LA Move Series Part 3 - the Cons

Part 3... you know the deal. I'm evaluating the last 8 months of me life here in L.A. (Before I decided to move here, I made a list of pros and cons for what I thought life would be like. This series of posts looks at those expectations to see if they were met.)

One of the things I expected was stretching my monthly income, not having alot to dispose with how I wished. You know... ballin on a budget. In DC and Atlanta, to compare, I played, and traveled for, ultimate, went out to eat regularly, and did the college then intern/living at home thing. I got by with only a few overdrafts and a little credit card debt.

So now, I look at my regular salary and think, 'I have to acclimate to a new city and try to pay down my debts with just this.' Some of the major things I have done is:

• I constructed a bike at the Bicycle Kitchen (and paid a little dough for it),
  
• I go out to eat (mostly Mexican and Latin American but sometimes Thai, Ethiopian, and more), and
  
• I'm still playing ultimate (i think for these guys, Monster).

And all these things cost money. I haven't really kept track of my leisure spending but I'm pretty sure I go over every month - within the first week of the month. Now that I live in a completely new city and have all these other young professional friends, the stuff I did to entertain myself around Candler Park and home isn't as cool. There are so many more culturally encouraged things I have to do now that cost money and I feel anti-social when I don't aquiesce (Ava, got this from you).

I'll ask you a couple questions about what's okay and not; answer by clicking 'comment' below:

1. is it appropriate to cook for someone on the first (and second, third, so on) date?
2. what is a good way to turn down an offer to hang out with a new group?
3. how do i explain that i have two coffee tables - suitable for opposing sides of a double or larger bed - but only a twin-size bed?
4. how do people feel reading blog posts about 'ballin on a budget'?
   
5. When was the last time I stopped looking at this computer screen?
   

Tell me what you think.

Next up in the series, Con #2