Two years ago, warehouse worker Geoff Westlock was looking at $42,000 in debt and knew he had to make a change and take control of his finances.
In 2013, Westlock had student loans, high-interest credit cards and loans for his new truck and decided to make the radical move to downsize his lifestyle to a 20 foot trailer.
“My life, very much, is my own,” he said. “By having the trailer, wherever I am, I’m home and that’s a nice thing.”
Living in a trailer does have a downside, where his coffee pot is often frozen when he wakes up in the morning,
Westlock also needs to change parking spots twice a day, but says that his lifestyle is making a difference.
His credit score is excellent, he has money in the bank and he’s 11 months away from total debt freedom.
There are still challenges, Westlock says, but he knows he can do it.
“The first night of minus 30, I knew that I could do it. I was here, I was alive. I’d figured out how to make it work, so I said if I stick it out, then I’m much further ahead.”
He knows that living in a small trailer isn’t realistic for everyone, but hopes that people hear his message and take control of their finances too.
“Just decide to do it and do it right now or you’ll never do it, because it’s never a good time.”
He plans to live in the trailer for another two years once his debt is gone and then save enough to buy a rural property, mortgage-free.
(With files from Bill Macfarlane)
