HOW A GEN Z FINANCE ENTHUSIAST IN FOREST HILL SPENDS HER MONEY

Two years ago, 25-year-old Chaeeun Lee graduated from McGill with a degree in chemical engineering, but after working at a rating agency, she fell in love with finance. Now she works as a business analyst at a bank and is on track to make $85,000. She also runs a TikTok account, sharing market insights and life advice with her 5,800 followers. She rents a one-bedroom in Forest Hill and contributes about $3,000 a month to her investments. Her videos bring in an extra $400 a month. Eventually, she wants to work in trading and manage a consumer portfolio. Chaeeun is also an avid traveller and hopes to visit 50 countries before she turns 30. Here’s what she does with the rest of her cash.

Regular Expenses

Rent: $1,750 a month. “I chose Forest Hill because it’s safe and the rent was cheaper than downtown. Plus, I like the nearby shops.” Utilities: $50 to $100. “I have a portable AC unit, so my hydro roughly doubles in the summer.” Internet: $45 a month with TekSavvy. Phone: $12 a month with Rogers. “I have a sick deal for a 100-gigabyte data plan. We get a corporate discount at work, and it feels like a mistake—but I’m not complaining!” [content_module id="1"]Groceries: $350 a month. “If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll go to Summerhill Market. I’m Korean, so I also like shopping at Galleria Supermarket. I do a weekly shop at Metro to stock up on staples like salmon, bok choy and grapes, but only if they’re on sale. Why are grapes so expensive these days?” Transit: $110 a month. “I’m tied to the TTC—I use it to commute to my office downtown three days a week." Dining out: $250 a month. “My boyfriend and I are fans of dim sum, and we’re loyal to Dim Sum King in Chinatown. Our favourite is the shrimp-stuffed eggplant.” Clothing: $100 a month. “I just bought some statement blazers from Veronica Beard—they’re so chic and durable—but mostly I steal my mom’s clothes when I visit. She’s a fashionista.” Savings: $3,000 a month. “I invest in stocks and ETFs through Wealthsimple.”

Recent Splurges

Two-week trip to Italy: $2,000. “My mom and I just visited Florence, Milan and Bologna, plus San Marino.” 5 Seconds of Summer tickets: $100. “The show is next August. I’m still figuring out if it would be more fun to take my partner or a friend.”

2026-02-23T14:54:49Z