salik19
3/21/2016 01:09 EST
Hi all, I am moving from Singapore to BC, Vancouver in about 2 months' time from now for work purposes in which I may be there for about 1 year (I already got a job there). As it is my first time going abroad for work, I feel that I am still at a lost somewhat and currently I am trying to research as many things as I can before reaching there. Even so, I still have a couple of questions or doubts, after looking online and I sincerely hope if anyone can answer to them. Anyway, please do bear with me should my questions sound 'stupid' or illogical...
1. I am intending to bring over about CND$4-5000, assuming that my rent may be 1.5k and after deduction of some expenses such as buying food etc, I may be left with 1-2k for the first month. Will that be enough? (I will be paid bi-weekly)
2. Prior to my question 1 above, how does the rent payment works? Do you pay it in monthly installments? Or do you need to pay in advance (in 3 or 6 months etc)
3. What would be the best banks to use once I am over there? It would be best if no minimum balance is required and I am looking at the option where I may need to transfer money internationally too. So far I am looking at CIBC where its plan seems decent (but I may need to drop by the bank and ask for more info once I am there) but any other bank options that you all may think it is good?
4. Which telcom lines should I pick up on? Initially I was thinking of getting a prepaid card, however it does not seems worthwhile as it cost is about the same as getting a monthly plan. (At least that is what my research is telling me) Then I am looking at getting Wind Smartphone Plan $35, as it includes a 2GB mobile data along with those sms etc.. Feasible?
So far, I can only think of the above but please do feel free to share if you think there are any other stuff that I should take note of?
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standupguy
3/22/2016 00:25 EST
salik19 - You are in for a surprise: check this - http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies
In addition to a damage deposit equal to one months rent you will have a monthly hydro bill approximately $86. Use the bus and Sky Train because parking is almost impossible and expensive. Use Craigs List to find almost anything or Kijji. For winter clothes and housewares (dishes, pots & pans) shop at Value Village a very good second hand store on Hastings Street or the Salvation Army store. Do not use Telus. They will overcharge you $5 - $7 on every bill, tell you that it cost $200 to close your account (BS). Even Telus employees has told me they will rip you off. Use Shaw. Cell Phone packages are the most expensive in the world. You will be shocked. Shop around for the best deals. Banks - I bank at CIBC however, they ripped me off $14,000 during the financial crash through lies. I fought them for 5 years and got $9,000 back but lost a lot on interest too. Their internet banking site is the best. Credit cards - the cheapest is MBNA (a division of Toronto Dominion Bank). Their no annual fee platinum card is only 11% annual interest, not 22% like Visa and AMEX. AMEX is evil.
The easiest bank to get into is the Superstore bank, also the cheapest store to shop for food, etc. It's a huge store. CIBC has monthly charges for checking unless you can prove you are a student. Superstore bank has no monthly charges. Check The bus routes and schedules on line. The West Vancouver Blue bus is different bus service than Vancouver Transit. Each zone you pass through you have to pay a fare increase for, but they give you a transfer when you get on and pay. You can take the Sky Train right from the International Airport which is a ways out of town. Kitsalano "Kits", on the West side is expensive and grovey. Kit's pool and park are very nice, and you are close to Granville Island Market under the Burrard Street Bridge. The West End is noisy and cool being close to the Stanley Park beaches and English Bay. West Van is very expensive, Deep Cove is nice, but a ways out (10 minutes to the second narrows bridge) North Van is expensive but more boring. You are close to the Sea Bus there at the Lonsdale Key. Short trip to downtown and a transfer.
Granville Street near the Granville Street Bridge and Cambie Street near the Cambie Street bridge have lots of apartment buildings. The West End is of the downtown is largely a gay community. I lived in Vancouver from 1968 to 1992. I now live in Nanaimo, a much more relaxed place. Vancouver has terrific nightlife and restaurants. Take in the Yale on Granville Street and the Railway Club on Pender and listen to CO-OP Radio, 100.5 - they are on the web. They announce up coming shows. If you are a runner, there are free showers and change rooms at Brocton Oval in Stanley Park. Run the 10 km sea wall. Lock your clothes in your car if you have one. Pay parking there now. You can extend your runs from there over the Burrard Street bridge and into Kits up to the Spanish Banks near UBC, about 28 KM. Commercial Street has a lot of Ethnic restaurants. Cool neighborhood. That's all for now.
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standupguy
3/22/2016 00:34 EST
more web sites http://www2.gov.bc.ca/
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/tools-and-resources/the-law
http://bclaws.ca/
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salik19
3/22/2016 03:10 EST
Hey there, many thanks for the reply. Having such info on hand is definitely a good thing to know.
Regarding the banks, should I still be looking at CIBC then?
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standupguy
3/22/2016 10:08 EST
CIBC is French Canadian run and they can be brutal. Everything is based on Toronto banking hours, so if you see that you over drafted and top up it has to be done before their closing time in Toronto. Their interest rate for a Personal Line of Credit has a lower interest rate than the Scotia Bank. Their telephone banking is great as well as their help line which sometimes gives the wrong information. They produce a monthly market analysis on email that is great. Their Internet banking site is great, but some of them are rude elitists and will mock you. I had to parry & thrust at them in the end when they had to make financial amends with me. Their rat who screwed me made fake notes and all, but I told them I would take my statement of facts to a polygraph and see them in small claims court. They replied "of course we don't make our financial reps. Take polygraph's. I could have gone a the way with them, but it would have taken a long time. I just represent myself in court as lawyers are $250 an hour and up. I do pretty good, and know some of their tricks and the right demeanor. But my answer to you would be yes. CIBC. Their telephone banking is superb & Internet banking format the best. Play tough with their snobby women tough. Don't trust the younger guys and you will do OK with them. You can set up all your payee accounts on their site. Cheerio
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standupguy
3/22/2016 10:09 EST
CIBC is French Canadian run and they can be brutal. Everything is based on Toronto banking hours, so if you see that you over drafted and top up it has to be done before their closing time in Toronto. Their interest rate for a Personal Line of Credit has a lower interest rate than the Scotia Bank. Their telephone banking is great as well as their help line which sometimes gives the wrong information. They produce a monthly market analysis on email that is great. Their Internet banking site is great, but some of them are rude elitists and will mock you. I had to parry & thrust at them in the end when they had to make financial amends with me. Their rat who screwed me made fake notes and all, but I told them I would take my statement of facts to a polygraph and see them in small claims court. They replied "of course we don't make our financial reps. Take polygraph's. I could have gone a the way with them, but it would have taken a long time. I just represent myself in court as lawyers are $250 an hour and up. I do pretty good, and know some of their tricks and the right demeanor. But my answer to you would be yes. CIBC. Their telephone banking is superb & Internet banking format the best. Play tough with their snobby women though. Don't trust the younger guys and you will do OK with them. You can set up all your payee accounts on their site. Cheerio
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salik19
3/23/2016 23:13 EST
Okay, that does sounds a bit scary then. Oh well, guess it is high time for me to go down and take a good look once I am settle there.
Thanks mate!
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standupguy
3/24/2016 06:45 EST
salik19 - In the centre of the Downtown East-side at the intersection of Main & Hastings better known as Pain & Wasting is the most obscene open drug market anywhere in the world. Heroin or Meth (Shabu) is sold openly and the addicts walk a short distance to three story walk-up flop houses that function as shooting galleries. There is a facility operated by the Vancouver Health Authority as a safe injection site, the only one in the world. The shooting galleries have a steady flow of addicts going in and out with dangerous looking bouncers at the door. As you go East down Hastings Street and one block North (Cordova) and all the side streets until you get to Victoria is a crowded stroll of sex trade workers. When commuting East on Cordova, I have seen Pro`s stand stark naked during rush hour. Also from Main Street East on Broadway is another notorious stroll (mostly young addicts). Along Broadway is Mountain Equipment Coop, a great store for everything outdoors. Prostitution is legal in Canada as recently the law preventing communicating for the `purpose`was struct down because it violated the charter of rights for women to have a safe workplace. So the Pro`s can work were it is less dangerous. Robert Picton murdered over 50 sex trade workers back around 2006, Picked them up and took them to his Haney farm for a `party``where he murdered them most times by injecting them with windshield washer fluid (alcohol) and then fed them to his pigs which were later turned into pork for the market. Horrible. They are making a movie about it. I don`t think he acted alone, his brother knew about his guilt and there was another woman involved. So remember that most Canadians are squeaky clean and polite, but there are some monsters there too.
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standupguy
3/26/2016 00:12 EST
one more link for you to check out about Vancouver. It's pretty accurate -
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154513615642119&set=a.416779812118.208166.5602971
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salik19
3/27/2016 23:05 EST
One more questions - any ideas on how the rent works over there?
As there are 2 of my friends going over there a month earlier than me, we are planning to rent a house that have 3 bedrooms, however we are uncertain if there will be a need to pay the additional room for a month since I am not there..
Any ideas? Or does that depends to the tenant/landlord?
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standupguy
3/28/2016 08:55 EST
rent a house? well that's costly. Usually the lease in under one of your friends names. He will have to pay a damage deposit of one months rent. You would have to chip in on that. But paying for a month of rent before you actually occupy the house..hmmm...that's being overly generous. It's your call. Remember there will be an electrical power bill too, called Hydro. Carefully use power. It's expensive. Watch out for the ultra expensive cell phone services. Long contracts that you can't get out of. If CIBC is shy about doing business with you, remember Superstore banking is very easy to get and affordable. I don't think they charge for checking.
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salik19
3/28/2016 22:48 EST
We had thought it will be easier and slightly cheaper too, better idea of staying together.
Did chanced upon - https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/apa/5508291823.html in which it does seems to cater to our cause but one of my friend is checking with him since he will be flying down soon.
Noted about the electricity bill and the banks. Thanks a lot, mate!
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