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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Thrifty Snail on November 19, 2016, 04:24:59 PM

Title: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: Thrifty Snail on November 19, 2016, 04:24:59 PM
Over the past two years my spouse and I have discussed moving to her homeland. Due to some changes in our jobs over the past 3 months, it seems more appealing. We are most interested in B.C., and Southern Ontario, but are open to suggestions.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: MBot on November 19, 2016, 05:11:25 PM
What are your jobs?
What climate do you enjoy?
What size city do you enjoy?
What recreational options would you like to have?
What mindset (liberal, conservative, efficient, laid-back) is more you?
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: RetiredAt63 on November 19, 2016, 05:22:09 PM
Years ago Harrowsmith Magazine posted that south-eastern Ontario was the place you want.  Those a bit further north said they were even better.  But of course the areas with more jobs tend to be higher COL.
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: Metric Mouse on November 20, 2016, 07:32:21 AM
What are your jobs?
What climate do you enjoy?
What size city do you enjoy?
What recreational options would you like to have?
What mindset (liberal, conservative, efficient, laid-back) is more you?

We really need more info. There are plenty of cheap places to live; the question is would a particular person wish to live there.
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: Thrifty Snail on November 20, 2016, 01:42:47 PM
Personal preferences: not too cold,
Can deal with most Canadian political orientations,
We are not religious
Suburban or city
Need kid friendly
Work in education and medical field
Love not driving
Crazy love for walking and biking (I mean crazy)
Decent fishing a plus, not required

Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: meghan88 on November 20, 2016, 06:41:39 PM
Come to Kitchener-Waterloo in Southwestern Ontario.

There are lots of jobs here in those fields and it's a relatively LCOL.  You'll save even more $ because the restaurants are all crap.  There are lots of good farmers markets for raw ingredients, OTOH.

The high-tech field is booming and the hospitals are under-staffed.  If you're looking to buy a condo, there are a ton of them going up.  Plus there's a lot of awful sprawl if that's your thing.  People complain about the traffic during a 15-minute commute to work ... LOL ... I just bike and avoid it in the same amount of time, and save a lot of $.

That said, we can't wait to move back to Montreal when we retire.
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: pbkmaine on November 20, 2016, 07:08:50 PM
Why do you want to move back to Montreal?
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: Zikoris on November 20, 2016, 07:21:45 PM
There are enough of us here in Vancouver to have a local Mustachian club! Having lived and traveled all over the country, I think everywhere in Canada except the far north is pretty frugal-friendly, and even the north can be okay if you're there for a job that subsidizes most/all of your living expenses.
Title: Re: Frugal friendly locations in Canada?
Post by: Goldielocks on November 20, 2016, 07:40:11 PM
Having lived in Calgary, Vancouver, San Francisco (outskirts), Penticton and Oslo (Penticton / Oslo without kids, the rest with kids)..

I have found that Vancouver is incredibly cheaper compared to Calgary and SFO for family activities.   Calgary, it seemed like you needed to be part of community association, or YMCA , or get the zoo / science museum passes to get into activities, which cost a moderate amount.  More private recreation classes, etc.

The Vancouver area subsidizes the recreation centers, library, low school supply / year start costs, etc.  So things like a day at the waterpark, swimming / rec hockey / intro dance / childcare drop in etc are very cheap, and often in short distance outside of some vancouver city areas.   The museums and day trips possible / costs are similar across Canada.

Vancouver Housing is expensive to buy, but not bad to rent.   It is possible to get work near where you live, if you plan it.

Penticton at the time did not have as many activities going on, but was low cost for what there was, and wild nature / skiing was terrific.   (Float on canal and lakes in summer, ski in winter).

Calgary - recommend a car,  lots of parks / walking paths, but they only lead around the park.  Costs were a bit more than Vancouver, including $200 more at the start of the school year.  Lower taxes resulted in more user fees, so its a trade off.   

San Francisco -- very little art enrichment in the classroom, and a lot more costs everywhere you turn, most classes were private, and everyone needs to charge more there... so you end up with a LOT more out of pocket.  Less going to the local lake for a family swim and picnic day, more about driving to monteray bay acquarium to pay $100 to have a day there, then driving back (or 6 flags, or other areas, all with pay parking).

Everywhere we went we found ample opportunities to enjoy life as a family.  There is no bad choice out of the list where I have lived.

:-0  Hope that helped!

When I have worked / visited toronto area and ottawa, it seemed that the corridor towards niagra was very conducive to families, if you can get work there, and Ottawa appears to have a lot of family friendly.

Oslo -- i am not sure if long walks with small children or biking in town was warranted.