How do you think you got into financial trouble?
Buying a house and video equipment and only paying the minimum amount, hoping work would improve. Instead, my company went belly up, I got separated and survived suicidal tendencies. I got out of debt and am now feeling better.
How did that make you feel?
Useless and a burden to all my loved ones.
How long did it take you to get back on your feet financially?
8 years.
Is your outlook on life different now that you are debt free?
I feel so much better about my life. I’m still poor, but smarter about it.
How did dealing with your debt help in other areas of your life?
Will to live is a definite start.
If you had a chance for a “do-over” in your life what would you have done differently that could have prevented, you from getting into debt?
Had more financial education in school, chosen a different profession and questioned my business partner about their decisions earlier than I did.
What influenced you the most to change your spending habits?
Hunger and my children.
How did Credit Counselling Services of Atlantic Canada help you with your situation?
They stopped the debt bullies, gave me a shot at responsible revenge.
How did it feel when you finished working with Credit Counselling Services and became debt free?
I am thankful and will recommend.
What are you doing now to ensure you don’t repeat past financial mistakes?
Watch my spending.
If you were to experience financial difficulty again, would you use credit counselling to get back on track?
Hopefully I will never have to.
How has becoming debt free allowed you to plan for your future?
Frankly, even without the payments, I am still struggling. Wonder how I managed in the past.
Have you been able to educate/encourage other members in your family to budget and save?
My parents encouraged me after doing it first, so we are all happy to have come out of it smarter.
If you had to give up one daily expense to be debt free, what would it be?
I gave up smoking, gave up my car, live in a low-income housing and skip all personal shopping.
