(see footnote²⁰ below)

Spending patterns unique

In 2008, Alberta seniors' spending patterns differed from those of the overall Alberta population. According to Statistics Canada, senior households' average total expenditure was $44,927 compared to $95,636 for Albertans under 65 years.

Approximately 74% ($33,385) of senior households' average total expenditure went towards consumption expenditures compared to roughly 69% ($66,308) for other Albertans.²¹

Senior households' largest expense was shelter, accounting for 21.1% of overall total expenditures. In comparison, personal taxes were the largest expense for those under 65, accounting for approximately 22.8% of total expenditures. Transportation was the second largest expense for seniors at 13.9% of overall spending, followed by taxes at 13.1%. (Chart 10)

Chart 10
Seniors Spending Patterns Differ from Non-Seniors

Source: Statistics Canada, Survey of Household Spending, 2008.

In 2008, approximately 38.8% of senior households reported maintenance and repair expenditures on dwellings that were owned, compared to 36.4% of non-senior households. The average expenditure for repairs and maintenance per senior household was $204 whereas non-senior households' average expenditure was $333 .

Seniors spent an average of $2,094 per person on health care, which included health care supplies, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, eye-care goods and services, and health insurance premiums.²²

Seniors spent considerably less on recreation than Albertans under 65 in 2008. Seniors spent an average of $2,401 per person on recreation, compared to $6,170 for non-seniors.