Post: #26

(02-28-2014 08:28 PM)kerouac Wrote:  I just made the 36 month financing idea up, but aside from that it was just a breakdown of costs of how much I need to make in order to live the way I would like to in this city. Even if it were a 48 month finance at around 1% it would be around $550 a month, just $200 less.

My rent isn't 2k, but it's closer to 1k and that's living in a studio in Hollywood, but I'd rather live in between WeHo and Beverly Hills, mainly to be more central. I've tried living with roommates, but I don't like it. Since this post was about "comfortable living" I brought up the "safe" cost of $2k for rent for a 1br apartment in my ideal neighborhood.

As for the car, it doesn't have a direct connection to success in terms of getting laid, but I like driving sportier cars. It's more of a personal pleasure thing. I could spend that extra cash elsewhere, but for me it's worth the cost. Since this is a forum where most everything has to be connected to what gets us laid, I guess you could say that tingle girls get when I drive real fast on Mulholland Drive, or elsewhere, might make up for the cost? It gives me a tingle too.

I've lived on way less in LA, and I've enjoyed it then too, but I'm just calculating how much I ought to make to do everything I want to do.

Instead of living between Weho and BH, I'd suggest living between Weho and Hollywood.

I used to rent a studio in Weho for $1300. Small place but it was up on a hill and had a great view. One of my neighbors had a decked out 1br apartment for $1800 a month, patio, hot tub, the whole deal. So $2k is way above "minimum".

If you want a sportier car you don't need a BMW, you can go with any number of asian cars for 10k less that are just as fun to drive but don't have doors that weigh 300 lbs or premium leather.

Post: #27

In NYC, you need at least $100k before tax to feel comfortable.

That said, I was still able to be social and live pretty well when I was just starting out on $36k.

Anything below that and you start getting into food stamps and Medicaid territory. In which 50 million people in America reside.

A good rule of thumb is that anything above a 60-70k income produces diminishing returns on happiness. Shoot for 60-70k and then take more time to enjoy it, just like Otto Von Bismarck in his grasp for German unity. Know when to stop.

Post: #28

(02-28-2014 09:30 PM)Yeti Wrote:  just like Otto Von Bismarck in his grasp for German unity.

Post: #29

@Booshala- suprisingly my lifestyle is pretty sparse, excepting the nice whip (family bought it for me), sushi and suits. I'd guess my lifestyle expenses (excluding rent) run about 2k/month. Peanuts really.

I think I spend about 800 dollars/ month on sushi/sake/oysters. Pretty insane, but not extraordinary considering everything else is dialed in. I have 4 jackets, and 6 pairs of slacks. I rotate them w/an assortment of V-necks and dress shirts. My pocket square collection is growing steadily though. : ).

Heres my thought- minimum cushy lifestyle income for LA as a bachelor "wage-slave"- 100k. That means 68k after taxes, or ~5.5k/month. 3-4k goes towards lifestyle, 1.5k for retirement. SF is similar, because no car/insurance/gas/tickets but balanced by increased rent. Las Vegas- 75k- largely as a result of decreased rent, expenses, hook-ups etc. Not familiar w/other cities.

Post: #30

First post.

My take on Los Angeles having lived here most of my life...

Rent- $1,400 will get you a solid 1 bedroom in Central LA with parking.

Gas - $300 a month should be more than enough.

Groceries - Again $300 tops.

Car - I always buy used, so can't really comment on leasing, but I guess around $500 for a decent nice lease with insurance?

Fun Money / Misc - $500

That's $3k and doable if you're not saving too much and are single.

Post: #31

Don't finance a car.

Don't pay 2,000 a month for rent.

Don't. Don't don't don't. Don't do any of that shit!

Post: #32

Damn you guys spend a lot of money on vehicles! My "prestige car" is my 2005 Jeep Wrangler SE which I bought for cash used (less than $10k).

I love to hit up the local auto auctions and state surplus, usually buy vans or regular pickup trucks since I have this thing about needing to sit up high. Never paid more than $2000 for one of these. My record is a 1996 GMC Safari for $400. Had to fix the check engine light and replace a tranny sensor so it'd stop slamming into 2nd gear but even with my repairs it was less than $600.

Post: #33

Im living in Kyoto, Japan.

Expenses:

$400 rent (electricity included) reasonably near subway station downtown. Tiny 3.5m x 4.5m appartment though.
$50 water
$40 transport (I bike everywhere)
$500 food (Cook home a lot, and I eat a lot )
$200 booze (been cutting back a lot, really ads up!)
$200 misc (haircuts, toiletries, etc)
$200 eating out (variety is good)

$1600 aprox a month will get you by OK.

Eating and drinking out will get you higher numbers of course.

For a better lifestyle Id say go with $3,000. Socializing has been seriously lacking lately for me.

However Im here for the long run, so trying hard to economize.

Post: #34

I think luxury cars are overrated. I'm happier with my Honda than I was with my Lexus. Get an 8 or 10 year old one and learn how to do oil changes, the brakes, etc if you have to ride in one.

Post: #35

Here in Tallin:

600 for a very nice 1 bedroom apartment in city center including the utilities.
5 year old 3 series BMW, around 10k, so the lease for 5 years should be around 200 plus insurance 30 a month, gas 150 a month? total for a car 400.
Groceries 200 a month.

Eating out, clothings, gym, other misc costs 300 a month.

It really depends on the person but around 2000 euros a months single guy should have a quite good lifestyle here.

P.S I also dont lease a car, I bought my car 4 years ago for 2000 euros and it still runs very good, all I have to do is change the oil etc. Sometimes I get the urge to lease some BMW but then I think how much money I can save without it.

Post: #36

Nope everyone is wrong.. ASOT reckons we should be taking out 25 thousand dollar leases for cars we can't pay off upfront, otherwise we're not being 'realistic'

Post: #37

Word of advice,

We talk about the importance of logistics, but unless you're pulling 80-90k+ a year it would make sense to get room mates especially if you're in a larger market. If they're a group of guys or girls you have fun partying with. It can help make social circles and bring bangs to you through friends.

Minimize your lifestyle until you can afford to own your own place.

Leasing a car is foolish when you can get a perfectly used one for the same money down. You can save even more money if you invest in the tools needed to do your own car repairs. This is how i can afford a car in Boston.

100-150 a week in groceries is doable if you shop at Trader Joes, Aldis, or you go to a local butcher, baker, and farmers market. Avoid whole foods unless you're going to their meat section (which is also over priced). Easiest way to save money is by cutting the BS middleman out of your food and finding local places.

Roosh talks about making life deposits when it comes to game. He's right. It's better to live in a sub player pad than to over extend yourself. Bank up your twenties with a good bod, decent cash, and other goodies so when you hit your late 20s early 30s you're on fire.

Post: #38

I don't live directly in NYC but in a surrounding, wealthy suburb. This entire area is insanely expensive proportioned to what you actually get for your money.

At $1,100/month with everything included, my 1BR is a STEAL. People hear about it and see it and are shocked. Most of my co-workers pay $1500+ not including utilities. My one buddy pays $2,000/month for a small 2BR row home in military housing (which is usually supposed to be cheaper).

Food and gas are pretty much the same as they are any where else. You need a car around here.

For this area I'd say a comfortable income is around $65,000. I make a little more than that and my little pad is in the middle of the 'burbs.

Post: #39

(03-01-2014 09:00 AM)frenchie Wrote:  Word of advice,

We talk about the importance of logistics, but unless you're pulling 80-90k+ a year it would make sense to get room mates especially if you're in a larger market. If they're a group of guys or girls you have fun partying with. It can help make social circles and bring bangs to you through friends.

Minimize your lifestyle until you can afford to own your own place.

Leasing a car is foolish when you can get a perfectly used one for the same money down. You can save even more money if you invest in the tools needed to do your own car repairs. This is how i can afford a car in Boston.

100-150 a week in groceries is doable if you shop at Trader Joes, Aldis, or you go to a local butcher, baker, and farmers market. Avoid whole foods unless you're going to their meat section (which is also over priced). Easiest way to save money is by cutting the BS middleman out of your food and finding local places.

Roosh talks about making life deposits when it comes to game. He's right. It's better to live in a sub player pad than to over extend yourself. Bank up your twenties with a good bod, decent cash, and other goodies so when you hit your late 20s early 30s you're on fire.

If you're in your twenties, having roommates is almost a default for many people.

I've had girls come over and as we're going inside the house they ask me if my roommates are still up. I respond with "I'm a grown man. I don't have roommates."

I'm 25 so I think having my own spot goes a long way. 9/10 girls in their 20's seem to have either roommates or live with their parents still.

I also think having roommates is something everyone should experience at least once. You learn to appreciate your privacy and how to get along with people you see all the time. In the military I had roommate that I would work with and see almost 24 hours a day. It can be fun depending on your dynamics and lots of opportunities to meet people by proxy. IE if they decide to throw a party, bring their friends/girlfriends over etc. It can't hurt at all.

Post: #40

(03-01-2014 03:53 AM)Screwston Wrote:  I think luxury cars are overrated. I'm happier with my Honda than I was with my Lexus. Get an 8 or 10 year old one and learn how to do oil changes, the brakes, etc if you have to ride in one.

Damn you had a Lexus? If you could afford that why haven't you upgraded to an old muscle car or even to a used Camaro?

Post: #41

(02-28-2014 07:41 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  

(02-28-2014 07:15 PM)booshala Wrote:  If you're 30+ and have a roommate in LA, chicks will laugh you out the door while singing "Scrubs" by TLC.

This is simply not true.

I had a roommate at 34. My friend got divorced so we lived together while he got his head on right.

We had parties there all the time. There was never a shortage of quality talent, as forum members who hung out there can attest to.

Your post evidences a lot of blue pill economic thinking. You won't buy a cool car because it's "incongruent." Sounds like you're a slave to an image that someone else created.

If you like the car, buy it. If you don't, then don't. (That you said you wouldn't buy the car because it wouldn't guarantee you more lays = major red flag to me. You don't need a cool car in L.A. to get women. I drove a 2001 for 13 years and did just fine.)

In L.A. you don't need the "image" to get laid. In fact the "image" gets you nowhere, since every dork is leveraged up to his eyeballs.

Game gets you way farther in L.A. than the "image."

Speaking of cars, I googled Porsche Panamera. (I don't know cars that well.)

That's a 100K car after taxes, etc., right?

If you're buying a car to get girls, why not just be honest and go the escort route.

You can get a solid 8 (as in a real 8 not the "I only bang 8s" 8s that guys online talk about) for $500. A car will not guarantee you an 8 even once, especially in L.A.

That's 200 different women ($100,000 / $500) - or a new woman a week for nearly 4 years. A hot one, too.

For 2K a month you could get a nice sugar baby who'd see you 1-3x a week. So that's 4 years of sugar babies.

I spend my money on stuff I like. If women like it too, good for them. But it's my money and thus for my benefit.

If I thought like that (car = women), I would just hire escorts or get a sugar baby.

There are a lot better ways of spending money to get girls. Buying a car is one of the least efficient ways to deploy capital for purposes of getting laid.

MikeCF, aren't you the one that talks about lifestyle game? Living in a nice place, having a nice car, all those things are attributes that are attractive to females. Of course, I like that shit too... But you know that driving a German sports car, living by the beach and having your own successful business helps you get girls.

I like Korean girls and even though a lot of them in LA are Americanized, many of them grew up with their parents mindset that they should get with a guy that has resources. Quantity wise I do OK with girls but I wanted to up the quality, and I feel like I've hit a ceiling trying to improve my lifestyle, looks and clothes so I figured I'd throw a car in the mix... It was only after doing all the math that I realized it wasn't worth it.

I have an open carport in my apartment and I live next to a park that unfortunately attracts homeless and hoodlums at night. The neighborhood isn't terrible but it's not a Porsche area at all. I like it because the unit is big and cheap and it's close to work and the airport but I'm sure that if I got the Panamera, the car would be vandalized or broken into a week in. So it's not a "buy it or don't" situation. I would be forced to move if I bought the car, and even though I could afford it, I didn't see the value in it, so I didn't. Is that beta of me to want to protect my "investment"?

You post quality info and I follow your website... but I think you're so used to having guys all up on your nuts here that you feel some sort of noblesse oblige to label everything that's not in line with your thinking "blue pill". Obviously you don't know my situation, but things are way more nuanced than what you make it out to be.

Post: #42

(03-01-2014 02:07 PM)booshala Wrote:  MikeCF, aren't you the one that talks about lifestyle game? Living in a nice place, having a nice car, all those things are attributes that are attractive to females. Of course, I like that shit too... But you know that driving a German sports car, living by the beach and having your own successful business helps you get girls.

I like Korean girls and even though a lot of them in LA are Americanized, many of them grew up with their parents mindset that they should get with a guy that has resources. Quantity wise I do OK with girls but I wanted to up the quality, and I feel like I've hit a ceiling trying to improve my lifestyle, looks and clothes so I figured I'd throw a car in the mix... It was only after doing all the math that I realized it wasn't worth it.

I have an open carport in my apartment and I live next to a park that unfortunately attracts homeless and hoodlums at night. The neighborhood isn't terrible but it's not a Porsche area at all. I like it because the unit is big and cheap and it's close to work and the airport but I'm sure that if I got the Panamera, the car would be vandalized or broken into a week in. So it's not a "buy it or don't" situation. I would be forced to move if I bought the car, and even though I could afford it, I didn't see the value in it, so I didn't. Is that beta of me to want to protect my "investment"?

You post quality info and I follow your website... but I think you're so used to having guys all up on your nuts here that you feel some sort of noblesse oblige to label everything that's not in line with your thinking "blue pill". Obviously you don't know my situation, but things are way more nuanced than what you make it out to be.

The problem with owning a German car in L.A. is it sets you apart exactly zero percent from the other million people that have them here.

If you're really hell bent on having a car that sets you apart and helps your game, you need something unique. There's absolutely nothing unique about a German car, especially a newer model.

I like Korean girls as well and believe me, if you're going with native born Koreans that are fresh off the boat, having that car might help you a smidge but it's still going to take you months of dating and showing her that you're the complete package before you get the bang. You're better off finding a Korean girl that's been here a year or two in which case the car absolutely doesn't matter, as long as it's less than 10 years old, free of visible damage, and clean.

I drive a '08 Altima coupe. It looks sporty, has leather interior, and that's all girls care about. I know that to increase my attraction based on my car would require another $30K. $30000 dropped into a depreciating asset to get me what...another 10 seconds of interest from a girl? It's still ultimately up to me whether or not I fuck things up with her or get her in my bed.

Soup said it best one time. Game for guys is like our lingerie. We don't need it as much as we think we do. But having game, nice clothes, a nice car makes us feel sexy and gives us a confidence boost.

The question is, how much do you have to spend to feel confident?

And btw if you're gonna buy a Porsche for god's sake don't get a Panamera, that just screams yuppie family man. Get something like this instead:

Post: #43

I agree, those L.A. numbers are a bit inflated. But everyone has their own definition of "comfortable" and nobody is ever going to be able to agree to what that means.


Btw, having roommates in either L.A. or S.F. past 30 is not a DLV. L.A. is the least affordable city in the country when you judge by ratio of housing costs to average incomes. Even though NYC and SF prices are higher, they make more money on average. Angelinos have tier-1 housing costs, yet tier-2 incomes.

As for the numbers, if you're comfortable with a roommate situation, you can definitely spend around $1000/mo for a decent spot. $1600 will get you a decent one-bdrm in a nice but not prime area. "Centrally located" doesn't mean much of anything in L.A. since nothing is really central. Even downtown feels far from everything. Which in most cities would make no sense.

As for cars. There's too much variation in personal preference there. I'm a believer in value. Splurge on cars only if you are wealthy. Sinking $700/mo into a depreciating asset is foolish. Buy a quality used car, maintain it well and drive it till the wheels fall off. As long as it's clean and doesn't look like a bucket, will girls really give a shit? Any girls that would are status whores I'd rather not deal with anyway. A used Volkswagon CC with leather interior can be had for under $20. And it's a pretty nice looking car.

Post: #44

"Comfortable" is not definite at all. For me comfortable means having a nice apartment without roomates in a central location, have plenty of money to go at least every weekend and eat out whenever, have money to buy random shit every few months, and still able to save a decent chunk of your income (15-25%).

I live in South Beach and with the above constraints, would recommend 100k+ salary to live like that here. Id imagine only NYC (manhattan) and maybe San Fran are the only other locations like this or even more pricey.

If you want to be noticably baller in Sobe, and throw money around for bottle service, its obviously going to take more $$$.

Id imagine you can get by ok with 70-80k, but any less and I wouldn't recommend here, but somewhere like Ft Lauderdale instead.

Post: #45

Hwuzhere, I don't want a car that isn't that reliable and would require me to always be working on it. I bought the Lexus ES for maybe $10,000 and girls acted like it was 5x as much.

Post: #46

(03-01-2014 07:06 PM)Screwston Wrote:  Hwuzhere, I don't want a car that isn't that reliable and would require me to always be working on it. I bought the Lexus ES for maybe $10,000 and girls acted like it was 5x as much.

Well shit man.

Post: #47

(03-01-2014 07:06 PM)Screwston Wrote:  Hwuzhere, I don't want a car that isn't that reliable and would require me to always be working on it. I bought the Lexus ES for maybe $10,000 and girls acted like it was 5x as much.

Pre-owned Lexus and Infiniti have the unique ability to conjure up luxurious intonations at a bargain price. You're basically driving a more luxurious Toyota Camry, but a girl (or even a lot of non-car-enthusiast guys) wouldn't know that. Lexus has worked hard to distance itself from the fact that it is Toyota.

In any case, I've personally been driving a convertible BMW 3-series now for a few years with ZERO problems. Did I get lucky? Maybe. Like many others on here point out as being essential, I only have to change the oil (and the other normal routine things).

As for whether or not it changes how girls react? Well, whether or not it's a BMW, girls LOVE the fact that it's a convertible. They love being seen. They love all these things, so I think it's been nice having it, because I like driving around with a good looking girl around town too. It's an ego thing, all around. I'm pretty sure they would enjoy it as much whether or not it is a BMW, but I LOVE driving this car. It feels amazing. Especially on windy roads. Especially with the top down.

Do girls look more happy in my convertible versus the women I see in hard top ferrari's that abound Beverly Hills? I think so.

Post: #48

Planning to get a used Infiniti for around 14k. Anyone got any experience about how well they are as a brand? I'm more of a sports coupe kind of guy so any other cars for less than this or for the same would be nice as suggestions would be nice.

Post: #49

(03-01-2014 09:48 PM)hwuzhere Wrote:  Planning to get a used Infiniti for around 14k. Anyone got any experience about how well they are as a brand? I'm more of a sports coupe kind of guy so any other cars for less than this or for the same would be nice as suggestions would be nice.

You can find a g35 in that ballpark but you might want to get a 350z instead. Test drive both.

Post: #50

Havana, Cuba

750 month / rent (1 bedroom)
1000 month / food / eatting out (I don't cook when I'm here and dinner is basically always for 2. I don't do street food here either, only restaurants.)
10 month / gym
300 month / taxi
1000 month / nightlife (going out 5 times a week)
0-500 / odds and ends. (going to the beach for the day, buying girlfriend shit, buying drinks / meals for a group of friends / barbecuing etc.)

Works out to about 3000 Canadian a month as those numbers are in Cuban Convertible Pesos. Truthfully it wouldn't be all that difficult for me to 1.5 or double this if I wanted real luxurious living (bottle service 3 times a week at the highest end clubs etc.)

Holguin, Cuba
450 month/ rent
750 month / nightlife (5 times a week)
600 month / eatting (dinner at restaurants every night + food at home)
100 month / taxis (not really necessary very often)
300 month / odds and ends (go to the beach, buy my girlfriend shit be it dresses, perfume, make up etc.)

Roughly 2500 Canadian dollars. (Theres a lot more room to lower this than in Havana. In Havana once you start getting to a 2000 or so month a budget you are probably going to take a real dip in quality of the girls you're dating lookswise). It would be pretty hard to spend much more than 3000 a month here unless you are into hookers.

I'm not going to write up on the city I live in for work as it's not a metropolitan city.