WAVING goodbye to her 12-year-old as she boards a flight for the United States, an emotional Banora Point mother suppresses her concern, knowing the flight to get her daughter to Houston is simply the final leg of an incredible journey.

Just 10 months prior, Michelle Downey thought her daughter Laura's aim of competing in skipping at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in June would be nothing more than a dream, with the family of four children just managing to make ends meet.

Laura, a talented skipper who trains with the Skipperoos skipping club, wanted to test her skills against the United States' best 12-year-olds but wasn't aware her parents were trying to find a way to make it happen.

"Me and my husband were trying to figure it out and were talking about whether it was feasible. Should we, could it work?” Mrs Downey said.

"We didn't tell Laura anything. It was a big decision too as no-one would be able to go with her, just her with her coach.”

With flights alone costing thousands, Mrs Downey was resigned to the fact she would be unable to send Laura to the competition - until a chance introduction to another family set Laura on a path to Houston.

While reading the Tweed Daily News, Mrs Downey came across an advertisement for the Smith Family's Saver Plus program, which assists people on lower incomes to develop a savings habit and achieve a savings goal.

The 10-month program, funded by ANZ and the government, entitled the family to a one-off $500 incentive for children's education costs while providing budgeting and goal setting tips and techniques.

Saver Plus coordinator Jasmin Dorrington said the program was able to assist the Downeys establish a long-term savings habit, while managing "a miracle” in sending Laura to Houston.

"We talked about attitude towards money and how every type of person can learn something and it doesn't matter whether you're a good budgeter or not,” Ms Dorrington said.

There's something in it for everyone. Goal setting, a realistic achievable and measurable goal and that's when Michelle said: 'Right, I want to send Laura to the Junior Olympics,' and that's when she saved up the extra money.” Mrs Downey said she was able to save around $25 a fortnight, with the $500 incentive helping with education and skipping fee costs.

"I had four children, so to think you could get $500 just to spend on sport or education, uniforms or something, I just thought 'Yeah, I can spend that probably 10 times over',” she said. "If there's something you can get for free you take it. You have to find everything you can.”

Laura claimed four bronze medals and one silver, while also visiting NASA, Disneyland, Universal Studios and Santa Monica pier. "It was really fun because it was a different environment and it was really hot,” Laura said.

She now has her sights set on the Olympics, with skipping included in the Olympic Games line-up from Tokyo 2020.

Smith Family Saver Plus

• What: Assisting families to gain financial skills.
• When: Offered in 60 communities. More than 30,000 participants, including 775 on the southern Gold Coast.
• How: Visit the Smith Family website or contact: saverplus@bsl.org.au