how much money is enough to put in sl?

SL is one of my main (if not my only) entertainments, so after the initial noobie notion that I could get by with 512sm of land, I splurged on 8k and began to have fun. As luck would have it, I bought at the very height of the 2007 land craze, but I did so knowing that therew as a risk of losing the value of the land someday. I considered the purchase price a fixed expense, like a week's vacation at resort, and I budgeted for a tier that was reasonable for entertainment expenses as compared to my salary range.

I tried to sell 4k of that land recently and ended up giving it away because the value had fallen so low. My "worst case" scenario did indeed play out, and I don't have any high hopes for ever recouping a fraction of what I paid for the land that still remains, when I finally sell that.

It was money well spent in terms of the fun I got from it, but I have to confess that I would be very hesitant to do it again. I could justify a one-time splurge of $500-600, but not repeatedly. Which is one reason I watch the land market fluctuations with such wariness and a certain degree of sadness. The market volatility makes land holdings risky; ownership becomes an exercise in finances instead of simply enjoying myself. This, along with the Open Space sim debacle, makes it quite clear that establishing a place to live in SL is the most expensive part of this hobby.

Yeah lot of my friends including myself orginal got our land for sometimes over
10L a meter, and now the lowest prices seem to be going at lowest 2.3 to 3.
My friend when she sold to Sarah only made 2.7L where she paid a whole lot
more. It is very sad and heart breaking too see the aftermath.
If I sell I feel like the unpleasant element of mainland wins.
If this happens I might well just stick with a 512m lot somewhere and
go to Openlife's stand alone sims if I can figure out how to do that and reduce
all spending in SL.

I'm on the other end of the scale now. Basic account with 0 land holdings. I rent an apartment on a sim owned by a friend on a weekly basis that is pretty much unfurnished, it is ereley a login point and changing room. Ihave no need for a home, my time in SL is spent doing things, exploring or RP. I am planning a diferent approach which will be basically a true SL Tourist. As I wander and explore, I'll find spaces to rent for a week or so, and then move on.

How about leasing with permission to do what you want, from a place with a convenant?

I wish SL would allow or enact some type of zoning. Residential only zones, and business only zones at least. And spring for waterways, roads etc. Wouldn't that feel a lot more like home?

Until there are zoning laws that hold up no matter who owns that parcel, there is a risk of land later being ruined by some fugly build next door.

Or you could go to the sky I guess?

My friend was saying he wished LL would have combat only areas so
someone couldn't move into any mature sim and decide to make it combat
zone which is pretty happening with Huin where I live right now.
I don't have problem with combat role play but I would like have choice
whether or not live next to it but at this point I don't unless I sale and move.