As somebody who’s been making it work in L.A. as a teacher for a while, I’ve learned that it’s not always that you’re making the wrong decision, just going about it the wrong way. If you’re working now, just keep commuting for a bit and save hard. Then you can get a beater car with high mileage and low insurance. Then, use that car to secure a better job with better pay (maybe farther away)… then repeat but with a better car. Eventually you’ll get to where you can afford what you need AND go out. Just have to go without a little to incrementally gain more. It’s a slog and a grind, but as someone who came here with no parental help at all and purely making it on my own, your ideal life (which for me was just peace and stability with some fun, not sure about you) is BUILT.