I can vouch that groceries are expensive everywhere in Canada. We live in Saskatchewan and a 1/2 pint of raspberries is $8 (non-organic). I definitely think meal planning helps a lot.
@jay chris How much do you make from financial market in a month. I know it sounds odd but just curious because I have seen many people who are into it making thousands and millions.
@jay chris everyone seems to trade with this man. My colleague at office is under his mentorship as well. I guess his experience over the years is a catalyst to his success and consistency in making profits. I will give him a try.
@@kathythompson6021 I'm one of his beneficiaries. Under his advisory, i make good trade income. Got 4 of friends involved and they are all doing fine. Didn't expect to see people talking about him here.
@@jameslayton6584 his strategies have proven effective and highly profitable across different platforms. With his assistance i was able to pay all my bills last year. Glad i met him when my life was almost a wreck.
Grocery prices here in Ontario, Canada are through the roof. It is very expensive. We spend $900/month for a family of 4. No eating out, that's just straight groceries - meal planning around sales and using up what's in our pantry and freezer. Thanks for doing another Canadian real life budget, Miko!
I think groceries expenses have increased around the World. Here in NZ we are spending roughly $200 - $230 weekly for a family of 2 adults and one child under 5s. We spend around $800- $900 monthly with groceries. Another big expense here is rent: $1.600 monthly for a 2 bedroom townhouse. 🙁
We started a garden last summer and many Christmas presents were geared to expanding our garden this summer. Now I need to get brave enough to can the veggies to last the winter.
Fellow Canadian and I came across on your channel while I was trying to find a video about debts. I'm happy you did a Canadian version based on US channel. I like all of your videos, new subscribers here.
I see that many other folks have indicated my thoughts. Groceries are way more expensive in Canada. Gas as well. I live in Vancouver and prior to covid it was really common for people to drive down to Blaine Washington to get gas and pick up milk and cheese.
Groceries in Canada, at least in Ontario are incredibly expensive. We have a lot of increased cost for importing US products etc and our inflation is out of control at the moment. This week I bought a 300g block of cheese, 12 large eggs, 2 loafs of bread, 2 canns of ham and some frozen peas and it was $30 and that was shopping at one of the cheaper stores available and by choosing the 'no-name' or off brand options as well. It is SO easy to spend $1200/month on groceries (considering that that would also cover household items like soap and toilet paper) here. If you buy any fresh produce you're looking at $5 for a single cauliflower, 5-8 for a pint of berries depending on sales or type of berry. ITS ROUGH HERE RIGHT NOW YALL.
I live in Manitoba, Canada and we are considered in the medium range here for standard of living compared to other provinces. I have noticed an increase in prices starting last year especially on groceries. Like every item is up $1-2. We are meal planning but still spend $500 per month minimum on groceries for 2 adults and a baby. We don't even buy organic, mostly frozen produce. We also eat left overs. It is really hard to eat healthy and fresh while still keeping your grocery bill low. Thanks for sharing a Canadian budget!
House prices in Ontario are increasing over 30%/year. Prioritize that down payment girl! Also you only need 5% down unless you currently own another property.
I dont even live in Canada but this was a great video to watch. This helped me guide myself through viewing my own budget and expenses just like how Miko is. I had so much anxiety over the THOUGHT of writing down a budget but once I started watching this video and sat down and began the ball just kept rolling and now I feel on fire! I finally feel hopeful and not so terrified of money. Budget mom is a lifesaver!!!
So glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I just recently bought the pdf budget mom budget by paycheck . Time to get the finances in order!! Thank you Miko!
If Morgan is using her credit card to cover some of her expenses, how is it that she has no debt? If she is paying the card off every month so there is no rolling balance then that should be in her budget somewhere. That money is going out but it's not listed anywhere.
When I changed to a whole foods plant based diet I actually spent less on my food budget. Everyone does and eats differently. My main advice for trying to eat healthy on a budget. Is always shop sales. It takes time to check prices from different stores but it's worth it. Also buying from bulk bins always helps!
One of tbe best ways to save money on healthy food is making sure not to buy organic - as it is no healthier and is a big marketing ploy :) then you’ll save a ton
How does she claim to have no debt, but then says she uses her CC to cover expenses she doesn't have the funds for month to month? It's a cycle of over spending; you will eventually carry a balance on your CC month to month. Not judging, I have CC debt, just an observation.
This is just my opinion. I think since she is still able to pay off her CC bill monthly and not carry over a balance (hence no interest accrued), she might not consider it a debt. No minimum payments for the CC so it is technically still not a debt. She is living paycheck to paycheck though coz she is using her current paycheck to pay for her last month's expenses.
Eating an organic, plant-based diet does NOT need to be that expensive! Stop the juicing - just eat whole fruits/veggies. Stop buying ready-made vegan products. Processed food is processed food. For example, homemade seitan, just made from regular flour, is way, way less expensive than prepared seitan. Eat in season. Don’t buy raspberries in February, or oranges in July! Use dried herbs and frozen produce when more economical. Nutritionally and flavor-wise they’re very similar to fresh, and sometimes better (depends on prep).
Why isn't there a vehicle variable expense to replace the reliance on the credit card? What about her credit card payment being factored into the fixed expenses?
@Jessica Bellamy HI Jessica. I wouldn't call someone's budget 'wasting'.. The best thing about personal finances is that they are personal. Their diet sounds more like a medical need, then a choice. I think it's good for all of us to know the trade-offs in every budget, whether they're voluntary or mandatory. 👍😊
Groceries are very high in Canada. I only eat ground beef and chicken due to costs. I pay around 1200/month for myself and 3 kids. No organic, limited meat.
She can get quotes from more vets. I had to get my kittens spayed and I got quotes from USD$30 to $500 each. That's a huge difference (I'm not saying she should go with the cheapest one)! Most quotes I got were around $180- $220, so I went with one in that price range and also recommended by my MIL.
Yep, we shopped around for our pet care and went with our friend’s vet. More affordable and they offer complementary services and have been so great. They even donated free care when we took in a stray. Not the cheapest but not breaking our bank either
I live in Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 while we don't eat a clean eating diet we are a family of four and our grocery budget $900 a month. Our prices are high and keep rising unfortunately i work retail and just marked alot of food items in my department up by a $1. Depending on where she lives in Ontario come summer she can buy from local farmers markets and farms in general for produce and it's soo much cheaper than in store. Also it shouldn't cost that much for her dog to spayed and if she keeps an eye out spca does have spay and neuter clinics that help with some of the expense usually for cats but I have seen them put on for dogs as well
Just for information purposes. In Canada the Child Tax Benefit is a regular thing that parents receive monthly for their children from birth to 18. There has been some extra money paid here and there since Covid, but the amount showing for this person is what she will continue to get until her child is 18 (it will likely vary/decrease by some amount as her child ages and also based on her income if it changes).
I live in Ontario,Canada and for health reasons I have to maintain a certain diet and I do juicing, but as a single parent of 3 teens, I spend no more than 500$/mth and I thought what I spend is high why I make 80% of my stuff from scratch and garden. The cost of living here is certainly a lot higher than in other Countries.
living in Ontario, I can tell you that the housing market is bananas...she would be better off meeting her car savings goal and then working on the house, since it will take a while giving the current climate
The cell phone is very high. We are paying $110 a month for two phone lines with a good amount of data. We are also in Ontario. Rogers is notoriously expensive. There are plenty of other options.
We gave up eating out, any beauty costs, buying clothes and entertainment so we could save for our future home down-payment. We ask for gift cards as gifts so we can still have some things in those categories. Over the years we haven't really been able to do much anyhow so we are now used to our lifestyle.
This video was really helpful. I agree with the changes you made with moving the savings around. It was interesting to hear you talk about the trade offs. Thank you
Great video, always good to get a fresh perspective on things!! there could be lower cost spay / neuter programs that may be available through NFP groups that work with specific vet offices … (we have those here in Montreal.) what confused me a little is where it was mentioned there is no debt, but uses credit cards each month? Are those balances paid each month too?
About recording what you actually spend. Can you or anyone recommend an app (not for i-phone - i have a samsung) where I can put in how much mony i can use every month and then have different catagories and then when i get out of the shop i can put what i have spent right under the categories and the app will automatic detract the amount and tell me how much i have left? I am not talking about a budgdt app. What i need is an app where i registeer my income after i have paide all the nessesities (on amount) and then can put how much i have spent in and the app registrer it and detraks . Only one income/salery category and multiple outgoing categories. Not a budgetin-spp. I am not so good at english as it is my third language but i hope this is understandible and that someone can recommend an app for me because i can only find apps where i have to write how much i can use on this or that. Thank you.
Oh I wish you could figure out our budget for us. Family of 6 here and hubby is an electrician. We've made some bad financial decisions and hubby just became and electrician right before the pandemic and money always seems to be an issue. We are a family of 6 and finally off of living paycheck to paycheck but can never get ahead. Also just a heads up in Canada, we've had child tax credit since the 90s I think and it's from the month of birth until 18 years and varies depending on your income.
if she's using a credit card for gifts and other things how does she not have debt? Even if it's being paid off monthly I don't see that factored into the budget.
Not sure why she is saying 20% down? It is 5% down unless you're purchasing an income property (you already have a primary mortage)... a $600 thousand dollar home only needs a $30 thousand down...
I think I will never complaint about grocery prices in Ireland anymore. Canada wins the prize. Here, with thé global inflation, we eat local as much as possible (local and acccording to the season). And for juicing, use the frozen vegetables and fruits.
If you get the pdf printable it’s undated. I got that one and I love it. I can print as I go for each month and I don’t need to print every page. Keeps my planner less bulky as well
I’m no empathetic to this!! I’m in CA and to eat healthy is so dam expensive but I’m not only thinking about the present but also in the future of my little one in terms of health. I don’t want my son or me to have a miserable senior life.
Watching these real life budget videos has really helped me but this one confused me. If she is using her CC for her variable spending how is she debt free? Where is she paying this CC back?
I suspect its a bi-weekly cycle of spending the money before she receives it (use the credit card during the two weeks, pay it off when she gets paid, repeat)
I hope she opened a RRSP account with that she can get 15000$ for her home. Also why does she spent a lot on phone ? Even with an Iphone 12 pro I pay 80$ for the phone and the carrier. She can cuts money from that phone.
Seeing that large of a grocery budget makes me think she’s buying readymade grocery items. Maybe she’s not juicing herself and instead buying the juices. Sometimes you have to pick and choose also. I have a friend who needs to eat as healthy as possible. She chose to skip the organic on food items you peeled. She had to fit her lifestyle to her budget. Small sacrifices in the long run.
You're right. I hadn't caught the age of her son, but see now he is 17. I remember 4 years ago (after 6 years of being a single mother) the month my son turned 18 there was no more child tax benefit or child support. My son moved out so I not longer had to feed him, clothe him etc, but the reality was that $700 per month was more than I was spending directly on him so it was a hard hit for me. I was just scraping by even with that money so when it was gone (and I had not prepared for it) It was very difficult for a long time. I can tell this woman has probably not prepared herself for that either. At least she has gotten help with her financial plan and will have some skills to help her create a new plan when her son is 18.
Yes she’ll lose the govt child benefit payment but she might also lose the child support payment, depending on the parents’ agreement and what the son is doing. The amount of child care she is getting depends on the difference between the two parents’ incomes, so the dad might just not make much more than she does and that’s why he only pays $124.
@Jessica Bellamy of course they should. Things like their transportation and their cell phone. Inc they are working they should slowly start paying their own bills. ItMs how you teach them to value money and learn how to budget properly.
So sad to see you cut the charity from the budget. That is opposite what God's Word says. Proverbs 3:9 - "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" 2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
@@adorabell4253 Yes sadly that is clear with all the evil in the world. There is only ONE God. I pray you come to understand that before it is too late.
@@jens7898 How? If you’re #1 not religious & #2 are living paycheck to paycheck with no more left to spare and need to worry about feeding their OWN children, how can one help another being or family? It’s not a priority for most families. If it is, great but not all of us even have the funds to support another person or charity. That’s your opinion that it’s selfish. You thinking it’s selfish to support one’s own family is terrifying
Groceries are very expensive in Ontario. However there are lots of ways to cut down costs and still eat well and organic. Shopping at different stores, markets, directly from farmers etc. It would be beneficial for her to look into different options
The Child Tax Benefit here in Canada is an automatic monthly income-based deposit from the government that is is for anyone with a child! You get the credit for each child. It’s been around for a while, and is not based on the pandemic! The amount ranges, but if your child is under 6, you get more every month. As well, it changes based on the province you live in! Hope that helps a little 😊
At what age will this woman lose that tax credit? When does child support usually end in Canada? It mentioned that her son is 17. Here in the US she would stop getting those at 18 (unless there was a case specific clause to continue while the child was in school). How does that work in Canada?
@@tracyreaume6451 I think it might depend on your province, but someone I know only gets like $2 a month since they’re over the income threshold lol. But everyone qualifies and will receive a few bucks!
@@Sandy11142 here in Canada once your child turns 18 you stop receiving it! Unfortunately it does not continue through university, etc. however, as Diane said, child support can continue after the CCB ends at 18! 😊
I don't know if they have similar programs in Canada, but here in the US there are spay/neuter pop-up clinics. I have a friend who is a vet and she is very passionate about reducing the amount of unwanted puppies in her community. IDK if they are always income based but it's definitely something she might look into.
me in the UK looking at the cell phone amount :o my phone is £11.24 a month. I knew phones were more expensive elsewhere but I didn't realise it was by that much!
I have a budget friendly cell phone unlimited everything and it's $100 for 4 lines. I'm assuming she financed their cell phones? That's crazy expensive in my opinion, but we buy our phones outright.
I'm a bit confused how she can have $38,000 saved for a house but is relying on her credit card for certain expenses? I think this might be a mindset problem/prioritization problem. She has the money for an emergency fund, dog spaying, vehicle expenses, but she doesn't see it that way because the house is her main goal. Which isn't a bad goal to have at all, but in order to feel financially secure she needs to shift mentally what her savings is for. It also kind of sounds like there is an income vs expense problem as well.
I'm a bit confused how she can have $38,000 saved for a house but is relying on her credit card for certain expenses? There are times when a credit card is a must: airline tickets, hotel reservation, car rental. Besides that, credit cards get you nothing but trouble. I would have one card, cut the others into pieces and toss them in the trash.
@@DavidEVogel There is a difference between using a credit card for security reasons but having the money to pay it off at any time vs. using a credit card because you have a cash flow problem.
Your comment about the Child Tax Benefit was funny because it has existed for over 30 years in Canada. $1200 a month for groceries is crazy! She needs to start growing veggies any way she can. Also, she has no transportation expenses?
We live in NB and we spend about $300 for groceries and household items per month (about $400-$425 total if including take out/ dining out) for two adults. We used to spend around $500 on groceries/ household items before we started meal planning. I think a lot of Canadians like to use our high grocery prices as an excuse, but you can definitely still spend a reasonable amount on groceries here if you make meal planning a priority...
Commenting in 2024, as a fellow Canadian - Post-pandemic prices, and inflation are still in effect in 2024 and her budget of $1200 for two people is still wildly outrageous.
.. why is she eating out if she's that sick and needs to watch what she eats?? juice cleanses don't actually do anything but cost money you don't have. That just sounds like she bought into the "holistic" thing and is just ending up depriving her finances and hurting herself.
I live in Canada have two adult children and husband. In January we spent $813 on groceries but I rely on coupons, watching sales etc. Kids also use their own money for their fast food. Its possible but prices are definitely up.
If she soaks her veggies in salt water to remove the pesticides, she doesn't need to buy organic. All the plant based doctors say, organic is best, but if you can't afford it, it's fine. I haven't seen a big rise in produce in the Netherlands, here, the problem areas are the energy prices and fuel. And as for groceries, things like bread and nuts have gone up a lot. So, if she makes a lot of nut-based dressings, she might look into replacing the nuts (like cashews) with white beans or even potatoes. Much cheaper, but just as creamy. Get fruits from the frozen section and hold back on the celery (which she probably buys a lot for juicing), because it's really expensive especially if it's organic. There is no evidence that celery juice does anything special, despite what some 'ghost' might say to a 'medical medium'. Juicing in general is great, but also removes a lot of the fiber. Maybe get into green smoothies, which will fill you up more with fiber. And use whatever is in season to make them. I buy my staples, like chickpeas, buckwheat and millet (who needs quinoa?) in bulk, which saves me a lot of money. I spend around €200 a month for one person on groceries, including household items like toilet paper, laundry detergent (in bulk) and toothpaste. I could probably spend even less, but I choose to buy any bathroom items zero waste, which is more expensive.
It’s not cheap to eat plant-based-doubly so if you’re buying organic produce, and also adding in any dietary restrictions will make the cost of groceries skyrocket.
Ontario girl here. Expensive place to live, period. I am an empty nester and haven’t eaten out for the last 2 years. That being said, my dietary needs don’t allow for much carb based food that usually keep grocery bills down and stomachs full. I struggle to keep my groceries under $500 per month. Also, a teenage boy eats a lot! 😉🇨🇦
@@pollydolly9723 Yes I see now. Re read what you'd typed and realized I misunderstood that sentence thinking you were referring to a teenager of your own.
Juicing is not a good practice. Juice is basically flavoured sugar water with some vitamins. There is a reason kids aren’t meant to drink juice for the first few years, it does nothing for your health. Smoothies are better, they preserve the fiber and can be bulked o it with good greens like spinach, kale, or sorrel. Having all that good as a salad is even bette r because you have to chew it, helping to produce salive to start digestion. Cutting out juicing would reduce the good budget because fruits are expensive as F. Buying a house in the Golden Horseshoe (which is where I expect she lives) right now is also a really bad idea. Prices are insane and not looking to go down in the near future. Renting in Ontario is not bad, we have a lot of tenant protections and it’s probably the better financial choice when compared to spending 1mil on a house.
I can agree that the cost of an organic plant based diet is SUPER expensive and I started that lifestyle over 30 years ago. Juicing alone costs allot per day even if not using organic. 😫
I live in New Brunswick, which is actually a higher food cost than Ontario. My husband was doing body building and I was clean eating before we had our kids (about 5 years ago) and we had to stop because we were spending ~$1000 a month just on groceries. We could afford it at the time, our rent was really low and I was working a ton of hours, but we knew we wanted children and knew that we just couldn't keep that up, especially while I was out on maternity leave (55% of income for a year). We're starting to get back to it now, but we've also made other cuts in our life to be able to support that. And in case anyone is wondering - milk is about $7.50 for a 4L (about a gallon), eggs are $4.50 for a dozen, chicken is about $6/lb if you buy it at regular prices
I am in the US and my husband was talking about transferring his job to Canada. He thought I would say no because of the cold and snow. But you guys are scaring me with the grocery prices.
@@TheBohemianStyle I guess it would depend on where you are. Most of my family is in and around the Toronto area so I definitely know the prices there. But I do know that we've had a major influx of folks from Ontario here and every single one of them comments on how much more expensive the food is here.
@@Shridra It certainly is! My other concern is housing for seniors. I’m not that far off and I struggle to figure out how to pay rent once I retire. In my area, we have a small few living in RV’s because they can’t afford rent now that they are retired and they have something part-time to help them financially.
I live in Canada as a single mom and organic groceries are astronomical. I buy 70/30 organic and clean eating and I spend $800/month for me and my daughter. The best thing is to meal plan/prep and shop sales/farmers markets/CSA boxes.
Another great real life budget!! Trade offs are an EXTREMELY important lesson for budgeting and becoming an "Intentional spender". We have one income. HOW we decide to spread it and WHERE we put our money is up to us. We need to allocate the funds to our NEEDS FIRST and then our wants. For us, we had it BACKWARDS for years and took care of variable spending BEFORE our Vital needs!! NOW our NEEDS are food, shelter & transportation. Our WANTS are eating out, personal shopping & travel. 💙💜💙
I can vouch that groceries are expensive everywhere in Canada. We live in Saskatchewan and a 1/2 pint of raspberries is $8 (non-organic). I definitely think meal planning helps a lot.
I appreciate these videos. Teaching me quite a lot keep them coming
@jay chris
How much do you make from financial market in a month.
I know it sounds odd but just curious because I have seen many people who are into it making thousands and millions.
@jay chris
has there ever been losses since you started the financial market?
And what's your area if specialisation in the market? Thanks.
@jay chris
everyone seems to trade with this man.
My colleague at office is under his mentorship as well. I guess his experience over the years is a catalyst to his success and consistency in making profits. I will give him a try.
@@kathythompson6021
I'm one of his beneficiaries. Under his advisory, i make good trade income. Got 4 of friends involved and they are all doing fine. Didn't expect to see people talking about him here.
@@jameslayton6584
his strategies have proven effective and highly profitable across different platforms. With his assistance i was able to pay all my bills last year. Glad i met him when my life was almost a wreck.
Grocery prices here in Ontario, Canada are through the roof. It is very expensive. We spend $900/month for a family of 4. No eating out, that's just straight groceries - meal planning around sales and using up what's in our pantry and freezer. Thanks for doing another Canadian real life budget, Miko!
Yes same here in northern ontario.
I think groceries expenses have increased around the World. Here in NZ we are spending roughly $200 - $230 weekly for a family of 2 adults and one child under 5s. We spend around $800- $900 monthly with groceries. Another big expense here is rent: $1.600 monthly for a 2 bedroom townhouse. 🙁
Same here in Nova Scotia. Groceries are expensive!
We’re spending 800 for 2.5 but we buy a lot of snackage.Groceries are expensive but it also depends where you shop.
We started a garden last summer and many Christmas presents were geared to expanding our garden this summer. Now I need to get brave enough to can the veggies to last the winter.
Fellow Canadian and I came across on your channel while I was trying to find a video about debts. I'm happy you did a Canadian version based on US channel. I like all of your videos, new subscribers here.
I see that many other folks have indicated my thoughts. Groceries are way more expensive in Canada. Gas as well. I live in Vancouver and prior to covid it was really common for people to drive down to Blaine Washington to get gas and pick up milk and cheese.
Groceries in Canada, at least in Ontario are incredibly expensive. We have a lot of increased cost for importing US products etc and our inflation is out of control at the moment. This week I bought a 300g block of cheese, 12 large eggs, 2 loafs of bread, 2 canns of ham and some frozen peas and it was $30 and that was shopping at one of the cheaper stores available and by choosing the 'no-name' or off brand options as well. It is SO easy to spend $1200/month on groceries (considering that that would also cover household items like soap and toilet paper) here. If you buy any fresh produce you're looking at $5 for a single cauliflower, 5-8 for a pint of berries depending on sales or type of berry. ITS ROUGH HERE RIGHT NOW YALL.
WOW. I had no idea!
I live in Manitoba, Canada and we are considered in the medium range here for standard of living compared to other provinces. I have noticed an increase in prices starting last year especially on groceries. Like every item is up $1-2. We are meal planning but still spend $500 per month minimum on groceries for 2 adults and a baby. We don't even buy organic, mostly frozen produce. We also eat left overs. It is really hard to eat healthy and fresh while still keeping your grocery bill low. Thanks for sharing a Canadian budget!
House prices in Ontario are increasing over 30%/year. Prioritize that down payment girl! Also you only need 5% down unless you currently own another property.
I dont even live in Canada but this was a great video to watch. This helped me guide myself through viewing my own budget and expenses just like how Miko is. I had so much anxiety over the THOUGHT of writing down a budget but once I started watching this video and sat down and began the ball just kept rolling and now I feel on fire! I finally feel hopeful and not so terrified of money. Budget mom is a lifesaver!!!
Great job! Same here ..once you put everything on paper and do a brain dump it’s like a sense of relief and can get organized
So glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I just recently bought the pdf budget mom budget by paycheck . Time to get the finances in order!! Thank you Miko!
If Morgan is using her credit card to cover some of her expenses, how is it that she has no debt? If she is paying the card off every month so there is no rolling balance then that should be in her budget somewhere. That money is going out but it's not listed anywhere.
When I changed to a whole foods plant based diet I actually spent less on my food budget. Everyone does and eats differently. My main advice for trying to eat healthy on a budget. Is always shop sales. It takes time to check prices from different stores but it's worth it. Also buying from bulk bins always helps!
One of tbe best ways to save money on healthy food is making sure not to buy organic - as it is no healthier and is a big marketing ploy :) then you’ll save a ton
Yes! I spend about $200 a month eating a plant based diet (a lot of bulk buying, frozen organic berries, and Costco lol)
How does she claim to have no debt, but then says she uses her CC to cover expenses she doesn't have the funds for month to month? It's a cycle of over spending; you will eventually carry a balance on your CC month to month. Not judging, I have CC debt, just an observation.
I was confused about that too she was clearly in the red if you add up her expenses before the modifications
This is just my opinion. I think since she is still able to pay off her CC bill monthly and not carry over a balance (hence no interest accrued), she might not consider it a debt. No minimum payments for the CC so it is technically still not a debt. She is living paycheck to paycheck though coz she is using her current paycheck to pay for her last month's expenses.
I noticed that too and was a little confused!
@@crystalgale15 that makes sense!
@@crystalgale15 True but that payment should also be on her list of expenses
You are my budget mentor ❤
Eating an organic, plant-based diet does NOT need to be that expensive!
Stop the juicing - just eat whole fruits/veggies.
Stop buying ready-made vegan products. Processed food is processed food. For example, homemade seitan, just made from regular flour, is way, way less expensive than prepared seitan.
Eat in season. Don’t buy raspberries in February, or oranges in July!
Use dried herbs and frozen produce when more economical. Nutritionally and flavor-wise they’re very similar to fresh, and sometimes better (depends on prep).
Appreciate the fact you talk about shifting money from one big future goal to fully fund smaller immediate goals... never considered that an option
Why isn't there a vehicle variable expense to replace the reliance on the credit card? What about her credit card payment being factored into the fixed expenses?
That’s all Canadian groceries. 😂 when I first moved here I remember being shocked I spent $10 on grapes.
This was super informative! Awesome recommendations. Living in Canada is really expensive!
I don't see a line for "household - non-food" items so I'm wondering if those are factored into her grocery budget as well
I thought the same too.
@Jessica Bellamy HI Jessica. I wouldn't call someone's budget 'wasting'.. The best thing about personal finances is that they are personal. Their diet sounds more like a medical need, then a choice.
I think it's good for all of us to know the trade-offs in every budget, whether they're voluntary or mandatory. 👍😊
Groceries are very high in Canada. I only eat ground beef and chicken due to costs. I pay around 1200/month for myself and 3 kids. No organic, limited meat.
She can get quotes from more vets. I had to get my kittens spayed and I got quotes from USD$30 to $500 each. That's a huge difference (I'm not saying she should go with the cheapest one)! Most quotes I got were around $180- $220, so I went with one in that price range and also recommended by my MIL.
Sometimes there are non-profits that do a great job with spay and neuter, and the cost is subsidized by other donors. Worth looking into!
Yep, we shopped around for our pet care and went with our friend’s vet. More affordable and they offer complementary services and have been so great. They even donated free care when we took in a stray. Not the cheapest but not breaking our bank either
I live in Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 while we don't eat a clean eating diet we are a family of four and our grocery budget $900 a month. Our prices are high and keep rising unfortunately i work retail and just marked alot of food items in my department up by a $1. Depending on where she lives in Ontario come summer she can buy from local farmers markets and farms in general for produce and it's soo much cheaper than in store. Also it shouldn't cost that much for her dog to spayed and if she keeps an eye out spca does have spay and neuter clinics that help with some of the expense usually for cats but I have seen them put on for dogs as well
It's why I always get male cats; neutering is much cheaper than spaying, lol
Farmers market is a lot more than No Frills grocery store.
Just for information purposes. In Canada the Child Tax Benefit is a regular thing that parents receive monthly for their children from birth to 18. There has been some extra money paid here and there since Covid, but the amount showing for this person is what she will continue to get until her child is 18 (it will likely vary/decrease by some amount as her child ages and also based on her income if it changes).
The son is 17 so it seems that that will soon go away...
How do I submit a real life budget?
I live in Ontario,Canada and for health reasons I have to maintain a certain diet and I do juicing, but as a single parent of 3 teens, I spend no more than 500$/mth and I thought what I spend is high why I make 80% of my stuff from scratch and garden. The cost of living here is certainly a lot higher than in other Countries.
living in Ontario, I can tell you that the housing market is bananas...she would be better off meeting her car savings goal and then working on the house, since it will take a while giving the current climate
Honestly, with her income a house in Ontario (unless she moves into, like, Acton or something) is a pipe dream.
Canadian groceries overall are WAY more expensive than In the US
This so true!
The cell phone is very high. We are paying $110 a month for two phone lines with a good amount of data. We are also in Ontario. Rogers is notoriously expensive. There are plenty of other options.
I also would like to see European real budget in Euro 💶
Would love to see a European one!! :)
We gave up eating out, any beauty costs, buying clothes and entertainment so we could save for our future home down-payment. We ask for gift cards as gifts so we can still have some things in those categories. Over the years we haven't really been able to do much anyhow so we are now used to our lifestyle.
You are the biggest inspiration to me. I adore your channel! I also love how you help us in this community and build us all up! x
I love it when you do the real life budget videos, I really look forward to them.
This video was really helpful. I agree with the changes you made with moving the savings around. It was interesting to hear you talk about the trade offs. Thank you
Great video, always good to get a fresh perspective on things!!
there could be lower cost spay / neuter programs that may be available through NFP groups that work with specific vet offices … (we have those here in Montreal.)
what confused me a little is where it was mentioned there is no debt, but uses credit cards each month? Are those balances paid each month too?
I wondered about access to those programs. We have them all over in the US and the cost is minimal. Also, great question on the credit card.
So where is the credit card payment?
Didn't mention in her budget the credit card bills she had? She was saying she uses her credit card alot. Where did those go
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Yassss!!! So excited!! 💕
if she is using credit card where are the repayments for that
Question where is the credit card payment she uses to get by.
About recording what you actually spend. Can you or anyone recommend an app (not for i-phone - i have a samsung) where I can put in how much mony i can use every month and then have different catagories and then when i get out of the shop i can put what i have spent right under the categories and the app will automatic detract the amount and tell me how much i have left? I am not talking about a budgdt app. What i need is an app where i registeer my income after i have paide all the nessesities (on amount) and then can put how much i have spent in and the app registrer it and detraks . Only one income/salery category and multiple outgoing categories. Not a budgetin-spp. I am not so good at english as it is my third language but i hope this is understandible and that someone can recommend an app for me because i can only find apps where i have to write how much i can use on this or that. Thank you.
Every dollar app and is free
Oh I wish you could figure out our budget for us. Family of 6 here and hubby is an electrician. We've made some bad financial decisions and hubby just became and electrician right before the pandemic and money always seems to be an issue. We are a family of 6 and finally off of living paycheck to paycheck but can never get ahead.
Also just a heads up in Canada, we've had child tax credit since the 90s I think and it's from the month of birth until 18 years and varies depending on your income.
Oh I wish you could figure out our budget for us.
And the reason that you cannot do this yourself?
if she's using a credit card for gifts and other things how does she not have debt? Even if it's being paid off monthly I don't see that factored into the budget.
She probably makes more some months and also tips. Remember, this is the lowest income for her
Not sure why she is saying 20% down? It is 5% down unless you're purchasing an income property (you already have a primary mortage)... a $600 thousand dollar home only needs a $30 thousand down...
I think I will never complaint about grocery prices in Ireland anymore. Canada wins the prize. Here, with thé global inflation, we eat local as much as possible (local and acccording to the season). And for juicing, use the frozen vegetables and fruits.
Hello, is the budget by paycheck workbook undated so i can purchase now? Love your channel ❤️!
If you get the pdf printable it’s undated. I got that one and I love it. I can print as I go for each month and I don’t need to print every page. Keeps my planner less bulky as well
That is great that you are doing this for her, but I am from Canada and when her son turns 18 she will lose that $300+ child tax credit.
would it be so wrong to ask 18 year old son to get a part time job to maybe pay for his eating out?
Groceries in Ontario. It’s not high. Remember we don’t pay for medical!! Does it balance out?
Yes. Because we are never under the threat of medical bankruptcy. Don’t have to save for that
Why does she want to buy a house, which comes with Hoa s etc way more bills when she already at her limit? I rather build the EF
This could so be me lol single Canadian mom lol 😂
I’m no empathetic to this!! I’m in CA and to eat healthy is so dam expensive but I’m not only thinking about the present but also in the future of my little one in terms of health. I don’t want my son or me to have a miserable senior life.
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Watching these real life budget videos has really helped me but this one confused me. If she is using her CC for her variable spending how is she debt free? Where is she paying this CC back?
I was wondering the same thing.
Same!
I suspect its a bi-weekly cycle of spending the money before she receives it (use the credit card during the two weeks, pay it off when she gets paid, repeat)
I hope she opened a RRSP account with that she can get 15000$ for her home. Also why does she spent a lot on phone ? Even with an Iphone 12 pro I pay 80$ for the phone and the carrier. She can cuts money from that phone.
Why can’t she buy the car and put the other stuff first, then work on the house
Seeing that large of a grocery budget makes me think she’s buying readymade grocery items. Maybe she’s not juicing herself and instead buying the juices. Sometimes you have to pick and choose also. I have a friend who needs to eat as healthy as possible. She chose to skip the organic on food items you peeled. She had to fit her lifestyle to her budget. Small sacrifices in the long run.
When her son turns 18 soon she’s going to lose a lot of income
You're right. I hadn't caught the age of her son, but see now he is 17. I remember 4 years ago (after 6 years of being a single mother) the month my son turned 18 there was no more child tax benefit or child support. My son moved out so I not longer had to feed him, clothe him etc, but the reality was that $700 per month was more than I was spending directly on him so it was a hard hit for me. I was just scraping by even with that money so when it was gone (and I had not prepared for it) It was very difficult for a long time. I can tell this woman has probably not prepared herself for that either. At least she has gotten help with her financial plan and will have some skills to help her create a new plan when her son is 18.
It’s weird how she’s only receiving $124 in child support a month unless the child’s father has a lot of custody time and she makes less than him
Yes she’ll lose the govt child benefit payment but she might also lose the child support payment, depending on the parents’ agreement and what the son is doing. The amount of child care she is getting depends on the difference between the two parents’ incomes, so the dad might just not make much more than she does and that’s why he only pays $124.
This is Ontario, he ain’t moving out.
@@adorabell4253 ha ha true but the child support and tax benefits stop at 18
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Can she get the son to work and help pay for food? He's probably eating a ton!
Not really. Most places that hire 16year olds aren’t open right now or are only open a bit.
@Jessica Bellamy of course they should. Things like their transportation and their cell phone. Inc they are working they should slowly start paying their own bills. ItMs how you teach them to value money and learn how to budget properly.
So sad to see you cut the charity from the budget. That is opposite what God's Word says.
Proverbs 3:9 - "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase"
2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you need to worry about yourself and family rather than helping others until you’re financially stable
That only matters if you believe in the Christian god. Irrelevant to the rest of us.
@@adorabell4253 Yes sadly that is clear with all the evil in the world. There is only ONE God. I pray you come to understand that before it is too late.
@@brroookkeee That is an extremely selfish philosophy and will not serve you well. It is shameful.
@@jens7898 How? If you’re #1 not religious & #2 are living paycheck to paycheck with no more left to spare and need to worry about feeding their OWN children, how can one help another being or family? It’s not a priority for most families. If it is, great but not all of us even have the funds to support another person or charity. That’s your opinion that it’s selfish. You thinking it’s selfish to support one’s own family is terrifying
Groceries are very expensive in Ontario. However there are lots of ways to cut down costs and still eat well and organic. Shopping at different stores, markets, directly from farmers etc. It would be beneficial for her to look into different options
Don't you hate these spam bots?
The Child Tax Benefit here in Canada is an automatic monthly income-based deposit from the government that is is for anyone with a child! You get the credit for each child. It’s been around for a while, and is not based on the pandemic! The amount ranges, but if your child is under 6, you get more every month. As well, it changes based on the province you live in! Hope that helps a little 😊
Everyone doesn’t get it as it’s based on your annual income.
At what age will this woman lose that tax credit? When does child support usually end in Canada? It mentioned that her son is 17. Here in the US she would stop getting those at 18 (unless there was a case specific clause to continue while the child was in school). How does that work in Canada?
Child support usually ends at 18 unless the child goes to university, then the child support continues, but goes to the child not the parent.
@@tracyreaume6451 I think it might depend on your province, but someone I know only gets like $2 a month since they’re over the income threshold lol. But everyone qualifies and will receive a few bucks!
@@Sandy11142 here in Canada once your child turns 18 you stop receiving it! Unfortunately it does not continue through university, etc. however, as Diane said, child support can continue after the CCB ends at 18! 😊
I don't know if they have similar programs in Canada, but here in the US there are spay/neuter pop-up clinics. I have a friend who is a vet and she is very passionate about reducing the amount of unwanted puppies in her community. IDK if they are always income based but it's definitely something she might look into.
me in the UK looking at the cell phone amount :o my phone is £11.24 a month. I knew phones were more expensive elsewhere but I didn't realise it was by that much!
I have a budget friendly cell phone unlimited everything and it's $100 for 4 lines. I'm assuming she financed their cell phones? That's crazy expensive in my opinion, but we buy our phones outright.
I'm a bit confused how she can have $38,000 saved for a house but is relying on her credit card for certain expenses? I think this might be a mindset problem/prioritization problem. She has the money for an emergency fund, dog spaying, vehicle expenses, but she doesn't see it that way because the house is her main goal. Which isn't a bad goal to have at all, but in order to feel financially secure she needs to shift mentally what her savings is for. It also kind of sounds like there is an income vs expense problem as well.
I'm a bit confused how she can have $38,000 saved for a house but is relying on her credit card for certain expenses?
There are times when a credit card is a must: airline tickets, hotel reservation, car rental. Besides that, credit cards get you nothing but trouble. I would have one card, cut the others into pieces and toss them in the trash.
@@DavidEVogel There is a difference between using a credit card for security reasons but having the money to pay it off at any time vs. using a credit card because you have a cash flow problem.
Your comment about the Child Tax Benefit was funny because it has existed for over 30 years in Canada. $1200 a month for groceries is crazy! She needs to start growing veggies any way she can. Also, she has no transportation expenses?
We live in NB and we spend about $300 for groceries and household items per month (about $400-$425 total if including take out/ dining out) for two adults. We used to spend around $500 on groceries/ household items before we started meal planning. I think a lot of Canadians like to use our high grocery prices as an excuse, but you can definitely still spend a reasonable amount on groceries here if you make meal planning a priority...
Commenting in 2024, as a fellow Canadian - Post-pandemic prices, and inflation are still in effect in 2024 and her budget of $1200 for two people is still wildly outrageous.
if $75,000 is just 20% of the total purchase price of the home I would worry about the payments being affordable.
.. why is she eating out if she's that sick and needs to watch what she eats?? juice cleanses don't actually do anything but cost money you don't have. That just sounds like she bought into the "holistic" thing and is just ending up depriving her finances and hurting herself.
I live in Canada have two adult children and husband. In January we spent $813 on groceries but I rely on coupons, watching sales etc. Kids also use their own money for their fast food. Its possible but prices are definitely up.
Cant she grow veggies or go to a farmers market for cheaper food?
If she soaks her veggies in salt water to remove the pesticides, she doesn't need to buy organic. All the plant based doctors say, organic is best, but if you can't afford it, it's fine.
I haven't seen a big rise in produce in the Netherlands, here, the problem areas are the energy prices and fuel. And as for groceries, things like bread and nuts have gone up a lot. So, if she makes a lot of nut-based dressings, she might look into replacing the nuts (like cashews) with white beans or even potatoes. Much cheaper, but just as creamy.
Get fruits from the frozen section and hold back on the celery (which she probably buys a lot for juicing), because it's really expensive especially if it's organic. There is no evidence that celery juice does anything special, despite what some 'ghost' might say to a 'medical medium'.
Juicing in general is great, but also removes a lot of the fiber. Maybe get into green smoothies, which will fill you up more with fiber. And use whatever is in season to make them.
I buy my staples, like chickpeas, buckwheat and millet (who needs quinoa?) in bulk, which saves me a lot of money. I spend around €200 a month for one person on groceries, including household items like toilet paper, laundry detergent (in bulk) and toothpaste. I could probably spend even less, but I choose to buy any bathroom items zero waste, which is more expensive.
Question- what made you choose the amount of $522 for the first part of March's rent? Percentage or..? Love your videos so much!
It’s not cheap to eat plant-based-doubly so if you’re buying organic produce, and also adding in any dietary restrictions will make the cost of groceries skyrocket.
Ontario girl here. Expensive place to live, period. I am an empty nester and haven’t eaten out for the last 2 years. That being said, my dietary needs don’t allow for much carb based food that usually keep grocery bills down and stomachs full. I struggle to keep my groceries under $500 per month. Also, a teenage boy eats a lot! 😉🇨🇦
I'm confused lol. You said you are an empty nester, but also say you are feeding a teenage boy.
The woman who submitted the budget has a teenage boy, not me. My son is 6’5” and he did eat a lot as a teen though! 😆
@@pollydolly9723 Yes I see now. Re read what you'd typed and realized I misunderstood that sentence thinking you were referring to a teenager of your own.
If I never have to hear the term "clean eating" again, it would be too soon
Juicing is not a good practice. Juice is basically flavoured sugar water with some vitamins. There is a reason kids aren’t meant to drink juice for the first few years, it does nothing for your health. Smoothies are better, they preserve the fiber and can be bulked o it with good greens like spinach, kale, or sorrel. Having all that good as a salad is even bette r because you have to chew it, helping to produce salive to start digestion. Cutting out juicing would reduce the good budget because fruits are expensive as F.
Buying a house in the Golden Horseshoe (which is where I expect she lives) right now is also a really bad idea. Prices are insane and not looking to go down in the near future. Renting in Ontario is not bad, we have a lot of tenant protections and it’s probably the better financial choice when compared to spending 1mil on a house.
I can agree that the cost of an organic plant based diet is SUPER expensive and I started that lifestyle over 30 years ago. Juicing alone costs allot per day even if not using organic. 😫
I live in New Brunswick, which is actually a higher food cost than Ontario. My husband was doing body building and I was clean eating before we had our kids (about 5 years ago) and we had to stop because we were spending ~$1000 a month just on groceries. We could afford it at the time, our rent was really low and I was working a ton of hours, but we knew we wanted children and knew that we just couldn't keep that up, especially while I was out on maternity leave (55% of income for a year). We're starting to get back to it now, but we've also made other cuts in our life to be able to support that.
And in case anyone is wondering - milk is about $7.50 for a 4L (about a gallon), eggs are $4.50 for a dozen, chicken is about $6/lb if you buy it at regular prices
Hello my dear neighbour! Eggs in Ontario is $5-7 a dozen. This past weekend I was lucky to get a dozen for $3.10.
I feel you. Even higher over here in Newfoundland. And don't get me started on gas prices. *cries*
I am in the US and my husband was talking about transferring his job to Canada. He thought I would say no because of the cold and snow. But you guys are scaring me with the grocery prices.
@@TheBohemianStyle I guess it would depend on where you are. Most of my family is in and around the Toronto area so I definitely know the prices there. But I do know that we've had a major influx of folks from Ontario here and every single one of them comments on how much more expensive the food is here.
@@Shridra It certainly is! My other concern is housing for seniors. I’m not that far off and I struggle to figure out how to pay rent once I retire. In my area, we have a small few living in RV’s because they can’t afford rent now that they are retired and they have something part-time to help them financially.
Grocery ideas: imperfect foods, thrive market, farmers market
I live in Canada as a single mom and organic groceries are astronomical. I buy 70/30 organic and clean eating and I spend $800/month for me and my daughter. The best thing is to meal plan/prep and shop sales/farmers markets/CSA boxes.
Another great real life budget!! Trade offs are an EXTREMELY important lesson for budgeting and becoming an "Intentional spender".
We have one income. HOW we decide to spread it and WHERE we put our money is up to us. We need to allocate the funds to our NEEDS FIRST and then our wants.
For us, we had it BACKWARDS for years and took care of variable spending BEFORE our Vital needs!!
NOW our NEEDS are food, shelter & transportation. Our WANTS are eating out, personal shopping & travel.
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I might have missed it but she mentions using credit cards each month but I don’t see the payments in there and you mentioned she has no debts?
I love your shirt! 😍 it’s adorable
Amazon! I have the same one in brown and white :)