So we moved from a lower CoL (cost of living) area because the job prospects were inferior, and we wanted a change of scenery.
We did our homework, and found that although the CoL is higher, if we could get jobs with higher salaries we'd be ok.
I found a job in the upper bound of our predictions, so we made the move, assuming my partner would also get a job eventually and it would also pay more. If it went according to plan, we could have the same standards of living while saving more so it made sense.
5 months later, my partner is still out of a job. Employment insurance is running out so we'll soon be with only 1 income (mine). There is uncertainty around my company's health so even that isn't guaranteed. If I were to get laid off and revert to EI, it would almost completely cover the rent (but not the bills or food).
If we stayed, my partner would need to figure out "emergency" employment that would still leave her time to look for a job she wants, time to learn the skills missing, and enough to supplement income. She could also not work at all while I pay all the bills from my income but then if I get laid off we're in trouble. I'm not sure it's very good for her either to sit home all day thinking about how unemployed she is.
So I'd like to ask other mustachians: at which point do you declare this kind of operation a success or a failure? Is it too soon to call it off or should we fold? Folding in this case means moving back to where we left, but it's not cheap (moving the little things we had cost over 1500$), and neither of us would have a job. Did you ever encounter a similar situation? How did you handle it?