Yahoo Lifestyle Is L.A. Worth It? Residents Spark Viral Debate Over City's Cost of Living and If They're 'Happy' or 'Stuck'
"Are most of you happy living here or do you just feel like you're stuck here?” one user asked
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A Redditor recently reflected on how expensive it is to live in Los Angeles — among the costliest in the country, according to outside analysis — so they asked others if living there is worth it.
“I find this city frustrating in so many ways,” the user wrote in a post earlier this month. “I don't understand how anyone who isn't doing well financially can be happy living here. It really is miserable for people who are struggling. Are most of you happy living here or do you just feel like you're stuck here?”
City of Angels residents responded with an array of perspectives, from some advocating for life in L.A. to others taking a more pessimistic view.
“Well there’s plenty of resources and help out there that has helped me keep my sanity,” one person wrote. “Besides going to free parks and beaches, the library has a plethora of resources that are free. You can borrow laptops, print stuff out for free, check books out, and they sometimes have events where they give out more information for food banks, work, or anything else one might need. Also as a student myself my school does a lot of food banks so there’s always something to bring home. I live paycheck to paycheck, but once you live a bit more frugal it becomes a bit easier.
The commenter continued: "Not going out to expensive restaurants and clubs also really helps and if you’re a casual drinker, I’d avoid the bars every once in a while and just chill at home. Long story short, I’m content and use a ton of free resources that are provided around the city.”
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Others said that having more money makes the living situation easier.
“I’m financially stable now that I’m my early 30s but 18-mid 20s was rough!” another user wrote. “I could not find stable work in college because it was 2010. It took a long time and I never really understood how things would be different but you have to be ambitious and a little hopeful. I am first gen American born in LA and things worked out well. It is a grind but it gets better. I had a lot of pride and never accepted help from family. If gig work were around sooner I probably would have done a lot of it.”
Yet the grass is not always greener outside of L.A., many commenters said.
Related: Friend Ignites Viral Debate After They Refuse to Split the Bill at a Group Dinner: 'Not Paying'
“I'm not necessarily content, but I was recently visiting family in another state and they were struggling over there too,” one person wrote. “At least here I have more resources, opportunities, and general distractions than they do. Also my friends are here and I still have family here, so there is a lot of emotional attachment for me.”
Meanwhile, a simple thing, such as the area's topography, was not lost on at least one Reddit user.
“Beaches and mountains are free, aside from the parking,” they wrote. “There's a lot of natural beauty in Southern California, but people forget to see it.”
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