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This program coordinator makes $74,000 a year. How does she spend it?

“I’m still renting at pandemic-era prices”

By Amanda Whalen| Photography by Brittany Carmichael
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Stephanie Sim and her dog in their living room

Who: Stephanie Sim, 30 What she does: She’s a program coordinator at a university, a part-time MBA student and the founder of City Girls Social Club What she makes: $74,000 Where she lives: A one-bedroom condo in Church-Wellesley


Regular Expenses

Rent: $1,733 a month. “I’ve been living here for three years. It’s rent-controlled, so I’m still paying pandemic-era prices. It started at $1,650.”

Internet and phone: $115 a month with Virgin Mobile. “I got a package deal.”

Hydro: $50 a month.

Groceries: $450 a month. “Loblaws is only a two-minute walk from my condo.”

Presto: $25 a month. “Everything I need is close by, so I rarely take transit.”

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Uber: $30 a month. “I mostly use Uber to visit friends or for going out at night.”

Clothing: $100 a month. “I just bought a heated vest from Amazon, and it was worth every penny. I’m a very practical shopper.”

Beauty: $40 a month. “Shoppers Drug Mart is where I go for my basics.”

Treats: $50 a month. “I’ll go to the Drake Hotel for drinks or grab a pastry from the Dessert Lady Cafe and Bakery in Yorkville.”

Entertainment: $50 a month. “This is mostly for concerts with friends.”

Subscriptions: $20 a month. “Right now, I only pay for Amazon and Spotify.”

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Gym: $0 a month. “As a part-time MBA student, I get to use the campus gym for free.”

Takeout: $100 a month. “With Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes, my go-tos are Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu in Koreatown or Rasta Pasta in Kensington Market.”

Pet supplies: $100 a month. “Lil Diggie is my five-year-old miniature goldendoodle. This is mostly for his food and vet bills.”

Pet insurance: $80 a month with Trupanion. “For peace of mind.”

Business expenses: $350 a month. “I run a social club for women who want to make new friends, and this covers the costs of paying facilitators to run classes like painting and dance.”

School supplies: $50 a month. “I work for the university, so my tuition is covered.”

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Charity: $0 a month. “I’m not donating right now, but I’ve been volunteering.”

This program coordinator makes $74,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This program coordinator makes $74,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This program coordinator makes $74,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This program coordinator makes $74,000 a year. How does she spend it?

This program coordinator makes $74,000 a year. How does she spend it?
Recent Splurges

MacBook: $1,300. “My previous computer was seven years old.”

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Swarovski tennis necklace: $400. “I finally splurged and bought this necklace I’d been eyeing for years.”

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