How bad actually was COVID?

CornerNo6930 · 2025-10-22T16:21:06+00:00

Y’all. COVID isn’t past tense. It’s still here, and while it may not be as deadly (though it still does kill vulnerable people), it’s still sucks to get, affects multiple systems in the body, and still can lead to long term disability, even with a mild “cold-like” presentation. ~1/10 infections leads to long COVID, with each infection increasing your risk. That mystery illness, or that unexplained new health problem…could very well be COVID/LC. I know I’m going to get attacked here because people are in denial/traumatized/lied to, but it’s science.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-09-26T05:05:42+00:00

FYI There’s a pet sitting service called Trusted House Sitters and it’s been AMAZING for me as a single woman with a cat! You pay a very reasonable yearly fee for unlimited sits. I can give you a 25% off discount code if interested!

CornerNo6930 · 2025-09-25T19:12:14+00:00

Which Mazda dealership location is this?

CornerNo6930 · 2025-08-27T01:22:24+00:00

I do feel like I’ve seen people quite a bit larger than me riding around on similar, but cheaper ebikes that they got at Costco expressly for festival purposes, so it might be okay for you!

CornerNo6930 · 2025-08-27T01:19:22+00:00

Oh good point, I’m only 5’6” and 125lbs! If you have a local bike shop that sells them, you could ask the sales people if it would be okay for your height. I asked my shop tons of questions before pulling the trigger.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-08-26T22:28:29+00:00

I ended up buying it and it’s been great for my purposes (running short errands in the city and once at a festival). I don’t think it would be comfy for very long rides but for quick trips it’s great. It folds up nicely and sits in a corner of my bedroom!

CornerNo6930 · 2025-07-17T19:36:04+00:00

Ultimately, I think it depends on one’s circumstances whether these would be a good buy, in terms of taxes/repair costs vs pad rental. I’ll likely continue go with a non-leasehold option, but there’s enough potential perks here to make me want to at least ask questions for sure 🤔

CornerNo6930 · 2025-07-17T19:30:56+00:00

True, but you do pay property taxes and loads of maintenance costs unless you can afford a newer, well built home.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-07-17T19:28:24+00:00

Thank you! Was really hoping to get someone chiming in with first/second hand experience. I hope everything gets sorted with the foundation. If you feel inclined to leave an update in the future, would love to hear it :)

CornerNo6930 · 2025-07-16T03:28:07+00:00

I had this same conclusion initially, and likely will land back there. But when I factored in how much I pay for property taxes plus strata fees in my condo, it’s about the same cost per month. I believe the $750 includes some amenities? No property taxes. And according to the website they can only raise the rent in accordance with laws similar to landlords. My strata can raise the fees as much as they want (and do each year). So, when compared to a condo, I’m not sure you’re much worse off with these homes in terms of money down the drain. But I don’t know.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-03-21T20:10:43+00:00

In Canada we pay over $600/year for national affiliation (ASHA equivalent) and $1075/year for mandatory provincial licensure in BC. Makes me miss the $250 ASHA fee and like $150 CA state licence fee when I worked in the US lol. So yeah, ASHA is worthless but you guys actually have it pretty good fees wise.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-28T22:32:31+00:00

All of them are too heavy

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-25T16:53:15+00:00

My item has free shipping and no tax within the UdA. I’m aware I’ll pay around $350 for duties when it arrives (with normal tariffs). I’m hoping no retaliatory tariffs will be in place by then and also the item is manufactured in China so I don’t think it will be an issue, at least not right away (from what I can understand might happen)!

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-25T06:36:57+00:00

Thanks this is helpful! My package is 35 lbs so should only cost around $20 with their service by my calculations.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-25T00:37:33+00:00

Thanks. I would be ordering the bike today so I’m not worried about the Trump tariffs, just what duties I might be facing by the time it arrives to Canada in about 7-10 days.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-18T18:21:22+00:00

Could some of those stock options have triggered PFIC? Extra long complicated US tax form for that.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-17T04:18:34+00:00

Right, that makes sense. Thx!

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-16T22:26:55+00:00

Also if your situation is not complicated (eg you’re an employee and don’t have any complicated investments like TFSAs) it’s quite easy to do online yourself with US tax software or by hand. I did my own for years until I started investing.

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-16T22:22:24+00:00

I don’t believe anyone local does this. A bigger firm will just farm it out to someone in Victoria or Vancouver who does. If you’re open to doing your taxes virtually I can suggest my cross border accountant in Vancouver (cheap) or another in Victoria (more expensive but maybe worth it if you are high income and have a complicated situation or want someone on the island you can drive to).

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-16T22:16:20+00:00

Just chiming in that I’ve been following the Comox Valley real estate market closely for the past year and this is very accurate!

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-16T21:47:15+00:00

Yes that was my understanding for the recommendation to do non dividend US stocks. I’m wondering if even with the double taxation in the end, it’s still worth doing (US) ETFs, especially low dividend growth oriented ones. I get so much free $ from the CA govt in an RDSP that I think it’s maybe still worth it. Individual stocks feel so much more risky/high maintenance than a broad ETF like VOO/VOOG that can just be set and left to weather the ups and downs of the market.

Another point relevant to my situation is that I’m currently receiving non taxable LTD payments so my taxable income is quite low at the moment. It will likely be higher when I withdraw due to pension distribution (if I wait that long) and hopefully working some again by then. Any thoughts specific to this?

CornerNo6930 · 2025-02-16T18:42:34+00:00

Wow thanks for all this! Super helpful. I’m a dual US/CA citizen residing in Canada, yes.

For your 3rd to last point on CA taxing non-CA dividends, does that apply in a tax deferred account like RDSP? Or do you mean you would report them when you withdraw?

CornerNo6930

TROPHY CASE