The struggle is real.
As a 20-something year old living, first, in San Francisco and then in the City of Angels, I’ve had to learn a thing or two about how to enjoy city life while living on a strict (involuntarily-placed) budget. A feat that seemed almost impossible when I lived in one of the most expensive cities in the country while my husband (then-boyfriend) worked as a barista and I as a baker. Even with our jobs paying as little as they did compared to the cost of living, we still managed to live in a sweet apartment downtown and, occasionally, treat ourselves to dinner and drinks. As for shopping sprees, those happened as frequently as our birthdays, which was something you kind of just learned to live with after a while. I mean, I guess I don’t really need that new pair of Doc Martens. Even though I want them. I want them bad.
While Los Angeles isn’t as expensive as San Francisco (although it sure is getting there), it’s still pretty pricey considering the somewhat-disposable income my husband and I have to ball with. Even if we’re making more than what we ever made in SF, we still find ourselves scrambling to make rent and eat 3 times a day. That’s okay, though, going hungry only brings us closer. Both literally and physically, since we’re sometimes forced to share the same bowl of pasta. But with all this said, as a 20-something year old, I really can’t expect to be financially “settled” until I’m in my 30’s, so if you find yourself in the same situation, take every day as it comes, find joy in the little moments in life, learn to save your money, and also learn the true value of money (which isn’t much, just a means with which you can purchase things).
If you’re a 20-something year old living in a metropolitan city and making less than 80,000 a year, you’re going to struggle. That’s just the reality of it, but with these tips and tricks, you can make the struggle a little more enjoyable. Just because you only have $200 to spend on things that aren’t rent or bills doesn’t mean you have to relegate yourself to the life of an ascetic.
Here’s how I live in Los Angeles on a budget:
1. Set A Budget
Yup, in order to live on a budget you have to set one first! While I can get a bit maniacal with this at times (just ask my husband), setting a budget, whether you do it once a week or once a month, is really helpful in determining your spending limit for every aspect of your life as well as gauging what costs the most, what you can cut back on, and what you seem to have no spending control over.
Every Sunday I sit down and write my budget for the week. I pre-plan my grocery trips and gasoline refills and try to plan out every event I foresee myself spending money on. That way, come next Sunday, I’ll be able to look back on the week and see if I was able to stay below limit or, conversely, if I went buckwild on impromptu snack runs (those one can never plan). While you don’t have to be as regimented as I am with it, it’s helpful to set limits on what you’d ideally like to spend and where. Some banks offer a budget calculator as part of their online services. If yours doesn’t, it’s time to make the switch to Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (also, their debit cards are the coolest ones I’ve ever seen).
So, let’s recap: what’s the first step to living on a budget? Setting one.
2. Take Public Transportation
While this is one many Los Angelenos may scoff at, LA’s public transportation system has gotten so much better since the last time I came to visit (a year before I moved which was in November 2011). The Metrolink rails will take you to most corners of the city, such as Pasadena, North Hollywood, even Long Beach, with bus lines to take you from one neighborhood to the next. While it can be a bit confusing, LA Metro’s homepage does a great job of educating first-time users as well as updating riders on bus schedules and new metro developments.
Southern California has 1/3 of the nation’s worst traffic bottlenecks in the country which means several things: 1) you’re wasting more time than is necessary in traffic, 2) you’re expending more gas in stop-and-go traffic, 3) you’re reducing your quality of life by putting yourself in a stressful situation. And, as we all know, there is nothing more stressful than LA traffic.
So, save money, get to where you need to go, and feel happy doing it by taking LA’s public transportation system. A one-month, unlimited pass for 24 transit lines in the area will only set you back $110, which is less than what you’re currently spending on gas, car maintenance and insurance.
3. Shop At Trader Joe’s
Okay, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be Trader Joe’s, but if you’re trying to live on a budget in Los Angeles, there is no reason you should be shopping at Whole Foods, Lassens or Gelsons. Instead, go to cheaper big-box grocery stores such as Ralph’s, Vons, or Safeway. If the thought of being in one of those makes you gag, go to Trader Joe’s who, somehow, still manages to carry great products for ridiculously low prices!
T.Joe’s is the poor-millenial’s mecca. For $70, you can buy more than a week’s worth of groceries (and that’s including their cookie butter).
Still learning how to cook and need some great recipes? Thankfully, there’s a site for that.
4. Happy Hour
While I don’t drink anymore, I used to drink my weight in alcohol when I lived in San Francisco. What did being a boozehound teach me? That — anytime, anywhere — there is always a happy hour going on. This was the case for San Francisco (hello, Castro!) and is definitely the case for Los Angeles.
In a big city like LA, you should never be paying full price for your drinks. Regardless of what neighborhood you live in, there is always a happy hour going on every hour of the day. And if not every hour, there are definitely happy hours that go on until midnight, which is the prime drinking hour.
Don’t let your recreational drinking habit cut into your grocery fund! Save enough money for both by becoming a happy hour regular.
Having trouble finding one? Check out Finer Things LA happy hour guide.
5. Forever21 Is Your Best Friend
It can be easy to shop till you drop in Los Angeles. Especially when you see what everyone else looks like, which can be both intimidating and inspiring. Instead of going directly to Urban Outfitters, Zara, Free People, or J.Crew, head to Forever21 first to look for cheaper, but just as pretty, copycats.
They’ve really upped their game as of late by making clothes that (almost) look like what you’d find at higher-end department stores. Save a couple of bucks and satisfy your shopping urge by going to Forever21. Another plus to budget shopping? You can buy more with less.
6. Find The Free Events & Go To Them
In Los Angeles, there is never a dull moment. There is always some event you can attend, even if you’re living on a budget! LAist and LA Weekly do a great job at rounding up the best events in the city every week and will even feature events that are either free or cost less than $5.
So, if you don’t have enough money to ball and attend high-fashion events, keep up on LAist and LAweekly by signing up for their newsletter or checking the site regularly. The events they feature appeal to people of various interests and tastes.
7. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons
Coupons may seem like a relic of the past, but they’re not. In fact, they’re your most helpful grocery-shopping partner. And, unlike, your significant other, they at least TRY to make your life easier (although, with that said, I guess I don’t mind the fact that my husband likes to reserve funds for snack runs only). While Trader Joe’s doesn’t have any coupons (they do have their Flyers though), other grocery stores, even Whole Foods, do. Don’t be ashamed to take some time each week to rifle through the weekly deals, cut out your coupons and use them.
Think of them as golden tickets to buying more of what you really want, like clothes and records.
8. DAEY (Do Almost-Everything Yourself)
When you’re living on a budget, you’re going to have to do almost everything yourself. This means cooking your own meals (avoid eating out as much as possible no matter how tempting it may be and how great the food scene in LA is) and, primarily, DIYing your own home decor.
Save for Ikea, home decor can get pretty pricey and it can be tempting to want to renovate your 100 sq. ft. home into the dream apartment often featured on Apartment Therapy or Houzz. Instead of buying everything, make it instead! With the plethora of lifestyle and DIY blogs out there, you’ll never run out of ideas and have the resources to practically make everything in your home from scratch.
Say it with me: Don’t Buy, DIY!
9. Allow Yourself One Day To “Ball”
Ball (verb): to live the good life; to live a life of extreme wealth and flaunt it.
Examples: It’s Friday night and I just got paid; are you bi***** ready to ball?!
Yes, you’re living on a budget, but that doesn’t mean you should deprive yourself of life’s material pleasures. Whether you allow yourself to do it once a week or once a month, you should give yourself a day to just let loose and spend, baby!
At least once a week, my husband and I allow ourselves a fancy dinner out. We love eating, so this is how we “ball.” If you like to shop, allow yourself the opportunity to spend $100 on clothes once a month or, if you like going out, designate one day a week to hitting up your local bar, visiting a museum, or whatever it is that involves money and brings you happiness.
By giving yourself a “cheat day,” you’re more likely to stick within your budget and less likely to spend in frustration and deprivation. Look at your cheat day as a treat for living within your means and saving all that money!
10. Find Joy In Simple Pleasures
At the end of the day, money is just a paper item whose value is ephemeral, replaceable and, ultimately, meaningless. Find pleasure in things that don’t involve money, like going for walks with your loved one around your block, playing board games you already own, or painting.
Living on a budget has taught me that life’s most enjoyable pleasures don’t revolve around money, but are a mixture of my surrounding environment and the company I find myself in.
So instead of forcing yourself to stay up to speed on the trendiest bars and restaurants, thus driving you into the poorhouse, gather your closest friends for a girl’s night in, plan a fun at-home date night with your significant other, or become your own best friend by cuddling up with a nice book and some coffee.
As morbid as this sounds, it’s those memories you’ll carry with you until the day you die. Not money or material goods. Just some words of wisdom.
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