The real cost of immigrating...
May 17th 2007, 10:31 pm
#46
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Down South
Posts: 272
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
hi there everyone,
my husband and myself have been here in Edmonton for 3 months and loving it.
moving here is like anything else, as cheap or as expensive as yo make it.
we are both in our 40s, hubby truck driver and for the first time in my life i am a housewife.
we came with nothing except 3 suitcases full of clothes and photos and 4,000 sterling. luckily dave was paid from the day we landed ,even though he didnt start work or training.
we landed lovely 2 bed apt with patio, surrounded by trees near shops and buses, 15 mins from downtown all for $960 pm inc elec , water and heating o all we pay on top is tv $53 pm and telephone with internet $100 pm.
we have nothing material yet we are having so much fun. apt comes with dishwasher / fridge freezer and cooker. weve only bt 20inch tv $100 / dvd recorder $100 / laptop $700 / printer combi $30 / ikea settee $230 / dining suite $170 and the best bed in the whole world, queen size sealy on sale $600. obviously weve bt other bits like bedding and kitchen stuff. we realised that after bringing up 5 kids between us, working fulltime all our lives we really had nothing that important to bring except our selves. we are also alone for the first time in 20 yrs, just the 2 of us to do as we please when we please. so why spend money on material things, its like being 18 again. life is comfortable , quiet or exciting depending on how we feel. i may stay up till 3am if daves in late then not get up till 10.30am. we eat out or not, we go out walking in one of the numerous parks.
THIS IS WHAT CANADA HAS DONE FOR US and all on a shoestring.
Good luck to everyone who makes the change
my husband and myself have been here in Edmonton for 3 months and loving it.
moving here is like anything else, as cheap or as expensive as yo make it.
we are both in our 40s, hubby truck driver and for the first time in my life i am a housewife.
we came with nothing except 3 suitcases full of clothes and photos and 4,000 sterling. luckily dave was paid from the day we landed ,even though he didnt start work or training.
we landed lovely 2 bed apt with patio, surrounded by trees near shops and buses, 15 mins from downtown all for $960 pm inc elec , water and heating o all we pay on top is tv $53 pm and telephone with internet $100 pm.
we have nothing material yet we are having so much fun. apt comes with dishwasher / fridge freezer and cooker. weve only bt 20inch tv $100 / dvd recorder $100 / laptop $700 / printer combi $30 / ikea settee $230 / dining suite $170 and the best bed in the whole world, queen size sealy on sale $600. obviously weve bt other bits like bedding and kitchen stuff. we realised that after bringing up 5 kids between us, working fulltime all our lives we really had nothing that important to bring except our selves. we are also alone for the first time in 20 yrs, just the 2 of us to do as we please when we please. so why spend money on material things, its like being 18 again. life is comfortable , quiet or exciting depending on how we feel. i may stay up till 3am if daves in late then not get up till 10.30am. we eat out or not, we go out walking in one of the numerous parks.
THIS IS WHAT CANADA HAS DONE FOR US and all on a shoestring.
Good luck to everyone who makes the change
Unless you have family antiques i'd recommend just taking a few suitcases.
The best of luck to you Beeginger
May 17th 2007, 10:39 pm
#47
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: The Vancouver Suburbs... for the next few years anyway!
Posts: 558
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
I think you've highlighted a good point. I realise some people want to take everything with them when moving abroad, but personally I think moving abroad is a new life adventure, a fresh start. I think maybe hoarding nearly everything you own to the other side of the world is not necessary and is a sign that you're trying to keep hold of a little of what you had back in the UK, which in itself is not a good sign as I think this prevents people from really setting down roots and gives rise to a hanckering of 'what used to be'.
Unless you have family antiques i'd recommend just taking a few suitcases.
The best of luck to you Beeginger
Unless you have family antiques i'd recommend just taking a few suitcases.
The best of luck to you Beeginger
May 18th 2007, 12:06 am
#48
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 359
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
Wonderful post Beeginger.
Totally uplifting and a good attitude to have.
Totally uplifting and a good attitude to have.
May 18th 2007, 1:57 am
#49
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Down South
Posts: 272
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
Just to add to my last post....
I think this is the post positive posting I have read lately on here re moving abroad. Beeginger is sooooo correct, everything can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, the same as here in the UK. The problem is, alot of people don't wish to sacrifice or substitute material items these days. On a personal level i'd say if you have a chance of a once in a lifetime opportunity such as this then grasp it with both hands, the worst thing to live with is 'regret'. Moving to Vancouver on my own in my early 30's for a year was, i can say, the hardest but the best thing i've ever done in my life (more so than jumping out of a plane & studying for a degree for 3 yrs), it's uplifting and empowering.
I think this is the post positive posting I have read lately on here re moving abroad. Beeginger is sooooo correct, everything can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, the same as here in the UK. The problem is, alot of people don't wish to sacrifice or substitute material items these days. On a personal level i'd say if you have a chance of a once in a lifetime opportunity such as this then grasp it with both hands, the worst thing to live with is 'regret'. Moving to Vancouver on my own in my early 30's for a year was, i can say, the hardest but the best thing i've ever done in my life (more so than jumping out of a plane & studying for a degree for 3 yrs), it's uplifting and empowering.
May 18th 2007, 2:10 am
#50
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: The Vancouver Suburbs... for the next few years anyway!
Posts: 558
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
Just to add to my last post....
I think this is the post positive posting I have read lately on here re moving abroad. Beeginger is sooooo correct, everything can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, the same as here in the UK. The problem is, alot of people don't wish to sacrifice or substitute material items these days. On a personal level i'd say if you have a chance of a once in a lifetime opportunity such as this then grasp it with both hands, the worst thing to live with is 'regret'. Moving to Vancouver on my own in my early 30's for a year was, i can say, the hardest but the best thing i've ever done in my life (more so than jumping out of a plane & studying for a degree for 3 yrs), it's uplifting and empowering.
I think this is the post positive posting I have read lately on here re moving abroad. Beeginger is sooooo correct, everything can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, the same as here in the UK. The problem is, alot of people don't wish to sacrifice or substitute material items these days. On a personal level i'd say if you have a chance of a once in a lifetime opportunity such as this then grasp it with both hands, the worst thing to live with is 'regret'. Moving to Vancouver on my own in my early 30's for a year was, i can say, the hardest but the best thing i've ever done in my life (more so than jumping out of a plane & studying for a degree for 3 yrs), it's uplifting and empowering.
)We're in a position to go over and spend this money - but there are other things we'll be sacrificing and substituting other things.
Its all an ebb and flow on the journey isn't it?
Glad to have an inspirational post really - reminds us that with all the waiting the doing is still possible!
May 18th 2007, 6:38 am
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: weymouth/now Edmonton
Posts: 218
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
thankyou
Jun 12th 2007, 3:52 am
#52
Immigration Consultant
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,144
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
I reckon it cost us GBP47k to move a family of 4. That includes the cost of selling our house in the UK (i.e. estate agent and legal fees) and the cost of purchase in Canada (legal fees, taxes etc.) but not the actual sale or purchase price of the houses (which is impossible to factor in because you would be comparing apples and oranges). It also doesn't include the cost of buying a car (we worked on the assumption that the proceeds of selling cars in the UK covered the cost of buying similar ones in Canada). It roughly broke down like this...
GBP10,000 Selling house - legal, estate agent, mortgage redemption penalty
GBP5,000 Buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes
GBP7,000 Removals, shipping & insurance
GBP5,000 Various Immigration fees
GBP10,000 Cost of flights, hotel, car hire for move and recon visits
GBP10,000 Cost of paying rent in Canada AND mortgage in UK while were waiting for our house to sell.
Total = GBP47k
Also see my post on the cost of living in Canada whick might be helpful: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...4&postcount=42
GBP10,000 Selling house - legal, estate agent, mortgage redemption penalty
GBP5,000 Buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes
GBP7,000 Removals, shipping & insurance
GBP5,000 Various Immigration fees
GBP10,000 Cost of flights, hotel, car hire for move and recon visits
GBP10,000 Cost of paying rent in Canada AND mortgage in UK while were waiting for our house to sell.
Total = GBP47k
Also see my post on the cost of living in Canada whick might be helpful: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...4&postcount=42
Jun 12th 2007, 6:06 am
#53
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,380
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
I reckon it cost us GBP47k to move a family of 4. That includes the cost of selling our house in the UK (i.e. estate agent and legal fees) and the cost of purchase in Canada (legal fees, taxes etc.) but not the actual sale or purchase price of the houses (which is impossible to factor in because you would be comparing apples and oranges). It also doesn't include the cost of buying a car (we worked on the assumption that the proceeds of selling cars in the UK covered the cost of buying similar ones in Canada). It roughly broke down like this...
GBP10,000 Selling house - legal, estate agent, mortgage redemption penalty
GBP5,000 Buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes
GBP7,000 Removals, shipping & insurance
GBP5,000 Various Immigration fees
GBP10,000 Cost of flights, hotel, car hire for move and recon visits
GBP10,000 Cost of paying rent in Canada AND mortgage in UK while were waiting for our house to sell.
Total = GBP47k
Also see my post on the cost of living in Canada whick might be helpful: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...4&postcount=42
GBP10,000 Selling house - legal, estate agent, mortgage redemption penalty
GBP5,000 Buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes
GBP7,000 Removals, shipping & insurance
GBP5,000 Various Immigration fees
GBP10,000 Cost of flights, hotel, car hire for move and recon visits
GBP10,000 Cost of paying rent in Canada AND mortgage in UK while were waiting for our house to sell.
Total = GBP47k
Also see my post on the cost of living in Canada whick might be helpful: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...4&postcount=42
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
$15000 on moving !! Most people pay $8,000ish for a 20 ft container - what were you moving ??
Jun 12th 2007, 6:24 am
#54
throw caution to the wind
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Paradise AB
Posts: 1,063
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
With the greatest respect it sounds like you were robbed !!
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
$15000 on moving !! Most people pay $8,000ish for a 20 ft container - what were you moving ??
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
$15000 on moving !! Most people pay $8,000ish for a 20 ft container - what were you moving ??
Jun 12th 2007, 9:10 am
#55
riding the saltchuck
Joined: May 2007
Location: The Warmland
Posts: 874
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
With the greatest respect it sounds like you were robbed !!
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
Is there a property purchase tax in NS like UK stamp duty?
Jun 12th 2007, 9:47 am
#56
Immigration Consultant
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,144
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
With the greatest respect it sounds like you were robbed !!
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
$15000 on moving !! Most people pay $8,000ish for a 20 ft container - what were you moving ??
How on earth did you spend $12000 on "buying house in Canada - legal fees and taxes" ? Our lawyer charged us $600 for purchase and we didn't have to pay any taxes (property taxes are similar to UK's council tax)
$15000 on moving !! Most people pay $8,000ish for a 20 ft container - what were you moving ??
With regard to shipping we filled a 40ft container. That's probably more than average but we had lots of stuff and didn't want to sell it or leave it behind. We probably vcould have rationalised but that was our choice!
Jun 12th 2007, 12:36 pm
#57
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: TBD
Posts: 6,005
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
I think you've highlighted a good point. I realise some people want to take everything with them when moving abroad, but personally I think moving abroad is a new life adventure, a fresh start. I think maybe hoarding nearly everything you own to the other side of the world is not necessary and is a sign that you're trying to keep hold of a little of what you had back in the UK, which in itself is not a good sign as I think this prevents people from really setting down roots and gives rise to a hanckering of 'what used to be'.
Unless you have family antiques i'd recommend just taking a few suitcases.
The best of luck to you Beeginger
Unless you have family antiques i'd recommend just taking a few suitcases.
The best of luck to you Beeginger
'Hoarding' is an odd word to use - for me there's no logic to leaving behind useful posessions. We had relatively new furniture, some antique items, tools, leisure stuff etc etc that over time had taken hard work and effort to buy. Would I have wanted to get a fraction of what we'd paid for them and had to start all over again in a new country? - I don't think so, the cost as already highlighted can be quite daunting, so why make it even worse?
Emmigrating's stressful enough without wondering if you'll have a bed to sleep on and pots and pans in the kitchen. Furnishing a place from scratch is expensive and very time consuming (time spent shopping, and the inevitable 6-8wk delivery period). If you've got stuff you like, why on earth not take it with you? Perhaps you're just an advocate of consumerism?
We arrived during a dock strike, and only had our suitcases of posessions for 6weeks until the stike ended and the container could be moved. It's not a whole lot of fun trying to make do for that period of time without a decent seat to sit on, or a bed to sleep in, but that in effect is what you're suggesting, in order to prevent 'hankering' after England. Once everything arrived, my sofas and bed hardly shouted 'Cotswolds' at me or made me yearn for damp air and traffic congestion.
Last edited by R I C H; Jun 12th 2007 at 12:38 pm.
Jun 12th 2007, 9:55 pm
#58
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Northants
Posts: 490
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
Heard an interesting snippet on the news this morning
apparently the average cost of moving house in the UK has risen to £22k!
This includes estate agent fees, legal fees, removals etc etc
apparently the average cost of moving house in the UK has risen to £22k!
This includes estate agent fees, legal fees, removals etc etc
Jun 12th 2007, 10:20 pm
#59
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Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Posts: 681
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
A 'fresh start' need not mean dumb financial decisions.
'Hoarding' is an odd word to use - for me there's no logic to leaving behind useful posessions. We had relatively new furniture, some antique items, tools, leisure stuff etc etc that over time had taken hard work and effort to buy. Would I have wanted to get a fraction of what we'd paid for them and had to start all over again in a new country? - I don't think so, the cost as already highlighted can be quite daunting, so why make it even worse?
Emmigrating's stressful enough without wondering if you'll have a bed to sleep on and pots and pans in the kitchen. Furnishing a place from scratch is expensive and very time consuming (time spent shopping, and the inevitable 6-8wk delivery period). If you've got stuff you like, why on earth not take it with you? Perhaps you're just an advocate of consumerism?
We arrived during a dock strike, and only had our suitcases of posessions for 6weeks until the stike ended and the container could be moved. It's not a whole lot of fun trying to make do for that period of time without a decent seat to sit on, or a bed to sleep in, but that in effect is what you're suggesting, in order to prevent 'hankering' after England. Once everything arrived, my sofas and bed hardly shouted 'Cotswolds' at me or made me yearn for damp air and traffic congestion.
'Hoarding' is an odd word to use - for me there's no logic to leaving behind useful posessions. We had relatively new furniture, some antique items, tools, leisure stuff etc etc that over time had taken hard work and effort to buy. Would I have wanted to get a fraction of what we'd paid for them and had to start all over again in a new country? - I don't think so, the cost as already highlighted can be quite daunting, so why make it even worse?
Emmigrating's stressful enough without wondering if you'll have a bed to sleep on and pots and pans in the kitchen. Furnishing a place from scratch is expensive and very time consuming (time spent shopping, and the inevitable 6-8wk delivery period). If you've got stuff you like, why on earth not take it with you? Perhaps you're just an advocate of consumerism?
We arrived during a dock strike, and only had our suitcases of posessions for 6weeks until the stike ended and the container could be moved. It's not a whole lot of fun trying to make do for that period of time without a decent seat to sit on, or a bed to sleep in, but that in effect is what you're suggesting, in order to prevent 'hankering' after England. Once everything arrived, my sofas and bed hardly shouted 'Cotswolds' at me or made me yearn for damp air and traffic congestion.
Fantastic.
It has taken me ages to decide if we should sell everything and start a fresh or ship our stuff over.
Don't get me wrong I have no really expensive pieces of furniture or paintings but we have worked out that the cost of replacing our current items will be way more than the shipping costs.
We have 3 children under the age of 6 and the cost of replacing all their toys, computers, beds, books etc etc would be daft. We also only bought our 3 piece suite last year so its practically brand new, so is most of our beds, tables etc etc. We have worked bloody hard over the past 7 years to get the items we have now and I'm not willing to sell everything for pennys.
Its going to cost enough to replace all our electrical items and there is no way I want to spend weeks shopping - even if I am a woman.
Karla x x x x
Jun 13th 2007, 12:11 am
#60
Immigration Consultant
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,144
Re: The real cost of immigrating...
A 'fresh start' need not mean dumb financial decisions.
'Hoarding' is an odd word to use - for me there's no logic to leaving behind useful posessions. We had relatively new furniture, some antique items, tools, leisure stuff etc etc that over time had taken hard work and effort to buy. Would I have wanted to get a fraction of what we'd paid for them and had to start all over again in a new country? - I don't think so, the cost as already highlighted can be quite daunting, so why make it even worse?
Emmigrating's stressful enough without wondering if you'll have a bed to sleep on and pots and pans in the kitchen. Furnishing a place from scratch is expensive and very time consuming (time spent shopping, and the inevitable 6-8wk delivery period). If you've got stuff you like, why on earth not take it with you? Perhaps you're just an advocate of consumerism?
'Hoarding' is an odd word to use - for me there's no logic to leaving behind useful posessions. We had relatively new furniture, some antique items, tools, leisure stuff etc etc that over time had taken hard work and effort to buy. Would I have wanted to get a fraction of what we'd paid for them and had to start all over again in a new country? - I don't think so, the cost as already highlighted can be quite daunting, so why make it even worse?
Emmigrating's stressful enough without wondering if you'll have a bed to sleep on and pots and pans in the kitchen. Furnishing a place from scratch is expensive and very time consuming (time spent shopping, and the inevitable 6-8wk delivery period). If you've got stuff you like, why on earth not take it with you? Perhaps you're just an advocate of consumerism?
