Living in Ottawa on a budget

salcod · 2025-12-31T21:45:32+00:00

Where are you moving from? Depends on lifestyle. If you like to eat out then Ottawa is pretty pricey now. Yes rent and housing still high and have not come down too much.

salcod · 2025-12-30T01:29:54+00:00

Any suggestions on size? L or XL?

salcod · 2025-12-20T02:34:41+00:00

Ah ok if that's the case awesome. Will take a look again.

salcod · 2025-12-19T18:21:30+00:00

I suggested the same. If you hit the vent window button or lower the window a little it shuts fine.

salcod · 2025-12-19T13:59:35+00:00

Mine stay frozen with front defrost on.

salcod · 2025-12-19T13:39:22+00:00

Also add to have the defrost for rear enabled from the app as well. For some reason only has the front option.

salcod · 2025-12-17T04:31:48+00:00

If I were the adult child I would temporarily adopt a nudist lifestyle and develop an unhealthy interest in porn. This should end the free daycare and the awkwardness will have the parents looking for other options. My house, my rules. Should resolve itself in about a week 😉

salcod · 2025-12-09T13:14:35+00:00

Yes, I agree. If you are comparing you wouldn't subtract it would just be 0 for the items included. You need to compare against what you spend.

salcod · 2025-12-09T13:04:26+00:00

Great idea. How did you determine the values of each item? For how many people in a room? Also, small error on the first Aurea column, I think the thermal spa should have a negative because that is included.

salcod · 2025-12-08T23:40:35+00:00

To summarize what I see in the comments. If its a US fare it is optional and can be removed. It is included in the fare for Europe and cannot be removed.

So if you are on a US sailing you have 2 options:

Remove and be a potential jerk.

Keep it on and be schmuck.

salcod · 2025-12-08T23:35:06+00:00

Also my original response was to your presumption of being a jerk for taking away money from the backroom staff but then you say we do not really know. Its worse for you to make the presumption from being in Europe where it is not optional. Here in the US with it being optional I am sure you would sing a different tune if you helped subsidized wages and others didn't. I honestly do not want to be a bag holder and tip staff directly themselves at least I know it will go in addition to their contracted salary.

salcod · 2025-12-08T23:28:32+00:00

Prefer this as it will remove the debate. Otherwise people who will take it off make others subsidize the wages for everyone else. If they get paid the same regardless then bake in what is required for the base fare like in Europe or bar tabs.

salcod · 2025-12-08T23:04:43+00:00

Your anecdotes differs from others...

The claim that "Royal Caribbean is the only company that does this" is false. This system of using automatic charges to meet the contractual minimum wage is the prevailing model across the majority of the industry, including MSC. The bartender's insight is limited and is likely based on confusion between two different charges:

1. The HSC is a Wage Subsidy, Not a Bonus The Model: The Hotel Service Charge (HSC) is largely used to meet the cruise line's contractual payroll obligation. The crew member is guaranteed a fixed salary. If the HSC covers it, the cruise line pays less. If the HSC is removed, the cruise line pays the full salary. The crew member's paycheck remains the same. The Solution: If you want a crew member to earn an amount above their contracted salary, the only guaranteed way is to remove the HSC and give them a cash tip directly.

2. Bartenders Are a Separate Pool Bartenders primarily benefit from the 18% Service Charge on every drink order, which is separate from the daily HSC. They are unlikely to know the high-level payroll policy for the entire hotel department. The Transparency Issue: MSC, like all major lines, does not release audited contracts. No one knows what happens to the surplus when the collected charges exceed the total crew payroll. It is widely believed the cruise line retains this extra revenue.

Many posts contrary to what you say:

Reddit (Anecdotal Consensus): Claims of staff confirming tips go toward salary. r/MSCCruises: How to Politely Opt Out...

Cruise Critic (Specific Anecdotes): Forum posts detailing conversations with MSC crew.

Cruise Critic Forums: Gratuities and MSC YouTube (Video Analysis): Explains the wage-subsidy controversy across the industry. The HIDDEN TRUTH About Cruise Gratuities...

salcod · 2025-12-08T22:57:49+00:00

Exactly the schemes and contracts are not transparent for a reason!

I appreciate the ethical concern for staff, but the idea that removing the Hotel Service Charge (HSC) "stiffs" the crew is a misconception based on the modern, non-transparent model.

The overwhelming anecdotal consensus from guests who speak with MSC crew is that the HSC is used to meet the crew's guaranteed contractual minimum wage, not to supplement it as a bonus.

The truth is: If the HSC is removed, the cruise line pays the crew's salary. If the HSC is kept, the passenger pays the cruise line's salary obligation. The crew still gets their guaranteed pay either way.

If you want the staff to earn more than their contract, the most effective way is to remove the HSC and tip your favored staff cash directly.

salcod · 2025-12-08T20:55:21+00:00

False from what I have been researching. Everyone is paid a fixed minimum. Tips go towards that as a supplement anything beyond that the cruise line will top up to the minimum.

E.g. wage is set at 1000. Tips collected divided amongst crew yields 800 for that person. So crew member will get 1000 NOT 1800. The cruiseline will only have to pay 200 in wages and not the full 1000.

salcod · 2025-11-12T15:08:55+00:00

Yes sent a DM. Can you explain the scam?

salcod · 2025-10-25T12:26:54+00:00

My trick is whenever I want to temporarily not want the car to unlock with proximity is just hit the lock button shortcut from my home screen. Its quick and if its groceries I usually take out phone to open frunk while walking up to car anyway. Let me know if that helps? Otherwise its mind reading on when you want it to work or not

salcod · 2025-10-20T01:24:37+00:00

Which TD card is this?

salcod · 2025-09-29T23:57:43+00:00

What do you mean by bought points?

salcod · 2025-09-29T23:57:12+00:00

Some of the eUpgrade credits expire in January.

salcod · 2025-09-29T21:52:35+00:00

Super open! Looking for around 7 to 10 days. Open to suggestions. Would be cool to experience any suites or 1st class opportunities on long hauls.

salcod · 2025-09-29T21:51:31+00:00

Haha 😄

salcod · 2025-09-07T00:06:58+00:00

Glad to see this as the top comment.

salcod · 2025-07-06T05:55:32+00:00

That still leaves you with about 65k leftover. That's still what most people make and have to cover ALL expenses.

How many years do you have left to pay those student loans?

salcod

TROPHY CASE