If we take a job on minimum wage on a forty hour week, with no mortgage, 2 kids, running 2 cars, a cat and a dog. is it possible to survive on it and have reasonable comfortable lifestyle? any thoughts on the subject would be welcome thanks Jim

No

no, we tried it

Are the cars paid for?

It doesnt matter. You still have to insure them.

I haven't looked it up - but what would be an 'average' minimum wage?(OK, I know that sounds wrong). $8-$10 an hour? No - you'll struggle big time, I think .... Are you anticipating coming off that wage to something higher in the medium to long-term ??

Impossible if your living in a major urban centre, paying expenses on two cards, supporting kids etc. You'd have to use your savings to get by. Even if you could manage it would be a very meagre lifestyle.

No.

No.

Certainly not in Calgary anyway ...... if you were both working fulltime, on two minimum wages you'd still struggle. You most likely couldn't afford two cars (running expenses) and your kids would not be able to join any extracurricular activities.

Food and utilities? ..... maybe, if you were very frugal.

Minimum wage in Canada obviously varies from province to province the highest is Nunavut at $8.50 per hour. Five provinces have set it at $8.00 per hour.

They are all in this wikipedia article.

But even at $8.50 an hour ($17,680 per year, based on 52 weeks) anyone is going to struggle no matter where they live in Canada even if the don't have a car. Let alone two kids and two cars.

Realistically for the OP it just is not going to happen.

Would you choose to attempt to survive on minimum wage in the UK? Even if you owned your house outright. I suspect not. The laws of economics apply in Canada just as well as in UK. Living on a minimum wage here would not be fun at all and certainly not an experience worth moving across the Alantic to enjoy!

Well if you've got 2 incomes at $17,680 a year and you get taxed @ 22% you should clear about $2,200 per month combined.
With no mortgage & no car finance to worry about you could probably just about keep your head above the water until the cars broke down and needed replacing.

Exactly...why move across the pond to be on minimum wage?

Its hard enough as it is, but with all the cars, kids, pets etc you need to have something more than minimum wage.
I dunno, personally I would not be thinking minimum wage, I would be more positive and aim higher, are you on minimum wage in the UK??

Based on our own low income it might be possible to survive if you're talking about two adults both earning minimum wage at forty hours each and no mortgage. But not if it's only one of you.

It also depends on what you mean by "reasonable comfortable lifestyle". For example it would be easier with just one car.

NO