u/N1oma

I have heard that plumbers don't need to repeat the first 2 levels if they were looking to get their HVAC ticket and start an apprenticeship. Any insight?

I'm not in a hurry to buy a car, but I was about to buy a BRZ TS here in Vancouver, but the dealer dicked me around (offered me 5k for my mint 2017 fiat abarth with low km), and then added dealer fees after telling me that I'll only pay whats on subaru's website.

At a meet last night I was told that the best time to buy a car is at the end of the year. What can you expect? Low financing? Free all weather mats? A slight discount?

Anyone done this transition? Thinking about using my Canada Lifetime Training Credit to take a course at BCIT for it, in hopes of transitioning to a higher paying more techinical role.

I have little interest in starting my own company plumbing wise, but do enjoy doing my little sidejobs here ad there. Figure this would be a great step to advance my career.

Background: 15 year journeyman, pushing 40, currently making 110 a year in government.

Looking at a BRZ Ts. I dont mind paying MSRP, but I just want to pay the price shown on the subaru website. They also mentioned regardless of where I go, they wont really change things.

Looking to sell my low mileage abarth also, but I dont think there is much tax savings for trading it in based on what the dealership wants to offer me.

The stock is low though, and I'm willing to order one in a colour I want. The dark grey that my local dealership has doesnt hit right.

Some stats

Age: Late 30's.

Salary: 110k a year + 10-20k from a side business. Without the sidework my income after tax is ~3k biweekly

Debts: Minimal. Around 8k at 0% and 3k at Prime + 1.5%

Investments: 50k in a TFSA/FHSA. Have been contributing around 600 biweekly. 50k in an RRSP. I don't contribute to my RRSP anymore due to having a DB pension with COLA at my current employer. Contributions will increase once I eliminate my debt.

Expenses: Low. I pay 1.1k for rent. Insurance at max discount, and i don't do much spending anymore.

I currently own a 2017 Fiat Abarth with ~80k km on it. I have kept up with most major maintenance. In the last year of my warranty my manual gearbox was replaced, along side with the clutch. I recently changed the brakes/rotors and changed the tires. I've had a few offers for my car, from strangers and a few after posting it online for ~12k. I am the original owner and bought it at the tail end of 2016 I believe. I drive a vehicle for work and it's just a pleasure vehicle for me after work hours/weekends.

While I don't need a new car, I do enjoy driving alot, especially on the weekends when I can get out of the city. I've been eyeing a New Subaru BRZ ts, and with finance rates at around 2.5-4.5% (depending on payment terms), it's making me wonder if its time for me to upgrade my car.

After my downpayment (from my car sale) and a 3k downpayment, I could do a 48 month loan, my car payments would be around 300 biweekly, and the cost to finance would be around 3k.

I can definetly afford it. I do believe that life should be enjoying and I would get alot of enjoyment out of this car.

But my biggest fear is I begin running into maintenance issues with my current vehicle. I like the safety that comes with owning a newer vehicle especially due to warranty. I feel like the rates on these subarus are good. Yes I know i'm still spending ~40 grand on a vehicle. But I also know that my vehicle currently still has value, to someone as some major repairs might be needed in the future (clutch, timing belts etc)

Is there a correct answer here?

Currently make 51 + amazing benefits + a really good indexed pension (at retirement I'll probably have 60k a year salary in todays money just from my pension), and a really really amazing life/work balance. Most of the time I can finish my jobs for the day in 3 hours, and just spend 5 hours studying in my van or investing. Live 5 minutes from our yard, and I've probably been the most stress free i've ever been. Do a good amount of sidejobs too to bring my wage up. There is a lack of challenge sometimes, but the stuff we work on is generally pretty specialized.

There's an opportunity to transition to pipefitting. Different union, but guaranteed work probably until I retire. I've never done pipefitting before, but i know its not much different to plumbing. Pay can range from 62 to 72 depending on what shift you work, and the commute is also minimal to my current home. There's a good amount of overtime, and paychecks can range well above 4k mark. The pension is worse, but the argument is that I can self invest (which I already do) and then use my money as I please when I'm older. I'm aware the work will be harder, and way less relaxed, but i'd effectively wouldn't have to do sidejobs anymore.

edit: thanks for the advice. I'm going to stay!

For context I do have a doctors appointment coming up.

The last 2-3 months I've noticed that I've permanently had a stuffed nose, my eyes have been watery and I've never had a night of sound sleep. A few weeks ago I woke up coughing constantly and was having an asthma attack too. I also have to sleep with a cpap which I'm trying to resolve by losing weight.

So I spent the long weekend away from Vancouver in the Okanagan This weekend.

I stayed in a clean hotel, and spent alot of time indoors. My girlfriend told me that it was the soundest sleep she'd ever seen my have (a full 8 hours). I had no stuffy nose, no runny eyes, no nothing. I didn't require a cpap, and I was barely snoring.

The second I got near Vancouver (at around Hope) I began to cough a lot, began getting stuffy again and my eyes began watering. Even now I just woke up after 4-5 hours of sleep and Unable to go back to sleep. I've also began to realize that the home I've been living in for the last 10 years and only pay 1k a month in rent for might be causing me damage because of the poor airflow/dust collection that I get. I might need to find a more suitable place to live in for my health.

I was wondering if anyone else struggles with stuff like this? I'm kinda of upset with myself that I just put up with this for a while without seeing a doctor.