Our combined income would be about 170 or so, so we're comfortable, but no million dollar homes in Toronto in our future

Yeah no kids helps... 300 per month for RESP alone! I also included 290/mo in utilities for Cable/Cells/Home Phone/internet over and above the usual gas and Hydro.
- Aetherial

Get rid of your home phone.

Giant waste of money.

Much better than the Aztek we were given by the in laws before it shat the bed at only 6 years old...
- lumlums

I used to always want one of those with the tent you can put off the back

2014 Ram 1500
2013 Dart Limited
- Bigzby

I'd dodge that brand if I were you.... and you make fun of the jeep!!!

I realize that I'm inviting ridicule here, but I never really got why people spend so much for a car.

I have a minivan that is now 10 years old. We put 15,000 km on it a year. That's for two drivers.

We keep on thinking about buying a new car, and then we realize we don't need a new one. We really only drive on the weekends for groceries or to go to hockey games. Maybe a few weekends away.

If I spent $80,000 on a new Porsche Cayenne, I just don't see how my drive to Loblaws or my kid's hockey game would be all that more enjoyable than my 10 year old minivan.

Hell, it would be worse, because I'd be furious when the kid spilled something all over the back seat.

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man.
- Atomic Wedgie

I just sucked myself into buying one 3 months ago.

I did not like the way the 8-year old car was running... but really, I just wanted something new. Then, I traded it instead of selling privately.

Stupid fcuking decisions all the way around.

I honestly think I have become a little bit financially lazy since we are in a pretty good position right now.

I used to always want one of those with the tent you can put off the back
- Bigzby

It came with the tent...



We have never used that attachment

Get rid of your home phone.

Giant waste of money.
- Atomic Wedgie

Actually thinking of just going with some unlimited internet plan, and getting Kodi (xmbc) and yes, getting rid of the home phone.

I realize that I'm inviting ridicule here, but I never really got why people spend so much for a car.

I have a minivan that is now 10 years old. We put 15,000 km on it a year. That's for two drivers.

We keep on thinking about buying a new car, and then we realize we don't need a new one. We really only drive on the weekends for groceries or to go to hockey games. Maybe a few weekends away.

If I spent $80,000 on a new Porsche Cayenne, I just don't see how my drive to Loblaws or my kid's hockey game would be all that more enjoyable than my 10 year old minivan.

Hell, it would be worse, because I'd be furious when the kid spilled something all over the back seat.

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man.
- Atomic Wedgie

Dodge Caravan: all the utility and power you'll need. Crazy flexibility. good fuel efficiency, and an engine that'll never die.



I'm good with my 2011 sonata. Looks good, comfy, quiet ride, great fuel efficiency.

Actually thinking of just going with some unlimited internet plan, and getting Kodi (xmbc) and yes, getting rid of the home phone.
- Aetherial

I did that, just cells and magic jack.

Combined we're about 145 (not too bad for early 30s), but with the new set up in Cali we'll be at about 160USD combined which will be lovely
- lumlums

That is going to be nice.

We benefit from my wife being a teacher. My RRSP's are in OK shape, but they will pay us nowhere near what my wife will get in her pension.

My step Dad is in Forest Hills. Your not that faraway at all. But your house is also over 650k. Hard for a kid to start at those prices.
- bixll

Try living in the beach !

Dodge Caravan: all the utility and power you'll need. Crazy flexibility. good fuel efficiency, and an engine that'll never die.



I'm good with my 2011 sonata. Looks good, comfy, quiet ride, great fuel efficiency.
- Schenn-Sational!

If we end up in Cali permanently you bet your ass I'm getting a tesla and using all the free solar-powered charging stations

I'll happily spend that much on a car when it can be powered by the motherbozaking sun!!!

Yup, Mrs Lums was talking about getting a Merc C class or BMW X3 and I talked her down to getting a slightly loved Jeep compass (much cheaper to buy and MUCH better on gas!) which saved us a LOT of money.
- lumlums

Good move.

I wish I was not stupid buying a new car a couple months ago.

I'd dodge that brand if I were you.... and you make fun of the jeep!!!
- lumlums

Bought the better half a 2013 Focus.

I prefer new vehicles, payments > Maintenance worries.

Try living in the beach !
- .HOHO.

I have a friend there, he used to run the Toronto Parking Authority. Swanky place..

My step Dad's place in Forest Hills is going up for 2 Milly in a couple of months.

I realize that I'm inviting ridicule here, but I never really got why people spend so much for a car.

I have a minivan that is now 10 years old. We put 15,000 km on it a year. That's for two drivers.

We keep on thinking about buying a new car, and then we realize we don't need a new one. We really only drive on the weekends for groceries or to go to hockey games. Maybe a few weekends away.

If I spent $80,000 on a new Porsche Cayenne, I just don't see how my drive to Loblaws or my kid's hockey game would be all that more enjoyable than my 10 year old minivan.

Hell, it would be worse, because I'd be furious when the kid spilled something all over the back seat.

Yeah, I'm a grumpy old man.
- Atomic Wedgie

No ridicule here Wedgie. You are doing the absolute right thing.

Actually thinking of just going with some unlimited internet plan, and getting Kodi (xmbc) and yes, getting rid of the home phone.
- Aetherial

Just got a new XBMC box (our old one died).

It's franking awesome. Way better than our old one. The wife watched Pitch Perfect 2 last night - it's still in theatres.

And we are trying out a "service" - gave the guy $20, and we get all sorts of live TV channels - US and Canadian, including ESPN, Sportsnet and TSN.

If we like it ($20 gave us a one-month trial), we are going to give him $180 for a year.

Funny thing is, I don't even watch TV anymore.

But yeah, our new XBMC box is all that and a six pack of beer.

That is going to be nice.

We benefit from my wife being a teacher. My RRSP's are in OK shape, but they will pay us nowhere near what my wife will get in her pension.
- Aetherial

That helps for sure... you get a similar deal as a prof usually, the benefits package is pretty solid. If I can get a good job as a prof then we'll be living very nicely

Condo fees downtown aren't that high, and you don't pay property taxes, and depending on the building, you don't have to pay heating/cooling... and you get a good number of amenities, like a gym/pool, library, movie theatre, etc. It's definitely not a great value, but it's lower monthly than rent.


A guy I know has a theory that you can tell when Toronto's housing prices will fall based on London(England)'s housing market... says that for whatever reason, Toronto tends to follow London by a few months. I haven't looked into it. So his idea is that when you see the prices in London fall, you go get yourself pre-approved for a low interest rate, and buy when the prices fall.

I don't know how much of the above is BS and how much is accurate, though.
- Schenn-Sational!

I wouldn't exactly say this is a myth because in many cases this can be true but in most I think this is false. With renting there are zero maintenance costs, utilities (50/50) or condo fees. Considering you can rent a one bed condo for $1200 flat give or take a couple hundred bucks I'd have to imagine that is quite a bit less than a monthly mortgage payment + condo fees + utilities + maintenance.

No idea yet which is better but the "debate" seems to boil down to Owning = Asset vs Renting = Savings Account Building.

(Disclaimer: This is just personal experience looking into mortgage prices vs renting over the last year or so)

I did that, just cells and magic jack.
- LeafMan

I don't get Magic Jack.

what is it?

It came with the tent...



We have never used that attachment
- lumlums

Id love one for camping be perfect for me and my 3 female doges.

Good move.

I wish I was not stupid buying a new car a couple months ago.
- Aetherial

I got a new car this year ... A nice little 4cyl , 2 ltr !

Actually thinking of just going with some unlimited internet plan, and getting Kodi (xmbc) and yes, getting rid of the home phone.
- Aetherial

I run with a cell phone and high-speed internet and htat's it.

Have an antenna for TV- which means most weekday games don't look great, because I have to stream them, but hey, not much worse than the old CRTs- and saturday/playoff games look fantastic(full 1080p, no compression).

Use usenet/torrents/netflix for everything else... just plug my laptop into the TV and use a bluetooth trackpad and keyboard to do the rest.

And honestly, who needs a landline? Only real benefit is that if the power to the entire city goes out for a while, it'll still work.

Just got a new XBMC box (our old one died).

It's franking awesome. Way better than our old one. The wife watched Pitch Perfect 2 last night - it's still in theatres.

And we are trying out a "service" - gave the guy $20, and we get all sorts of live TV channels - US and Canadian, including ESPN, Sportsnet and TSN.

If we like it ($20 gave us a one-month trial), we are going to give him $180 for a year.

Funny thing is, I don't even watch TV anymore.

But yeah, our new XBMC box is all that and a six pack of beer.
- Atomic Wedgie

I was looking into that, where did you get it?

Bought the better half a 2013 Focus.

I prefer new vehicles, payments > Maintenance worries.
- Bigzby

Ours was a 2009 when we got it back in 2012, still had some of the manufacturers warranty and we paid $10.5k for it (with 50k clicks on the engine)... It was part of an estate sale and the folks just wanted it gone so we asked them what they'd take and when they said that much we went straight to get abankers draft

Just got a new XBMC box (our old one died).

It's franking awesome. Way better than our old one. The wife watched Pitch Perfect 2 last night - it's still in theatres.

And we are trying out a "service" - gave the guy $20, and we get all sorts of live TV channels - US and Canadian, including ESPN, Sportsnet and TSN.

If we like it ($20 gave us a one-month trial), we are going to give him $180 for a year.

Funny thing is, I don't even watch TV anymore.

But yeah, our new XBMC box is all that and a six pack of beer.
- Atomic Wedgie

What about sports?
Do you get regular network TV?
What about specialty channels like Food, Discovery, TLC?
What about premium channels like HBO or Showcase?

... Really, sports is the big one, even though I don't watch too much sports. Everything else can be downloaded and I end up doing that a lot of the time anyway when i forget to set the PVR.