Stuck in Canada
#1
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 45
Stuck in Canada
Hi I was at a party at the weekend with 4 British couples and I started the conversation by saying that we are thinking of going back to the UK, the only thing stopping me from going home asap was our pets (1 dog 2 cats need rabies vaccine etc),what surprised me was the 4 couples agreed with me that thay all wanted to go home but financially they felt they had to stay here. I know for us giving up jobs which pay ok, a nice house is a huge factor, I just wondered how many others are in the same situation.
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
#2
Re: Stuck in Canada
I am very happy in Canada, but I can fully sympathise with the economic reality of trying to sell up here and move back to the UK. The equity value of my home here (~$60k / £35k maybe after the mortgage is paid off) is not realistically going to get me very far in the UK housing market after paying moving expenses!
#3
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Near Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 1,323
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi I was at a party at the weekend with 4 British couples and I started the conversation by saying that we are thinking of going back to the UK, the only thing stopping me from going home asap was our pets (1 dog 2 cats need rabies vaccine etc),what surprised me was the 4 couples agreed with me that thay all wanted to go home but financially they felt they had to stay here. I know for us giving up jobs which pay ok, a nice house is a huge factor, I just wondered how many others are in the same situation.
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
#4
Re: Stuck in Canada
I chat with about 7 Brit families on and off, ie, fairly regularly.
Two are considering going home again, perhaps in the next year or so. Finances will be hit hugely but they feel it will be the right thing to do.
Three families feel they are here for the long haul and have no intentions or inclination to return.
One moved to another province a few weeks ago as Alberta wasn't floating their boat. Financially, this should work in their favour as properties will be cheaper.
One couple have taken career breaks and may or may not return to the UK when that runs out in 2012. Finances are not likely play a part in their decision.
Funny ol' game
Two are considering going home again, perhaps in the next year or so. Finances will be hit hugely but they feel it will be the right thing to do.
Three families feel they are here for the long haul and have no intentions or inclination to return.
One moved to another province a few weeks ago as Alberta wasn't floating their boat. Financially, this should work in their favour as properties will be cheaper.
One couple have taken career breaks and may or may not return to the UK when that runs out in 2012. Finances are not likely play a part in their decision.
Funny ol' game
#5
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Re: Stuck in Canada
Thanx Iain from a fellow scouser
#6
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Posts: 120
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi I was at a party at the weekend with 4 British couples and I started the conversation by saying that we are thinking of going back to the UK, the only thing stopping me from going home asap was our pets (1 dog 2 cats need rabies vaccine etc),what surprised me was the 4 couples agreed with me that thay all wanted to go home but financially they felt they had to stay here. I know for us giving up jobs which pay ok, a nice house is a huge factor, I just wondered how many others are in the same situation.
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
I envy those who are completely sure that moving back is the right decision and wish we weren't wavering so much.
#7
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 701
Re: Stuck in Canada
know what u mean. "Stuck" here too for the same reasons, but am hoping the offspring will have the urge to move back as they get older. OH very against any such thing.
#8
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Formerly Montreal now Oxfordshire, UK
Posts: 545
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi I was at a party at the weekend with 4 British couples and I started the conversation by saying that we are thinking of going back to the UK, the only thing stopping me from going home asap was our pets (1 dog 2 cats need rabies vaccine etc),what surprised me was the 4 couples agreed with me that thay all wanted to go home but financially they felt they had to stay here. I know for us giving up jobs which pay ok, a nice house is a huge factor, I just wondered how many others are in the same situation.
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
#9
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Location: Near Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 1,323
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi Jon Frank- if you don't mind me asking when did you move back? What line of work is your wife in? Did you have any issues renting/buying a home? Also do the car insurance companies treat you like a foreigner re car insurance or if you can produce letter from previous insurance in UK proving before you left you had no claims bonus?
#10
Re: Stuck in Canada
We're moving back in just over four weeks now. We don't have jobs yet but I do have an interview a few days after we're back. We'll be in a rental place for a few months and will be relying on some savings we've built up until we get jobs. It is a lot of uncertainty but we feel it's the right move to make now as Canada's not for us and going back sooner rather than later is better.
There are jobs to be had, just a case of being focused on finding one.
There are jobs to be had, just a case of being focused on finding one.
#11
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Formerly Montreal now Oxfordshire, UK
Posts: 545
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi Jon Frank- if you don't mind me asking when did you move back? What line of work is your wife in? Did you have any issues renting/buying a home? Also do the car insurance companies treat you like a foreigner re car insurance or if you can produce letter from previous insurance in UK proving before you left you had no claims bonus?
Sorry to say but the car insurance companies do treat you like a foreigner. Despite having 15 year of accident free motoring previous to leaving the Uk, I have a zero no claims. However my insurance is still dirt cheap because West Oxfordshire is one of the lowest crime areas in the UK, I pay £290 per year. My wife is a book keeper, there seem to be tonnes of those jobs around, we've been back since June,
All the best
Jon
#12
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 45
Re: Stuck in Canada
So we are not alone!!!! It's funny I used to log onto British Expats and go straight to the immigration forum, then I started to look at the Caniversary and The Maple Leaf forums, now I just look at moving back to the UK forum. Off to finish the ironing, none of the girls I work with iron and are horrifed I do, but that is one British tradition I don't seem to be able to give (plus I have a large glass of wine when I finish)
Hubby is sorting the ironing out while I iron and discuss our move home!!!
Hubby is sorting the ironing out while I iron and discuss our move home!!!
#13
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 206
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi Shelley,
Sorry to say but the car insurance companies do treat you like a foreigner. Despite having 15 year of accident free motoring previous to leaving the Uk, I have a zero no claims. However my insurance is still dirt cheap because West Oxfordshire is one of the lowest crime areas in the UK, I pay £290 per year. My wife is a book keeper, there seem to be tonnes of those jobs around, we've been back since June,
All the best
Jon
Sorry to say but the car insurance companies do treat you like a foreigner. Despite having 15 year of accident free motoring previous to leaving the Uk, I have a zero no claims. However my insurance is still dirt cheap because West Oxfordshire is one of the lowest crime areas in the UK, I pay £290 per year. My wife is a book keeper, there seem to be tonnes of those jobs around, we've been back since June,
All the best
Jon
#14
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Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Starbuck Manitoba then Brum, UK, Oz and now UK
Posts: 283
Re: Stuck in Canada
Hi I was at a party at the weekend with 4 British couples and I started the conversation by saying that we are thinking of going back to the UK, the only thing stopping me from going home asap was our pets (1 dog 2 cats need rabies vaccine etc),what surprised me was the 4 couples agreed with me that thay all wanted to go home but financially they felt they had to stay here. I know for us giving up jobs which pay ok, a nice house is a huge factor, I just wondered how many others are in the same situation.
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
We still do not not know if we will go home, I know it will be difficult having no jobs to go,we would have to rent whereas we have always owned our own home, anywaylots to think of
#15
Re: Stuck in Canada
Would be interesting wouldnt it. Very few of the brits that I bump into and chat with seem to have any interest in returning to the UK, a few express frustration with job prospects or salary levels, but most seem pretty settled here to be honest.