Not going now
#16
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by MikeUK
Well I think the way I would put it is
If you have enough money then Canada can give you as much enjoyment as the UK can with enough money…
But without the money Canada can be just as miserable as any hole in the UK..
The question you need to work out is how much money is enough
A lot will ride on your personal expectations..
As a rule I find Canada on the day to day necessities to a bit slightly cheaper than the UK..
On hi Tech toys Canada is cheaper due to proximity to the US
For luxuries then that’s where Canada falls down they can be hard to find and expensive.
So the cost will directly be affected by your expectations and life style…
And as a general disclaimer some thing you expect to be cheaper here won’t be and other will
If you have enough money then Canada can give you as much enjoyment as the UK can with enough money…
But without the money Canada can be just as miserable as any hole in the UK..
The question you need to work out is how much money is enough
A lot will ride on your personal expectations..
As a rule I find Canada on the day to day necessities to a bit slightly cheaper than the UK..
On hi Tech toys Canada is cheaper due to proximity to the US
For luxuries then that’s where Canada falls down they can be hard to find and expensive.
So the cost will directly be affected by your expectations and life style…
And as a general disclaimer some thing you expect to be cheaper here won’t be and other will
#17
Cynically amused.
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: BC
Posts: 3,648
Re: Not going now
[QUOTE=iaink]To put it in perspective the only person with direct experience of BC in this thread is being help there against her wishes, which is not going to do anything to make you positive about it.
Let me try and give nothing but positive thoughts about BC:
1. Scenery to die for - you are unlikely to see much that is more beautiful in Canada either on the mainland or on the island. (except maybe NS)
2. Access to First Nations history that is largely unknown outside North America (unless you are a history buff).
3. Proximity to North West Coast USA if you like the States. Oregon is gorgeous.
4. Much slower pace of life.
5. Less pressure on your kids to succeed at school.
6. Access to BC's most famous export if that sort of thing floats your boat.
7. Watching your kids play against a backdrop of mountain ranges. You can't beat that.
Let me try and give nothing but positive thoughts about BC:
1. Scenery to die for - you are unlikely to see much that is more beautiful in Canada either on the mainland or on the island. (except maybe NS)
2. Access to First Nations history that is largely unknown outside North America (unless you are a history buff).
3. Proximity to North West Coast USA if you like the States. Oregon is gorgeous.
4. Much slower pace of life.
5. Less pressure on your kids to succeed at school.
6. Access to BC's most famous export if that sort of thing floats your boat.
7. Watching your kids play against a backdrop of mountain ranges. You can't beat that.
#18
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by dingbat
Let me try and give nothing but positive thoughts about BC:
#19
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 790
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by MarkG
I'm not sure about 55k in Canada, but, to be honest, 50k in London is not going to give you a great lifestyle unless house prices drop a lot. I'd say you need to be earning at least 100k in London to live well... it's a very expensive city.
#20
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 790
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by Biiiiink
Wow! I thought you were there by now...
Are you at least going over to land? That way you can keep your options open for the next 3yrs, should it not work out in the UK, until your PR status runs out.
Best of luck either way. I was interested to hear what happened with your "cancelled" backwards visa too
Biiiiink
Are you at least going over to land? That way you can keep your options open for the next 3yrs, should it not work out in the UK, until your PR status runs out.
Best of luck either way. I was interested to hear what happened with your "cancelled" backwards visa too
Biiiiink
But because it takes ages for the visa to come through, in that time our circumstances have changed and we really have to ask the question, are we going to enjoy a better lifestyle and standard of living in Canada? At the moment the answer is no. I know it's not just about money, but money is a very important factor when comparing standard of living.
BTW the visa has cancelled thorugh it upside down as well as backwards. Guess I might not find out now.
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: whaley bridge, near buxton
Posts: 96
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by Majj
I was originally planning to land in Calgary round about now and start a new job there. However, on route from Dubai, I stopped off at home in London and was offered a job which is paying almost the same in pounds sterling as would have been my wage in Calgary $55k. OK a little less in pounds, the other side of 50.
Some how I cannot see that Canada will offer a better standard of living and I'm sure in the long run I will be financially better off in England. Also, I don't think $55k CAD will give me the same buying power as £50k. I'm not convinced that things are priced pound to dollar in Canada as I have been previously told. I have heard Calgary is beautiful, but at the end of the day I guess it comes down to money.
Therefore the decision has now been taken, and we are not going.
Thanks,
Majj
Some how I cannot see that Canada will offer a better standard of living and I'm sure in the long run I will be financially better off in England. Also, I don't think $55k CAD will give me the same buying power as £50k. I'm not convinced that things are priced pound to dollar in Canada as I have been previously told. I have heard Calgary is beautiful, but at the end of the day I guess it comes down to money.
Therefore the decision has now been taken, and we are not going.
Thanks,
Majj
i thought that after the bombings people may leave london and come up north like manchester. but there wages would be lower.but you can have a good standard of living in where i live in the peak district for 30 grand a year, but it would be hard to convince you that dropping 25 grand would make u better off. you have made what was a dilemma into a firm decision. well done
#22
Re: Not going now
I was able to earn 35k in London before and still save money and be able to do the things we wanted to.
#23
Re: Not going now
Oh well, maybe I'm lucky but I just love it in Burlington and Ontario.
Great standard of living. Move into the "mansion" on Friday.
Salary is as good as in the UK and goes much further.
Attitudes of people are a lot more positive (although very nice)
"Cleaner" environment (both socially and physically) for bringing up kids. Just more Wholesome. And don't get me going on the smog. I'm and environmental consultant and could say a few things about classification of smog etc and GTA V London.
Time and space to enjoy the great outdoors!
I guess it is each to there own at the end of the day. I'll just be enjoying the BBQ and sitting in my new garden with the family over the holiday weekend. The simple things see.............
Great standard of living. Move into the "mansion" on Friday.
Salary is as good as in the UK and goes much further.
Attitudes of people are a lot more positive (although very nice)
"Cleaner" environment (both socially and physically) for bringing up kids. Just more Wholesome. And don't get me going on the smog. I'm and environmental consultant and could say a few things about classification of smog etc and GTA V London.
Time and space to enjoy the great outdoors!
I guess it is each to there own at the end of the day. I'll just be enjoying the BBQ and sitting in my new garden with the family over the holiday weekend. The simple things see.............
#24
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by MarkG
I don't know when 'before' was, but house prices have pretty much tripled in the UK in the last five years... and housing is probably the largest single expense for the majority of people here.
It's unbelievable. I just saw a terraced house advertised on the street where I lived in my hometown in Lancashire for £86,950 (approx $209,000). It's two up two down with no garden and it's leasehold so you don't even get the land. It occupies a liitle more land area than my two car garage. It isn't in a scenic spot either.
#25
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by flashman
It's unbelievable. I just saw a terraced house advertised on the street where I lived in my hometown in Lancashire for £86,950 (approx $209,000). It's two up two down with no garden and it's leasehold so you don't even get the land. It occupies a liitle more land area than my two car garage. It isn't in a scenic spot either.
#26
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by dbd33
There's two bedroom terraced house for sale across the street for $289,000. I expect it's freehold but there's neither parking nor much yard. $209,000 doesn't seem too bad.
Now thats expensive!
#27
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by dbd33
There's two bedroom terraced house for sale across the street for $289,000. I expect it's freehold but there's neither parking nor much yard. $209,000 doesn't seem too bad.
City prices are always higher irrespective of country. The place I quoted was in a little town in Lanacashire.
#28
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by flashman
City prices are always higher irrespective of country. The place I quoted was in a little town in Lanacashire.
Got to compare apples with apples.
I'd have to say that 55K pounds with a family and starting out in London would be nowhere near enough to get me the lifestyle I enjoy in Ontario. Maybe its OK if you don't want to buy anything or have a family, who knows?
#29
Re: Not going now
Try around $250,000-300,000 for a nice 3 bed detached house in the suburbs about 40 mins from downtown. Now see what you get that far from central London (and in a nice location, not a dive by any means.
#30
Re: Not going now
Originally Posted by tonster
I'd have to say that 55K pounds with a family and starting out in London would be nowhere near enough to get me the lifestyle I enjoy in Ontario. Maybe its OK if you don't want to buy anything or have a family, who knows?