How Newlyweds Jamie and Robert Overcame Financial Hurdles and $22,000 of Debt

Making the commitment to pay off debt isn’t easy―and even harder still when you’re newly married. But Jamie and Robert knew they had to make their finances a priority if they wanted to give their marriage a chance.

“Realizing we needed financial help was the first big step we took together as a married couple,” Jamie reflected. “But it was crucial to ensure our longevity and happiness.”

With just over $15,000 of combined debt to their names, neither of them was prepared for when another financial hurdle struck.

“I lost $7,000 on an event I coordinated and was almost taken to court,” Jamie said. “I realized we didn’t have the money management skills necessary or the legal knowledge on how best to tackle these debts.”

Together, they made the difficult decision to leave Kelowna, BC and move to Calgary, AB in pursuit of better job opportunities and debt help options. After years of creditor calls, accumulating too many debts and not being able to make the monthly payments to them all, they were ready to make some big financial changes.

No financial hurdle too big

A friend at that time was going through the bankruptcy process, so Jamie and Robert thought that was their only way out of this rut, too. Upon making an appointment with the company, they were told there was another way to manage their debts: The Orderly Payment of Debts (OPD) program through Money Mentors.

“Coming to Money Mentors was honestly one of the best decisions we’ve ever made.

“I’m not going to lie―it was definitely scary at first! It was a lot of money to tackle right off the bat. But it was so much easier lumping all of our debts into one monthly payment. And because the OPD program is federally legislated, Money Mentors was able to help me with the legal action I was facing, too.”

Building a stronger financial foundation through the OPD program

Over the course of their five years on the OPD program, Jamie and Robert learned more about personal finance than they’d expected to. From learning how to budget properly, managing their money and expenses better, becoming more conscious of cashflow and setting SMART financial goals, they’re starting this new stage of their lives with a newfound financial foundation.

“We’re just so proud of ourselves that we’re in this place now that we can start rebuilding our credit and finally go after those goals and dreams we made for ourselves along the way. None of this would be possible had it not been for Money Mentors. We still sometimes don’t even believe that we’re debt-free!”

Today, Jamie and Robert have become advocates for asking for help and learning more about your money.

“Whenever I talk to family and friends about our journey, the one thing I always stress is to talk to a professional. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it and agencies like Money Mentors are there for you. It’s a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain.”

Money Mentors would like to thank Jamie and Robert for sharing their story. Congratulations on becoming debt-free!

If you would like to share your story, please contact our Marketing Manager.