My wife and I wanted to move west. We are average people with average jobs and skills. We're not going to suddenly support ourselves with self-employment or land a job that allow us 8 weeks of vacation a year. We're not doctors, engineers or web developers. We are young and healthy and we were tired of wasting our youth in a region (Northeast USA) we knew very well. We wanted some adventure, but were not comfortable with selling everything to live in a van. My wife was stuck in a career she loved but a job she hated. She wanted out, but nobody was making an offer that would support a move. I loved my previous job, but wanted new scenery, and landed the first job I applied to. They made an offer too good to refuse. Awesome city, good salary, big sign on bonus, yearly bonuses, lots of time to make the move cheaply and stress free.
I'm 2 years into the utility industry, which favors stability and people who stick around. Experience is in high demand, so I got a very nice starting salary to support us in (mountain town Arizona).
My current salary is nearly 3/4 of what our (my wife and I) total income was back in Pennsylvania.
There are a few aspects to this that worry me;
- My new city has high housing prices,and although we've got a sizable "down payment fund" we can't buy a house until my wife is employed. We also have a potentially "pro-Mustachian" huge life decision in 3-years that may have us head back east. Basically, two free places to live in booming job markets.
- Renting means giving up "Mustachian" morals. Rentals in this town are either too expensive or lack proper storage. I'm a DIY guy who prefers cheap transportation and bicycles. I don't want to live with my bike in my dining room.
- My wife's skills are non-profit based meaning she usually doesn't make much above US Yearly Average. She's open and understanding to the possibility of getting additional education for increased skills, but that costs money.
I'm looking for some suggestions on how to handle: A) higher cost of housing when I'm ready to buy B) career and housing strategy when I could potentially bail in 3 years and C) quick access skills for institutional employment (gov, higher-ed, med)