6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Toronto

I can't believe I've lived in Toronto for almost 7 years now! I remember when I moved here from a very small town, and it was such a huge change for me. I had many fears, lots of anxiety about certain things, and didn't know many people here. I moved to the city to pursue my dream of studying fashion marketing and break into the industry. 

One of the biggest things I was afraid of was learning the subway system and figuring out how to get around the city. I also wasn't sure if I would meet many like-minded people and be able to grow meaningful friendships here. I was going to be living alone for the first time, so that was a little scary too. Looking back, I wish I had some advice on how to best navigate these things, specifically in Toronto. 

If you're looking for that or even just some reassurance from someone whose been through it, you've come to the right place!

Here are 6 things I wish I knew before moving to Toronto that I think you should know. :)

1. Getting around the city

Walking is one of the best ways to get around in the city! Especially when the weather is nice. Living downtown means that everything is super convenient. Your go-to restaurants, cafés, grocery stores + more are all within walking distance. Make sure you always have a tote bag on you or something to carry your purchases. It's always fun walking around the city and you find your bearings a lot easier this way and also discover so many hidden gems when you're on foot. The the subway system is also very easy to learn! Easier than I thought. Keep a copy of the subway map favourited on your phone and you just need to know what subway station your destination is near. The streetcars and buses aren't as reliable, but they are pretty easy to figure out as well! 

*Below are photos from my moving day! October 1st, 2015.

2. Meeting new friends

There are many ways to meet new people and amazing, life-long friends here in the city. Get ready to put yourself out there and connect! The best way for me to meet new people, honestly, was on Instagram. Once I was mutually connected with someone and spent time commenting on each other's posts and even some direct messaging, I eventually would ask them to grab coffee with me and many times it was an instant connection of friendship! I still have friends in my life to this day that I met that way. It's so cool! The other way I met many friends was through local Toronto events/blogging events. Anytime you have a chance to go somewhere for an event, make an effort to talk to other people who are there. You never know who you might connect with! I also have great friends still that I met this way as well.

3. Take advantage of summertime

Summer in the city is the best time. The weather is hot, the patio drinks are flowing and there’s summer events all over the place to check out! Free events are amazing and here's a list of 100+ free things to do in Toronto this summer. This is also a great time to save money on transportation and walk everywhere you can! Be sure to bring water and a snack!

4. Living alone

Living alone in Toronto isn’t that bad! In a city of so many people, you can still feel lonely but having a pet helps a lot. It seems like almost everyone has a pet in Toronto. I have a cat and she's the best roommate ever. 

It's also kind fo nice to have a quiet place to go to at the end of the day. The city can be a very "go, go, go" kind of vibe, so having this space is a nice little hideaway to focus, regroup, and even get some work done. I've done SO much side hustle work here and I'm so glad I always have a place to call my own where I know I can be productive.

5. Budgeting/spending money 

This is probably my #1 advice. Be prepared to stick to a budget! Things can get expensive here so it’s important to keep track of your finances and spend responsibly within your means. I like to track my finances on a spreadsheet. There's more info about my budget here.

6. FOMO

Let's get one thing straight. FOMO is overrated. It’s totally okay and 100% deserved to have a quiet day to yourself, even though you’re in a busy city with endless things to do. Take a break when you need to! You can't do it all and be at every single 'fun' thing out there.

*Below are some photos of the view from my downtown Toronto apartment. It's SO cool! I love when the sky turns pink at sunset.

Follow me on Instagram for pink thing in Toronto + fashion, beauty and lifestyle content. Check out my downtown Toronto apartment tour here and follow me on TikTok too!

Thanks for reading today!