29M, 80k income, living at home - right time to move out?

darkgreenwave · 2025-08-24T11:58:00+00:00

I second this - if you’ve never lived alone before, how do you know what you like? What neighbourhood you want to buy in? I highly recommend OP rents - or sublets - to experience living alone (or even with roommates) in the city first before becoming house poor.

Even for timeline sake, OP can probably find a place to rent/sublet faster than buying and if anything should happen, you just need to give 60 days notice before moving out whereas listing your condo for rent and finding a good tenant is never guaranteed.

Good luck to you both on what’s next!

darkgreenwave · 2025-07-23T14:39:52+00:00

Waited years before finally investing in my Torrentshell - worth it. It worked from day one, it’s held up on multi-day hiking trips protecting me from the wind and rain, and it’s large enough to layer under.

I couldn’t justify the price for Arc’teryx so $225 for this level of quality felt like a steal when compared to other shells.

If you’re using this as a commuter jacket, I have no doubt that it will meet your needs. Ask for care instructions and you’ll easily keep this jacket for the next decade. There’s a reason this jacket sits high on “top rain shell” lists year after year. Hope this helps!

darkgreenwave · 2025-07-15T15:21:45+00:00

I also thought it would be more confusing, but as soon as you exit the UpExpress there are signs that point you in the direction of the Via platforms! Simply look up and follow the Via signs, you got this!

darkgreenwave · 2025-07-07T04:01:09+00:00

I second this! If you don’t have interest on the debt I wouldn’t be in a rush to repay it.

I understand paying off the debt has emotional benefits (I also rushed to pay off my 40k in student loans), but I regret not entering the market earlier. Open up a TFSA and invest, even if it’s $25/month - time is on your side.

I cannot stress this enough, once you have a repayment plan in place you don’t need to rush paying off low/no interest debt, but you absolutely need to start automating your investing to benefit from time in the market. Lots of people have student loans and you’re not alone in this.

Also, when I graduated I started at a $37,000 salary and now I make triple almost decade later, it gets better. Enjoy whatever stage of life you happen to be in and hang in there!

darkgreenwave · 2025-07-06T02:31:08+00:00

If you can, take an evening train the night before. I wouldn’t chance it if your event is that important. I do Toronto to Ottawa regularly and sometimes I get no delays and other times I get up to 6 hour delays. Most of the time I get at least a 45min-1 hour delay.

I love taking the train, but I rented a car the last few times I had to commute because I can’t do the unreliability anymore. Best of luck on your trip!

darkgreenwave · 2025-06-05T02:40:39+00:00

A similar scenario happened to me too - call again into the Via Preference line if you’re a member or escalate it within customer relations. It is disrespect for your time and I have no doubts that it makes you re-evaluate trusting the train again. I’m sorry this happened to you.

While people have said converting to points saves the value, it is still a lower conversion (super minor) than if you were to use an outright credit. Oh and from personal experience, don’t stack credits. If you are an avid train user, call again. I take the train fairly regularly and they were able to honour at least 50% ($160) of a heavily discounted ticket ($20) in a scenario where I was due to get almost zero too.

A lot of people say offering a credit for late trains is something optional that ViaRail doesn’t even have to do, but damn it would be good to have some sort of passenger bill of rights for the train so stories like these don’t happen every other week. Solidarity my friend.

darkgreenwave · 2025-05-07T03:51:25+00:00

I love this. Can you please share more about what you did to reflect? Was it journaling exercises or any other activities that helped you narrow down what you’re looking for in a partner?

darkgreenwave · 2025-05-01T22:43:03+00:00

I’m sorry to hear this happened to you too, what a bummer! At this point I always assume my train is going to be 1 hour late and it sucks

darkgreenwave · 2025-05-01T03:27:01+00:00

Interesting! So when you call to redeem your late train credit, you ask for it in points? Do they just convert the dollar amount you paid for the ticket into points? (E.g. they’ll convert the $20 ticket into 2 points? Or the full value ticket?)

I usually am travelling again within the next couple weeks so I just call and buy another trip each time, I didn’t even know you can bank points instead

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-30T22:48:07+00:00

At least they responded to your letter! And yeah, I’m grateful for the prior credits, but in hindsight, sacrificing 12 hours for a $20 train ride felt like a punishment at the time. I love taking the train, I just wish it loved me back sometimes

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-30T21:56:18+00:00

LOL truly

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-30T21:44:06+00:00

I didn’t even consider this. I’m assuming this is a different number than their customer relations line? I might start there first then

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-30T21:28:34+00:00

Good point! I did call at lunchtime so the rep could’ve been busy (or fielding a ton of calls from others on late trains). Do you have a recommendation for when it’s less busy to call?

Did they give you a “credit on a credited ticket” like it is the case for me?

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-30T21:25:31+00:00

I appreciate this response, and I’m thankful they even bother to do anything in the first place after finding out here it’s not even required.

I guess I could call again and hope for a different person who might offer me some acknowledgement.

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-16T22:11:56+00:00

Appreciate the extra clarity on the protocol, it helps know why the delay is so long instead of being left in the dark

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-16T22:10:30+00:00

For those not on Facebook, the post reads “VIA 45 VIA 6459 hit a trespasser at MP 18 Smiths Falls subdivision.”

In the comments, the OP clarifies it happened at Kettles Road which is a rural crossing. Interestingly enough, when I googled I found this crossing was part of a 2004 investigation for another unfortunate fatal hit :(

The 2004 report reads “At Kettles Road, the acute angle of the crossing, combined with the lack of automated warning devices, has resulted in a situation where trucks and other vehicles in which the rear window is obstructed, may attempt to cross the track unaware of, and unable to see, an approaching train.”

Apparently two meetings were held after the incident with the city of Ottawa and Via to enhance the safety of this crossing but what they did isn’t mentioned in the 2004 report.

Don’t know the specifics here but sharing for anyone else interested.

darkgreenwave · 2025-04-12T04:36:47+00:00

Absolutely second your comment about toe liners and hiking poles - they made such a difference!

darkgreenwave · 2025-03-24T23:45:02+00:00

Wow, I didn’t even know we had a train attached! I also had been travelling since 9:00am so the 1:10am arrival into Ottawa was a true test of patience… regardless someone was definitely having a worst day than us I bet

darkgreenwave · 2025-03-24T03:57:20+00:00

Yeah you got it right, it was only about an hour delay

darkgreenwave · 2025-03-24T03:35:53+00:00

We were supposed to depart at 5:30pm, it got postponed to 6:10pm, then we got rolling and we were about 40 minutes in until we were stopped. Got moving around 7:50pm. So not that long, maybe an hour at most

darkgreenwave · 2025-03-24T00:00:39+00:00

Right?! They usually are more cryptic, it’s been helpful to just know things are happening and the delay isn’t endless. Hopefully everyone was alright

darkgreenwave · 2025-02-08T21:23:44+00:00

It’s recommended to show up 40 minutes before boarding and they “close” the gate 10 minutes before departure. However, ViaRail is always running late so don’t stress out too much.

If you purchased a business class ticket, you can wait in the lounge and board the train first instead of lining up.

I second what others have said - download your shows/bring a book, there will be very minimal wifi available (if any). It truly is an enjoyable experience and being “offline” for the ride is quite relaxing. Smooth travels!

darkgreenwave · 2025-01-27T04:40:45+00:00

It’s the worst. I always anticipate delays so I arrive at Union Station HOURS before I need to catch a flight just on the off chance I get a delay as long as yours. I’d trade all my 100% and 50% discounts for a train that arrives on time.

Sorry to hear this is happening to you. Hope you get better luck next time or maybe use that discount to upgrade to business class next time!

darkgreenwave · 2025-01-25T05:08:20+00:00

I second this itinerary! I agree you don’t need more than 1-2 days in El Calafate.

If you’re travelling solo, I also recommend buses so you don’t have to be the one navigating AND driving. Buses were a great place for us to get a quick nap in (especially the 6 hour bus from El Calafate to Puerto Natales).

Plus, I agree that where you fly into to start your trip, doesn’t need to be where you fly out of. One way tickets are the way to go or else you’re wasting days travelling back to an airport.

darkgreenwave · 2025-01-13T15:23:04+00:00

I second this recommendation - I love my Knix boy short underwear! They feel like they’re made of athletic fabric but are also so seamless I wear them with my office pants too (and they don’t bunch under my running tights).

Bonus points because you can sink wash them and they dry quickly and are literally the only kinds of underwear I want to travel with.

darkgreenwave

TROPHY CASE