How Sherrie Kleitch is Saving for Retirement and Reshaping Her Finances in Small-Town Michigan

“You can’t go back and change where you started—but you can choose where you’re headed.”

Who Is Sherrie?

Sherrie Kleitch  has worn many hats. From working as a draftsman with her father, to delivering mail in her 20s, to spending two decades in medical imaging, she’s built a career that spans industries and generations. But today, she’s finding her rhythm as a local artist and writer—telling the stories of her small Michigan town through a newspaper she now helps sustain.

Sherrie lives in Yale, Michigan, where her paper was recently acquired by a nonprofit committed to saving local journalism. Once part of a statewide network of 450 publications (now down to 210), her newspaper is one of the few still standing—and thriving.

What Sparked the Shift?

While her career evolved over the years, Sherrie’s financial knowledge didn’t always keep pace. She and her husband faced recurring unsecured debt and, like many, weren’t given strong financial tools early on.

More recently, they’ve faced unexpected challenges: her daughter’s emergency surgery and a $6,000+ car engine failure. And with retirement just 10 to 15 years away, the urgency to prepare is real.

Her husband had no retirement savings when they married at 30—but today, they’re steadily building through 401k matching and more intentional money habits.

Sherrie’s Big Wins

Since joining Debbie through MSUFCU, Sherrie has made meaningful changes: she’s saving consistently, thinking more strategically, and saying “no” to impulse spending on big-ticket items.

“I’ve always been a giver,” she said. “But now I’m also learning how to give to our future.”

What stands out most about Debbie for Sherrie is its tone—positive, non-judgmental, and built around reinforcement instead of shame.

“It’s not about punishing yourself,” she shared. “It’s about building habits you can feel good about.”

How Did She Find Debbie?

Sherrie discovered Debbie through her credit union, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union. The tone and structure of the platform immediately resonated, especially after years of financial tools that felt rigid or guilt-driven.

“Debbie helped me feel empowered,” she said. “It gave me a way to learn without being made to feel like I’d already failed.”

Now, as she transitions out of physically demanding medical work, she’s finding financial clarity and creative purpose—both in the pages of her local paper and in her own life.

Takeaways

Sherrie’s advice to others? Don’t go it alone. She encourages building a trusted network of accountability partners—people who understand your goals and can help you stay the course.

“Find your people,” she said. “Talk to them. Be honest. Keep checking in. That’s what keeps you grounded.”

For Sherrie, financial wellness isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about the story she’s writing for her future.