Author Topic: Moving back to my house  (Read 1882 times)

jackieapple

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Moving back to my house
« on: September 18, 2020, 09:01:23 PM »
I am currently living in a VHCOL area in a rental. The rental is cheap compare to the area so it's very old and run down. I have a house paid off in a MCOL and debating if I should just move back there. I don't like living in the rental anymore, I can afford to move to a nicer apartment but would be more expensive and I don't think it is worth the money. Or I can move far out but then I would depend on a car. I miss having my own house. If I move back to the MCOL area, my salary would be cut in half and I would need to look for a new job. I really enjoy my coworkers in the VHCOL area, this is the first for me since I've had many other jobs before that I left because the people I worked with were horrible. I'm about three years away from FI if I stay at the VHCOL. So my timeline would be extend to about six years if I move back to the MCOL area.
Just want to post an advice seeking/rant and hopefully I can get other perspectives. Thanks everyone!

AMandM

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2020, 09:32:45 AM »
I don't have advice in terms of "you should make this choice and here's why," but I have a few questions that might help you decide what to do.

What exactly is the problem you are trying to solve?  It sounds like you don't like your current housing. Can you figure out what you do and don't like about it? That would help to identify possible solutions.

If you stay at your current job but move to a nicer place, yes it would cost more, and that would delay your time to FI. But so would moving back to your house, and that would require a job hunt, the hassle of relocating, and the loss of your current friends. Are there other reasons why moving to your house is better than moving whilst staying at the job you have with the people you like?

If you were FI now, what would you do?  Keep working at your current job? Retire in your house? Retire where you are? Moving to your house might be more consistent with some of these than others.
 

jackieapple

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2020, 11:37:44 AM »
I miss most about having space. The apartment is very small. There is no balcony or backyard. It's dark but my neighbors windows are right across from me so I rarely leave the window shades open. Before covid it wasn't as important since I just stayed outside all day but after covid I feel a bit suffocating.
Thank you for your questions. I will definitely have to give them more thoughts and figure out what is best for me.

terran

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2020, 12:37:56 PM »
I don't know what the answer is, but I would probably start by figuring time to FIRE in each situation (current, acceptable housing where you are now, moving back and getting a new job) and see which sounds best given that trade off.

You say you used to spend all your time outside and that was good, but now you can't because of COVID. Why is that? In my experience, spending time outside is just about the only thing I do out of the apartment now. Is there not anywhere you can go outside and maintain social distance?

jackieapple

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2020, 12:48:04 PM »
I used to stay at coffee shops but there is no dine in allow where I live. Also, I live in an area prone to fire and it's been really bad lately with the smoke. The more I explain the more I realize that maybe I'm just getting sick of the area. So not sure if staying at another apartment would help. The only thing I'm trying to hang on to is my job. Thank you for your comment. Any perspective helps.

deborah

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2020, 01:09:10 PM »
As someone who had to stay indoors for four months late last year/early this year because of the smoke from the Australian fires I really understand how smoke can be getting at you and making you sick of the area. It’s not always like this, and for you, it hasn’t been. How did you feel about where you live now before covid19 and the smoke? Is it just that it’s been a bad time?

How close have the fires been? I’ve lived through several major fires, and going past blackened hills to get to work for months afterwards (or looking out at black mountains every day from your house as I’m currently doing nine months after the most recent ones) is also very demoralising, as is being on very strict water restrictions for months afterwards because the fires have polluted the water supply...

However, if you’re not that close, and the smoke is the main problem, it should be gone soon. If this is so, it seems sensible to just wait for a few weeks rather than uprooting your life.

I used to live where major fires occur every twenty years. When I moved here I was happy because it had far fewer fires. However, that’s no longer the case, and because of climate change my new area is probably worse.

RetiredAt63

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2020, 07:10:38 AM »
Re the windows, could you install the film that blocks view but lets in light?  I would hate having the curtains closed all day, but I would hate people being able to look in.  One apartment I put bubble wrap on the glass, it worked perfectly, just not quite as pretty.  Some films are like stained glass, really pretty.

Dicey

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2020, 09:37:50 AM »
Sounds like you might be in the Bay Area. People are fleeing and rents are dropping. I'd look for a better place. Three years is far to long to live in self-induced misery.

Sandi_k

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2020, 11:23:32 AM »
There are also blinds that open from the top --> down, so you get light, but you're screened from the neighbors. I'd ask the landlord if you could go 50/50 on such an improvement...

Linea_Norway

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Re: Moving back to my house
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2020, 03:15:43 PM »
Re the windows, could you install the film that blocks view but lets in light?  I would hate having the curtains closed all day, but I would hate people being able to look in.  One apartment I put bubble wrap on the glass, it worked perfectly, just not quite as pretty.  Some films are like stained glass, really pretty.

I will have to start doing this if I end up not moving. Thanks for the suggestions.

+1 for window film. Easy to put on and later pull off.

If you are feeling a bit down, keeping close to your social network might be important.

Would it be an option to rent a bigger place and share it with another tennant?
« Last Edit: September 25, 2020, 10:49:28 PM by Linea_Norway »