I was part of the statistic - 50% of Canadians are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Growing up low-income shaped my views and affected my money habits in adulthood. When beginning our family, my wife and I had no budget, and felt we had no control over our money. We were paying little attention and became victims of our local bank selling us expensive products we didn’t need. I was a carpenter, a blue-collar employee, working hard everyday for 15 years - with little to no time off. I was like everyone else around me, working overtime, and still collecting some debt along my way. I lived to work and had no long-term goals. That was until my wife and I found a company that changed our lives. Our eyes were opened, our course corrected, and eventually all our debts paid off. This same company would later invest in me and break me into the industry. While growing our family to 6 children, we have become disciplined and better equipped. As we fulfill short-term goals and adjust long-term ones, it is reassuring to know that we do not have to change our life’s course for anything that may happen. I want all the people that are like us - the average, the ordinary, and forgotten, to be financially secure and prepared for what’s next. With discipline, you could have the next best testimony.