Typical newbie question
 

Hey guys and girls, me my wife and 2 children (Lilly 6 Oscar 18 months) will hopefully be relocating to Saskatoon in the not to distant future, Is there Anyone on here that has done the same ? If so how do you find it ? How did you find the transition ?

Many thanks in advance

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Hi! My partner and I relocated to Regina 2 months ago! It was really smooth for us! Just be prepared for the cost of living as it is much more expensive than England! Also be prepared tl say hello to flat land! I've never seen somewhere so flat! If you come during the winter, don't let it put you off, the summers are really nice! Also there is a british store in saskatoon! Hope this helps! If you have any questions just feel free to ask!

Stacey :)

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Hi Stacey, hopefully the wages I've been looking at will hopefully cover the higher living costs, if you don't mind me asking how much did it cost to relocate ?

Re: Typical newbie question
 

We brought just over £10,000 but we had things to pay for like the rest of our immigration fee's and bringing over our animals. People we have spoken to said as long as you have enough for 3 months living you will be fine.
If you don't mind me asking are you coming out here to work for a company, it's just thats what we did and my partner works for quite a big company and they have helped us, they found us a house before we got here.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Hi yes I will be coming over to work (if I get the job) for ens Lexus as a service tech, that's what I imagined I'd need to take as we'l be looking to rent a property for the 1st 12 months then hopefully buy a place.

When you say the living costs are higher what do you mean ?

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Well in England we would spend £50-£60 a week on a shop, over here it's $150-$200 and we don't get as much. House's are more expensive, we pay $1300 on a 2 bed duplex with basement and then bills on top which are so expensive! If you are looking to buy, it's better to look out of the city. Saskatchewan used to be quite cheap, but because there are more people moving here it's getting a lot more expensive, for instance the house next door, 3 bedroom 1 story house with basement (not converted) it's quite small, just over 1200 square foot $450,000. house in Itune (about 2hours from Regina) 4 bedroom log cabin effect lake in you backyard 2700 square foot 4 bedrooms 2 bath huge garden $225,000. Same for renting as well!

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Has it ever been pointed out in any BE thread that the price of cheese is somewhat expensive in Canada compared to the UK?

Car insurance is more expensive.
Flying domestically or internationally is more expensive.
Booze is more expensive.
Gas (Petrol) is cheaper than the UK.
Riding the train is more expensive.
Some things are the same.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

With all that in mind do you regret moving ?

Re: Typical newbie question
 

If referring to my post not at all. If meaning the OPs then I have no idea.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Nope! The lifestyle is so much better! Saskatchewan is just a foot in the door! once you are in you can go anywhere in Canada! I must admit, it has been hard and very emotional! Luckily my partner is working for a company called Kramer (they also have a base in Saskatoon) and there are a few english people there who have wives/partners so I have managed to meet a few people as i'm not working yet, i'm just in the process of setting up my own dog walking services. The way we saw it, we are only 21, if we don't like it we can always go back!

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Oddly, cheese prices were the thing I noticed most about buying groceries in Canada. Bread is more expensive too, but doesn't seem to be made out of sawdust like British supermarket bread.

And I'm not surprised that insurance is more expensive given the number of accidents I've seen in the last five years.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Sorry for all the questions guys but I've got loads so please bear with me,
Are any better off financially ? The wages that are on offer are quite literally triple what I'm earning now for less hours which with that and the lifestyle is the major contributing factor in moving, Stacey did you own a house before moving to Canada as we dont and are living in rented accommodation

Re: Typical newbie question
 

We lived in rented accomodation back in England. Yes we are financially better off, like I said earlier i'm not working yet we can afford things here we couldn't in England. In England you do over time to make a living and to pay bills, here you do over time to buy luxuries! What my partner earns is supporting both of us confortably at the min. Ask as many questions as you like, it's always better to ask people who have been there than just guessing!

Re: Typical newbie question
 

That's exactly the kind of reply that I was hoping for ! I just want a better life for me and my family, and hopefully Saskatoon can provide that

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Doesnt Piff Poffs fella work as a service tech at a main brand dealer...

She has posted some useful info on the nature of service tech pay in the past IIRC.

Good luck...

I dont know what a better life really means. life is what you make it, regardless of where you live. Some things are better here, others not so much. I suspect that in many cases a move within the UK can acheive the same thing, with less expense and hassle.

Im not sure what I would do with myself in the winter in SK.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Quite right, the bread here is generally made from sugar, milk and preservatives. And please don't be fooled by the label that says something is 'cheese', because it generally isn't. I'm yet to find an equivalent product to liken it to.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Yeah, ive not found anything like dairylea triangles either:p

I am blessed to live in a cheese producing haven and can pick up a very nice 2 year old cheddar made down the road for $7 a lb;)

Point taken though, food labelling here is crap, and there is a lot of stuff hidden in the food that wouldn't fly in the UK.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Ooh, I fancy one of those now!

As for it being better or worse here, I'm sure that some people like the cheese we complain about. Different people want different things out of life. You'll either find them here or you won't. It's something we've changed our minds about more than once, and we likely will again. I also don't think you can know unless you try it for yourself, regardless of how many people you ask.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

The only thing I can say about Saskatoon, it's a faster pace of life than Regina, also a lot more busy on the roads! I would class it as a better way of life over here! Don't get me wrong you do get crime round here, but it's nothing compared to England!

Re: Typical newbie question
 

There's a lot more to it than that surely? If you just want quieter roads and less crime, move to the Scottish highlands or something?

There are so many factors, such as education, culture/history, sharing a common ground, being able to make good friends, religion, climate, cost of living, people's general attitude toward things, environmental concerns, animal welfare attitudes. It will also depends where someone has moved from, as their basis for comparison will be very different. There will be differences for everyone, and I don't think a sweeping statement about 2 things, one of which could be seen as fairly minor, can really be used as a basis for that kind of comparison.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

But compared to the rest of Canada arent Regina & Saskatoon both in the top 5 for crime in Canadian cities.
HIGHEST CRIME RATES
(Percentage above the national crime score)
Prince George, B.C. (114%)
Victoria (75%)
Saskatoon (72%)
Red Deer, Alta. (71%)
Regina (67%)

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Thanks for all your help guys and I think I'm going to need to bring a container full of cheese if I land

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Err there is a $20 limit on dairy products including cheese that is being imported :rofl:

•2 dozen eggs;
•20 kilograms of dairy products not exceeding $20 in value (e.g. cheese and butter);
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/fpa-apa/regs-eng.html

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Which bit of England:sneaky:

Re: Typical newbie question
 

I am from Manchester, so the crime rate in the whole of Canada is less!:rofl:

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Probably true, but its a lot easier to move a hundred miles up the M6 than 3000 miles across the atlantic. The main difficulty in either case if finding a job to support you, and you have a lot less paperwork doing it in the UK.

Re: Typical newbie question
 

She could always move 30 miles down the East Lancs Rd to Liverpool where there is hardly any crime;)

Re: Typical newbie question
 

Only cos theres nothing left worth nicking...

I grew up in a posh bit of the wirral, there wasnt much crime, probably due to the private security patrols:lol: