Should You Leave for a Better Life?

I read an interesting article today about people who are flocking to Saskatchewan from the big cities of Canada in search of a better life. It’s rather timely as I sometimes (fleetingly) consider leaving Vancouver – even though I love it here! – due to the high cost of living.

Can’t Get Ahead?
Let’s face it, things are really expensive in Vancouver. I frequently travel to New Jersey and when I come back, it strikes me how expensive the basics are here – food, rent … the list goes on! Don’t get me started on the cost of real estate in Vancouver.

One bedroom condos are easily $300,000 and rents are on the rise with the impending Olympics and the desirability of living here – it is very difficult to buy anything on one income. I lived in one place for three years and the rent went up the full 4% each year. I can safely say that my pay didn’t go up the same amount.

The Job Situation
While the economy is slowing, the job situation is still fairly decent, but the pay just isn’t at the same levels as cities like Toronto. I lived in Toronto and let me tell you, the cost of living was much less than Vancouver.

Vancouver also isn’t a major financial centre so accounting jobs (I'm an accountant), while reasonably plentiful, aren’t at the same levels as Toronto or places like New York.

To Move or Not to Move?
I wonder if a lot of people are going through this dilemma – to leave the place where they have roots in search of greater opportunities or stay even they are not getting ahead? Of course, this situation is nothing new – people have been doing it for many years.

I wonder how many immigrants came to Canada with the same thought in mind? I’m sure they left their families behind and perhaps, never saw them again, all in the name of making a better life in a more plentiful environment.

Frugal Living?
The new mantra is all about frugal living and keeping expenses low, but that does get tiring after a while. I’m all about not wasting my money, but it is still important to enjoy life, travel and have all sorts of amazing experiences.

One thing that I won’t give up is living downtown, but rents are starting to get unmanageable and the supply is fast dwindling. I do live cheap but I have a certain minimum standard.

What to Do?
I recently heard a story from a friend about a couple that had been here for 15 years but had decided to move back to their hometown of Newfoundland because it was just so difficult to get ahead here.

I wonder if this ‘reverse migration’ is going to be happening more and more?

Photo credit: D’Arcy Norman

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