I have been struggling with making an article similar to this for a while now, but I figure it’s time to give a peek behind the curtain and share some facts about myself and how I got to this point.
So here we go!
1. I currently live near Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
I have lived in the Central Alberta area since high school, originally in a small hamlet of only 18 people!
2. I spent the first 14 years of my life living in Calgary, Alberta.
We moved away because we all wanted more space, so we moved to an acreage.
3. I have a Bachelor of Management degree from the University of Alberta, majoring in Business Economics.
Getting this degree took me 6 years and is how I accumulated over $75,000 of student debt.
It is also how I got my job, however, so it wasn’t completely wasted.
4. I grew up poor
Not homeless, living on the street poor but also not middle class.
This also contributed to my large student debt as I had no savings available to me for schooling.
5. I have a brother and a sister
My brother is two years younger than me, so 22, and married.
My sister[modern_footnote]Technically half-sister after my dad remarried[/modern_footnote] is 9.
6. Until I was 13 I was raised by a single father
This really helped me learn a lot about financial responsibility.
It is hard work being a single parent, and growing up my dad was very open about these struggles and worked hard to teach me all of the financial tricks he learned during this time.
7. I am a volunteer firefighter
I have been a volunteer firefighter for over a year now and it has been the most rewarding experience I have ever had.
It is quite time-consuming, between the weekly 2 hour practices, the weekly community involvement, and the almost 200 emergency calls we respond to a year, but is the best decision I ever made.
8. I work as a consultant
For my day job, I work as a liquor and food industry consultant throughout Western Canada. All the way from Banff to Grande Prairie, even in Saskatoon.
I love working for the company I do and with the clients I do.
9. I run obstacle courses every summer
Every summer I participate in multiple obstacle course runs. For those of you who don’t know what an obstacle course race is they are races such as Mud Hero, the Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, etc.
It’s extremely relaxing and gives me a reason to make sure I stay in shape over the long Canadian winters!
10. I love camping!
Every summer I spend almost every weekend camping someplace or another.
I have also spent a full month camping and canoeing north of the arctic circle and have actually minored in outdoor education during school.
With that said I traditionally camp, meaning I cook over a fire, sleep in a tent, etc. No TV and satellite for me!
Disconnecting from society for those few brief days over the summer is a great stress relief!
So those are ten somewhat random facts about myself. But if you have any questions let me know and I’ll answer them in the comments below!
And as always check out my Twitter, Facebook, and my latest Financial Update!
