Amid the cost-of-living crisis, many Canadians looking to save money or cut back on consistent maintenance might be thinking about downsizing their home. But one housing expert says there are several things to consider before making the move.
If you find yourself often questioning whether your current home is financially feasible and still accommodates your current life situation, it’s likely that a change in your living situation is due, said Toronto-based real estate agent Erica Reddy in an interview with CTV’s Your Morning earlier this week.
“If you’re sitting there and going, ‘You know what, my finances are really starting to feel a little bit tight and maintaining this house really doesn’t make sense.’ That might be a cue to start thinking about what downsizing looks like,” said Reddy.
Downsizing can be a daunting task at any life stage, but planning ahead and considering the amount of time it will take to move is a good place to start the process, Reddy recommends.
“It’s not an easy step. It’s not a quick process and there’s a lot that goes into the back side of making sure that you’re ready to actually do the downsize.”
Considering the amount of time it will take to declutter, especially if you’re downsizing from a home with multiple bedrooms and rooms down to a two-bedroom, for example, it’s important to give yourself enough time to allocate which of your belongings you’re keeping and which you intend to give away, Reddy adds.
It’s best to be proactive and think about downsizing ahead of any potential rushed situations in which a big move might be necessary, Reddy notes.
Though the benefits of downsizing might be appealing for some, it’s still a difficult and major life change that can ignite feelings of anxiety and fear about taking on the related costs of a big move, especially with rising interest rates.
That’s why Reddy said it’s crucial to weigh the risks and benefits as well as the timeline of such a move.
“To come to that realization and have that conversation can be a huge stepping point,” she said.
“But the other side of it is ending up in a much better place ahead of a situation where it becomes rushed or at a time where it’s forced or has to be done.”
To watch the full interview, click the video at the top of this article.
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Reporting for this story was paid for through The Canadian Journalism Foundation’s Black Journalism Fellowship.
MONTREAL – Quebec’s ombudsperson is warning that public services are becoming “dehumanized” in the province amid a rise in demand for them.
Marc-André Dowd released his annual report today, which highlights several examples of people receiving inadequate care across the health network in the 12 months leading to March 31.
One dying man who lived alone was denied help cleaning his cat’s litter box by his local health clinic, a service Dowd says should have been given for “humanitarian reasons.”
Dowd also describes staff at a long-term care home feeding residents “mechanically” and talking among each other — despite health ministry guidelines directing staff to maintain eye contact with residents.
The ombudsperson says his office received a record number of problems to investigate across the province’s public services — 24,867 compared with 22,053 last year.
He says his office investigated 13,358 cases between April 2023 and March of this year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Canada next week after a planned trip in July was cancelled amid political turmoil in France.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in a statement today that Macron will be in Canada Wednesday and Thursday after the leaders attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
Trudeau will welcome Macron in Ottawa on Wednesday, where they are expected to discuss collaboration on geopolitical issues including their ongoing support for Ukraine.
They are also expected to discuss ways to strengthen the response to emerging threats, such as disinformation.
In Montreal, Trudeau intends to show off the city’s artificial intelligence sector, while both countries reaffirm their commitment to work with counterparts on responsible use of AI.
The leaders will also discuss promoting the French language ahead of the Francophonie summit being held in France next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Health Canada has authorized Novavax’s updated COVID-19 vaccine that protects against currently circulating variants of the virus.
The protein-based vaccine, called Nuvaxovid, has been reformulated to target the JN.1 subvariant of Omicron.
It will replace the previous version of the vaccine, which targeted the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron.
Health Canada recently asked provinces and territories to get rid of their older COVID-19 vaccines to ensure the most current vaccine will be used during this fall’s respiratory virus season.
Earlier this week, Health Canada approved Moderna’s updated mRNA COVID vaccine.
It is still reviewing Pfizer’s updated mRNA vaccine, with a decision expected soon.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously described the Novavax vaccine as an mRNA shot.
