilities.
“My dream is to see all my children successful,” Nyna says.
Nyna’s tried to impart her perspectives on money and saving onto her children, but as her kids got older, she’s become concerned about their spending habits.
Nyna has been a single mom for the past decade. While her youngest child isn’t yet old enough to learn about responsible spending, she’s worked hard to teach her older children, who are 15 and 18, how to save money when they can.
However, she worries that they’re being swayed by society’s proclivity for instant gratification, and becoming too materialistic. She’s especially concerned about her daughter Macara who, at 18, will soon be in charge of her own finances.
Nyna and Macara’s situations are very different. At 17, Nyna was already a mother. She didn’t have any financial support. That’s why she feels it’s important for Macara to understand the possible impacts of the money decisions she’s making now. But while Macara appreciates everything her mother’s done for her (including paying for college), she finds it difficult to focus on her finances.
“I don’t want to think about it too deep,” says Macara. “I don’t want to be in the future. I want to be in the present. I don’t want to be stressed out.”
It’s not easy to talk about money, but Nyna knows that being open and honest with her daughter is the only way to help her make smart decisions.
Sometimes Nyna feels like she’s being too hard on Macara, but it’s only because she wants her to have a bright future.
“I want you to be able to do better than I did,” Macara tells her daughter. “I believe in you. I believe that if you wanted to do something, you can do it.”
“I’m just trying to help you. I’m trying to pave a path.”
These kinds of conversations may be tough, but they’re necessary.
By sitting down and talking about money as more than an abstract concept, Nyna’s showing her daughter that she’s someone she can always talk to about her future, financial or otherwise.
“It’s like a signal for me to do something,” says Macara. “Can we keep having these conversations?”
“You need something, you can talk to me. I will always support you,” Nyna responds.
To learn more and Nyna and Macara Sorn, check out the video below.
Karleh Wilson didn’t know she had a credit problem until she wanted to buy a house. Karleh and her fiancée, Kareem, have been living in a rented 3-bedroom home with their daughter, Kaari, in Philadelphia. But when they realized how much money they were forking over in rent that wasn’t going towards any long-term investment,…
Karleh Wilson didn’t know she had a credit problem until she wanted to buy a house.
Karleh and her fiancée, Kareem, have been living in a rented 3-bedroom home with their daughter, Kaari, in Philadelphia. But when they realized how much money they were forking over in rent that wasn’t going towards any long-term investment, they decided to start the process of purchasing their first home.
Karleh researched what she’d need to make that happen, and found out she’d need a credit score of at least 650. However, when she looked at her free credit report, she found out her credit score was a dismal 315. So, in order to get a mortgage, she’d have to find a way to at least double her score, and hopefully get it even higher to land a competitive interest rate.
Karleh is a smart and responsible person. She went to an Ivy League school. So how did she end up in such a terrible credit situation?
It came down to an oversight that she made while she was in college.
She had gotten a card at a department store not realizing it was a credit card.
“I remember being in college and getting my first credit card,” says Karleh. “I also remember being confused about the difference between a credit card and a store card. At that point, I was still getting used to using a bank account, much less navigating the complicated world of consumer credit.”
Since Karleh didn’t realize the retail card was actually a credit card, she had been missing payments for quite some time, which ultimately had a negative effect on her credit score.
Like many college kids, she didn’t have the financial education to fully understand how credit worked. Karleh’s dad feels that he bears some responsibility for that fact. “That’s not stuff you talk about in the family,” says Karleh’s dad. “You don’t want to put that stress on your child.”
Thankfully, Karleh was able to turn her credit score around with some diligent research and new habits.
She was embarrassed by her low score, and she and Kareem want to raise Kaari in a financially secure household.
Her dad was a big cheerleader throughout the process. He told Karleh she could turn her credit around, and said it with such confidence that she believed him.
Karleh started paying all of her bills on time. She got a credit card that was built for people with poor credit, used it for all of her purchases, and payed it off in full every two weeks. “That really drove my credit through the roof,” she says.
“At this point, I’ve gotten my credit in a really good situation,” Karleh says, “and now I’m approved for a mortgage.”
At 24 years old, Karleh has gotten her credit under control and will soon be closing on her first home. In addition, she’ll be providing a financially savvy example for her daughter, and her dad couldn’t be more proud.
To learn more about Karleh’s financial journey, check out this video:
Let’s face it — navigating the financial world can be downright terrifying sometimes.
Whether you’re right out of college and looking to sign up for your first credit card, or you’re applying for a mortgage for the first time, the path to achieving financial independence isn’t always a cake walk. For example, maybe you’ve amounted some debt, or you haven’t built up your credit profile yet. Those realities can leave you feeling like you’re in the dark, and have no idea what steps to take next.
Don’t hit the panic button just yet. It is possible to navigate any financial endeavor you’re looking to embark on, whether it’s securing your first mortgage, or getting approved for your first credit card.
However, before you do, let’s see how much you already know about the main pillars of finance — like credit, savings, debt, and investments.
Ready to test your financial knowhow? Then jump on in and choose what you think are the best answers!
