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I have no writing advice but I gave up my car during this time and I DO have some advice on how to survive in LA as an artist type. Background - I’ve never had a safety net, never had money from parents, moved to LA with one months rent and have had years of low earnings.
The Joneses are not real. They do not care about if you can keep up with them. Working as a writer has nothing to do with making a shit ton Of money so just don’t make wealth your goal or your metric if you’re doing well.
Keep it lean, cut it all. You don’t need labels, I promise. Don’t shop. Don’t make it an activity. Don’t eat out 24/7 and when you do share stuff. Save your money for the special days.
Travel and vacays - hahaha get off the gram and don’t stress. I didn’t go on a vacation until I was 29 and it was the biggest splurge of my life. Save your money to see family if you’re far away.
Cars - I drove a used one into the ground when I was 8 months pregnant. I drove that piece of shit up the every agency and studio in town. Again, no one cares.
Tell people “I can’t afford that” and say it with pride. People respect it. Don’t do shit you can’t afford. Your friends will have years where they get a deal or a show goes ... who cares look at your bank account and do you.
When you have kids - they can share a bedroom and not take a ton of classes and go to public school. I promise they will be fine.
When you have a good year do not change your spending. Buy yourself a little gift or take that trip but other than a one off, don’t increase your bills a ton.
And then when pandemic hits, cut more. Get rid of car. Do what you have to do. And then write. 
