For many Canadians, a common financial rule that your rent should not take up more than 30 per cent of your total monthly income has become an impossible guideline to follow. 

"I did some math here, 30 per cent of [my] pay is only $966," said Jennifer Smith, a renter in Toronto. But in reality, she says her monthly rent is over $3,200.

"[That's] not including the utilities and hydro and all that fun stuff," she told The Current's ho…