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

[OK!]

No, because at the money I make now, $10K a year more is still gonna have me below the poverty level.

Besides, I really like St. Louis.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I tripled my salary recently and moved 4 miles closer intown.

No, $10,000 is not enough to make me move further. Broken down monthly that's less than $900 a month or less than $200 a week. NOT a lot of money.

Exactly where I was going....It's $833 more a month BEFORE taxes! So, if you're lucky it's maybe, $600/month....$150/week.

Soooo not worth it unless there is some kind of guaranteed immediate growth potential. Also, would the $10,000 signing bonus even cover relocation/moving expenses etc...?

We passed on $70,000 to relocate, within the same state, b/c the cost of living there would have eaten up more than the raise could compensate for.

Good Luck!

 

[Linzybrooke]

Sometimes I really miss my family and am sad for them to not be close to our girls, but it really has been a good move for us, not only financially but we've had the opportunity to grow together as a family (the 4 of us). As far as being lonely, yup, I was at first. I've joined various groups and have met some people I know will be my best friends forever, no matter where we live. Your mother is right (scary, huh?), your DF will soon be your husband and then HE is your family. If you're not willing to move with him (IMHO), then maybe he isn't "the one." I would have moved to Mars with my DH, and believe me, Oklahoma was pretty close to Mars (sorry Okies )

I would check on the cost-of-living factor. We found Houston housing to be much lower than Michigan. We bought a huge home here for the same price we sold our tiny one for there. Also, Dallas is an awesome city - beautiful, lots to do and see. The weather isn't as extreem (you'll still get season.) It is a million times better than Flint. Airfare is pretty cheap from Dallas to Detroit (less than $200 most of the time). We fly back twice a year, our families fly here usually twice, sometimes 3 times a year. We really don't have a chance to miss them much!

This is what I needed to hear! DH and I are looking at Relocating and leaving our families behind. We both do so much with and for our families that there are times we still feel like kids living at home! Moving across country would force us to get out and be our own family. Live for each other and rely on each other. Thanks for your statement!

To the OP. I moved to Dallas from Minnesota when I started college, and my parents moved here are soon as my sister started college (they were from here). They sold an 18 year old home in Lakeville, Minnesota and built a home in the Dallas area for less than they made on the MN home. We have a beautiful home that was very, very affordable. Dallas is not expensive, take a look at it. Plus, you know more people here than you think!

 

[Cool-Beans]

It would depend on how badly I needed the money and how much people needed me where I was. Right now, it wouldn't be an option.

But, when the day comes that nobody needs us here, I'll be all over DH to move somewhere warm. It'll be a heck of a fight, but I believe it can be won. I'm living on that hope, anyway.

 

[DisneyPhD]

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.

Do you have to live in Flint? There are a lot of nice areas in northern Oakland co that could accommodate both of you with small commutes. In fact I am guessing you could even still live at home for a while until you find the right place. It also might be easier to move that far away, after the wedding.

Also the crime in both cities would be a factor, as it would directly effect DF job right? That would mater to me. I know Flint isn't so great, but I am thinking Dallas might be worse (bigger city.)

Days like today Texas is looking pretty good. DH interviewed everywhere from Ithaca New York to Madison Wisconsin and I really didn't want to move away from the family. Besides most of the places were still cold anyway.

Besides after he gets some experience in Flint, there might be openings in Cities closer to home that he might want to work in that he could transfer.

As long as the flint job was an offer to I would take it.

Then again, it ain't 7 degrees in Texas today. (If it was Austin I would of said yes, I love that City.)

 

[ChristmasElf]

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...

I don't know who told you that Dallas would be MORE expensive than Flint, because that is not the case.

First, Texas has NO state income tax where Michigan does.
Dallas has some of the most reasonably priced housing in the country.
There is a lot of things to do in Texas plus the weather is warmer. The Plano Schools (Plano is north of Dallas about 12-14 miles) are very good and that area is very nice and has a lot to offer as far as shopping,churches,housing, centrally located,doctors etc.

You mentioned that the salary would be $10K more, but don't forget about that $10K signing bonus-that also adds to the income.

 

[DMickey28]

My .02 based on my experience moving three times in three years for DH's jobs ....

I think the decision needs to be based 10000% on more than just the $10K per year raise. Is it a better job? Is it in the career he wants to build? What is the job growth? Is it a strong company? What are your "family" plans? Can your career grow regardless?

I moved with DH 18 months into our relationship before we were even engaged. We moved from MA, where our family was, to Indiana for his job. It was a promotion and growth in his choosen profession. That move ended up giving us about $10K more that year.

We moved again from Indiana to Illinois for another new job oppurtunity, which was pretty equal pay but a move up in the field.

We moved AGAIN from Illinois to S. Florida for a new company and a new job oppurtunity for DH. It's related to his choosen profession but a completely different line of work. Off the cuff it was for LESS money however in the six months we have been here it has develops so far into $30K more. It is a partnership position in a growing company which is building off of his (hard to find) skill set to grow the company. It was a chance that we couldn't NOT take b/c once this company sells (which is the goal in 5 years) we could stand to take in a windfall b/c he is helping to grow the company. It was a shot that we HAD To take ....

I work in the same field I did when I left MA three years ago. I have worked for three different companies doing similar jobs. I haven't grown in my field position wise but I have increased my salary by $10K in that time based on experience.

However, we had discussed our family and future so my sacraficing my career at this time to put his ahead was a decision we made that was right for us. I have since finished my degree and will become a stay at home mom in April when our first son is born. Moving around with his job has allowed us to come to this point together.

So ... basically it comes down to a TON more than just the $10K in salary!!! We left our family and friends and it was HARD. We had lived together 6 months before we moved, but I look back and am amazed that we still managed to get married with out tough it was in the beginning. It was also very hard on me b/c he had a job (he always worked out of the house though) but I had to find one and make friends. I was out of work for about 3-4 months with each move, except this last one b/c I transferred with the company I am at now. We haven't seen our family as much as we like and we are VERY close to them. We have been each other's family for the last three years. This move to Florida brought us back to some of DH's old HS friends that we have made relationships with ... and of course our family visits us down here A LOT more than in the midwest.

GOOD LUCK!! My final thought is that you can always give it a shot and if it doesn't work you can go home .... I wouldn't change our moves for anything. It's brought us to where we are today and made us the stronger couple that we are!

Good Luck in whatever you choose!!

 

[AKL_Megs]

Do you have to live in Flint? There are a lot of nice areas in northern Oakland co that could accommodate both of you with small commutes. In fact I am guessing you could even still live at home for a while until you find the right place. It also might be easier to move that far away, after the wedding.

Also the crime in both cities would be a factor, as it would directly effect DF job right? That would mater to me. I know Flint isn't so great, but I am thinking Dallas might be worse (bigger city.)

Days like today Texas is looking pretty good. DH interviewed everywhere from Ithaca New York to Madison Wisconsin and I really didn't want to move away from the family. Besides most of the places were still cold anyway.

Besides after he gets some experience in Flint, there might be openings in Cities closer to home that he might want to work in that he could transfer.

As long as the flint job was an offer to I would take it.

Then again, it ain't 7 degrees in Texas today. (If it was Austin I would of said yes, I love that City.)

Yeah... we were thinking of finding a place in either Grand Blanc or Fenton. We know some people in Ortonville, so we'd have close friends. Plus, my parents are in West Bloomfield, and his mom is in Warren. Everyone keeps telling him how terrible Flint is, and it's true, but with him being a police officer, it's potentially going to be bad for him no matter where he is. Crime is everywhere - even in Dallas.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, DH was offered a transfer at his current salary (NYC salary) to Charlotte NC, and the housing difference was over $300,000! I guess we're losers, but my family is here.

 

[mtemm]

it would depend, not so much on the $10k, but on the opportunities. will he stagnate in his current job? will the move allow for advancement that his current one doesn't? will that $10k actually translate to more $$$ in the next year or 2 or 3?

right now dh and I are moving around a lot. we have lived in 4 houses in the past 5 years, in fact, in 3 different states. all in the northeast so far, but we are willing to travel further, even globally possibly if the money and timing were guaranteed. Its worked out well for us. DH is in a position where moving is pretty much the only way to get ahead, so every move is a promotion. we figure lets get the moves out of the way while the kids are still young (eldest is almost 5).

moving can be an adventure. but if its essentially a lateral move with no better opportunities than he currently has, and if you are both happy where you are, well, then I'd probably stay put. (as for flint vs dallas, btw, I'd head to dallas in a heartbeat).

 

[disykat]

I wouldn't move based on money alone (unless I was starving), but I just have to go on record and say - 10K a year IS a lot of money to many people! It could make a huge difference in quality of life if cost of living is even close to comparable. It could also provide several plane tickets home a year.

I think, rather than trying to convince someone who thinks 10K is a lot of money that it isn't, it would make sense to focus on the benefits staying close to home provides.

People here must make a lot of money. If dh or I was going to be taking home $600 more a month after taxes, I'd be excited. I wouldn't be saying "that's not very much money".

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What would YOU do?

Without reading anything more...we packed it up and moved to the Dallas area 2 years ago.

As far as people telling you Dallas is not expensive...it is. I don't know where you folks came from but if you are coming from the Mid-West Dallas is $$$$.
Electricity is hwy robbery here.

However...it is not as expensive as the coasts and it is very doable to live here.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

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.

No relo?....I wouldn't do it. We didn't get relo and it ends up costing you at least 8 grand to move.

Is this a promotion? I would only do it for that.

Now DH did do a lateral but we had to get out of St. Louis. He could not get ahead there.
He is still struggling with his company right now...
Drives...me...bonkers.....

It will work out. (this is what I keep repeating to myself)