“Going to a coffee shop is my indulgence”: how Valentina Leucona, a student and recent immigrant, lives on $1,200 a month
Who: Valentina Leucona, 26, who moved to Toronto from Venezuela in August.
What she does: Advertising account management student at Centennial College, and also a waitress at a private club downtown.
What she makes: $1,200 to $1,300 a month. (“I work about three or four nights a week, and I have another part-time job which is on-call. I’m a server there too, but only for functions, parties, weddings. I work anywhere from 25 to 30 hours a week.”)
Some of how she spends it: Rent on a basement studio apartment near Danforth and Woodbine: $900 a month. (“It’s very comfortable. It has everything. I don’t even have to pay for TV, internet, nothing. Everything’s included.”) Cell service: $45 per month. Monthly Metropass, with student discount: $112. $100 in monthly student-debt payments, starting in September. (“I’m nervous about paying those loans. Especially because I don’t have a permanent job right now, and it all depends on me getting an internship.”)
What she bought in one week: Zucchinis, eggplants and lightbulbs from Valu-mart: $8. (“I didn’t spend a lot on groceries because my fridge was fully stocked. I buy milk and meat in bulk. I spend about $150 on groceries per month.”) Tax return: $31. Resumé copies: $5. (“I’m applying for internships.”) Coffee: $0. (“I have my coffee pot here at the house. Actually going to the coffee shop is, like, my indulgence.”)
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/life/going-coffee-shop-indulgence-valentina-leucona-student-recent-immigrant-lives-1200-month/&title=“Going to a coffee shop is my indulgence”: how Valentina Leucona, a student and recent immigrant, lives on $1,200 a month&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/valentina-leucona-cost-of-living.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_311906" align="alignnone" width="656"] (Image: Gabby Frank)[/caption]
Who: Valentina Leucona, 26, who moved to Toronto from Venezuela in August.
What she does: Advertising account management student at Centennial College, and also a waitress at a private club downtown.
What she makes: $1,200 to $1,300 a month. ("I work about three or four nights a week, and I have another part-time job which is on-call. I'm a server there too, but only for functions, parties, weddings. I work anywhere from 25 to 30 hours a week.")
Some of how she spends it: Rent on a basement studio apartment near Danforth and Woodbine: $900 a month. ("It's very comfortable. It has everything. I don't even have to pay for TV, internet, nothing. Everything's included.") Cell service: $45 per month. Monthly Metropass, with student discount: $112. $100 in monthly student-debt payments, starting in September. ("I'm nervous about paying those loans. Especially because I don't have a permanent job right now, and it all depends on me getting an internship.")
What she bought in one week: Zucchinis, eggplants and lightbulbs from Valu-mart: $8. ("I didn't spend a lot on groceries because my fridge was fully stocked. I buy milk and meat in bulk. I spend about $150 on groceries per month.") Tax return: $31. Resumé copies: $5. ("I'm applying for internships.") Coffee: $0. ("I have my coffee pot here at the house. Actually going to the coffee shop is, like, my indulgence.")){kind=link}
A young person who does prioritize Starbucks as a necessity – good for her! Her prioritizing will pay off as she ages.
Where does it say she prioritizes having a coffee? It is even said in the title that that’s her indulgence-which probably means to her a luxury which is availed of only sometimes
A commenter on an article who didn´t bother to read it… that´s new
Actually I was typing on a new laptop and thought I typed “doesn’t” – truly is refreshing to see a young person with her priorities straight.
Actually – glad you and Joseph pointed out my mistaken typo – she is a smart young woman to NOT prioritize Starbucks and this will bode well for her financial future.
Fair enough!
She’s a server and only makes $1200-$1300 a month? – I call BS.
She’s a server who is in school full time at Centenial College and she’s a waitress. So she works part time. You expect her to make more?
Yes, I do expect her to make more and I say that with having years of experience in the hospitality industry; especially if she’s working at a private club. Anyhow, just my opinion, I don’t know the details of her work skill or habits.
Let’s do the math:
6hrs x 4nights x 4.5weeks = 108hrs a month
$1300/108hrs=
$12/hr, after taxes n deductions
That seems reasonable, no?
Yes, on paper.
You aren’t factoring in her gratuities and you couldn’t possibly because no server is ever completely honest about that…ever.
My opinion is based purely on personal experience. Perhaps she makes no gratuities at all (but I highly doubt that).
Not all servers rake it in.
where did she get her tax return for $31?
and what she eats,……air?
I’m guessing she’s sharing the landlord’s internet. That’s saving her money but opening her up to a lot of security issues if the landlord was unethical and decided to start snooping her traffic.