Is it possible to live comfortabley on this amount?

Question

Does anyone live comfortable on $13.00 an hour (in Canada)? The career that I would absolutley love pays very low and it worries me that I will not be able to live comfortabley. I am not concerned about having fancy cars or super extravigant vacations, but I would like to have kids and be able to support them, two cars, own a house and go on a vacation once in a while (im talking a cottage up north type of thing, or even camping). My fiance is in Animation and he could make anywhere from 35000 -75000 a year, but I dont want to assume the high end. Does anyone live comfortabley, or is it possible to live comfortably, on a $13.00 an hour salary (combined with their wives or husbands of a similiar amount to my fiance)?

What worries me is that I saw what my parents made (which is a good 30,000 more that what my fiance and I would make) and they struggle. Talking to my mother she says it was poor money managment and living outside of their means, but it still worries me because they have two cars, two kids, and go on a vacation to a free cottage every year. The same things I hope to do.

Answer 1

just live within your means.

Answer 2

$26K is pretty low wages, really.

You won't have two cars.

You won't be able to support two kids.

You won't be able to afford a cottage anywhere.

However, if you add $26K to $35K, now things look more promising.

Answer 3

I bought a house, a new Jeep and finished my last year of college making only $9 an hour as an EMT for a private ambulance.  I did work 48 hours a week so I always got 16 hours of overtime on every check and I worked additional overtime to have spending money.  I could have made more working in other fields that I was qualified in but I enjoyed what I did.  I no longer work in EMS, now I'm a project manager for a small company making $25 an hour, I was happier on the ambulance :(

Answer 4

I don't know how much it costs to live in Canada, but my husband supported me, two children, truck payment, all other bills, and a house payment of 700.00 a month on 14 dollars an hour.  He did work about 60 hours a week, so overtime helped.  I think your mom is right.  As long as you budget and live within your means, then 13 and hour to start should be just fine.

Answer 5

It's great to do what you love but not if it prevents a comfortable life.  What you should do is look around and see what the things you need and want cost per month then figure out your salary per month, this should give you a good idea of what you need to make.  Don't forget things like soap, food, gas etc...  these "little" things add up quickly.