Can live off $50k in SJ? (San Jose, Oakland: credit, student loan, smog)

[cntower]

New grad, got an offer to start in June and haven't done much research about housing but it seems the average is somewhere around $1500/month.

It's a sales job, so most likely I will need to travel to customers so need to factor in a cheap car ($300/m??) so I'm looking at $1800/month in fixed expenses...

Should I go or find another job? This is the only job offer I got so far and in this type of market, I don't know how long before the next one will come along..

what should I do? Is it possible to live comfortably for a 20-something in SJ on 50k salary?

[Luke9686]

You can if you do it right. First, check into a roomate. Check Craigslist to find them. It is very common in California to find roomies, due to the cost of living. So take that $1500 apartment and divide that and all the utilities in half.

Find a economical car under $10K. It is possible to find a good used car under $10K in California. I was surprised when I first moved to CA. The quality of cars is good because of the weather, and the strigent smog policies. Basically if you don't have a decent car, it won't pass smog and you cant register it. Therefore, most cars are well kept.

If you don't go out to eat a lot, you will save on food also.

It can be done my friend...

[riceeater]

I'm doing ok with 50K in San Jose... I just rented a room in someone's house for $500... I don't have a lot of freedom, but it's cheap! I found it on Craig's List...
also, fresh produce in oriental supermarkets are cheaper than their American counterparts... you just need to find ways to save money (which I think it's the fun part!)
I think as long as your employer offers health insurance, then you'll be ok with 50K... You may be able to save up to $1000 a month.

[Ohs]

It's doable but you will just be making by. You won't have any money to save and WOW that person that found a room for 500 seems very low, I've only seen that for places in the Eastside with houses that already have 2 or 3 families living in them. So if you want to try and make strides for growth it's only worth it if the career will be a growth and then you can plan to move on from there in a few years to a more affordable area or make lots more money. Good Luck, I can't wait to get out of here fast enough. I've been stuck here for two years making 50 k and have made no gains, still in the exact same spot I was when I started.

[mysticaltyger]

I'm 38 and live in SJ on 50K a year. I also save about 15K a year in my 401k plan. I drive a 12 year old economy car that I paid cash for. I don't have cable tv (I don't even own a TV). I do have a gym membership. No land line but a cell phone. I don't go out and spend $50 having fun on weekends (only rarely). I do go out to dinner at moderate cost places a few times a week. Over the years, I have traveled to South America 3x and Mexico 1 time, not to mention various trips back East to visit family.


When I moved here in late 1996 I was making 27K a year. I had student loan and credit card debt. Now, 11.5 years later, I have a low 6 figure 401K. So, yes, it's definintely possible. It's really about your priorities.

You don't have to pay $1500 for an apartment. If you really want to have money, get roommates.....that's what a lot of 20 year olds do around here. I had roommates until I was 35. I'm now 38 and have lived in studio apartments the last 3 years. I pay $850 a month for my stuido (you have to look hard for deals, but they are possible--stay away from the mega-apartment complexes--they are usually not good deals).


The hard thing is....a lot of people live beyond their means. Many aren't willing to make sacrifices to get ahead financially. You will have to get used to not doing things the way the crowd does them. That means finding friends who don't have expensive hobbies and know how to have fun on weekends without spending $20-$50 bucks (or more) every time they go out. Sometimes you will feel like the "odd man out". But remember.....the pressure to outspend your income exists no matter how much you make.

[sonarrat]

I made $40,000 last year, and I'm about to buy a house in Oakland. You just have to keep your nose clean, budget yourself, and make sure you have insurance for the emergencies. If I hadn't had renter's insurance last year I would be in the poor house for sure..

[socketz]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

I made $40,000 last year, and I'm about to buy a house in Oakland. You just have to keep your nose clean, budget yourself, and make sure you have insurance for the emergencies. If I hadn't had renter's insurance last year I would be in the poor house for sure..

40k in the Bay is amazing; you could write a book!

I know people that make 3x that amount and they struggle to maintain a decent middle class lifestyle.

[rickca]

Well, you can rent a room in a house for $600-700 a month so its very possible, its what I am going to be doing. To live on your own in San Jose is very expensive assuming you live in a reasonably nice place but if you make some sacrifices to rent in a house it can be done pretty cheaply.

[AA702]

You can easily live of $50K in San Jose if you keep your spending in check. If your willing to live a frugal life and sacrifice some luxuries, then it is certainly possible. This is why people opt to move to other cheaper cities because they want their dollar to stretch more. For $50K a year, in some cities you can have your own your own home.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by socketz

I know people that make 3x that amount and they struggle to maintain a decent middle class lifestyle.

Well, then they're living too expensively & beyond their means... I make between $45-55K on average, and usually have money left over each month. It's all about budgeting, being smart, and making compromises!