Godisincontrol:
Merry Christmas from Edmonton

emmanuelewumi:


Non TB related topics can be discussed on weekends.

I have a stock market investment WhatsApp group, which focused on investment generally but with a bias for the stock market. But weekends are free days when we discuss as the spirit directs.

sentra05:
Is there anyone working as an independent contractor? Mehn being a contractor is sweet ooo. No wonder some people have sworn never to take a permanent full time job. Lol

einsteino:



This is where I'd join in deriding Canada or "badmouthing", hopefully I don't get caned for airing my honest views. I could share some awesome Christmas abi Winter pics but fact is that all the fun starts and ends at it looking picturesque. The experience is often lacklustre if not outrightly boring, it can easily leave a Nigerian complaining or just realising its empty lol. Winter and its snow might look pretty but trust me when I say the true beauty is the summer sun, lol there isnt any sane person who loves Canadian winter. Anyways, I digress.


Our christmas at best has the vibe of a workers day public holiday in Naija.... It is even worse for our bros who are muslims, their salah here can easily get them feeling homesick & dejected. In my opinion, Canadian christmas is awfully quiet. It's a caucus kinda thing, mostly happens indoors with your family and close friends only, unlike naija where you can be a stranger and still catch the festive feeling even weeks before. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on your kind of person, and your networks here.

Personally I miss the pomp and liveliness of not just naija's christmas but any celeberation in Naija and with it's people. But then again, Naija comes with the chaos that caused me to run away to Canada. Hence when we complain, its often with a tongue in cheek.

salford:
My values are average using Alberta and Sask as examples. Cost will vary for provinces and within cities in a province too. e.g rental may be cheaper in Red Deer compared to Calgary. Car Insurance will be cheaper in Winnipeg compared to Toronto.

Minimum Rent: Condo ($1000 and up), House ($1300 and up), sharing rooms - if you are single ($500 and up)
I aded "and up" because cheap housing will come with issues such as pests.

Car finance: $300 (Assuming the car is $18,000 and financed for 5 to 6 years). For starters, better to buy a small car outright.

Car Insurance: $150 (could be more or a little less depending on several factors. e.g premium or 3rd party, your postal code, parked in a garage or street, distance driven, used for Uber, age of driver, winter tires etc

Phone. (around 5 to 7gb): $80

Home Internet (no cable tv): $70

Water (if house): $80

Gas - Home heating (if house): $80

Electricity: $80 (if you love cooking, and also frequently use your oven and electric heaters in winter, then it will be higher)

Petrol: $200 (assuming you drive 20 to 30 min per day and you don't drive an SUV. if you do not have a car, Bus pass: $110)

Tenant Insurance: $20 (some landlords and housing agemcies will ask for it).

Bank fees: $10 and up

Single people can save lots of money if they decide to share. Bills like internet and electricity can be shared too.



if you intend to buy a house not long after landing:

You will have to consider the following additional costs:

Home insurance: $100

Property tax: $350 (condo fees is extra, but property tax for condos are generally lower)

House maintenance: $500 (This has been averaged over certain number of years), You can spend 0 in one year but can also spend $7k the following year.



Miscellaneous (some important and some are not)

Food: $150 per family member

Clothes: $30 per month (This has been averaged as well)

Entertainment/refreshments and eating out: $150

Gym: $50

Sports participation for those with kids: ($50 to $150)

Daycare: $1000 per kid for full-time

Personal care and Healthcare: ?

Amazon (people that love shopping): ?

Car maintenance:?



Costs are monthly. I hope this helps someone or families preparing to land.

Others can add or subtract since this is just an opinion.

salford:
I will try to work out and post the average monthly cost of living for renting vs owning and condo vs house when I am less busy. It may help new immigrants plan ahead.

ahiboilandgas:
he get wife oòoooh with 6 kids .....he spends around 5m annually on sex (by my estimate) he luvs local hausa film girls they are his favorite another weird aspect he recharge his phone atime 200k not via bank but usingcard .....he travel bussiness class only on seat 1 A only but doest use cabs but charted bike from airports

salford1:

Since you are in structures, you would likely have to rely on the oil industry for jobs. I would go for Edmonton over Calgary. However, do not restrict yourself to these two cities. In recent times, people with Civil engr education and experience from Canada living in Calgary have had to move as far as Grand Prairie for jobs - not saying this will be your case, but just have that in mind.

salford1:

Calgary is more of an oil city and indeed beautiful. Edmonton is more diverse with lots of gov work. Calgary took a beating during the last 4 to 5 years because of low oil price.

ahiboilandgas:
hello have u heard of the start up visa ? For enterprenure starting out in Canada,are u aware of any Nigerian that



came through the route

FreshGuy2:
Please advise a brother on this....
Traveling out has been on my mind for some years now either for studies (mechanical engineering)which is the only course I ever want to study or for work (menial jobs)... My problem now is how do I cope with mechanical engineering over there even though my maths background is very poor (never liked mathematics including other calculation courses from primary till I finished my ND).. On the other hand, if I travel out with the aim of working over there instead of studying, how easy will it be for me getting a better paying job considering the fact that I don't have much qualifications...The countries on my mind are Germany and Canada

DigitalMallam:

Even daily top-up is allowed.

Collintos:
By Jimmy

It may not be self-evident there is a lot of articles but only few can help foreign seekers to make informed decisions. Most people are giving incomplete information, bits and pieces. It’s of no tangible help. It’s like leading the reader into the jungle of unreliable information (lot of bushes), who is then hopelessly confused and lost. Of course, someone can’t rely upon an amateur on a particular subject matter to supply a professional recommendation.

Hold up! Please do not hastily sell or dispose your mansion, land, machinery, equipment, tools, sentimental items and other assets. Do not relinquish your secured, decent job (even though it may be less than perfect- there is no absolutely perfect job!), cherished long term friendships and other relationships. Before doing that, please ensure you read this piece of writing along with the other pieces. It’s totally free life-saving gems of info.

Now, I’ll give only three (3) salient reasons that are more than enough to convince someone not even to contemplate moving to Canada, unless these don’t matter to you:

(1) Lack of decent paying jobs: If one should decide on only one reason, this is it! How would one survive on low income to pay ever increasing rent or high mortgage (expensive house/condo price), along with other subsistence expenses. Cost of living is rapidly going up and up and up. No wonder there is a high number of Canadians with mountains of debts.

“Drowning in debt, freaked out Canadians…”

Drowning in debt, freaked out Canadians brace for a reckoning - BNN Bloomberg

Even a low paying job is a huge challenge to get, much less a high paying one. Oh no, please don’t take on a factory job. Factory labor jobs are the worst of the worst. It’s literal slavery! At one time, I decided to experiment with a side/part time factory labor job as a way to supplement my income. Big mistake! No sooner had I worked only 3 hours than I had to walk off that job! I didn’t even bother to uplift my income payment for the 3 hours of work. So, I generously gave free labor.

Even for the low income jobs one has to pass additional tests like “online aptitude, personality and skills”; basic knowledge on English and Mathematics; computer literacy; job-specific and other tests, depending on the requirements and whether one is hired directly by employer or by an employment agency (which usually required vigorous testing and is unreasonably complicated). There seems to be more employment agencies than employers! - That’s a hyperbole.

So, in order to secure a job, one has to pass a combination of these tests, apart from the job interview. The majority of job candidates share the view that online tests are garbage and an absolute waste of precious time! Many highly qualified candidates are ruled out because of these so-called screening tests!

“Most Canadians are unhappy with their salaries, survey finds”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business...

(2) Sky high expensive accommodation: The huge influx of immigrants bought up the available housing units, thereby creating a chronic shortage in housing. Hurray! For housing developers! These are very happy people. Also investors are buying up the houses and condos, so that they can benefit from the ongoing increase in prices.

The quality of many apartment buildings is shameful. These so-called residential dwellings are plagued with roaches, mice, bedbugs, unhygienic, congestion, little or no ventilation, lack of proper heating for the cold weather, lack of air conditioning for the summer hot humid temperatures and for pumping air through the living unit, lack of sound proof structure (so the sounds of neighbors and door slams wouldn’t wake one up- sleep is vitally important!). Wouldn’t one wonder if this is indeed a developed nation?

Landlords kept raising the rent often and wouldn’t take heed to your complaints. They usually demand their “fat rent” at the beginning of the month, or else failure of paying will see one being kicked out in about 30 days. This is an acid test of true Canadian hospitality, generosity and kindness! This country is run on pure greed! Spaces are limited /congested in apartment buildings and old houses. Even some new houses and condos, the developers are stingy in giving adequate spaces! This mean-spirited attitude is ingrained in Canadian culture.

“Renters in Canada face a number of hurdles. Finding a place, for one, is often a struggle in itself.”

There’s a lifestyle penalty for renting in Canada — it doesn’t have to be so

(3) Canada is dead, socially, emotionally and romantically! However, there are exceptions, for example, Montreal is better than Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto, in this context. Canadian culture is boring to death. It’s an oppressive and depressing country! Too many rules to keep the population in psychological slavery. Canadians are living in fear.

It’s a mediocre society. It’s cold-hearted. There’s no zest. No liveliness. It lacks inspiration. It’s demotivating. It kills one’s dream/ambition. It’s a country of complications and contradictions. One has to live here to experience it. As the saying goes, “Who feels it, knows it.”

Culture is a very important concept that peeps have to learn but sadly overlook, particularly when migrating to a new country. It’s like neck to neck with the economic factor. It’s a very powerful force, like a monster with good and bad features. Even with loads of money, would one be happy living in a cold, grossly boring culture like this one?

Unfortunately, for the Canadian culture, I can hardly think of any pros, and even if there are, they will be outweighed by the cons. Cons include, antisocial, unfriendly (do not talk with strangers), rude, unkind, stingy, uncaring, unloving, unhelpful, unforgiving, unmerciful, intolerant, racial, discriminatory, backstabbing, pretentious, selfish, narcissistic, proud, snobbish, rip-off, materialistic, etc. Huff! What a boring, depressing list. It’s a highly toxic and contagious culture!


A few pros that stand out are welcoming new immigrants into “slavery” to work in extremely hard low paying jobs; silence, where peeps do not talk much with each other, everywhere is full of it, from coast to coast; polite when it has to be selling, customer service or public service. However, even the so-called politeness of Canadian culture is fake. If someone can’t hold a friendly conversation with another, then that is proof that the politeness is not really “polite” at all in the first place. It doesn’t come genuinely from the heart. Even some foreigners are now realizing that Canadian smiles are fake! It’s like “fake it until you make it” kind of thing.

Sometimes one has to run or fly in order to win, if one can’t beat a monster! Like many other born Canadians who settled in other countries, I also have been living outside of Canada. Of course, I’m so ecstatic that I’ve made one of the most vital life-changing decisions ever!

There are a lot of other deficiencies, some of which can be found on my Quora profile. However, if lack of decent paying jobs, chronic shortage of housing, which is super expensive (renting and buying) along with the fact that Canada is dead, socially, emotionally and romantically, there is no incentive to live in Canada at all. Period! Full stop!

Well, if you still can’t accept or believe this piece of information, I challenge any foreigner to live in the largest city by population in Canada, Toronto, which is widely said to be culturally diverse and which is supposed to be a “most developed” city, according to United Nations reports and other similar reports, or alternatively any other English Canadian city, for only six (6) months or as long as you please, before bringing your entire family!

Beware! You have been warned! Ignore this info at your own risk!

Jimmy

Post Script:

Some possible reasons for foreigners habitually and continuously thinking that Canada is a perfect country:

Perhaps because of pride, shame and other reasons, immigrants do not tell their relatives, friends and associates in their original country, "I’m failing in Canada! I need help!" …Human nature.
Because the freedom of the Canadian news media is highly regulated and suppressed, “certain information” on Canadian society and life would seldom make world headline news…Oppressive, secretive society.
The internet is replete with sarcastic lists of reasons like, “12 reasons NOT to go to Canada,” on websites which are actually promoting Canada for tourism and other reasons. Also, this is a way of promoting that Canadians do have a sense of humor by being sarcastic, but living in Canada will easily prove otherwise. Nice try! Don’t fall for it. Of course, Canadian nature is most definitely beautiful. There are literally a great number of sites and immigration consultants advertising reasons to visit, to study in and to live in Canada…Half-truths peddlers for commercial benefits.
Employers who want cheap labor.
Getting carried away by sugar-coated, politically correct articles and comments on the internet. They get foreigners confused as to what is true and what's not…People with their “own agenda.”
Humans can be logically confusing creatures, with everyone sharing various viewpoints on a particular topic but not everyone would score a “10” on a scale of 1-10, with also only a small percentage who tells the full truth.

Whose information do you prefer to trust? –

A) A professional who studied social science for many years, studied human behavior, lived in the country, presenting logical info for whatever topic is in focus, or

B) Residents/non-residents/immigration consultants who in most cases nonchalantly wrote up things as they came to their mind?


Oh Mehn this guy is too raw. easy bro

emmanuelewumi:
Just got another money market fund from FSDH Asset Management at 12.2%. The returns will fluctuate between 10.5% and 12% for the next 4 months until when their Treasury Bills mature

katamo:

Correct. If you hold until maturity you do not lose any capital.

Let me try to clarify a bit more since it seems people still have a lot of questions. If you sell before maturity there are three things that can happen:

1. If the interest rate for newly issued similar bonds with the same time until maturity is greater than the coupon rate on your bond you will sell each unit at a lower price than you bought

2. If the interest rate for newly issued similar bonds with the same time until maturity is lower than the coupon rate on your bond you will sell each unit at a high price than you bought

3. If the interest rate for newly issued similar bonds with the same time until maturity is equal to the coupon rate on your bond you will sell each unit at a the same price that you bought

The principle is that investors will demand a return that is consistent with what the rate of return the market dictates at any point in time. As an investor, if you can buy a new issuance of 3-yr FGN savings bond at a today's yield of 11.296% (which is the same as the coupon rate since it is a newly issued bond at par), you will pay less for a 10-yr bond with 3 years left to maturity that only pays a coupon of 8% (example 1 above). However, you will be willing to pay more for a 5-yr bond with 3 years left to maturity that pays a coupon of 16% (example 2 above). If the coupon rate on the secondary market bond at the time the bond is sold is equal to the yield (or current coupon on new FGN bonds) you will pay the same price as what you would pay for the new FGN bond (par) since in reality, the payment schedule will be exactly the same as that of a new issuance, that is they are identical from a financial perspective since you are getting the same scheduled interest payments and return of principal at maturity (example 3 above).

TotoNaRubber:
Bonds seems like a legal 419, you buy to make profit but the banks makes more money when you are buying and when you are selling.

The units thing is complicated, the interest rate is complicated, you won't really know when banks try to cheat you, sometimes you get paid 16% and sometimes you get paid 12%.

When you buy from sec market, you have to pay the seller some interests, is there anyone who has held bond to maturity to explain if it was worth it?

emmanuelewumi:



I don't think you will lose capital if you hold till maturity.

You can buy FGN savings bonds and hold to maturity, by 2 to 3 years tenor

emmanuelewumi:



I don't think you will lose capital if you hold till maturity.

You can buy FGN savings bonds and hold to maturity, by 2 to 3 years tenor

emmanuelewumi:



Please find out, why your capital can depreciate.
I think if you terminate the fund before certain period of time, you might lose part of your capital.

emmanuelewumi:


You can only get from the investment banking subsidiaries of Stanbic IBTC or FBN.

Or the following registered investment houses.

Investment one

United Capital

Chapel Hill Denham

Axa Mansard

GTI capital

CSL stockbroker


Meristem

And many more

emmanuelewumi:



Very good, you paid N20 million because you bought from the secondary market.

You will need about N100 million to buy FGN bond from the primary market.

With a minimum of $2500 you can also invest in the Eurobond fund of FBN Quest Merchant Bank @ 6%.

You are sure of the preservation of your fund from currency devaluation

emmanuelewumi:



Very good, you paid N20 million because you bought from the secondary market.

You will need about N100 million to buy FGN bond from the primary market.

With a minimum of $2500 you can also invest in the Eurobond fund of FBN Quest Merchant Bank @ 6%.

You are sure of the preservation of your fund from currency devaluation