I love the breakdown of their spending. If I saw a case study like this, I would fall out of my chair laughing.
Monthly expenses | Mortgage payment for a three-bedroom house: $2,500.
Utilities: $500.
Gas for their Jeep Commander and Ford F-150 truck: $440.
Street parking and two parking permits: $200.
Home and car insurance: $300.
Cleaning lady: $160.
Groceries: $1,000. (“We like Whole Foods and try to eat organic as much as we can. We love the new Leslieville store Hooked for fish. For everything else, Loblaws.”) B
aby supplies and toiletries at drugstores: $75.
Wine: $400–$500. (“We try to get the better $11 bottles, but they go fast.”) 45 $11 bottles/month, ~1.5 bottles/day (WTF?!)
Eating out: $400.
Home phone, cable, Internet and two cellphones: $280.
Dry cleaning: $50.
Haircuts, nails and waxing: $170.
Gifts: $200. (“You have kids, you spend money on toys for other kids. That’s how it goes.”)
Daycare for both kids: $2,500.
Annual expenses
Property tax: $3,800.
Upgrades and maintenance on their house: $5,000.
Clothes: $3,000. (“When you have young kids you really cut back on stuff for yourself.”)
RRSPs and investments: $0. (“Ha! We live month to month. When we have money left over, we go out.”)
Savings accounts for the kids: $1,500. (“We put money in on birthdays and special occasions.”)
Hockey league fees for Thomas: $500.
Gym classes for Suzanne: $900.
Swimming and music lessons for the kids: $900.