Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
Jul 21st 2011, 2:37 pm
#31
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Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
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Re: Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
We're just putting the equivalent + a little extra away in a dog account just in case. I'd rather have the money with me and earning interest
It's cheaper to have kids in Canada
Jul 21st 2011, 2:56 pm
#32
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Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Re: Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
It's cheaper to have kids in Canada [/QUOTE]
When?
[/QUOTE]When?
Jul 21st 2011, 2:57 pm
#33
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
Yeah. I'd consider it if the insurance covered injury to third parties but I couldn't find one that did (I didn't look very hard mind). So for vet bills - I'm self insuring.
Jul 21st 2011, 4:01 pm
#35
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Jul 21st 2011, 4:12 pm
#37
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Location: White Rock BC
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Jul 21st 2011, 4:15 pm
#38
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Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
I dont recall paying anything to have kids in Canada, other than the upgrade to a private room that my work insurance only covered to semi private.
Birth on the "ward" (in effect a room shared with one other bed) would have been free.
Kids are expensive to raise anywhere in the developed world. I suspect many things are cheaper in Canada in terms of activities, but even then there is a wide spread based on location.
Birth on the "ward" (in effect a room shared with one other bed) would have been free.
Kids are expensive to raise anywhere in the developed world. I suspect many things are cheaper in Canada in terms of activities, but even then there is a wide spread based on location.
Jul 21st 2011, 4:19 pm
#39
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Jul 21st 2011, 4:35 pm
#40
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Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Red Deer Alberta now back in Stafford
Posts: 107
Re: Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
Yes it's very much more expensive than Britain, unless you're incredibly lucky. It seems you not only pay for things that are free in Britain, but the cost is often 10x or more. Of course you don't always have the exact same name for things so rumours spread that certain costs don't exist in Canada. The reality is yes they do, but under a different name.
One issue with things that are expensive in Canada compared with UK, is that they always relate directly to your welfare. So for example, you're ill and the "free" medical service which is not actually free, doesn't cover much. So you have to pay for a private consultant. Then you get a prescription and you pay through the snout for it. My daughter, for example, had to get a small tube of something or other which, with private medical insurance discount, was $200!!!!!!
What you'll find is that you cannot really account for these costs, because they are so much higher, plus they are also completely unpredictable. You'll find yourself taking chances with your health and wellbeing, and that of your family because nobody can afford to pay all the costs that they could easily incur if they are unlucky.
In other words, while the overall balance for an average person or family may be near to equality, the risks of being fleeced alive by the costs with an alternative of compromising on your wellbeing, are way way higher in Canada than Britain.
Things that are much higher in cost in Canada:
- Car insurance
- Medical care
- Dental care
- Any other service to do with wellbeing (e.g. optician checkups $100+)
- Starting and operating a business
- Costs associated with using a realtor (estate agent)
- Eating out
- Flights
- Hotels
- TV services
- Mobile phones / mobile internet services (e.g. blackberry, iPhone)
- Banking
- Items for families with young children
- Owning and operating a car (excluding gas)
- Alcohol
- Landline Telephone
- Clothing
- Being born and dying
- Any kind of liability insurance
- Vet fees
- Legal fees
- Winning the lottery (taxed after win, but I'll make an exception to feeling cheated if I ever win)
Items much cheaper in Canada
- Electronic and certain appliances
- Extended warranties on the above (which you'll need as no consumer protection at all in Canada, and stores only warranty one month instead of a year in general)
- Public transit
- Inner city parking (but gap closing significantly)
- Fuel (offset significantly by huge costs of running a vehicle and generally further distances)
- Natural gas and electricity
- Accounting fees (but nearly everyone in Canada has to have one, unlike Britain)
One issue with things that are expensive in Canada compared with UK, is that they always relate directly to your welfare. So for example, you're ill and the "free" medical service which is not actually free, doesn't cover much. So you have to pay for a private consultant. Then you get a prescription and you pay through the snout for it. My daughter, for example, had to get a small tube of something or other which, with private medical insurance discount, was $200!!!!!!
What you'll find is that you cannot really account for these costs, because they are so much higher, plus they are also completely unpredictable. You'll find yourself taking chances with your health and wellbeing, and that of your family because nobody can afford to pay all the costs that they could easily incur if they are unlucky.
In other words, while the overall balance for an average person or family may be near to equality, the risks of being fleeced alive by the costs with an alternative of compromising on your wellbeing, are way way higher in Canada than Britain.
Things that are much higher in cost in Canada:
- Car insurance
- Medical care
- Dental care
- Any other service to do with wellbeing (e.g. optician checkups $100+)
- Starting and operating a business
- Costs associated with using a realtor (estate agent)
- Eating out
- Flights
- Hotels
- TV services
- Mobile phones / mobile internet services (e.g. blackberry, iPhone)
- Banking
- Items for families with young children
- Owning and operating a car (excluding gas)
- Alcohol
- Landline Telephone
- Clothing
- Being born and dying
- Any kind of liability insurance
- Vet fees
- Legal fees
- Winning the lottery (taxed after win, but I'll make an exception to feeling cheated if I ever win)
Items much cheaper in Canada
- Electronic and certain appliances
- Extended warranties on the above (which you'll need as no consumer protection at all in Canada, and stores only warranty one month instead of a year in general)
- Public transit
- Inner city parking (but gap closing significantly)
- Fuel (offset significantly by huge costs of running a vehicle and generally further distances)
- Natural gas and electricity
- Accounting fees (but nearly everyone in Canada has to have one, unlike Britain)
Here to join a track & field club it costs $500.00 a year, then to enter competitions ( same, up to 4 events) $50. At home we buy a club vest for £15, here to 'loan' a club vest it's $50!!
We also had to pay around $70 for her to join the school track & field club? In the UK that was free, as you're representing your school.......
Jul 21st 2011, 4:43 pm
#41
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Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Jul 21st 2011, 5:08 pm
#44
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Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Jul 21st 2011, 5:21 pm
#45
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Unexpected Expenses... probably a daft question but am going to ask it anyway...
This is all subjective and depends how long you have been in Canada. The current GBP/CDN Fx makes everything seem more expensive compared to weaker currencies.
Some things have gone up in Canada over the years, but not that much. When I came here ($2.30 GBP) most things seemed inexpensive compared to the UK and the prices have not risen that drastically.
It is way cheaper for us to buy out of the UK now, a third less than a few years back.
Some things have gone up in Canada over the years, but not that much. When I came here ($2.30 GBP) most things seemed inexpensive compared to the UK and the prices have not risen that drastically.
It is way cheaper for us to buy out of the UK now, a third less than a few years back.