I've got to agree - we're mortgage free and we are by no means flush. It's the little people in the house that are expensive, and they just keep getting bigger and more costly as the days, months and years go on. Who knew? Add some hockey, football or dance classes and things can get painful. Of course, they don't have to go to any clubs, I guess. I just spent $300 on new dancewear. I can't really afford that at the moment. (And yes, I did try to get second-hand but my children have awkward feet!)

Throw into the mix a couple of vehicles - everyone always needs vehicles unless they live 5 mins from transit - plus insurance and petrol costs. Even if you can buy some outright, what happens in 3 or 5 years when the tyres need replacing or something expensive blows up?

Now add groceries - I spend $800-$1100 a month depending on what we're eating and who we are entertaining, and quite how depleted the cupboards became before a trip to Costco.

Then just add normal household bills - depending on the property you buy, will you be on oil heating, will you need to supplement it with wood - will you be on mains gas and water? Do you need to maintain a well? Do you want satellite/cable TV?

Do you anticipate a holiday in the next few years? Will you be receiving guests who stay and cost a lot for several weeks, even though it's wonderful to have them?

Do you want to have a go at ski'ing or fishing, or buy any "toys" (and maintain them). Do you need to consider further education fees for your kids? Do you want/have/need a dog for your new life?

I couldn't begin to survive on $2000 a month, even after tax. Not without major, major cutbacks. And a trip to the Food Bank.

Others will now be along to prove me wrong and scold me for my wasteful ways

Bit far,is it not without transport?
Also tain't small is it?

All very valid points, however I would be earning more but ideally was hoping Id be spending roughly what I am now.

I suppose another questing then, can you survie on $50,000 a year mortgage free ?

Are you talking gross or net? Have a look at the tax calculator below for an idea of tax rates in each province.

http://www.ey.com/CA/en/Services/Tax...9-Personal-Tax

When you say $2000 for all bills do you mean food and utilities or $2000 for absolutely everything? $2000 for food and utilities is more than manageable.

Yes but you likely won't be saving anything and you will likely not have any of the "extras".

Sorry meant $60000
$2000 would be for general bills cable heating water etc and food, I was thinking another 2k on savings and doing extra things, so basically take home $4000

A $2000 take-home pay for a family of 4 income is very low (around $16 per hour based on 40 hour week). However, if that is a pension then that's a great start but someone will need to work to get your take-home pay to at least $3000 but preferably over $3500 at least if you don't want to scrape by every month, and have money to enjoy occassional suppers out, movies, buying small items ie clothes/household items, kids sports/outings, and save a little for rainy days/holidays.

We are a family of 4, have no mortgage and no other debts (ie car payment), Neither of us smoke. Our town house taxes (New Glasgow) are $4000 per year (jumped up from $3400 last year).

$2000 was no way doable for us. I did not live on a tight budget in the UK so would not be happy living on that here. Here is our monthly breakdown.

House tax - $340
Fuel - $50 (I live 1.5km to where I work and mainly drive around town). OH has company paid vehicle.
NS Power (electric) - $250 (also main source of heating is ETS system - this is cheap overnight storage heating. We run an pool in the summer)
No oil (prices are high, someone else may post their fuel costs)
Propane/wood - $400 per year (propane hooked up to BBQ, plus fire in livingroom)
TV - $140 per month (HD 2 x PVR full package)
Phone/internet - $92
Cellphones (3 phones on a sharing plan) - $160 all in (one son now in Newfoundland)
Car insurance - $75
House insurance - $51

So far that is around $1150 without food. Did not include entertainment, clothes, household items, car tax/servicing/repairs/tire changing, hobbies.

On $3000 per month, you can of course live more frugally but ask yourself if you want to move to live that way long term. It can work in the short term, but with each season (especially in the first year) you shell out a lot of cash for seasonal items (garden/outdoor furniture, bbq, snowblower, traction sand (for fairly long driveway) winter tires, snow gear, etc).

Just saw your new post - $4000 is doable

$60,000 annual gross salary I would suggest you'll likely see closer to $3,500 take home per month.

It's beautiful though and what a view

innit just.

Thanks for your post, maybe I should of been clearer. $2000 for most household things then $2000 for whatever.

I currently have no job ideas what I want to do, I really dont mind so Im seeing what I can earn to be fairly comfortable, we live quite well here so I really dont want to give that up. More thinking I guess

I think that's reasonably accurate - obviously it depends on the benefits, health care premiums, union dues and pension contributions etc that your employer has to deduct from your salary, but IME, $4k take home equates to close to $75k salary.

How are you planning to commute anywhere with no car

I meant in the 2k a month no payments out of that for a car, I will have a car though. 2k just for utilities and food

I know that heating costs are less out in Vancouver, but I think you will be OK for food and utilities for $2,000. Our budget is $1,900 and includes property tax and house insurance as well as TV/Internet/Phones. This is for three of us.

The two vehicles add another $1,200 a month to buy, insure, maintain and fill with gas. Clothing, booze, entertainment and all the fun stuff are budgeted at $700 a month. Finally we save $200 a month for vacations and $400 for our house maintenance and repairs fund.

That is $4,400 a month after tax, but we feel we live pretty well on that.

However, this does not include retirement savings, or kid's education.