Commuting conundrum: School

TalentEgg Incubator. 1 September 2010.

It’s almost back to school time and many students are considering their housing options for next year: Should I live on-campus, should I live off-campus, or should I commute?

Like commuting for work, commuting to school can have a number of advantages over living close to (or on) campus. The closer you are to campus, the more expensive your housing will be, so if you would like to save some money, living further away from campus can be beneficial.

Much of this depends on exactly what your accommodations will be, and what your living arrangement will be. For example, if you are living at home, do you have to pay for rent, groceries, and utilities, or will your parents waive those fees for you?

If you are living in shared accommodations (student house or an apartment), are your expenses going to be cheaper than if you lived closer to campus? And how does the money you save factor when you add the extended amount of time it takes for you to get to campus?

Paul Aoanan, a second-year mechatronics engineering and management student at McMaster University, takes two buses and travels up to 50 minutes to get to school everyday from the other side of Hamilton, Ont.

Aoanan’s family recently immigrated to Canada, so being able to save money while going to school was very important to him. “School is expensive as it is. I can use the money that I have saved [through commuting] to pay for books and other school requirements.”

If you are thinking about commuting being the right option for you, the most important thing you need to consider is the amount of time it will take out of your day. “You need to plan ahead and to leave early to avoid being late or caught up in something. During the winter months, commuting can be really difficult: you must tread icy sidewalks and wait for the bus during a cold afternoon. You must also endure extreme weather,” says Aoanan.

As anyone who takes public transit often is well aware, when you are waiting for your bus in the rain (or a blizzard or a hailstorm), it is going to be late or it won’t show up at all. Similarly, as soon as you get on to your bus, the sun will come out. Murphy’s Law happens all the time when you commute.

Depending on the length of your trip and the amount of transfers you have sometimes you can do some reading or other homework while you travel. If you’re prone to motion sickness however, that’s probably not a good idea!

Like many students, Aoanan primarily uses his commute as a way to veg out: “Most of the time, I just listen to the music on my mp3 player and stare out the window. This is how I meditate and mentally prepare for school.”

Aoanan has four excellent tips to pass on to students who commute:

1. Don’t rush

Keep in mind that school is a long way and that there is no turning back in case you forget something. During winter, people who commute are prone to slips and falls while on their way to their respective destination. Walk slowly.

2. Dress properly

Watch your local weather forecast and decide if you will need to bring your heavy winter coat. We do no want to freeze outside, do we?

3. Plan the trip

Knowing when and where to go is a must.

4. Leave early

Take into account unforeseeable events such as missing the bus or the need to satisfy your hunger pangs by quickly grabbing a tea biscuit from a store.

These four things will help make commuting a breeze!

For more on commuting, check out Danielle’s other Commuting Conundrum article about commuting to and from work.

Commuting conundrum: Work

TalentEgg Incubator. 12 August 2010

I live in a bustling metropolis of approximately 2,700 people, with about 58,000 in my township. Needless to say, work opportunities are few and far between.

I have been working at TalentEgg this summer as an egg-tern and, to do so, I commute. And I don’t mean a quick jaunt on the subway. I mean two transit systems and a considerable amount of time in a car.

An average workday goes something like the following:

• Wake up at 6 a.m. and get ready
• Leave the house at 6:45 a.m. and drive to theGO station
• Arrive at the GO station and depart on the 7:40 a.m. train
• Get to Union Station around 8:20 a.m. and hop on the subway
• Arrive at the office around 8:40 a.m.
• Work until 5 p.m., and then do everything in reverse
• I usually get home around 7:10 p.m.

And of course, that doesn’t include things like accidents, really bad weather, GO train or TTC delays. All of which I have experienced more than once this summer.

I’ve commuted to Toronto for two different positions now (the other my high school co-op position at The Hospital for Sick Children), and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone coming from a long distance, simply because of the amount of time it takes. And it’s not the GO train or subway rides that are the issue: I can do other things while riding, like read, catch up on phone calls or emails (provided I get a seat, of course).

It’s the 30 to 40 minute drive that gets me. Nearly every day, I have some kind of encounter with a dangerous driver or someone who doesn’t know the rules of the road. And usually a rather large string of obscenities and some wild gesticulation from me follows. I seem to get people going 40 km/h in a 60 km/h zone, and I’m not able to pass them. Do you honk, or will that make the situation worse? I never know what to do.

But enough about me and my hatred of commuting (and bad drivers).

Your daily commute to and from work should always be considered when you are looking for and applying to jobs. In addition, you should also consider how much your commute will cost in comparison to your living expenses.

Some things to ponder when you are looking for a job:

• How much is rent in that city?
• How much does transit cost in that city?
• How long will your commute be inside the city?
• What are your expenses for a car (insurance, gas, maintenance, etc.)?
• How much is rent outside of the city?
• How much would transportation be to get into that city?
• How long will your commute take outside of the city?
• If you live with family or friends how much will your rent and expenses cost compared to living on your own?
• Are you planning to buy a place in a certain amount of years, or do you want to keep renting?

The longer your commute takes, the more likely you are to buy convenience foods for meals (and get fat) and be tired from not getting enough sleep.

But if you’re living with family, commuting can be a great way for you to save money to put towards a larger purchase, like a car or a house.

For me, gas costs about $35 a week , my TTC pass is $121 a month and my GO pass is $159 a month, for a grand monthly total of around $420. Because I don’t have to pay for rent or most living expenses living at my parents’ house, commuting is a much more economic option for me while I complete this internship. Trying to find a place that was closer didn’t seem to be worthwhile for only four months.

If I got a full-time job in Toronto, would I do it again? I’m not sure.

It may be something I’d consider in a shorter time frame in order to help me save up some money. But in the end I would probably look for a place that was closer, since it would allow me to do more in my evenings than have dinner and watch a little bit of TV.

TalentEgg asks:

• How far have you commuted for a summer job?
• What was your experience like?
• What advice do you have for other people who commute for work?

Gen Y Perspective: Why you should offer a wardrobe bonus upon hiring

"Gen-Y Perspective: Why you should offer a wardrobe bonus upon hiring"

Many companies have enough stability to offer new employees a substantial signing bonus. Gen Yers are not the only ones who wish they could get an extra financial incentive for starting at a new company, especially with the state of the current economy. Some people might blow this money on something frivolous, but what they should really be thinking about is their wardrobe.

I know this sounds a bit strange, but hear me out. Most new graduates do not spend the money they make working during the school year or the summer months building up a wardrobe for an office environment – most of them are just trying to scrape by.

Offering a wardrobe bonus is a good incentive when trying to entice recent grads to work for your company, and is something that you should talk about in the discussion period that occurs after the interview. If no one else is going to take care of them in the same way your company will, the new grad is more likely to come work for you. Think of it as an investment not only in your human resources, but also in your company’s brand.

Many so-called “blue collar” industries provide a clothing allowance to their staff when they are first hired, as well as periodically throughout their careers. This is something that the corporate world should try to implement as well, not only when employees are first hired but later on down the road.

I’m not saying new grads shouldn’t buy clothes which can transition into the office, but most do not think about doing so until they actually have a job. So, once the end of the academic year rolls around and these former students are starting work, many of them do not have anything appropriate to wear.

Especially in the summer, new grads often leave the house in jeans, skirts that are a little bit too short, shoes that are meant for the beach, and “nice t-shirts.” After all, it’s what they’ve been wearing for the past four years or so.

Herein lies the problem: students do not buy the items they need for a professional environment during school because it’s not practical to wear to school on a daily basis, and once they start a job they don’t have enough money to pay for appropriate clothing until they receive their first pay cheque. Or, if they buy appropriate attire, it may come at the expense of not paying off their credit card balance or not having food to eat.

This is where a company can help alleviate some of the stress newly-graduated employees have when they first enter the work force. Once the individual has finished their first day on the job, I suggest giving the employee a gift card from a clothing retailer that sells clothing the company feels is appropriate to that workplace.

There is also no way for the employee to use the amount on the gift card for something unrelated to the workplace, as they are bound to that specific store, and stores do not give refunds in cash for purchases put on a gift card. Thus, the company is not giving the employee “free money” to use elsewhere, which can be a concern.

Even if the amount is small (around $100) it can still buy a few key items the employee may not be able to afford at that time. And, not having to spend a great deal of money to start an appropriate work wardrobe is something a new employee will be very grateful for.

Entry-Level Living: Travel Close to Home, Its Patriotic

" Entry-Level Living: Travel Close to Home, Its Patriotic", July 6 2009

You’ve probably heard of the 100 Mile Diet, but what about a 100 Mile Vacation? In trying economic times, being able to go on vacation has become increasingly difficult, especially for those of us who are still in school or who have recently graduated and are just starting in the workforce. To go on a 100 Mile Vacation, plan a vacation no more than 100 miles from your home (or 160.9344 km, since we use the metric system here in Canada).

Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

Travelling closer to home (in Canada, if not within your own province/territory) has a lot of benefits. As with the 100 Mile Diet, you’ll have a lesser impact on the environment and you’ll spend less money. Also, you’ll never have to worry about changing your money to another currency!

Throughout the year, each province and territory has a slew of large-scale events that occur. To name just a few, Alberta has the Calgary Stampede; Ontario has Caribana, Pride and the Canadian National Exhibition; while Quebec has Carnivale. These events have a lot to do with our national identity and are something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

There is a lot to see and do within Canada, and most of us take it for granted. Although our nation is a relatively new one in comparison to our neighbours in the Eastern Hemisphere, there is plenty of history to see and learn about. They say history repeats itself, so why not get a better understanding of our current affairs by learning about Canada’s past?

There are currently 15 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) heritage sites in Canada, all of which can teach you something about how and why Canada is functioning as it is today.

There is also the large variety of climate and geography within Canada: you can see mountains, deserts, tundra, dense urban areas, lakes, oceans, forests, prairies, etc. In no other country do you see the kind of variance that you do in Canada in terms of landforms and temperature.

Travelling within Canada may also be helpful if you are looking for a job or a post-secondary institution. If you’ve found there is nothing available for you in your home province/territory, maybe it’s time to start looking at employers in other parts of the country and consider relocating. Sometimes getting a fresh start somewhere else can be very beneficial to your future.

Similarly, if you think your education isn’t getting you anywhere, maybe you should see what educational options are available in other parts of the country, as schools in different parts of the country can offer location-specific programs and specialties.

If you’re traveling in Vancouver for example, why not check out the forestry department at UBC or the School for International Studies at Simon Fraser? Sometimes trying something new or visiting a new place is the best way for you to find out what you really want to do with the rest of your life. Why not experience it in Canada?

Entry-Level Living: How to Exercise for Less

"Entry-Level Living: How to Exercise for Less", June 17 2009.

Everyone knows about the Freshman 15 before they start university, but no one seems to consider the more damaging Fourth-Year Fat Suit.

The first-year weight-gain is caused mostly by the high-calorie, low-nutrition foods in residence. Fourth-year students, however, are so busy they end up eating whatever convenience food is available because time does not allow for boiling water, let alone preparing balanced snacks and meals.

As a result, grads leave school a little bit more portly than when they entered four years before.

Common sense dictates they should buy a gym membership and their weight problems will be solved in a few months with considerable effort and discipline. However, due to student loans, consumer debt and being either unemployed or underemployed, many new grads cannot afford to purchase a gym membership.

Luckily, there are plenty of creative ways to get some exercise that will help you get rid of that excess weight and won’t cost you much (or anything)!

Walk or bike where you want to go instead of driving

Even if you don’t live in a major city where everything you need is right outside your door, chances are the nearest grocery store, drug store, coffee shop, etc. is only a few kilometres from your house. If you’re just running out to grab a few items and you have the time, grab your cloth bags and take a walk or jump on your bike instead of taking your car for such a short distance.

Running/Jogging

All you need is a supportive pair of shoes and somewhere safe to run. To cut down on the impact on your joints, run on soft surfaces such as grass. Better yet, do some cross-country running in parks and conservation areas to add hills to the mix and make the workout more difficult and effective.

Lift it, eat it, then lift it again

Cans (vegetables, soup, etc.) can be used as small hand weights and gallon-sized jugs (like those you use for milk), once emptied and refilled with either sand or water, can be used as heavier weights.

Take the stairs

I played three years of varsity soccer in high school and part of our pre-season training included running up and down stairs for 20-40 minutes. It was a great cardio workout, especially when sprints were added to the mix. Cardiovascular workouts help with heart health and burn large amounts of calories.

Go on a Hike

Many conservation areas and provincial and federal parks have trails that vary in elevation and terrain. Even if you are slowly walking (and maybe snapping a few pics along the way to post on Facebook) you can still get a decent workout. Wear a backpack and carry heavy things (like your homemade weights, or bottles of water and picnic lunch) to make your body burn extra calories.

Jump rope

Skipping is another great (cheap) cardio workout. You can purchase a synthetic jump rope from a store for a couple of dollars, or you could always use some stiff rope from your garage.

Have sex on a regular basis

Yup, you read that correctly. I think it’s pretty straight-forward, so I’m not going to get into the mechanics of it all. But make sure you use protection, otherwise you’ll end up with another kind of weight-gain…one that hangs around for the next 18 years or so (or longer if our generation is any indication).

Entry-Level Living: Things to Consider Before You Get a Pet

"Entry-Level Living: Things to Consider Before You Get a Pet", June 11, 2009.

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted a dog. The original plan was once we moved from our smaller house into a larger one with a bigger yard, my parents were going to get me a dog. That was almost nineteen years ago and I never got a dog. I’ve had a couple of rabbits and some fish, and although I enjoyed having them they cannot fulfill the same needs as a dog.

Now that I’m older I understand the reason why we never got a dog: we used to spend a lot of the summers and a couple weeks of the winters away.

I still want a dog (and a rabbit and a cat and a whole bunch of other creatures), but I also realize getting a pet at this point in my life does not make sense. There are lots of things one needs to consider when they decide to get a pet – any animal, not necessarily a larger one like a cat or a dog – and I think many people do not contemplate these things before they bring an animal home.

Cost

Purchasing a purebred dog or cat can cost thousands of dollars and on top of that there are the costs of spaying/neutering and shots. Adopting, although much cheaper, can still be costly (starting at about $200, including spaying/neutering and first shots).

Aside from the initial start-up costs, food, toys and preventative veterinarian care will cost you on on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. You must also consider the unforeseen costs of owning an animal, such as emergency surgery or even having to put the animal down.

Space

Where are you living? A house or a one-bedroom apartment? People need their own space and so do animals. A large dog in a small apartment, for example, makes for both an unhappy owner and canine.

Living Arrangements

Is it just you, or do you have roommates? Before you get a pet, you should discuss it in detail with the people you are living with. Are they allergic to or afraid of animals? Who is responsible for feeding, playing, walking or changing the litter box?

I lived in a student house with two cats for a year, and the cats and I had a pretty good relationship. I would pet them whenever I saw them and they would act as a blanket if I was cold. If the cats were out of food or running low on water, I made sure their bowls were replenished. But I wasn’t too impressed with having to clean up kitty vomit more than my fair share.

I also had to deal with one of the cats being mad at me for some reason and peeing in my sock drawer. Incidents like these can really bother and offend some people, and you want to make sure that if it does happen your roommates don’t end up resenting you or your animals.

Training

Although this is typically something you need to do more with dogs, it does apply to other animals as well. If you have a cat or a rabbit for example, you need to teach it where it can go to the bathroom, or you will be cleaning your floor and furniture a lot. A dog on the other hand, needs some kind of obedience training. Some dogs, if not properly trained can beg or, worse, become very aggressive and even bite or attack people or other dogs.

Time

One of the most over-looked things when owning a pet is time. Do you have time to make sure the animal gets enough exercise every day? Can you take random play breaks? Can you clean up after an animal on a daily basis? What happens when you go on vacation and your pet can’t go along?

Although owning a pet is a huge responsibility, it has a lot of rewards. The unconditional love you get from an animal is unlike anything else you experience. But you should really give your decision a lot of thought, as it is not only your life you will impact.

Brad Pattison of At the End of My Leash says the dog doesn’t choose the owner, it’s the owner who chooses the dog. This is true of all animals and it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure all of their pets’ needs are met.