Digital Survival Kit (Apps & Tech)

🚌 1. Navigation & Transit (Don't Get Lost)

Google Maps is good, but these are better.

• Transit App (The "Real-Time" God):
• Why: Google Maps often lies about bus delays. The Transit App crowdsources data from people on the bus. It tells you exactly when the bus is coming.
• TVT Tip: Use the "GO" feature. It vibrates your phone 2 stops before yours, so you don't miss your stop while sleeping.
• Citymapper:
• Best For: Downtown Toronto/Vancouver. It tells you which subway exit to take (Exit A or B) to save 5 minutes of walking.

💸 2. Financial & Budgeting (The "Roommate" Saver)

Money causes 90% of roommate fights. These apps fix that.

• Splitwise (Crucial):
• The Problem: You buy toilet paper ($10). Roommate buys milk ($5). Who owes who?
• The Fix: Log every shared expense in Splitwise. It does the math automatically.
• TVT Rule: "If it's not on Splitwise, it didn't happen."
• Flipp (The Grocery Hacker):
• What it does: Scans every flyer in Canada.
• Use it for: Price Matching at No Frills/FreshCo. (See Page 11 for the strategy).
• Mint / PocketGuard:
• Connects to your bank account and yells at you if you spend too much on UberEats.

🎓 3. Student Discounts (The "Free" Stuff)

You are broke. Use these.

• Amazon Prime Student:
• The Deal: 6 Months FREE. Then 50% off ($4.99/mo).
• Perk: Free One-Day Delivery (essential for winter boots/textbooks) + Prime Video.
• Spotify Premium Student:
• The Deal: $6.39/mo (Regular is $12.69).
• Verification: Uses "SheerID" to scan your college timetable.
• SPC Card (Student Price Card):
• Cost: $11.99/year (OR Free if you have a CIBC Student Account).
• Discounts: 10-15% off at H&M, Taco Bell, American Eagle, Samsung.
• Microsoft Office 365:
• Cost: $0 (Free).
• How: Login to Microsoft.com with your college email. You get Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for free. Do not buy it.

🛡️ 4. Safety & Health (The "Panic Button")

• Keep.meSAFE / TELUS Health:
• What is it: 24/7 Mental Health Chat.
• Why: You can chat with a counselor in Hindi, Punjabi, or Gujarati at 3 AM if you feel lonely or depressed. It is 100% free for international students.
• Campus Safety Apps:
• Every college has one (e.g., UofT Safety, Seneca Safe).
• Feature: "Friend Walk." You send a link to a friend, and they can watch you walk home on a map in real-time. If you stop moving or run, it alerts them.

🍔 5. Food (The "Hunger" Games)

• Too Good To Go:
• Get $20 of leftover restaurant food for $5. (Best for exam nights).
• UberEats / DoorDash:
• TVT Warning: Delete these apps. The delivery fees + tip make a $15 meal cost $30. Only install them if you are sick and can't cook.

TVT’s Final Digital Tip:

"WhatsApp is for family. LinkedIn is for jobs." In Canada, employers do not use WhatsApp. If you put your WhatsApp number on a resume, it looks unprofessional. Check your Email every morning—that is how Canada communicates.