Monthly Living Expenses

Housing (Choose One)

At home with parents

158

One-bedroom apartment

1,000

Share two-bedroom apartment with roommate

539

Transportation (Choose One)

New Car- Your Choice

Total Price 100

New car - Toyota Matrix

300

Used car - 2002 Honda Civic

150

Car Insurance and Maintenance

300

Gas

150

Public transit

100

Food (Choose One)

Eat at apartment only

212

Eat at apartment and eat out occasionally

318

Utilities (Choose Both)

Electricity

30

Heating - electric

50

Cell Phone (Choose One)

Basic Plan (no Data)

40

Unlimited Plan with Data

80

Technology (Choose Whichever Items You Can Afford)

50 inch TV

30

32 inch TV

15

Gaming Console

30

High End Laptop or Gaming PC

50

Basic Laptop

30

iPad or Tablet

30

Apps

10

Internet connection

50

Clothing (Choose One)

Wear whatever is cheapest

50

Wear affordable, in style clothing

150

Wear designer clothes, watches and jewelry

300

Health Care (Choose Depending of Your Needs)

Medications and dental

30

Medical Insurance premiums (mandatory)

54

Glasses or contacts

10

Entertainment (Choose Whichever Items You Can Afford)

Netflix

10

Cable

40

Movies (and popcorn, etc.)

30

Rentals: movie / games

30

Purchases: music

20

Purchases:movies / games

20

Concerts and professional sports

40

Restaurants (once per month)

40

Recreation (Choose Whichever Items You Can Afford)

Sports fees / equipment

16

Lessons

15

Gym Membership

45

Personal(Choose Whichever Items You Can Afford)

Haircut: man

20

Haircut: woman

30

Manicures, etc.

20

Makeup

30

Personal care (shampoo, soap, etc.)

15

Dry cleaners

20

Laundry at laundromat

20

Other (Choose Whichever Items You Can Afford)

Newspapers

20

Books / magazines

15

Giving to Charity

Pets

50

New furniture (averaged over year)

203

Used furniture (averaged over year)

75

Travel: low-cost vacation by car (save per month)

40

Travel: vacation including plane fare (save per

month)

210

Gifts

Other:
Other:
Other:
Total Monthly Expenses:

Step 2:

Average
monthly
takehome
pay*

Choose
an
occupati
(after
on and
payroll
enter
deduction
average
s)
monthly
takehome
pay in
Box A of
Step 3.
Service
station
attendant
s

Food and
beverage
servers*
Bartender
s

1,571

1,585
1,715

Hairstylist
s and
barbers

1,852

Cooks

1,887

Retail
salespers
ons and
clerks

1,897

Bakers

1,990

Tour and
travel
guides

1,994

Early
child
educators
and
assistants

2,239

Reception
ists and
switchboa
rd
operators

2,384

Chefs
Bookkeep
ers

2,395
2,546

Banking,
insurance
and other
financial
clerks

2,557

Sales
represent
atives wholesale
trades
(nontechnical)

2,633

Motor
vehicle
body
repairers

2,651

Plumbers

2,727

Insurance
agents
and
brokers

2,753

Conferenc
e and
event
planners

2,794

Dancers

2,802

Secretari
es
(except
legal and
medical)

2,964

Ministers
of religion

2,970

Legal
secretarie
s

2,978

Dental
assistants

3,033

Graphic
designers
and
illustrator
s

3,151

Web
designers
and
developer
s
Letter
carriers

3,172
3,175

Actors
and
comedian
s

3,320

Correctio
nal
service
officers

3,707

Computer
program
mers &
interactiv
e media
developer
s

3,921

Industrial
electricia
ns

3,951

Chemists

4,105

Secondar
y school
teachers

4,372

Registere
d nurses

4,505

Longshor
e workers

4,704

RCMP
Officers
(after
three
years of
service)

4,888

Senior
managers
- trade,
broadcast
ing &
other
services
Pharmaci
sts
Managers
in
financial
and
business
services
Civil
engineers
Veterinari
ans
Real
estate
agents

4,957
5,433

6,167

6,357
6,426

6,655

General
practition
ers and
family
physician
s
6,887
increases and
deductions)
Assumes
full-time
and
BC WAGEinfo
** Doesn't
include
employment.
Parttips
time employment
tax andhave
related
would
a lower
deductions.
average monthly
salary.

Step 3:

Your
chosen
career
from
Step 2

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

Your
monthly
takehome
_______
pay from _______
Step 2
____ Box A
Total
monthly
expense
s from
Step 1

_______
_______
____ Box B

Monthly _______
differenc _______ (A minus
e
____ B)
Note: If
the
difference
is
positive,
you can
add it to
your
monthly
savings.

If it's
negative,
you can't
support
your
lifestyle
with this
career.

Note:
You may
not get
full time
work or
top
salaries
right
away,
especiall
y if
you're
pursuing
your
educatio
n.

If you're
paying
for a
family,
your
expense
s will be
much
higher.

LIFEST
YLE
REALI
TY
CHECK
ANSW
ER
SHEET
Handout 2-2

Name:
_______
_______
_______
_______
___Class/
Block:
_______
___
Date:___
_______
_____
1. Descri
be the
future
lifestyle
you'd
like to
have.
(E.g.,
Where
would
you like
to live?
What

kind of
work you
would like
to do?
What
recreation
and
entertain
ment
would
you
choose?)
Continue
on the
back if
you need
to.

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

2. List
three
things
you
learned
by doing
the
Lifestyle
Reality
Check.
1.______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
2.______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
3.______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

3. Write
a
summar
y of your
discussi
on with
your
parents
or
another
adult
about
your
Lifestyle
Reality
Check.
How can
they help
you
achieve
your
goals?
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

QUICK
QUIZ LIFEST
YLE
REALI
TY
CHECK
Handout 2-3
Name:
_______
_______
_______
_______
___Class/
Block:
_______
___
Date:___
_______
_____
1. Define
the
words:

a.
lifestyle_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
______
b.
goals___
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
______
2. Name
two of
the
possible
career
choices
that will
provide
enough
income
for the
lifestyle
you want.

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

3. Descri
be one
way that
lifestyle
affects
career
choice.
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
4. Descri
be two
aspects
of a
future
lifestyle
you'd
like to
have.
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_

5. Why
is a
lifestyle
reality
check a
useful
part of
financial
life
skills?
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_