Would You Pack Up And Move Across The Country For $10,000 More A Year?

[AKL_Megs]

We're (my DF and I) finding ourselves faced with this exact question at this moment, and are really disagreeing. He's potentially going to be given two job offers at the exact same time any day now.

The first being to Flint, Michigan - about 45 minutes from where we (and our family and friends) currently live. The second being to Dallas, Texas - halfway across the country where we know not a soul, and where the cost of living is typically higher than here in Michigan, even though he has been offered $10,000 higher salary.

DF figures that if he's making $10,000 more a year, that's a BIG DEAL and a lot of money. (But from the people I've talked to who have lived in Dallas, they say that the cost of housing is nearly double what we will be paying here, the cost of utilities and food is more, and the cost of having a car is more there.) DF also forgets that we know nobody there, which seems like nothing, but in fact IMO seems pretty lonely and inconvienient if something comes up within our family (Like with our parents!!! We're only children).

What would YOU do?

Edit: My career info and relocation info on post #9...

 

[liamsaunt]

My first question would be whether the job in Dallas is going to cover the cost of the move. Some companies do, but if not, the raise won't be worth nearly as much. If you have to hire a moving van for that distance, and especially if you are moving vehicles (unless you are driving them down yourselves), it will be expensive.

What are your job prospects in both locations? That counts for a lot too (assuming you would be working).

 

[grinningghost]

Not for 10 grand. Not worth the expense of moving into the unknown.

 

[luvwinnie]

I wouldn't leave my family for any amount actually.

 

[noseybuddy]

If I didn't like the area in which I am currently living, and if I could live the same life style that I am living now or better, there is no doubt in my mind that I would move.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Personally, I wouldn't want to live in Flint. Based on that alone, I'd move to Dallas if that was the only other offer. Other than that, there's too many other factors that I would have to weigh before figuring out if I would move or not.

 

[shirleyb]

At this point in my life, I probably wouldn't do it for less than $60,000 per year. At one point in my life, yep, I would have for $10K. There's a lot to consider, and you're right, cost of living is part of it, as is quality of life.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I don't know who tells you that it cost more to live in Dallas than in the MI because my husband is from MI and will tell you that things in the south are much more cheaper.

Moving for 10k more would be an incentive if you keep or raise your standard of living AND the company would be moving you. Do you own a house right now? Would they help with that relocation problem? Are you prepared to move that far from your families and be happy? Relocating is about alot more than just the cash.

 

[AKL_Megs]

My first question would be whether the job in Dallas is going to cover the cost of the move. Some companies do, but if not, the raise won't be worth nearly as much. If you have to hire a moving van for that distance, and especially if you are moving vehicles (unless you are driving them down yourselves), it will be expensive.

What are your job prospects in both locations? That counts for a lot too (assuming you would be working).

First, nothing to relocate - he's been told he gets a one time "sining bonus" of $10,000 in addition to the $10,000 more salary after he has completed a 3-month training and probation, but we will have long since settled by then. So no.

As for my work, I can transfer from where I currently work to a Dallas location, and my "real career" is located throughout the country, both in Dallas and in Flint.

 

[phorsenuf]

Here's a cost of living comparison if you want to see the difference. I like the one at homefair.com better, but it's not available right now.


http://www.bankrate.com/brm/movecalc.asp

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

For me the question of whether or not I would move would depend on how interested I was in a new adventure and whether or not the potential move would be to a place that sounded interesting to me. I have no desire to live in Dallas, Texas so I would personally stay in Michigan. If, however, the job were in a town I'd like to live in for a while, then sure I would do it. But then I moved to Washington State from Ohio on a whim, then moved to Flagstaff for a year on another whim. It is fun and exciting to live in new places. But Dallas wouldn't do it for me for a number of reasons. Nothing against Dallas, but the heat for starters would be a deal breaker for me.

Anyway, if housing is a lot more expensive in Dallas and if you are very attached to your home, family and friends, then no, 10,000 dollars isn't worth the move at all. To me, the most important thing is being happy with where you are; money has little to do with happiness. Friends, family, and for some people, feeling rooted, is far more valuable than 10,000 dollars a year!

 

[Christine]

To me, $10,000 is not a lot of extra money. Certainly not enough to change my whole lifestyle.

I would only do this if:

a) I hated where I was and was desperate to get out;
b) I got a $10,000 raise and I was moving to an area where the cost of living was much cheaper than where I was.

 

[inaminute]

I voted "maybe" because it would truly depend on the circumstances. If I were moving to a place where the cost of living was less expensive, the weather was better, and it wasn't located in the middle of Nowhereville, then I'd go.

In the OP's situation, I'd stay put. That extra $10,000 won't go far--especially in a large city. It would be better to stay where you are and put the extra $$ in savings. Then, when the right offer comes along in a few more years, you'll be ready for the move.

 

[jen0610]

Maybe - there are several items I would figure in. Taking in the info you gave to judge what I would do:

The cost of living. I know you say you have been told that it is more expensive, but have you checked the info out for yourself. What you and DF may want/need could be completly different than those that have told you it is much higher. I had checked into the housing and job info for Houston TX. For there and where I live, it would be much cheaper for us to move.

The weather difference. Born and raised here in IN and I HATE WINTER. Now, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hot, dry weather. TX would appeal to me in this factor, while for DH it hold zero appeal. He'd prefer Alaska over anywhere hot.

The job differences. Is the work that DF would be doing, more appealing at the one company than the other? If your not going to enjoy the work, will the rest of the changes be enjoyable as well.

Family distance. - We live 5 minutes from my mom and dad and 30 minutes from DH's parents. I would much perfer to be hundreds, if not thousands, of miles farther away. DH had to move back "home", after his stint in the Army. Me, I wanted to leave here and only come back for the occassional visit. Not knowing anybody, makes it an adventure for me.

Think about it and talk about it, A LOT. I have always been a "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" girl. I would be looking at all the good possibilities that could come my way.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We moved from NE Ohio to KY for the same amount of dollars at the OP, about a 10K raise. We left a stagnant housing market 3 years ago to a home that appreciated nearly 50K in 3 years. Even though the money offer was 10K more, the raises received since then have been higher than those would have been in Ohio. Cost of living may be slightly higher here, but not by a noticeable amount. There are too many factors involved to make a decision just on money alone.

 

[AKL_Megs]

To me, the most important thing is being happy with where you are; money has little to do with happiness. Friends, family, and for some people, feeling rooted, is far more valuable than 10,000 dollars a year!

This is the way I feel. All DF can see is $10,000, and I can understand why - he grew up in a family that struggled, and to him, $10,000 seems like the World! I didn't grow up like that, and I can see how little $10,000 can actually get you in the grand scheme of things. And for sure, I would NOT be happy away from my family. Of course I would not be happy without DF if he went ahead to Dallas without me.

 

[liamsaunt]

So, he gets the signing bonus after three months? Not right away? My immediate reaction would be to try and negotiate for moving expenses on top of that then, if you are going to make the move. It's a big financial burden to set up in a new place--if you rent, you need first, last, and security, and if you are looking to buy that is a whole other can of worms. Plus the actual moving expenses...a lot of companies offer less than they are willing to give in the first round, so it is worth exploring if he might be able to get more $$

For example, a few years ago my DH was offered a job in Los Angeles, and when he initially turned it down they sweetened the deal by offering him double the moving expenses they had offered on top of the negotiated salary and signing bonus. The catch was that he had to agree to sign a contract that if he worked there for less than five years he would repay the moving expenses. He did not end up taking the job, because like you, we live near our families and decided not to leave them.

 

[freckles and boo]

Will that extra $20,000 push your taxable income into the next bracket? It really isn't a lot of money if you think about it. Reestablishing a household can cost a lot of money. On the other hand, the weather is better... Are the benefits of the two offers similar? Sometimes benefits are much more important than salaries.

 

[lovemygoofy]

You need to talk to your boyfriend about your feelings. You stated that you do not want to leave MI but of course don't want to live apart from your boyfriend. He needs to know how you are feeling about all this. Are you trying to sway him one way or the other? You also have to decide if you could be happy making this move with him being that far from MI. It really does come down to more things than just money.

 

[BuckNaked]

Personally, I wouldn't want to live in Flint. Based on that alone, I'd move to Dallas if that was the only other offer.

Same here.