I dont understand how anyone can live on <1OOOOO at a major metro city

[pollo]

Seriously.

I just graduated and Im starting to finally take care of my own finances and Im having a hard time balancing my budget.

Its so hard stopping yourself from going to a bar after work everyday when you dont have a good reason not to.

My freaking rent takes up about a third of my check, and after that groceries and living exp. takes out about a quarter more. Sigh...

On top of that I got student loans up the wazoo that i gotta pay back.

Man how do you guys do it. Maybe I should stop spending so frivolously huh.

 But really living in a city like Boston kind of lends itself to it...

[abrader]

I concur - I feel like im spending 200$ everytime i cross the cross the street

[Mr. Gundam]

My wife and I make about $125,000 combined, and we live in the heart of Seattle. We're actually able to put away $2,000 a month into savings after paying rent and all of our bills (which includes my $315/month student loan payment) at the moment.

We're in the midst of buying a home, and even with a $3,000/month mortgage payment, we're still going to be able to put about $800 into savings each month, and still be able to live comfortably (we typically spend $1500-$2000 a month on groceries, clothing, entertainment, etc.).

Try to save as much as you possibly can. It really helps in the long run.

[bagofeyes]

I live in the 8th most expensive city in the world, and I don't earn anywhere near that and still live easily. Though I never buy anything except food and beer and books I guess.

[pollo]

Yea Im looking through my statements right now and Ive managed to spend like 2OO dollars last week alone.. WTF.

Ive gone to a bar twice this week...I dunno where the hell it all goes.

[MrAngryFace]

Well once youre making 125k a month putting 2000 away into savings is pretty much a drop in the bucket. I think one of the advantages of being single is being able to spend willy nilly but lord knows i need to save a lot more than I do now and if I dont start its going to nip me in the end. I did organize that retirement crap at work but thats so long term. What if all my stuff goes up in a fire, where is the money to start over.

Lol

[Mr. Gundam]

Well once youre making 125k a month putting 2000 away into savings is pretty much a drop in the bucket

$125k (pre-tax) a year, not a month.

[pollo]

Thats what..like 8OOO in disposable income.

Yea that sounds good I guess. I wish my girlfriend would hurry up and make it through med school already. I just want to live off her.

[Mupepe]

Thank God Houston is a major city but spread out like suburbia.  So cheap to live here.

[Oblivion]

Good question. Even in some of the more run down areas in LA, it costs like $700 for a studio. I certainly couldn't live at that price by myself.

[demi]

Good question. Even in some of the more run down areas in LA, it costs like $700 for a studio. I certainly couldn't live at that price by myself.

I'll move in, cutie

[Candyflip]

Yea Im looking through my statements right now and Ive managed to spend like 2OO dollars last week alone.. WTF.

Ive gone to a bar twice this week...I dunno where the hell it all goes.

Why the hell do people go to bars?

[bagofeyes]

To socialize?

[Saint Cornelius]

Why the hell do people go to bars?

to get laid?

[MrAngryFace]

Well once youre making 125k a month putting 2000 away into savings is pretty much a drop in the bucket

$125k (pre-tax) a year, not a month.

misread, sorry

[Saint Cornelius]

Seriously.

It ain't easy, brill.

[MrAngryFace]

I wish good drinks at bars weren't so over-priced. I usually resort to beers these days. The mexican bar nearby I hit with friends has Fat Tire, but damn if I dont want a scotch sometimes

[pollo]

Beer isnt bad. Living in Boston has it perks ...I always get the Sam seasonals.

Another thing that pisses me off is the whole moving into a new apartment thing.
What the hell is that first month, last month, security deposit, finders fee noise

I cant believe im going to drop around 2 to 3k on something im not even going to live in until September!

WTF!

[MrAngryFace]

400 dollar pet deposite made me cry

[Mupepe]

But then again you have to live in Houston.

houston isn't that bad, nig nig.

[Saint Cornelius]

I wish good drinks at bars weren't so over-priced. I usually resort to beers these days. The mexican bar nearby I hit with friends has Fat Tire, but damn if I dont want a scotch sometimes

can't you get hooked up during happy hour? tip like crazy the first time you go in, then remember who served you next time (they'll remember you) and roll in there seconds before happy hour ends - if you show them love when you go in there, they'll show you love forever...(until they get a better gig)

[pollo]

A bar I go to has 1O cent wings all weekend. I can usually eat 2 dollars worth of wings.

[Saint Cornelius]

A bar I go to has 1O cent wings all weekend. I can usually eat 2 dollars worth of wings.

you must have some crazy shits after that.

[MrAngryFace]

We only go twice a month at most. Usually ill booze at home or a friends house cause of needing to drive after drinking at a bar :p

[Saint Cornelius]

Usually ill booze at home or a friends house cause of needing to drive after drinking at a bar :p

Understood. Drinking at home > going out and paying a premium for it

And I guess you're out of the range for taxis to take you home?

[pollo]

I live about a couple blocks down from a strip where theres about 6 bars in the area so its not bad.

[Candyflip]

I wish good drinks at bars weren't so over-priced. I usually resort to beers these days. The mexican bar nearby I hit with friends has Fat Tire, but damn if I dont want a scotch sometimes

That's what I mean. It just seems like a complete waste of money.

[MrAngryFace]

Saint: I think worst case that would be an option, but thats a little too fast and loose for my tastes. Not that its bad, just dont feel comfortable stumbling home like that.

[Saint Cornelius]

MAF: that's cool too, not trying to give you shit at all. DUIs am bad

[MrAngryFace]

Candy: Whats worse is they charge premium for the young liquors. 12 year glenlivet for 8 dollars on the rocks, thats basically a shot cause of the ice lol. 8! A 12 year BOTTLE is like 40 dollars.

[pollo]

I wish good drinks at bars weren't so over-priced. I usually resort to beers these days. The mexican bar nearby I hit with friends has Fat Tire, but damn if I dont want a scotch sometimes

That's what I mean. It just seems like a complete waste of money.

The thing is I do it more for my sanity.

Sure I could stay home and spend another 4 hours in front of my computer...but why after Ive just spent 9 hours in front of one browsing shit at work.

It breaks the tedium and it gets you loosened up...plus you have a couple beers and watch the game...its a good time had by all.

Then you go back on the grind the next morning.

[MrAngryFace]

hitting a bar on a friday with friends sure makes the worries melt away. course drinking at home does that too.

[Beezy]

Pollo, is your "0" key broken?

[Van Cruncheon]

let's go drankin' friday, maf

[Candyflip]

I wish good drinks at bars weren't so over-priced. I usually resort to beers these days. The mexican bar nearby I hit with friends has Fat Tire, but damn if I dont want a scotch sometimes

That's what I mean. It just seems like a complete waste of money.

The thing is I do it more for my sanity.

Sure I could stay home and spend another 4 hours in front of my computer...but why after Ive just spent 9 hours in front of one browsing shit at work.

It breaks the tedium and it gets you loosened up...plus you have a couple beers and watch the game...its a good time had by all.

Then you go back on the grind the next morning.

Ah, I meant bringing the party to your house, or a friends. It would be just as fun to get wasted, kick back, and watch a movie or something. But then I would understand if you don't want a bunch of drunk morons breaking all your shit.

[pollo]

  yea..so is my question mark key, my p key, my quotes key, my dash key, my slash key, and my colon key.

So I cant ask questions.

[MrAngryFace]

drinky: yus plz I need to freakin unwind. ill call teh andre and see if he's game.

[Van Cruncheon]

call andre and joe, let's do this

[MrAngryFace]

BBOOOOZE COMBO FINISSHHHH

[pollo]

The bar is completely different though. You get a table, order some wings if you want....hit on girls and you always happen to see friends. Its just a more chill and relaxed atmosphere.

There are some things the bar provides that being at home cant.

[MrAngryFace]

The mexican bar we go to the bartenders do shots and arm wrestle and have fun. We used to hit crapplestuffybees but all the old people and kids made it lame.

[MrAngryFace]

The bar is completely different though. You get a table, order some wings if you want....hit on girls and you always happen to see friends. Its just a more chill and relaxed atmosphere.

There are some things the bar provides that being at home cant.

I dunno, being able to roll into bed on command rox.

[pollo]

Granted, but Im more relaxed after Ive gone to a bar then come home.

[Mupepe]

Aside from the fact that oftentimes it feels as though you're living inside someone's asshole Houston is pretty cool.

that's only during the summer   

[CajoleJuice]

Aside from the fact that oftentimes it feels as though you're living inside someone's asshole Houston is pretty cool.

that's only during the summer   

Why are you acting defensive? You love asshole.

[Saint Cornelius]

yea..so is my question mark key, my p key, my quotes key, my dash key, my slash key, and my colon key.

So I cant ask questions.

  I don't know if you know who "Diplo" is but I used to be on a message board with him and he didn't have a working shift key so all his questions would be like /////

So anyways yeah, you might be the next big thing, Pollo... stay strong

[Mupepe]

Aside from the fact that oftentimes it feels as though you're living inside someone's asshole Houston is pretty cool.

that's only during the summer   

Why are you acting defensive? You love asshole.

i've got no response

[FatalT]

i've got no response

Let me answer for you.

NOM NOM NOM

[Mupepe]

i've got no response

Let me answer for you.

NOM NOM NOM

i miss you

[GilloD]

Just be smart about it:

A beer at home is WAY less than a beer at a bar. So, get a 6 pack and have one when you want. Easy. Maybe only go out to the bar once a week and take a cash limit with you.

Comparison shop your groceries! Trader Joe's is like a block from Whole Foods in NYC and it's like half the price.

Library>Book store.

Just give yourself a free form leisure budget, 60 bucks a week or whatever. Take out 60 bucks in cash and hold on to it. When it's gone, you're done until the next Monday. Simple. I'm living in NYC making like...250 bucks a week and getting by fine. Check local papers and stuff to see when museums are at reduced price or free. Same for movies and whatnot. You can do a lot on the cheap with a little homework