This singer, actor and teacher earns $62,000 a year. How does she spend it?
“I use Instacart religiously. It’s a lifesaver”
Evelyn Hecht is a 22-year-old singer, actor, and voice and theatre teacher who makes $62,000 a year. After graduating from Sheridan College’s music theatre performance program in 2025, she moved out of her family home in Thornhill and into a one-bedroom-plus-den rental at Yonge and Charles. She juggles multiple gigs to make ends meet: working as a musical theatre director, doing voice work for commercials, and giving private music lessons from her in-home studio and at Spotlight Academy’s two locations. She’s spending this summer in Newfoundland, starring as Princess Fiona in the Stephenville Theatre Festival’s production of Shrek the Musical. Here’s how she spends her money.
Regular Expenses
Rent: $1,500 a month. “Utilities are included.”
Phone: $50 a month with Rogers.
Internet: $100 a month with Beanfield.
Groceries: $500 a month. “Living downtown without a car makes grocery shopping tricky. I use Instacart religiously—it’s a lifesaver. Even with delivery fees, it helps me stick to a budget. When I walk into a store, I get distracted and end up buying expensive things I don’t need.”
Dining out: $200 a month. “My mom owns Holy Perogy on the Queensway, so I grew up eating out. Once or twice a week, I’ll grab some lentil soup from Pita and Hummus on St. Clair or a fancy smoothie from Heal. For a date night, my boyfriend and I love Rasa off Harbord.”
Beauty: $30 a month. “Cleanser, moisturizer, concealer—that’s it. I usually buy everything at the drug store unless I find a discounted gem at Winners.”
Transportation: $230 a month. “I try to take the TTC as much as possible, but if I don’t time things right, I’ll take an Uber. I could definitely improve that.”
Laryngeal massage: $650 a year. “This is my biggest work expense. In 2022, I almost lost my voice from overuse. These massages helped me get it back.”
Recent Splurges
Tech: $2,000. “I needed a new keyboard and Scarlett recording equipment. The toughest pill to swallow was my MacBook. I’ve tried using more affordable brands, but they don’t have the same tools for production, editing and recording.”
Trip to Prague and Budapest: $4,000. “I’ve put away money for a summer trip with my boyfriend. Travelling is a must for me.”
Erin Hershberg is a freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the lifestyle sector. She currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and two children.
