u/HangingInTheWard

Hello neighbours, after 5 years homeless and 28 shelters, in three cities, I'm home in Guelph, I'm housed, and working.

My income has recently tripled, and I find myself just a touch above the poverty line.

With the food bank advertising they are having issues with empty shelves, and with my recent change in circumstances, I feel feeding myself is the moral thing to do.

After 5 years of food bank and drop in cuisine solely, my first month out there, grocery shopping with flyers in hand and price matching, my grocery bill was $442 for one month.

Is it high, is it low? Any tips or tricks out there from veteran grocery shoppers?

Any good info appreciated. I went to Giant Tiger, Food Basics, Freshco, No Frills, Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Zehrs.

Ok, crossing these off my grocery list. Guess it's apple crisp this week. Does Driscoll coating your food with a chemical that takes 1000 years to break down bother you, will you buy anyway?

I went to an in person meeting, of people that are in a Facebook group. This particular group was for Christian Singles.

We were asked to bring something to share. I selected two packages of 8 butter tarts, gourmet style quality.

As it turned out, the gathering had way more food than required. The hostess took the two unopened packs of butter tarts I'd brought and handed them to a friend as a gift as he was leaving.

I had planned on returning home with them, as I bought them, and they were not needed.

I unjoined the Facebook group and blocked her profile. Google says she was incredibly rude. What do you think. My jaw is still on the floor. She should have said thanks for bringing something, as it ended up being surplus, you should take it home with you.

To recycle my gift, to her friend, right in front of me was wrong.

Those of you who received the bread price fixing money recently, may want to keep an eye out for this if you bought beef.

I have a very practical matter with the items of someone else, physically blocking the door to my apartment.

When I come home each day, there is at least one bicycle, leaned directly up against my apartment door. I have to touch someone else's stuff, to get into my unit.

I've tried posting a note, that they have a new neighbour, and need to stop blocking my door with bicycles.

I called the police, for advice on touching someone else's belongings, and what the legal deal is.

The police said if it's touching my entryway, and blocking it, I am within my rights to dispose of it any way I see fit.

This has been daily between June 26 and Today July 7th.

Would you move 1-3 bikes leaned against your front door to a tree in the yard, as I've done, or would you chuck them?

Legally, chucking is allowed.

Obviously the neighbour has mental health issues. Could be bipolar, schizophrenic, or some other mental issue that caused this weird behaviour

Also as a side note, I left a note on a car here, parked in my spot. The one I pay for, while two visitor spots were available.

They left, but put the note I left them on my windshield and watched my reaction from across the street, before peeling out.

I guess there's a reason nobody wants these non profit units in their neighbourhood. Stereotypes come from somewhere.

The police said they would supervise towing a car, that is left in your paid for spot.

Well Guelph, do we chuck in the bin and tow, or should I give the natives a little more time to get used to the fact that a long time empty unit now has a tenant.

And I'm not fuming or anything. Kind of chuckling, and observing. But if I trip on a bike going out, dumpster might be next move. Although the cops said it would probably crank this weirdo from 0 to 60 in a hurry. I agree.

Thoughts??

After 5 years, tried stopping into a Zehrs on Eramosa last night. Was in the mood for pie.

Selected one, and headed for the whipped cream. It's good I knew where those are, as at 45 minutes to close there were 0 employees to be seen in any aisle.

Customer Service Desk? Nope Empty

Cashier's? Not even one. Self checkout only. But I wanted to pay in Cash.

I bought the pie, as I left ghost town, the alarm blared as I passed through the exit.

No employee came. I knew I had only my pie and receipt, but waited. 10 minutes of alarm blaring, no humans.

So I left. Zehrs has always been my last choice, but when did they stop having employees?

When I got home, I realized the pie I got from a bakery shelf was frozen solid. So they just dumped the pies on the sales floor out of the freezer. Or maybe a robot did. LOL

See you in 5 years Zehrs!!

I've noticed quite the slant here when it comes to the homeless in Guelph.

I was homeless in Guelph for 3 years. I was an employee of the Upper Grand District School Board.

I got something called peripheral neuropathy in my feet, and could not stand or walk.

I lived for three months on the bridge behind the boathouse restaurant(23 Gordon was full and had a turn away policy at the time)and had to take a cab to the Royal City Mission to eat.

Eventually I was accepted at nights to 23 Gordon Street. Layed on their lawn all day. Took a cab to Royal city to eat.

Eventually given a room at 128 Norfolk St shelter for 10 months.

My feet and legs healed and regenerated with the help of my doctor and massive vitamins. Today I walk excessively, because it helps keep the newly grown nerve tissues viable.

Then I was given a room in transitional housing at 65 Delhi Street. After 14 months here I've been offered a studio apartment in a deeply affordable housing complex. Moving for July 1.

Working 40 hours a week now too. I've never tried drugs or marijuana and don't use alcohol. I've never asked you for spare change.

I've been a baker, a janitor, and a teacher's aid, and now I'm in maintenance.

So if you passed me two years ago laying in a doorway, or stretched out on the lawn of 23 Gordon, or sitting on the street on Quebec Street, now you know why.

I also have my own vehicle and a side hustle doing odd jobs and runs to the dump.

Before you say the homeless are ruining downtown, don't forget you are talking about me too, and I am not the only one

Two of my friends have found work and housing too and we're drug and alcohol and marijuana free.

When you sla downtown and the homeless, you are talking about the worst 10% who should be in Homewood anyways.

Take care and have a great day!!

Hello Guelph. On days I am off work, I walk about 10 km through various parts of our fair city. Many threads here have touched on "Should I move to Guelph, what's Guelph like. Here's a bit on walking Guelph and the folks you meet:

Walking on York Rd near the wooden bridge:

People make eye contact and say hello, and conversations and dog pettings have broken out.

Walking along Woodlawn Road: People pass you with eyes on the pavement, making no indication they see you or you exist.

Walking downtown during the day expect requests for small change.

Walking downtown at midnight, watch out for herds of short skirted young ladies, who don't see you or hear you.

Walking any South End street: Eye contact, hello, nice weather, are you new, have a nice day.

Walking on University property: you're on your own buddy, people here have important stuff to d

Walking Stone Road Mall: People are here for a reason, small talk and saying hello ain't it.

Walking around in a Walmart, there's no staff on the floor but other shoppers make eye contact and will converse.

Walking Delhi Street: Almost always a hello, how you doing.

I could go on, but:

What kind of Walker are you and Where do you walk and what are the Guelphites you pass like??

Just a note of caution to people like me looking for a room in Guelph. I've been targeted by scammers twice today. One refused to reveal the address of the pictures he sent and ghosted when asked for an in person viewing. The second was a man and woman posing as son in law and mother in law, looking for first and last in cash, failing that they are handing out realistic looking real estate application forms seeking your SIN # and bank account number, to go along with your cell number and current address. They are most likely airbnb tenants on short stay who will disappear. I lost no cash. The son in law vets you by phone and passes you to his sweet mother in law who shows you an empty room for rent. The other room door downstairs is closed, and they say there's a tenant there who works early shift and is sleeping. They only let you in the side door of the house. Beware of offerings in the Colonial/Arkell area of Guelph. They nearly got me and a lot of personal info, luckily I shredded the form after doing some checking. Be safe out there. These two scams originated in Facebook marketplace and Kijiji.

Hey Guelph, last year I had the crappiest experience with a Samsung A15 cell phone bought from Freedom Mobile at Stone Road Mall. The Samsung company keeps major overhauling their software making cell phones in a lot of cases useless. Their One UI 7,8,8.5,and 9 versions constantly forced out to unsuspecting owners in rapid succession. Samsung phones are not built to run present day Samsung software. Many users report phones that won't unlock or run out of battery in a couple hours after yet another update. My Samsung phone stopped updating all Google apps and I couldn't get a search result that wasn't five years old. I finally tossed my Samsung A15 into the bin and walked away from freedom mobile. I bought a Chinese phone from Chatr called a Nubia A76, for $135 charger included that stays charged for up to 3 days when sitting screen off, and 12 hours of continuous screen time when using. It updates automatically while I sleep without screwing everything up. If you are thinking of buying the latest garbage from Samsung at $100-200 a month, Don't. It's crap. Go to Chatr and ask for their cheapest phone. I'm a year with this phone and get 90GB of data for $40 bucks a month. Samsung=Trash!!

Hello Reddit people. Just want to let Kitchener seniors, still residing in your own home know, that this semi-retired male is available to do any household chores you may not want to do, or may not be able to do. The cost if you're 60 and up is a straight $15 per hour. Yard work, house work, anything you need done except carpentry, electrical or plumbing. I drive and own a vehicle, so picking up items for you, or taking them away is possible too. I know the rate is below minimum, but being able to claim my expenses, makes up the difference and gives you an important break financially. I just provide labour. You supply tools and materials. If you contact me here by message I'll give you my contact details. Cheers!