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How much is the cost of living for 18-19 year old male, going to school in east LA?

  • so atm, i'm 17 attending high school at san jose. i'm planning to move out and go to los angeles state after. from what i researched, east LA has a lot of gang related/crime rate, etc higher than other places but i don't mind because the living price seem to be a lot cheaper if i am not wrong.. i really want to move out after high school but still unsure if i am capable of yet.. i haven't ever asked my parents for money since 8th grade which is like 3 years already and i'm doing fine. i was able to find jobs on craiglist and i have made around 3 grant total from part time jobs in 3 years of high school. i'm just trying to prove my point that i can make my own money at a limited amount and i know the that living on my own will need a lot more but please help me out here. what i have researched, they say there are apartment for 1 bedroom ranging around 400-800 at east LA. school at LA is 3-4k each year but my financial aids will cover that and actually be giving me an extra 1-2 grant per semester. which is the main reason why i want to go here, because it seem to be the cheapest cost of living around.. so just say i rent apartment for 400, (x12) a year = 4800 and food with etc. im guessing around another grant. so each year i would need around 5800. x 4 years of school, i would need a total of 24,000. i think other than the rent, only gas would be a big financial issue for me. i have no experience of paying all these or living on my own so fix me if i'm wrong! so my question is how much do you think i need to have each year if i want to move out alone and go to school at east los angeles? (csula aka los angeles state) what i'm guessing would be 6-7k, correct me if i'm wrong because i just want to know how much i need to save up by the end of high school. i put on financial aid that me and my fam makes 0 income so i also get the max they give so paying for school isn't really a problem to me. plus i will know to buy books on my own. also i am vietnamese-american. i am pretty amiable and capable of getting along with any type of people as long as they are willing to but i have never been to east LA whatsoever and as of what i know, majority of the gangs there are mexican gangs. i am not a racist or anything but i do know that gang members are often bias to other race than their own or similarity. will i have other problems than the financial issues i been talking about? (especially racial enmity)

  • Answer:

    As someone mentioned before, if you're getting an apartment for 400/month, expect it to be extremely dangerous. I'm not talking get your newspaper stolen dangerous, I'm talking about drive-by shootings constantly, and getting mugged. But based on your decision - I'll provide the proper information: 1. Before you can even apply, most apartment complex landlords will require that rent is no more than 1/3 of your income. That means that for a 400/month apartment, you'll need to be making $1,200 per month. 2. Even if you have a job and qualify, realize that rent is subject to change (increase) at anytime. 3. Don't forget about: renter's insurance (required), utilities (gas, electric, water), or optional utilities such as cell phone, internet, cable. Expect an additional $300-$350/month on these. 4. Cost of daily transportation is expensive. If you plan to have your own car - gas, maintenance, insurance could run high for an 18 year old. 5. Unless you're the type who is amused by watching grass grow, you'll need money for entertainment. This includes movies, social gatherings, and all associated expenses (transportation costs). 6. It's best not to draw attention to yourself by dressing flashy in the ghetto, but you'll want to have a budget for clothes. 7. Basic essentials run out quickly, and you'll be amazed how much money goes into them (soap, shampoo, toilet paper, tissues, cleaning supplies). 8. On top of all that, it's important you set aside some cash for an emergency fund. This might sound unnecessary to you, but they happen, and they happen a lot more than you think. I'm only 24 years old, and have been living on my own for less than a year and have depleted my entire 2.5k savings on "emergencies". They include anything from being low on funds to unexpected expenses such as replacing a tire for your car. 9. So basically, you're looking at a place that will be extremely dangerous, especially since you're neither black or Hispanic. You might be "friendly", but those rules don't apply in the ghetto. What you think is friendly, others will interpret as a threat, and they don't think twice about shooting you. Just don't make eye contact, or draw attention to yourself. BLEND in as much as you can. Dress poorly, don't have ANY expensive items (tvs, computes, cell phone). 10. You're honestly going to need at least make $2,000 - $2,500/month just to break even. If the landlord doesn't require income, you can make MUCH less...but I've never seen landlords not require that you make 3x rent minimum. A part-time job will not do. Also, expect those $3000 to go towards moving - they require a security deposit and first month rent. All associated moving expenses - application fees, moving truck, furniture... It's realistic, especially if you're moving to a slum, but be advised that even in those conditions, you will still be living pay check to pay check. It might sound fun, but it will become stressful...quickly. Good luck.

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you could go to ELAC (East Los Angeles College) for two years and then transfer to CSULA. you'll save a lot of money. ELAC is in a pretty safe neighborhood, its in Monterey Park which is sort of in East LA but more quiet and suburban.

none

$400 per month? That would have to be in a roommate situation where you share a room. And the difference you will see is amazing. If you thought your parents were bad, try living with roommates who don't care about you at all! Most people who ask this question are unprepared, unrealistic, with no money, no experience, no skills, and no plan. If you are outside the United States, you will need a visa (even if you're Canadian). The nice folks in the immigration forum can help you with that. However, getting a work visa is extremely difficult unless you are highly skilled and sought after (such as a doctor, scientist, or A-List celebrity). You need to have a sponsor. You could also try for the visa lottery, but that’s obviously a longshot. You need a plan: First item on the agenda is rent. A decent 1BR apartment in LA currently goes for $1200, give or take. Nicer areas and areas closer to the beach are much higher. Don't expect to move to Santa Monica and get an apartment on the beach for that much. Or Toluca Lake, or Beverly Hills. Next, you will need a car. Los Angeles is VERY spread out, and train service is extremely limited. If you don't have a car, you will have to take a bus, which takes 3 times longer to get anywhere than a car. All told, it generally takes about $3,000 per month to live here. If you don't have a job that pays that much or skills that can get you that kind of job, stay where you are. If you are unskilled and work for minimum wage (or for tips like bartending or waiting tables), you'll only make about $1200 per month. And speaking of jobs, they are rather hard to come by now. College grads seeking employment are having a very tough time of it right now, since the job market is flooded with experienced people who were laid off. Unemployment is over 12% right now. Not exactly the kind of job market you want to move into. Finally, you will need money. Landlords want first month's rent and a security deposit up front. You'll need money for food, transportation, utilities, etc. The consensus in this forum is that you need about $10,000 to start out. For most people, especially those just graduating HS, the math just doesn’t work. So there's your plan. And please don't tell us that you have dreams of being an actor or singer. That sets off another alarm. We already have a million (literally) wannabe actors in this town. Don’t even get me started. If you are looking for safer areas, go look at www.lalife.com and read the maps. For neighborhood info, see http://projects.latimes.com/mapping-la/neighborhoods/ or check out http://www.neighborhoodscout.com.

Obviousman

That $400 a month figure sounds suspiciously low, even for East L.A, unless it's a roommate arrangement. Those can have their own potential pitfalls. If you're a female, you'll probably get along very well indeed there if you don't mind the occasional indecent proposition. If you're male, it may be slightly more difficult.

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