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While I’m big on investments, I also know the value of saving for short-term goals. Investments and savings are easy to tally up, but you need to go through your fixed costs and guilt-free spending categories to see whether you’re overspending. When you can pinpoint what belongs where, you’ll quickly start to understand where the gaps in your financial plan are.įor instance, if you’re spending $500 per month on guilt-free items and nothing on savings or investments, is it really guilt-free spending? Or, if you have a fixed costs bill of $5,000, but your net income is $5,000, you might have a lifestyle you can’t afford. Now, you’re going to see me talk about these four categories a lot because all your expenses are contained in these categories.
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It’s time to sit down and categorize your spending into four buckets. When there is simply too much a month for your paycheck, there’s a good chance you’re not aware of what your lifestyle actually costs. In these cases, you will most likely exceed the suggested maximum guidelines for Food (if you live in the North) or Housing (if you live in Toronto or Vancouver).You know your money matters are out of whack when it feels like you’re starring in Macklemore’s Thrift Shop music video. If you live in Canada's far north or in a city with extremely high home values, you may have to cut back more than an average Canadian would in certain categories in order to afford your higher living costs. Spending more in one category may mean that you'll have to cut back in another category to make your budget balance. Life is all about choices, but you can't choose the maximum amount in all spending categories. The guidelines are only recommended ranges. You may also notice that if you spend the maximum amount in every category, you'll exceed 100% of your income. Please know there is nothing wrong with exceeding this limit as long as your budget balances (your expenses don't exceed your income). However, if you have young children in daycare, take nice vacations, tithe, or have hobbies or recreational interests that aren't cheap, you'll quickly exceed the suggested maximum for this category. The guidelines suggest you spend 5 - 10% of your income in this category. The category in these guidelines that people will most commonly exceed is the Personal & Discretionary expense category. Don't rely on credit for these unexpected expenses. If finances aren't strained in your household, you can choose to be more relaxed and exceed the guidelines in areas as long as you're doing two things: 1) you're not spending more than you earn, and 2) you're allocating some money towards savings (savings are absolutely necessary for life's many unexpected expenses. These guidelines are designed for someone who really needs to put together a tight budget. Then you’ll have a little extra available when you need it.Įntertainment / recreation / tobacco/alcohol / eating out / gaming / hair cuts / hobbies Plan to save money for expenses that don’t occur every month, as well as for your future. Many people find that their budget is quite tight because their monthly debt payments are closer to 25% of their net income. Health care premiums / specialists / over-the-counter Phone / cell phone / gas / cable / internet
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Mortgage / taxes / strata / rent/ insurance / hydro
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If you have expenses such as high debt payments, childcare, school expenses or giving, you will need to reduce your spending in other areas to accommodate these higher expenses.īreakdown of Cost of Living Budgeting Categoriesīus / taxi / fuel / insurance / maintenance / parking To use these budgeting guidelines, start by developing your budget with the money you have available after government deductions from your pay cheque, but before voluntary deductions like RRSPs, pensions or other savings. Based on your income, family circumstances, and the part of the country you live in, your allocations may be very different. Below are some guidelines to give you a general idea and provide you with a starting point for your budget. Many people often wonder how much of their income they should spend on their home, vehicle, groceries, clothes, etc. Budgeting Percentage Guidelines for Living Expenses | How Much to Budget for Cost of Living in Canada