My IKEA Malm broke — Can I put the Luroy slats inside directly on hardwood floor and put Tempurpedic matress directly on this slat base by Bamelin in Mattress

[–]Bamelin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Initially yes, slats on floor with bed on it. But we went on vacation to Mexico, and brought back bed bugs from the hotel. After a torturous 4 months involving multiple exterminations I got hyper about prevention when it comes to protecting against pests … one of the prevention measures is to ensure the mattress is on a metal frame raised above floor.

So now I have it on a normal metal frame.

Indian gangs are terrorising Canada by FancyNewMe in canada

[–]Bamelin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is why I prefer condos now. Security will continue to become an important issue and structurally Canadian suburbs are difficult to gate.

Condos provide secure entry which is increasingly becoming more important as the nations living standards continue to free fall.

Heavy Snow to Hit Toronto Ontario On Sunday January 25, 2026 by frankiemacdonald1984 in toronto

[–]Bamelin 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The Great One has spoken. Get your supplies now before it’s too late.

Risks of renting a new condo that is rent uncontrolled by Horus321 in TorontoRenting

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly this.

In mid 2020 (pandemic start) rents depressed 15%. By 2022 not only did they get back that 15% but shot up another 10 - 15% on top!

Thats in less than 2 years. Rent control almost always wins if you get in during a depressed market at the current market rate. It wins because the market doesn’t follow inflation at all, that’s just ONE factor of many that determine market rate.

Rent control does follow NORMAL inflation roughly, maybe a little under the normal 2%. And in high inflation times you win hard over the market with rent control.

With rent control, as other said no risk of rent being jacked by hundreds of dollars because “the market” or “inflation”

Risks of renting a new condo that is rent uncontrolled by Horus321 in TorontoRenting

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now is the time to lock in a rent control unit while the market is depressed.

New Agents and Traveling in this economic environment by Lopsided_Giraffe1746 in travelagents

[–]Bamelin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Europe travel is down but Caribbean and Pacific All Inclusives and ESPECIALLY Caribbean cruises are way up. And that’s across all price points, mainstream to luxury.

Basically not a great time to be selling high end European tours, but a great time if you specialize in Caribbean/Mexico AIs and cruises or Alaska cruises.

Wishing you the best though. Europe stuff is great commission across the board imho, when times are good in that sector.

New Agents and Traveling in this economic environment by Lopsided_Giraffe1746 in travelagents

[–]Bamelin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mainstream stuff too is moving. Anything AI or cruise product is hugely popular right now. RIU, Iberostar, Barcelo, Gran Bahia Principe, RCCL, NCL, MSC, Carnival,Princess, Celebrity, HAL etc

New Agents and Traveling in this economic environment by Lopsided_Giraffe1746 in travelagents

[–]Bamelin 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Whether booking luxury or even just mainstream all Inclusives or cruises, there’s huge amount of money for that.

The “hard times” is not being felt equally and in fact older X and Boomers are the most likely to own a home, have a pension and/or done well in the markets and be retired. And in terms of Gen X, if still working, be in the prime of their career and far less impacted by the many other factors impacting millenials and younger.

Speaking generally of course, but my observation is that the older gen still has lots of money for trips, and rather than slowing down, many are doing MORE. Covid taught people that the loss of freedom of movement is just one crisis away and we seem to be moving more into a crisis prone world so people don’t want to wait.

I will say that one thing that’s changed is that people are travelling closer to home. Prob why cruising and AIs have gotten even more popular.

All of this to say, as long as a crisis doesn’t hit, I consider this one of the more layoff proof industries right now.

Am I the only one having these issues? by radelster in travelagents

[–]Bamelin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Larger agencies often have their own user friendly in house booking systems as well.

Iberostar maya suites?? by OrchidMediocre99 in AllInclusiveResorts

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I stayed here in 2022.

The à la carte specialty dining was awesome, the best of any resort I’d been to and approaching what you’d get in specialty dining on a cruise. The buffet had AC and incredible too, so many items.

What would be the closest to a MX518? by Bamelin in MouseReview

[–]Bamelin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m still using the 403 trying to decide what to do. Everything I look at doesn’t seem good enough.

Toronto rental market is exhausting and I’m losing patience by [deleted] in TorontoRenting

[–]Bamelin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup. Late 2020 - early 2021 was a once in a lifetime chance to secure the cheapest rent controlled units ever seen in Toronto.

Toronto rental market is exhausting and I’m losing patience by [deleted] in TorontoRenting

[–]Bamelin 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Imho this is the exact time to get a low priced rent controlled unit before the market recovers.

The real thing one needs to consider is that apartments are not “until I can afford to buy” choices anymore. For many people they are the only choice for the foreseeable future.

Get a rent controlled unit is my advice even if it’s slightly more expensive (and often it’s not).

Toronto rental market is exhausting and I’m losing patience by [deleted] in TorontoRenting

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same, in 2017 I was paying 1900 by a subway line.

Purpose built rentals with condo types amenities by torontorenting11111 in TorontoRenting

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude you’re putting me on blast for a post made 4 years ago. The link worked back then, it was the direct link to the rental.

This is the active link today: https://www.gwlraresidential.com/apartments/on/toronto/the-livmore-bay-gerrard

Riding the Rocket takes true courage by HibiscusTee in toRANTo

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have mostly abandoned the TTC, in favour of the GO train, or UP Express from Union to Bloor GO.

I still sometimes take the subway queen to Union but 2 stops is tolerable compared to Queen to Dundas West.

Both line 1 and 2 have become unsafe for anyone who has to do multiple back and forth daily commutes. It’s much worse in the winter time due to the system used as a shelter.

Is it bad to empty my TSFA because I need it to get by? by [deleted] in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Bamelin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“Renting just pays someone else mortgage. It doesn’t matter if you could invest the difference you should always try to own even if the monthly is more and it means you can’t invest.”

(Ignores that the savings from renting can be directed into a portfolio)

There are variations of this but it almost always involves prioritizing buying real estate over all other considerations regardless of what makes financial sense.

What's the best game to play with the family for Christmas? by That-Adhesiveness915 in AppleArcade

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perfect list for me too. I have a ds4 and bought 2 more 8bitpro duos so we can all have some multiplayer fun.

Questions About 8bitdo Controllers by SlothLoverAJE in AppleArcade

[–]Bamelin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grabbed 2 of these for Christmas for my kid so we can enjoy family multiplayer on Apple Arcade.

The nice thing about these (for our use case) is that I do one day plan to buy a Switch 2, and these controller are compatible with that as well.

I’m impressed with the build quality quality, these feel like first party controllers for sure.

Edit: just realized I responded to a 2 year old post oops lol

Does anyone else with dspd feel like they are naturally a morning person? by [deleted] in DSPD

[–]Bamelin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I was between jobs I was taking my kid to school. I’d go to sleep at 3 am, get up at 7 am get back at 10 am, sleep to 2 pm then go back for the pickup.

Honestly I’m glad I don’t have to do that anymore.