I agree people not knowing their value or what their time should be worth. As far as the temporary workers, I don't blame them either because it probably is good money for them and they need it since they live in a messed up economy, I think it's dirty on the part of the companies tho. I don't care where the workers come from or what they make in their country they are not working there. When working on Canadian soil, they should be paid the same as a Canadian and that's just equality, it's simple really. None of this exploiting workers and paying them less than the minimum wage set, it isn't a freaking suggestion it's a law. They make them live in squalid crowded conditions too and if they speak out they get it even worse. We have been fighting for fair workers rights including theirs.
Maybe you are taking work in a sense from another country but are you really since you are working on your home soil? Naturally you would be paid according to your economy. Imagine you come here and a proper living wage to afford housing, food and transportation should be $15-$20/h and you come here to be making $5 to find out everyone else makes 3x more and stuck living in whatever barn(not literally but it's pretty bad housing) they want to stuff everyone in thinking you were getting a good deal because it's more than what you would make at home...talk about getting screwed in the end and that's pretty unfair. Their not stupid, they can see they are being taken advantage of, they just don't have an out or fear repercussions because they get threats. The people peddling them are often tied to politicians. there has been some horror stories surfacing the last few years, some of them have been trying to speak out. Sure they wont come back after their contract is done, they'll just find a new unsuspecting batch to exploit next round.
Totally, that fund manager is only concerned about making their money, they really don't care what you are left with as long as you consume their services. They are there to sell not make you money. People want convenience and convenience is costly. Like you said, only you can save you. My pension plan is supposed to be one of the best one in the country and I don't even count on it but I have no choice to contribute, the only way to manage it myself is to leave my field for more than 2 years, might happen someday but not currently I still have to put it in a different plan, the only diff is I would get to pick my retirement age(I might still end up doing at some point anyway if I ever decide to switch career and go teaching).
I know a lot of this mountain living stuff because that's how I grew up, it's quite pleasant actually but you have to accept that it doesn't build any wealth. I chose to live in the colonial system because I like nice things but still plan on returning to the indigenous ways no matter what after I have made enough to feel comfortable with leaving the city. I could still work here and there but it will all be out of town work given the nature of my work if need be but if I go teaching or continue the career path, I'm better off in the city. Like you, once I walk away, I don't want to come back. I'm not a big fan of credits and that whole gimick, I want to drop as big of a payment as I can optimally in full right off the bat. Moon wen?!? lol. I have enough eggs in multiple baskets, something's gotta give somewhere at some point. In the meantime I slowly keep chipping away at it. Maybe I can retire on UBI cause I'm not footing the bill for it since I don't have kids, they wont be footing the bill either! lol (hopefully)...I'm a dreamer too 🤩😝
One of my Hive friends 
RE: The Bitcoin Flippining