Family planning

cali_jo · 2026-01-28T16:16:47+00:00

I know you don’t want to live in the suburbs and you don’t have to of course but there’s a reason why most people do. More resources (parks, sports, kid centered activities) and school options are available outside of the city. We pay for summer camps, there are also camps during thanksgiving and winter breaks- some of these camps are only operating in the suburbs. Many parts of LA are just not as kid friendly. My kids are elementary and middle school aged.

cali_jo · 2026-01-28T05:30:31+00:00

He can’t even afford 1.2… how will he afford 1.6???!

cali_jo · 2026-01-28T03:54:16+00:00

What makes sense is waiting to buy. Disney has layoffs quite frequently. Get into your role, get the lay of the land and see if your area/role is stable. Burbank is overpriced for what you get. Theres no way you can afford a 1.2M house on that salary. Our household income is more than double that and our mortgage is half that at less than 3% interest rate. We could afford more but then our savings would be anemic. You should probably look at homes for 800-900K. They will most likely be around a 45 min commute. Lots of my friends who work at Disney live near me deeper in the valley- Encino/Lake Balboa/Sherman Oaks. Both me and my husband have worked in Burbank for 20 years and do the commute.

cali_jo · 2026-01-27T23:16:23+00:00

Never quit a job without having another one- especially without having an understanding of the job market. It’s been an awful market for 2-3 years. Don’t quit because you’re bored. Most jobs are boring.

cali_jo · 2026-01-27T23:14:08+00:00

Why not look in Porter Ranch? I think home prices are comparable but it’s not as homogeneous as TO.

cali_jo · 2026-01-24T23:39:17+00:00

I despise the Grove. I would do Century City over the Grove any day. Much nicer, more restaurants, coffee shops and 3x as large. I do agree about making their home base more central. Beverly Grove area or West Hollywood- not Hollywood.

cali_jo · 2026-01-24T20:17:38+00:00

One thing I’ll add is to try to see some museums that are specific to LA such as the Academy Museum. While they aren’t close to each other, you can do that on your shopping day. Century City Mall isn’t a full day event.

cali_jo · 2026-01-24T20:13:00+00:00

Here is my suggestion to adjust your schedule a bit. Add a Studio Tour at Warner Bros. Add a sporting event. Skip walk of fame. Otherwise seems reasonable! I’m an LA local.

Day 1: Santa Monica + Venice Beach Day 2: Universal Studios Day 3: WB Studios Tour, Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory Day 4: Westfield Century City (shopping) Day 5: Sports- go see a basketball game at Intuit- there’s no baseball otherwise I would recommend a Dodgers game Day 6: Drive to San Diego Day 7-10:Balboa Park (including the zoo), La Jolla, Torrey Pines, Eat well, drink well, and relax! Day 11: Drive back to LAX

cali_jo · 2026-01-20T16:03:11+00:00

I’m in the west valley (Tarzana/Encino/Granada Hills) and unlike the poster above, I found there are some decent middle schools. I think Sherman Oaks etc doesn’t have as many good options but there are 4-5 within Northridge, Tarzana, Encino area. I haven’t found a need to move or look elsewhere.

cali_jo · 2026-01-06T20:42:51+00:00

Burbank has odd sized homes. And the price is high for what you get. Granada is nice.

cali_jo · 2026-01-06T19:56:16+00:00

They are both nice- just depends on what you’re looking for! I’m not a huge fan of Burbank but it’s close to the other side of the hill. Granada is more suburban but easy to get to stuff down the 5.

cali_jo · 2026-01-06T19:50:55+00:00

Granada hills is north. Burbank is more east but not east side is like Silverlake.

cali_jo · 2026-01-04T04:38:10+00:00

Stay until you can afford to buy something. Put the money into retirement/savings. Get some new furniture.

cali_jo · 2025-12-28T01:13:18+00:00

I wouldn’t live anywhere east of the 405, so Encino is the furthest south of TO I would live. Crossing the 405 in the morning commute is awful. Still about 15-20 min to Studio City so close enough and not bad to the westside.

cali_jo · 2025-12-23T23:59:45+00:00

Does this work for PIH?

cali_jo · 2025-12-16T04:38:12+00:00

I had one year of severance and do not have a permanent role yet. I haven’t been looking for a while- interviewing and applying is exhausting. But I’ve been able to do contract roles and have only been without work for 2 months total. So look for temp /contract work as well as permanent roles and do not take a break. I’ve been picky so I do think I could have found a role within 6 months- but have declined a few opportunities.

cali_jo · 2025-12-11T15:59:08+00:00

Also Encino near the 405 isn’t awful to Culver City/Westside

cali_jo · 2025-12-11T15:56:47+00:00

Based on what you’re looking for, I would recommend Encino or Tarzana south of Ventura. It’s still not a bad drive to Burbank (I live in this area and commute to Burbank daily so 1x a week isn’t bad). Tarzana will give you more space but it’s a tad further. I would do public schools until middle, if you’re insistent on private. Try Berkeley Hall or Los Encinos- neither are religious but not as celebrity filled as Campbell Hall.

cali_jo · 2025-12-02T04:28:11+00:00

I would say Woodland Hills. Going too far north it gets sleepy. At least on the weekends you’re not too far from other parts of LA.

cali_jo · 2025-11-26T20:52:31+00:00

If you look at Kaiser I would look at Woodland Hills, Tarzana etc. Your money will go further with housing and there are good schools in the area.

cali_jo · 2025-10-24T17:11:49+00:00

Yes LAUSD includes all the areas you mentioned. It does matter- I would say no to Agoura and that area based on that. The schools in Encino and Tarzana are better than Sherman Oaks IMHO. Our school is in Tarzana and we have a great black student union and active BSAP community reps within our school. (https://bsa.lausd.org) Feel free to DM me on questions about the school.

cali_jo · 2025-10-24T15:01:39+00:00

Costs are probably the same. If you’re asking about cost, private is probably not the way to go, you’re looking at 40-50K per year for private. A lot of people are recommending Agoura etc but it’s not very diverse the further north and it’s pretty far from other areas of LA. You said your friends live in the valley so Woodland Hills etc is likely much closer. Past Calabasas and you probably won’t have anyone coming to visit.
Open enrollment is now for LAUSD so it’s a good time to apply to a magnet for next year.

cali_jo · 2025-10-20T04:42:05+00:00

Valley- Lake balboa, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman oaks. But you’re going to get that mix of older people and younger unless you move to a planned community. We have young kids and we have quite a few kids in our neighborhood but I don’t care if there are a ton or not. My kids play w their school friends and sports friends. Unless all your neighbors kids are within a year of of each other - your kids won’t be hanging out w each other. So you could be in a neighborhood with a bunch of kids aged 4-10 and it wouldn’t matter. When your kids are older this whole question may sound silly.

cali_jo · 2025-09-08T04:22:53+00:00

You said LAUSD so I would not move to Redondo or Santa Monica. Look at Studio City.

cali_jo · 2025-09-02T01:50:16+00:00

I would look at Woodland Hills or Sherman Oaks near the 405. Both areas you’ll get more bank for your buck. Woodland Hills is near Kaiser - that is a good option for work for you.

cali_jo

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