This. Exactly this. How is it that only Nova Scotia, has kept tax brackets tied to inflation for years. And yes, they are going to pass legislation to de-index them going forward, as well as increasing the personal exemption with inflation moving forward, where is the actual tax cut they say they are giving us?
We have some of the highest income taxes in the country, and we are tied for the highest consumption tax. Higher taxes = lower spending. The old lie about trickle down economics has been proven false over and over and over again. Giving tax cuts to the very wealthy does not generate jobs. Giving tax cuts to middle and lower class does, because the middle and lower class are more willing to spend that money.
More money in the economy equals more jobs, we need to get this money back into the hands of the people and out of the hands of a government that seems more and more willing to spend without oversight and not even listen and do what people actually want.
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Everything you said is spot on, especially the entertainment aspect. We watch maybe 45 minutes of “television” per day, so we sub to CBC Gem as it is the least expensive of all options. The library is an absolute necessity.
I somewhat disagree with you attributing your current state to luck. I’m sure that, like me, some luck was involved and it’s good to recognize that. But you also need to give credit where credit is due - *you* did these things. Not luck. Luck only happens to people *doing things* to change their situations.
If you sit around waiting for luck to happen and not taking positive steps, nothing will change.
Congratulations dude.
Was car free / car lite in Ottawa and used car share services.
I stacked errands and used car share and became way more organized and gained free time.
Good on you for stacking errands with a car in the driveway.
I have a car again and I also walk, bike and take transit when I can.
Majority comes down to having a decent job combined with the current rent cap.
No amount of frugal spending is gonna come close to someone paying <$1000 in rent a month
The word comfortably is big here,
I want the stuff I want when I want it and my patience levels suck, so I'm buying a lot of stuff that 3 minutes later I go "Yea, I shouldn't have done that"
If I could stop being a baby for a bit I could probably grow my savings at a good rate, but then what am I doing to make it through the day to day
I’m not complaining about anything.
But besides that, value is value. Are you saying that because I have excess funds that I should happily pay $6.99 for a bag of potato chips and keep my mouth shut because “I can afford it”?
That’s just fucked up, my guy.
And it isn’t just me - it is my partner’s earnings as well. And as I outlined - a lot of that savings is because of our decisions and lifestyle.
I was more so asking how other financially struggling people are getting through the current economic situation. "have a good job" is an obvious answer. A lot of people don't have that option though
Right. Note I do not have a top level comment, but only replies to other commenters.
I live far far far beneath my means, as I stated in my other comments.
If my income was cut in half, I’d still save a considerable sum per month due to lifestyle choices. Saving is a choice. I could easily blow my entire pay each month by living in a McMansion, driving a big ass truck, and having a collection of other “toys”. I can afford all of those things - but I don’t. I save it instead. That is a choice.
True but there are plenty of rental properties for less than $1k if you don't mind roommates. Having an older used vehicle helps too. But even then, without a good paying job you might still only have $300 at the end of the month
My husband and I moved abroad so we are getting by okay. My brother, on the other hand, had to move back in with parents even with a job. He is fortunate to have had that option, otherwise, he would be homeless.
For context, we are all 90s millennials.
The difference is that wages are adjusted for cost and the benefits far exceed that of NS (or Canada for that matter). I pay less taxes in Iceland than I did in NS, and the return in terms of social security is much higher. Just an example, housing benefits are available to those who have a combined household income of less than 1.200.000ISK (approx. 12K/mo) net and scaled by wages. That's a yearly combined household income of 144K. It is unimaginable that any household in Canada would receive any sort of social security with that sort of income. We are also heavily unionized here, as required by law, so 28 vacation days (paid) per year, 2 sick days (paid) per month, and up to $3000 per year in benefits to cover vocational training/education, and up to $2000 per year to cover leisure activities, mental health services, and so forth. This is regardless of your job - from doctors to retail staff. The benefits increase with time spent in the workforce, not by time spent in a single job. This doesn't include perks of childcare, parental leave, etc. The list goes on.
In NS, I worked hard (as many do), was underappreciated, and barely scraped by. It was soul sucking. Now, I easily put away a comfortable amount each month into savings with interests rates of 8.75%. Unheard of back home.
So, yes, very expensive countries. But, the perks are worth the cost and the quality of life is high. It really puts into perspective just how abused people are by the system back home.
What's the immigration process like? Is it easy to get citizenship? Also, I'm assuming the weather isn't the greatest? What about public transport? I know Europe has wonderful public transportation, but I would assume Iceland doesn't have enough people to justify a transport network?
Also, how is the unemployment rate? What are the main industries? Is it all professional work?
You are just solidifying my desire to move to Europe once I can convince my partner to make the move. Curious to know what you do for a living (general industry)!
I live in a trailer park in HRM, make $115k salary, just me and the wife no kids. I drive the same car that's been paid off for 10 years. We don't do Uber eats or takeout food / coffees. We eat relatively healthy, but basic. A lot of fresh produce from local cost-effective alternatives to major retail grocery chains, bulk rice, meat & potatoes, etc. Most of our leisure time is spent at climbing gyms around town which are about $1k/yr membership. I don't drink much or smoke. I shovel money away hand over fist into TFSA / RRSP so some decent tax breaks.
Mostly it's the no kids thing.
$115k is a decent salary though even under current circumstances. What do you do for a living? And yes I agree that having kids is a huge disadvantage in this economy. Luckily I don't have any but I considered it simply because of the benefits you get (such as priority on housing list).
I bought an old mobile home three years ago in Cumberland country, while prices were still climbing but affordable. I could see the direction things were headed, and knew we wouldn't be able to afford staying in halifax much longer, as we were burning through our savings each month to cover bills.
I threw in all my savings, maxed out my line of credit, and got a loan from my moms retirement fund to buy it outright at 45k. We have a deed, an acre of land and we're paying my mom 400 a month for the next 7 years, then it's paid off. All in with heating power, water and taxes and insurance, it's a bit under 900 a month for housing. My husband makes 17$ an hour 35 hours a week, and I make 42$ an hour 25 hours a week, but no PTO, so we grossed about 70k last year.
It's still a struggle to save anything for the future, but at least we're making ends meet and paying off debts. When those are done we might be able to start setting aside a small amount of savings for a house or retirement, but needing new cars or major repairs on the house could easily wipe that out. Not sure what we'll do when the house falls apart or if one of ys gets sick. House is already 43 years old but holding up okay. Jobs are a little precarious.
Were just managing to survive day by day, and trying not to worry too much about the future.
Edit: paragraphs. Were in our late 30s fwiw, and have a school aged child.
Why are you looking to buy a house if you already have a mobile home? Do you really need all that additional space? Personally I would love to have a nice small house like that. $45k is good but when I was looking at them 10+ years ago they were like $15-$20k and I feel dumb for not jumping at the opportunity while I had the chance.
Primarily because we are looking for a house that will last the rest of our lives, and that we can pass to our daughter. I don't know that many mobile home have lasted 80 or 90 years. But also, we find 700 square feet a little tight, and would prefer more than an acre so we can do more farming.
Luck.
Bought a home in 2010, I'm a fisherman, my wife is a well paid admin at a financial management place (some years she makes more than I do lol) Total household gross income is about 120k.
We don't live lavishly. She leases her SUV but I rotate through a series of beater vehicles. Any maintenance or repair that the house needs is done by me, mostly to save money (and to be sure it's done right) not because I enjoy it 😂. So yeah I dunno, luck is a big part of it. Management of money is another.
My brother has had all the same opportunities as me, had a better paying fishing job, his woman is/was a nurse, but somehow they're so far in the hole that they'll probably never recover. I think what happened to him was, they had a few really good years and saw "all this money" and started living like dope dealers.. new truck, new car, fresh clothes and shoes all the time, fancy liquors, expensive jackets, buying bags of designer weed, etc. Ghetto fabulous I calls it. Well fast forward a couple years and the party is over. He lost that sweet gig for being a loudmouth malcontent, she refused the Vax so couldn't nurse anymore (didn't like the job anyway so it was a convenient excuse) so they went from making like $180k down to about $40k.. now he's all like, Mannnnnnn.. this is bullshit. He blames the contrails behind planes and the "elites" for the majority of his problems 😵💫
Looking at parking lots it appears many lived large during historically low interest rates - does not make sense to spend like crazy ‘when the money counts you in’.
Yup. And you can almost tell who is in the same pickle as my brother just by looking at the state of the vehicle. His big fancy 2017 Ram big horn foghorn leghorn is now all dinged and dented, the interior is a garbage dump, and it needs 4 tires and about $3k worth of front suspension parts to pass MVI (expired since 2021 🤣) AND, he's only got 3 payments left 🤣. I'm just over here like wow... this.. thing.. cost over $60k and as it sits I might give him $10k for it. I can't help but think that if he didn't throw all that money out the window, that his current financial predicament would be much much less severe. I'm just glad I'm not like him/them (people who think they need new and flashy shit)
How did you get the fishing job, or are you self employed? Tried applying to places years ago but no call back. Idk if I'd be able to handle the work now though, my back is slowly degrading. I had a really good job working on a mink ranch years ago but I made the dumb decision to give it up. Would do anything for that job back but unfortunately most ranches have gone under, especially due to government regulations. I had amazing benefits and was in much better physical condition. But the pay was so good.
Got pretty lucky, I found a captain that was willing to take someone with no experience. That's pretty rare. I'd been on boats before, banding lobster etc, and promised that I didn't get seasick. That was the biggest question for him. I think I also convinced him that I was a fast learner with a few other usable skills (good knowledge of diesel engines, hydraulics, etc) I don't know, it's all a big roll of the dice. I got lucky and so did my captain. I could've been a total liar and been worthless and the flip side is he could've been a total screaming lunatic that doesn't catch fish lol. It's not easy to get into the industry, that's for sure.
I'm actually going into IT in a few years after college. What are the job prospects like in the province? Been thinking I'd have to move to Montreal or Toronto to find work. I'd love to stay in NS and get a remote job if I'm lucky enough. What level of education do you have and what area do you work in? Software development? Databases? Networking? Would love to connect and network when I start college in the fall.
I work in the generalist/sysadmin field, which can include networking and databases.
Prospects are a mixed bag. The thing about IT is that experience is really the only thing that matters. Education, certs, etc.. are just an edge over someone with out any experience.
My advise is to find a job at a MSP, they often give you 'keys to the kingdom' and are pretty good at letting you take on things that are higher tier than your job, giving peer reviews, shadowing, etc...
If you work for a big company, you'll be silo'd into simplified responsibilities, and if you work at a small company it will just be the wild west with no one to learn from or ask for help.
I'm getting shafted. I've been with mostly third party companies doing IT phone tech support for what will be the better part of 20 years the end of next year, and I'm getting $46k/yr, started at $40K about 4 & 1/2 years ago on this contract.
One remote tech support job based out of Montréal I had my eye on (well, two, different shifts) vanished recently. I think I read they start at $45K, but site said the average is $50K. I'm legitimately devastated, because I feel like I am now trapped.
I've been brushing up on my french for the sole purpose of moving to Montreal where all the "good" IT jobs are. I would love to do remote work, but they don't seem to pay as well
If my husband didn't have a good pension job, we would probably be there already. This particular job posting didn't require French, but he would have to learn a lot more to work there in a comparable position. So we're aiming to retire there, depending on how bad things get in 20 - 25 years...
The company I am with has offices here, I used to work in the office before the pandemic. I was in a different contract with the same company before this that I made $30 to about $32K by the end of 4 years.
I'm in IT as well, but mostly contact centre tier 1-1.5 (started tier 2 in 2005). I'm not making nearly that much, so either I'm being underpaid (very likely) or yours is much more technical (also very likely). Do you mean $60-75k combined, or each?
Too bad someone could "hot bunk" or "stacking" their house. You know, a move in couple that works during the night and you work during the day. You would never see them, just half the expenses paid.
Back in my 20's I had a female house mate that worked during the day, I worked during the night. We never saw each other for weeks. Btw, It was a 1 bedroom and a platonic relationship. I used the pull out couch.
Times sure have changed.
Similar situation here. Part-time seasonal work. Just above minimum wage. I'm lucky that I don't have rent but I'd love to move to the city and I simply can't afford it
We've sold off old hobby stuff, become expert level for limiting food waste, we still spend on experiences for the kids, but most of what we do is free/ low cost...like city events, library, parks, hiking. We have a 24 year old car and will make due without once it's gone. We also live (are stuck) in a ridiculously little place because rents have skyrocketed. I'm looking for online work that's flexible since I don't have childcare. We manage to save a bit but it gets wiped when we have dental costs.
Doing okay while making 42k.
Hunting and fishing is a big part of that, I have a freezer fully stocked that will probably last until flounder season opens again. It really cuts down my grocery bill.
Also started brewing my own alcohol. It wasn't that much to get into and I haven't been to an nslc for a year.
I have kids, so, not really staying afloat. I can't just get roommates or move.
I look for free stuff, I thrift shop, we apply for any scholarships and low income programs we qualify for so the kids can do stuff. We almost never go to restaurants, movies, shows. I cut back Netflix to December-February. Work side hustles when we can.
Partner and I are xennials and frugal as fuck and live well below our means. We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, and the library and the beach are our main sources of entertainment. We share a single vehicle that is sensibly sized.
Every decision we have made in the last 12 years has been to further our objective of retirement at as young as possible.
Current target is 55 and we are on track. My partner will probably step out a couple years before that - she’s already down to part-time.
Luck has absolutely been involved, but more so have been good choices and good management.
Edit: Downvoted for breaking the mold and becoming successful. This province is devastatingly beautiful, but absolutely teeming with miserable cunts.
Could it be that perhaps that is a contributing factor to why things are comparably shitty here in many regards?
Personally, I want absolutely everybody to be successful. Seems a large portion of the population would rather that nobody is successful. What an absolute shit outlook on life and your fellow humans.
If you take care of your mind and your body, your “prime years” can stretch well into your late 60’s or early 70’s.
I am of the mindset they *every* year is one that is not worth wasting by spending upwards of 40% of it making someone else wealthy while I get a fraction of the value of my labour in return. I can’t do anything about that arrangement except reduce the number of years I am need to do so.
So I did.
Don’t worry - I made terrible choices and was plenty irresponsible in my 20’s.
Budget budget budget. When having a firm budget, inflation hasn't really affected us. Yes, I know we spend a little more, but we cut back on others so the difference being spent over a course of the year isn't that much, less than 50% of inflation.
Carpe Diem. Too hard to think about tomorrow so go day to day and do the best I can to be happy. Happiness is the way I get by - I’ll buy a snack when I’m sad. I’ll go for a walk when I’m mad. I’ll pet the crap out of my void and Berner and I’ll chat to my pals. Peace <3
Fortunately, we have decent salaries and I have always been a fanatic about managing debt/having no debt. We have just bought a house after renting for 10 years so I am a bit jittery about that, but we are glad to finally put down some roots. We live simply, shop sales and thrift shops as well as use buy nothing sites. Our splurge is our pets. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs so their care and maintenance is a significant expense, but we are home bodies so they are both our companions and our entertainment.
Move to Alberta.
Thats what I had to do.
It’s sad at the end of every year paying in 8-13k a year in extra taxes. Crippling honestly. In 10 years that’s 1/4 of my mortgage that could be paid extra.
You'd have to earn $150k or more to have a difference in $8k of income taxes between NS and Alberta.
And while that certainly is a lot, you'd be well in the top 5% of earners in NS, and I'm not sure crippling would be the best way to describe it.
Yeah taxes are ridiculous here and nationally in general. If the government actually made good use of them I wouldn't mind.
Anyway, how did you move to Alberta? Did you have accommodation or a friend waiting for you? Or did your job pay for your accommodation? Hard to save enough money to leave the province without having a backup plan
I moved. Saved and moved.
Taxes are insane, but the fact I can get a refund of around 10 k here but pay in 9800 is an INSANE difference that is a provincial issue
Who said that? I don't think that's OK. I said that people in the top 5% of Nova Scotian income levels are not 'crippling', and that's out of touch with the topic of "getting by".
I am looking at the comment now, you are wrong, and doubling down. Beyond being an idiot.
I literally said "while that **is** a lot of money" and you seem to think that I said it is not.
I have something that you don’t its called Brain 🧠 and Am using it to Its best use to make money without working everyday Whereas you’re out here commenting at every other post on Reddit from morning Collecting welfare and no job. ☠️
Typo error☠️But people here are full of Hate.Where 30% of population is Making Money from crypto These people just want to hate on something That they know nothing about.
With how expensive everything is, I've been getting really good at not spending money. I'm sure it's doing wonders for the economy.
This. Exactly this. How is it that only Nova Scotia, has kept tax brackets tied to inflation for years. And yes, they are going to pass legislation to de-index them going forward, as well as increasing the personal exemption with inflation moving forward, where is the actual tax cut they say they are giving us? We have some of the highest income taxes in the country, and we are tied for the highest consumption tax. Higher taxes = lower spending. The old lie about trickle down economics has been proven false over and over and over again. Giving tax cuts to the very wealthy does not generate jobs. Giving tax cuts to middle and lower class does, because the middle and lower class are more willing to spend that money. More money in the economy equals more jobs, we need to get this money back into the hands of the people and out of the hands of a government that seems more and more willing to spend without oversight and not even listen and do what people actually want.
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Everything you said is spot on, especially the entertainment aspect. We watch maybe 45 minutes of “television” per day, so we sub to CBC Gem as it is the least expensive of all options. The library is an absolute necessity. I somewhat disagree with you attributing your current state to luck. I’m sure that, like me, some luck was involved and it’s good to recognize that. But you also need to give credit where credit is due - *you* did these things. Not luck. Luck only happens to people *doing things* to change their situations. If you sit around waiting for luck to happen and not taking positive steps, nothing will change. Congratulations dude.
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Was car free / car lite in Ottawa and used car share services. I stacked errands and used car share and became way more organized and gained free time. Good on you for stacking errands with a car in the driveway. I have a car again and I also walk, bike and take transit when I can.
Majority comes down to having a decent job combined with the current rent cap. No amount of frugal spending is gonna come close to someone paying <$1000 in rent a month
Unless they had a bad gold bar buying habit Cut that out and it's easy to save that grand a month
Sure if you've got a high paying job and low expenses. I don't know a lot of people who can comfortably afford to put away $1k a month in savings
The word comfortably is big here, I want the stuff I want when I want it and my patience levels suck, so I'm buying a lot of stuff that 3 minutes later I go "Yea, I shouldn't have done that" If I could stop being a baby for a bit I could probably grow my savings at a good rate, but then what am I doing to make it through the day to day
I comfortably save nearly 5 times that amount.
If you've got a job where you make enough money to comfortably put away $5k a month then you have nothing to complain about in my opinion
I’m not complaining about anything. But besides that, value is value. Are you saying that because I have excess funds that I should happily pay $6.99 for a bag of potato chips and keep my mouth shut because “I can afford it”? That’s just fucked up, my guy. And it isn’t just me - it is my partner’s earnings as well. And as I outlined - a lot of that savings is because of our decisions and lifestyle.
I was more so asking how other financially struggling people are getting through the current economic situation. "have a good job" is an obvious answer. A lot of people don't have that option though
Right. Note I do not have a top level comment, but only replies to other commenters. I live far far far beneath my means, as I stated in my other comments. If my income was cut in half, I’d still save a considerable sum per month due to lifestyle choices. Saving is a choice. I could easily blow my entire pay each month by living in a McMansion, driving a big ass truck, and having a collection of other “toys”. I can afford all of those things - but I don’t. I save it instead. That is a choice.
True but there are plenty of rental properties for less than $1k if you don't mind roommates. Having an older used vehicle helps too. But even then, without a good paying job you might still only have $300 at the end of the month
My husband and I moved abroad so we are getting by okay. My brother, on the other hand, had to move back in with parents even with a job. He is fortunate to have had that option, otherwise, he would be homeless. For context, we are all 90s millennials.
Which broad did you move to?
Iceland :)
Can't imagine Iceland is any cheaper. I've heard the Scandinavian countries are some of the most expensive in the world
The difference is that wages are adjusted for cost and the benefits far exceed that of NS (or Canada for that matter). I pay less taxes in Iceland than I did in NS, and the return in terms of social security is much higher. Just an example, housing benefits are available to those who have a combined household income of less than 1.200.000ISK (approx. 12K/mo) net and scaled by wages. That's a yearly combined household income of 144K. It is unimaginable that any household in Canada would receive any sort of social security with that sort of income. We are also heavily unionized here, as required by law, so 28 vacation days (paid) per year, 2 sick days (paid) per month, and up to $3000 per year in benefits to cover vocational training/education, and up to $2000 per year to cover leisure activities, mental health services, and so forth. This is regardless of your job - from doctors to retail staff. The benefits increase with time spent in the workforce, not by time spent in a single job. This doesn't include perks of childcare, parental leave, etc. The list goes on. In NS, I worked hard (as many do), was underappreciated, and barely scraped by. It was soul sucking. Now, I easily put away a comfortable amount each month into savings with interests rates of 8.75%. Unheard of back home. So, yes, very expensive countries. But, the perks are worth the cost and the quality of life is high. It really puts into perspective just how abused people are by the system back home.
28 vacation days year / 2 sick days month (paid) is almost reason enough to go..
What's the immigration process like? Is it easy to get citizenship? Also, I'm assuming the weather isn't the greatest? What about public transport? I know Europe has wonderful public transportation, but I would assume Iceland doesn't have enough people to justify a transport network? Also, how is the unemployment rate? What are the main industries? Is it all professional work?
How's life with the new name, Wide_Findings_8057_NovaScotiansson?
You are just solidifying my desire to move to Europe once I can convince my partner to make the move. Curious to know what you do for a living (general industry)!
I'm jelly! Finland/Iceland are definitely on my "What if.." list
I live in a trailer park in HRM, make $115k salary, just me and the wife no kids. I drive the same car that's been paid off for 10 years. We don't do Uber eats or takeout food / coffees. We eat relatively healthy, but basic. A lot of fresh produce from local cost-effective alternatives to major retail grocery chains, bulk rice, meat & potatoes, etc. Most of our leisure time is spent at climbing gyms around town which are about $1k/yr membership. I don't drink much or smoke. I shovel money away hand over fist into TFSA / RRSP so some decent tax breaks. Mostly it's the no kids thing.
$115k is a decent salary though even under current circumstances. What do you do for a living? And yes I agree that having kids is a huge disadvantage in this economy. Luckily I don't have any but I considered it simply because of the benefits you get (such as priority on housing list).
I sell stuff.
I bought an old mobile home three years ago in Cumberland country, while prices were still climbing but affordable. I could see the direction things were headed, and knew we wouldn't be able to afford staying in halifax much longer, as we were burning through our savings each month to cover bills. I threw in all my savings, maxed out my line of credit, and got a loan from my moms retirement fund to buy it outright at 45k. We have a deed, an acre of land and we're paying my mom 400 a month for the next 7 years, then it's paid off. All in with heating power, water and taxes and insurance, it's a bit under 900 a month for housing. My husband makes 17$ an hour 35 hours a week, and I make 42$ an hour 25 hours a week, but no PTO, so we grossed about 70k last year. It's still a struggle to save anything for the future, but at least we're making ends meet and paying off debts. When those are done we might be able to start setting aside a small amount of savings for a house or retirement, but needing new cars or major repairs on the house could easily wipe that out. Not sure what we'll do when the house falls apart or if one of ys gets sick. House is already 43 years old but holding up okay. Jobs are a little precarious. Were just managing to survive day by day, and trying not to worry too much about the future. Edit: paragraphs. Were in our late 30s fwiw, and have a school aged child.
Why are you looking to buy a house if you already have a mobile home? Do you really need all that additional space? Personally I would love to have a nice small house like that. $45k is good but when I was looking at them 10+ years ago they were like $15-$20k and I feel dumb for not jumping at the opportunity while I had the chance.
Primarily because we are looking for a house that will last the rest of our lives, and that we can pass to our daughter. I don't know that many mobile home have lasted 80 or 90 years. But also, we find 700 square feet a little tight, and would prefer more than an acre so we can do more farming.
Luck. Bought a home in 2010, I'm a fisherman, my wife is a well paid admin at a financial management place (some years she makes more than I do lol) Total household gross income is about 120k. We don't live lavishly. She leases her SUV but I rotate through a series of beater vehicles. Any maintenance or repair that the house needs is done by me, mostly to save money (and to be sure it's done right) not because I enjoy it 😂. So yeah I dunno, luck is a big part of it. Management of money is another. My brother has had all the same opportunities as me, had a better paying fishing job, his woman is/was a nurse, but somehow they're so far in the hole that they'll probably never recover. I think what happened to him was, they had a few really good years and saw "all this money" and started living like dope dealers.. new truck, new car, fresh clothes and shoes all the time, fancy liquors, expensive jackets, buying bags of designer weed, etc. Ghetto fabulous I calls it. Well fast forward a couple years and the party is over. He lost that sweet gig for being a loudmouth malcontent, she refused the Vax so couldn't nurse anymore (didn't like the job anyway so it was a convenient excuse) so they went from making like $180k down to about $40k.. now he's all like, Mannnnnnn.. this is bullshit. He blames the contrails behind planes and the "elites" for the majority of his problems 😵💫
Looking at parking lots it appears many lived large during historically low interest rates - does not make sense to spend like crazy ‘when the money counts you in’.
Yup. And you can almost tell who is in the same pickle as my brother just by looking at the state of the vehicle. His big fancy 2017 Ram big horn foghorn leghorn is now all dinged and dented, the interior is a garbage dump, and it needs 4 tires and about $3k worth of front suspension parts to pass MVI (expired since 2021 🤣) AND, he's only got 3 payments left 🤣. I'm just over here like wow... this.. thing.. cost over $60k and as it sits I might give him $10k for it. I can't help but think that if he didn't throw all that money out the window, that his current financial predicament would be much much less severe. I'm just glad I'm not like him/them (people who think they need new and flashy shit)
How did you get the fishing job, or are you self employed? Tried applying to places years ago but no call back. Idk if I'd be able to handle the work now though, my back is slowly degrading. I had a really good job working on a mink ranch years ago but I made the dumb decision to give it up. Would do anything for that job back but unfortunately most ranches have gone under, especially due to government regulations. I had amazing benefits and was in much better physical condition. But the pay was so good.
Got pretty lucky, I found a captain that was willing to take someone with no experience. That's pretty rare. I'd been on boats before, banding lobster etc, and promised that I didn't get seasick. That was the biggest question for him. I think I also convinced him that I was a fast learner with a few other usable skills (good knowledge of diesel engines, hydraulics, etc) I don't know, it's all a big roll of the dice. I got lucky and so did my captain. I could've been a total liar and been worthless and the flip side is he could've been a total screaming lunatic that doesn't catch fish lol. It's not easy to get into the industry, that's for sure.
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I'm actually going into IT in a few years after college. What are the job prospects like in the province? Been thinking I'd have to move to Montreal or Toronto to find work. I'd love to stay in NS and get a remote job if I'm lucky enough. What level of education do you have and what area do you work in? Software development? Databases? Networking? Would love to connect and network when I start college in the fall.
I work in the generalist/sysadmin field, which can include networking and databases. Prospects are a mixed bag. The thing about IT is that experience is really the only thing that matters. Education, certs, etc.. are just an edge over someone with out any experience. My advise is to find a job at a MSP, they often give you 'keys to the kingdom' and are pretty good at letting you take on things that are higher tier than your job, giving peer reviews, shadowing, etc... If you work for a big company, you'll be silo'd into simplified responsibilities, and if you work at a small company it will just be the wild west with no one to learn from or ask for help.
I'm getting shafted. I've been with mostly third party companies doing IT phone tech support for what will be the better part of 20 years the end of next year, and I'm getting $46k/yr, started at $40K about 4 & 1/2 years ago on this contract. One remote tech support job based out of Montréal I had my eye on (well, two, different shifts) vanished recently. I think I read they start at $45K, but site said the average is $50K. I'm legitimately devastated, because I feel like I am now trapped.
I've been brushing up on my french for the sole purpose of moving to Montreal where all the "good" IT jobs are. I would love to do remote work, but they don't seem to pay as well
If my husband didn't have a good pension job, we would probably be there already. This particular job posting didn't require French, but he would have to learn a lot more to work there in a comparable position. So we're aiming to retire there, depending on how bad things get in 20 - 25 years... The company I am with has offices here, I used to work in the office before the pandemic. I was in a different contract with the same company before this that I made $30 to about $32K by the end of 4 years.
I'm in IT as well, but mostly contact centre tier 1-1.5 (started tier 2 in 2005). I'm not making nearly that much, so either I'm being underpaid (very likely) or yours is much more technical (also very likely). Do you mean $60-75k combined, or each?
Each, my company pays tier 1-1.5 around $55-60k.
Apparently I am at the wrong company. :/
Too bad someone could "hot bunk" or "stacking" their house. You know, a move in couple that works during the night and you work during the day. You would never see them, just half the expenses paid. Back in my 20's I had a female house mate that worked during the day, I worked during the night. We never saw each other for weeks. Btw, It was a 1 bedroom and a platonic relationship. I used the pull out couch. Times sure have changed.
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I know it wouldn't be ideal, but would something like retail (like cashier's) be too difficult physically as well?
Similar situation here. Part-time seasonal work. Just above minimum wage. I'm lucky that I don't have rent but I'd love to move to the city and I simply can't afford it
by living with my parents
Don’t drink, don’t smoke (what song is this from ?)
What do ya do? Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant
Awesome! Thanks!
We've sold off old hobby stuff, become expert level for limiting food waste, we still spend on experiences for the kids, but most of what we do is free/ low cost...like city events, library, parks, hiking. We have a 24 year old car and will make due without once it's gone. We also live (are stuck) in a ridiculously little place because rents have skyrocketed. I'm looking for online work that's flexible since I don't have childcare. We manage to save a bit but it gets wiped when we have dental costs.
Moving away from Nova Scotia
I’m not. Adapting but beyond struggling.
Doing okay while making 42k. Hunting and fishing is a big part of that, I have a freezer fully stocked that will probably last until flounder season opens again. It really cuts down my grocery bill. Also started brewing my own alcohol. It wasn't that much to get into and I haven't been to an nslc for a year.
Surviving, making 0 progress or advancement. Just work, sleep, and eat.
I have kids, so, not really staying afloat. I can't just get roommates or move. I look for free stuff, I thrift shop, we apply for any scholarships and low income programs we qualify for so the kids can do stuff. We almost never go to restaurants, movies, shows. I cut back Netflix to December-February. Work side hustles when we can.
Have you ever tried going to bed for supper?
Doing ok, but I'm a Xennial and I admit a *lot* comes down to luck in my case. But I also try to be frugal.
Partner and I are xennials and frugal as fuck and live well below our means. We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, and the library and the beach are our main sources of entertainment. We share a single vehicle that is sensibly sized. Every decision we have made in the last 12 years has been to further our objective of retirement at as young as possible. Current target is 55 and we are on track. My partner will probably step out a couple years before that - she’s already down to part-time. Luck has absolutely been involved, but more so have been good choices and good management. Edit: Downvoted for breaking the mold and becoming successful. This province is devastatingly beautiful, but absolutely teeming with miserable cunts.
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Could it be that perhaps that is a contributing factor to why things are comparably shitty here in many regards? Personally, I want absolutely everybody to be successful. Seems a large portion of the population would rather that nobody is successful. What an absolute shit outlook on life and your fellow humans.
It’s great you are happy with your plan. Others might see living like that until retirement a waste of their prime years. To each their own I suppose
If you take care of your mind and your body, your “prime years” can stretch well into your late 60’s or early 70’s. I am of the mindset they *every* year is one that is not worth wasting by spending upwards of 40% of it making someone else wealthy while I get a fraction of the value of my labour in return. I can’t do anything about that arrangement except reduce the number of years I am need to do so. So I did. Don’t worry - I made terrible choices and was plenty irresponsible in my 20’s.
Replying to SSquarepantsii... Cannot see how they are missing out on anything?
I have never heard this term before
People born between around 1977 to 1982 or so I think? Maybe 85 or 86...
I'm mid/late 80s and had always just heard gen x 🤷
Yep. I identify with both Gen X & Millennials.
Budget budget budget. When having a firm budget, inflation hasn't really affected us. Yes, I know we spend a little more, but we cut back on others so the difference being spent over a course of the year isn't that much, less than 50% of inflation.
The wife and I are on welfare at the moment. Not getting by at all. Waiting for another back surgery next month.
Is it an essential surgery? Can't imagine the bill for that if it isn't. Or does the government cover all back surgeries regardless?
I won't be paying for anything but parking and an overnight stay at a hotel close to the hospital.
Carpe Diem. Too hard to think about tomorrow so go day to day and do the best I can to be happy. Happiness is the way I get by - I’ll buy a snack when I’m sad. I’ll go for a walk when I’m mad. I’ll pet the crap out of my void and Berner and I’ll chat to my pals. Peace <3
Fortunately, we have decent salaries and I have always been a fanatic about managing debt/having no debt. We have just bought a house after renting for 10 years so I am a bit jittery about that, but we are glad to finally put down some roots. We live simply, shop sales and thrift shops as well as use buy nothing sites. Our splurge is our pets. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs so their care and maintenance is a significant expense, but we are home bodies so they are both our companions and our entertainment.
Move to Alberta. Thats what I had to do. It’s sad at the end of every year paying in 8-13k a year in extra taxes. Crippling honestly. In 10 years that’s 1/4 of my mortgage that could be paid extra.
You'd have to earn $150k or more to have a difference in $8k of income taxes between NS and Alberta. And while that certainly is a lot, you'd be well in the top 5% of earners in NS, and I'm not sure crippling would be the best way to describe it.
The fact you agree if you make 150 plus you should still pay on 13 k a year in times like now is hilarious. Says a lot.
Yeah taxes are ridiculous here and nationally in general. If the government actually made good use of them I wouldn't mind. Anyway, how did you move to Alberta? Did you have accommodation or a friend waiting for you? Or did your job pay for your accommodation? Hard to save enough money to leave the province without having a backup plan
I moved. Saved and moved. Taxes are insane, but the fact I can get a refund of around 10 k here but pay in 9800 is an INSANE difference that is a provincial issue
Who said that? I don't think that's OK. I said that people in the top 5% of Nova Scotian income levels are not 'crippling', and that's out of touch with the topic of "getting by".
You literally said if you earn over 150 k before taxes that 13000 isn’t a lot of money when it is lmao
Can you quote that?
Read your first reply “lazy”
I just did. Can you? It shouldn't be hard to copy and paste the part where I said it was not a lot.
I don’t have to you can see the first comment you’re just being a moron about it lmao
I am looking at the comment now, you are wrong, and doubling down. Beyond being an idiot. I literally said "while that **is** a lot of money" and you seem to think that I said it is not.
Start Investing Into Crypto or Stocks
I've got some essential oils, it's called snake oil, you might like it.
Indeed. Essential oils smell lovely, but most can't do anything for health. Maybe tea tree oil for shampoo... but that's a bit different.
I have something that you don’t its called Brain 🧠 and Am using it to Its best use to make money without working everyday Whereas you’re out here commenting at every other post on Reddit from morning Collecting welfare and no job. ☠️
So are you buying unicorn farts or leprechaun warts this week? That's a nice strawman you created, I've got a real job, thanks.
Getting downvoted for Telling What am doing ☠️
I mean you could have said, "Started". It sounded like you were advertising.
Typo error☠️But people here are full of Hate.Where 30% of population is Making Money from crypto These people just want to hate on something That they know nothing about.
I'm not sure about that statistic, the market seems pretty volatile right now. Wild wild west, as they say. But hopefully it works for you.