The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: moustacheverte on June 30, 2017, 07:00:43 AM
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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?
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I wouldn't move away from your job to then be unemployed because you're afraid of possibly being unemployed. Doesn't make much sense unless you actually lose your job.
In my experience, HCOL only makes sense if you're pulled there by a job or jobs. I was pulled to DC in 2010 with a high enough salary that my fiance could follow and find work eventually. Instead of moving back, widen your job search to other cities and focus on moving to something instead of away from something.
Edited to add: My now wife did struggle for several years to find her place employment wise in DC. She's currently working with on a complete career change that's enabled due to having 1 high income and relatively low spending. Point is that one of you just needs something good and that lets the other work towards their success, whatever that might entail.
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If you're concerned about the long term prospects of your own job, you should start looking for another one NOW. Don't wait to be laid off. Going back to your previous location without jobs lined up for both of you doesn't make sense as long as you are employed. I think both of you need to focus on finding new jobs either in the current location or another location before you make any moves.
Also, is the job situation the real reason you want to go back? Is there anything else going on that is pulling you back?
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To add to what the others have said, it's time to take a step back and look critically at why your OH can't find the work she wants.
Does the work exist?
Is her industry doing well at the moment?
Do her skills stack up?
Are salary expectations reasonable?
Is she getting interviews?
Once you can diagnose the exact issues, it's much easier to brainstorm solutions.