About Margot Bai
Margot Bai is the author of Spend Smarter, Save Bigger: Finding BIG savings in your Home, Mortgage, Vehicles, Insurance and Investments. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, her father was a Professional Engineer who taught his children to use resources sparingly and save for the future. Her father retired while she was still young and her mother, a piano teacher, also enjoyed summers off. Her family spent many summers camping at provincial parks (free to seniors), proving that it doesn't take a large income to create a great lifestyle.
Margot attended the University of Guelph where she completed a B.A. Honours in Psychology. There she met her husband, James, a graduate of Engineering Systems and Computing. Margot landed a position with Young Drivers of Canada, first in program sales, then as a driving instructor and classroom teacher. Her husband secured a position with a major international computer company at their office in Markham, Ontario.
Newly married and with $20,000 in student loans, Margot and her husband faced the daunting task of paying off their debts while trying to save enough to buy a home of their own. Living modestly in a one-bedroom apartment helped them save quickly. Margot began to read personal finance books on everything from buying a home to choosing investments. MoneySense magazine was a favorite, with a strong consumer focus and emphasis on saving. Personal finance was a hobby, but Margot soon turned it into a career as a licensed insurance professional with a leading insurance company.
Margot Bai began writing five years ago with a goal of inspiring Canadians to make smart decisions that would lead to financial freedom! Using stories to bring financial principles to life, she also incorporates her own personal experiences to show Canadians the best ways to save on their biggest expenses.
Margot and James now live comfortably in a three-bedroom townhouse in a new development in Markham. They have eliminated their student loans and paid off a new car in less than a year. Their RRSPs are well underway and their current financial goal is to pay off their mortgage as quickly as possible. They own a rental property and plan to buy more in the future. Margot and James hope to retire from full-time employment in their forties and continue their pursuit of financial freedom on their own terms.
Margot participates in the Campus Author Recognition program at the University of Guelph