That's poverty. $24,000 is less than half what I pay in alimony; the recipient of the alimony receives the GST credit for poor people. It's less than my daughter made working part time during her last year in university. It's about what I have to earn in order to operate my Volkswagen. Anyone planning to live on it, even mortgage free, wants to give his or her head a shake.

It maybe poverty in your eyes but it's what people earn on average. I was speaking to accountant who works for a worldwide chain of accountants and she earns $30,000 a year. I can't give any answers, I'm simply reporting the facts from my own research and by speaking to people who do live on that kind of money. I guess that's why Bristol (one of the original posters) should be congratulated on living on the amount he does.

I believe it's also poverty in the eyes of the federal government. If people consciously choose to live on such amounts then good luck to them but no one should do so thinking that it's a comfortable way to go on.

I presume that you're including Bangladeshi peasants in the average. Otherwise, get real.

As I said in my post. I was simply reporting the facts. The $30,000 a year for the accountant is as real as anything. What is the point of me wasting everyones time reporting inaccuracies. I'm sorry if you felt I was not "real".

I find it extremely difficult believe that there is a fully qualified accountant earning $30,000 per year.

Where is this person living?

In Digby. In fairness, I don't know how "fully qualified" she is but that's what she told me. I am not responsible for her porkies!! Perhaps there may be people on here who can enlighten us a little more about average salaries in the smaller towns of Nova Scotia. Any input is welcome.

Here, Here!!!!?

See my above reply to Steve.

firstly I think you should clarify whether the income you mentioned was per person or per family and was it before or after tax?

I have just checked Statcan's website to find some numbers...don't know if they can be trusted.. but it's something ..
here is a link to the stats of Digby, NS...
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/cens...B1=All&Custom=

if you scroll down you will find a section called "selected family characteristics " there are figures on average incomes...
it seems the median income per family was 42,000$ (before tax - in 2005)

we also live in a rural place in NS (which was our choice) but our family income is not necessarily representative for the area (hubby is a self-employed tradesman and charges $35-40/ hr) and I have a well paying job too... only seasonal though ..)

Yes, in fairness, this was her single income as opposed to family income. What kind of things does your husband do, if you don't mind me asking. We could always do with a good tradesmen. You might want to pm me if you don't want to say publicly.

He is a cabinet maker, and amongst other things builds kitchens and renovates old houses... anything to do with wood really... (hence my nickname)

It's interesting to see different people's perceptions of poverty and livable wages.

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about poverty: Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of those things that determine the quality of life, including food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, but also "intangibles" such as the opportunity to learn and to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens.

As I understand it, the mimimum wage in Ontario is currently $8.75. If one works a 40 hour week, multiplied by 52 weeks in a year, this equates to an annual salary of $18,200. So suddenly a salary of $24,000 doesn't seem too horrific to me, it's well above minimum wage. But that's just my personal take on matters.

But the question is can you live on that $18,200 or even the $24,000 per year in Ontario?

The answer most likely is no, not without resorting to food banks and other social agencies.

Two years ago I was earning $28,000.00 and my OH who is self employed was having a very bad year basically just earning enough to cover groceries, childcare (which was subsidized) the phone, hydro and cable bills (we don't drive). It's not fun but it can be done even in Ontario and I never had to go to a food bank or get into debt.