Like millions of other young people, Sam Patterson believed that if he worked hard enough, he could achieve the Australian dream of home ownership.
But even after saving $130,000 to deposit and landing a job that paid $140,000 a year, banks still considered the 35-year-old too risky.
After being rejected for a modest home loan three times, Sam realized the system was broken and decided to forge his own path.
I packed The bag was transported from Melbourne to Canadahaving come to the realization that he no longer wanted to live in a city that didn’t want him.
“I wanted to buy a house because I thought it was the smart thing to do,” Sam told FEMAIL.
“I wasn’t greedy at all. I just wanted a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment close to my job within my $350,000 budget.”
At the time, Sam was living in a shared house in St Kilda – paying $1,800 a month for the privilege – which made him wonder if there was more to life than bills.
“I tried so hard but Cost of living “It’s not easy to do — especially if you’re single,” he said.
Sam Patterson (pictured) was bored and tired of living in Melbourne, so he moved to Canada.
“Melbourne really bothered me,” Sam (centre with his new Canadian friends) told FEMAIL.
I feel frustrated with routine and rejection. Melbourne In his life, Sam realized he needed to make a change.
While he desperately wanted a mortgage so he could buy property, after three rejections the idea of being in debt for 30 years lost its appeal.
The death of his father last year added to his emotional burden and need for adventure.
“Eventually, a friend told me about Vancouver, how beautiful it was and how you could get a two-year visa until you were 35, so I went,” he said.
“I was worried about spending too much of my savings, but a good friend said, ‘Money is just numbers on an app,’ and I felt it.”
Sam was so busy saving and saving that a friend of his described Canada as “Disneyland for adults.”
“I used some of my savings to move to Canada and live in a place that makes me happy,” he said.
Sam has only been in the country for two months, but he already feels more alive than he has in years in Melbourne.
Sam was living in a shared house in St Kilda – paying $1,800 a month for the privilege – which made him wonder if life was more than just bills.
When he worked in Australia, he saved money by eating free lunches provided by his company, riding a bike, and driving a car he inherited from his father..
He no longer has to make the same sacrifices in Vancouver, which he says is simply a more expensive city than Melbourne..
He added that gasoline, food, car insurance and vacations are much cheaper because of the country’s location.
“The only thing that’s more expensive so far is my phone data. I have a bike, a skateboard, a nice truck and a fishing rod. I’m very happy,” he said.
While Sam found living in Vancouver to be cheaper than Melbourne, the Canadian city is experiencing a housing crisis.
Just as in Australia, it is difficult for first-time home buyers. Market entryThe monthly rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom apartment is $2,367 CAD ($2,577 AUD).
When asked what excited him most about moving abroad in his 30s, Sam said it was “taking a second chance” at a fulfilling life.
“Not being stuck on an island in the middle of the ocean for eight hours away from anything good is what excites me – being a fish out of water is pretty special,” he said.
“Almost every day someone is happy to hear my accent or know I’m a foreigner. I’m so excited to get a dog and travel to the US and Canada,” he continued.
Now, just two months later, Sam is much happier, and Vancouver has proven to be a more cost-effective city than Melbourne.
He is also a snowboarding enthusiast and enjoys seeing lots of snow, experiencing a white Christmas and seeing a bear.
Taking this bold step was probably the scariest thing Sam has ever done, but he’s glad he decided to leave.
Having secured a working holiday visa at the latest opportunity, he is now urging other Australians to travel the world while they are young enough.
“The best way to double your money is to fold it up, put it in your pocket and spend less money at the bar,” he said.
“If none of your friends’ values match yours, go it alone. Life isn’t fair, so just have fun.”
