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“If it weren’t for Ariva, I’d have to keep putting away $350 for my taxes. Ariva is for low-income people. They are people who care about people.” — Evelyn, Ariva Tax Preparation Client

Evelyn is no stranger to cutting costs – every penny counts, especially as she aims to keep her expenses low for retirement. So, she was understandably frustrated when she had to pay what she thought was an unavoidable $350 fee to get her taxes done by a big tax preparation company. Luckily, all that changed when she found Ariva’s free tax preparation services.

With our services, Evelyn saves on tax filing fees, and our team helps her get the highest refund possible by claiming eligible tax credits. 

“I’m taking care of my daughter and her sons, but I give her my refund so she has extra money to spend on my grandsons,” she tells us. 

With a family to support and retirement to plan for, Evelyn has spent most of her life doing what many New Yorkers do – working hard and juggling two jobs to make a living. She’s been a custodian at Hostos Community College for 34 years and a part-time house manager at Hostos’s theater for 23 years. As she nears retirement, her priority is to set herself up to live comfortably.

“I was 27 years old when I started my job as a custodian, and, as time went by, I knew I had to learn to discipline myself. I knew it was a good job and that I’d be getting a pension, which many jobs don’t offer,” she tells us.

Evelyn comes from a family of Puerto Rican immigrants who instilled that ethic of hard work and discipline in her. “When my father passed, and we had to go to court, I saw how much he had planned for his future and his passing. I told myself I wanted to be prepared like that,” says Evelyn. “I just paid off a life insurance premium.” 

Despite having a low income and living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, Evelyn has made major strides in her retirement planning. Her budget is clear-cut, and, little by little, she invests every source of income in her future. 

“As I get older, I see certain things that I remind myself I don’t need. As long as I have a roof and lights are on, I’m good,” she tells us. “When I work overtime, I like to take my grandsons and daughters out to eat. I’ll also add the extra money to my investments.”

Thanks to Evelyn’s resourcefulness and budgeting skills, her pension, investments, and minimal expenses set her up for a comfortable retirement once she marks her 35th anniversary at Hostos. She won’t fully leave the workplace, though. Evelyn plans to continue working her theater job and aspires to return to school to become an electrician. 

We’re so proud of Evelyn, and we’re so glad she discovered Ariva through one of our pre-COVID tax sites at Hostos.

“I try to get everyone to go to Ariva. I give all my co-workers the information,” says Evelyn.

If you’re a senior planning for retirement, we’re here for you too. Our free tax preparation program is available to you so you don’t have to worry about any filing fees and can put that money toward your financial future instead. 

Take advantage of our free tax preparation program today: https://ariva.community/tax-prep-form