Does a $60,000 salary cut it in Houston ? (to live, bills)

[Houston Area Man]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I totally agree that cooking at home is healthier and cheaper. (And so is drinking .) However, you seem unaware of just how many dining establishments there are in this town that are easily getting more than $20 per person on a typical ticket (I'm including tax and tip). Often way way more. And mostly not by catering to expense accounts. So, lots and lots of folks are spending their leisure time in that way - just because you don't doesn't mean it can't be a valid activity for them.

Well aware of awesome food options we have and a lot of them offer authentic food at low cost depending on where you eat. Especially, the food truck options. Curbside don’t have to be tips or a pickup. There are so many other activities in Houston that are fun (for me at least) and cheap. How often are you going out to spend per month? One of my fun activity is going to the gym and it’s free since my health insurance reimburses me in full amount. You have to budget correctly and do research on prices. There is lot of competition and always haggle.

[Mescalero]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

No, of course it doesn't have to be permanent - as you said, a few years.

Well, taking yourself out for a nice meal with drinks could easily set you back $50 - $100 a pop.

Yikes, I'd hate to ever drop $100 a head at a restaurant on my own dime, even if I was loaded.

[Houston Area Man]

Originally Posted by Mescalero

Yikes, I'd hate to ever drop $100 a head at a restaurant on my own dime, even if I was loaded.

Steak 48? I wouldn’t mind $100 if I was a multi millionaire in net worth.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Mescalero

Yikes, I'd hate to ever drop $100 a head at a restaurant on my own dime, even if I was loaded.

Well, that was the top end of the range, but at more upscale places and especially with wine or other alcohol, you can get there without too much difficulty after tax and tip. I pretty much never go to those places. But, Houston has quite a few of them, as do most economically healthy major cities.

[Mescalero]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Well, that was the top end of the range, but at more upscale places and especially with wine or other alcohol, you can get there without too much difficulty after tax and tip. I pretty much never go to those places. But, Houston has quite a few of them, as do most economically healthy major cities.

Oh for sure, the business lunch/dinner crowd are keeping those $100 a head steak joints in business. It's just never been something that's appealed to me. I'd rather spend money on clothes, antiques, books, than throwing down on drinks and food but I think that makes me the odd man out in H town sometimes lol

[Houston Area Man]

Originally Posted by Mescalero

Oh for sure, the business lunch/dinner crowd are keeping those $100 a head steak joints in business. It's just never been something that's appealed to me. I'd rather spend money on clothes, antiques, books, than throwing down on drinks and food but I think that makes me the odd man out in H town sometimes lol

We can get authentic Mexican food for under $5 a meal at a taco truck.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by Houston Area Man

We can get authentic Mexican food for under $5 a meal at a taco truck.

Great, but do they serve craft cocktails?

[Houston Area Man]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Great, but do they serve craft cocktails?

Lot of them do.

[mkwensky]

Originally Posted by Houston Area Man

Lot of them do.

Do they give liquor licenses to food trucks? That's new to me.

[Houston Area Man]

Originally Posted by mkwensky

Do they give liquor licenses to food trucks? That's new to me.

Thought you meant juices. I don’t drink.