The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Alwaysasunnyday on November 19, 2019, 10:45:43 AM
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Hey all,
Seeking advice on my latest life dilemma! Here it is in a nutshell...
I have been offered and accepted a transfer at work to a larger city (1 mil ish) , for the same company, for basically the same wage. While the transfer is not a promotion, it will offer a more varied area of opportunities and is in a city that generally has more to offer in regards to outdoor activities, entertainment etc, as well as better weather... Where we live now is a smaller city of 250k, a place that I've grown to tolerate, but never pictured being a forever home. While willing to live in either city, my wife is higher on our current city than I am. She is a bit wary of living in the large city, cause of traffic/potential loss of community., although she knows that over time the new city could be great.
The cost of housing is also more expensive in the new city. I bike most days to work, and to buy a house in biking range in the new city, a house will cost approx $150 - $200k more than what we are paying now.
My wife is on board with the move, but a portion of that willingness is to be supportive of me. She has a good job here, and although she will probably/likely get a similar job in her field in the new city, nothing is obviously guaranteed. Adding a further complication is that she is on maternity leave til September (we live in Canada). We plan on having another child soon after, and if she isn't able to find work right away, she might miss the opportunity on qualifying for the mat leave of our future child, which is a massive perk.
So while I've accepted already after discussing ad naseum with my wife, I've had some reservations about executing the move, as I want to do right by my family.
I make approx $120k a year and my wife makes approx $70k.
What are your thoughts?
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With a baby already on the way and the higher COL in the new city I wouldn't move unless the job paid much more than my current one, or I really wanted to live in the new city (or really hated my current city). Sounds like the first part isn't true, but only the two of you can answer the second part.
Moving while pregnant or with a young child also sounds super stressful, but I have no experience with that.
How far out from FIRE are you (if that's part of your plans)?
And how well do you know the new city?
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Let's see: Higher cost of living, same pay, uncertainty of your wife being able to find a similar job with similar pay, and your wife is not excited about it...all for better weather and the vague potential of more opportunities in your career? Hmmm...this is not a dilemma, it's a clear "no" unless you can provide more details on why you think this is a good idea.
Finally, one other thing to throw into the mix. How does the cost of childcare compared in New City? I ask because around where I live (HCOL) childcare costs often rival that of rent, which essentially amplifies the cost of living.