What to bring when moving to Finland?

aic18 · Post by **aic18** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:54 pm

Hi everyone!

So I am planning on moving to Finland from Australia...unfortunately I'm only able to take one suitcase ($1000+ to take one extra suitcase)

Basically my question is what are the ESSENTIALS of moving to Finland? Are there some items that I can't live without in Finland? Obviously I know I need a jacket, good shoes etc

Also, what are things I shouldn't take? If you moved to Finland what are some things you wish you hadn't brought with you? (i.e. can buy it cheap in Finland, not useful etc)

Oh and I should say I'll be moving to Southern Finland where I guess the temperatures are more "mild" (but still FREEZING

)

Thanks to anyone who answers

**Sponsor:**

elijahpaul · Post by **elijahpaul** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:17 pm

Hi,

Electronic gadgets are expensive here (even more expensive than Switzerland). So if you're planning to upgrade your stuff (laptop, tablet, etc.) I suggest you compare the prices here and there first. Here are some Finnish websites for electronics and usual household stuff:

www.netanttila.com
www.verkkokauppa.com
www.gigantti.fi

HTH

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:14 pm

Winter clothing is basically crap in Australia for Finnish winters. Bring a basic winter jacket and good pair of shoes. Bring a beanie and pair of gloves. Go shopping for proper winter gear once here. We've just had -20 for quite a few days down here in the south this past week. So it's been cold. But is apparently meant to start warning up. Was -5 today.

Just bring the basics. You give no info as to why you are coming, so we can't really give you the answer you need.

I'm about to return to Australia using Finnair and Qantas after living here for 14 years. I've got three extra 23 kilo bags and am paying well under $1000 for excess luggage.

Maybe find another airline to use?

aic18 · Post by **aic18** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:16 am

I'm coming for study so I'm planning on staying 4+ years! I can't find another airline, I already have the tickets

Appliances seem to be very expensive

Are there many second hand stores? I get the feeling I'll be needing them!

Also, yes I don't really want to buy much stuff for winter from Australia. I'll be fine with just one luggage...I plan to do some online clothes shopping once there

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:28 am

Buy the winter gear in Finland in stores so you can learn what is good. Stuff online from out of the country often isn't suitable, not windproof, waterproof etc.

Be careful where you buy online from. You can end up with high customs costs.

Yes there are plenty of secondhand places here called "kirpputori". And huuto.net is good. Tori.fi and keltainenporssi.fi. But huuto.net seems to be the most popular.

Look on Facebook for the foreigners buy and sell group. I can't remember the exact name. From that group you'll find almost everything you need cheaply because it's usually foreigners leaving. Though it does tend to have a lot of baby stuff too.

Do not overdo the winter clothing. It's actually more dangerous to your health to be overdressed than underdressed. You sweat, get wet and then cold. That's worse than being a little cold from being underdressed.

Shame you didn't let me know you were coming a month ago. I could have sold you everything you needed cheaply

At least house wise.

Welcome

Please don't die of a heart attack at the cost of living here lol

aic18 · Post by **aic18** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:00 am

Flossy1978, what do you mean high customs costs?!?!

Like if I buy a skirt from an online shop and get it shipped to Finland, customs will make me pay?

I don't think the sites are dodgy or anything, just things like www.asos.com ....

Thanks for the clothing tips haha

Also I'm not gonna need household stuff until about August so I'm sure the person you sold your stuff to needed them more urgently

Everyone says the cost of living is high but I guess it's better to know now than when I'm there....oh well too late to turn back now! And also I wouldn't want to turn back hehe

Jukka Aho · Post by **Jukka Aho** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:07 am

aic18 wrote:Flossy1978, what do you mean high customs costs?!?! :o Like if I buy a skirt from an online shop and get it shipped to Finland, customs will make me pay? :o :o :o I don't think the sites are dodgy or anything, just things like http://www.asos.com ....

ASOS is based in the UK, which (just like Finland) is part of the European Union Customs Union and the EU VAT system. The price you pay to an online merchant who ships from the UK will be the final price... both countries being subject to the same agreements and EU directives.

Things will be different if you order from, say, Asia, or the Americas.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:45 pm

Exactly what I mean Jukka.

And if you are coming in August, DO NOT BRING ANY WINTER GEAR. It will still be warm. You will have time to buy the proper stuff here.

Then you will have more room in your luggage.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 6:25 pm

Don't bring the surfboard unless you got a heated drysuit

aic18 · Post by **aic18** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:19 am

What if I'm coming late March? I looked online and it said the average for April is 4 degrees?

Typical Australian stereotype haha but I don't surf

Chezwig · Post by **Chezwig** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:12 am

I think it's best to buy the winter gear here as opposed to lugging it from across the world. I managed to pick up a couple of pairs of longjohns, winter socks, a winter coat and some good boots for about 150 Euros. The sokos in Hakaniemi closing down helped a lot. My girlfriend's mum is also a serial knitter and created enough jumpers and hats to see me through several winters.

And don't make the same mistake I made... buy adapters for your electronics ahead of time, as they are expensive to buy and find. I had 2 days of not being able to charge my iPad. The very definition of hell in the 21st century.

Flossy1978 · Post by **Flossy1978** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:54 pm

Yeah, March can still be pretty cold.

But you'll get by with some basic gloves, a beanie and even an Autumn jacket when you first arrive here. You can wear a thick jumper under the jacket. Then go shopping to buy proper stuff.

By March they will start having all the summer stuff in the shops and you can probably pick up really cheap brand new winter gear on sale.

I tended to buy my son's clothing for winter this way. Always at the end of winter buying really cheap the good quality stuff a size or two larger, so they'd fit him come the next Autumn/Winter. I assume the same thing happens in the adult sections too. For myself I buy online from Ellos. But I am not a kid and I buy lots of my stuff from Ellos online, which is always having sales on their clothes.

Jukka Aho · Post by **Jukka Aho** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:39 pm

Chezwig wrote:And don't make the same mistake I made... buy adapters for your electronics ahead of time, as they are expensive to buy and find.

Or simply a power strip of suitable definition. You can cut off the original plug and replace it with a local one. Plugs for DIY repairs are available in hypermarkets and hardware stores.

jahasjahas · Post by **jahasjahas** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:47 pm

Chezwig wrote:And don't make the same mistake I made... buy adapters for your electronics ahead of time, as they are expensive to buy and find. I had 2 days of not being able to charge my iPad. The very definition of hell in the 21st century.

Shouldn't this one work? http://www.clasohlson.com/fi/Matkasovit ... EU/36-4797

Though obviously there's no reason to *not* by one beforehand.

aic18 · Post by **aic18** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:29 pm

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely have to go shopping IN Finland...HOPEFULLY there are still lots of sales

And they sell lots of power adaptors here so I guess I'll get 3 or so?

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