We've moved out to our own place and the dust has started to settle. And with that, so have the stars in my eyes. At first, I was so excited to be home. To have my family close, to see my friends, and to have a better quality of life than we had in Europe.
As I started to set up house, however, there are things, though, where I can't help but feel utterly extorted here, and it is definitely starting to irk me.
Like cable, phone, and internet. For 30 dollars in Europe, you have all channels, mega internet, and your telephone, and it is free to call 50 countries. Here though, it's 100 dollars just for a basic plan, with no options and no channels. There, an unlimited cell phone costs about 50 euros a month. Here, it's 140 dollars. There, all the tax is included in the price. Here, you have to add it after. Groceries over there: 200 bucks a month. Here: we're at 450 and the month is not over.
While I knew that there would be good things and bad, I didn't realize how expensive it is to actually live here. I guess I totally had my head in the clouds. If any of you know by experience how to get things cheaper, please let me know, especially for groceries. I feel like such a foreigner now! And while it is more expensive than Europe, (yes, seriously, this is a sad, sad fact Canada) it is definitely worth it to have the mountains, the lakes, the rivers, and the ocean. And my family and friends of course.
And on a brighter note, Charlotte has finally learned to fall asleep by herself after waking up in the night. I have learned to just let her cry it out (seriously, if I had just been able to wait 2 minutes, this whole no night thing may have been over a long long time ago!) So what is that worth to me? Well, it's priceless.
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Shopping 2 times a month and making a better plan has cut down my expenses significantly. I pick up my produce at Wongs down in Matsqui, they seem to have good prices, fresh produce and in the summer you can purchase a lot of things in case lot. I only buy my dairy milk, cheese, eggs and most groceries across the line in Bellingham. Dairy is half the price. Bromley's in Sumas quite often has a 20 count flat of jumbo eggs (double yolkers) for 99 cents. If they aren't on sale that day, I just keep on to Costco in Bellingham for the next best price. I get gas while down there and for my larger family I save about 80 dollars comparatively to what I would have spent on the same things up here in one trip. Just some ideas..
Thinking of you during your time of cultural adjustments! So glad Charlotte is sleeping well.
i can relate about the grass being greener on the other side. i often find myself rubbing the stars from my eyes during vacations to canada, then being oh so grateful when we arrive back home where everything is "normal". canada is more expensive than the usa in certain areas, but wow, it sounds like you really have a lot to get used to, money-wise. i hope you figure out some shortcuts!
by the way, speaking of crying it out made me think i may just have to wait a few more minutes with samuel as well. i'm desperate for a full night of uninterrupted sleep. *sigh*
i can relate about the grass being greener on the other side. i often find myself rubbing the stars from my eyes during vacations to canada, then being oh so grateful when we arrive back home where everything is "normal". canada is more expensive than the usa in certain areas, but wow, it sounds like you really have a lot to get used to, money-wise. i hope you figure out some shortcuts!
by the way, speaking of crying it out made me think i may just have to wait a few more minutes with samuel as well. i'm desperate for a full night of uninterrupted sleep. *sigh*
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