In Nova Scotia, Thinking about moving to alberta..... advice????

January 3rd, 2007, 11:46 PM

I am a mother of two, thinking on moving out to Alberta with my fiance but.. i have been told everything,,, is too expensive and i could never do it. I wanna move to Alberta sooo bad but its that thought of getting out there and having to move back because we wont be able to afford it...
exactly what would i have to expect if i moved to alberta, and does anyone reallt know the cost of living on average for a family of 4 (preferably someone who has a newborn and a child under 5). but if you know i would be very happy to know the Pros and the Cons. Im just son confused. I want to start a life but am i better off living in nova scotia or would living in alberta become beneficial... what about child care or health care? i just need to know from someone who lives in alberta and has lived there to know an average cost of living.. im just so confused, i know that its higher living but is it really worth locating or am i better off staying put?

January 4th, 2007, 12:29 AM

I can't tell you from personal experience, but a cousin of mine just had to move out from her current location and purchase a trailer home (yes, how lavish) an hour away and commute everyday to work, just because rent within the community has skyrocketed (and purchasing a home was incomprehensible). These are a young married couple with little external debt and two well-paying jobs. Take it for what it's worth.

Personally, I wouldn't go unless I had a job in hand and a good place to live lined up, as well as a moderate amount of money saved up to get settled in and deal with the transition. But I also have my own notions of Alberta that are far beyond that of the tangible, and that would ever keep me from moving there, so the point is likely moot.

January 4th, 2007, 01:22 AM

There are places to purchase, but you're looking at a cost of about $300k+. Renting is possible, but the prices are higher than they used to be. Look at the rentals in the Edmonton Journal or Calgary Herald if you want to get an idea about what's available - avoid companies that offer to find a place for you for a fee or phone numbers that appear to have several listings. There are people that have had rentals for a long time and are still interested in good tennants ... no rental gouging going on. The 7-11 is advertising to pay 11.50 per hour.

Food costs are average, child care is about $45 a day, depending on the facility.

There is government subsidized childcare and healthcare, but you have to demonstrate that you live here to get it. Subsidized childcare is dependent on combined income and costs, with reasonable amounts allocated for food, education, housing and consideration for caring for newborns. The subsidy also includes free registration in government sponsored community programs (art, gymnastics, etc) for children. There is a huge shortage of quality childcare so if you qualify (clean, happy, healthy home), you can be a government approved childcare home for up to 5 children including your own. Recently a woman declared that she was opening a daycare in her home and began taking reservations and deposits from parents desperate for childcare. She delayed and delayed some more, people asked for their money back, she was fully booked, she delayed some more and eventually she was charged with fraud. A lot of people lost money, but they were willing to pay $1800 up front for a place that didn't even exist. Taking in 3 children would give an income of about $3000-4000 (some places charge $60 per day) a month plus deductions (computer, toys, etc) minus costs.

Healthcare is national and I would expect that the subsidy is the same in every province ... at least it should be. Healthcare is not privatized in Alberta, but finding a doctor can be difficult. However, there are always some doctors taking new patients and a list is available through healthlink and the college of physicians and surgeons. There are medical clinics every few kilometres and the wait can be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

I know Alberta so if you have more questions, fire away. The ocean is probably nicer than the mountains, at least coming from someone that knows the mountains, but there are possibilities for people that want the change. It is not a good idea to drive out in a van with belongings stuffed in the back and nothing but one month's rent for Nova Scotia. People have to be able to 'put it together', either in advance or once they arrive, or they will be the next newpaper headline about a family that came looking for riches, found shortages and ended up living in the back of a van and shelters. People need skills, 3 months survival money and a plan ... and jobs can probably be secured via a phone call - again check the Edmonton Journal or Calgary Herald for available positions. Good luck with making a decision.

Edit to add: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...97dd40&k=43327

This is the latest headline about how things are in Calgary

January 18th, 2007, 06:12 PM

Move to a place like Medicine Hat or Lethbridge. They're smaller, more affordable and jobs are a dime a dozen. Stay away from Calgary, Edmonton and anyplace in the northern part of the province. What type of job are you or your fiance looking for or able to do?

January 18th, 2007, 07:55 PM

With every boom there is a bust. It will happen.

January 18th, 2007, 08:29 PM

QFT!

January 18th, 2007, 08:42 PM

Go to Saskatchewan, the place is booming to and it's way cheaper.

January 18th, 2007, 11:18 PM

But it's Saskatchewan. That's like choosing to vacation in hell rather than Mexico and saying it's warm too. The big problem with Saskatistan is that the native population is near 50% and increasing which means fewer and fewer people paying the taxes required to run the show.

January 19th, 2007, 01:53 PM

A freind of mine just moved to Ft. McMoney. Got a good job with the gov. but had to pay $500,000 for a 1200 sq. ft. bungalow. I don't know what rents are like but property is big $$$$.

January 19th, 2007, 10:03 PM

Gimme a break on Alberta being such a better place than Saskatchewan. If you take the mountains out of the equation, Alberta is as boring as Saskatchewan. They have thousands of lakes in northern Saskatchewan. Housing is at a fraction of the price of housing in Alberta. Yes you pay more income taxes but the cost of living is so much cheaper than it more than compensates.

I lived in both provinces and trust me, i found Saskatchewan to be a much friendlier place than Alberta. Saskatoon has the 2nd lowest unemployment rate in Canada I think.

January 21st, 2007, 09:52 AM

Hi,
I have lived in Halifax 33.5 out of the 34 years of my life, On May 14,2006 I bought a used car '94 Ford Tempo, and new trailer hitch and a '78 tent trailer . I sold all of my belonings and on the 15 I took all my cash and over paid my VISA and started driving West via the all Canadian route. I left home at 4pm and bunked down athe the Qubec boarder by 7am, I slept to 3pm (or 2pm EST) I drove through t Montreal and Ottawa , got lost outside Ottawa. It started Frezing rain ouside So I drive all night and bunked down in Petawawa at 11am, I stated drving again at 4pm , passed by North Bay and Stopped in Sudbury for groceries and propaine,Stopped in Sault St, Mare and had a streak and drove all night and stopped in Wawa.The next leg sucked all steep hills and rock,bog rock,at 9am I reached Thunder Bay and stopped in for lunch and driove to Dayden and bunked at 8pm est.Next i got up at 6am drove from Dryden across Manatob and bunked in Yorkton Sack. at 11pm CST . I got up and drove to I got to Vagerville, AB and bunked at 11PM MTN. The next day I got up at 7am and drove to Sherwood Park and went to a "real" camp ground. at 58/day. I waised two weeks just enjoying myself drinking beer and watching the Sandley Cup playoffs.I on June 4th as shipper (paying $15.00./hr) a huge oil tank welding shop at 6am I quit at 12 noon and got another job as a high pressure water clear for trurcks (Paying $19/hr) I worked two day and quit and got hired at coffie shop paying (12/hr). Then just chilled for a week and strared driving cab for a month. Moved in to a room (very few avalabe) only 400/mo By the end of july I quit working for taxi company and worked for their competitor for a month. I got tired of the taxi business and worked at the source from September to December got promoted to Assistant manger (had leading sales for region) and quit December 24 and started driving cab again in a diffent city outside Edmonton, That my current job, quitting in March to drive A water truck or work in the oil sands.So I do goe tome sick, but If you are lucky enough to fid a place to lay your head definatly get your arse out here. Rember it is only a 2 or 3 day drive back home.

January 21st, 2007, 11:24 AM

I don't recall comparing Saskatistan to Alberta. But since you have, it would seem...

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/cens...ob/provs.cfm#2

...the choice is being made.

January 21st, 2007, 12:05 PM

You haven't a clue about Saskatchewan, and since you repeatedly refer to it as Saskatistan I suspect your ignorance is a point of pride with you. It's nowhere near 50%, it's about 13%.

January 21st, 2007, 01:10 PM

About 13.3% to be exact. The original post was supposed to be "in parts".

The fact remains there are fewer and fewer tax payers in Saskatistan every year because they are moving to Alberta in sizeable numbers. That's the reality and Saskatistaners should try and do something about it before the they really earn the "stan".

January 21st, 2007, 01:18 PM

It's also 100% in parts. And 0% in parts. So what?

And until they do maybe you should try to restrain yourself from taking cheap shots at them. It's not amusing.

January 21st, 2007, 01:30 PM

It is to people with a sense of humour. You have my sympathies.

BTW - they say a sense of humour is a sign of intelligence. Again, you have my sympathies.

January 21st, 2007, 01:35 PM

I just checked your profile....Regina eh?

That would explain a lot. You have my very deepest sympathies.

January 21st, 2007, 01:59 PM

Classy stuff Cannuck. If you knew anything about this forum you'd know that Dexter isn't lacking in either of those departments. He called you on your outrageous claims, accept your corrections and be humble about it.