⚠️ The ".EDU" Golden Rule: Never use your Gmail for sign-ups. Always use your College Email
- Why: It unlocks "Student Tiers" for Amazon, Spotify, Apple, and Microsoft.
- Value: This simple switch saves you ~$500/year.
🚌 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.