general living to get started
 

hi everyone..

Im new to here, bear with me - we are moving across in september, hopefully Tilsonburg or thereabouts - after we source a rental (appartment) could we get by on $3500 aprox a month, general living costs, ie 2 adults, 2 little kids, run a small'ish car - our thinking is as don't expect to find jobs quickly we are using are saving to cover for about about 7/8 months (aprox $30,000)..

very broad query, I know..it just recently I've seen threads geared more for GTA and the talk of 75/80,000 a year which is far and away what we ever expected..(or have)

lastly, we have PR's already, have done the "landing" thing, have exchanged drving livcences and have done many recce's hence the Tilsonburg area..

We don't know it all admittedly..

any help please !!

Tina

Re: general living to get started
 

Some might say that it's do-able, but personally, I would really struggle to get by on that little (we are just 2 adults & 2 cats!). Is the $3500 after you've paid rent, or does it include rent? It costs me $3388 just for my mortgage, car, car insurance and health insurance per month - that's before I even start paying any bills or buying food!

Re: general living to get started
 

I would say $3500 a month should cover a (modest) Tilsonburg rental and running a car. The major expense is likely to be insurance for the car. The other thing that could catch you out are all the one off expenses / deposits etc that go with starting up here. I dont suppose in tillsonburg going carless is really an option. Find the cheap grocery stores quickly.... dont get sucked into the more upmarket ones. If you are not bagging your own stuff, then you are probably paying more than you have to. If the kids are really little its worth looking for places like the good baby box or whatever the local equivalent is, as you can save a lot of money on stuff like daipers and formula. Dont be afraid to clip coupons from the flyers if you have to!

I figure 3500 net a month is something like an annual salary income in the mid 50s. Its not leading a life of luxury, but its above the poverty line.

Good Luck!

Re: general living to get started
 

Expect to have to spend around a months worth of your savings on setting up costs. Maybe more, depending on what sort of deposits you have to pay.

Re: general living to get started
 

Depending on the age of your kids school trips have cost as well as fundraisers ect. I figure $40 or more per kid per month. It is a small amount but it is usually the small amounts that add up and make the big difference. It seems a bit more for high school students. Most schools here do not offer school dinners, packed lunches can really add to the grocery bill. Our school doesn't allow homemade snacks in lunches and all packed food must have a nut free symbol on them. Packed lunches cost us about $100 per kid per month (shopping at places like No Frills).

Petrol/Gas is cheaper here, but we travel a heck of a lot more to get places. Get a good driving record letter(what ever they are called :) ) from your insurance company in the UK. It might help you get a better rate here. The insurance can be a killer for a new Canadian driver.

I am sure there are other bits and bobs that add up...but i need more coffee before they come to mind.

Good Luck!

Re: general living to get started
 

thank you all thus far... I know it was a broad query, however any advice is most welcome simply as making this move is life changing, as Im sure many of you would agree.. I didn't wish to ponder the employ situation I think I know that answer already ;); the money / or monthly outlay did not necessarily include rent, however as like any rental market what you get is what you pay for.. the car will be the issue ie whether to lease or buy, insurance seems to be a biggie one way or another.. any other comments specifically anyone who is close by that area .. ta for now, tina

Re: general living to get started
 

Leasing probably wont even be an option without canadian credit history or a large security deposit. Id just buy an old beater for a few thousand at first and insure it for as little as possible (liability only) if you want to stretch your funds as far as possible. That letter from your current insurer is really important.

Re: general living to get started
 

There are many people, I'm sure, living in Tillsonburg on considerable less than $3,500 net monthly. They will pay rent, have a car, pay insurance, buy gas, food, clothing etc, etc. There will not be a lot left at the end of the month but it isn't really how much you have, but what you do with what you have. With your cloth cut to suit your purse you will manage just fine on that amount, IMO anyway.

Re: general living to get started
 

They may not necessarily be paying newcomer insurance rates on their cars though:sneaky:

Re: general living to get started
 

just a query when you say Letter, would the final policy document stating that the driver(s) has had 5 yrs or so NCD do... my current insurers tells me they No longer give out letters as such merely the actual doc..

Re: general living to get started
 

No. NCD can be protected in UK, so it says nothing about your claim history. Canadian insurers want to know your claim history.

Re: general living to get started
 

understood..

ta

T..

Re: general living to get started
 

With all due respect, that amount per month would indicate you have a reasonably large mortgage and and probably expensive car(s). Most Canadians, cradle or otherwise, would not spend that amount each month on those items.

Re: general living to get started
 

I still bear the scars from trying to get the letter from Direct Line. A horrible experience involving 'help'lines in various parts of the world, unfulfillable promises day after day, faxes that never came, departments unable to talk to each other ... you get the picture. Start early!

Re: general living to get started
 

In small town Ontario I reckon you need $600 a week after tax for everything but the mortgage/rent. That's two adults, two cats, two cars. No health insurance, sick pay, no fancy things but not living on beans on toast either.