[BobKovacs]

OK, sure- you can make $400/week working in the service industry. So after taxes, you've got around $350/week, or $1,400/month. Get a decent apartment that you'd we willing to take a girl back to, and even with a roommate, you're looking at $500/month for rent, utilities, etc.- that leaves you with $900/month. Assuming you eat, wear clothes (you'll need some spiffy duds to pick up the ladies, right???), etc., even at a conservative $100/week, that's $400/month, so you're now left with $500/month. You're going to need a cell phone so you can "throw the ladies some mathmatics", right? Take another $50/month away- now you've got $450/month. Even at your "$100/night" limit, that basically gives you 1 night out per week- not exactly the high life, IMO. And $100/night isn't going to get you into anyplace decent and leave you much money to buy some drinks for the ladies, considering that you've got to set aside $30-40 of it for your cab rides, and at least $20 for the cover charge at most places.

[pigeonhole]

C'mon! I can't believe there is so much sexual misery in Vegas ?
I acknowledge that only the VIPs can "do it" there, the average Joe is left out in the cold(?) Is it actually so ? I wonder why Vegas is such a success story though.

[Mack wild]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

OK, sure- you can make $400/week working in the service industry. So after taxes, you've got around $350/week, or $1,400/month. Get a decent apartment that you'd we willing to take a girl back to, and even with a roommate, you're looking at $500/month for rent, utilities, etc.- that leaves you with $900/month. Assuming you eat, wear clothes (you'll need some spiffy duds to pick up the ladies, right???), etc., even at a conservative $100/week, that's $400/month, so you're now left with $500/month. You're going to need a cell phone so you can "throw the ladies some mathmatics", right? Take another $50/month away- now you've got $450/month. Even at your "$100/night" limit, that basically gives you 1 night out per week- not exactly the high life, IMO. And $100/night isn't going to get you into anyplace decent and leave you much money to buy some drinks for the ladies, considering that you've got to set aside $30-40 of it for your cab rides, and at least $20 for the cover charge at most places.

Hmm that seems a bit of a jayded view. The las vegas natives are finding whatever reasoning they can to warn me not to come to vegas for fun and women. Wow! Crazyness!!

My estimate went more like this:

Find a job where it's reasonable to expect 70 bucks a shift in tips, work a couple of doubles and I am pocketing $450 a week with enough time to spare to pick up another part time job if I had to that will add 100 a week. This means I can probably pull in $2,200 a month and still have enough time to go out and have fun 3-4 times a week. Find a place relatively close to the city.

Working at a restaurant I don't need much food, I spend 30 bucks a week in groceries now, I figure it will be 50 a week in Vegas. Cell phone 55 bucks a week. Rent/utilities about 500, that's $635. Since I dont choose to be naked when I go out I have already purchased my clothes so perhaps I can be a bit more selective in that matter?? Just a thought. So hmmm I've got $755 a month. Insurance? Now we are at $$1000 a month.

Playmoney? Round down to 1000 to be reasonable and conservative. Assuming I don't live within walking distance of the strip or have any other way other than a cab -- maybe I might benefit from layin off the drinks so I can drive into the strip on my own. That's assuming I even WANT to go to the strip since there are plenty of other things to do in Vegas. If I DO go to the strip and I DO take a cab i and I DO go to Vegas I will find a place that is going to be 45 bucks tops for a round trip cab. Most likely I will find a single buddy or two that doesn't drink but who likes to go out and save that cost, but if I don't It is about 100 bucks just to get into a somewhat descent place and have the cab fare round trip. (this assumes 55 to get in the door when there are plenty of places that dont even charge a cover to frequent them), This is 2-3 fun times out a week off of a fairly modest budget allocation and assuming all of them are at night and going to places charging covers. I could easily squeeze out 15 times out a month with a little brains.

Anyways thats what I was thinking. Honestly Im not sure at this point if I am just dealing with people who want to tourist bash me because I seem like a tourist or what, I will just say for those of you who want to be lame about tourists who come to your city to have fun and meet ladies -- get over it. If you don't like it -- your in the wrong place. Vegas is the biggest tourist destination in America. Go move to Alaska if you can't handle it. I promise you no one will move there to meet girls, gamble, party, or have fun. I promise you. I just have a hard time thinking at this point people are giving me honest advice trying to "help me out" or "save me from trouble". Jokers were giving me **** from the very beginning. Im a single dude in his 20's not an old lady with altimers so lets get real here, I can handle myself. I hardly think you people are "worried" about me.

When I went to Martha's Vinyard for the summer I did so off a whim that started 2 days previous. I went with no job or housing and very little money. I ate peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches. The costs there are comparable to what san francisco (a bit more expensive) costs. I got by with what food I could get. I finally got a really entry level crappy maintenance job at a hotel for 11 bucks an hour, and a second job for 9 bucks an hour. I had to sleep in my car sometimes because I couldnt afford to always pay the youth hostel to stay there. i ended up getting better restaurant jobs and finding a place with 3 roomates. The rent? 800 bucks a month not including utilities. At one point I was working 3 jobs. I still had a lot of fun and you know what? It was one of the best summers of my life.

As far as living the "high" life, again, people are assuming that I want to live some vegas style "high life roller" type maufia lifestyle -- I guess because they think I want some girl who requires me to live a "high life" to hook up with me???? Not sure where people get this from. Just interested in a place with lots of friendly girls having fun. Sure some of them will simply not go for me unless i have tons of cash, but if Vegas can be such a lonely place for single transplants, and the tourism is high -- Im sure I can get by with the ladies. ;-)

OTOH maybe I should think twice about Vegas, it seems in general the people arn't as friendly or nice as Martha's Vinyard, not even close (although I assume it's just the natives). Collectively it seems the rumors of unfriendly natives are indeed true. Those actually genuinely trying to help -- thanks.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by Mack wild

Hmm that seems a bit of a jayded view. The las vegas natives are finding whatever reasoning they can to warn me not to come to vegas for fun and women. Wow! Crazyness!!

Well, considering I left Vegas almost 9 years ago, I could care less whether you move there or not- I'm just trying to give you a realistic view of what it might cost to live there. Sounds like you've got it all figured out already though, so have a blast!

Personally, working a full-time job, plus a few doubles plus another part-time job just so I can afford to go out and have a few beers and get laid sounds like a lot of work for very little return. Why not spend some time getting an education instead, so you can get a real job that won't require you to work 90 hours a week, share an apartment, and eat pb&j sandwiches? Or did you plan on living like this forever?

[Mack wild]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

Well, considering I left Vegas almost 9 years ago, I could care less whether you move there or not- I'm just trying to give you a realistic view of what it might cost to live there. Sounds like you've got it all figured out already though, so have a blast!

Personally, working a full-time job, plus a few doubles plus another part-time job just so I can afford to go out and have a few beers and get laid sounds like a lot of work for very little return. Why not spend some time getting an education instead, so you can get a real job that won't require you to work 90 hours a week, share an apartment, and eat pb&j sandwiches? Or did you plan on living like this forever?

lol. You know man people don't understand what it is like to be born and raised in northern new england. I live in Maine man. There are no cool places to go here, there are no cool jobs, there is no oppurtunity, and any girl who is remotely appealing to the eyes thinks she is gods gift to the world. You have to go to southern maine just to be around people who are somewhat cool, otherwise it is really close minded and ignorant hicklike people who certainly arn't liberated.

It has only been through traveling that I have seen how different other area's of this country are. I know what it is to live in an expensive place and have to try to sneak by. I would rather have roomates than live alone at this stage of my life because I am single and looking to make the best of it and have experiences while I still can.

People fascinate me when they complain about life in Las Vegas or San francisco or any other place that has stuff going on for it or is booming. I mean for a single guy who lives in the sticks it's paradise for him. Yeah I might not have as much extra money there and have to work more hours but at least I am living and not just rotting away in a small town with little options of who I can meet or what I can do -- or even what oppurtunities I can pursue. In cities there are tons of events and ways to get involved in the community and things that just are NOT availuable here. I can go to a place that plays house music and techno or to a trendy place thats cool, I can walk down the street in a sea of people and people watch, I can deal with weird bum dudes, I can always have tons of places to try to get a job at and while it may be hard at least I have tons of choices. There are cool stores and malls to go to. There are fun more liberal people.

I guess this all just goes to show that people always look at the negatives of where they live but I challenge any of you to come and move where I am, I promise you that you will be back in Vegas before you know it. I need stimulation, I need action, I need fun. I don't have a family, I don't have a huge career. If I don't do this as much as I can now while I have a chance, then I will always regret it.

If not Vegas, then where can I go for this??? I don't like the sounds of southern california because the people are really really impersonal, superficial, and narcisistic there. Besides I probably would not be tall enough to get a server job there. San francisco seemed like a great place to a lot of people who travel a lot and they recommend it a ton, but single guys say it's tough there (not sure why) -- but still it's a city. Understand I have NEVER lived in or near a big city before -- and I am definately a CITY guy personality.

I enjoy fun and a party atmosphere. I tend to like laid back type people with a bit of a hippy influence but not hardcore. I respect social intelligence too. I just want to travel to a fun place and if I get sick of it, I can always go somewhere else.

All my life people are always like CALIFORNIA, LAS VEGAS!!!! YEAH!!! They have wild stories and experiences that just don't happen around here. Now it seems the people who live there feel it is way over-rated. So at this point I just ask if Las Vegas isn't a place that a single guy can go to have a little fun, and make ends meet even if he is responsible and busts ass to make them meet -- then where would you guys suggest that is better???

[mjay11]

We are just telling you the truth Mack. You have some crazy misconception about "Vegas" Life and now it seems you are frustrated because you are not getting the answers you wanted to hear. The kind of life you want is a dream.
Bob is right. It takes a lot of money to go party and have the good time you are looking for. You will find out when you come here that you are more than likely ,not going to have the money to support the lifestyle you are dreaming about.
Don't believe everything you see on TV.
Your friends and people may tell you "Oh, it's great....yada, yada" but do they LIVE here?....no. They've come to visit and spent a short amount of time on the strip with money they saved, had a ball and then split.
Living here is a different story.
But whatever listen to your friends and not the people who actually work and live here....I mean, what do we know?

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by Mack wild

All my life people are always like CALIFORNIA, LAS VEGAS!!!! YEAH!!! They have wild stories and experiences that just don't happen around here. Now it seems the people who live there feel it is way over-rated. So at this point I just ask if Las Vegas isn't a place that a single guy can go to have a little fun, and make ends meet even if he is responsible and busts ass to make them meet -- then where would you guys suggest that is better???

Yup- when I moved to Vegas I felt the same way- it's the ultimate place to be young and crazy. Hell, I'd even been there on vacation a dozen or so times, so I "really knew what I was talking about". Like you, I wanted to take a break from "life", and just work enough to get by and have some fun. So, I took a break from my construction management career, and got a job working at an off-road shop making $10/hour. I also bounced a few nights a week for extra cash.

Luckily, I had a friend who was the night shift manager at one of the big topless clubs downtown, because that was the only way I could afford to drink and party on a decent scale (because I didn't have to pay for booze, and the club's limo would take me home whenever I needed to go). Other than that, I was stuck going to small, local bars/clubs that didn't offer a whole heck of a lot of excitement, and the girls there weren't anything to write home about (lots of head-cases to say the least....).

So, can you move to Vegas and have some fun? Sure you can- just don't expect it to be everything that your friends are making it out to be. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the stories you're hearing are things that happened during week-long vacations in Vegas, and weren't accomplished on a barback's salary.

[CHOP79]

haha, this thread is pretty entertaining. I guess I'll add my $.02. I can add the perspective of a young guy [29], who has visited Vegas several times for both vacation and work over the past few years. It may be a little different because I have a little money. And right now I'm getting ready to move to Vegas for work, but that's besides the point. I'll just list my thoughts in bullet format so I don't have to waste any more brain bites on grammar.

- Of course you will meet a ton of girls in Vegas. Unless your socially inept that is (jurys still out). I think you would meet a lot of girls in most cities if your going out all the time. But even more so in Vegas because people go to party and lower their inhibitions.

- The casino's don't have a cover charge, but the clubs in the casinos do. You can expect 10 to 40 bucks to get in the door depending on where your at and the night of the week. And drinks are about 10 - 14. Beer might be cheaper.

- You will meet tourist girls that absolutely go crazy and do things that they will regret for the rest of their lives. For example, a friend of mine had sex with this (seemingly nice) girl on a poorly lit dance floor. She had on a short skirt and just went for it... I'm sure you can imagine the logistics of such an act. I now suspect that she was doing coke and X in the bathroom. Not good.

- I would recommend that you don't tell the little ladies that you buss dishes or wait tables for a living. That works in college, but not so much as an adult. If you just want to hook up, say you're there for a business convention or something. Then go to her room.

- Sketchy married chicks will try to hook up with married guys. I think that they assume that it will be the best way to hook up without the guy getting attached

- You can have all the fun the strip has to offer in about 3 days.

- I've meet the coolest people and had the best conversations playing Black Jack.

- I think you could pull this off, but I don't think it would be much fun. Regardless of how you think the numbers add up, I can assure you that you will be extremely tight on cash. But on the flip side, it will be an adventure and something you could tell your kids about someday, and you really have nothing to lose.

- If I were you I would be focusing on my career.

- Don't get so defensive when experienced people give you good advise. You can make your own decision and go against the grain, but do so with full knowledge of what your getting yourself into. Writing these people off as old and bitter makes you sounds extremely naive.

- I'm lucky enough to have meet the love of my life, so I doubt I will be wasting much time or money at the strip when I become a LV resident this summer. But I wish you the best of luck.

[Daddys///M3]

Dude, you asked for the advice and people gave it to you. Now you want to start giving us a hard time because it wasn't what you wanted to hear? You want to call us negative? I guarantee you that everyone that responded loves Vegas. all for different reasons. I'm just trying to tell you to keep your expectations in check. I have no problems with tourists (they do keep our city going) as I rarely go down to the strip anymore. I also said that it is a good idea to travel and experience new places, but your preconceived notions about Vegas are just a bit off.

Server jobs, bartender jobs, barback jobs on the strip are not easy to get. You don't think the locals already have a lock on these? Not saying you won't get lucky with your timing or anything, perhaps you happen to apply right when a few quit or are terminated. That would work out for you, provided that they don't get 50 applications from people that already work at the hotel (which they will).

Yes, you may occasionally hook up with a random down on the strip. I have very limited experience in this so I can't say it does or does not happen. However, it seems to me that the random tourist female in Vegas that want's to party will find an actual party, and where else would they find that but the club. These clubs are expensive and difficult to get into (from what I hear, I'm not a club guy). That being said there are opportunities for randoms away from the strip as well. Just like any other city.

[Mack wild]

Originally Posted by mjay11

We are just telling you the truth Mack. You have some crazy misconception about "Vegas" Life and now it seems you are frustrated because you are not getting the answers you wanted to hear. The kind of life you want is a dream.
Bob is right. It takes a lot of money to go party and have the good time you are looking for. You will find out when you come here that you are more than likely ,not going to have the money to support the lifestyle you are dreaming about.
Don't believe everything you see on TV.
Your friends and people may tell you "Oh, it's great....yada, yada" but do they LIVE here?....no. They've come to visit and spent a short amount of time on the strip with money they saved, had a ball and then split.
Living here is a different story.
But whatever listen to your friends and not the people who actually work and live here....I mean, what do we know?

I hear you man, I hear you. What your saying certainly has truth to it, but is it really THAT bad? I mean the reason I keep bringing up Martha's Vinyard is because I moved THERE on whim, got 3 jobs, and afforded $800 a month rent. I actually got there late after all the good jobs were TAKEN!! It took a couple months before I made the connections to get the better jobs and I was EXTREMELY TIGHT on cash in the meantime, but I was living life. While I was there I found a bunch of other bachelor's to live with, and we DID IT UP. We had house parties, I would constantly walk down to the main drag and the beach there. I lived this "dream". Now I want to do it on an even bigger scale (MV only runs 3 months in season). If I could do it on a small island and have a blast, why could I not do it in Vegas?

It's not that I don't see your points, it's more that I feel like I am talking to people who are not single, are settled down, and simply arn't living the life I am talking about simply because they arn't looking to live that lifestyle. I understand I can't just go to the strip all the time unless I want to have no cash ever. I GET that. I would have to be smart with my money. When I was in Martha's vinyard a lot of people would tell me they DIDNT like it. They would complain. I couldnt believe it, it was awesome to me. They said there was nothing to do and they didn't know anyone, but that was because they didn't look in the right places.

Its not that I dont agree with your points about money and an over-average proportion of shallow women who cannot have fun without a credit card and are high maintenance -- it's that everyone just seems to dwell on the negative with no personal experience facts to back it up besides the cost it takes to get into a club or buy a drink. The fact there are plenty of things I could do without needing a cab, a drink, or to pay a cover charge doesn't even seem to be taken into account. If someone could come on here and give me details on the reasons why they are feeling that they made a huge mistake to move there as a single guy, then it would be more convincing to me. Trust me I am listening to you guys and everything, your not wasting your time, or my time -- but this is a big decision and I need more reasons other than general stereotypes of the strip and negative thoughts about moving somewhere new and bigger.

Thanks for the story and details Bob, nice recap Chop. I don't know what I want to do with my life yet guys, or I would pursue a career instead. I just figure in the meantime to get out of this dead end town and live it up a bit from time to time. I want more Options. Any big city would be expensive, so why not go where the tourists never die?