Here in the states we produce medical consumables using plastic injection molding.

Cleveland is a mixed bag for me.  

Still a Californian or newbie on BP will be convinced it has great cash flow and be the next bag holder unfortunately.

I'd empty the contractor trash bags into dumpsters other people owned (where I knew they'd be picked up the next day).  

Disclaimer here:  I am a bag of contradictions, but also strong opinions, loosely held.  

Your idea of sacrifices (accepting free cars, buying Nike shoes, Coach bags, Premium Cable/Internet, Etc.) are pipe dreams for the vast majority of Americans and I understand why people would mock your 'sacrifices'.

Today at-least people know they need to buy assets that are cash flow positive , One the bottom opens up - don't be the Guy / Gal  holding the bag ..

It's scary to think about getting left with the bag but my goodness, you can make some serious cash in just a few years.

I purchase cars between $6000 and $12000, used of course, with the plan to use them for about 5years till they degrade to a $2000-4000 car and then dump the bag before it makes it into the barely useable "I keep getting problems" <$2000 car.Leasing is good if you want a new car constantly, buying is good if you are in love with a specific car and it has decent long-term value (Tesla), but both are financially worse than buying a car that's used, and buying a car that's more than a little used is way better economically.

I found the area way too plastic and prefab for my tastes so I moved to the bucolic and pristine PNW.  15 years on we are now experiencing much of the same thing in Portland as you well know, so I just recently bought a house an hour outside of Portland which I feel is right on the path of string appreciation and temporarily allows me to escape the displaced Bay Area invaders