The cold road to debt free: Calgary man winters in unheated trailer - Action News
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The cold road to debt free: Calgary man winters in unheated trailer

"I realized I could stick it out," says Geoff Westlock, who's been getting out of debt by living in an unheated trailer despite waking up to frozen water lines in -30 C weather.

Frozen water lines and 30 C temperatures don't scare Geoff Westlock

Geoff Westlock has been living in this trailer for the last three years to get himself out of debt. (Geoff Westlock photos)

This story was originally published Dec. 8.


To save money and get out of debt, a Calgary man is wintering in an unheated trailer.

While Geoff Westlock's six-metre abode does have a furnace, he can only use it when he has access to electricity.

That means plugging in at a campsite or switching on hisbattery-operated generator, which he says runs out of juice pretty quickly when it'scold outside.

So, most of the time,Westlocklives without heat and "bundles up" by layering sweaters and tuckinginto asleeping bag that's suitable for40 C temperatures.

"After that first night of being in the trailer, and it was south of 30, and I actually woke up the next morning with everything still attached I realized I could stick it out," he told TheCalgaryEyeopener.

"After that, nothing scares me."

Geoff Westlock racked up $42,000 in debts before he decided to buy this six-metre trailer, which he's been living in for the past three years without heat. (Geoff Westlock)

Westlock has been waking up to frozen water lines in winter months since 2013.

He decide to"downgrade" his lifestyle after racking up $42,000 in a truck loan, student loans andcredit card debt.

So he bought a trailer with a $36,000 loan and has been living in it for the past three years.

Westlock parks his trailer ata different location every night usually big box store parking lots orindustrial areas.

'I've long since given up on dating and looking fashionable,' jokes Geoff Westlock, adding that it has been worth the sacrifice to pay off his debts. (Geoffrey M Westlock/Facebook)

"I'velong since given up on dating and looking fashionable," he said.

Buthe says it's worth the sacrifice.

Having no fixed address has allowed Westlockto create a $3,000 rainy day fund and clearall his debt,except the remaining$34,000 on the trailer loan.

He plans to have that paid off by the end of next year.


With files from the Calgary Eyeopener

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story said Geoff Westlock had only $6,000 left to pay off on his trailer loan. In fact, he's paid off his other $42,000 in debt (a truck loan, student loans and credit cards) but has $34,000 yet to go on the trailer.
    Dec 08, 2016 4:19 PM MT