Expenses
A performance tower computer system, with an additional video card, additional RAM, 3 year warranty.
$5000, renewed every three years = $1500/year
Laptop with extra RAM, 7200rpm for video,3 year warranty.
$4000, renewed every three years = $1330/year
DSLR camera package
$5000, renewed every five years = $1000/year
High speed internet
$40/month x12 = $480
Other equipment purchases: new devices eg Kinect, IR camera, network hubs, MIDI devices, wireless controllers (iPOD, Wii, iPAD), video projector/s, equipment rentals, cable purchases etc
$400/month = $4400 a year
Adobe Software Creative Suite ($2600), plus additional softwares
c.$5000 every three years = $1700/yr
$11,110 PER YEAR FOR GENERAL EQUIPMENT/SOFTWARE OVERHEADS
Rent home/office/studio $1200/month = $14,400/year
Utility bills $200/month = $2400/year
Food = $300/mth = $3600/year
Transportation. For a motorbike driven year round. Triple this figure for car ownership.
$130/mth plus maintainance/repairs $40/mth = $170/mth = $2040/year
BASIC LIVING EXPENSES = $ 22,440/yr
PLUS EQUIPMENT OVERHEADS = $11,110/yr
TOTAL $32,850
That doesn't include paying for insurance, (medical or personal belongings), liability insurance, clothing, meals out from time to time in a restaurant, going to see a movie, buying birthday gifts for family and friends, petty cash in my pocket, taking a holiday, feeding a pet plus vets bills.... all things that many would consider normal essential items. Doesn't include home maintenance such as paint and hardware store items, office supplies for my business, my website fees and web designer fees, my cell phone bill, etc
Let's estimate some of these expendables;
One trip away per year: $1500
Website & promotion expenses: $300/yr
Clothes: $1000/yr
Insurance $ 1200/yr
(Dog $1200/yr..ok, I admit pets are considered a luxury, but lets see how this all adds up)
Expendables: movies, books, office supplies, hardware supplies, birthday presents, etc @ $200/mth: $2400/yr
Cell phone @ $35/mth= $420/yr
RRSP $200/mth allows an RRSP contribution of $2400/year.