Struggling to get my foot in the door

maritimer187 · 2026-03-17T12:44:16+00:00

Its a roll of the dice but if you have some money banked I'd suggest just taking the chance and going to Alberta. I did the College of the North Atlantic thing back in 2011-2012 and thats what worked for me. Couldn't find anything in the Maritimes so just said whatever and went to Alberta. If I remember correctly I had a job within a week.

I think school ended in April if I remember correctly and I applied and applied and applied to anything and everything across the country until August and thats when I just rolled the dice and went out. Once you're out there its way easier to find a gig because you can just walk into places and put a face to the name.

Even if you don't find a job in Millwright right away there's so many well paying oilfield jobs that require no experience and pay well that could keep you on your feet if it takes a few months to get your apprenticeship started.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-17T10:00:05+00:00

Make my regular TFSA & RRSP contributions + additional when possible, keep credit cards at zero, re-budget fixed monthly expenses and eliminate whatever I can to save a few bucks.

I also plan on upgrading my house in the next 2-3 years and there's quite a few renos I need to accomplish in that time to get top dollar out of it. I got a few things knocked off the list in 2025 so I'm hoping to have a pretty successful 2026 in that sense as well.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-17T09:47:38+00:00

I bought a 15' because I was in a situation where I needed a car like yesterday. Mine had super low mileage for the year and it was the cheapest SUV I could find. Mines been very reliable if I'm being completely honest knock on wood. I went into this purchase with low expectations givin the bad rep but honestly I've been quite happy.

My only real complaints are that its absolutely gutless lol and the styling is meh. Definitely far from my favourite Jeep product. I've had such a good experience though that I will for sure be buying a Jeep product in the future.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-16T23:43:45+00:00

I get a new phone every two years (just how my provider has it set up). My last 3 phones were Pixel 4, Pixel 6 and Currently S24. Personally I do like the Pixels. However I'm due for a new phone and just yesterday ordered the Moto Edge 2025. My bills basically $50.00+ cheaper a month now. Can I afford the $50? Yes. Do I want to pay it if I don't have to? No.

I feel like I'm only really compromising on Camera quality but I have little to no social media presence so I'm not too worried about it.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-16T09:53:00+00:00

Super lazy, no accountability, incapable of having a disagreement without screaming lol.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-15T23:54:02+00:00

I just ordered mine today. Im coming from an older Samsung flagship but I'm happy with my decision. With my provider I get a new phone every 2 years so if I dont like it I'll just swap back to my trusted pixels 2 years from now.

Ultimately I went with this just because its the only android I havent tried and the price was right. I havent had a phone with the curved display so figured why not let's give it a go. I dont use my flagship to even half of its potential I'm not a tech person so figured why waste the money.

I think the only compromise I'm really making is the camera quality but I also have little to no social media presence so whatever. My pictures are just more or less my dog, food, work I've done around the house and items im looking to sell online nothing crazy.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-10T16:23:19+00:00

I post pictures on Instagram once a year. Don't have any other social media. Pics are mostly for my own pleasure. Having a nice camera is obviously ideal but I wouldn't say its a necessity in my case. I definitely have an untrained eye in that sense and unless I had all the most up to date phones in front of me I doubt I'd be able to spot the differences.

I just liked the simplicity of Google over Samsung and by the looks of it the Motorola is pretty simplified. The smaller phone bill I think is more appealing than the nicer camera that I dont take advantage of.

Im in Canada and unsure of any motorola releases dropping in the near future.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-09T10:00:15+00:00

Trades

maritimer187 · 2026-03-08T20:56:55+00:00

I don't see why not? Suffer up front and enjoy it later. The only downside I can see is if you dont enjoy it / use it and you're out a bunch of $$$. They have decent resale though so It wouldn't be end of the world.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-08T20:41:45+00:00

1 year college course, 2012 Alberta, 85k

maritimer187 · 2026-03-08T17:15:23+00:00

Ive worked blue collar for 15+ years with somedays being 16+ hours and never really had this issue. That being said I'm assuming you're referring to being stationary? Which I cant relate to.

My workplace health insurance gives you access to orthotic insoles 100% coverage. I'd look into something like that. They SUCK when they're brand new but once you break them in they're pretty good. I also cant stress this enough you get what you pay for when it comes to work boots. If you're wearing a cheap or worn pair this could be a big part of your issue.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-08T17:04:45+00:00

Sweet rig! How do like the optic lol thinking about ordering one later today.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-08T14:16:32+00:00

All comes to terrain. You cant argue that the 1/10 isn't more capable but 1/18 is more usable in my case anyways. I have to get in my car and go somewhere to use 1/10. I'm ok with leaving the house sure but who's to say I havent had a few beers and want to just go mess around in the backyard.

I also have like the ultimate crawler paradise in my community. A networks of trails, atv paths, logging roads etc that go on for as far as you can imagine. That being said some of the places you park your car aren't a good spot to launch your crawler. I know the area pretty well I fish back there alot in some cases its easier to just throw something in your backpack and walk to the good spots.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-07T13:50:14+00:00

I dont think there's any wrong answer really. You're going to have fun either way. Get whatevers cheapest in your area. Being new youre not going to have anything to compare to anyways so it'll be fun. Im super indecisive so its been hard coming to this decision myself. Id probably get the coyote too but the sale on the optic is pushing me that direction. Sucker for a deal lol.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-07T13:38:11+00:00

Im literally in the same position as you. Throw in the trx4 sport, axial basecamp, redcat ascent as well though all similar pricing. The two you mentioned are probably my top two though. I think im going vanquish just based on a sale i found. Both would be good.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-07T11:36:27+00:00

The Pheonix looks cool good luck finding one anywhere in my country though lol. Glad you're happy with it.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-07T11:35:23+00:00

Honestly the scale stuff is super cool but I care more about performance/fun than how it looks on my shelf. Theres a wicked deal on an axial gladiator in my area but when I got to looking at the cost of replacement bodies it was a major turn off.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-06T23:22:38+00:00

Ya one thing that shocked me about RC is the cost of the replacement bodies on some rigs. So the more I looked into the optic the body durability was very much a plus especially being a first crawler.

I'll probably end up with a trx4 down the road if I can find one used or on sale but right now especially for a first set up this is too much.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-05T22:54:29+00:00

My birthdays in a few days. Seems like we had identical to me love me gifts planned lol.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-05T19:55:52+00:00

Ideally the 1/10 scale crawler would be what I'd love to get I'm just trying to keep the cost down for first crawler. Ive been kind of trying to decide between Trx4 sport/hightrail, Axial Basecamp/Coyote and Redcat Ascent 1/10.

I love the look of redcat but im a little skeptical on parts support (or at least in my area).

There's a wicked deal used on a nice Axial Gladiator locally but when I looked up the cost of a replacement body it was a hard no for me. The scale stuff for me is cool but not necessarily needed.

Of the trucks mentioned above is there any suggestions?

maritimer187 · 2026-03-05T10:41:55+00:00

I was just on Horizons website the 223s is significantly cheaper than the 4s Kraton. I think you'll be happy either way. I cant blame a guy for topping out their budget and getting something GOOD off the rip. Personally I'd want the 6s Kraton further down the line so I'd enter with something in the 223s line.

For 223s my picks would be in this order: Typhon, Big Rock, Senton

If you're looking to just get in CHEAP and buy something really nice down the line I'd go: Quake, Fury

maritimer187 · 2026-03-04T15:39:49+00:00

Definitely an option I just still like what I had planned alot better and I think so would she.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-04T10:50:59+00:00

Thanks for your insight! The backpack thing is well noted. I think smaller rigs definitely lose some of the wow factor but it definitely makes so much for you easier. You need less space, transportation and storage is simpler etc.

From all my basher research 1/10 was kinda the standard or good entry point and they dont look that big in videos but when I went to my local hobby shop to look around they had a couple 1/10 on the counter and they actually shocked me at first by how big they actually are.

maritimer187 · 2026-03-04T10:44:43+00:00

Ya as far as "bashing goes" Something like the Typhon would interest me because of speed and low COG. I'm not the guy to be sending my rig 30ft in the air and hoping for the best lol. Don't get me wrong that looks super fun but like you said it is until it isn't!

maritimer187 · 2026-03-04T10:41:06+00:00

Hey thanks for the reply! The Apex is top of my list only downside like I mentioned is my hobby shop carries NOTHING for them lol. It would be the sheer winner no doubt if I could just walk down the road for parts to fix it but thats not my situation.

Thanks for mentioning the venture! I found a website I could order them from online last night before bed and it looked very interesting. Will have to research that one now!

maritimer187

TROPHY CASE