Very well said FBCoach16. That is true.
Mike i'm glad you see you look at earnings from poker in a realistic perspective. 2800 monthly would seem about right grinding 4/8 limit or 1/3 NL. Of course that is if you run good month after month. If you think 2,800 a month is enough to survive then why not. Then again though I think you would need about a 10,000$ roll to start it off. God forbid you run really bad since a down streak of 2,000 to 3,000 can easily happen playing 1/3 NL. One of the biggest leaks for all us poker players is that casinos don't only offer Poker. If you have the discipline to stay away from slots, table games, horse racing, and sports betting then you can do it. Many people have life leaks and gambling leaks and these are just a few. You'll never know until you try it! Good Luck.
I like how you say life leaks. I think you make a very important point that lots of people overlook. When one is playing good and running good, stopping by a craps table on the way out might not seem like a big deal but when a downswing occur, all that spent money at the tables adds up. The other side of that is when s downswing occurs, it's easy to find a casino game to try and make a quick score. It can be a slippery slope. I know guys who have gone down that path, it's hard to get away from.
Making it in Vegas as a low stakes grinder is definitely possible but I would have a job too. You can get decent jobs as a part time dealer making 30k (some part time jobs can net 50k but you gotta work hard to get those) a year. You can try to get a job dealing at the World Series for 10k or more in a couple months. Having a life
bankroll and a way to make money that doesn't rely on poker will give you peace of mind and ensure a roof over your head and good in your stomach.
The other factor to consider is life. I have a full time job. I play poker to supplement my income. The last few months I've only gotten to get out and play live a few times since things keep coming up. I can do my job at the level I'm expected to regardless of stress level, but when I can't play my A game, I'm in trouble.
Starting in 2007 I played poker for a living and that was one of the most stressful things I ever did. I was in my teens (played online and on reservations where you can gamble at 18) had all the heart in the world and no idea how to manage my bankroll. I had a pretty good upswing, some crazy runs and big falls. It was fun, it sucked but I'm glad I did that. I learned so much from that experience.
I would really advise having at least a part time job to help out during downswings and alleviate the stress of life expenses from your poker bankroll. The less life stress you have, the more clear headed and logical you can play. Stay away from the casino games. They are bad for your bankroll. Even games you can get an edge on, don't do it unless you're extremely disciplined or else you're just gambling and dumping EV to the house.
Good luck.
And if you're a good golfer you could probably get some matches for money from poker players. Talk about double dipping!
