5 ms·

You're spending 50% of your monthly post tax income on rent. That's not what I would call affordable.

Swizec 11y ago
Closer to 45% really. But it's still cheaper than paying less rent and owning a car. Not having any dependents is also pretty handy in keeping money piling around instead of spending it. We also save a lot (and are healthier and save time) by cooking at home instead of going out to eat. So, really, we get to both live in downtown SF, and travel pretty much whenever we feel like it.
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  What's your reason for living in SF and still traveling frequently? Access to work in SF? I ask because I'm a remote worker for an SF startup, home base in a low cost of living area, but I travel frequently as well (but the home was purchased somewhere where the house is paid in full already and the monthly upkeep is ~$500/month).
  - Swizec 11y ago
    Access to work is about the same as remote with social network in SF. Two reasons why I choose to stay here: 1) building said network so I can go back to proper nomading easier, and 2) access to the startup lottery; nobody gives shares/options to remote workers and/or independent consultants/freelancers Lottery is a nice potential upside with next to zero downside as an engineer
    - toomuchtodo 11y ago
      > nobody gives shares/options to remote workers I received equity as part of my remote worker compensation (my entire team is remote though).
nilkn 11y ago
So then they have $3.5k left after rent each month, while living in the middle of one of the most popular cities in the country. Meanwhile, the average American couple would have less than $3.5k before paying, regardless of what their rent is.
- ryanSrich 11y ago
  Right. I guess it depends on what your other expenses you have. For example, $2k out of that extra $3.5k would got to student loans for me. So spending $3.5k on rent just doesn't work. If you don't have student loans or any major debts sucking up your income then I envy you.
  - Swizec 11y ago
    I'm pretty fortunate in that not only do I not have any debt, but my fuck you fund has enough for several months of full living/lifestyle costs. If I move back to my home country, then I have enough for two years.
    - nascentmind 11y ago
      Just curious, did you fund your FU fund living in the current place?
      - Swizec 11y ago
        Yes.

Closer to 45% really. But it's still cheaper than paying less rent and owning a car. Not having any dependents is also pretty handy in keeping money piling around instead of spending it. We also save a lot (and are healthier and save time) by cooking at home instead of going out to eat. So, really, we get to both live in downtown SF, and travel pretty much whenever we feel like it.

toomuchtodo 11y ago
What's your reason for living in SF and still traveling frequently? Access to work in SF? I ask because I'm a remote worker for an SF startup, home base in a low cost of living area, but I travel frequently as well (but the home was purchased somewhere where the house is paid in full already and the monthly upkeep is ~$500/month).
- Swizec 11y ago
  Access to work is about the same as remote with social network in SF. Two reasons why I choose to stay here: 1) building said network so I can go back to proper nomading easier, and 2) access to the startup lottery; nobody gives shares/options to remote workers and/or independent consultants/freelancers Lottery is a nice potential upside with next to zero downside as an engineer
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    > nobody gives shares/options to remote workers I received equity as part of my remote worker compensation (my entire team is remote though).

nilkn 11y ago

So then they have $3.5k left after rent each month, while living in the middle of one of the most popular cities in the country. Meanwhile, the average American couple would have less than $3.5k before paying, regardless of what their rent is.

ryanSrich 11y ago
Right. I guess it depends on what your other expenses you have. For example, $2k out of that extra $3.5k would got to student loans for me. So spending $3.5k on rent just doesn't work. If you don't have student loans or any major debts sucking up your income then I envy you.
- Swizec 11y ago
  I'm pretty fortunate in that not only do I not have any debt, but my fuck you fund has enough for several months of full living/lifestyle costs. If I move back to my home country, then I have enough for two years.
  - nascentmind 11y ago
    Just curious, did you fund your FU fund living in the current place?
    - Swizec 11y ago
      Yes.