should we move or shouldnt we?
#16
Just Joined
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
We came over with an 18 and 16 yr old. Although the 16 yr old had just left secondary school with 5 or more GCSE's A-C, the school here said it was only equivalent to their grade 10. He did challenge some subjects and they gave him grade 11 equivalent for those.
It was tough for him at first, but it is a way of meeting new friends, so he faired better than the 18 yr old who found it harder to meet new people.
It was tough for him at first, but it is a way of meeting new friends, so he faired better than the 18 yr old who found it harder to meet new people.
#17
Just Joined
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
I would be blunt and say it all come down to $$$.
Bringing up three children anywhere is expensive. If your partner has been offered a well paid job, or you are both going to be earning, then that is half the battle. Are you selling up in the UK and bringing over some equity? Vancouver housing market is expensive.
Rent for a year and see how it goes.
What are your primary reasons for the move?
What ages are your children? How would they feel about the move? There are quite a few families in that area on this board so hopefully some will be along soon to give you some thoughts on schools, etc.
Emigrating - It's daunting, it's exciting, it's expensive. Sometimes it can be lonely and sometimes you meet just the most wonderful people.
Good luck with your decision
Bringing up three children anywhere is expensive. If your partner has been offered a well paid job, or you are both going to be earning, then that is half the battle. Are you selling up in the UK and bringing over some equity? Vancouver housing market is expensive.
Rent for a year and see how it goes.
What are your primary reasons for the move?
What ages are your children? How would they feel about the move? There are quite a few families in that area on this board so hopefully some will be along soon to give you some thoughts on schools, etc.
Emigrating - It's daunting, it's exciting, it's expensive. Sometimes it can be lonely and sometimes you meet just the most wonderful people.
Good luck with your decision
#18
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
Thanks for the advice, the gross pay is in the region of $80k but not too sure how much of that we'll actually see. It would be good to have an idea of our actual likely take home income plus any other benefits that might be availalable such as Child benefit. In uk we get by with an actual net income + tax credits and child benefit of around £35k (I think that's about $50k). Any ideas how all that compares? I know I'd have the added cost due to having to increase my mortgage by about $200k to get something reasonable in the southern areas of BC (langley) . As you rightly say it does all come down to $$$
Having said that, $80k will be tight for a family of five in Vancouver area, will you be working at all and if so, any idea what your likely salary is going to be?
#20
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
We came over with an 18 and 16 yr old. Although the 16 yr old had just left secondary school with 5 or more GCSE's A-C, the school here said it was only equivalent to their grade 10. He did challenge some subjects and they gave him grade 11 equivalent for those.
It was tough for him at first, but it is a way of meeting new friends, so he faired better than the 18 yr old who found it harder to meet new people.
It was tough for him at first, but it is a way of meeting new friends, so he faired better than the 18 yr old who found it harder to meet new people.
#21
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
Thanks for the advice, the gross pay is in the region of $80k but not too sure how much of that we'll actually see. It would be good to have an idea of our actual likely take home income plus any other benefits that might be availalable such as Child benefit. In uk we get by with an actual net income + tax credits and child benefit of around £35k (I think that's about $50k). Any ideas how all that compares? I know I'd have the added cost due to having to increase my mortgage by about $200k to get something reasonable in the southern areas of BC (langley) . As you rightly say it does all come down to $$$
its all swing and roundabouts really. Cost of living overall is similar, some things are more, some less, others the same.
Your considerations for cost of living are really no different than if you were moving to an area of the UK with higher housing costs, other than much higher relocation costs of course.
A decent detached home in Langley will be around 550,000 = 600,000. Townhomes considerably less.
#22
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
Thanks for the advice, the gross pay is in the region of $80k but not too sure how much of that we'll actually see. It would be good to have an idea of our actual likely take home income plus any other benefits that might be availalable such as Child benefit. In uk we get by with an actual net income + tax credits and child benefit of around £35k (I think that's about $50k). Any ideas how all that compares? I know I'd have the added cost due to having to increase my mortgage by about $200k to get something reasonable in the southern areas of BC (langley) . As you rightly say it does all come down to $$$
#23
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
Not if them children want educatin'. University is likely to cost considerably more in Canada or the US than in Europe. Not if any of the family has, or will have, a condition required the continued purchase of medication. Not if continnued contact with family in the UK is desired.
#24
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
The basic problem with moving to Canada at the moment is the strength of the Canadian dollar, plus the UK Government has decided to let sterling weaken too.
It depends on your circumstances really, if you can make ends meet in Vancouver without moving your assets over now and leave it until the exchange rate improves then I'd say do it and move. (Bear in mind as soon as you become tax residents of Canada though, any run-up in sterling will be classed as a capital gain and you'll have to pay capital gains tax when you finally move the money).
I just don't see the Canadian dollar weakening anytime soon, it will be years.
It depends on your circumstances really, if you can make ends meet in Vancouver without moving your assets over now and leave it until the exchange rate improves then I'd say do it and move. (Bear in mind as soon as you become tax residents of Canada though, any run-up in sterling will be classed as a capital gain and you'll have to pay capital gains tax when you finally move the money).
I just don't see the Canadian dollar weakening anytime soon, it will be years.
#25
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
Not if them children want educatin'. University is likely to cost considerably more in Canada or the US than in Europe. Not if any of the family has, or will have, a condition required the continued purchase of medication. Not if continnued contact with family in the UK is desired.
I keep hearing my sister whinge on about this but my niece looked into it and reckoned there wasn't much of a difference, plus she would have to live in the UK for two years first to get the resident rate.
#26
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
I suppose that depends how much income you have. I found having a couple of kids attending university at around $15,000 a year each to be an appreciable expense. (Fees + materials + contribution to living costs). Having done that for four years each, I would not have been able to fund their current round of education, even if I'd been willing.
#27
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
But would it have been appreciably cheaper in the UK is the question. My sister seems to live in a dreamworld that it still costs the same as when she was in university, but it's not.
#28
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
Currently, there is a cap on tuition fees at around £3,000 but there ongoing 'discussions' about raising that limit up to £10,000 and letting differential charges. So, much like the US, so if you want to go to a top-ranked university it'll cost a lot, if on the other hand you don't mind going to some bum**** former poly, with stoned 20 year old lecturers, then it'll be cheaper.
#29
In the boonies
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Upper Kennetcook.N.S.
Posts: 118
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
From our investigations and conversations with school boards and colleges, if your son has left school with at least 5 GCSEs at grades A-C, including maths and English, he could probably go straight to college as he has already got the equivalent of a High School Dipolma. If he stays in UK and finishes AS levels he will be at the age they leave high school in Canada I believe and could go to college with his age group.
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 90
Re: should we move or shouldnt we?
But the cost of going to university depends on what university they go to, for example, tuition at UBC (vancouver) tends to be around $5000 and up (a semester) but if they go to a cheaper school like the University of regina it tends to be around $4000 and the accomodation is cheaper.
Point is it can be expensive (vancouver film school costs $35,000 of a one year program, not including accomodation) but it really does depend on the course they take and where they study and theres always scholarships available.
In the UK its £3,290 a semester and around about another £4000 for accomodation, so its roughly about the same.
Point is it can be expensive (vancouver film school costs $35,000 of a one year program, not including accomodation) but it really does depend on the course they take and where they study and theres always scholarships available.
In the UK its £3,290 a semester and around about another £4000 for accomodation, so its roughly about the same.
Last edited by stubby42; Oct 5th 2010 at 11:34 pm.