Thinking of moving to a new city...suggestions, ideas etc are welcome

[nakkers]

If you are personable, relatable and good with people, AND you don’t mind working weekends, there are folks making good money in retail. It doesn’t require a diploma or degree and many retailers are looking for good people.


I know plenty of furniture franchise owners that have top sales people making $100k or more annually. And they are always looking for more because often folks can’t hack the hours or can’t deal with the public.

Are there sales folks making $100k in smaller city communities like Chatham or Orangeville etc? Maybe not but, pretty much the majority of cities in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Western Canada has some doing well.

Again, they are taking days off in the middle of the week and working when everyone is shopping. Commission sales isn’t for everyone since you earn what you kill. There is the environment of being in the showroom and having to wear specific attire as well.

And yes, on line shopping is affecting brick and mortar sales. However, there are manufacture spiffs for certain products and auxiliary commissions for extended warrenty etc that can be lucrative.

It’s not for everyone. Myself included but, you also don’t have to go to school or already have experience in the field.









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[FullMotoJacket]

Unfortunately downtown is a fentanyl-soaked wasteland.

Worked in Windsor for a year. Didn't look in the mirror when I left. BORING place to ride. There's 4 hills in Windsor. 2 overpasses on E.C. Row, the dump, and the rise on Ciociaro Club's cycling track.

Kingsville is a nice little town. Leamington is close by for better amenities.

 

[black_CG2]

a company has no need to bring an out of province generalist
lots of local generalists

This hits hard but it is true. Guess I am somewhat of a generalist or jack of all trades, master of none. I need to change that about myself.

OP I think your best course of action is to focus on the job you want, apply and apply and apply, and in all honesty in your line of previous work I think the GTA/ON is the best for the time being. You can always pack up and move at any time. Have you considered consulting/contracting with old contacts/customers/etc.?

EDIT: If I knew I'd stay here and be doing FIFO jobs for the next 10-20 years I would find a nice cheap COL town, setup there with my family, and they can live there while I travel for work. But I know I'm coming back to TO within 1-2 years, depending on project blah blah blah, so there's no purpose for me to move away. Honestly I've heard of a mine site in Mongolia that pays $1200/day for a 4 and 2 rotation...I'm trying to get more info. 2 years of that and everything I've ever owned is paid off.

Honestly look into LNG project in Kitimat/Terrace. Unfortunately with this much money coming in the gangs/crime will follow suit and it'll change the town. But that's everywhere you go.

I tried so many times to get back into my actual career and its like I am facing a stubborn wall. I cannot just get in. The hiring managers think I do not have enough qualifications nor knowledge. Then how the heck I am working and managing Canada's biggest and busiest truck leasing hub without any truck experience? My field of work in Business Analysis/Project Management is somewhat generalist career, I think now. Also a lot of people to compete with, which does not make my life easier.

What did I not do to not touch my savings and never go into debt? I will start a video series. This is what I did since last year:

- Tesla driver
- Deck refinishing
- Data Entry
- Uber Eats
- Amazon Delivery Driver
- Valet Driver
- Canada Post Letter Carrier
- Real Estate Project Manager
- Truck Services Operations
- Lawn Mowing

 

[mimico_polak]

I tried so many times to get back into my actual career and its like I am facing a stubborn wall. I cannot just get in. The hiring managers think I do not have enough qualifications nor knowledge. Then how the heck I am working and managing Canada's biggest and busiest truck leasing hub without any truck experience? My field of work in Business Analysis/Project Management is somewhat generalist career, I think now. Also a lot of people to compete with, which does not make my life easier.

What did I not do to not touch my savings and never go into debt? I will start a video series. This is what I did since last year:

- Tesla driver
- Deck refinishing
- Data Entry
- Uber Eats
- Amazon Delivery Driver
- Canada Post Letter Carrier
- Real Estate Project Manager
- Truck Services Operations
- Lawn Mowing

Oh I'm sure man and I applaud you for all the work you've gone through in the last year to stay afloat! Sometimes I worry about my own gig as well...I mean I'm project based so if my company doesn't have a project for me....uh oh...time to let me go! However I think I've been around long enough and know enough people that I can squeeze something out in a worst case scenario. Not looking forward to finding out! That's why I'm milking this gig for as long as I can and as much as I can! LoL

Anyway we keep looking and hopefully we can all come together and help you out in the end.

 

[backmarkerducati]

Any place with lots of decent paying work (for everyone, not just niche fields) and is also a place most (or a high many) people want to live will be expensive. Supply and demand.

So what you need to find, a place where most people do not want to or at least are not too interested in living in but you are. Maybe a place that you can find good work (and long lasting stable work) that pays enough but again is not attracting the masses. Last one might be hard as a generalist depending on the area.

*************This is important*************
I believe you said it is just the two of you??? If so are kids in the future?...you need to think about schools and eventually college/university. You also need to think about the environment, does the area breed dirtbags and welfare bums??? Will there be work opportunity for them or when they grow up will they need to move across the country to start a career (rarely to be seen again)??? BTW I know many "smart" people that went for the cheap lifestyle to only have the area/environment they chose turn their children into druggies and scumbags--not worth the savings IMO (good parenting can only go so far if everyone around them is a dirtbag). BTW, expensive areas can do this as well, it is not a wealth thing, just look at what the specific area tends to produce/breed (regardless of cost), choose wisely....
*********************************************

As for specific areas, I grew up in Niagara Falls, there is a reason I do not live there now... But it does work for many. Not as cheap as it used to be though. St Catherines I think offers more. If you are into outdoors stuff the Niagara region has a lot to offer. I lived in London at one time (27 years ago), not too impressed--even less so now. I have some family that moved to the east coast (NS), they seem to love it.

 

[bigpoppa]

Before I got into trades I was in a different line of work and was out in the maritime for a while, Quality of life is way better Imo, Halifax is a student/party town, I lived across the bridge in dartmouth and traveled all over(PEI is gorgeous)
The biggest thing was difficulty in finding work/hours, also the random toll roads/bridges everywhere

 

[FullMotoJacket]

As for specific areas, I grew up in Niagara Falls, there is a reason I do not live there now...

I wish I had a pic of the GET YOUR DRUGS HERE ------------> sign spray painted on the side of the auto shop wall of A. N. Myer.

 

[Hack]

Southern Interior of BC

Bingo... We have a winner.
My retirement plans include moving to the Okanagan...
I'm there now... Rode my FJR from Hamilton Ont.

 

[black_CG2]

Could you guys elaborate on southern interior of BC?

 

[nobbie48]

Cobourg has a moderately competent hospital so some level of health care is easily accessible. For specialist appointments, normally you end up in peterborough. If you are dying you get shipped to Kingston or Toronto.

Lot's of job demand in Windsor for skilled trades and general contractors still as is health and education. I know 2 premium car dealerships that are desperate for techs, and the Municipal gov is at the beginning of a massive retirement loss so they're looking for personnel. One of my best mates just moved here from GTA, works at one of the hospitals. Bought a really nice house for 220K. Loves it here.

I don't see the Minivan plant going anywhere in the next 5 years but after that who knows. I wouldn't get comfy there but you can make good bank in the meantime in skilled trades.

Traffic is a breeze compared to GTA, housing is a fraction of the cost, 10 minute drive to get across border (40 on a bad day) Major sports and entertainment in Detroit, far better winters, earlier spring and later fall. Air quality has never been better, lots of coal plants in mid-west converted to natural gas made a huge difference, can't remember last time we had a smog day,

Unfortunately downtown is a fentanyl-soaked wasteland. Infrastructure is getting deficient, some areas are flood prone regarding sewers, and property taxes are above average. About 4K on a 220K house. I live in the outskirts so don't see any of this except the higher property tax.

PM me if you have any questions.

Market value assessment skews tax rates. If you have a 50' lot it costs about the same to maintain the road in front of the house whether the house is worth $200 K or $2 Million. School taxes somewhat similar. Same for police and fire.

What are the taxes for a similar sized house on a similar sized lot?

 

[nobbie48]

Wouldn't you want to go to the bigger cities? Every single person in my family (Ottawa Valley) gets referred to Ottawa for any major medical issues. Small potatoes are dealt with locally but everyone ends up in Ottawa or Toronto. This is going back to the late 70's/early 80s eg cancer/addicitions and handicaps.

A couple of decades back a colleague retired to Kincardine and loved it. Then his health started giving him problems and he ended up driving to London a couple of times a week to see specialists. Getting sick of that he decided to move but that was when hydro was shutting down and people were moving out. Hydro subsidized their employees who were taking losses on their houses but he wasn't a hydro employee and took a bath.

 

[Hack]

Could you guys elaborate on southern interior of BC?

I've been visiting the Okanagan Valley and Vancouver regularly for the past 3 years...
Vancouver is nice to visit, but I'm not into the "city" thing...
Penticton/Summerland/Kelowna/Osoyous/Okanagan Falls is my kind of place.... Friggin love it out here.
The weather is great. Riding season long and there are lots of great roads...
Personally I don't care about employment out here because the last thing I'll be looking for is a job.
Housing wise.... I can get pretty much the same house I have now for about half what my place is worth.

Plus... Looking out from the deck...

 

[J_F]

Could you guys elaborate on southern interior of BC?

I'm of the same mind as Hack
Okanagan and those towns/cities he listed are very appealing

people from the east think of BC as rainy
not the southern interior
it's in the rain shadow of the Rockies
many sunny days/year and short/mild winter

the scenery is just draw dropping when you first see the area
Penticton is my fave, but housing wise it's not cheap

 

[Roadghost]

The problem is, everyone in Canada is moving to the Okanagan and Vancouver and the prices show it. If you're in it to get away from the cost of living, forget Southwestern BC or Southern Ontario.

 

[jc100]

The problem is, everyone in Canada is moving to the Okanagan and Vancouver and the prices show it. If you're in it to get away from the cost of living, forget Southwestern BC or Southern Ontario.

Still pockets of reasonable housing in Southern Ontario, just not near the GTA. Not sure what the prices are like but there’s some nice little towns within commuting distance of Ottawa in the South too. The commute would be similar to a GTA one though.

 

[nakkers]

Still pockets of reasonable housing in Southern Ontario, just not near the GTA. Not sure what the prices are like but there’s some nice little towns within commuting distance of Ottawa in the South too. The commute would be similar to a GTA one though.

The outter edge is very affordable.


Check out the town of Metcalf for example. Good living and Ottawa is a short drive.

I didn’t mention Ottawa simply because I don’t like the winters there. The canal is nice to skate on but after that, I’m done with winter. Lol.





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[nakkers]

The problem is, everyone in Canada is moving to the Okanagan and Vancouver and the prices show it. If you're in it to get away from the cost of living, forget Southwestern BC or Southern Ontario.

I was in Kelowna 30 years ago and it was beautiful. Fruit trees, wineries, lakes, mountains.

Don’t know the geography enough to know what areas would be cheap living or employment opportunities to recommend.

Just know it is pretty and many retire there.

If you like boating and fishing, it’s great as well.



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[jc100]

The outter edge is very affordable.


Check out the town of Metcalf for example. Good living and Ottawa is a short drive.

I didn’t mention Ottawa simple because I don’t like the winters there. The canel is nice to skate on but after that, I’m done with winter. Lol.





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I spend 3y commuting between Ottawa and Kingston and the temps in Ottawa in the winter were consistently lower than Kingston. I like Ottawa as a city but I’m with you, the winters turn me off. If you can hack it though Gatineau is pretty nice and the small towns on the North bank of the Ottawa River towards Montreal are all pretty nice too.

 

[bigpoppa]

I spend 3y commuting between Ottawa and Kingston and the temps in Ottawa in the winter were consistently lower than Kingston. I like Ottawa as a city but I’m with you, the winters turn me off. If you can hack it though Gatineau is pretty nice and the small towns on the North bank of the Ottawa River towards Montreal are all pretty nice too.

Always wondered what it would be like to live near the ottawa/gat/eastern ontario area with 0 french skills?

 

[jc100]

Always wondered what it would be like to live near the ottawa/gat/eastern ontario area with 0 french skills?

Not an issue. I’m fluent but hardly ever needed it unless I headed over to the Quebec side. Even there you can make do.