This forum is an oxymoron.. "Canadian Deals" is an oxymoron.. (exchange rate thread)

[BMW_7]

I don't know if I am the only one who has an axe to grind about this. But reading this posting and the comments is enough to ruin my day:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110414/loonie-prices-bmo-110414/

I just cannot handle our 30%-50% markup here in Canada over Americans. This has been going on for too long. A year is fine. But the Canadian price gouging really makes my blood boil. The economists have predicted dollar parity for until the end of 2012.

In 1995 to 2005 I had no problems living here. I have been trying to find a job in US for the last 2 years.

Being a young Canadian only have 3 years of experience doing architectural work. I think that with our ridiculous prices for food, gas, insurance and real estate I will be justified to ask for $50,000 a year. Sure, this is a lot. But the way I see it in America I'd be well off on $35,000 a year.

Just some examples of savings:

Outside of NYC and LA, it's cheaper to live everywhere else including Chicago. $50/month car insurance vs Toronto: $100-200.
Americans save $20,000 on a brand new SUV like the Chevrolet Suburban or Toyota Land Cruiser.
$2 for 4 L of milk. Toronto: $5 for 3L. Cheese also cheaper.
US: cheaper cellphone plans, cheaper alcohol, cheaper cigarettes, ability to buy guns.. large storewide sales like 20% off everything in store, etc.

Who else is worried this is trend will continue? I understand US had a real estate bubble in 2008 but the cost of living was STILL lower then.

Living in US will always be my dream.

[IceBlueShoes]

I don't know if I am the only one who has an axe to grind about this. But reading this posting and the comments is enough to ruin my day:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110414/loonie-prices-bmo-110414/

I just cannot handle our 30%-50% markup here in Canada over Americans. This has been going on for too long. A year is fine. But the Canadian price gouging really makes my blood boil. The economists have predicted dollar parity for until the end of 2012.

In 1995 to 2005 I had no problems living here. I have been trying to find a job in US for the last 2 years.

Being a young Canadian only have 3 years of experience doing architectural work. I think that with our ridiculous prices for food, gas, insurance and real estate I will be justified to ask for $50,000 a year. Sure, this is a lot. But the way I see it in America I'd be well off on $35,000 a year.

Just some examples of savings:

Outside of NYC and LA, it's cheaper to live everywhere else including Chicago. $50/month car insurance vs Toronto: $100-200.
Americans save $20,000 on a brand new SUV like the Chevrolet Suburban or Toyota Land Cruiser.
$2 for 4 L of milk. Toronto: $5 for 3L. Cheese also cheaper.
US: cheaper cellphone plans, cheaper alcohol, cheaper cigarettes, ability to buy guns.. large storewide sales like 20% off everything in store, etc.

Who else is worried this is trend will continue? I understand US had a real estate bubble in 2008 but the cost of living was STILL lower then.

Living in US will always be my dream.
It's sort of relative, but health insurance in the US isn't cheap from what I understand.

Sure taxes are a bit cheaper overall, but when taken into account that they don't pay for medical stuff like us, it's a raw deal. There have been comparisons done in the past about this.

If you want to be a gun-toting, alcoholic run by religious extremists then by all means, move on south.

I'd rather stay here and pay a bit more with a better quality of life, not to say that we don't have our problems, but Harper is nothing compared to those wackos south of the border.
US is nice to visit (at times), but to live hell no. I'd take off to Europe if I could though... Yay to extra time off!

[gman]

I don't know if I am the only one who has an axe to grind about this. But reading this posting and the comments is enough to ruin my day:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110414/loonie-prices-bmo-110414/

I just cannot handle our 30%-50% markup here in Canada over Americans. This has been going on for too long. A year is fine. But the Canadian price gouging really makes my blood boil. The economists have predicted dollar parity for until the end of 2012.

In 1995 to 2005 I had no problems living here. I have been trying to find a job in US for the last 2 years.

Being a young Canadian only have 3 years of experience doing architectural work. I think that with our ridiculous prices for food, gas, insurance and real estate I will be justified to ask for $50,000 a year. Sure, this is a lot. But the way I see it in America I'd be well off on $35,000 a year.

Just some examples of savings:

Outside of NYC and LA, it's cheaper to live everywhere else including Chicago. $50/month car insurance vs Toronto: $100-200.
Americans save $20,000 on a brand new SUV like the Chevrolet Suburban or Toyota Land Cruiser.
$2 for 4 L of milk. Toronto: $5 for 3L. Cheese also cheaper.
US: cheaper cellphone plans, cheaper alcohol, cheaper cigarettes, ability to buy guns.. large storewide sales like 20% off everything in store, etc.

Who else is worried this is trend will continue? I understand US had a real estate bubble in 2008 but the cost of living was STILL lower then.

Living in US will always be my dream.

Living in US would not be my dream. Living in a place nobody else can afford it would be my dream. ;)

[BMW_7]

It's sort of relative, but health insurance in the US isn't cheap from what I understand.

Sure taxes are a bit cheaper overall, but when taken into account that they don't pay for medical stuff like us, it's a raw deal. There have been comparisons done in the past about this.

If you want to be a gun-toting, alcoholic run by religious extremists then by all means, move on south.

I'd rather stay here and pay a bit more with a better quality of life, not to say that we don't have our problems, but Harper is nothing compared to those wackos south of the border.
US is nice to visit (at times), but to live hell no. I'd take off to Europe if I could though... Yay to extra time off!

Iceblueshoes, it is not relative. You completelymissed my point as this is not a political discussion. I specigically said living in canada before 2005 was fine. I also said in 2008 the real estate bubble in usa caused homes to be worth millions. I guess if you dont like deals then canada is for you. All i am saying.

[Psubs]

US is nice to visit (at times), but to live hell no. I'd take off to Europe if I could though... Yay to extra time off!

In Greece? :razz:

In Switzerland, the government put to a vote to increase the minimum vacation time from 4 weeks to 6 weeks. :-0 The people voted against this as they fear that it would cause layoffs due to the higher cost of labour.

[vlado416]

I don't know if I am the only one who has an axe to grind about this. But reading this posting and the comments is enough to ruin my day:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110414/loonie-prices-bmo-110414/

I just cannot handle our 30%-50% markup here in Canada over Americans. This has been going on for too long. A year is fine. But the Canadian price gouging really makes my blood boil. The economists have predicted dollar parity for until the end of 2012.

In 1995 to 2005 I had no problems living here. I have been trying to find a job in US for the last 2 years.

Being a young Canadian only have 3 years of experience doing architectural work. I think that with our ridiculous prices for food, gas, insurance and real estate I will be justified to ask for $50,000 a year. Sure, this is a lot. But the way I see it in America I'd be well off on $35,000 a year.

Just some examples of savings:

Outside of NYC and LA, it's cheaper to live everywhere else including Chicago. $50/month car insurance vs Toronto: $100-200.
Americans save $20,000 on a brand new SUV like the Chevrolet Suburban or Toyota Land Cruiser.
$2 for 4 L of milk. Toronto: $5 for 3L. Cheese also cheaper.
US: cheaper cellphone plans, cheaper alcohol, cheaper cigarettes, ability to buy guns.. large storewide sales like 20% off everything in store, etc.

Who else is worried this is trend will continue? I understand US had a real estate bubble in 2008 but the cost of living was STILL lower then.

Living in US will always be my dream.

I would move south only because of climate as I am tired of people here whining about any good weather here .
Yes even canadian companies that ship to US rip canadians off . i guess they think you can piss off lower
numbers of people here whereas 300 million americans can't be played with.

[BMW_7]

Living in US would not be my dream. Living in a place nobody else can afford it would be my dream. ;)

I wish you luck. Are you moving to Hong Kong? Or perhaps London?

[vlado416]

In Greece? :razz:

In Switzerland, the government put to a vote to increase the minimum vacation time from 4 weeks to 6 weeks. :-0 The people voted against this as they fear that it would cause layoffs due to the higher cost of labour.

More vacation time leads to less addiction and lower consumption thus lower unemployment. In my view, it's a fair tradeoff. Yet even unemployment could
be solved by cutting down the work week.Vacation leads to more contemplation and relaxation and people are less willing to be pushed around and to seek relief from junk food and addictive activities .

[Xpwmata]

If you want to be a gun-toting, alcoholic run by religious extremists then by all means, move on south.


Sheer nonsense and stupidity.

[vlado416]

It's sort of relative, but health insurance in the US isn't cheap from what I understand.

Sure taxes are a bit cheaper overall, but when taken into account that they don't pay for medical stuff like us, it's a raw deal. There have been comparisons done in the past about this.

If you want to be a gun-toting, alcoholic run by religious extremists then by all means, move on south.

I'd rather stay here and pay a bit more with a better quality of life, not to say that we don't have our problems, but Harper is nothing compared to those wackos south of the border.
US is nice to visit (at times), but to live hell no. I'd take off to Europe if I could though... Yay to extra time off!

Health insurance is absolutelly not an issue for me nor will ever be as I take care of myself . I want nice weather with an outdoor lifestyle and
no monopoly ripoffs as we have here.

[gman]

I wish you luck. Are you moving to Hong Kong? Or perhaps London?

I was thinking about a Palace like the Queen is living. We were talking about "dream".

[FrogPrince]

If you want to be a gun-toting, alcoholic run by religious extremists then by all means, move on south.


You're ignorant and a racist.

[IceBlueShoes]

Iceblueshoes, it is not relative. You completelymissed my point as this is not a political discussion. I specigically said living in canada before 2005 was fine. I also said in 2008 the real estate bubble in usa caused homes to be worth millions. I guess if you dont like deals then canada is for you. All i am saying.
Deals are always around. How "good" a deal is, is relative.
Don't like the price of something, don't buy it.
Then again, I TRY to buy things I need, not want.

In Greece? :razz:

In Switzerland, the government put to a vote to increase the minimum vacation time from 4 weeks to 6 weeks. :-0 The people voted against this as they fear that it would cause layoffs due to the higher cost of labour.
nah, UK or Spain. Although I'm saying in general.

But let's be honest, 2 weeks off we get here is a joke.

Sheer nonsense and stupidity.
Nonsense? What do you call the republican party? A lot of the guys running want to take things back into the stone age. Esp for womens rights. "OMG, birth control will lead to the downfall of society."
Well gay marriage was supposed to do that as well and has anything happened? Nope.

Health insurance is absolutelly not an issue for me nor will ever be as I take care of myself . I want nice weather with an outdoor lifestyle and
no monopoly ripoffs as we have here.

You take care of yourself now, but we all get old. Fact of life.

[IceBlueShoes]

You're ignorant and a racist.

Racist?
How is saying Christian extremists are trying to run a country racist? Last I checked Christianity is not a race let alone an ethnic group.
And this is coming from a Christian.

It's criticism. Nothing more, nothing less.

Funny though, if I had said muslim extremists were trying to run a country as in the case of Afghanistan before 9/11, no one would bat an eye, but to say Christian extremists are trying to do the same is heresy!

Separation of church and state I say. Although we are a little excessive with people being afraid to say Merry Christmas IMO...

But this is getting off topic...

[gman]

You take care of yourself now, but we all get old. Fact of life.

At that time, he will move back here.

[Xpwmata]

Nonsense? What do you call the republican party? A lot of the guys running want to take things back into the stone age. Esp for womens rights. "OMG, birth control will lead to the downfall of society."
Well gay marriage was supposed to do that as well and has anything happened? Nope.


My comments were regarding your idiotic, ignorant, and prejudice remarks on the US. Not the Republican Party, Women's Rights, Homosexuals or whatever else you are rambling about.

You are now changing the topic to save face as you have obviously embarrassed yourself.

[Slawek]

It's tariffs man what can you do about it. I'd still live in Canada over US any day.

I use to pay $6 for a tube of toothpaste Australia when the same one cost $1.99 in Walmart here.

[ilove]

I agree with the OP for the most part. Manufacturers and retailers have been gouging Canadians forever and have been getting away with it. I guess most Canadians are indifferent and apathetic. Despite chronically being gouged, I heard that the percentage of Canadians that shop cross-border are only around 2% of the total population. Cross-border shoppers are a minority. RFDers are a minority. As long as the majority of Canadians live with this sheep-mentality, gouging will continue.

And don't get me started on the way customers get treated here vs. customer service in the States. Customers get treated like king down south. Money speaks down there.

And for people mentioning countries in Europe as desirable places to live in a thread about cost of living....:facepalm:

[EmperorOfCanada]

Health insurance is absolutelly not an issue for me nor will ever be as I take care of myself . I want nice weather with an outdoor lifestyle and
no monopoly ripoffs as we have here.

And are completely impervious to disease and physical injury? Are you Superman? :-0

[FrogPrince]

Racist?
How is saying Christian extremists are trying to run a country racist? Last I checked Christianity is not a race let alone an ethnic group.
And this is coming from a Christian.

It's criticism. Nothing more, nothing less.

Funny though, if I had said muslim extremists were trying to run a country as in the case of Afghanistan before 9/11, no one would bat an eye, but to say Christian extremists are trying to do the same is heresy!

Separation of church and state I say. Although we are a little excessive with people being afraid to say Merry Christmas IMO...

But this is getting off topic...

Christian extremism might be a lot more prevailant in the US than in Canada but in no way does it "run the country" :facepalm:

There are places in the US that cater to all kinds of lifestyles. Saying that everyone there is a gun-nut consevative is very ignorant.

[Junigenmukyoku]

Christian extremism might be a lot more prevailant in the US than in Canada but in no way does it "run the country" :facepalm:

There are places in the US that cater to all kinds of lifestyles. Saying that everyone there is a gun-nut consevative is very ignorant.

Herman Cain all the way to Rick Perry and oh don't forget about Michelle Bachman.

[Xeros]

Just some examples of savings:

Outside of NYC and LA, it's cheaper to live everywhere else including Chicago. $50/month car insurance vs Toronto: $100-200.
Americans save $20,000 on a brand new SUV like the Chevrolet Suburban or Toyota Land Cruiser.
$2 for 4 L of milk. Toronto: $5 for 3L. Cheese also cheaper.
US: cheaper cellphone plans, cheaper alcohol, cheaper cigarettes, ability to buy guns.. large storewide sales like 20% off everything in store, etc.

Who else is worried this is trend will continue? I understand US had a real estate bubble in 2008 but the cost of living was STILL lower then.

Living in US will always be my dream.

If you only knew what they did to their dairy products, you'll realize that cheap milk and cheese isn't really all that great. To produce the volumes they do to provide cheap prices, the FDA allows certain growth hormones to be used. You really would trade quality for price?

[ilove]

If you only knew what they did to their dairy products, you'll realize that cheap milk and cheese isn't really all that great. To produce the volumes they do to provide cheap prices, the FDA allows certain growth hormones to be used. You really would trade quality for price?

Yes everyone knows this but if you think about how much the Canadian food supply chain is already intermingled with the American one it barely makes a huge difference.

[IceBlueShoes]

My comments were regarding your idiotic, ignorant, and prejudice remarks on the US. Not the Republican Party, Women's Rights, Homosexuals or whatever else you are rambling about.

You are now changing the topic to save face as you have obviously embarrassed yourself.
Ignorant? Embarrassed?
Not at all. I explained my rationale after. If you don't agree that's your choice.

Who controls the US Congress? Republicans.
Who will likely end up winning the 2010 US Congress? Republicans.
So when I say they essentially "run" the country I'm not making it up. The same way if I say the Conservatives run this country because they are the elected party in power. This isn't even taking into account conservative lobbyists...

I agree with the OP for the most part. Manufacturers and retailers have been gouging Canadians forever and have been getting away with it. I guess most Canadians are indifferent and apathetic. Despite chronically being gouged, I heard that the percentage of Canadians that shop cross-border are only around 2% of the total population. Cross-border shoppers are a minority. RFDers are a minority. As long as the majority of Canadians live with this sheep-mentality, gouging will continue.

And don't get me started on the way customers get treated here vs. customer service in the States. Customers get treated like king down south. Money speaks down there.

And for people mentioning countries in Europe as desirable places to live in a thread about cost of living....:facepalm:
Well I'm saying lifestyle personally. I'd rather have more time off and work less and actually enjoy life.

Christian extremism might be a lot more prevailant in the US than in Canada but in no way does it "run the country" :facepalm:

There are places in the US that cater to all kinds of lifestyles. Saying that everyone there is a gun-nut consevative is very ignorant.
Not all of them, but religious groups have too much power IMO. So much for the separation of Church and state.