B2L2

I consider what celeron_266 stated is definitely not minimum.  But I agree that it is a normal "expected" life for a well educated matured couples (I mean this may not apply to young couple say just out from school).

Ask yourself wouldn't you expect (or at least wish) this to be your standard of living when you are 35?  With a home, car, cable, gas, food and medical.

In fact it isn't quite far away from what I'm shotting at today.  
Did I earn $180k yearly?  No.  
Is there so much to spend to in my life?  Yes.  
Is it scary for such an expense?  Yes

Final question, how a couple achieve this????  Save your saving early and very early.  Working hard and very hard.

kaimui22

There ARE some ways to cut costs...

most companies will cover 100% of part of your MSP....if you're earning a considerable amount of money with your job, it SHOULD cover MSP...and most companies cover a family's MSP, not just the employees

as for utilities...if you are looking to move into an apartment/condo, look for one that covers Hot water and heating in their maintenance fees. A lot do and it will save you lots of $$. Again, if you are moving into an apartment/condo, look for one WITHOUT a hot water tank inside!! I've seen apartments with hot water tanks inside and they cost the owners at least $50 - $200 a month just for water and heating.

But then again, if you are planning to move into an apartment, don't forget to add the maintenance fees...anywhere from $2400 to $5000 a year, not including any special levies or special fees.

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!

大C姐

我有一句老生常談袋喺袋﹕你係咩階層就用返果個階層既生活方式。

你有幾百蚊唔係諗住要做百萬富翁﹐你有幾千萬又唔好刻意扮窮。呢個世界係睇餸食飯。你負擔唔起學咩人5年要供起層樓﹖負擔唔起點解一定要渣兩部車(以你既計算仲要係新車﹐幾千蚊二手車都唔consider)﹖你set定你自己要求既生活方式﹐認定左某一種生活係正常/minimum之後走黎煩﹐就黎頭痛你話幾戇居﹗

-- 知足大C姐

shutterbug

"你set定你自己要求既生活方式, 認定左某一種生活係正常/minimum之後走黎煩﹐就黎頭痛你話幾戇居"

I think lots of people do this... in a way, it's some sort of motivation...it's 戇居 only if you can't achieve it

blowfish

Dont forget this day & age, one could be out of a job in a hurry too. So be prepared, dont stretch your budget like a drum skin either.
High oil price will ultimately hurt us. Sputtering US economy too.
Down side of owning home is easy to get in, but can be hard to get out.
U also need life & disability ins too. We never know what tomollo will bring.