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Old 11-11-2007, 10:06 PM
 
Location: Born + raised SF Bay; Tyler, TX now WNY
8,354 posts, read 4,610,169 times
Reputation: 8238

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I grew up in NorCal (Silicon Valley to be exact). Parents' retirement forced us out of the state three years ago, but I'd love nothing more to move back either to the Bay Area or somewhere in the Southland. I'm currently a college student.

I'm well aware of the significant problems as well as immense advantages of CA. What I don't have a handle on, since I wasn't supporting myself, is how much $$ you have to make to support yourself financially, nor the job market for college grads with a UT business degree. Anybody have a ballpark "minimum" to live out there?
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Old 11-12-2007, 03:01 AM
 
Location: Los Angeles Area
3,306 posts, read 4,137,921 times
Reputation: 592
Quote:
Anybody have a ballpark "minimum" to live out there?
This question is hard to answer without knowing what sort of life style you want to live.
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Old 11-12-2007, 04:44 AM
 
Location: Las Flores, Orange County, CA
26,338 posts, read 93,512,049 times
Reputation: 17828
Quote:
Originally Posted by Humanoid View Post
This question is hard to answer without knowing what sort of life style you want to live.
Exactly.

For example, this guy only needs about $3.28

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Old 11-12-2007, 09:36 AM
 
Location: Born + raised SF Bay; Tyler, TX now WNY
8,354 posts, read 4,610,169 times
Reputation: 8238
I don't need much of a place to live, my main priority would be the garage/workspace/whatever - I restore cars as a hobby as well as maintaining + keeping restored the one I drive. I'm also modifying a motorcycle. As you can tell, vehicles are a big part of my life. Gas and insurance would therefore be fairly large costs. Aside from that, just a little bitty bachelor's pad or a doublewide or something would be A-OK with me.

I'm single, no kids, may tie the knot fairly soon - no word on whether or not that'd be before California. Jobwise, pretty much open to anything that pays my bills, though it's a bonus if I'm outside or in something mobile in some way as opposed to being in an office.

Lifestyle-wise...already mentioned the vehicles. I like bars and other places like Dave + Busters (upwardly mobile hangouts?). Beach is only an occasional pleasure, so being close is no priority. She likes to eat out + walk the dog at parks. And we both love travelling.

Not sure what else I could tell ya...
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Old 11-12-2007, 09:54 AM
 
11,715 posts, read 40,352,254 times
Reputation: 7585
I'm thinking somewhere out in the desert.
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Old 11-12-2007, 10:58 AM
 
Location: San Jose, CA
7,688 posts, read 29,078,818 times
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After reading everything you've written, I keep thinking of Vallejo. Why? It's in tune with your priorities (i.e. you could conceivably afford a place with a garage), and you can drive down Highway 37 towards the beach - or Sears Point Raceway.
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Old 11-13-2007, 01:16 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles Area
3,306 posts, read 4,137,921 times
Reputation: 592
If you are just planning on getting an unskilled job, then you can pretty much rule out affording the SF area or much of Southern California. In decent places in Southern California rents for a small place start at around $1,100, in the SF area they are even more.

I'm not sure about prices in Texas, but from my experience food is around 15-20% more in California than other cheaper areas of the country. All things related to you car will be more in California too.
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Old 11-19-2007, 08:03 PM
 
Location: Temecula Ca
63 posts, read 217,372 times
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Minimum $2500/mo, unless you want to be a hermit and camp out. $3000 would be a lot better; then you could affort the gas and insuraance.
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Old 11-19-2007, 08:08 PM
 
Location: Temecula Ca
63 posts, read 217,372 times
Reputation: 49
$3000-3500; then you can afford the gas.
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Old 11-19-2007, 08:11 PM
 
33 posts, read 154,039 times
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Well with a business degree from UT, then you should be making enough money to live a pretty nice lifestyle, unless you cant manage your money. Is it a bachelors that you have or a masters?
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