Our generation faces many financial issues every day. Servus Credit Union asked me to use my experience and explain the top 3 financial issues facing our generation. So I thought, thunk and pondered for a bit about how I would explain this (they really weren’t kidding when they said no scripts). Here’s what I came up with:

Issue 1 - Debt

This is a big one folks. These days it’s so easy to get into debt. Debt can be a large amount like a loan for a car or it can be a small amount like some new clothes on the credit card. Either way, it can add up fast and add stress to our lives. Now, not all debt has to be negative. Some people have to take on some debt to pay for post secondary education. The most important thing is to understand the conditions of the debt you’re taking on and make a plan to manage your debt. Are there scheduled payments? What happens if you don’t pay off your debt on time? Is there interest that you also have to pay? Ask questions, do research and take the time to understand what you’re getting involved with. Understanding your debt and making a plan to manage it is the best strategy to take on.

Issue 2 - Saving

From my interviews I got to do I learned many people did not do very much to save extra money. Often it was because they didn’t know the saving options available to them or what would work best for them. When we hear about saving money some people think to save a little bit of every pay cheque in their account that they don’t use, while others think of putting money into RRSP’s, TFSA’s or some other abbreviation that’s supposed to grow… We think. Which one is best for me? I’m not saving for my future child’s education yet. I was hoping to get mine out of the way first.

Issue 3 - Understanding

While I was making my challenge video I found that a lot of people were just wanting to get help from financial institutions to learn more about their money. I know I’ve felt the same way. Sometimes it’s easier to put my money in my account, forget about it and pretend that in the back room there is a little pile of money with a sticky note on it that says “Dex’s Money.” But we have to ask questions and make sure we understand. Provide resources that help us learn about our money and stay involved even after we deposit it. 

So here I am, right in the thick of the Young and Free Alberta Spokester search. I’ve had fun thinking of video ideas and making them come to life. My YouTube channel has more views than ever (thanks everyone!) and I have a very real chance at an amazing job that also lets me use some of the skills I learned in university. I’ve tried to make my videos fun to watch and hopefully you think so as well. But, I haven’t really given a lot of information about myself. So let’s get to know each other, shall we? I was born in Calgary and raised in and around the Okotoks, Alberta area. Okotoks is a small town just south of Calgary. I’ve played soccer since I was 5 years old and I tried hockey but my skating skills were, and still are, well below average. In 2008 I graduated high school from Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks. Someone in charge was even crazy enough to let me be the master of ceremonies. Throughout high school I loved social studies, english and theatre. I decided to take those 3 loves and start on a broadcasting diploma at Mount Royal University in 2010. I just finished my diploma and they were the two best years of my life. I met so many amazing, like-minded people and I got to do so many things I loved. I got to host my own radio show called “The Dex Dunford Radio Programme.” I learned to write effective commercials for radio and television. But the very best part was getting to be in front of a microphone or a camera and be the centre of attention. I love being the one that people look to for advice, news or even just a good story. I know the job of Young and Free Spokester would be a perfect fit for me and an amazing opportunity. I hope you think I would be a great fit too. So head on over to www.youngfreealberta.com and vote! I hope to be your 2011 spokester. Have fun out there.