Alone in Canada — Managing your money

“Making money in Canada is so hard! In Eritrea if you want to start a business, you just do it. Here you need money for this, for that, and for everything. A cup of coffee here is so expensive. If I think about the cost of the coffee in the money of my country, I would never drink it.”
Adam, from Eritrea

There are many expenses when you move to Canada. When you arrive, right away you have to pay rent and buy food and you may also have to buy winter clothes. You may find that things that you used to get for free or cheaply in your homeland cost a lot of money here.

If you cannot find a job or if you are waiting for a work permit, you may not have much money. In your homeland, you may have borrowed from friends and relatives when you were short of money. Here there may be no one you feel you can borrow from.

Sometimes you may not have enough money to buy food. Like some Canadians, you may have to use a food bank. Food banks are run by community agencies, and they provide free food for those who need it.

It is natural to feel angry and frustrated if this is your financial situation. It was not part of your vision of life in Canada.
To add to your financial worries, your family may be expecting you to send money to them. They may also wonder why it is taking you so long to save the money to sponsor them. They may not be aware of the cost of living in Canada. Your family may think that you are rich because you have heat in your home and cable for the television. They may find it hard to realize that these things are standard in Canada, and that they cost a lot of money.

What can you do to help yourself? You can start by setting a monthly budget. No matter how small your income, setting a budget will make you feel that you are in control. Next, you should set some realistic financial goals. For example, if you cannot afford to send money home every month, perhaps you can do so at the end of the year or on people’s birthdays. Set a time limit for those expensive long distance calls home, or use phone cards that are cheaper. Save for your expenses. Even if you are only able to save a dollar a day, it soon adds up.

In Alone in Canada

Alone in Canada — Managing your money

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