Just got my ‘bill’ from BF the other day and thought I’d share what my new expenses are, now that I have a breakdown.
Update: My car insurance ended up being $30. Read the post here
That’s my rough budget for the month. I’ll have a better idea of the numbers after this month because I’ll have my car by then, with the insurance and everything else calculated.
I could probably cut down on the food a bit too if I didn’t ask for such exotic, delicious meals. And I’m also overestimating a bit on the numbers so that I don’t get screwed like with the cost of insurance, I’m hoping it’s around $30/month or less…
And as for gas, I hope I won’t be driving much. Just to work and back, and sometimes downtown to practice driving. Oh… I ought to put paying for parking with a parking meter in there too. That’d be about another $13 a month or so, I’ll take that out of my miscellaneous funds and rejig the numbers when they’re more concrete.
I’ll even have $200 of my debt repayment to play around with as miscellaneous or “saving” for stuff like my upcoming dentist appointment and driving tests.
What the hell does this all mean?
That means that if I have around even $20,000 saved after taxes…
$20,000 / $1500 = 13.3333 months of living
Which is around 13 months let’s say. But I am going to need to:
– Make a trip back to Toronto (Train ticket cost)
– Pay for a dental appointment
– Pay for driving lessons
– Pay for driving test
…..so I’m going to say 12 months of living, or a year just to make sure I have enough for incidental spending.
*phew* And I’d be debt free too.
Plus I have a potential client I can go to for a job in January, which is perfect timing for when this project is done.
Oh and I wanted to also move my retirement accounts up another notch by $3000 to take advantage of the flagging market and buy funds on the cheap.
I just know y’all will bounce back.
I have total faith and 40 years to see it happen before I retire.
Fingers crossed, things go as planned…
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
$65,000 a year? Me and my husband have to live off less that 17,000 a year right now- I don’t mean to be rude in any way but I can’t wrap my mind around how you consider yourself to have been broke, even with the debt. I can respect your ideal to live moderately, but it doesn’t feel helpful to have someone who makes so much and travels and all be giving me advice on how to be less broke.
Anon: My estimate actually ended up being 3x cheaper at $30…
Oh, NO. Your car insurance will NEVER be that cheap. Especially as a new driver..you might want to double or even triple that estimate.
I hope you never plan on moving to America…life is much cheaper in Canada..TRUST ME!!!!!!!!!!!!
You’re a new driver with no previous insurance history, correct? I think you may be seriously underestimating how much car insurance is going to cost, unless Quebec is way cheaper then Ontario. Did you get a quote? I’m guessing not, since you said the number is made up.
Hi FB!
I hate to tell you this, but you are way WAY off with your car insurance guestimate. I have had my ‘G’ license for 4 years, never had an accident, never had a ticket and I am a WOMAN and I pay $171/month for my 2008 Toyota Corolla.
I wish you all the best, and if you find $30/mth car insurance, let me know who gives it to you !!!
ER Ottawa