The cost of immigrating
Jan 9th 2011 | 6:47 am
#31
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,233
From: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Re: The cost of immigrating
Hello
We immigrated as a two, (no pets) we do have a daughter who is 20, but in the UK at Uni so we do have that additional expense
We emigrated from the UK with 6 suitcases (one was just my shoes I must confess!) and a 20 ft container. When we added up the contents of our house in the UK we were surprised by the value, and the cost of replacing the really nice things you have purchased over the years in the UK when you first arrive in Canada would be a very expensive exercise.
One small bonus is that when we left the UK we had paid up front for a lot of our utility bills and we got some nice refunds from the water, gas and electric people which made a nice change.
We are lucky (worked our butts off in the UK saving for the last 5 years) and have enough cash stashed to keep us comfortable for our first two years here. However we arrived 6 weeks ago today, and are surprised at the rate we are rattling through the cash as everything costs more than you think.
Our immigration costs look like this:
£1,500 - flights
£3,300 - 3 months rent
£3,500 - 20 ft container
£10,000 - 4/5 months living costs
Then when we got here, we bought a car, mobile phones x 2, and lots of small things that are in the container on the water that our rented house does not have like a laundry basket, clothes horse, DVD player, kettle, coffee maker...the list goes on...I know it sounds like small things but it all adds up.
We were going to rent out our house in the UK but decided we wanted the cash and not the hassle when starting our new lives over here.
It is great that you have a job to come to, which will take the pressure off you both immensely. But as others have said, take the cash you think you will need and add 50% to it, seriously.
Good luck!!
We immigrated as a two, (no pets) we do have a daughter who is 20, but in the UK at Uni so we do have that additional expense
We emigrated from the UK with 6 suitcases (one was just my shoes I must confess!) and a 20 ft container. When we added up the contents of our house in the UK we were surprised by the value, and the cost of replacing the really nice things you have purchased over the years in the UK when you first arrive in Canada would be a very expensive exercise.
One small bonus is that when we left the UK we had paid up front for a lot of our utility bills and we got some nice refunds from the water, gas and electric people which made a nice change.
We are lucky (worked our butts off in the UK saving for the last 5 years) and have enough cash stashed to keep us comfortable for our first two years here. However we arrived 6 weeks ago today, and are surprised at the rate we are rattling through the cash as everything costs more than you think.
Our immigration costs look like this:
£1,500 - flights
£3,300 - 3 months rent
£3,500 - 20 ft container
£10,000 - 4/5 months living costs
Then when we got here, we bought a car, mobile phones x 2, and lots of small things that are in the container on the water that our rented house does not have like a laundry basket, clothes horse, DVD player, kettle, coffee maker...the list goes on...I know it sounds like small things but it all adds up.
We were going to rent out our house in the UK but decided we wanted the cash and not the hassle when starting our new lives over here.
It is great that you have a job to come to, which will take the pressure off you both immensely. But as others have said, take the cash you think you will need and add 50% to it, seriously.
Good luck!!
Jan 9th 2011 | 6:55 am
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 704
From: Cheltenham, UK was Vancouver, BC
Re: The cost of immigrating
I agree with the lavish comment, we have splurged on some things and scrimped on others.
Jan 9th 2011 | 8:23 am
#33
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,708
From: White Rock BC
Re: The cost of immigrating
As someone who used to do a lot of cash flow forecasting I have a rule of thumb when estimating future expenses:
A) Work out exactly, to the penny, every little thing you expect to spend money on.
B) Add a contingency of 10%.
C) Double the lot.
A) Work out exactly, to the penny, every little thing you expect to spend money on.
B) Add a contingency of 10%.
C) Double the lot.
Jan 9th 2011 | 9:26 am
#34
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: The cost of immigrating
OK. so if you still have mortgage, I'd try to sell now and if by chance it goes quick, then jump into rented for a bit til you depart.
The cash you make from the cars can get you a couple (if you need two) beaters - I'd bargain on $3-4 CAD each, and probably help towards setting up your new house. As I said we didnt take furniture, but shipped (by air) irreplaceables, and kids toys which got to us in less than a week for about £1k, We looked at shipping but it jut didnt seem worth if for a house full of ikea furniture - maybe if there were some priceless antiques. We figured that if our furniture was going to take 6 weeks to get to us, we would have needed to buy some new stuff anyway, so all in all it seemed the best way - on balance I would do the same again - we reduced our worldly good to half the contents of a transit van, the only major casualty being my record collection, it seemed too much of a hassle to get my turntable converted to canadian electrics (needed to make the turntable run at the right speed), so I sold it all.
I'd say that on balance your living costs are going to be similar to what they are in the UK (or possibly slightly more)
Have you found any good website re rental property? should give you an indicator of costs for that.
The cash you make from the cars can get you a couple (if you need two) beaters - I'd bargain on $3-4 CAD each, and probably help towards setting up your new house. As I said we didnt take furniture, but shipped (by air) irreplaceables, and kids toys which got to us in less than a week for about £1k, We looked at shipping but it jut didnt seem worth if for a house full of ikea furniture - maybe if there were some priceless antiques. We figured that if our furniture was going to take 6 weeks to get to us, we would have needed to buy some new stuff anyway, so all in all it seemed the best way - on balance I would do the same again - we reduced our worldly good to half the contents of a transit van, the only major casualty being my record collection, it seemed too much of a hassle to get my turntable converted to canadian electrics (needed to make the turntable run at the right speed), so I sold it all.
I'd say that on balance your living costs are going to be similar to what they are in the UK (or possibly slightly more)
Have you found any good website re rental property? should give you an indicator of costs for that.
We regret not bring our decent furniture and beds - even it was to be used as spare.
I would think 3k GBP would be plenty for a reccy (depending on how long your here for - 2 weeks = plenty 2 months = you'd need more)
Jan 9th 2011 | 1:46 pm
#35
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,222
From: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Re: The cost of immigrating
If you do come and then go back, provided the cats are micro chipped and fully vaccinated (inc rabies) and have a positive blood titre test, there is no quarrantine into the UK .
Cost us about 1000 gbp to bring to Dogs in Dec 2008 and that was us doing all paperwork etc ourselves. Son wanted to bring his gerbil - flight would have been 400gbp alone, plus a specially made cage etc. . .it stayed!
Cost us about 1000 gbp to bring to Dogs in Dec 2008 and that was us doing all paperwork etc ourselves. Son wanted to bring his gerbil - flight would have been 400gbp alone, plus a specially made cage etc. . .it stayed!
Jan 9th 2011 | 7:24 pm
#36
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,233
From: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Re: The cost of immigrating
If you do come and then go back, provided the cats are micro chipped and fully vaccinated (inc rabies) and have a positive blood titre test, there is no quarrantine into the UK .
Cost us about 1000 gbp to bring to Dogs in Dec 2008 and that was us doing all paperwork etc ourselves. Son wanted to bring his gerbil - flight would have been 400gbp alone, plus a specially made cage etc. . .it stayed!
Cost us about 1000 gbp to bring to Dogs in Dec 2008 and that was us doing all paperwork etc ourselves. Son wanted to bring his gerbil - flight would have been 400gbp alone, plus a specially made cage etc. . .it stayed!
Jan 10th 2011 | 12:22 am
#37
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10,222
From: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Jan 10th 2011 | 1:31 am
#38
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 783
From: Winterpeg
Re: The cost of immigrating
3-4k for a vehicle is pretty optimistic IMO.
Seriously you have to ask yourself why a vehicle is looking cheap, it usually means it has a million miles on it or is as rusty as hell or just trashed (especially in the Edmonton area), believe me we have looked at many many vechicles.
Not so in Alberta.
We regret not bring our decent furniture and beds - even it was to be used as spare.
I would think 3k GBP would be plenty for a reccy (depending on how long your here for - 2 weeks = plenty 2 months = you'd need more)
Seriously you have to ask yourself why a vehicle is looking cheap, it usually means it has a million miles on it or is as rusty as hell or just trashed (especially in the Edmonton area), believe me we have looked at many many vechicles.
Not so in Alberta.
We regret not bring our decent furniture and beds - even it was to be used as spare.
I would think 3k GBP would be plenty for a reccy (depending on how long your here for - 2 weeks = plenty 2 months = you'd need more)
.Flights to Alberta will probably be cheaper than mine to Winnipeg.
Jan 10th 2011 | 1:54 am
#39
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: The cost of immigrating
Why would there be more to spend money on in Alberta? Seriously?
Jan 10th 2011 | 4:14 am
#40
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,233
From: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Re: The cost of immigrating
Ours with an RV and flights (I wasn't thinking flight prices before) was probably less then 3k, again two adults one child, in fact I am certain it was less, we went slightly off season, were away for two weeks and travelled all over the place.
Why would there be more to spend money on in Alberta? Seriously?
Why would there be more to spend money on in Alberta? Seriously?
Jan 10th 2011 | 8:41 am
#41
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: The cost of immigrating
Jan 10th 2011 | 9:06 am
#42
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,233
From: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Jan 10th 2011 | 9:45 am
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 140
Re: The cost of immigrating
I agree you need to look at the whole cost of immigration. It cost us £3K on a recce trip in 1996(Calgary). £18k to get to Canada and set up with the basics again in 1997. Another £25K to cover being on less than half my UK income for the first 2 years. £15K to move to Ontario in 1999 to get a half decent job again. We did not go mad spending spree when we moved to Canada or live any better than we did in the UK. We just had to set up again in which my wife and I spent 9 years getting previously in the UK.
Moved back to the UK in 2005 and spent around £30K selling up in Ontario and then buying a house in Kent.
The costs may be different for other in different situations, but it important to understand what it could cost you moving your family from the UK as part of your decision making process when looking to move overseas. One thing to remember is that more than half those who emigrate return to the UK.
hudd
Jan 10th 2011 | 11:45 am
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,324
From: Near Kingston, Ontario
Re: The cost of immigrating
not quite answering your question but wanted to say my advise would be to rent your UK home, until you are totally comfortable you h ave made the right decision. We didn't and now we are too far out of the price range to go back.
Hi all,
As you may already know, me and my OH are seriously considering immigrating to Edmonton Canada with a permanent arranged job offer for myself.
It will just be me,my OH, 5 cats and a bird. We currently have a 3 bed semi in the Uk presently mortgaged on a variable interest rate.
We are uncertain whether we will sell or rent out.
We are trying to work out how much money we will need for the whole immigration process, including money needed to keep us going for a few months until my OH can find a job.
We will take most of our furniture but may not take vehicles.
We probably will have to rent first until we get ourselves on our feet and buy later.
We have our recce in a few months to meet my prospective employers so we also need to be able to advise them how long it will take us to immigrate and start work.
We are budgeting for £3000 for the recce as a rough estimate.
I have already carried out a search on the forum but most I found were for large families.
Andy...
As you may already know, me and my OH are seriously considering immigrating to Edmonton Canada with a permanent arranged job offer for myself.
It will just be me,my OH, 5 cats and a bird. We currently have a 3 bed semi in the Uk presently mortgaged on a variable interest rate.
We are uncertain whether we will sell or rent out.
We are trying to work out how much money we will need for the whole immigration process, including money needed to keep us going for a few months until my OH can find a job.
We will take most of our furniture but may not take vehicles.
We probably will have to rent first until we get ourselves on our feet and buy later.
We have our recce in a few months to meet my prospective employers so we also need to be able to advise them how long it will take us to immigrate and start work.
We are budgeting for £3000 for the recce as a rough estimate.
I have already carried out a search on the forum but most I found were for large families.
Andy...
