Budget for move to Montreal (for sale, apartments, leasing)

[Obeagali]

Hi

We are trying to get a budget together for our move to Montreal in the summer. I'd appreciate any information anyone might have to offer on the following:

1. How expensive is it to furnish a house? We are looking at a 3 bedroom house (2 kids and couple). I was hoping to find a website that might give examples but have had no luck so far.

2. What is best way to buy a car? Is it possible to get lease even if we do not have credit history in Canada?

3. Good option for long term medical insurance (i.e. more comprehensive that travel insurance)

Thanks in advance

[jambo101]

I'd budget around $5 thousand for startup house furnishings,Beds and mattresses,fridge,stove,washing machine,tv,pots and pans,etc
Buy a used car for $5000 from any classified ads to use till you get established although if you are living in the city you may not even need a car..
After a couple of months you'll qualify for Canadas health insurance,Blue Cross will cover the interim.
Craigslist maybe of use.=
craigslist: montreal, QC jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Obeagali

Hi


1. How expensive is it to furnish a house? We are looking at a 3 bedroom house (2 kids and couple). I was hoping to find a website that might give examples but have had no luck so far.

Heres some lists of general household necessities, pricing is variable=
https://www.google.ca/#q=furnishing+a+house+checklist

[CloudReader]

1. It really depends on if you're buying new or used and what kind of quality you are expecting. For new, and an general idea on mid-range (not cheap, not super fancy, but will last), you can get an idea on Sears.ca. Those are listed prices, I would expect rebates once you decide to buy/negotiate in store (ex. Sears furniture and appliances offers a gift card of a % of your total purchase automatically). Note if you buy new, unless stated otherwise, you can assume that the sales tax (~15%) is not included in the list price -very different from other western countries.

Other stores to look at: (low$) IKEA, Ashley furniture, (medium$) The Brick, Brault & Martineau, (med-high$) Mobilia, Phillipe Dagenais. Besides IKEA, you can negotiate at every one of these stores.

For used, consult the local classifieds: Craiglist, Kijiji, LesPAC. Everything is paid in cash, no sales tax. You'll have to pick up the merchandises with your own vehicle.

For 2 and 3, I suggest you post the questions on the main Canada forum. You'll get more answers there. For leasing a car, it depends on the brand and the dealership. Some may do it, some may not.

[daynet]

Don't forget Freecycle! It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and thus keeping good stuff out of landfills.

You wouldn't believe some of the items that can be had for free on this site.