According to its study of data from the OECD, Canadian households saved an average of $5,816 in 2020, far outstripping the $1,144 seen in 2019. Nevertheless, the usual rate at which Canadians save is low.
As of 2019, per the U.S. Federal Reserve, the median transaction account balance (checking and savings combined) for the American family was $5,300; the mean (or average) transaction account balance was $41,600.
At age 40, you should have saved three times your annual salary, and this increases to 4× your income just about the time you hit that age that defines mid-life or “midlife crisis”.
The average Canadian household net worth is surprisingly huge at roughly $680,000 in 2021, up from $400,151 in 2012 according to Statistics Canada. The average Canadian household net worth is roughly 2X the average U.S. household net worth.
Record savings
That works out to $5,574 per Canadian on average in 2020, compared to $479 in the previous year. The average savings rate jumped from 1.3 per cent of disposable income in 2019, to 14.9 per cent in 2020.
Canadians now have an average of $1.73 debt for every dollar they earn. A large amount, which totals to $2.1 trillion dollars of debt in the country. Debt categories include mortgages and non-mortgage debts. The pandemic brought a wave of relief for non-mortgage debts.
Average Spending of Canadian Retirees
If you assume that you and your partner will retire at age 65 and live until age 82, this will work out to be $1,026,103 total spent during retirement. Keep in mind that these are average numbers, and yours could be much higher or lower.
To be considered a rich person in Ontario, you should be making upwards of $345,500. Yikes. In Toronto, though, you'll need to make over $360,000 to be in the big leagues.
By age 25, you should have saved at least 0.5X your annual expenses. The more the better. In other words, if you spend $50,000 a year, you should have about $25,000 in savings. If you spend $100,000 a year, you should have at least $50,000 in savings.
If you actually have $20,000 saved at age 25, you're way ahead of the national average. The Federal Reserve's 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances found that the median savings account balance was $5,300 across households of all ages, not just 20-somethings.
By age 30, you should have saved close to $47,000, assuming you're earning a relatively average salary. This target number is based on the rule of thumb you should aim to have about one year's salary saved by the time you're entering your fourth decade.
According to this survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, the median retirement savings by age in the U.S. is: Americans in their 20s: $16,000. Americans in their 30s: $45,000. Americans in their 40s: $63,000.
How much is too much? The general rule is to have three to six months' worth of living expenses (rent, utilities, food, car payments, etc.) saved up for emergencies, such as unexpected medical bills or immediate home or car repairs.
Having three to six months of expenses saved is a general rule, but you could opt to save more. If you think it would take longer than six months to find a new job if you lost yours, or if your income is irregular, then stashing up to 12 months' worth of expenses could be smart.
In summary, at age 45, you should have a savings/net worth amount equivalent to at least 8X your annual expenses. Your expense coverage ratio is the most important ratio to determine how much you have saved because it is a function of your lifestyle.
How much does a Good make in Canada? The average good salary in Canada is $42,988 per year or $22.05 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $29,250 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $84,527 per year.
Can I retire on $500k plus Social Security? Yes, you can! The average monthly Social Security Income check-in 2021 is $1,543 per person.
The short answer is yes—$500,000 is sufficient for some retirees. The question is how that will work out. With an income source like Social Security, relatively low spending, and a bit of good luck, this is feasible.
While credit scores in Canada range from 300 - 900, the average is around 650, according to TransUnion, though it varies from province to province. Once you've reached a credit score of 650 or higher, you'll be able to qualify for more financial products.