Moving personal belongings....

[Ponga]

I moved from California too. We looked at various options of shipping our belongings and it was just so expensive that it wasn't worth it for us. We sold all of our furniture, decorations, kitchen stuff, etc donated and gave away clothes that we haven't worn in a while and just shipped a few boxes and brought a few suitcases (paid extra). We figured that we're better off keeping only our favourite clothes, pictures, etc than paying literally thousands of dollars to move it all. Our stuff wasn't expensive or anything, so there was no point in paying more to move it to Canada than it would be to buy new stuff. Even packing the few boxes and suitcases was stressful and a huge PITA, so I can't imagine packing, moving and unpacking the whole household. From the money we made by selling our belongings, we bought new furniture, new toys for our daughter, winter clothes (we didn't need any in California), etc. I'm really happy with our decision.

Good plan...especially now with the Loonie at about $0.71 versus the USD. They can sell everything (that can be replaced) in the U.S. and then buy new `stuff' when they get to Canada...and have money left over.

 

[rugrat907]

That's pretty much what I'm doing. No furniture, no kitchen stuff, none of that...I bet I wind up with something in the neighborhood of 20 boxes...so I'm really just looking for a good (and inexpensive) carrier to ship with.

 

[TracyCa64]

I moved from California too. We looked at various options of shipping our belongings and it was just so expensive that it wasn't worth it for us. We sold all of our furniture, decorations, kitchen stuff, etc donated and gave away clothes that we haven't worn in a while and just shipped a few boxes and brought a few suitcases (paid extra). We figured that we're better off keeping only our favourite clothes, pictures, etc than paying literally thousands of dollars to move it all. Our stuff wasn't expensive or anything, so there was no point in paying more to move it to Canada than it would be to buy new stuff. Even packing the few boxes and suitcases was stressful and a huge PITA, so I can't imagine packing, moving and unpacking the whole household. From the money we made by selling our belongings, we bought new furniture, new toys for our daughter, winter clothes (we didn't need any in California), etc. I'm really happy with our decision.

Oh yeah, I agree. I sold all of my furniture, sold my car and donated soo much before I came to Canada. I have about 100 boxes of personal items that I wanted to keep. I have a lot of sentimental items too that I wanted to keep.

 

[bradybunchmom]

Yeah it is expensive and I would try to purge more however I already did as much as possible. My 4 children and I reduced a 4 bedroom house to about 1 bedroom worth. I can't ask my kids (teens) to get rid of the items they saved when I already moved them away from their home. I would guess that I have a small uhaul truck worth of stuff.

 

[Californiacicle]

I have to say hi to all of the California folks in this thread. *waves*

When we moved my DH and SD drove our stuff in the biggest UHAUL and I flew with our newborn son. If we ever can bring my mom over we will do the same.

 

[TracyCa64]

I have to say hi to all of the California folks in this thread. *waves*

When we moved my DH and SD drove our stuff in the biggest UHAUL and I flew with our newborn son. If we ever can bring my mom over we will do the same.

Hello!! It's cool seeing so many from California.

I was raised in Long Beach, Ca, but had moved to Redding, Ca and lived there for 18 years until I came to Ontario, Canada. I never thought I would live on the East Coast side of the map. LOL

How is everyone adjusting to Winter in Canada?

 

[TracyCa64]

Yeah it is expensive and I would try to purge more however I already did as much as possible. My 4 children and I reduced a 4 bedroom house to about 1 bedroom worth. I can't ask my kids (teens) to get rid of the items they saved when I already moved them away from their home. I would guess that I have a small uhaul truck worth of stuff.

Wow!! You got rid of a lot!! It's hard having to get rid of so much. There were things I would have liked to have kept, but I just couldn't see paying to ship even more than the boxes I already have. Lol
I feel good about the things I kept. It's funny because I miss my stuff. Ha!! It will be so fun getting it and going through the boxes after a few years.

 

[HOTW]

Whem my mum and i returned to canada after many years away we made up a spreadsheet that had a description of the item, how many of the item, #, cost per item,total cost and box number. Jewelry and expensive items it is best to have photos. Then you fill out the B4 form and in the ktem area you put in seee attached. I had the list in triplicate when i hit the border with the uhaul. This way they canbretain one list you keepnone and there is a third just in case. If youbuse a moving service the driver needs to have a copy as well

 

[Californiacicle]

Hello!! It's cool seeing so many from California.

I was raised in Long Beach, Ca, but had moved to Redding, Ca and lived there for 18 years until I came to Ontario, Canada. I never thought I would live on the East Coast side of the map. LOL

How is everyone adjusting to Winter in Canada?

I was born and raised (37 years) on the Monterey Peninsula. I never thought I'd leave it but a Canadian husband and circumstances proved otherwise. 6 years I have been here and I still hate the winters. My husband complains every winter himself and my son (6) proves that while you can take the boy out of California you can never take California out of the boy. He was 2 months old when we moved but he's a Santa Cruz boy (where he was born) through and through.

We are in Ontario as well.

 

[TracyCa64]

I was born and raised (37 years) on the Monterey Peninsula. I never thought I'd leave it but a Canadian husband and circumstances proved otherwise. 6 years I have been here and I still hate the winters. My husband complains every winter himself and my son (6) proves that while you can take the boy out of California you can never take California out of the boy. He was 2 months old when we moved but he's a Santa Cruz boy (where he was born) through and through.

We are in Ontario as well.

Monterey is so beautiful! I love California, there is so much to see.
I don't hate the Winters here yet, but that might change once I get a job and have to go out in it. I take the bus to volunteer currently, but on the freezing days I stay home. Lol

 

[bradybunchmom]

Wow so many of us from California I was born in California and also spent 36 years there. Also never thought I would leave but I fell for a Canadian. My 4 children are between 12 and 18 and also lived their whole lives in California so this is a huge change for us. We are from Davis in Northern California and now we are in Calgary. I don't mind the winters so far how ever I don't enjoy driving in it. Still getting use to driving on snow and ice.

 

[TracyCa64]

Wow so many of us from California I was born in California and also spent 36 years there. Also never thought I would leave but I fell for a Canadian. My 4 children are between 12 and 18 and also lived their whole lives in California so this is a huge change for us. We are from Davis in Northern California and now we are in Calgary. I don't mind the winters so far how ever I don't enjoy driving in it. Still getting use to driving on snow and ice.

Yeah, I am so afraid to drive in the snow & ice. Right now I don't have a car so not doing much driving.
We were spoiled living in California where you can wear flip flops in the Winter. Ha!! They have been traded in for Winter boots.

 

[Californiacicle]

Monterey is so beautiful! I love California, there is so much to see.
I don't hate the Winters here yet, but that might change once I get a job and have to go out in it. I take the bus to volunteer currently, but on the freezing days I stay home. Lol

That was me when my son was home, but now that he's in school we walk to and from every day. I also volunteer at school a lot and work a couple hours in the after school program so it seems like I'm out in it all the time. Blah! My husband and I have already decided we will be snow birds in the future...or if we ever win the lottery

 

[Californiacicle]

Do you guys get the standard, "Why did you move here?", comment? I swear I get it at least once a week. Too funny.

 

[canusa13]

I lived in California for just over 2 years. My husband lived there for 15 or so. Everyone asks why did we move back. I always say that living in California is nice only in theory (after all, it's still the US haha...I mean California is better than, let's say, Texas but still). It's great for vacation but that's about it.