a = Business How do Canadians spend? Let’s take a break from our summertime series of tax-saving tips to look at some new figures on how we have been spending what’s left after the income tax we do pay. Statistics Canada-has just released its ($42) 196-page Family Expenditure in Canada report, based on a survey of what families in 17 metropolitan areas spent in 1990. ITEM: They play in Thunder Bay, give in Saskatoon, smoke and drink in St. John’s, and stay pure in Vancouver. Thunder Bay households spent the most on recreation - $3,530 for the year or 7.4 per cent of total spending, compared with the aver- age of $2,358 or five per cent for all households in the 17 areas. Saskatoon households allocated more than 5.9 per cent ($2,505) to gifts and contributions compared with the national average of 3.6 per cent ($1,734). In Vancouver, households spent the least on tobacco and alcohol: $997 vs. $1,276 for all the centres. St. John’s, Nfld., had the heaviest smokers and drinkers, spending $1,722. When you compare how much your household spends with the famous “‘average’’, realize that average doesn’t necessarily mean correct or normal. Some households happily spend a high percentage of their money on their homes, clothing, travel or cars - while others spend only a fraction of their total budgets on any of these items. As long as you can comfortably afford your spending patterns and they are appropriate:to your situa- tion, that’s the right way for you to spend your money. Still, it is interesting to compare what you spend with the average. Chamber bid brings classes to the Peninsula Adult education courses are coming to the Saanich Peninsula this fall, thanks to efforts by a Peninsula Chamber of Commerce education task force. The group arranged meetings between representatives from Camosun College, the University of Victoria, independent educators and community groups to discuss the need for night school courses in the area. On Aug. 14, the task force, representatives from the educa- tional institutions and local groups finalized plans for night school courses on the Peninsula this fall. The Saanich school district and Panorama Leisure Centre were also involved in the planning. The full schedule of classes will be pnnted in the Chamber publi- cation, News and Views, in the Sept. 9 issue of The Review. At Monday’s school board meeting, trustees welcomed the new. program. Trustee Peter Garnham, who attended the Aug. 14 meeting, credited the Chamber task force with bringing together the pro- gram. He said the district will promote the PALS reading lab and the storefront school through the pro- | gram. The district has also offered © possible classroom space for might. school courses, he added. Remember to make allowances for StaliSLics. : For example, the ‘$85,000 income and over” category that follows includes the spending fig- ures for people with incomes of $185,000 and perhaps $585,000 - who might spend considerably more On some goods and services than somebody with an income of $85,000. People with higher incomes spend less on rent because they are more likely to own homes than those with lower incomes. The Statistics Canada’s house- hold income categories are (a) under $15,000, (b) $15,000- $19,999, (c) $20,000-$24,999, (d) $25,000-$29,999, (e) $30,000- $34,999, (f) $35,000-$39,999, (g) $40,000-$49,999, (h) $50,000- $59,999, (4) $60,000-$69,999, () ‘People with higher incomes spend less on rent because fhey are more likely to own homes than those with lower incomes’ $70,000-$84,999, (k) $85,000 and over. Food bought from stores: (a) $2,143, (b) $2,882, (c) $3,342, (d) $3,425, (€) $3,605, (f) $3,915, (g) $4,278, (h) $4,768, @) $5,291, (j) $5,571, (k) $6,205. Food bought from restaurants efc.: (a) $396, (b) $745, (c) $760, (d) $1,226, (e) $1,315, (f) $1,406, (g) $1,585, (h) $1,843, (i) $2,564, G) $2,688, (k) $3,462. ITEM: Living together certainly Saves money. One-person house- holds spend $3,233 on food while households of five or more per- sons spend $1,826 each. Corre- sponding shelter costs drop from $6,031 to $2,109. ITEM: People are spending more of their budgets on shelter (17.3 per cent vs. 16.7 per cent in 1986) and on taxes - 22.3 per cent vs. 19.9 per cent. Child care expenses jumped 35 per cent. People spend less on food (12.6 per cent vs. 13.9 per cent), trans- portation (11.8 per cent vs. 12.5 per cent), household furnishings and equipment (3.0 per cent vs. _ 3.3 per cent) and tobacco and alcohol (2.7 per cent vs. 3.1 per cent). Rental costs: (a) $3,244, (b) $3,645, (c) $3,471, (d) $3,785, (e) $3,323, () $2,848, (g), $2,418, (h) $2,466, (i) $2,122, (j) $1,878, (k) $994. Home ownership costs: (a) $725, (b) $931, (c) $1,297, @) $1,675, (€) $1,965, (f) $3,051, (g) $3,691, (h) $4,580, (@) $6,414, (j) $6,888, (k) $8,812. Household operation:(a) $865, (b) $1,055, () $1,337, (d) $1,273, (€) $1,499, (f) $1,570, (g) $1,826, (h) $2,136, (i) $2,325, Gj) $2,645, (k) $3,468. Household furnishings and equipment: (a) $392, (b) $645, (c) $766, (d) $999, (e) $936, (f) $1,057, (g) $1,170, (h) $1,689, (i) $1,739, G) $2,111, (k) $3,199. NEXT WEEK: How much peo- ple spend on clothing, transporta- tion, recreation, lotteries, alcohol, tobacco... Mike Grenby is a Vancouver- based columnist and independent financial adviser who works with individuals; he will answer your questions as space allows — write to him clo The Review 9726 First Street, Sidney, B.C. V8L 385. PLAY TO see = YS REVIEW IN TOD = | ThReview Wednesday, August 26,1992 __ A2A MISTER SWEEPER UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS ES VACUUMS | FREE PICK-UP & DELIVERY “ey Wey ee ‘: BILL AL KEITH VACUUM TUNE-UP SPECIALS! Prices include: UPRIGHT Reacate Soe es : $4 O95 5 $9p00 4 | 19 - New Bag 29° 7 : ¢ New paper filter : ° New bulb e Clean & Check all electrical contacts ¢ Clean Unit In Home Service on Built in Vacuums For appointment 72 1- 14 1 1 University Heights DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH PUBLIC NOTICE Loan Authorization By-law No. 718, 1992,” the Council of the District of North Saanich intends to upgrade the Cloake sq Hill trunk main in the following areas: (a) Cloake Hill trunk from Cloake Hill Reservoir to Wain Road, and (b) Pat Bay Trunk from Wain Road to Curteis Point. as shown and described in plans prepared Cunliffe Tait & Company Lid.; And that the said plans may be viewed during regular. business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday excluding holidays, at the North Saanich Municipal Hall, 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, B.C.; : And that to finance the construction of the said works-the Council proposes to borrow by way of debentures, a sum not exceeding one million six hundred seventy-eight thousand dollars ($1,678,000.00), repayable not later than twenty-five years from the date of issue of such deben- tures; And that unless within thirty days of the last newspaper ; publication of this notice, not less than one-twentieth in number of the electors petition the Council for the submission of the said by-law for the assent of the electors, the Council may adopt such by-law. This is the second of two publications of this notice. Dated the 14th day of August, 1992 at North Saanich, B.C. Joan E. Schill Municipal Clerk. by Willis If It?s News We Swampe d @ Recent changes to our billing system have resulted ? [ec If you’ve had any trouble getting through to our Victoria billing, credit or enquiries lines, we apologize. e in a higher number of calls. And our telephone repre- sentatives have been taking the extra time necessary to answer everyone's questions. We believe our new billing system offers a big advantage as it provides you with much more infor- mation. This was explained in a pamphlet which was included with your bill. If you have questions, please call. For faster service, please stay on the line, do not hang up. 4 Again, we apologize for any inconvenience.