Correct. That means they will steal anything not welded down, but they won't kill you unless directly provoked.

You can find some decent places within 20 minutes of PSP (Just keep moving East towards Indio). You don't want to try and actually live in Palm Springs (Very very nice and very very expensive) but if you go to Desert Hot Springs or Palm Desert it gets quite a bit cheaper and more liveable. Still not cheap by average US standards but it would be perfectly doable on FO pay if you had a working spouse or found someone to split rent with.

It's not that expensive. You really shouldn't need 100k. I live somewhat modestly, but in a nice neighborhood, and get by on about $50k.

However, you're right that it'd be pretty much impossible to live here by yourself on first year regional FO pay only. That's why you need to diversify and get some more income streams.

There is a reason why cost of living is so expensive in California...

I can live here on CFI pay. I live in the Bay Area (which is much more expensive than Sacramento, Fresno, SLO, etc...). I realize I will probably take a paycut from $35k a year to $25k a year as a regional FO, but I still think it is manageable to live in California. It is well worth it for me!! Captain pay is plenty to live somewhat comfortably in California.

Oh i know it's expensive to live in CA. But i was looking on craigslist for rooms for rent and you can rent out a decent looking room for around $600 a month or so. And that's about the average price anywhere you go. So i see it as if you don't have to live by yourself in your own apartment then you should be good. That's the only reason i thought it might be feasable to live out there on first year pay.

I was freaked a bit at the pay cut to 1st yr FO - so I started trying to figure out an additional income streams before I go flying....

Lucked into a charter flight for a group of people heading to a convention and tagged along and came away with a few possibilities.

What are any recommendations on how to make extra cash?

I don't think I can legally teach flying and log over 100 hours?

CFI work counts against your daily, weekly, monthly, and annual duty limits. Most airlines require you to get permission from your Chief Pilot before doing any outside commercial flying, and many regionals will just tell you "no way".

It would be hard to do enough to make a lot of money. You can always teach groundschool.

Bartending works well too if you're good at it. Best part is that most of the money comes from tips=CASH!

One of the big reasons I stayed in the STL is the fact that I can afford to live in a neighborhood where welding my stuff down isn't required on first year pay. You guys can keep Cali.

Where abouts do you have to stay in STL? I've been there a couple of times and I don't think I would necessarily use STL and safe in the same city, but then again almost any city with a major airport is going to have its fair share of problems.

If you're single, rent a room for $500, you won't be home enough to enjoy an expensive apartment by yourself anyways...or get roomates...its not rocket science...you CAN afford it, you just can't afford to eat out everyday or buy a new car. Pay off your car (or drive a beater) and save $5-10 grand in the bank before you get hired and you can make it through the first year. Or do like me and marry someone who makes more than you...problem solved.