Olivia Jordan Lewis, 27, retail associate and fashion blogger
her income: $30,000 per year
her parents: Kathy Hope Lewis, 61, and David Lewis, 63, both retired accountants
The Place: A four-bedroom house in Mississauga
OLIVIA: I lived at home until 2011, when I landed an internship at a fashion house in Manhattan. The opportunity came out of the blue, and I wasn’t prepared financially. I lived in a dormitory run by nuns. My parents paid my rent, which was about $1,000 a month. I was so grateful for their help.
When I came back to Toronto, I moved back home. I wanted to become a fashion stylist, but I eventually realized that my dream probably wouldn’t materialize in Toronto. I started a fashion blog and began working in retail, first at Holt Renfrew and later at a shoe boutique at Yorkdale. My parents are happy as long as I’m working. Sometimes, my dad even drives me to work. Transit to Yorkdale is a nightmare.
I don’t think my parents want me to leave—my older brother died three years ago, and they’d miss me if I moved out. We live in a four-bedroom house in Mississauga. It’s big enough that we’re never in each other’s way. The mall closes late, so I’m often not home until after 11 at night. Whenever I crash at a friend’s place, my parents will text me the next morning to make sure I’m okay.
I wouldn’t be able to maintain my current lifestyle if I rented a place downtown. Every year, I buy a new designer purse for about $1,500, and I go to New York Fashion Week, which costs about $1,000. I also have a Soho House membership, which costs $1,800 a year—it’s essential for networking.
In 2014, I went back to school for broadcast journalism. I’m hoping to land a job in journalism downtown. I’ll move out when I do, but I know my mom isn’t going to be happy about it. Right now, I’m building my resumé. I have $1,500 in credit card debt. I also put about $200 into a savings account every month. I’ll probably use my savings to pay for first and last months’ rent once I find an apartment. I’m open to having roommates.