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Could you keep up with living expenses?

The cost of living in LA is constantly rising, making it difficult for families to keep up with rent and other basic necessities.
Monthly expenses planning checklist with receipts, wallet and calculator. Flat style vector icon illustration.
Monthly expenses planning checklist with receipts, wallet and calculator. Flat style vector icon illustration.
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Imagine you suddenly find out what you’re making a month is cut in half. You would spend more time thinking about how you waste your money on making smarter decisions if you wanted to afford to live in LA. Do you know what you even need to be able to live comfortably in LA? I have asked over 20 students, and the average number of students said around 60-70k. This just isn’t enough; you need over 100k, meaning you have to at least make 10k a month, as stated by Google. The average person barely makes around 4k a month and 1.3k a week. Living expenses are important things you need to live like food and groceries, transportation, and house expenses. Pretty straightforward, but have you noticed the price increase in things like basic groceries, housing expenses, transportation, and health care?

Let’s start with food, something everyone needs. Did you know the average person in LA spends $486 on groceries a month, meaning you’re down from $4k to 3.6k roughly from just buying groceries. Compared to a place like the Netherlands, where 247waestimates the average spending is less than $100 a month. On top of that, the prices have only been increasing, going up 2.2% this year alone. Google predicts they will continue to rise. Prices will continue to rise because of things such as conflict, climate change, and supply chain disruption according to google. 

Apart from food, have you seen the pricing of living in Los Angeles? A study from the USC Sol Price Center found that people spend 30% just on rent, not including everything else. The stress that will be placed on you knowing that 30% of your income will go to being able to live in LA alone. Knowing this fact may lead you to have depression or anxiety. This may lead to people having to move somewhere cheaper and, in extreme cases, going homeless. 

Don’t get me started on transportation; have you seen the prices of gas? In California, regular alone is 4.7$, while premium is 5.1$ per gallon, as shown by gas prices. aaa!   While in 2020 the prices averaged $2.17 nationally, it’s not only gas; the prices of Ubers and Lyfts, simply owning your own car, can really take a chunk of your income. After paying all of your living expenses, the average person is left with around 1.2k. 

So it’s important to think about where your money goes to be able to keep things such as a roof over your head, food on your plate, and being able to get around LA. Things like budgeting, avoiding debt, and getting a side hustle can help you make sure you have enough money to cover your essential expenses. Another way is by allowing your voice to be heard. You could do this by voting for candidates that promote lowering home, gas, and food prices, or by using the internet to email your candidates or even post and allow people to read your beliefs.  

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Cesar Perez is a senior at East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy, having transferred from Mendez High School his junior year. He enjoys watching scary movies, NBA games, and playing basketball. He also cares deeply about school, family, friends and his future.

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