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Old 04-01-2025, 03:25 PM   #155
troutman
Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
 
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Crowsnest Pass
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver View Post
Yeah, I did two years off after high school before university. One year worked at Lake Louise and lived on the mountain. That was fkn epic. Next year I did the European backpacking thing and worked a few jobs.

My thought on gap years is if you aren't going to go back to school, you likely wouldn't have stayed in, anyway, so wasn't something I worried about for myself.

It's all financial, though, for me. If the numbers don't allow it (and by that I mean you need to do it without debt while still meeting your other goals like retirement savings and down payment help, which I think most young people will require now) then it's moot. Can't afford it then can't do it. End of conversation.

If the numbers allow it, then yeah, living away from home as a young person rules.

Yeah, we're just withdrawing maximum allowable amount from the RESPs now, too. More than is necessary, but the whole point is to scoop that 20% government matching, so withdrawing every cent put in is my goal.
Going away for school may require some level of bursaries, scholarships, and summer/part-time employment. I worked in a paint store though out law school and did not need much help from my parents or student loans. Other classmates spent every summer in Europe, using their student loan money for travel.

I’m also a big fan of gap years - going walkabout for a year is huge for development. I think most Aussies do this.
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