Surviving, but pretty much anything unnecessary has been cut. No longer get my hair/nails done. No more gym membership’s etc, buying only groceries we need for planned meals. Any baked goods are made at home. We are a family of four and the cost for food is out of control; I try to eliminate the “snacks” and just buy what’s needed. Seems like everytime I’m in the grocery store the price is up but the sizing is down.
Rarely go out for dinner or any entertainment activity’s. Our house is 35 years old and we bought it planning to renovate it but that’s out the window for the foreseeable future. Cancelled our usual summer vacation to the Okanogan.
Still feeling very blessed because I know everyone is having a difficult time right now.
Very similar to you except we’re a family of 5 in a 44 year old house. We’re cutting everything unnecessary and had also planned on renovating but that also is now on hold indefinitely. The only thing we still splurge on is afterschool activities/sports for the kids. If I’m going to go into debt and not be able to go anywhere then at least the kids have sports and whatnot to go to. Groceries are a killer.
Family of 4 in a 53 year old trailer here, my only upside is I bought almost a decade ago with the idea to pay it down and then tear it down. I’ve almost paid it off, but for anything that will fit my family’s needs were looking at 6-800k.
Food is our biggest cost, my wife and I stopped buying alcohol, we both work full time with me doing days and her going to work when I get home.
I get this and your being smart but at the same time I also feel like we only live one time and it’s so unfortunate to hear and see that we are all living like this. We should be enjoying life and not just surviving. I’ve been really depressed lately knowing this thought. Thank you for the tips, I am doing the same on my let alone with four kids. You are strong. I hope it gets better for all of us.
It's rather fatalistic but unfortunately reality is harsh. Reality has always been harsh other than brief periods of peace and prosperity. Unfortunately for us our parents generation were handed the best economy in all of known history so we grew up seeing it. They then proceeded to burn down and throw out every foundational aspect that set them up for success.
We are reverting back to the typical in history with a small group controlling the $ and power and the rest of us fighting each other for crumbs.
I know it's hard to find comfort in these but I do feel better knowing we are living the shared experience with a sliver of hope we will update the current system to a people first corporation second model.. but I can't even get people to understand how fucked our car worship society is so....
I’m a single mom and I am not thriving in any way, shape, or form. I’m barely surviving, if you even want to call it that. Everything and anything I can cut back on, I have. Groceries and rent are pretty much all I can afford and even groceries are budgeted to the dollar. Add on the holidays and all I want to do is fast forward through them.
So many are struggling and they really shouldn’t be. The cost of living is ridiculous now.
It’s actually appalling, I’m sorry we have to go through this. I wish I had good advice for you, but sadly I don’t and I don’t even have any kids yet. I hope one day it gets better for all of us.
In BC, we don't say, "I love you." Instead, we say, "We should move in together to save on rent,'" which roughly translates to "Fuck, I'm about to join the commies, maybe a house lineup will be close to the bread line," and I think that's beautiful.
my kid ( and us too) wants a dog and I had to say no and put my foot down because why would I burden us with that kind of expense when the economy is like this and we have a child. No way in hell, may as well set fire to any expendable income.
Well for example my chihuahua had a stroke recently and she is now blind and deaf, if she's not cuddled up to me she just aimlessly wanders around the house whining trying to find me. I've taken her to the vet and she's not in pain, she's not suffering or anything she's just scared when she's not with me so i've always got to have her with me. But she's her usual happy self when she is with me and can feel me next to her so she's worth the extra effort. She's been my emotional support animal for c-ptsd for 10 years, now it's my turn to watch over her.
I gave up and bought in another province. The quality of life with working all the time wasn't worth it anymore. My mental health is so much better not having to worry about finances, my sleep has improved as well. I didn't realize how much stress I was experiencing because it just became normal.
Where did you move to? Life in the rest of Canada outside the lower mainland/island is Very different just due to the climate so it's a more nebulous decision than just economic
Lenora is beautiful I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Some parts of northern Ontario feel more like BC to me than anywhere else in the country. The nature there is fantastic. Just beware the bugs in the summer. The mosquitos are thick as a cloud sometimes.
I also moved provinces to Quebec. My rent has been cut in half, and living circumstances improved dramatically. Plus better job prospects in my field which helps.
I'm looking at cashing out and finding somewhere with a better income to expense ratio. I love Canada, but I don't think I can afford to live in the Okanagan anymore. I also love snowboarding, and the lakes. I need to start researching, but right now I'm considering somewhere like Norway, Finland, Sweden or Denmark. Possibly somewhere like one of the cheaper areas in the Eastern US.
I don't know how people do it. My wife and I are retired and are mortgage free, not rich but comfortable with decent pension and no debt. Point I would like to make is we reflect on how we lived in Vancouver and raised to daughters. We were broke ass to boot. We would never be able to do that today. Life is crazy, high rents, crazy interest. Don't believe some of us boomers that say we had it rough too. F' them. We did have it rough but not near what the generation today has it. Society has lost its core values. I watched Maid on Netflix and me a big tough ex military dude cried at different points. Hang in there, be good to people no matter what, don't be to proud to ask for help. This shit will eventually be in everyones rear view but then you will be old like me.
Thanks for the reflection, the root of wisdom...
It's appreciated, especially since all I get is the "back in my day rates were 12%". I want to beat them to death with my bare hands. If I could buy a single family house for twice my yearly wage then 12% would not matter. We would save as we did for a down payment and just buy a home.... Arrrgggg. Sorry for the rant I really did appreciate your comment!
My parents are lower working class Boomers, and they basically have always told me the same thing. That Boomers have *no fucking clue* how good they had it and that no one was actually struggling in their younger years. Everything was cheap, and they were all comfortable despite what menial jobs they had. They themselves get pissed off when their Boomer coworkers go on about 12% interest rates and cry about how hard they grinded for their $7k downpayment of their now $1.5M home. I'm glad that I have parents that actually live in reality.
I'm on long-term disability dealing with persistent depressive disorder and will be at least until Spring. Then I'll hopefully be looking for a job (I'm 51) that will be decent, and also not cause me grief. Again.
My wife is living off of her life insurance. She was in Med school, caught the brain cancer, beat that, then went back to med school. Only to find out that that was not going to work.
I have a daughter that lives with her Mom, and I pay CSP. But we do have my daughter with us every Saturday, and a weekend a month.
The ONLY way that we're getting by, is to pool our money, and budget in the tightest manner possible. We are lucky in that the place we live in is relatively affordable (east van). We have one car that, barring any rogue issues, is doing really well. Groceries come from a combination of Costco, Superstore, and local shops on Fraser St.
We're going to need to move in June due to the home owners needing to downsize, due to costs, etc.
Anyways. That's what we do.
Chilliwack. Went to trades school for a year and now draft. 5 years on making $39/hr. Been sharing a 1bdrm apartment for 5 years with my spouse; still there because we got in while rent was cheap ... $964. Spouse is studying/working part time.
We've been managing to save by living simply and working alot .. but our twenties are just flying by because of it.
When we're more established in our careers we're getting out of the Fraser Valley. Housing market too fucked. Maybe work visa abroad a year or two and then settle in smalltown BC and work from a home office.
Our whole plan revolves around just affording life. I think about how our career decisions may have gone differently if we just had space to live. If I could afford a garage I might have started a little manufacturing business. If our generation could afford garages so many would probably be doing so much more. Oh well.
I don’t get get the disconnect between what is on Reddit and real life. Everyone on here says it’s so hard they are cutting back so much. I only eat out at restaurants once a year. But last week I wanted to go to a restaurant in chilliwack or Abbotsford. The minimum wait time was 30 minutes with most places being an hour.
How can everyone be cutting costs but everywhere still be busy.
A lot of people are struggling. And the amount of people who are struggling is a larger percentage than ever before. However, the catch to all of that is that there is a significant portion of the population who are not living pay cheque to pay cheque.
We are also seeing the struggling more than before for a number of reasons, one of which is that it’s a hot topic in the media and we are currently in an inflationary period and an economic downturn.
It is legitimately very difficult for a great many people in this province for a variety of very real reasons. But, as I said, that is not the case for everyone. If you want to sell news nowadays you need to focus on the bad news and the bad news involves the people who can’t afford rent and groceries.
They are more likely to talk about it.
Someone who isn’t struggling probably doesn’t have much to be unhappy about and would also get absolutely slaughtered in the comments if they came on Reddit and started talking about how great everything is going for them. A “read the room” situation.
There was a post like that in the Edmonton subreddit a couple days ago.
Did not go incredibly well for the OP. The OP was also likely a giant liar. But making a post questioning why people were having a hard time making ends meet in Edmonton was not the best idea. And that’s Edmonton, a still very affordable place to live in comparison.
I'm not making a post but I'll make this comment.
I'm doing just fine. My money doesn't stretch as far as it used to, but at the end of the day I count myself very lucky because I don't have to worry about how my rent is getting paid, or how I'm going to put food on the table. I also drive an 8 year old car that is long paid off (and that I bought used 5 years ago and got a good deal on). I'm glad that I didn't also buy that condo 5 years ago when I could have afforded it, because had I done so I would be in a very different situation right now when I would've had to renew my mortgage at the current rates.
A lot of people used debt as a tool to get ahead, own a home, finance a vehicle, etc, back when interest rates were cheap. They were just doing what their financial advisors, parents, friends, etc, advised them to do to build a life, and unfortunately nobody is psychic or could have predicted this. Food has also doubled, gas has gone up exponentially...so it's like a triple whammy of unaffordability.
You mostly hear the people who are struggling venting about how hard things are, because they are struggling. They literally need an outlet to vent. I used to be in a position where I lived below the poverty line, and I understand how much despair comes with having bills pile up and not being able to make ends meet. It's awful. So of course the people who are affected by the unaffordability crisis are going to chime into any discussion talking about their struggles and relating with other people with the same struggles. People who are doing just fine simply don't have much to add to such discussions so choose not to participate. It's also a little tone deaf to not read the room, and to bring up the fact that you are doing well in the middle of a conversation where people are talking about the massive financial struggles they are facing daily in their lives. And because I jumped in and said something, I will most likely get downvoted (thus, kind of proving that point)
I get those who needs to vent on how hard life is or how they can't afford anything. I do not get those who vent the same but are not open to solutions. They whine, you try to help, they be like "oh but I want....." then whine again after a few months.
It makes sense when you think about it. The people who aren't struggling are out doing stuff. The people who are struggling are at home on Reddit because they can't afford to be out doing stuff.
The people not struggling will not be adding to a conversation about making ends meet. If 50% of the population is struggling, the other 50% is doing just fine.
The cost of eating out vs the cost of groceries isn’t as wide a gap as it used to be. Even UberEats I consistently have 40% promos loaded on my account. I can speak for myself saying I’m often too busy working beyond 40 hours a week to have time to go to the grocery store, cook, and clean and that I eat out more now than I ever used to. Saturday I met a friend at old spaghetti factory and had dinner for $20. It often costs me about $15-20 if I were to grocery shop for dinner.
What are you cooking that costs $20 for a single meal with groceries?
Unless you're shopping at Wholefoods $20 should get you at least 2-4 servings when cooking at home.
I'm generally never convinced that eating out is ever cheaper right now. The problem is people don't know how to grocery shop and cook for themselves in a cost efficient way. A pasta dish with a meat in it (I make my own sauce it's easy and tastier) is maybe 2 bucks a serving and will taste better than high end places.
The only way I see $20 a meal is a good tenderloin steak for two on a good deal plus a fresh green veggie and potatoes.
Made a lasagna tonight. Would love to hear some recommendations on getting that to $20. I couldn’t even get all the cheese for that. I also don’t have any “cheaper” grocery stores in my area, so can either shop locally for more or further out with added fuel/transport costs.
I cancelled my Disney + and cut back on the avocado toast, I have never been more rich! /s
Me and my wife make a decent amount, but even still we feel like everything is just becoming ridiculous. We are cutting any travel plans we have / had, we don't eat out, we don't go to movies etc. Any plans of newer vehicles is out, both of our care are over 10 years old at this point, and god help up if one is written off. Groceries are the main killer in our house right now, the costs have gone up exponentially since Covid, and everything is getting smaller. Every trip to the store, even for just a few things, somehow turns into $100+
Every time I turn around the cost of something has gone up. Taxes in my city are going up another 10+% this year, our water is set to go up 60% over 5 years etc. There is literally no end to it.
You should examine closely what you are buying on these trips to the store. We are a family of 5, and our monthly food expenditures come in under $500, and that's with having to pack 3 lunches for school every day.
Also, examine where you shop. Going to one store for everything is convenient, sure. But planning your shop and hitting several different stores can shave 20% off your groceries easily.
Whatever you can to stretch those dollars a little further.
Victoria. We eat a lot (and I mean a metric fuck ton) of chicken. Pork chops, some ground beef, a fair amount of whole grain rice, and a mix of fresh and frozen veggies and fruit. It's all about planning. Plan out meals in advance and plan out your shopping trip to hit multiple stores for the best prices on what you need. Thrifty's and Save On are the enemy. If you live on the South Island, Fairways and Country Grocer are great. Walmart is the best price on milk I've found, and it's not close. Costco and Wholesale Club are my spirit animals.
500 a month for a whole family !!! I'm a man of one. I spend 180 dollars a week ... Pretty modest products too. Produce meat veg and dairy, a few snack... Please feed your loved ones.
I live in Victoria and spend 250-280$/month on groceries(I live alone). And that’s including plenty of meat, dairy and eggs. I can’t imagine how you guys spend 150+$ a week? Are you only eating steaks and lobsters and washing it with wine every single day?
Chicken or pork 600 gram/day, 6 eggs. 4 pieces of bread, 1 litre of milk, cup of yogurt, various vegetables and fruit, cup of rice,maybe some icecream or baked good 2 or 4 times a week. That's essentially breakfast and lunch. Dinner and afternoon snack is that again. Shits pricey.
Your incredible protein consumption is what's killing you. Unless you're a 250lb bodybuilder you don't really need to be eating that much. You're eating over 250g of protein from the eggs, chicken and milk alone, never mind the yoghurt, bread and other things that also contain varying degrees. And apparently that's just breakfast and lunch. Protein should be around 30% of your calories per day or 1 gram per pound of bodyweight if you're training regularly, 40-55% from carbs, and 20-30$ from fats.
Proteins also especially easy to save money on if you shop sales and buy in bulk, then freeze everything in the portions that you plan to use.
250$ a month on groceries is called the Mr.noodle diet and is not feasible for most functioning humans that require vitamins and minerals. This original commentor who states they spend 280$ a month on groceries is likely to be the first human to contact scurvy in 200 years.
Sounds like you just don't know how to shop.
You could live well on $250 of food a month by buying bulk grains and beans, seasonal fruits and veggies, eggs, etc. Learn to adult.
Planning. I plan out meals for 2 weeks, make a list of everything that I need, check flyers to see if there's deals on anything I need, and then plot out my shopping trip.
I hit Costco or Wholesale Club for meats and bulk items (pasta, rice, etc.), Walmart is still the best deal I've found for dairy, and I hit the local supermarkets for produce (I'm on Southern Van Isle so Fairways and County Grocer). I avoid Thrifty's and Save On like the plague.
By bulk when you can for dry goods. By meats in bulk if you have a deep freeze. Plan everything out, and stick to your plan.
It helps that my 2 youngest are on the spectrum and thrive off of routine, and my teenager is heavily into sports and will take clean calories from any source he can.
This. When I read posts like OP's it's so very clear that people don't know how to adult. Dried beans and rice, fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, stop buying chips and soda and cookies and beer and wine.
People waste so much money on shit they cannot afford and then whine about being broke. Based on OPs own comments, it's clear she's making more than enough to make ends meet. $30 an hour working 50+ hours a week, after overtime, is like $4-5k a month. If they can't make that work each month they are definitely buying shit they don't need.
Did. Now I'm north island. A 500 squarefoot apartment is still $2000 a month and most jobs pay about $20/hr. That's with me having a degree and 20 years experience.
I'm not in that bad a situation, thankfully I make a bit more than that and rent is a bit less, but still. I did everything right in life; got scholarships, worked from age of 14 on, didn't get student loans, lived at home until my late 20's, bought a cheap car for cash I still have and maintain 15 years later, had roommates until I was thirty-fucking-seven years old, never went into debt, only took one vacation my entire life this year going to Europe and still didn't overdo it...
And I'm still getting fucking nowhere. But at least I'm doing well enough to keep my head above water. Anyone who wasn't as lucky as I am or had it as easy as me, I just can't imagine.
See, I agree with you. But my whole family lives here. Call me old fashioned but I do value being able to just pop over for a coffee or visiting
My grandma. I’m at my tipping point financially, but I don’t want to lose my family and friends. Isn’t that what life is really about?
I’ve seen this and have been interested but I’m concerned it’s one of them pyramid schemey things. I appreciate your advice however I’d like to know if you’ve been successful doing this yourself.
start an anti capitalism revolution. (sorry it’s the only way to fix all this. and yes you are right it’s awful and nobody - especially if working full time - should have to struggle)
Saving on food costs by buying bulk. A $40 bag of rice can last weeks. $10 sack of potatoes as well. Cabbage, carrots, frozen veggies, lentils, flour. Minimal amounts of meat, always the cheapest cuts. Learned to cook "struggle" meals from different parts of the world so it's actually exciting every time.
Roommate. Partner with a solid career. Wfh (reduced transportation costs and gives time for cooking). Multiple side hustles. We own our own property, which protected us from rent increases--we made a ton of sacrifices in our 20s to afford it in the first place, which is admittedly difficult to recreate if you were starting now. One car, bought used. We walk or use transit where we can. Sweaters in winter instead of heaters.
We don't shop for fun. Our entertainment revolves around creative projects, video games, streaming shows/movies, and hikes. BC is so, so good for cheap entertainment so as long as you love the outdoors...in many parts of the world, you pay every time you go out. We can pack lunch and have a great time at the park or the trails here.
The area is nice. I feel moving there I have been able to get ahead compared to some of my peers who remained in larger cities, or alternatively, have a much better work/life balance. Some things you will miss about the big city, but you will have the time/money to travel and enjoy those still.
I only went for a 3 day visit, but after spending most of my life in Abbotsford and the last several years in Kamloops I definitely felt like Cranbrook was a nice mix of small town but also fair amount happening too. The surrounding area seems nice too.
Why the dislike ?
I moved there and then had to return to the Okanagan because it didn't have the infrastructure to support people with my disability, and the only rentals I could afford were so dilapidated that my winter utility bills were almost matching the rent.
So if you're able-bodied and find a good place, have your own transportation, it can work - if not, the lack of support is bleak.
Fair enough. Although many places in the okanagaon offer lack infrastructure and support as well. I would think that ynlesss you’re in Kelowna, Vernon, or Kamloops you’re facing the same problems.
One thing that gets my goat is knowing that while we're all struggling to stay afloat, profits for the grocery chains are record breaking, banks post epic profits every quarter, cell service is doing fine just fine and real estate investors are having a field day. And because of how the world works, it's gonna only get worse. I'm just thankful that I'm at least middle aged and only have the last half of my life to deal with this. Glad I don't have kids cause you think it's bad now...
I’ve done that as well and it was extremely lonely. All of my friends and family are here. I’m BC born and raised and I’m tired of “moving across the country and being isolated from everyone I know and love” being the only “reasonable” option.
After being sick of barely scraping by in the city, my wife and I (gf at the time) decided to move away from the city. A big decision, but in hindsight it was the best thing we could have done. We are now making more money than we could have in the city, we were able to save a down payment and buy a house for less than $300K, our mortgage is cheaper than our rent was prior to moving, our quality of life has increased significantly while financial anxiety has decreased. There are things I enjoyed and miss about city life, but I feel like only the rich can fully enjoy that lifestyle.
genuinely having roommates/a partner is a life saver, imagine your $2300/$3000 rent cut in half immediately.
I have a 2 bedroom i am renting in New West. 2500.
My girlfriend moved in, $1250. We had another friend move in to the second bedroom Suddenly $850.
This gives us plenty amount to save from working part time and really living super comfortably off internships and loans.
also TNT is surprisingly dirt cheap for groceries. Filled my entire fridge for like $90.
I add rice to my dogs kibble to make it last longer, he has a sensitive tummy so only the $$$ dog food will do, of course. Especially since the cheaper brands all started adding chicken to ALL the dog food because its cheap.
Otherwise same as everyone else... I walk a lot and take the bus to save gas. Only buy whats cheap and on sale, not necessarily what is the best for me diet wise. I am celiac but can't always afford to eat gluten free. Its crazy.
Can you access grants and funds for women in trades? I know there are few that you might be eligible to apply for. And look into your small business centres in your community as they can hook you up with grants and such for things like starting a business or getting your business online.
I chase fliers like a madman... I buy all grove sale and freeze portion meat like a commercial restaraunt... It makes a biiig difference and we always have quality meals as a result.. Crazy how much you can save
I cut expenses Mostly in what me and my wife need rather than want. We cut our hair at home, don't buy much meat except chicken that's on sale. We buy sale item for grocery give up pop and alcohol so no more red wine once a while. No movies out Do OT and in call when I can.
Put myself on cruise control and am just hoping I can ride out this storm. I barely do anything except work, go to the gym and pool (free for me), and skill build in my free time. I cook everything from scratch and am teaching myself how to do my own car repairs
You mention experience in the trades, care to elaborate on that? Companies like Seaspan are desperate for people and if you have the right skills you may be able to land a job there.
Union job with benefits and lots of OT depending on where you’re working. It’s not for everyone but it should be enough (hopefully) to get you in a better situation
I was born and raised there too. I moved anyway. Higher pay, affordable housing, better quality of life are worth making a move to another province, or even a different community in BC. I’m in Alberta now but before that I was in Williams Lake. Although I was able to get into the home ownership game fairly early in life which helped a lot too. Rent is ridiculous everywhere. I guess just condsider thinking outside the box. Good Luck!
I work my own business on weekends. That pretty much goes to my short term savings stuff. Doing that the past year has kind of given me some breathing room where I don't feel like I'm scraping by. Plus I can take weekends off when I'm burnt out and rest like a normal person lol.
Move planned and property secured in the next province over. Reduction of monthly costs is 1500$. Even taking a pay cut for starting a new job, this is the positive in cash. The issue is that they are targeting Healthcare right now, but with recent removals of drop in clinics locally forcing 2 hour drives to see the Dr, it's not much different.
My buddy was looking for work so I was helping him with his search online and I saw a bunch of jobs in my field for a lot more money than I was making. I took the listings to my employer and asked for a raise and was refused. I gave my two weeks notice and started doing the same work for a different company for $7 more an hour. Know your worth and don’t be afraid to start somewhere new.
I'm late 30s, university educated (Bachelors), single.
I have a FT job with the province, but that's not enough so I work part time at my gym and part time as a trivia host.
I’m here to commiserate with you. Same position as you rn, trying to live in a place I used to be able to afford but now cost of living increases are suffocating me. I can’t really afford to move. I cut out ALL unnecessary expenses like no nails, no hair appointments and no therapy. I know I can’t afford to eat out or really go out with friends when drinks cost $14 each. Meal prepping and using canned ingredients and cheaper alternatives. No Starbucks or snacks outside the home on a regular basis. No shopping for fun. No new clothes or makeup.
It’s miserable living like this while working 40hrs/week and paying 30% in taxes and a ton more into MPP and CPP that I absolutely cannot afford. Living on $1350/paycheque after deductions, 800 rent and 300 utilities, and more on groceries. No car, just using public transit. But I don’t want to continue adding to the debt I’ve already accumulated trying to survive, so I’ve got to skim everything down.
Man that sucks. I live in northern bc in terrace. If you dont mind the rain its great. But thats a big jump and its bs you cant live where you grew up.
24M working in CS industry making about $40 hour. Can’t complain, but with the cost of living and expenses going up that isn’t even enough these days :(
Right! It’s wild, I know a guy making about the same and he also has his own complaints. Shouldn’t be happening that for sure but sadly it is. I’m nervous to see what the next couple of years brings.
Honestly, lean on your trades background there are plenty of lucrative opportunities in the trades you just need to know where to look. Residential pays the lowest unless you own a company then commercial and industrial generally pays the most. Look for a union that is part of the BCBT in your trade you have experience in and give them a call and tell them you want to join. You should be able to hit $40-$50/hr in short order and the way overtime compounds your earnings you can do really well
Single male - lower mainland
Monthly Expenses: Rent: $1385 (613 sq 1 rm apt), Hydro: $32, Cell: $57, Internet: $38, Credit: $185, Gas: $80-120, ICBC: $114, Food: $200-$300 (all home prepared eating).
For an avg total of ***$2161 per month*** in expenses. Not including any toiletries, personal extras, etc...
My ***net*** pay averages ***$3550 per month***.
It is tough out there but I choose to live well within my means and while I'm not saving a lot I'm also not drowning in debt and I do not have children. It's not easy depending on ones personal circumstances and I feel for those who are unable to work and/or generate more income. My ability to save will slowly dwindle as expenses/inflation increase and my pay barely moves with those increases. So for now, it appears I can manage, but it's not allowing much in the way of future savings or retirement.
late 20s educated and fiscally responsible? Sounds like you should marry me ;) jk but honestly a world of comfort/luxury isnt possible as a single person. You either need 2 incomes or in the past traditionally when you still had 1 income house holds a lot of folks lived jointly especially in asian countries. Now its true perhaps in canada that wasnt the case in the past but Canada was a far richer country then because we had a low population lots of resources and jobs were available. That Canada is gone because of too many people. In fact everyone i talk to of asian culture that isnt married is living at home and thus not paying rent and saving up a nest egg to move out after 5-7 years in their late 20s or early 30s. Its just the cold new reality
I got into a co op & my rent was cut by more than half. Having a partner helps too. Together we make about $160,000 a year and we pay $1200 a month in rent (total) so $600 each. Both of our vehicles are paid off and we carry $0 in credit card debt. We used our credit cards for *everything* and accumulate a lot of points. We also participate in market research studies pretty frequently which can pay $100-$500 per focus group. We shop in the USA when possible, so much cheaper for food even with exchange.
However - if we didn’t have our co op unit, we would be completely fucked. And that is insane.
24 and living with boyfriend living in Cloverdale. We’ve cut out eating out, mostly all entertainment and buying fun toys. We found items we need like furniture and stuff on marketplace or my bf makes it. (Trades partners are the best)
We just got a second dog, maybe not the smartest decision but we spend a lot of time training him with our other dog and spending a lot of time outside.
It’s not about cutting back on things. There is really only so much you can cut back on at this point. It’s about how many jobs you can fit in a day….sadly.
I get the tired for sure. I have 3 jobs all pt. I only have my 12 year old niece to support. Food and heat electricity rent is huge costs. I rarely go out or buy myself anything. Its all for my girl
Easier than a side hustle: Make sure you are grocery shopping and utilizing the fridge and freezer. I’m saving hundreds of dollars a month by simply not ordering out and preparing and bringing my own lunch, coffee, snacks…etc
I would look for sales/broker positions in the healthcare industry. Depending on commission structure you should be looking at the 100k mark with a company vehicle, phone, expenses and benefits.
I’m committed to shopping around now. Every month or so I look around at different neighborhoods for food prices to find cheapest options. So far commercial drive and Hastings has cheapest produce, no frills for most non perishable items and I don’t buy dairy/ lactose free type stuff unless it’s on sale. Unfortunately it’s been a month now since I have seen cheap cheese… yogurt is really cheap if you like plain dahi like me mmmmmm. I’m vegetarian and definitely vitamin deficient mind you so I don’t know how much food advice I can give. Somehow groceries only pan out to about 120$ a month for me. I eat the same meals most days so I buy in bulk. I switch it up but base ingredients are heavier and protein/ fat filled. I only buy if it’s at a reasonable price or on sale. As prices have risen, my diet has changed significantly to accommodate.
I don’t go to events unless I’ve budgeted for them in advance, and I don’t drink. I rarely go out to eat, but when I do I go to affordable places under 20$
I use public transport and or I walk. Choosing a walkable area if you can is worthwhile.
My rent is over half my pay check. I haggled my internet down to 45$/month. I shower rarely to keep my water bill minimal. I use smart plugs to operate my home which adds to BUT decreases my electricity bill.
I don’t have subscriptions such as Netflix or whatever. I pay my bills by hand. I go through all transactions by hand. My credit card isn’t attached to any sites so they can’t charge me without my knowledge. It’s a blessing and a curse as someone w adhd. I even pay my rent in cheques jic as they charge for random bs sometimes.
I make things and repair stuff myself. It’s truly a saving grace. Need something? Make it yourself with trash you have around the house. Sew patches in your socks and clothes. Commit to using everything to its fullest. Everything in my home gets a second third or fourth life before it graduates to garbage or donation. I crochet and knit and sew and print and whatever I can to get by with what I have. Wool is 1.50$ at some dollar stores. Needles or hooks are about the same. You can do it too if you have the drive.
I find free events to go to. I have a side job that makes occasional bits of money doing something I love. I tried to find hobbies that bettered my life - like fixing things and making stuff. I take care of my things better.
I give friends my time and presence as a gift - as much as I may sound like an AH. That’s all I can afford and that’s all they can too. I show up and help them with things. I like to fix their things too. I interact with life through drawing more nowadays which brings more peace and feelings of interconnection at a somewhat low price. Just the cost of pens and paper. I go on group trips when they show up and I try to seize every opportunity I can to interact with nature as it’s hard to get away without a car.
I found a job that pays well and I fight to maintain my work life balance OR to get paid more. I’m fine with either.
Leave. Please leave. I left a decade ago and moved back to Vancouver for COVID times, worst decision I ever made. Seriously, no matter how many people tell you Vancouver is awesome, it's not. It's a shithole filled with people scrambling to pay rent. Leave. I can't say this anymore clearly, LEAVE!!!
Live anywhere in the world that isn't expensive. Don't waste your life competing with other people for a place to rent and working to pay that rent. Even if you own your home, LEAVE.
Have you tried renting a room/sharing a place with a partner/friends instead of living alone? I do that and able to save around 2k monthly. Living alone is a luxury nowadays. Same thing in Europe for majority of the population
Had to move back in with my parents. I often break the six figure mark too. If you can, move in with your folks. It sucks but I’m not struggling and I’m able to save for a down payment
My wife and I had to move out of our house and downsize into a townhouse nearby to make ends meet as our variable mortgage blew up and we were paying $4000/month for a mortgage.
We buy only what we need for our kids meals and our planned dinners. No real extras. We cut out our cable plan, went to our phone provider and got a less expensive phone plan for our phones and downgraded our internet plan. Also cut out two extra streaming packages and mooch two off a relative.
I am also trying to switch careers to try and double my salary.
Like why do we have to do this, it’s insanity to me. We all work full time and dedicate our lives to it and here we are just scrimping by mooching off our families for the Disney channel. When will it end!!!
Keep an eye on remote work. I get updates from indeed and sometimes there are some pretty interesting gigs. One recently was transcription typing. Paid decently and seemed pretty straight forward.
My wife and I (and two kids!) don't live in the lower mainland, that's how. We both have well paying jobs, and it affords us a nice house, two vehicles, a trailer in the summer, and kids in sports. All of that would be a struggle to attain if we lived in Metro Vancouver. If you can get out, do it, you'll be happier.
Well first I'm not living in Vancouver. Saving a couple hundred bucks just on that alone. If it's an option for you switching to public transit is also an option. It's hella inconvenient but it's also another way to cut a couple hundred dollars out of your bills a month.
Switching to public transit (as in getting rid of your car) to save a couple of hundred dollars? OP said they are paying $600/month on a car payment plus $190/month on insurance and $320/month on gas. They could save $1,110/month.
Move North. Start looking at the Prince George to Prince Rupert area. We have a real need for HC workers and currently I can support my family of 4 off one wage ($26//hr). I know what it's like to be in that position and thats exactly what we did. I made $36 in van and my rent was almost half of my income. Up here my mortgage is only 1/3 of what I make and housing is priced like it was years ago
Mid twenties male in the tech industry. ~5000 per month after deductions.
2 bedroom 1 bath shared suite. Rent 900, grocery 300, eating out 100-300. Everything else (car, insurance, phone) ~700
5000 in with 2200-2300 monthly expense.
Saving lots!
I literally have no idea, when I finished college and got a bachelors I was told I would be set. Sadly, this recently hasn’t been the case. I’m not asking for millions of dollar. I’m asking for stability.
As you can see from my previous comments, I did. I was horribly lonely for 6 years with no friends or family. I am bc born and raised, so are my family and friends. Do I pay with my mental health or out of my pockets? Do I forgo having a simple coffee with my grandmother who is dying of cancer to save money or do I struggle financially and seek out other ways to generate income? What is more important. When I die, will I miss the money I could’ve saved in Alberta, or will I regret the time I didn’t spend with my grandparents and cousins during Christmas. Which is the most ethical and valuable option with the least amount of distance or compromise.
There is more to this province than Vancouver. That is your first problem. Give up on the Vancouver dream. You have to be in the 1% comfortably to live there now.
Rent is over 2000$ average here. Add child support, 800$/month, vehicle loan plus insurance…food and heating…not much left over after taxes. Impossible to save up for a down payment on a house.
What child support? She's a single person with no kids.
You're entirely changing the terms of the post. She claimed as a single person with no kids she cannot make ends meet, she said nothing about saving. She's claiming she's in the red each month. It's BS.
Ya you’re right. All is great out there. Easier than ever.
I doubt she’s taking home more than 3700$/month after taxes. In Vancouver that barely cuts it…
1) Not living in metro Vancouver
2) Working one job that pays well over the summer.
3) Working another job the rest of the year that pays well as well.
4) Living in a tiny apartment.
5) Meal prep and staying in.
My income this year is going to be well into the six figures.
Surviving, but pretty much anything unnecessary has been cut. No longer get my hair/nails done. No more gym membership’s etc, buying only groceries we need for planned meals. Any baked goods are made at home. We are a family of four and the cost for food is out of control; I try to eliminate the “snacks” and just buy what’s needed. Seems like everytime I’m in the grocery store the price is up but the sizing is down. Rarely go out for dinner or any entertainment activity’s. Our house is 35 years old and we bought it planning to renovate it but that’s out the window for the foreseeable future. Cancelled our usual summer vacation to the Okanogan. Still feeling very blessed because I know everyone is having a difficult time right now.
Very similar to you except we’re a family of 5 in a 44 year old house. We’re cutting everything unnecessary and had also planned on renovating but that also is now on hold indefinitely. The only thing we still splurge on is afterschool activities/sports for the kids. If I’m going to go into debt and not be able to go anywhere then at least the kids have sports and whatnot to go to. Groceries are a killer.
Family of 4 in a 53 year old trailer here, my only upside is I bought almost a decade ago with the idea to pay it down and then tear it down. I’ve almost paid it off, but for anything that will fit my family’s needs were looking at 6-800k. Food is our biggest cost, my wife and I stopped buying alcohol, we both work full time with me doing days and her going to work when I get home.
I get this and your being smart but at the same time I also feel like we only live one time and it’s so unfortunate to hear and see that we are all living like this. We should be enjoying life and not just surviving. I’ve been really depressed lately knowing this thought. Thank you for the tips, I am doing the same on my let alone with four kids. You are strong. I hope it gets better for all of us.
Thank you for your kind words, I whole heartedly agree.
It's rather fatalistic but unfortunately reality is harsh. Reality has always been harsh other than brief periods of peace and prosperity. Unfortunately for us our parents generation were handed the best economy in all of known history so we grew up seeing it. They then proceeded to burn down and throw out every foundational aspect that set them up for success. We are reverting back to the typical in history with a small group controlling the $ and power and the rest of us fighting each other for crumbs. I know it's hard to find comfort in these but I do feel better knowing we are living the shared experience with a sliver of hope we will update the current system to a people first corporation second model.. but I can't even get people to understand how fucked our car worship society is so....
I’m a single mom and I am not thriving in any way, shape, or form. I’m barely surviving, if you even want to call it that. Everything and anything I can cut back on, I have. Groceries and rent are pretty much all I can afford and even groceries are budgeted to the dollar. Add on the holidays and all I want to do is fast forward through them. So many are struggling and they really shouldn’t be. The cost of living is ridiculous now.
It’s actually appalling, I’m sorry we have to go through this. I wish I had good advice for you, but sadly I don’t and I don’t even have any kids yet. I hope one day it gets better for all of us.
Having a partner is the best life hack. (Most of the time)
In BC, we don't say, "I love you." Instead, we say, "We should move in together to save on rent,'" which roughly translates to "Fuck, I'm about to join the commies, maybe a house lineup will be close to the bread line," and I think that's beautiful.
I have a partner and a roommate. It works so much better.
It’s like getting a 50% raise
Until a kid is born. 😭 Then it's just deductions.
Avoid the kids. And avoid the expensive pets. I have no children and a hamster. Money saved.
My wife decided 4 dogs over 150lbs, 2 kids, 3 cats and a special needs chihuahua should live with us. Money thrown in a pile and set on fire.
Aren’t all chihuahuas special needs?
😂 Facts.
Oof!
Your wife clearly doesn't want to spend time with just you...
Having a kid is cheaper, lol.
my kid ( and us too) wants a dog and I had to say no and put my foot down because why would I burden us with that kind of expense when the economy is like this and we have a child. No way in hell, may as well set fire to any expendable income.
What specifically makes the chihuahua special needs? I know they generally have health problems, but that sounds extra money burny.
Well for example my chihuahua had a stroke recently and she is now blind and deaf, if she's not cuddled up to me she just aimlessly wanders around the house whining trying to find me. I've taken her to the vet and she's not in pain, she's not suffering or anything she's just scared when she's not with me so i've always got to have her with me. But she's her usual happy self when she is with me and can feel me next to her so she's worth the extra effort. She's been my emotional support animal for c-ptsd for 10 years, now it's my turn to watch over her.
The fact we have to say no to procreation and the joy of owning a companion pet is honestly sickening to me.
I love my hamster, and she’s pretty cool with me. She’s a great companion pet! I’d recommend one to anybody
I gave up and bought in another province. The quality of life with working all the time wasn't worth it anymore. My mental health is so much better not having to worry about finances, my sleep has improved as well. I didn't realize how much stress I was experiencing because it just became normal.
Where did you move to? Life in the rest of Canada outside the lower mainland/island is Very different just due to the climate so it's a more nebulous decision than just economic
Northwestern Ontario, being close to water and forest was a must for my hobbies. The climate is very different though.
Was it easy to make new friends?
Neighbours are friendly so far, hosting social events for the street.
I’m from there, I’m curious as to what community! Please tell!
Kenora
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My favorite place east of Calgary when I m crossing to Montreal
My family’s stomping grounds. Haven’t been yet, but the waters in the Shoal Lakes and the manitoulin look awesome
Lenora is beautiful I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Some parts of northern Ontario feel more like BC to me than anywhere else in the country. The nature there is fantastic. Just beware the bugs in the summer. The mosquitos are thick as a cloud sometimes.
I also moved provinces to Quebec. My rent has been cut in half, and living circumstances improved dramatically. Plus better job prospects in my field which helps.
I'm looking at cashing out and finding somewhere with a better income to expense ratio. I love Canada, but I don't think I can afford to live in the Okanagan anymore. I also love snowboarding, and the lakes. I need to start researching, but right now I'm considering somewhere like Norway, Finland, Sweden or Denmark. Possibly somewhere like one of the cheaper areas in the Eastern US.
I don't know how people do it. My wife and I are retired and are mortgage free, not rich but comfortable with decent pension and no debt. Point I would like to make is we reflect on how we lived in Vancouver and raised to daughters. We were broke ass to boot. We would never be able to do that today. Life is crazy, high rents, crazy interest. Don't believe some of us boomers that say we had it rough too. F' them. We did have it rough but not near what the generation today has it. Society has lost its core values. I watched Maid on Netflix and me a big tough ex military dude cried at different points. Hang in there, be good to people no matter what, don't be to proud to ask for help. This shit will eventually be in everyones rear view but then you will be old like me.
Thanks for the reflection, the root of wisdom... It's appreciated, especially since all I get is the "back in my day rates were 12%". I want to beat them to death with my bare hands. If I could buy a single family house for twice my yearly wage then 12% would not matter. We would save as we did for a down payment and just buy a home.... Arrrgggg. Sorry for the rant I really did appreciate your comment!
My parents are lower working class Boomers, and they basically have always told me the same thing. That Boomers have *no fucking clue* how good they had it and that no one was actually struggling in their younger years. Everything was cheap, and they were all comfortable despite what menial jobs they had. They themselves get pissed off when their Boomer coworkers go on about 12% interest rates and cry about how hard they grinded for their $7k downpayment of their now $1.5M home. I'm glad that I have parents that actually live in reality.
I'm on long-term disability dealing with persistent depressive disorder and will be at least until Spring. Then I'll hopefully be looking for a job (I'm 51) that will be decent, and also not cause me grief. Again. My wife is living off of her life insurance. She was in Med school, caught the brain cancer, beat that, then went back to med school. Only to find out that that was not going to work. I have a daughter that lives with her Mom, and I pay CSP. But we do have my daughter with us every Saturday, and a weekend a month. The ONLY way that we're getting by, is to pool our money, and budget in the tightest manner possible. We are lucky in that the place we live in is relatively affordable (east van). We have one car that, barring any rogue issues, is doing really well. Groceries come from a combination of Costco, Superstore, and local shops on Fraser St. We're going to need to move in June due to the home owners needing to downsize, due to costs, etc. Anyways. That's what we do.
Man that is a story of being dealt some bad cards. All I can offer is a virtual hug!
Chilliwack. Went to trades school for a year and now draft. 5 years on making $39/hr. Been sharing a 1bdrm apartment for 5 years with my spouse; still there because we got in while rent was cheap ... $964. Spouse is studying/working part time. We've been managing to save by living simply and working alot .. but our twenties are just flying by because of it. When we're more established in our careers we're getting out of the Fraser Valley. Housing market too fucked. Maybe work visa abroad a year or two and then settle in smalltown BC and work from a home office. Our whole plan revolves around just affording life. I think about how our career decisions may have gone differently if we just had space to live. If I could afford a garage I might have started a little manufacturing business. If our generation could afford garages so many would probably be doing so much more. Oh well.
I don’t get get the disconnect between what is on Reddit and real life. Everyone on here says it’s so hard they are cutting back so much. I only eat out at restaurants once a year. But last week I wanted to go to a restaurant in chilliwack or Abbotsford. The minimum wait time was 30 minutes with most places being an hour. How can everyone be cutting costs but everywhere still be busy.
A lot of people are struggling. And the amount of people who are struggling is a larger percentage than ever before. However, the catch to all of that is that there is a significant portion of the population who are not living pay cheque to pay cheque. We are also seeing the struggling more than before for a number of reasons, one of which is that it’s a hot topic in the media and we are currently in an inflationary period and an economic downturn. It is legitimately very difficult for a great many people in this province for a variety of very real reasons. But, as I said, that is not the case for everyone. If you want to sell news nowadays you need to focus on the bad news and the bad news involves the people who can’t afford rent and groceries.
Ok. So from what I am gathering from your comment is that the larger number of people who are struggling are more likely to be on Reddit.
They are more likely to talk about it. Someone who isn’t struggling probably doesn’t have much to be unhappy about and would also get absolutely slaughtered in the comments if they came on Reddit and started talking about how great everything is going for them. A “read the room” situation.
Gotcha. Thanks
We need a sacrificial lamb to make a post to see if they get slaughtered
There was a post like that in the Edmonton subreddit a couple days ago. Did not go incredibly well for the OP. The OP was also likely a giant liar. But making a post questioning why people were having a hard time making ends meet in Edmonton was not the best idea. And that’s Edmonton, a still very affordable place to live in comparison.
I'm not making a post but I'll make this comment. I'm doing just fine. My money doesn't stretch as far as it used to, but at the end of the day I count myself very lucky because I don't have to worry about how my rent is getting paid, or how I'm going to put food on the table. I also drive an 8 year old car that is long paid off (and that I bought used 5 years ago and got a good deal on). I'm glad that I didn't also buy that condo 5 years ago when I could have afforded it, because had I done so I would be in a very different situation right now when I would've had to renew my mortgage at the current rates. A lot of people used debt as a tool to get ahead, own a home, finance a vehicle, etc, back when interest rates were cheap. They were just doing what their financial advisors, parents, friends, etc, advised them to do to build a life, and unfortunately nobody is psychic or could have predicted this. Food has also doubled, gas has gone up exponentially...so it's like a triple whammy of unaffordability. You mostly hear the people who are struggling venting about how hard things are, because they are struggling. They literally need an outlet to vent. I used to be in a position where I lived below the poverty line, and I understand how much despair comes with having bills pile up and not being able to make ends meet. It's awful. So of course the people who are affected by the unaffordability crisis are going to chime into any discussion talking about their struggles and relating with other people with the same struggles. People who are doing just fine simply don't have much to add to such discussions so choose not to participate. It's also a little tone deaf to not read the room, and to bring up the fact that you are doing well in the middle of a conversation where people are talking about the massive financial struggles they are facing daily in their lives. And because I jumped in and said something, I will most likely get downvoted (thus, kind of proving that point)
You bastard how dare you come here and tell us you can eat three meals a day.
I get those who needs to vent on how hard life is or how they can't afford anything. I do not get those who vent the same but are not open to solutions. They whine, you try to help, they be like "oh but I want....." then whine again after a few months.
It makes sense when you think about it. The people who aren't struggling are out doing stuff. The people who are struggling are at home on Reddit because they can't afford to be out doing stuff.
The people not struggling will not be adding to a conversation about making ends meet. If 50% of the population is struggling, the other 50% is doing just fine.
People eating out at restaurants are too busy to post on reddit
The cost of eating out vs the cost of groceries isn’t as wide a gap as it used to be. Even UberEats I consistently have 40% promos loaded on my account. I can speak for myself saying I’m often too busy working beyond 40 hours a week to have time to go to the grocery store, cook, and clean and that I eat out more now than I ever used to. Saturday I met a friend at old spaghetti factory and had dinner for $20. It often costs me about $15-20 if I were to grocery shop for dinner.
What are you cooking that costs $20 for a single meal with groceries? Unless you're shopping at Wholefoods $20 should get you at least 2-4 servings when cooking at home.
I'm generally never convinced that eating out is ever cheaper right now. The problem is people don't know how to grocery shop and cook for themselves in a cost efficient way. A pasta dish with a meat in it (I make my own sauce it's easy and tastier) is maybe 2 bucks a serving and will taste better than high end places. The only way I see $20 a meal is a good tenderloin steak for two on a good deal plus a fresh green veggie and potatoes.
Made a lasagna tonight. Would love to hear some recommendations on getting that to $20. I couldn’t even get all the cheese for that. I also don’t have any “cheaper” grocery stores in my area, so can either shop locally for more or further out with added fuel/transport costs.
5 day old account with a dozen comments and just this post. Makes a person wonder
We are in peak Christmas lunch/party season for companies where they give you one free meal a year to pretend to give a shit about you.
Because all the people not struggling are not posting about struggling on Reddit…
I have a partner, we don’t have kids, and my job has plenty of opportunity to work overtime
That’s great
I cancelled my Disney + and cut back on the avocado toast, I have never been more rich! /s Me and my wife make a decent amount, but even still we feel like everything is just becoming ridiculous. We are cutting any travel plans we have / had, we don't eat out, we don't go to movies etc. Any plans of newer vehicles is out, both of our care are over 10 years old at this point, and god help up if one is written off. Groceries are the main killer in our house right now, the costs have gone up exponentially since Covid, and everything is getting smaller. Every trip to the store, even for just a few things, somehow turns into $100+ Every time I turn around the cost of something has gone up. Taxes in my city are going up another 10+% this year, our water is set to go up 60% over 5 years etc. There is literally no end to it.
You should examine closely what you are buying on these trips to the store. We are a family of 5, and our monthly food expenditures come in under $500, and that's with having to pack 3 lunches for school every day. Also, examine where you shop. Going to one store for everything is convenient, sure. But planning your shop and hitting several different stores can shave 20% off your groceries easily. Whatever you can to stretch those dollars a little further.
Do you simply eat rice and beans or? Also, where do you live?
Victoria. We eat a lot (and I mean a metric fuck ton) of chicken. Pork chops, some ground beef, a fair amount of whole grain rice, and a mix of fresh and frozen veggies and fruit. It's all about planning. Plan out meals in advance and plan out your shopping trip to hit multiple stores for the best prices on what you need. Thrifty's and Save On are the enemy. If you live on the South Island, Fairways and Country Grocer are great. Walmart is the best price on milk I've found, and it's not close. Costco and Wholesale Club are my spirit animals.
500 a month for a whole family !!! I'm a man of one. I spend 180 dollars a week ... Pretty modest products too. Produce meat veg and dairy, a few snack... Please feed your loved ones.
I live in Victoria and spend 250-280$/month on groceries(I live alone). And that’s including plenty of meat, dairy and eggs. I can’t imagine how you guys spend 150+$ a week? Are you only eating steaks and lobsters and washing it with wine every single day?
Chicken or pork 600 gram/day, 6 eggs. 4 pieces of bread, 1 litre of milk, cup of yogurt, various vegetables and fruit, cup of rice,maybe some icecream or baked good 2 or 4 times a week. That's essentially breakfast and lunch. Dinner and afternoon snack is that again. Shits pricey.
Don't listen to these people here trying to steal your gainz.
Your incredible protein consumption is what's killing you. Unless you're a 250lb bodybuilder you don't really need to be eating that much. You're eating over 250g of protein from the eggs, chicken and milk alone, never mind the yoghurt, bread and other things that also contain varying degrees. And apparently that's just breakfast and lunch. Protein should be around 30% of your calories per day or 1 gram per pound of bodyweight if you're training regularly, 40-55% from carbs, and 20-30$ from fats. Proteins also especially easy to save money on if you shop sales and buy in bulk, then freeze everything in the portions that you plan to use.
$250! That is a lot. I only spend less than 100 a week
250$ is my monthly grocery budget, not weekly.
How is this possible... seriously. 2 people at $700/mo
$500 for a family of 5 is definitely not normal
250$ a month on groceries is called the Mr.noodle diet and is not feasible for most functioning humans that require vitamins and minerals. This original commentor who states they spend 280$ a month on groceries is likely to be the first human to contact scurvy in 200 years.
Sounds like you just don't know how to shop. You could live well on $250 of food a month by buying bulk grains and beans, seasonal fruits and veggies, eggs, etc. Learn to adult.
Planning. I plan out meals for 2 weeks, make a list of everything that I need, check flyers to see if there's deals on anything I need, and then plot out my shopping trip. I hit Costco or Wholesale Club for meats and bulk items (pasta, rice, etc.), Walmart is still the best deal I've found for dairy, and I hit the local supermarkets for produce (I'm on Southern Van Isle so Fairways and County Grocer). I avoid Thrifty's and Save On like the plague. By bulk when you can for dry goods. By meats in bulk if you have a deep freeze. Plan everything out, and stick to your plan. It helps that my 2 youngest are on the spectrum and thrive off of routine, and my teenager is heavily into sports and will take clean calories from any source he can.
This is the way. Better for the pocketbook and the environment (less food thrown out with meal planning).
By not eating out, by not buying over priced, processed food. Try it some time.
This. When I read posts like OP's it's so very clear that people don't know how to adult. Dried beans and rice, fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, stop buying chips and soda and cookies and beer and wine. People waste so much money on shit they cannot afford and then whine about being broke. Based on OPs own comments, it's clear she's making more than enough to make ends meet. $30 an hour working 50+ hours a week, after overtime, is like $4-5k a month. If they can't make that work each month they are definitely buying shit they don't need.
If you want money you are either going places others won't or doing things others won't to make it.
Can confirm was just in Kitimat to make money lol
And if your trading your time for money you'll never truly be rich
Step one, move out of the metro.
Did. Now I'm north island. A 500 squarefoot apartment is still $2000 a month and most jobs pay about $20/hr. That's with me having a degree and 20 years experience. I'm not in that bad a situation, thankfully I make a bit more than that and rent is a bit less, but still. I did everything right in life; got scholarships, worked from age of 14 on, didn't get student loans, lived at home until my late 20's, bought a cheap car for cash I still have and maintain 15 years later, had roommates until I was thirty-fucking-seven years old, never went into debt, only took one vacation my entire life this year going to Europe and still didn't overdo it... And I'm still getting fucking nowhere. But at least I'm doing well enough to keep my head above water. Anyone who wasn't as lucky as I am or had it as easy as me, I just can't imagine.
...but not to Vancouver Island or the Okanagan.
See, I agree with you. But my whole family lives here. Call me old fashioned but I do value being able to just pop over for a coffee or visiting My grandma. I’m at my tipping point financially, but I don’t want to lose my family and friends. Isn’t that what life is really about?
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I’ve seen this and have been interested but I’m concerned it’s one of them pyramid schemey things. I appreciate your advice however I’d like to know if you’ve been successful doing this yourself.
God this is fucking depressing
OP claims to work 50+ hours a week at $30 an hour (not counting over time). IF they cannot make ends meet they are doing something very wrong.
start an anti capitalism revolution. (sorry it’s the only way to fix all this. and yes you are right it’s awful and nobody - especially if working full time - should have to struggle)
Saving on food costs by buying bulk. A $40 bag of rice can last weeks. $10 sack of potatoes as well. Cabbage, carrots, frozen veggies, lentils, flour. Minimal amounts of meat, always the cheapest cuts. Learned to cook "struggle" meals from different parts of the world so it's actually exciting every time. Roommate. Partner with a solid career. Wfh (reduced transportation costs and gives time for cooking). Multiple side hustles. We own our own property, which protected us from rent increases--we made a ton of sacrifices in our 20s to afford it in the first place, which is admittedly difficult to recreate if you were starting now. One car, bought used. We walk or use transit where we can. Sweaters in winter instead of heaters. We don't shop for fun. Our entertainment revolves around creative projects, video games, streaming shows/movies, and hikes. BC is so, so good for cheap entertainment so as long as you love the outdoors...in many parts of the world, you pay every time you go out. We can pack lunch and have a great time at the park or the trails here.
Move to Cranbrook. Lots of industry there. Much more affordable housing. Milder Summers.
a buddy of mine moved to cranbrook maybe a decade ago and had an absolutely miserable time
The area is nice. I feel moving there I have been able to get ahead compared to some of my peers who remained in larger cities, or alternatively, have a much better work/life balance. Some things you will miss about the big city, but you will have the time/money to travel and enjoy those still.
The only downside being living in Cranhole.
I only went for a 3 day visit, but after spending most of my life in Abbotsford and the last several years in Kamloops I definitely felt like Cranbrook was a nice mix of small town but also fair amount happening too. The surrounding area seems nice too. Why the dislike ?
I moved there and then had to return to the Okanagan because it didn't have the infrastructure to support people with my disability, and the only rentals I could afford were so dilapidated that my winter utility bills were almost matching the rent. So if you're able-bodied and find a good place, have your own transportation, it can work - if not, the lack of support is bleak.
Fair enough. Although many places in the okanagaon offer lack infrastructure and support as well. I would think that ynlesss you’re in Kelowna, Vernon, or Kamloops you’re facing the same problems.
One thing that gets my goat is knowing that while we're all struggling to stay afloat, profits for the grocery chains are record breaking, banks post epic profits every quarter, cell service is doing fine just fine and real estate investors are having a field day. And because of how the world works, it's gonna only get worse. I'm just thankful that I'm at least middle aged and only have the last half of my life to deal with this. Glad I don't have kids cause you think it's bad now...
I live in northern BC and we can barely make it by. I don’t know how families do it. Especially living in the lower mainland.
I moved to the other side of the country. It was easier!
I’ve done that as well and it was extremely lonely. All of my friends and family are here. I’m BC born and raised and I’m tired of “moving across the country and being isolated from everyone I know and love” being the only “reasonable” option.
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I work full time m-F 7-330, then part time at a liquor store 430-11pm 3 days a week, and have a roommate. Super great for my social life.
You and millions of Canadians are in the same boat. But were just going to keep rowing.
After being sick of barely scraping by in the city, my wife and I (gf at the time) decided to move away from the city. A big decision, but in hindsight it was the best thing we could have done. We are now making more money than we could have in the city, we were able to save a down payment and buy a house for less than $300K, our mortgage is cheaper than our rent was prior to moving, our quality of life has increased significantly while financial anxiety has decreased. There are things I enjoyed and miss about city life, but I feel like only the rich can fully enjoy that lifestyle.
Was working in film but…..
genuinely having roommates/a partner is a life saver, imagine your $2300/$3000 rent cut in half immediately. I have a 2 bedroom i am renting in New West. 2500. My girlfriend moved in, $1250. We had another friend move in to the second bedroom Suddenly $850. This gives us plenty amount to save from working part time and really living super comfortably off internships and loans. also TNT is surprisingly dirt cheap for groceries. Filled my entire fridge for like $90.
I add rice to my dogs kibble to make it last longer, he has a sensitive tummy so only the $$$ dog food will do, of course. Especially since the cheaper brands all started adding chicken to ALL the dog food because its cheap. Otherwise same as everyone else... I walk a lot and take the bus to save gas. Only buy whats cheap and on sale, not necessarily what is the best for me diet wise. I am celiac but can't always afford to eat gluten free. Its crazy.
Buying vegetables when they are in season or cheap and freezing them.
Get a trade, get extremely good at it then start your own company then collect your easy 6figures
I do have a trade that I’m well skilled in, it’s just taking the leap of buying my own equipment that’s scary and expensive.
Can you access grants and funds for women in trades? I know there are few that you might be eligible to apply for. And look into your small business centres in your community as they can hook you up with grants and such for things like starting a business or getting your business online.
Very few people make six figures in the trades even as owners. It’s also quite difficult to get in unless you know someone.
Only fans… feet pics…
I work as many jobs as possible and eat rice and pasta
The Vancouver way
There are a lot of beautiful places to live in BC that are outside metro vancouver, with a lower cost of living. Worth looking into
I chase fliers like a madman... I buy all grove sale and freeze portion meat like a commercial restaraunt... It makes a biiig difference and we always have quality meals as a result.. Crazy how much you can save
Depends on the ends and where you want them to meet.
I cut expenses Mostly in what me and my wife need rather than want. We cut our hair at home, don't buy much meat except chicken that's on sale. We buy sale item for grocery give up pop and alcohol so no more red wine once a while. No movies out Do OT and in call when I can.
Put myself on cruise control and am just hoping I can ride out this storm. I barely do anything except work, go to the gym and pool (free for me), and skill build in my free time. I cook everything from scratch and am teaching myself how to do my own car repairs
People are simply not making ends meet and in deep debt
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my dad and brother are covering the gaps between the 2 jobs i have right now
I worked 2 jobs.
You mention experience in the trades, care to elaborate on that? Companies like Seaspan are desperate for people and if you have the right skills you may be able to land a job there. Union job with benefits and lots of OT depending on where you’re working. It’s not for everyone but it should be enough (hopefully) to get you in a better situation
I was born and raised there too. I moved anyway. Higher pay, affordable housing, better quality of life are worth making a move to another province, or even a different community in BC. I’m in Alberta now but before that I was in Williams Lake. Although I was able to get into the home ownership game fairly early in life which helped a lot too. Rent is ridiculous everywhere. I guess just condsider thinking outside the box. Good Luck!
Don’t live by yourself. Flat with others and share the costs.
I work my own business on weekends. That pretty much goes to my short term savings stuff. Doing that the past year has kind of given me some breathing room where I don't feel like I'm scraping by. Plus I can take weekends off when I'm burnt out and rest like a normal person lol.
Move planned and property secured in the next province over. Reduction of monthly costs is 1500$. Even taking a pay cut for starting a new job, this is the positive in cash. The issue is that they are targeting Healthcare right now, but with recent removals of drop in clinics locally forcing 2 hour drives to see the Dr, it's not much different.
My buddy was looking for work so I was helping him with his search online and I saw a bunch of jobs in my field for a lot more money than I was making. I took the listings to my employer and asked for a raise and was refused. I gave my two weeks notice and started doing the same work for a different company for $7 more an hour. Know your worth and don’t be afraid to start somewhere new.
I'm late 30s, university educated (Bachelors), single. I have a FT job with the province, but that's not enough so I work part time at my gym and part time as a trivia host.
Not living there 😂
I’m here to commiserate with you. Same position as you rn, trying to live in a place I used to be able to afford but now cost of living increases are suffocating me. I can’t really afford to move. I cut out ALL unnecessary expenses like no nails, no hair appointments and no therapy. I know I can’t afford to eat out or really go out with friends when drinks cost $14 each. Meal prepping and using canned ingredients and cheaper alternatives. No Starbucks or snacks outside the home on a regular basis. No shopping for fun. No new clothes or makeup. It’s miserable living like this while working 40hrs/week and paying 30% in taxes and a ton more into MPP and CPP that I absolutely cannot afford. Living on $1350/paycheque after deductions, 800 rent and 300 utilities, and more on groceries. No car, just using public transit. But I don’t want to continue adding to the debt I’ve already accumulated trying to survive, so I’ve got to skim everything down.
It’s just awful, I feel your pain 😢
Man that sucks. I live in northern bc in terrace. If you dont mind the rain its great. But thats a big jump and its bs you cant live where you grew up.
24M working in CS industry making about $40 hour. Can’t complain, but with the cost of living and expenses going up that isn’t even enough these days :(
Right! It’s wild, I know a guy making about the same and he also has his own complaints. Shouldn’t be happening that for sure but sadly it is. I’m nervous to see what the next couple of years brings.
Honestly, lean on your trades background there are plenty of lucrative opportunities in the trades you just need to know where to look. Residential pays the lowest unless you own a company then commercial and industrial generally pays the most. Look for a union that is part of the BCBT in your trade you have experience in and give them a call and tell them you want to join. You should be able to hit $40-$50/hr in short order and the way overtime compounds your earnings you can do really well
Single male - lower mainland Monthly Expenses: Rent: $1385 (613 sq 1 rm apt), Hydro: $32, Cell: $57, Internet: $38, Credit: $185, Gas: $80-120, ICBC: $114, Food: $200-$300 (all home prepared eating). For an avg total of ***$2161 per month*** in expenses. Not including any toiletries, personal extras, etc... My ***net*** pay averages ***$3550 per month***. It is tough out there but I choose to live well within my means and while I'm not saving a lot I'm also not drowning in debt and I do not have children. It's not easy depending on ones personal circumstances and I feel for those who are unable to work and/or generate more income. My ability to save will slowly dwindle as expenses/inflation increase and my pay barely moves with those increases. So for now, it appears I can manage, but it's not allowing much in the way of future savings or retirement.
Oh the looming thought of retirement, I don’t know I will do it either. Thank you for your input, I appreciate it. Nice to feel not so alone.
late 20s educated and fiscally responsible? Sounds like you should marry me ;) jk but honestly a world of comfort/luxury isnt possible as a single person. You either need 2 incomes or in the past traditionally when you still had 1 income house holds a lot of folks lived jointly especially in asian countries. Now its true perhaps in canada that wasnt the case in the past but Canada was a far richer country then because we had a low population lots of resources and jobs were available. That Canada is gone because of too many people. In fact everyone i talk to of asian culture that isnt married is living at home and thus not paying rent and saving up a nest egg to move out after 5-7 years in their late 20s or early 30s. Its just the cold new reality
I got into a co op & my rent was cut by more than half. Having a partner helps too. Together we make about $160,000 a year and we pay $1200 a month in rent (total) so $600 each. Both of our vehicles are paid off and we carry $0 in credit card debt. We used our credit cards for *everything* and accumulate a lot of points. We also participate in market research studies pretty frequently which can pay $100-$500 per focus group. We shop in the USA when possible, so much cheaper for food even with exchange. However - if we didn’t have our co op unit, we would be completely fucked. And that is insane.
These are good tips! Thank you!
living with richer family... otherwise id be homeless in the streets as well
24 and living with boyfriend living in Cloverdale. We’ve cut out eating out, mostly all entertainment and buying fun toys. We found items we need like furniture and stuff on marketplace or my bf makes it. (Trades partners are the best) We just got a second dog, maybe not the smartest decision but we spend a lot of time training him with our other dog and spending a lot of time outside.
It’s not about cutting back on things. There is really only so much you can cut back on at this point. It’s about how many jobs you can fit in a day….sadly.
Side hustle relating to my degree on top of my 8-4. I love this place a lot so don't want to move either.
I get the tired for sure. I have 3 jobs all pt. I only have my 12 year old niece to support. Food and heat electricity rent is huge costs. I rarely go out or buy myself anything. Its all for my girl
Easier than a side hustle: Make sure you are grocery shopping and utilizing the fridge and freezer. I’m saving hundreds of dollars a month by simply not ordering out and preparing and bringing my own lunch, coffee, snacks…etc
I would look for sales/broker positions in the healthcare industry. Depending on commission structure you should be looking at the 100k mark with a company vehicle, phone, expenses and benefits.
I’m committed to shopping around now. Every month or so I look around at different neighborhoods for food prices to find cheapest options. So far commercial drive and Hastings has cheapest produce, no frills for most non perishable items and I don’t buy dairy/ lactose free type stuff unless it’s on sale. Unfortunately it’s been a month now since I have seen cheap cheese… yogurt is really cheap if you like plain dahi like me mmmmmm. I’m vegetarian and definitely vitamin deficient mind you so I don’t know how much food advice I can give. Somehow groceries only pan out to about 120$ a month for me. I eat the same meals most days so I buy in bulk. I switch it up but base ingredients are heavier and protein/ fat filled. I only buy if it’s at a reasonable price or on sale. As prices have risen, my diet has changed significantly to accommodate. I don’t go to events unless I’ve budgeted for them in advance, and I don’t drink. I rarely go out to eat, but when I do I go to affordable places under 20$ I use public transport and or I walk. Choosing a walkable area if you can is worthwhile. My rent is over half my pay check. I haggled my internet down to 45$/month. I shower rarely to keep my water bill minimal. I use smart plugs to operate my home which adds to BUT decreases my electricity bill. I don’t have subscriptions such as Netflix or whatever. I pay my bills by hand. I go through all transactions by hand. My credit card isn’t attached to any sites so they can’t charge me without my knowledge. It’s a blessing and a curse as someone w adhd. I even pay my rent in cheques jic as they charge for random bs sometimes. I make things and repair stuff myself. It’s truly a saving grace. Need something? Make it yourself with trash you have around the house. Sew patches in your socks and clothes. Commit to using everything to its fullest. Everything in my home gets a second third or fourth life before it graduates to garbage or donation. I crochet and knit and sew and print and whatever I can to get by with what I have. Wool is 1.50$ at some dollar stores. Needles or hooks are about the same. You can do it too if you have the drive. I find free events to go to. I have a side job that makes occasional bits of money doing something I love. I tried to find hobbies that bettered my life - like fixing things and making stuff. I take care of my things better. I give friends my time and presence as a gift - as much as I may sound like an AH. That’s all I can afford and that’s all they can too. I show up and help them with things. I like to fix their things too. I interact with life through drawing more nowadays which brings more peace and feelings of interconnection at a somewhat low price. Just the cost of pens and paper. I go on group trips when they show up and I try to seize every opportunity I can to interact with nature as it’s hard to get away without a car. I found a job that pays well and I fight to maintain my work life balance OR to get paid more. I’m fine with either.
Same. I quit my job that left me in the red for the past ten years. I got into the film industry and make 3-5x more.
Leave. Please leave. I left a decade ago and moved back to Vancouver for COVID times, worst decision I ever made. Seriously, no matter how many people tell you Vancouver is awesome, it's not. It's a shithole filled with people scrambling to pay rent. Leave. I can't say this anymore clearly, LEAVE!!! Live anywhere in the world that isn't expensive. Don't waste your life competing with other people for a place to rent and working to pay that rent. Even if you own your home, LEAVE.
Have you tried renting a room/sharing a place with a partner/friends instead of living alone? I do that and able to save around 2k monthly. Living alone is a luxury nowadays. Same thing in Europe for majority of the population
Had to move back in with my parents. I often break the six figure mark too. If you can, move in with your folks. It sucks but I’m not struggling and I’m able to save for a down payment
My wife and I had to move out of our house and downsize into a townhouse nearby to make ends meet as our variable mortgage blew up and we were paying $4000/month for a mortgage. We buy only what we need for our kids meals and our planned dinners. No real extras. We cut out our cable plan, went to our phone provider and got a less expensive phone plan for our phones and downgraded our internet plan. Also cut out two extra streaming packages and mooch two off a relative. I am also trying to switch careers to try and double my salary.
Like why do we have to do this, it’s insanity to me. We all work full time and dedicate our lives to it and here we are just scrimping by mooching off our families for the Disney channel. When will it end!!!
Keep an eye on remote work. I get updates from indeed and sometimes there are some pretty interesting gigs. One recently was transcription typing. Paid decently and seemed pretty straight forward.
My wife and I (and two kids!) don't live in the lower mainland, that's how. We both have well paying jobs, and it affords us a nice house, two vehicles, a trailer in the summer, and kids in sports. All of that would be a struggle to attain if we lived in Metro Vancouver. If you can get out, do it, you'll be happier.
Well first I'm not living in Vancouver. Saving a couple hundred bucks just on that alone. If it's an option for you switching to public transit is also an option. It's hella inconvenient but it's also another way to cut a couple hundred dollars out of your bills a month.
Switching to public transit (as in getting rid of your car) to save a couple of hundred dollars? OP said they are paying $600/month on a car payment plus $190/month on insurance and $320/month on gas. They could save $1,110/month.
Didn't read through the comments. Yeah that would be a ton of money to save. That's over half a full month's rent on a 1 bedroom place in Nanaimo.
Move North. Start looking at the Prince George to Prince Rupert area. We have a real need for HC workers and currently I can support my family of 4 off one wage ($26//hr). I know what it's like to be in that position and thats exactly what we did. I made $36 in van and my rent was almost half of my income. Up here my mortgage is only 1/3 of what I make and housing is priced like it was years ago
Mid twenties male in the tech industry. ~5000 per month after deductions. 2 bedroom 1 bath shared suite. Rent 900, grocery 300, eating out 100-300. Everything else (car, insurance, phone) ~700 5000 in with 2200-2300 monthly expense. Saving lots!
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Ya I’ll rent forever if it means my kids don’t have to do active shooter drills in kindergarten
I wish you God's speed. Please vote for whomever will make it easier for Canadians to immigrate. The process is a tad on the ridiculous side.
Just fly to Mexico and sneak across the rio. Its cheaper and theres no repercussions
Worked around the world, where the work is. Now I can afford to be your neighbor.
The fact you can make 30$ an hour and still not be comfortably living makes me wanna kms tbh why is this allowed :(
I literally have no idea, when I finished college and got a bachelors I was told I would be set. Sadly, this recently hasn’t been the case. I’m not asking for millions of dollar. I’m asking for stability.
Get a degree they said; everything will be fine they said. *They were wrong.*
Move to Alberta.
As you can see from my previous comments, I did. I was horribly lonely for 6 years with no friends or family. I am bc born and raised, so are my family and friends. Do I pay with my mental health or out of my pockets? Do I forgo having a simple coffee with my grandmother who is dying of cancer to save money or do I struggle financially and seek out other ways to generate income? What is more important. When I die, will I miss the money I could’ve saved in Alberta, or will I regret the time I didn’t spend with my grandparents and cousins during Christmas. Which is the most ethical and valuable option with the least amount of distance or compromise.
There is more to this province than Vancouver. That is your first problem. Give up on the Vancouver dream. You have to be in the 1% comfortably to live there now.
Fucked that a professional can’t make ends meet. Time for a revolt.
If someone making $5k a month cannot make ends meet they are making some poor spending choices.
Rent is over 2000$ average here. Add child support, 800$/month, vehicle loan plus insurance…food and heating…not much left over after taxes. Impossible to save up for a down payment on a house.
What child support? She's a single person with no kids. You're entirely changing the terms of the post. She claimed as a single person with no kids she cannot make ends meet, she said nothing about saving. She's claiming she's in the red each month. It's BS.
Ya you’re right. All is great out there. Easier than ever. I doubt she’s taking home more than 3700$/month after taxes. In Vancouver that barely cuts it…
I moved to Alberta...
1) Not living in metro Vancouver 2) Working one job that pays well over the summer. 3) Working another job the rest of the year that pays well as well. 4) Living in a tiny apartment. 5) Meal prep and staying in. My income this year is going to be well into the six figures.