May Inflation Rate | Page 2 | General financial discussion | Discussion forum

Thanks for the StatsCan numbers. Hopefully that will change shortly as the 80+ cohort dies off. Must be a lot of 'never worked' or 'low CPP' seniors in the data base to bring that number down. I think pretty much everyone today under about 60 years of age, other than the truly disadvantaged, has had the opportunity to earn a living wage for most of their adult lives.

My understanding is bare necessities is already defined by the calculated poverty line. Would have to look how that is specifically calculated each year for further comment but don't think we need another measure.

I am aware there are different CPI numbers for different cities, regions and provinces. Average senior income varies by city, region and province too so I don't see there is anything to whine about if one is in high cost locations. It is all relative. Besides, nothing says one needs to stay in such locations. If one can't stand the heat in the kitchen, move.

No idea why people also think CPI is based on mythical costs. It is actually based on real costs on a basket of goods and services for a real average Canadian. That is how it should be. I don't see any justification for all the angst.

AltaRed, I agree with you that people's situations, prosperous or poor, are overwhelmingly due to their own decisions and actions. And seniors have a special advantage others don't, i.e. decades of vigorous youth to prepare for that phase. Plus for me, I'm a pretty average dude re brains and drive, nothing special, so my theory is if I can do as well as I've done on my own (without any outside financial help such as inheritance) then so can everybody else.