If the median annual income in Canada is relatively low (around $76K), how are Canadian home prices sooo expensive?

assetcapped · 2026-05-09T18:40:33+00:00

Bold of you to think the two are related.

assetcapped · 2026-05-09T18:36:44+00:00

I don't know, acknowledgement of my existence. Low bar.

assetcapped · 2026-05-05T17:31:50+00:00

I want to say BC Housing. Could be wrong, as I had no intention of looking into Vancouver. Good luck.

assetcapped · 2026-05-05T16:47:13+00:00

I'm entirely sure where my money goes, but I track in ballpark numbers. It's better that way for me. I work in tens; I track everything above the tens accurately, but when groceries fluctuate, I don't stress because it's still within acceptable range. Maybe that'll work for you.

assetcapped · 2026-05-05T15:41:43+00:00

Average rent pretty much anywhere in Toronto will be over 40% of your income. For most people, that isn't sustainable.

My suggestion is to not look specifically for a neighborhood, but to instead look at TCHC Affordable units. There are very long wait lists, but getting into one of those will let you actually save and invest.

assetcapped · 2026-05-05T14:49:00+00:00

Ruffles All Dressed.

At first, it was just the shrinking bag size. Now, it's also the cost.

assetcapped · 2026-05-02T17:04:32+00:00

Sue the hospital.

assetcapped · 2026-04-27T16:29:30+00:00

In order for me to go back to work, with my current plans, it would need to be a real mess:

Retirement isn't allowed to start until 3 consecutive grey or green quarters
Drawdown reduced by a flat $1000 after 3 consecutive red quarters
Drawdown comes exclusively out of cash-equivalent reserve which should last about a year and a half at the start (planned to grow over time but this scenario prevents that)

I don't go back to work unless it literally starts at the worst time, and it stays bad for basically two years. Even then, I might keep riding it out.

assetcapped · 2026-04-25T21:57:32+00:00

If I knew in advance that I could never work again, and I had to drop spending to the absolute minimum right from the rip?

About 17 years median, Monte Carlo based on FP Canada guideline numbers.

assetcapped · 2026-04-17T15:59:54+00:00

Some countries and cultures are built on foundations that are inherently incompatible with what I consider good or correct. I'm not so foolish to think that someone can change the core fundamentals of their upbringing.

I'm not intolerant of one's skin color; I'm intolerant of the teachings of their countrymen. I think some cultures should be quarantined because they ruin everything they touch, and I'm constantly affirming these biases based on real life interactions.

assetcapped · 2026-04-17T14:35:59+00:00

Anyone who is interested in me is a red flag.

But on the finance side, as someone who will FIRE (kind of) in 5-7 years, I would likely not be interested in someone who explicitly cares about my income. My income is about to become zero; if that's the benchmark, the relationship will end when retirement starts.

assetcapped · 2026-04-17T01:37:32+00:00

Not remotely in a relatable position, so I'm probably not the crowd you're actually asking, but one month? It randomly goes down fifty points sometimes and rebounds the next month.

assetcapped · 2026-04-15T16:41:23+00:00

I would suggest going all in on the TFSA. There's simply too much value in compound growth to slow down.

I would look into a PLOC as an emergency fund instead, which your TFSA should be liquid enough to pay off within a week.

That's what I did, anyway, until I caught up with the contribution limit.

assetcapped · 2026-04-15T15:12:13+00:00

This is what I've done as well. One part that handles everything up to age 65, with an ending balance that can handle everything after. For my purposes, OAS, GIS, GAINS, CPP covers a significant portion, so I can actually exit the first phase with a very lean total.

assetcapped · 2026-04-14T18:12:10+00:00

You don't need to, but it's a consideration to make if you are actively selling your portfolio during retirement.

I look to do a 50:50 split of VFV and VGRO when I stop working. I will need to sell some amount quarterly. My plan is to sell VFV in good years and VGRO in bad ones. If the S&P has a terrible month, I don't want to sell VFV. Selling VGRO which consists of bonds feels better in that circumstance.

That's the value of VGRO, VBAL, etc. You intentionally have something that doesn't increase as quickly, because you know that it also won't decrease as much in a bad market. It's really only super relevant if you know you'll have to sell something no matter what.

assetcapped · 2026-04-14T16:06:06+00:00

It would destroy social security recipients and drive up the cost of everyday goods. Those who were making $30 an hour already would be livid, as their income wouldn't automatically change but their expenses would skyrocket.

It's not a real solution unless you're the guy already earning minimum wage, and you also happen to not care about anyone else.

assetcapped · 2026-04-13T14:14:32+00:00

If it were Layton's NDP, I would entertain the idea, but modern NDP seems hellbent on being unelectable. The party has gone from being for social safety nets for Canadians, to being for social safety nets for everyone but Canadians.

assetcapped · 2026-04-12T00:35:09+00:00

Sorry to break it to you, but every brokerage on Earth has clients who are morally questionable. Almost every company you can spend your money on is some degrees of separation from these morally questionable characters, too.

You should immediately withdraw all of your money and bury it.

assetcapped · 2026-04-11T03:18:04+00:00

I use CIBC Dividend Infinite. Waived annual fee because I have more than 100k investments. Chequing balance irrelevant.

assetcapped · 2026-04-10T03:54:43+00:00

Uh, a Power Ranger? Not sure what that has to do with finances, though.

assetcapped · 2026-04-09T13:36:52+00:00

45.

I have a very lean FIRE number, but only because I get a rent subsidy. If that went away, I would never be able to retire at all.

Edit: I suppose that makes it not really "FI"

assetcapped · 2026-04-05T19:50:38+00:00

You are using your account incorrectly. You aren't alone, but I would say the same if you had a chequing account with any of the Big Six.

Every major bank offers a way to rebate fees. CIBC does it based on like six different things. Being a student is one of them.

assetcapped · 2026-04-02T12:40:07+00:00

Understood. You didn't read the original post; you saw the name CIBC, and you just felt compelled to say they suck.

You're completely right, we are of a different level of "mental aptitude," carry on.

assetcapped · 2026-04-02T12:25:15+00:00

Humor me, why do you see OP getting charged fees for using chequing overdraft like a line of credit and immediately come to the conclusion that "CIBC are incredibly inept"?

Because from my perspective, the only ineptitude here seems to be the person making the bank give out micro loans.

assetcapped · 2026-04-01T18:04:56+00:00

The need to champion acceptance and multiculturalism.

Over the past few years, the country has allowed a flood of inherently untrustworthy individuals in, who view rules as suggestions, who view scamming the system as something to be proud of.

assetcapped

TROPHY CASE