It certainly feels like things are worse for the average Canadian and there's also plenty of data that suggests that things ARE worse for average folks but at the same time I bet most of them would not go back in time 30-40 years for the equivalent life b/c the average quality of life is actually substantially better today than it was back then. The things that were luxuries back then are now just normal (something as simple as a microwave for example) so "average" has shifted.

For what it's worth, the median household income in 2006 was about $53k and inflation adjusted that'd be about $70k in 2021 dollars. In 2021, median household income was actually $80k so things got a LOT better during that 15 year period for the median household - a 10k diff is HUGE for that kind of household.

A lot of things have gotten worse but on the average things are much better today than before.

I was having this conversation with someone last night

How do you quantify “quality of life” ?

Even things like access to health care etc. are worse than those times you outlined there. Groceries are more, everything is substantially more relative to your income.

So in terms of access to goods and information, sure, but almost certainly life was better for low/medium income earners in years previously than it is now.

Well, the OECD has a quality of life index that uses 11 measures to calculate it (https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111) and it seems reasonably comprehensive.

I wouldn't consider it the only source of measuring quality of life but it's a well accepted one. I haven't had a chance to see the historical data to see how Canada has done over the years - are we better or worse than we were 10, 20, 40 years ago?

Canada: https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/canada/

Wait times are up sure but that's not the only measure of health - life expectancy continues to climb cause less people are dying from lead poisoning, less babies are dying at birth etc. On most health outcomes we are doing WAY better than we were 30 years ago. Life expectancies are up 11 years since 1960 - I don't think anyone would go back to 1960 and give up 11 years of life expectancy in exchange for shorter waits times at shittier hospitals (back then they'll just tell you're gonna die, now you wait a while for treatment).

I'd have to look at actual historical data to form a firm opinion on this but considering that median income is significantly higher today than yesterday after adjusting for inflation and health outcomes are also better than yesterday I'd say that it's not true that things were better in the past - it only feels that way.

Late 1990s was the peak where people felt optimism about the future.

Sure there were things that people were ignorant about, like the treatment of certain groups in society, but generally speaking, there was a true sense where if you followed the rules and worked hard, you would do well for yourself and live a life better than your parents did.

Our politics are in the toilet where we can't agree on basic facts. It's not about making society better - it's about owning the other side, no matter what the cost. Boorish behavior is now rewarded by algorithms. The impacts of climate change are now felt in our daily lives. Our social safety net, which was designed for simpler times, is under capacity to meet the needs of a growing senior population and people who have fallen through the cracks of modern life.

That's why I think people, particularly those under 50, are angry. Those of us who are old enough to remember the 90s, you can't help but feel pretty let down by how the world has turned out.

I'm curious, how much do you guys spend per day on meals/food, on average? Don't care about wife/kids, just your personal average amount.

This topic has come up often recently around friends.

I eat out like almost all meals. Same with the wife. Our fridge only has like a few pieces of fruit and some milk.

Sooo roughly like 100-150 a day for the two of us?

We rack up a shit ton of uber eats money / and probably single handily keeping dolar hotpot in the black.

I average about $15 per day - this excludes meals out with friends / family etc.

Honestly people in the lower mainland whose parents own a house I notice are a bit more carefree with their spending cause in the back of their mind:
1. Parents can bail them out if shit hits the fan
2. Million+ inheritance incoming

Damn we spend almost $100 a day for the 3 of us lol. That includes going out to eat. Usually one takeout meal and one restaurant/brewery trip a week.

Our spending is too variable to calculate an average

Id say if I had to guess it’s between 250-600 a week on average strictly eating out or take out, not including any small grocery store trips etc.

We went out last weekend had a couple cocktails at Social and then went to Nonna’s on commercial and it was like $400 for 5-6 drinks a dinner. Dinner was pretty good but a dinner like that isn’t at that price point imo

Bigway Hotpot might be your friend. Give that a try.

If people here are spending $100 per day on food alone, I can see where the paycheque to paycheque comment comes from:

- Detached house or large 2-car garage townhome mortgage- 5K-8K
- Transportation- $1K-$2K per month, depending if there are car payments
- Food - $2K to $3K
- Childcare - $2K to $3K for two kids at licensed daycare

That's literally like $10K per month for just shelter, transportation, and food.

For our family of 3 we're typically $400-500 every 3 weeks at Costco (but that includes everything like food, toiletries, clothes etc) and then like $50-80/wk at the local grocery store for supplemental things.

Friday is typically our no cook day so $80-150 /wk depending on where we go.

Hahahaha epic.

I think our monthly spend on groceries and eating out is around $2000/mo - figure 60% ($1200) of that is mine as I'm more spendy than my wife and the 5 year old. Food is definitely our biggest spend outside of our mortgage.

LMAOOOO

We tried it. It was full of teenagers and I got mad when I had to lineup to pick out my own food.

It’s not bad, but my pot was like 20 ish bucks. So two people almost 50 dollars.

^ I thought you like gawking at teenagers.

Yah gawk only. As soon as I have to listen to them talk I wanna murder suicide.

For just myself and no gf? $20 a day is easy. I could probably squeeze in a $2 hotwheels for that budget too :lol

I've always had the mindset of getting the most for my money and not only spending within my means, but saving as much as possible for future goals.

Breakfast: make my own coffee (literally just beans, water, moka pot), PBJ sandwich (Estimated cost ~$1-$1.50?)

Lunch/Dinner: Yaohan food court 3 items on rice meal $17 (used to be $16 until recently).

If I were still going to Bubble Waffle Cafe, I'd save even more money and also have stamps towards free bubble waffles lol. That's $13 after taxes for a meal (Hainanese Chicken in noodle soup; that I can also split into two) and includes a drink. I guess with this option I could also do a $15 daily budget.

Anyone else have j̶e̶h̶o̶v̶a̶h̶'̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶n̶e̶s̶s̶e̶s̶ political candidates showing up at their condo door in a tower, to ask about the election?

Since when are political people allowed in a highrise, given access to each floor to talk about the vote

"I dont vote" > shuts door

J Dubs don’t vote. I can’t see them being a political candidate lol.

Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehova...in%20elections.

I had this aggressive Telus guy show up the other day. He’s like are you gonna talk to me face to face or just through your doorbell.

I said door bell.

He said that’s very rude.

I said so is interrupting my masterbation.

How the hell do you do $15 a day?

You eating lentils and beans all day? I'm impressed.