Unexpected Savings

When we were deciding to move to the Northwest Territories we spent a great deal of time budgeting. Yellowknife has the highest cost of housing anywhere in Canada. (I am paying $2850 plus electricity to live in a 3 bedroom condo!) But it wasn't just rent or a mortgage we needed to account for, it was all the other expenses- food, running a vehicle, sports, and all the little things that add up. We didn't want to make a move for higher salary but find ourselves poorer for the move.

Turns out we over budgeted. Groceries is the first place we over budgeted. We assumed groceries would be as expensive as when we lived in Grenada for fresh foods. Unlike Grenada where at least there was an ample supply of inexpensive local fruits and vegetables- the north has a short growing season and everything needs to be trucked in. About the only local thing we buy is fresh eggs from Hay River, which cost about 50 cents more a dozen but we support local farmers. However the cost difference has been quite minimal. We maybe spend $20-$30 more a shopping trip and usually because there are so many more options (I bought $10 worth of fresh nuts and a $5 nut cracker on Sunday).

The biggest savings by far is gas for the car. In Brighton we would fill the car up twice a week, however both Brent and I walk to work. Many of our groceries can be bought on the way home from Brent's work- with the added bonus of getting out of the cold for 10 minutes about half way home. In Yellowknife we fill up the car once every three weeks and mainly just to ensure we have enough gas in the tank. Everyday our car sits in it's spot while others come and go. We usually only take the car to the field house with the boys and for a big grocery shop once a week. Only running a car three days a week and only for about a 12 km round trip means you save a lot of money on gas.

Of course all those savings are going to be eaten up when we install the automatic car starter next week. The challenge of living somewhere really cold and living on the third floor is if you want to go somewhere in the car you must warm it up. Which means throwing on tons of gear, tromping downstairs and then all the way back up... only to go back down 10 minutes later. So with no need to convince me of the benefit our car will have a remote starter next week. So much for all the money we saved on gas!

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