How do you afford to live in California? (Santa Rosa, Pasadena: renters, HOA)

[losangelesdowntownchick]

If this post is serious then I'm so sick of upper middle-class American lifestyle. $11K a month and you can't cover everything after mortgage and student loan?! This is such white people's baby-crying. My Hispanic neighbor from years ago got up at 5AM everyday doing hard labor to raise a whole family in El Monte.

[wooliemonster]

Originally Posted by MrTudo

We've considered southern california especially from the standpoint of access to chelation therapy ( my oh my are they abundant in the los angeles area especially ).

Is there an epidemic of lead poisoning in LA? I didn't realize it was that polluted......

Anyway. The medical school curriculum doesn't include any personal finance classes, as far as I'm aware. 200k doesn't go that far to have a "lifestyle experience" in a high cost area like central SF. That's about the budget I'll be working with... and looks like just enough to afford a nice 2 bedroom place without having to skimp on the fun reasons for living in California.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by losangelesdowntownchick

If this post is serious then I'm so sick of upper middle-class American lifestyle. $11K a month and you can't cover everything after mortgage and student loan?! This is such white people's baby-crying. My Hispanic neighbor from years ago got up at 5AM everyday doing hard labor to raise a whole family in El Monte.

It took 49 pages but we finally got a racist comment.

[TNEC_Dad]

Originally Posted by losangelesdowntownchick

If this post is serious then I'm so sick of upper middle-class American lifestyle. $11K a month and you can't cover everything after mortgage and student loan?! This is such white people's baby-crying. My Hispanic neighbor from years ago got up at 5AM everyday doing hard labor to raise a whole family in El Monte.

Nothing like playing the race card when race is not part of the issue.

[losangelesdowntownchick]

Originally Posted by TNEC_Dad

Nothing like playing the race card when race is not part of the issue.

What nonsense. If you understand the economic setup of this country you know race is partially the issue.

[losangelesdowntownchick]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

It took 49 pages but we finally got a racist comment.

Learn what "racist" mean. A comment addressing a lifestyle that is almost exclusively white in California, which almost all Californians know what it's referred to, is not racist. It's only about race. Don't throw that "racist" card at a comment without properly knowing what it means. It's all too easy. Doesn't work anymore!

[Aaron S]

Originally Posted by losangelesdowntownchick

Learn what "racist" mean. A comment addressing a lifestyle that is almost exclusively white in California, which almost all Californians know what it's referred to, is not racist. It's only about race. Don't throw that "racist" card at a comment without properly knowing what it means. It's all too easy. Doesn't work anymore!

socioeconomic conditions can and do indeed vary by race, but it isn't always the determining factor...and i did not find the comment racist, but about race.
there are people of all walks of life who bust their ass and make it even though many fall short of the barometers of success we have here(esp in cali).

being born and rasied on the westside, with friends from many a hood from brentwood to inglewood and every in between from the bay-yo to the ****....i must honestly agree with the general sentiment of california's relative unaffordability. however, $200-300 is 10x what some make here in the city and they survive.

to buy a seado or not?
to buy a yacht and slip or not?
to eat out $80 meal 3/wk or not?
to lease another 1yr CLK AMG or not?
to buy another vacation condo/cabin or not?
to assume more debt than income(the american way) or not?

budgets can always meet or exceed the income, at any income level.

Aaron

[Pacifico]

If you are willing, able and frugal/smart, you can live anywhere your little heart desires.

[Elle Oh Elle]

You've gotta be kidding me, right? My friends and cousins lived on $40k a year for some time, and some had a kid or two already!

The answer is simple. Find the cheapest rent, cheapest food bargains for savings, and get on FAFSA (for those in college). It helps that we have welfare (no offense to anybody, but I do know people use that, though I'm not a member). Also, with Sam's Club and Costco around, who's complaining?

Some people I know got here from towns with under 10,000 people just on scholarships or driving trucks alone. They then used roommates and got around fine. I agree that with tuition, insurance, children, and buying clothes a couple times a year you will be strapped. No one in my area actually buys new houses or cars unless that chance comes once every few decades. To live comfortably, move to rural Texas or Nevada.

[VoxTerra]

It's only getting more expensive - at least in LA/OC. How are kids coming out of college with massive loans supposed to be able to get out on their own, buy a home, etc? Especially if they have a career that doesn't pay six figures?