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How a Vancouver lawyer spends her $110,000 income

By Jessica Barrett /

With travel and eating out a priority, Julia Lin stretches her impressive income widely

Name: Julia LinAge: 31Gross salary: $110,000Originally from Taipei, Lin moved to Vancouver with her family in 1991. A corporate lawyer dealing in real estate and commercial transactions, Lin is the only member of her family still living in town (the rest have moved back to Asia). Outside of working hours, Lin makes the most of Vancouver’s walkable lifestyle and endless restaurant scene. And with travel a top priority, she puts a fair chunk of her income toward financing adventures, near and far.

The Monthly Bill

Income after taxes: $6,202

Two-bedroom condo in Fairview …… $234(Split with her boyfriend Matthew. “My mom owns it. I just pay the strata, property tax, insurance, etc.”)

RRSP and TSFA contributions…… $858

Other investments …… $600(“My mom forced me into saving money, thank god. I still don’t really understand it. I just do it.”)

MSP …… $75

Rogers phone plan …… $55(“It’s a good deal. I locked it in. I’m never going to let it go.”)

Shaw TV and internet …… $63(Split with Matthew. “We’re huge Game of Thrones fans, so I had to order HBO.”)

Hydro …… $35

Car Insurance …… $131

Parking …… $20

Gas …… $30(“I don’t really drive a lot, so a tank can last me two months.”)

SkyTrain trips …… $48

Netflix …… $10

Wine …… $374 (From tour of Naramata with Matthew. “We picked up two or three bottles from each place.”)

Eating out …… $371(AnnaLena, Tableau, Rice ‘N Spice, Indian Roti Kitchen, Maenam, Cazba, Sushi Bar Maumi, Ebisu, La Taqueria)

Earnest Ice Cream …… $11

Jugo Juice …… $8 

Golf and drinks at One Under …… $80  

Cookies by George for the office…… $10 

Groceries …… $90(“We’re trying to cook more. We’re trying to meal-plan.”)

Carlton Cards …… $29(“I’m going to three different baby things in the next while.”)

Portion of an Airbnb rental …… $355(In Tokyo, part of a trip to Asia planned for the fall. “We rented a house with two other couples for four days.”)

Monthly membership at Steve Nash Fitness World …… $35

Cab rides …… $28

Amazon …… $104(“I haven’t been reading lately.”)

Haircut …… $75

Pacific Centre gift card for a birthday …… $100

Monthly payment to her mom …… $200(“She doesn’t work anymore, so I give her some money. She calls it her allowance.”)

Total Spent: $4,155

The Remainder: $2,047(“I’ve been looking for a one-bedroom investment for the past year. But with the market the way it is, I’m not so sure that’s the best idea anymore.”)

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