Finished work now, and I have about 3 weeks to move out of my digs in Warwickshire and back to my family home ‘Ooop North’ and get some stuff together…
Now, i’m not the richest bloke in the world (because i’m a driver! ) and am going to have to help support wife and child for a few months in the UK while I get sorted in Canada, plus a couple of weeks training and test’s, then 2 weeks withheld pay, plus two extra weeks before being paid (Bi-Weekly)… so I guess I’m probably not going to see any income till early March 2013.
What would you recommend I could buy in the UK to bring with me to Canada (to save me some money), bearing in mind I’m not gonna be able to go across to the USA for a few weeks so will have to get stuff in Canada.
Up to now i got a pair of shoe ‘grips’ because i don’t fancy doing the splits (like jimbo) and ‘bouncing’ me k-nacker’s… ! and a 2013 Michelin USA road map! (from Amazon)
owt else i could bring with me (in my suitcase) that’s cheaper here in the UK?..
Clothes are cheaper in the uk so get yourself a decent coat there. Hard to say what else as you weigh up the costs of excess baggage against savings.
First couple of months money seems to run through your fingers so be prepared.
kr79:
First couple of months money seems to run through your fingers so be prepared.
I can well imagine… I should hopefully be done and dusted within 2 weeks (they are paying the first 2 weeks hotel costs)… but it’s gonna be the eating out, couple o beers, car hire etc… with no income… being Agency for the past few years has prepared me well for this job!
Even eating out in Canada ain’t cheap. A mc Donald’s meal won’t leave much change out of $10.
At the moment the uk to Canadian exchange rate is about 1.55-1.60 to the pound so you will do ok coming over.
I see you said about sending money home. Obviously this works the other way and your money don’t go to far back in the UK.
I just sent some money home for Christmas and it didn’t go that far.
Hi all.Forgive me if i’m out of touch with things,but when i lived in Canada i found that the ‘‘second hand’’ clothing chain ‘value village’ had some amazing bargains for almost new clothes,especially for winters.
I have only used them in Ontario,Quebec and B.C so i don’t know what it’s like in your area.Check it out,you can save a lot plus you don’t have to take it with you.Canadian winter clothes are good[they know a bit about winters].
Plus a lot of the 'outdoor\snowmobile shops have good bargains for ‘‘last years’’ fashion.
P.S.we’ve just had the first night with -40c. but at least it’s gonna be white for xmas].
I would get down to the Tog 24 outlet store & get yourself some base layers Chap, I wear them & layer up with two T shirts & a hoody topped off with a railway type orange bomber jacket, I bought proper boots here though & they were’nt cheap at $150, I wear merino wool socks too & of course a hat & gloves which your better getting here. Buying in the uk is cheaper than changing £££s into $$$s then buying it here but of course beware of Your allowances that all depends on who your flights with…
I think Canadas a tad expensive for workwear as it happens. I’ve been buying gear in Cabellas in Montana its well cheap compared to up here. Not that thats any help really but a tip for the future…
You could bring an unlocked phone too & just get a sim here…
I’m not sure about the stores hutpick is on about but most towns have thrift stores which I have used here & The Canadians sell some pretty good gear secondhand I got My wifes ice hockey kit that way from a secondhand sports store…
Cahart stuff is good I got a couple of bits in the states. Once your rolling if your in billings Montana there is a shop does all there gear very cheap and no sales tax in Montana.
Best tip with clothes is layers. I normally wear a thermal vest t shirt a t shirt a hoddie and a coat. Hat and gloves is a must.
kr79:
Cahart stuff is good I got a couple of bits in the states. Once your rolling if your in billings Montana there is a shop does all there gear very cheap and no sales tax in Montana.
Best tip with clothes is layers. I normally wear a thermal vest t shirt a t shirt a hoddie and a coat. Hat and gloves is a must.
& thats just walking to the nearest buffet…
Cabellas in Billings is good big Carhartt section & lorry parking too & as Boxvan Billy with His thermals on ffs says theres no sales tax.
Best of luck Contractdriver! I wish you all the best in Canada and I’m sure all of us on here will give you any help or advice you need along the way. Its good to see that just lately there has been a fresh influx of British drivers to Canada, I thought the industry here was in risk of being left only to the Russians and their ex Warsaw pact comrades.
Carhart jackets are megga bucks in the UK and quite expensive here. Go to Kmart or Walmart and get insulated equivilent, you can get a really well insulated carhart quality jacket for less the $50.00 (30 quid).
I don’t know how you are going to manage really, don’t want to rain on your parade but you need substantial funds to last you. Try and use TA or Pilot/Flying J for fuel and get a rewards card, when times get tough having some points to buy a meal is a great help. I try and economise when the bills mount up, eating in roadside diners some can be cheap, others expensive but remember when you eat in them you must leave a tip.
You are comming in winter so bring all the warm clothing you can manage, it’s gonna be freezing till April at least.
Congratulations and good luck mate.
kr79:
Clothes are cheaper in the uk so get yourself a decent coat there. Hard to say what else as you weigh up the costs of excess baggage against savings.
First couple of months money seems to run through your fingers so be prepared.
I don’t know where that came from I have friends come here with empty cases to fill with clothes and take back to the UK because they are so cheap here, a pair Levis is about $30.00 up the road, Wranglers are about $15.00. Good steel toe work boots for about $30.00 ar Kmart.
^^This^^ Which is why every walmart on any main road coming from Canada is usually packed with Canadian trucks doing their shopping.
I once had a meal at Denny’s in the Flying J in New Milford, PA and it cost ten dollars something, less than 11 dollars. Later that same week I had the very same thing in Denny’s in the Flying J at Napanee, Ontario and it cost 18 dollars something. I only live 10 miles from the US border at Houlton, Maine so even when I’m at home, I try and make the most of that. A month ago I needed a new starter motor for my Jeep. It cost just under $200 in Woodstock, NB and $130 in Houlton, ME.
kr79:
Clothes are cheaper in the uk so get yourself a decent coat there. Hard to say what else as you weigh up the costs of excess baggage against savings.
First couple of months money seems to run through your fingers so be prepared.
I don’t know where that came from I have friends come here with empty cases to fill with clothes and take back to the UK because they are so cheap here, a pair Levis is about $30.00 up the road, Wranglers are about $15.00. Good steel toe work boots for about $30.00 ar Kmart.
Contractdriver clearly stated that He was coming to Canada not The USA & told us it would be a few weeks before He was south of the border, if You read the post & what the rest of us have posted We all know stuff is cheaper in The USA hence us all shopping there, the poster does’nt have that priviledge initially…
For such a large continent you’ll be surprised how often you travel the same roads as many other Brits on here and FB.
Most of them will be too busy eating 100 item Chinese Buffets to have a brawl, and too pogged up afterwards to even stand up.
) and am going to have to help support wife and child for a few months in the UK while I get sorted in Canada, plus a couple of weeks training and test’s, then 2 weeks withheld pay, plus two extra weeks before being paid (Bi-Weekly)… so I guess I’m probably not going to see any income till early March 2013.
I should hopefully be done and dusted within 2 weeks (they are paying the first 2 weeks hotel costs)… but it’s gonna be the eating out, couple o beers, car hire etc… with no income… being Agency for the past few years has prepared me well for this job! 
but at least it’s gonna be white for xmas].
I have friends come here with empty cases to fill with clothes and take back to the UK because they are so cheap here, a pair Levis is about $30.00 up the road, Wranglers are about $15.00. Good steel toe work boots for about $30.00 ar Kmart.