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Was it the opportunities that are available in SV that make it possible to go on these adventures or something else like increased cash flow combined with more

Was it the opportunities that are available in SV that make it possible to go on these adventures or something else like increased cash flow combined with more free time? Despite the higher salaries how are you coping with the high cost of living and high tax rates?

huangc10 8y ago
Right, it's a bit of everything. Kind of like "the world is your oyster" feeling. I'm not speaking for everyone, but when I was in my early 20s, I think as long as cash was a net positive (ie. have savings), it was enough so didn't think too much about cost of living and high tax rates. Ofc, we're talking about late 2000s, so living was a bit cheaper.
- 2RTZZSro 8y ago
  What areas have that "the world is your oyster" vibe? Is it just Palo Alto - Mountain View or elsewhere?
  - huangc10 8y ago
    I don't think there is one area specifically. I've actually lived all over the Bay Area. It's more of a sense that you'll be given a lot of opportunities and it's up to you to make the most of it.
- arcticbull 8y ago
  I mean sure, I had a studio at Post and Leavenworth to myself, newly renovated for $1200 in 2010. That same place went for $1900 in 2012. Now it's $2649 -- I just looked. I think it's fair to say the cost living has changed from the late 2000s.
52-6F-62 8y ago
edit: Think I misread your comment at first, but I'll leave this here anyway for some added perspective— comparing to Toronto. Average rent in SV ~$3500 Average rent in TO ~$2000 Rent 1yr TO ~$24000 Take home after income tax before other deductions and expenses at $55000/yr is ~ $44000. Count on another couple grand in standard deductions before medical insurance. Then add gov. or bank student loans payments (if you have them), groceries, transit, etc. Let me just say that you won't be buying a car. Maybe a dog if you're lucky— but if you work full time from an office and commute 30 mins to 1 hr each way that probably means ~$450/mo in dog-walker payments. So maybe not. You won't end up on the street and you can save if you don't really do anything but go sit in a park, but it does make saving difficult. To purchase a house here it's estimated that you'll need to be making at least $100,000/yr before the bank will even look at you. So there's that.

huangc10 8y ago

Right, it's a bit of everything. Kind of like "the world is your oyster" feeling. I'm not speaking for everyone, but when I was in my early 20s, I think as long as cash was a net positive (ie. have savings), it was enough so didn't think too much about cost of living and high tax rates. Ofc, we're talking about late 2000s, so living was a bit cheaper.

2RTZZSro 8y ago
What areas have that "the world is your oyster" vibe? Is it just Palo Alto - Mountain View or elsewhere?
- huangc10 8y ago
  I don't think there is one area specifically. I've actually lived all over the Bay Area. It's more of a sense that you'll be given a lot of opportunities and it's up to you to make the most of it.
arcticbull 8y ago
I mean sure, I had a studio at Post and Leavenworth to myself, newly renovated for $1200 in 2010. That same place went for $1900 in 2012. Now it's $2649 -- I just looked. I think it's fair to say the cost living has changed from the late 2000s.

52-6F-62 8y ago

edit: Think I misread your comment at first, but I'll leave this here anyway for some added perspective— comparing to Toronto. Average rent in SV ~$3500 Average rent in TO ~$2000 Rent 1yr TO ~$24000 Take home after income tax before other deductions and expenses at $55000/yr is ~ $44000. Count on another couple grand in standard deductions before medical insurance. Then add gov. or bank student loans payments (if you have them), groceries, transit, etc. Let me just say that you won't be buying a car. Maybe a dog if you're lucky— but if you work full time from an office and commute 30 mins to 1 hr each way that probably means ~$450/mo in dog-walker payments. So maybe not. You won't end up on the street and you can save if you don't really do anything but go sit in a park, but it does make saving difficult. To purchase a house here it's estimated that you'll need to be making at least $100,000/yr before the bank will even look at you. So there's that.