My name is Kat.
I am a 39 yr old single woman living in Vancouver.

I relocated here a few years ago to make a career and lifestyle change. Formerly a Legal Assistant in Ottawa, I was well paid but after many years in the industry I was very ready for a change. I successfully made the transition to the Career Counselling industry about 2 1/2 years ago. I’m immensely happy in the work that I do, assisting others to re-connect with their dreams and choose work about which they feel passionate.

One practical reality of this shift, however, has been an initial “downsizing” of my income...to the tune of more than $10,000 per year! I was well aware that this would be the case as my former industry paid exceptionally well in relation to others. Regardless, I willingly chose my new career specificially because of the non-monetary rewards it offered. To stay true to this career path meant I needed to re-evaluate my finances and prioritize my needs. Enter Nancy Zimmerman of Your Money By Design!

I took Nancy’s course and have made several positive shifts in my finances since. This blog will be a record of the journey I am taking to free myself from debt.

My initial reaction to taking part in this experience was “eeeeeeeek! I’m still struggling to keep all the balls in the air, how can I be an example to others?!” Then it occurred to me that *no* successful journey is ever a straightforward march to the goal, we all experience setbacks and learn lessons during the ride. I imagine what I’m experiencing is probably quite representative of what much of the “middle income” Canadian population faces financially so hopefully you will read this blog with the understanding that I am an ordinary Canadian who wants to live debt free and have enough money not only to meet my needs but to enjoy life as I’d ultimately like to live it. Perhaps you’ll see a little bit of yourself in my experience….and hopefully you’ll learn something AND have fun along the way!

Cheers!
Kat