California bases
09-10-2007 | 07:47 AM
#11
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,864
Likes: 663
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
09-10-2007 | 08:01 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: C152
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.
09-10-2007 | 08:08 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
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.
09-10-2007 | 08:15 AM
#14
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 2
From: FO, looking left
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.
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.
09-10-2007 | 10:33 AM
#15
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
From: CRJ FO no more
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.
09-10-2007 | 11:16 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
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?
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?
Last edited by FlyingDog; 09-10-2007 at 11:18 AM. Reason: Maybe this should be a seperate post?
09-10-2007 | 11:22 AM
#17
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,864
Likes: 663
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
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?
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?
It would be hard to do enough to make a lot of money. You can always teach groundschool.
09-10-2007 | 11:47 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,934
Likes: 0
From: Retired
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.
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.
09-10-2007 | 12:03 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: C152
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.
09-10-2007 | 12:14 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 1
From: A320 CA
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.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
