The 1000 Day Holiday

Canada doesn’t pay very well. $8 – $12 per hour being the going rate for most jobs.
So unless youre getting tips or perks, that pretty much blows. ( I wish I still wanted to be a geek!)

The strip club job didn’t eventuate. So it was time to come up with a new venture.

SCAM #1
I’m now a Mystery Shopper.
I eat and drink in nice restaurants, fill out a form (its actually rather long.. but such is life). And effectively get my meal/drinks free with maybe a few extra dollars left over.

Now if you work it out how long I would have to work for the Dinner in a normal job. ($9/h pre tax)
For the $33 Lunch I had yesterday I would have had to work 4 hours to pay for it.
4 hours! That’s half of a days work!

Just to extrapolate the living costs here on that kind of money.
Income: $330/Week or $1431/Month
Rent & Utilities: 550 – 650/Month. (and that’s a cheap place!)
That gives a rent to income range% of 38-45%. Any financial planner will say that’s waaay crazy!

Spare a thought for those living in Whistler: Where rent runs ~$1000/month
That makes the rent as a % of income: 84%@$8/hr to 59% @$12/hr OUCH

Which brings me onto the Scam 2

SCAM #2

Live in a large house w 10 people. Kind of like dossing in London, but with a lot more space. We have a basketball court in the back yard!

Ive got the room which was the Garage at a whopping $45/week or $180/month. (14% if income @ $9/hr).

SCAM #3

Work at the skifield to score a seasons pass. Not so much a scam. But when youre earning $9/hour.. the things we will do for snow time

I start at Mt Seymour on Sunday.

I start bar work on Saturday. Bring on the tips!

I’ve been in Canada for 5 days. Its been 5 days without much direction in what I’m doing.
I had decided to check out whistler, even though I didn’t think I would live here.

My mind has been racing along on a million different possibilities.

Live in Whistler?
Live in Vancouver?
Live in the rockies?
What sort of job should I get?…
Or should I just jump on a plane to Asia or Eastern europe for $500 being the most interesting ideas.

Then I found this TED video.  Dan Gilbert sums it up perfectly.

Too many options, and trying to pick which one is going to be the best really does fry your mind.
Who cares, its going to be awesome no matter what option you go with!

While I’m back in NZ I have been treating myself to some home grown goodness:

• 42 Below Manuka Honey Vodka.
• Green Shell Mussels w Chili & Horopito
• Hokey Pokey Icecream
• Copious amounts of Milo w milk
• Boysenberry Ice Cream
• Lamb… Chops, roast whatever!
• Fish n Chips. Paua Fritters, mussels yum.
• Grandmas afghan biscuits
• Kumera
• Ginger Beer
• Tim Tams
• plenty different Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines
• Rhubarb
• Minties
• Pineapple Lumps