Ultraman

原帖由 Hyde 於 2008-5-24 21:06 發表
i really wonder how ppl can survive in Vancouver with their little salary and high tax

go earn your money else where, then come back to live in van when you have money

On the other hand, I wonder how people can survive in HK with their not-too-much salary but high expense (even less tax)?!
And if I'm rich (I mean real rich), I won't consider Vancouver the best place for retirement lor.

Ultraman

原帖由 Catpiano 於 2008-5-24 21:58 發表
~ $300 a month for gas is minium for average driver la      say doing  ~2,000 -2,500km a month ..  average 12L/100km to drive around town  .. so need 250L-300L gas a month and $1.4 / L  .. will be  ...

Don't wanna get into too technical. But well, really depends on the car model, driving distance, driving frequency, and driving habit la. I believe spending $1000 gas per month is just very rare case la.

Ultraman

原帖由 yuusaku 於 2008-5-25 00:58 發表
if you work in downtown, don't forget about parking cost.

downtown burrad/hasting, around 200 ~ 300/month
yaletown, around 100~150/month

Yea.... and that's why many of my downtown-working-friends started to take bus long time ago before the crazy raise of the gas price la!

Ultraman

Sometimes, seasonal things do happen. Regarding for house price in Van, I'll rather wait until closer or end of the Olympic then see.

Ultraman

原帖由 B2L2 於 2008-5-26 15:49 發表
又車又樓又無債 = perfect life  

when one has yearly income of $1.8M, his standard life will be pretty high as well.  And saving up for 5 years without 1 cent of spending still wouldn't able to p ...

My calculation: $180,000 yearly x5 = $900,000. In order to save up to $660,000 after 5 years to pay off a house right away, you still have $4000 to spend per month wor. (ignoring tax, inflation and raise of salary factors.) Which is pretty reasonable to me ar.

Ultraman

原帖由 B2L2 於 2008-5-26 16:30 發表
Sorry, not 1.8M.  Got myself confused.  

Ignoring tax?  Consider he pays ~30% tax, his yearly income has only $126k.  Without spending 1c, he could save up to $630k in 5 years.

That's why I said "igoring tax, inflation and raise of salary factors" ar mah. If I am currently earning $180,000 already (net, not gross), I won't expect my future years would just earning the same lor! Moreover, also depends on what kind of "house" you're looking for. To some people, $660,000 could be a more-than-satisfied home; but there are some houses over $5,000,000 or $10,000,000 which $180,000 net annual income is not even close to buy a bathroom!

Ultraman

Another thing is, the $180,000 might not necessary be "salary only" income. It could be basic salary, side business, plus investment too.

Ultraman

Well, I also don't think we're OT, since we're still on track for related issue, and I agree on katamari that everyone's "living cost" or "minimum living cost" is different. If you want to know what is "minimum", let me tell you point by point:

mortgage: 250k principle, 6% interest, pay off in 5 years (i dont want to work my whole life just to pay off the house):  5k per month = 60k per year
To pay off a mortgage within 5 years is what a beautiful dream, which is not too possible to "general public" anyways. So, unless you are those "minority", stop dreaming that way la.

car:  2 cars, $500 monthly for each = 12k per year
Nope. Many couples only have one car in the family, or some even have no car at all (maybe only bikes). Don't ask how they can live without a car, they still survive and enjoying their lives.

car insurance:  2k per car = 4k per year
Need to pay nothing if they don't even have a car, or pay about half for only one car.

gas:  $300 per car per month = 3.6k per year
Again, pay less proportionally if you only have one or no car.

utilities (natural gas, water, electricity):  2.5k per year
All depends on one's habit. Cost could be various.

phones (one landline, two cell phones), internet, tv:  ~$180 per month = ~2k per year
Many couples don't have a landline but cell phones, some the other way round. Free internet in many stores, no TV cable.

medical:  $100 per month = 1.2k per year
This could be the only part that can't get rid of.

food:  ~$1000 per month = 12k per year
For $1000 per couple per month, not much dine out anyways. But some couples could really spend less than that.

so minimum a couple have to earn ~ $97.3k a year just to support themselves...
So, this could be debatable. What is the standard of "just to support themselves"? You know, standard of "minimum cost for comfortable living" varies to different people. But the very basic cost to "maintain life" could be very low. If you want to have a much better future but at the same time to have a "comfortable current living", honestly either you are a bit too greedy or your current income is plenty enough. Or else, you have to pay certain price to sacrifice your current standard of living ga la!

if you want to help your parents (both sides 2k a month = 48k per year), that will be $145.3k per year!!!
Many couples can't afford to pay their own debt as well as to give money to their parents. This is just a very ideal thought, which to be honest again, either you are a bit too greedy or having plenty income.

and remember...this is the minimum living costs...no incidentals (occasional traveling, shopping) added...
Of course, gals could spend thousands on handbags and guys on gadgets. Despite that, "minimum living cost" is said various as above.

if kids are present...the costs will increase again...
If a couple can't even support their own life, shouldn't even think of kids la.

Now, tell me how much "minimum" do you need?

[ 本帖最後由 Ultraman 於 2008-5-27 13:14 編輯 ]

Ultraman

Yea, who doesn't want a reasonable decent life starting from earlier stage? But in what feasible ways some people are cutting their cost are using either cell or land line, one car instead of two for a couple (not applies to all couples but some), cook at home instead of dining out too often, no cable TV (doesn't mean you can't watch DVD)not giving "pocket money" to parents (if they don't really needed).... etc, which I think is very reasonable and workable.

The fact is, the higher your quality of life is the harder you gotta study/work! Everything has a price, and you have to pay for it. Basically, if you want to have a "better" life at your younger age, you gotta study and work harder earlier proportionally. But what I believe more is, big money is not obtained by saving but gaining! That means, not just saving up what you left but use money to gain more and more money! I know it's easy to say and I recognize I'm not that "smart" type of people anyways; so I won't dream to be a rich person, haha!