After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
#16
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
I'm generally at my 'best' mentally at 5.30 to 6.00 am....it goes down rapidly after that! Yes, I keep hearing all the 'horrors' of the West Coast "my God it snows" Who knew?
We've had quite a lot of snow already and today freezing rain, some days I can believe I'm Mary Poppins, but others I'm more Stig of the Dump! Thank you!
We've had quite a lot of snow already and today freezing rain, some days I can believe I'm Mary Poppins, but others I'm more Stig of the Dump! Thank you!
#17
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
Yes, this morning! Quite a lot came down in the night. A bloody good buy! I can really recommend it! It's whipped up and down a few times all ready....other than when we had the 36 hour power cut!
#18
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
I now live approx. 35mins form Birmingham centre, I used to live approx. 40min form Toronto Airport
UK house approx. 13% more expensive
But mortgage costs are 30% cheaper ? …… a competitive market……. ?
Energy costs Gas + Elec almost the same over a year, splitting single digit percentages
Insurance for house and car again around 30% cheaper…
Food and beverages bills around 10% cheaper
Gas Bill (moving from 2.5l petrol to 1.8l diesel) 10% cheaper and no loss in performance either
UK house approx. 13% more expensive
But mortgage costs are 30% cheaper ? …… a competitive market……. ?
Energy costs Gas + Elec almost the same over a year, splitting single digit percentages
Insurance for house and car again around 30% cheaper…
Food and beverages bills around 10% cheaper
Gas Bill (moving from 2.5l petrol to 1.8l diesel) 10% cheaper and no loss in performance either
And gas/petrol costs way less here. It's about $1.05 here at the moment for premium, if I put in a Birmingham postcode I'm getting £1.18 listed! Yeah, I do use more here, but that's literally twice the price and I don't use twice as much, I'd say maybe 15% more. I dunno how you get to 10% cheaper, I had a diesel when I lived there and it was still a lot more than I pay now.
Anyway, more power to you but I'm never living in the UK again.
#19
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
Well that's a Toronto to Birmingham comparison, I used to live fairly close to Birmingham, and with Calgary there is no comparison on utility bills, natural gas is about a third of the price here (but you do use more of it) and electricity is definitely cheaper.
And gas/petrol costs way less here. It's about $1.05 here at the moment for premium, if I put in a Birmingham postcode I'm getting £1.18 listed! Yeah, I do use more here, but that's literally twice the price and I don't use twice as much, I'd say maybe 15% more. I dunno how you get to 10% cheaper, I had a diesel when I lived there and it was still a lot more than I pay now.
Anyway, more power to you but I'm never living in the UK again.
And gas/petrol costs way less here. It's about $1.05 here at the moment for premium, if I put in a Birmingham postcode I'm getting £1.18 listed! Yeah, I do use more here, but that's literally twice the price and I don't use twice as much, I'd say maybe 15% more. I dunno how you get to 10% cheaper, I had a diesel when I lived there and it was still a lot more than I pay now.
Anyway, more power to you but I'm never living in the UK again.
I've only just moved, Mike is living there... I think we're better placed to make a judgement on whether we spend more on household budgets in the UK or Canada... Personally I find Canada a lot more expensive even if utilities "appear" to be cheaper.
#20
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
And gas/petrol costs way less here. It's about $1.05 here at the moment for premium, if I put in a Birmingham postcode I'm getting £1.18 listed! Yeah, I do use more here, but that's literally twice the price and I don't use twice as much, I'd say maybe 15% more. I dunno how you get to 10% cheaper, I had a diesel when I lived there and it was still a lot more than I pay now.
.
.
46mpg v's 20mpg
Travel distances in the UK are generally shorter, which in its self contributes to extending the savings
All I did was total up the usage, for two cars over a year in both locations
Last edited by MikeUK; Dec 8th 2014 at 3:28 pm.
#21
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
Simple a family car here comes in manual with a 1.6l diesel v's a 2.5+ automatic petrol
46mpg v's 20mpg
Travel distances in the UK are generally shorter, which in its self contributes to extending the savings
All I did was total up the usage, for two cars over a year in both locations
46mpg v's 20mpg
Travel distances in the UK are generally shorter, which in its self contributes to extending the savings
All I did was total up the usage, for two cars over a year in both locations
#22
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
Simple a family car here comes in manual with a 1.6l diesel v's a 2.5+ automatic petrol
46mpg v's 20mpg
Travel distances in the UK are generally shorter, which in its self contributes to extending the savings
All I did was total up the usage, for two cars over a year in both locations
46mpg v's 20mpg
Travel distances in the UK are generally shorter, which in its self contributes to extending the savings
All I did was total up the usage, for two cars over a year in both locations
Last edited by rivingtonpike; Dec 9th 2014 at 12:13 am. Reason: can't spell
#23
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
Idling in traffic also uses a lot of gas. About 1.2 litres per hour for a 2l engine.
#24
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
You do know that a derv is only making you savings if you drive long distances don't you?
If only traveling short journey's you would be much cheaper using a petrol engined car!
From 1.8ltr manual in the UK to a 5ltr auto over here I am still way better off in Canada.
If only traveling short journey's you would be much cheaper using a petrol engined car!
From 1.8ltr manual in the UK to a 5ltr auto over here I am still way better off in Canada.
#25
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
but the environment isn't ..............
#26
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
I appreciate Mike is talking from his own circumstances, but you can get diesel cars here and plenty of gas stations sell diesel. If you feel the need. VW sells the Golf and Passat as TDIs and maybe the Jetta as well, iirc.
#27
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
You do know that you don't have to justify wanting to live in Canada... You can just like it?
I've only just moved, Mike is living there... I think we're better placed to make a judgement on whether we spend more on household budgets in the UK or Canada... Personally I find Canada a lot more expensive even if utilities "appear" to be cheaper.
I've only just moved, Mike is living there... I think we're better placed to make a judgement on whether we spend more on household budgets in the UK or Canada... Personally I find Canada a lot more expensive even if utilities "appear" to be cheaper.
You can make the argument you use a bit more here because of distances and colder temperatures I appreciate, but the cost of gasoline is half what it is in the UK and natural gas (at least here) is a third, so you've got to be going some to make up that difference.
All I can think is if you really are paying more, you need to move.
#28
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
We kick this cost of living thing around all the time with friends from the UK and friends still in the UK. Granted we came to Canada from an expensive part of London, but for us, Canada is overall cheaper. That's our experience. Our council tax alone was 3600 GBP a year. Commuting was about the same.
#29
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Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
We kick this cost of living thing around all the time with friends from the UK and friends still in the UK. Granted we came to Canada from an expensive part of London, but for us, Canada is overall cheaper. That's our experience. Our council tax alone was 3600 GBP a year. Commuting was about the same.
it just depends where your coming from and where your going too.....
and too a point your life style
But.... my major point is.... its not a good reason to justify moving !
#30
Re: After 10yrs in Canada-> 1 yr back in the UK
Presuming you weren't living in central London then if you were having to pay that amount to commute, how come your council tax was so expensive? I thought ours was among the most expensive in the country (big house, expensive area), but it's still over £1000 cheaper than that. Which Council was that?
Last edited by christmasoompa; Dec 23rd 2014 at 10:43 am.