At 25, Mary Quinn realized her spending was out of control.

She had grown up in upstate New York, with parents who “weren't good with money.” She followed their path, spending money on impulse and wondering why she had so many bills.

She vowed she'd get out of debt. It took her more than three years. Next, she began putting $25 a month in an emergency fund. Within a few years, she had opened her own IRA.

Now, at 36, Quinn uses her own story to motivate others to save. She's the executive director of CharlotteSaves Inc., a nonprofit that helps low-income people reduce debt and set personal financial goals.

CharlotteSaves recently celebrated its 5,000th saver. The savers are local individuals and families who make less than $50,000 a year. They pledge to work at specific financial goals such as getting out of debt and saving to buy a house.

Quinn, the nonprofit's only employee, works with 25 partners, including local offices of the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill. She and a cadre of volunteers – financial planners and certified public accountants – go to those sites and talk to clients about money management.

CharlotteSaves started in 2002 as part of a national network that teaches good financial habits to low-income people and encourages them to school their children in saving. Charlotte has the second-largest citywide Saves program among about 15 America Saves cities.

Cleveland, which started its effort in 1999, has the largest. About 25 counties, states and colleges also participate in the nationwide program.

Last year, the national savings rate was minus-1 percent, meaning the average household had more debts than savings. That statistic doesn't include retirement savings because those generally aren't accessible.

Because Quinn and volunteers give hourlong talks about saving in such places as homeless shelters and programs for ex-offenders, they see tough financial cases. For instance, when inmates get out of prison, they often find that relatives and acquaintances have used their Social Security numbers to run up more debt, she says.

Quinn advises her clients to find out what's in their credit reports and instructs them in ways to repair bad credit. Their two biggest goals? To get out of debt and build up an emergency fund.

She says she works with clients once, or “as many times as they want.” She also refers them to another nonprofit partner, Alliance Credit Counseling, which helps with debt consolidation.

A favorite success story: Quinn helped an ex-drug addict qualify for a Habitat for Humanity house built in Charlotte. It changed the woman's life. Two years later, she's doing well, and her success has given hope to her friends and relatives.

CharlotteSaves' budget is about $60,000 yearly – mostly from grants and funding from Alliance – and includes Quinn's $29,000 salary. She has been executive director for four years, but has worked for nonprofits for 12 years.

On a modest salary, Quinn still practices financial restraint.

“I can't carry cash. It burns a hole in my pocket,” she says. “I avoid browsing at stores. If I do, I end up buying things that waste my money.”

She doesn't know how many of the 5,000 Charlotte savers have reached their goals. Social marketing campaigns generally take 15 years to show measurable results, Quinn says. But she believes pledges make people think – and change behavior.

At 25, Mary Quinn realized her spending was out of control.

She had grown up in upstate New York, with parents who “weren't good with money.” She followed their path, spending money on impulse and wondering why she had so many bills.

She vowed she'd get out of debt. It took her more than three years. Next, she began putting $25 a month in an emergency fund. Within a few years, she had opened her own IRA.

Now, at 36, Quinn uses her own story to motivate others to save. She's the executive director of CharlotteSaves Inc., a nonprofit that helps low-income people reduce debt and set personal financial goals.

CharlotteSaves recently celebrated its 5,000th saver. The savers are local individuals and families who make less than $50,000 a year. They pledge to work at specific financial goals such as getting out of debt and saving to buy a house.

Quinn, the nonprofit's only employee, works with 25 partners, including local offices of the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill. She and a cadre of volunteers – financial planners and certified public accountants – go to those sites and talk to clients about money management.

CharlotteSaves started in 2002 as part of a national network that teaches good financial habits to low-income people and encourages them to school their children in saving. Charlotte has the second-largest citywide Saves program among about 15 America Saves cities.

Cleveland, which started its effort in 1999, has the largest. About 25 counties, states and colleges also participate in the nationwide program.

Last year, the national savings rate was minus-1 percent, meaning the average household had more debts than savings. That statistic doesn't include retirement savings because those generally aren't accessible.

Because Quinn and volunteers give hourlong talks about saving in such places as homeless shelters and programs for ex-offenders, they see tough financial cases. For instance, when inmates get out of prison, they often find that relatives and acquaintances have used their Social Security numbers to run up more debt, she says.

Quinn advises her clients to find out what's in their credit reports and instructs them in ways to repair bad credit. Their two biggest goals? To get out of debt and build up an emergency fund.

She says she works with clients once, or “as many times as they want.” She also refers them to another nonprofit partner, Alliance Credit Counseling, which helps with debt consolidation.

A favorite success story: Quinn helped an ex-drug addict qualify for a Habitat for Humanity house built in Charlotte. It changed the woman's life. Two years later, she's doing well, and her success has given hope to her friends and relatives.

CharlotteSaves' budget is about $60,000 yearly – mostly from grants and funding from Alliance – and includes Quinn's $29,000 salary. She has been executive director for four years, but has worked for nonprofits for 12 years.

On a modest salary, Quinn still practices financial restraint.

“I can't carry cash. It burns a hole in my pocket,” she says. “I avoid browsing at stores. If I do, I end up buying things that waste my money.”

She doesn't know how many of the 5,000 Charlotte savers have reached their goals. Social marketing campaigns generally take 15 years to show measurable results, Quinn says. But she believes pledges make people think – and change behavior.