My Observations Back in Canada

[warlord 73]

So I just got back from a week trip to see family in Southern Ontario and this has pretty much been the first time I've been there in about 2 years (other than a short stint at Christmas 1.5 years ago). So I had to go out and see and try things and see if they were how I remembered them.

Coffee Crisp - Kind of tasted bland. Might have been because I got some Vanilla flavor one instead

Mirage Bar - Really bland and not very tasty at all (this used to be my favorite I think)

Harveys Hamburgers - Still tasted great, however I was knocked on my #### discovering a simple cheese burger was almost $6 for just the burger. Holy #######.

Coke - Still tasted really amazing, especially cold. Only place I will drink it in the world

New York Fries and Gravy - I could have done without, gravy was just odd, didn't like it too much

White Cream Soda Mr. Freeze - Liquid crack. I can't recall how much money I spent on these things on my walks. I would literary convince store hop to find one and then when it was done, find another one. Spent way too much for these things.

Other then that, prices were horrible up there. A lot more then I ever remember, plus their dollar is worth more too so that makes it even more expensive. I found out a $200,000 home here costs more then $700,000 (in guelph). I couldn't believe it. Also the accents I really noticed. Funny how you can just pick up the accents and realize how strong they really are up there. Being in summer though, one thing I forgot about was how freaking humid it gets there. Anyways fun trip and really different when you don't see it for 2 years...

[pocheros 101]

I think they changed the recipe for coffee crisp. I've noticed that they taste really stale in the last couple of years. Also, perhaps this wasn't as noticeable but Ontario has HST now (harmonized sales tax) where most things get GST + PST, instead of some getting one or the other. It's been a real kick in the pants, especially with groceries.

Edited August 22, 2011 by pocheros

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I think they changed the recipe for coffee crisp. I've noticed that they taste really stale in the last couple of years. Also, perhaps this wasn't as noticeable but Ontario has HST now (harmonized sales tax) where most things get GST + PST, instead of some getting one or the other. It's been a real kick in the pants, especially with groceries.

My family is from Kitchener-Waterloo - now I just shudder at the price of everything after living in VA for 3+ yrs and paying 5%....You never know what will be cheaper though - in Kitchener you can get a 1 lb of bacon (454g ) for like $3.00 or less if it's on sale....in VA it's been like $7/lb for bacon at Giant- so weird.

Paying the HST on household bills is brutal - my brother was saying it can get pretty dicey

[pocheros 101]

My family is from Kitchener-Waterloo - now I just shudder at the price of everything after living in VA for 3+ yrs and paying 5%....You never know what will be cheaper though - in Kitchener you can get a 1 lb of bacon (454g ) for like $3.00 or less if it's on sale....in VA it's been like $7/lb for bacon at Giant- so weird.

Paying the HST on household bills is brutal - my brother was saying it can get pretty dicey

Oooo, 5% tax That sounds like a dream, haha. I just looked up sales tax for Las Vegas (where I'm moving) and it's 8%- not as low as I'd like but still better HST is really bad for large purchases too, like annual gym memberships or plane tickets. Sometimes I balk at my grocery receipts because all of a sudden I just spent $7 on tax...

Edited August 22, 2011 by pocheros

[Colleens 40]

Warlord, you now have me craving a New York Fries Poutine....I loved their poutine!!

I am glad that I moved from ON before the HST came in. When I go back to Canada it is usually to visit my family in AB, so we only get hit with the 5% gst, which is significanlty lower then the 9.25% state tax in TN. But most things are more expensive there. The one thing that I have always been surprised about is the cost of produce where I live in TN. It is sooo expensive. I used to be able to go to one of the many large farmers markets in Ottawa and buy all my produce super fresh and for very little. Here the farmers markets are very small, and the stuff you buy in the grocery store is never very fresh and $$$$. I miss having a garden for fresh veggies

The cost of living in Canada is higher, but compared to where I live, the salaries are much higher in Canada as well....so it somewhat evens out!

[SapphireDreams 71]

Interesting observations.

Not sure what size/area of house you're comparing but $700,000 in Guelph seems like a lot! I hope we're talking large mansion style houses. You can probably buy a house in Toronto or the GTA for $700,000 too, it's all relative. I am just outside of NYC and the home prices are just as ridiculous. However, we've looked at houses in Vegas and are amazed at how cheap things are. Salaries are a huge factor too. I'd be making much less than I do now, for a higher position if we moved to Vegas. So, personally I'm happy to keep my high salary and pay slightly more to live, since it gives me more flexibility to save money and travel!

Colleen - I'm always amazed at the price of produce in the US too. I also really miss Ontario produce in the summer and stores like No Frills and Food Basics!

Mmmm, white freezies are the best!

[canada_socks 97]

My fiance used to live in Ohio when we first started dating. I was amazed at how little I would spend when shopping for not only groceries but clothing as well. He moved back to his home state of Maryland a few years ago and I find the cost of living there is comparable to living in Ontario.

As for Mr. Freeze freezies, I am a fan of the red ones, not so much the white ones! I will have to remember to buy a few cases before I move to Annapolis next month to bring along!

[Marilyn. 340]

I think the price of produce has more to do with where you live in the US... we can get it pretty cheap in the Los Angeles area..

[thetreble 19]

It's all relative.

Just like Sapphire, in NJ/NY it's normal to spend 4.99/pound for berries, grapes, etc. At one point a year ago, grapes were $6.99/pound! Yikes! I've seen my mum in Kitchener buy them for .69/pound on sale at Food Basics!

Also, people in my town are paying $20,000/year in property taxes so places like Guelph or Southern Ontario to me now look cheap in terms of housing. I currently pay $1,400/month for a shitty, old apartment. It makes the HST look not so bad.

I've noticed the price increases in canada...$1.89 for a chocolate bar. A beer costs you 5 or 6 bucks for something domestic.

But overall, in terms of peoples wages compared to their cost of living, Canada is still a great place to live.

Edited August 22, 2011 by thetreble

[The_Dude 1,142]

It's all relative.

Just like Sapphire, in NJ/NY it's normal to spend 4.99/pound for berries, grapes, etc. At one point a year ago, grapes were $6.99/pound! Yikes! I've seen my mum in Kitchener buy them for .69/pound on sale at Food Basics!

Also, people in my town are paying $20,000/year in property taxes so places like Guelph or Southern Ontario to me now look cheap in terms of housing. I currently pay $1,400/month for a shitty, old apartment. It makes the HST look not so bad.

I've noticed the price increases in canada...$1.89 for a chocolate bar. A beer costs you 5 or 6 bucks for something domestic.

But overall, in terms of peoples wages compared to their cost of living, Canada is still a great place to live.

Wow, that much for produce? Must suck to live in an area where stuff actually goes out of season.

[warlord 73]

As for Mr. Freeze freezies, I am a fan of the red ones, not so much the white ones! I will have to remember to buy a few cases before I move to Annapolis next month to bring along!

I couldn't find any of them in the grocery store. Usually they are with the drinks and stuff and not frozen of course. I would have brought back a couple of boxes if I could have...

[thetreble 19]

Wow, that much for produce? Must suck to live in an area where stuff actually goes out of season.

haha It does! But what's worse, is that NJ actually has some great produce during the seasons. But, for some reason, if you go to the grocery store they won't sell NJ tomatoes. They will import them. I went to a farmers market on the weekend and bought a bunch of beautiful looking tomats for cheap. I go the grocery store, they are all bruised up and are on sale for $3.99/pound!

[warlord 73]

Oh another thing that I forgot about that I noticed that was really confusing. My brother and dad were saying they were going to BBQ steaks. I was like, just give me my steak and let me cook it as I don't want my steak bbq'd because that would be utterly gross. My brother eventually realized I was getting it wrong had to tell me "grilling" and not bbq as I was thinking. Guess to them BBQ and Grilling are the same thing, while here BBQ is that slow roasted way with BBQ sauces you do to pulled pork and stuff.

Another one was the term holidays. My brother asked me how many I get a year, so I was trying to rhyme off all the holidays we have and he kept saying not those ones. So I was totally confused until his girlfriend understood and asked 'vacation days' I get a year. Again, they seem to put holidays and vacation days into one term which to me is really confusing just like BBQ/Grilling as one word...

[Sprailenes 47]

haha It does! But what's worse, is that NJ actually has some great produce during the seasons. But, for some reason, if you go to the grocery store they won't sell NJ tomatoes. They will import them. I went to a farmers market on the weekend and bought a bunch of beautiful looking tomats for cheap. I go the grocery store, they are all bruised up and are on sale for $3.99/pound!

Go. To. Wegmans.

They have an entire Jersey produce section! It's amazing.

[canada_socks 97]

I couldn't find any of them in the grocery store. Usually they are with the drinks and stuff and not frozen of course. I would have brought back a couple of boxes if I could have...

This time of year they stop ordering them at grocery stores. I know my store still has a decent amount of stock left, which makes me happy!