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Make your own mind up!!
I live in Moose Jaw and my husband is a trucker, we're originally from the UK and our experience has and is wonderful, it's the best things we ever did. We've now got our Permanent Residency and life couldn't be better. I work for the company that brought us over and my husband is still with them. Out of 13 families that have come here only 4 have gone back, all of whom only gave it 3-4 months, which in my opinion is not long enough, plus you need to do lots of research, perhaps the families in question never did !!
Also I've read that eating out just for pizza costs $100, what a load of rubbish, we eat out every week and the most we've paid is $60, oh wait a minute I tell a lie, we did once spend $120 in Calgary but that was for a curry and well worth it. The cost of living is cheaper over here and my shopping bill is on average $200 every 2 weeks, you have to learn to adapt to whats in the stores here and for goodness sake stop harping on about the food in the UK and the fact that you can't get certain things over here. Also for truckers working 24/7, again what a load of rubbish, there are various shifts with the company , 10 on 4 off, 7 on 3 off and the one my husband does 6 on 3 off. Yes the work is hard but there's no stress and very little traffic compared to the UK, plus the bonus system with the company is second to none, 4 throughout the year and 2 at Christmas, where would you get that in the UK. Moose Jaw is a small but very friendly place to live and everyone is really helpful and there's lots to do and see. We couldn't have picked a better place to settle. My advice to anyone thinking of making the move is research, research and more research. Plus don't keep converting back into Pounds, you're not getting paid in pounds but $ and that's how you spend your money be it on bills, food eating out ect etc. And as for the GST & PST yes that does take some getting use to but it's no big deal. I get really fed up listening to people that obviously in my opinion haven't really done their research or given it enough time, you have to give it at least the length of yuor work permit, which is 1 year and experience both a summer and a winter here in Saskatchewan. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
well said and it is so true.
when askin a question on a forum remember members do not know you or your tastes. So filling the details as much as possible |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Moose Jaw Ladies
My advice to anyone thinking of making the move is research, research and more research.
Originally Posted by Moose Jaw Ladies
I get really fed up listening to people that obviously in my opinion haven't really done their research or given it enough time,
I'm in SK right now ... very nice people here!! To be honest, much friendler than Calgary too ... |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Fair post Moose Jaw Ladies, anywhere you live/move to will have ups and downs, just need to do some research and decide if you can live with them :)
As for the pizza... I lived in Montreal 16 years and never heard of a $120 for pizza... unless your feeding a party of 30 people maybe? Even then, you can usually strike a bargain with the Pizza joint to give you a deal on them like a free pizza or two if you're feeding that many, thats what my ex work place used to do when we had staff lunches. I used to order a pizza once a week (large 16" ham & pineapple, unless I was being greedy & wanted leftovers to reheat the next couple days, in which case 18" ) and with tax & tip, a $20 note would usually cover it, unless I got soft drinks as well, in which case I'd add on another couple of dollars. I know inflation is very quick to go up, but surely in 3 years it can't have gone THAT high? :rolleyes: Nice to read about your experience, I'd give you karma but don't have enough posts yet from what I understand (need 100), so have a beer instead :beer: :D |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Moose Jaw Ladies
I live in Moose Jaw and my husband is a trucker, we're originally from the UK and our experience has and is wonderful, it's the best things we ever did. We've now got our Permanent Residency and life couldn't be better. I work for the company that brought us over and my husband is still with them. Out of 13 families that have come here only 4 have gone back, all of whom only gave it 3-4 months, which in my opinion is not long enough, plus you need to do lots of research, perhaps the families in question never did !!
Also I've read that eating out just for pizza costs $100, what a load of rubbish, we eat out every week and the most we've paid is $60, oh wait a minute I tell a lie, we did once spend $120 in Calgary but that was for a curry and well worth it. The cost of living is cheaper over here and my shopping bill is on average $200 every 2 weeks, you have to learn to adapt to whats in the stores here and for goodness sake stop harping on about the food in the UK and the fact that you can't get certain things over here. Also for truckers working 24/7, again what a load of rubbish, there are various shifts with the company , 10 on 4 off, 7 on 3 off and the one my husband does 6 on 3 off. Yes the work is hard but there's no stress and very little traffic compared to the UK, plus the bonus system with the company is second to none, 4 throughout the year and 2 at Christmas, where would you get that in the UK. Moose Jaw is a small but very friendly place to live and everyone is really helpful and there's lots to do and see. We couldn't have picked a better place to settle. My advice to anyone thinking of making the move is research, research and more research. Plus don't keep converting back into Pounds, you're not getting paid in pounds but $ and that's how you spend your money be it on bills, food eating out ect etc. And as for the GST & PST yes that does take some getting use to but it's no big deal. I get really fed up listening to people that obviously in my opinion haven't really done their research or given it enough time, you have to give it at least the length of yuor work permit, which is 1 year and experience both a summer and a winter here in Saskatchewan. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Great post! You know what I think? The people that complain about how expensive it is to live here are the ones that have been out of the UK for more than 5 years. We also find the cost of living much of a muchness, cheaper in some ways and more expensive in others but all comes around as about the same outgoings to incommings as we had before - only now we don't work the hours we used to and we have more time for our family life. I also agree that you have to give it time, I could have gone back after 4 months on occasion (and that was because Mum was winding me up), but made up my mind to stay a year before I started to make any decisions and low and behold after 6 months I had no desire to get on any airoplanes anywhere, 15 months here now and I don't even want to go back for a visit! Yeah I miss some foodstuffs but it's not the end of the world and lets face it if I went back i'd still miss foodstuffs that you can get here but not in the UK. Just remember........If you have always lived in a village and you move to a honking great metropolis or have always lived in a city and move to a one horse town you could well have problems eh!
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Re: Make your own mind up!!
Great post very informative although I never pay more than $25 for my pizza and that includes the tip
Although I would like to add that the majority of ppl on here arent complaining about missing food, we are merely being nostalgic. I sit on a Sunday and eat crumpets, watch corrie and then all day watch Brit coms while cooking my roast with all the trimmings including yorkies. That doesnt make me a moaner or someone who wants to go home. I moved here for a better way of life and I found it, but it doesnt mean that I have leave behind everything i liked in the UK, I dont mind the UK really id go back there if i had too. But i choose to live here and bring with me the things I loved from back home. you cant live somewhere for x amount of years and then leave it all behind to merely eat kraft dinner and moose!! |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Superb post, there have been several post recently scaring people away who were predicting only earning $50,000. That's way over the average wage in the UK and as you rightly said living as a Canadian is not as expensive as living in the same style in the UK.
Please try and keep an eye open for posts on both forums about HGV Drivers/Trickers/Class 1 drivers as there have been a few of late from families thinking of heading over to Sask and Alberta and looking for info on it. If you have time maybe use the search facility for recent ones and give them your tuppence worth :D Stuarty |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Stuarty
Superb post, there have been several post recently scaring people away who were predicting only earning $50,000.
Living on $50k in Moose Jaw is a very different proposition to living on $50k in Vancouver, the GTA or Calgary. Especially if you dont have a lump sum to buy property with. I would still have great misgivings about recomending anyone come live in a major urban area here on "only" $50k, if they expect some great quality of life. Its a great big country (both great, and big) and generalisations dont work very well. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Those warning about these things are also the ones who have been here a while and seen the ups and downs too, so by definition they have been out of the UK a while.
Living on $50k in Moose Jaw is a very different proposition to living on $50k in Vancouver, the GTA or Calgary. Especially if you dont have a lump sum to buy property with. I would still have great misgivings about recomending anyone come live in a major urban area here on "only" $50k, if they expect some great quality of life. Its a great big country (both great, and big) and generalisations dont work very well. I would be interested in how much a young family would need to set up in Calgary from scratch, no private schools or fancy cars/house, just a getting started scenario. After all we all started somewhere and I know that in the same situation here, housing would be the biggest issue with starter houses into 6 figures in some areas. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
I would be interested in how much a young family would need to set up in Calgary from scratch, no private schools or fancy cars/house, just a getting started scenario. After all we all started somewhere and I know that in the same situation here, housing would be the biggest issue with starter houses into 6 figures in some areas.[/QUOTE]
6 figures in some areas? I wish I could find one in Edmonton or surrounding that was a stater-mid size for 5 figures... :D I would also be very interested to hear about a complete starter family without the huge chunk for mortgage, like over 40% or paid outright (sigh, I can dream) It's just a question of adapting to new lifestyles and cultures - I suspect for a short time most people will do the GBP conversion but it will wear off, especially when you notice it's doing you no favours! LOL Apart from the obvious things like missing people it's the learning new things over that will be the initial thing for me, like buying a damn car which is really doing my head in - even tho there are great threads on here :D |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Stuarty
Superb post, there have been several post recently scaring people away who were predicting only earning $50,000. That's way over the average wage in the UK and as you rightly said living as a Canadian is not as expensive as living in the same style in the UK.
Please try and keep an eye open for posts on both forums about HGV Drivers/Trickers/Class 1 drivers as there have been a few of late from families thinking of heading over to Sask and Alberta and looking for info on it. If you have time maybe use the search facility for recent ones and give them your tuppence worth :D Stuarty Moose Jaw ladies...... fantastic post... thank you. It's great to hear it's worked out for you... cheered me up no end. My OH is truck driver too. We're off to Emigrate show next month and hope to get some applications filled in. He's also trying to line up enough interviews to make a trip over in the near future worthwhile. (looking at both Alberta and Saskatchewan). Any helpful tips or contacts? |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by shabby1
Moose Jaw ladies...... fantastic post... thank you. It's great to hear it's worked out for you... cheered me up no end.
My OH is truck driver too. We're off to Emigrate show next month and hope to get some applications filled in. He's also trying to line up enough interviews to make a trip over in the near future worthwhile. (looking at both Alberta and Saskatchewan). Any helpful tips or contacts? http://www.thedieselgypsy.com/Ice%20...3B-Denison.htm Course he might get Arctic Fever! |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
I would like to echo the thanks to the Moose Jaw (great name :D ) ladies.
Some recent threads have been slightly depressing and, whilst I am aware that some posters have more experience of living in Canada than I have, it should be remembered that we all have differing expectations, life experience and resources at our disposal. What I mean to say is that we all approach this process in different ways and from different standpoints and that this should be remembered when giving and receiving advice. Perhaps it is the more pessimistic amongst us who have the time to contribute....everyone else is busy out enjoying themselves :) |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
“A pessimist is an optimist with experienceâ€
Originally Posted by The Smiths
Perhaps it is the more pessimistic amongst us who have the time to contribute....everyone else is busy out enjoying themselves :)
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Re: Make your own mind up!!
[QUOTE=Moose Jaw Ladies]My advice to anyone thinking of making the move is research, research and more research. QUOTE]
Good point. Where I am in BC, cost of living is more similar overall to Britain. In fact it's practically the same. I agree that you cannot do enough research, so you need to be researching from day 0 until long after you arrive. There is, however, a limit to how much you can prepare before arrival. Something that shocked my family, is how very different the place is to what our research has led us to expect. Surviving is down to having an open mind and being ready for anything. Good post Moose. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Those warning about these things are also the ones who have been here a while and seen the ups and downs too, so by definition they have been out of the UK a while.
Living on $50k in Moose Jaw is a very different proposition to living on $50k in Vancouver, the GTA or Calgary. Especially if you dont have a lump sum to buy property with. I would still have great misgivings about recomending anyone come live in a major urban area here on "only" $50k, if they expect some great quality of life. Its a great big country (both great, and big) and generalisations dont work very well. Ah crap, do you mean I should look for another job as I don't make that muck |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Grah
Ah crap, do you mean I should look for another job as I don't make that muck
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Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Its a great big country (both great, and big) and generalisations dont work very well.
1) You are unlikely to find a location with high or well paid employment and low property costs. 2) Getting the ideal job in the ideal location is highly unlikely at least for a start. 3) Some jobs may require periodic relocation anywhere in North America so get used to adjusting to new locations and making new friends. 4) Don't expect a 'Horizontal Arabesque" for the first job. You may have to drop a notch or two on the career ladder but it shouldn't take long to catch up and improve. Being creative in work opportunities can also help. For instance, for a while I worked in Toronto but my home was not within commuting distance so I stayed there for the week and returned home on weekends. Living expenses can be tax deductable if your employer gives you a piece of paper declaring that your residence is not at you work location. I know a number of people (including my wife) who are on projects which entail travelling and are only home on weekends and holidays. Of course the employer pays all meal and travel expenses. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by flashman
Some generalizations that do work are
1) You are unlikely to find a location with high or well paid employment and low property costs 2) Getting the ideal job in the ideal location is highly unlikely at least for a start. 3) Some jobs may require periodic relocation anywhere in North America so get used to adjusting to new locations and making new friends. 4) Don't expect a 'Horizontal Arabesque" for the first job. You may have to drop a notch or two on the career ladder but it shouldn't take long to catch up and improve. http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...14Dec05018.jpg |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Just to show that they dont work though :D
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Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by flashman
Just watched an interesting documentary on the History Channel on "Ice Road Truckers". So if your husband is reall adventurous he might want to try this.
http://www.thedieselgypsy.com/Ice%20...3B-Denison.htm Course he might get Arctic Fever! Mmmmmmmm!!?? :rolleyes: Well, I suggested it, and he laughed. I showed him the pictures and he laughed a bit more. Now gone off on his night shift grumbling that 'Percy' shrivelled up just looking at the cold! :eek: Methinks that he won't be applying for that particular job!! |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by flashman
Hey Iaink. There's always exceptions to any generalization. Unless of course your experience is typical and all newcomers should expect to experience the same.
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Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by shabby1
Mmmmmmmm!!?? :rolleyes:
Well, I suggested it, and he laughed. I showed him the pictures and he laughed a bit more. Now gone off on his night shift grumbling that 'Percy' shrivelled up just looking at the cold! :eek: Methinks that he won't be applying for that particular job!! We have a couple of ice roads here in Red Lake for acessing McKenzie island, a small community where the XC ski trails are - scary experience driving over for the first time in the Jeep!! However, the thought that a much larger snow plough went over before me comforts me that I won't fall through the ice!!!! |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Bit off topic but... have any of youex-pats had the experience of driving a stick shift in the winter on an iced over empty parking lot?
My brother gave my Brit partner a little spin around the local parking lot when we visited Canada 2 years ago, he was like a little boy with his first red fire engine & is looking forward to playing on the ice again :D EDIT: To do this you need a decent manual car & a good emergency brake.... great way of getting used to your car's handling on ice patches by doing donoughts etc on an empty icy lot :D |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by shabby1
Mmmmmmmm!!?? :rolleyes:
Well, I suggested it, and he laughed. I showed him the pictures and he laughed a bit more. Now gone off on his night shift grumbling that 'Percy' shrivelled up just looking at the cold! :eek: Methinks that he won't be applying for that particular job!! Just had a thought.... if we do come over, please don't laugh and point!! "Oh look, there's the English guy with the tiny todge!!" :p |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Daedra
Bit off topic but... have any of youex-pats had the experience of driving a stick shift in the winter on an iced over empty parking lot?
My brother gave my Brit partner a little spin around the local parking lot when we visited Canada 2 years ago, he was like a little boy with his first red fire engine & is looking forward to playing on the ice again :D EDIT: To do this you need a decent manual car & a good emergency brake.... great way of getting used to your car's handling on ice patches by doing donoughts etc on an empty icy lot :D |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Daedra
Bit off topic but... have any of youex-pats had the experience of driving a stick shift in the winter on an iced over empty parking lot?
My brother gave my Brit partner a little spin around the local parking lot when we visited Canada 2 years ago, he was like a little boy with his first red fire engine & is looking forward to playing on the ice again :D EDIT: To do this you need a decent manual car & a good emergency brake.... great way of getting used to your car's handling on ice patches by doing donoughts etc on an empty icy lot :D Used to be fun in the stick shift jeep, get it going fastish in 4x4, then switch to RWD and boot it. Im older and more of a scaredy cat now, but like to get the back end wagging in the subaru from time to time:) |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
but like to get the back end wagging in the subaru from time to time:)
Just posted in the "gas going down" thread...... you haven't got any spare windows you could send our way have you?? :D |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by shabby1
Just posted in the "gas going down" thread...... you haven't got any spare windows you could send our way have you?? :D
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Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
No, but when the weed whacker whacked a pebble through the passenger window one time it was a stock item at the local glass repair place. $130 installed IIRC.
I'm obviously in the wrong "Peterborough" (Cambridgeshire not Ontario). This Peterborough repairman shakes his head, scratches his chin (and whatever else) and says "Good job you're insured mate... this'll cost!" I can't believe that it can take 7 days to get a window..it'd be quicker to fly out, pick it up and fly back again! :( |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Daedra
Bit off topic but... have any of youex-pats had the experience of driving a stick shift in the winter on an iced over empty parking lot?
My brother gave my Brit partner a little spin around the local parking lot when we visited Canada 2 years ago, he was like a little boy with his first red fire engine & is looking forward to playing on the ice again :D EDIT: To do this you need a decent manual car & a good emergency brake.... great way of getting used to your car's handling on ice patches by doing donoughts etc on an empty icy lot :D |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Just to show that they dont work though :D
My mortgage is less than 2x annual salary, and I dont earn a huge amount I did, I rather like my job, and I love this area So far Ive been lucky, but Im not here to climb the greasy pole Im not sure what that is, but the hovel I am in now is in fact the first home Ive owned anywhere, and we have no plans to move yet. We might have to remodel though when we run out of space http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...14Dec05018.jpg My wife saw the picture of the house, it is her dream home! How much does a property like that cost? |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
The first time I rode in my brothers car when he was doing doughnuts & tail wags in (funnily enough) his Subaru, I was holding on for dear life scared sh**less... but the next time (when my partner was visiting Canada with me couple x-mases ago) was alot more exciting... especially when you hit a patch of sheer ice and the car isn't stopping, just gradually & continually travelling towards the lamp post.... is it? is it? is it? Noooooo... just missed it *lol* Good fun :D
Tried it in automatics (my bro was driving mums car years back) and although fun, didn't have the same spin effect the manuals did or maybe it was just more difficult to achieve?! |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Dunno, do you enjoy it? can you make ends meet on what you do get in Winnipeg? ;)
Yep, 4 bed house 1 kid in Uni, 1 in College 1 in high school, 1 in middle school and 1 dog. ( Who if I earnt more might have had artifically hips ) don't fly around the world on holidays but seem to make a nuff of life to be happy. Beside Snow in a month to six weeks and then it would be like living in a completely new place. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
Just to show that they dont work though :D
My mortgage is less than 2x annual salary, and I dont earn a huge amount I did, I rather like my job, and I love this area So far Ive been lucky, but Im not here to climb the greasy pole Im not sure what that is, but the hovel I am in now is in fact the first home Ive owned anywhere, and we have no plans to move yet. We might have to remodel though when we run out of space http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...14Dec05018.jpg We to have been lucky with a very little mortgage, somewhere where we love to live, my hubby gets paid more now than he did in England for doing the same job (the cars are mainly trucks though!!! but they're still Fords) and he only works one weekend in 14, so it's not all doom and gloom! |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by shabby1
Moose Jaw ladies...... fantastic post... thank you. It's great to hear it's worked out for you... cheered me up no end.
My OH is truck driver too. We're off to Emigrate show next month and hope to get some applications filled in. He's also trying to line up enough interviews to make a trip over in the near future worthwhile. (looking at both Alberta and Saskatchewan). Any helpful tips or contacts? first tip don't sign to an agency, you can do it on your own, save yourself lots of money. The process can be a bit daunting but once you get going you'll be fine. We're finding Alberta is getting too expensive, renting is starting at a min of $2000 per month and goodness knows what houses are currently going for. Like I said do lots of research and maybe look at Saskatchewan a bit more. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by Perry Groves
My wife saw the picture of the house, it is her dream home! How much does a property like that cost?
Shouldnt judge the book by its cover though ;) |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by iaink
We paid a little over $100k 5 years ago. Its appraised for taxes at $125, market value is probably around $150-175. IMO property round here is undervalued, and judging by the influx of elderly Torontonians, I might no be the only one thinking that.
Shouldnt judge the book by its cover though ;) Location is everything. Your house is not very different from the one my "ex" lives in, that's a three bedroom bungalow on a 70x130' lot with a vast finished basement. It's on a nice dead end street and backs on to a park. As mentioned above, it'd list for about $575,000. |
Re: Make your own mind up!!
Originally Posted by dbd33
Location is everything. Your house is not very different from the one my "ex" lives in, that's a three bedroom bungalow on a 70x130' lot with a vast finished basement. It's on a nice dead end street and backs on to a park. As mentioned above, it'd list for about $575,000.
However, should I ever have to move to TO or Calgary for a job I am soooo screwed :eek: |
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