Living the Bay Area and paying $2,500 for rent, you have $1,000 net discretionary income. Even if you decide not to shrink your expenses or grow your income, you are still in a great position.
PS One day you will realize that things you once thought important are actually unimportant. If you keep saving for that day, you will be in fine shape. There is no need for angst, today. If I might make a recommendation - run some numbers as to where you will be if you decrease your expenses, increase your income, save more, etc. Do all that, forecasting for a set period of time, and do not pay any financial advisors or ask anyone else. Just use your own efforts to investigate. If you do that, I believe you will make the best decision for what to do.
Money is relative, $500 a month is nothing. It will take a year of savings to pay the deposit if he ever has to move out, or to cover the rent if he ever gets unemployed.
You're talking about things that have nothing to do with my comment.
But, on your point - you did the math wrong. He has $12,000 discretionary income not $6,000. He likely already paid his last month's rent of $2,500, and he already mentioned savings. So, it makes no sense for you to infer that it will take him a year to move if he loses his job.
PS One day you will realize that things you once thought important are actually unimportant. If you keep saving for that day, you will be in fine shape. There is no need for angst, today. If I might make a recommendation - run some numbers as to where you will be if you decrease your expenses, increase your income, save more, etc. Do all that, forecasting for a set period of time, and do not pay any financial advisors or ask anyone else. Just use your own efforts to investigate. If you do that, I believe you will make the best decision for what to do.