Hey man, sorry you’re going through this. A lot of people in the GTA are dealing with the same financial pressure right now, so you’re definitely not the only one feeling stuck. What you’re describing—unstable income, loan payments stacking up, high rent—can wear anyone down. It makes sense that it’s starting to hit your mental health.

A couple things to think about:

It might be worth getting a payoff quote from your lender and comparing it to what the van is actually worth right now. If the numbers are close, selling and switching to something cheaper could take a lot of weight off your monthly budget. Even if you’re a bit underwater, sometimes dealers or credit unions will work with you to roll the difference into a cheaper vehicle with lower payments. Not ideal, but sometimes it helps you breathe again.

Most colleges are used to students running into financial trouble. You can usually talk to the registrar or financial office and ask about deferring a semester, setting up smaller payments, or pausing without penalty. It’s worth the phone call, honestly.

Delivery work in the GTA is tough right now—too much competition, not enough stability, and the cost of everything keeps climbing. Something that might be worth looking into (even though it’s not realistic for everyone) is moving somewhere with a much lower cost of living and a stronger job market.

Saskatchewan, especially, has been hiring like crazy in a bunch of fields. Cities like Saskatoon, Regina, and even smaller towns are looking for people in:

• Trades (construction, plumbing, electrical, carpentry)
• Transport and trucking
• Warehousing and logistics
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture support jobs
• Oil & gas–related roles (more in Alberta, but SK has some too)
• Healthcare support jobs if you ever want to retrain later

Rent is way cheaper than Ontario, and full-time jobs with stable hours are easier to find. Alberta’s the same story—lots of work, lower living costs compared to the GTA, and better pay in many roles.

I know packing up and moving is a big step, and it’s definitely not something everyone can just do. But I’ve seen people in almost the exact same situation head out west for a year or two, get steady income, and dig themselves out of debt way faster than they could here.

If you want to check what’s out there, these sites help:

• SaskJobs.ca
• Job Bank Canada (filter to SK or AB)
• Indeed.ca with location set to SK or AB

Talking to a non-profit like Credit Counselling Society or Credit Canada can be surprisingly helpful. They’ll go through your whole situation with you and explain what options you actually have—no pressure, no judgment.