Should I choose Job over Location?

[PerpetualWanderlust]

So here's my scenario. I've received some advice on this, all pretty similar. I'm interested to hear what complete strangers who think the same way I do have to say.

I am <25, single, and tied down to virtually nothing at the moment. I worked my tail off in university and before university to not only get a great degree, but graduate debt-free. I accepted a job less than 2 years ago in a lucrative field, where I am paid over $90,000 with very solid benefits. Unfortunately, I HATE the city it's located in. No much to do, few young people, no public transportation, parks, bike lanes, or any other outdoor activity. probably around 100,000 people live here, and its mainly families and elderly folk. It's about 6 hours from the nearest big city (>500,000 residents). Also, cost of living in my current city is relatively high. I've been fairly mustachian, and have been able to save around 55% of my income. I'm at about $75,000 in savings. This is huge, because at the current rate, I would hit my FIRE date around 35 or younger if I stayed in this position.

But like I said, I hate where I live. I can't stand it. However, my job is pretty landlocked to this area, and if I move back home (Dallas) or to another metropolis like I desire, I know that my savings rate will take a hit. I'll be spending around the same amount of money, but there's an 80% chance I won't find a job in the same field, so I'll likely take a huge paycut. I also don't know if leaving my first job (and a very nice one, at that) before my 2-year anniversary would be a horrible decision.

Basically, I really want to earn as much as I can now so I can be FI faster. But, I want to move to a place where I can actually enjoy my life, especially because I'm in my early 20's. Help!

[aschmidt2930]

This is one of those questions that everyone will have an opinion, which you should ignore.  The core of what this site is about is happiness, not bottom lines and savings rates.  If you're not happy and moving to a bigger city will change that, do it.  If a higher salary and a quicker FI date makes you happier, then do that. 

My opinion (which you should ignore, per above) is to move back to Dallas. But I'm biased, as I live here :)

[GizmoTX]

Quality of life is very important to your overall happiness, & most people eventually become more encumbered the longer they stay in any particular place. You already are fighting your golden handcuffs. Waiting 10 years sounds miserable.

Can you discretely search for a job in your target area(s) that just might give you a competitive return when COL is also factored in?

[mxt0133]

I say get the F#@K out of there if it is really as bad as you make it out to be.  I just find it hard to believe that any city could be that bad, there has to be some positives other than a lucrative job.  But if the city really doesn't fit your personality I say go.  I made the same move with my wife and never looked back.  I took an initial pay cut, took a few months of, and started working in the same field, I had more experience than you though but I don't think it matters as much in the long run.  I never new how much a change of environment could impact my overall well being and contentment.  I go back east from time to time so see if it was really that bad and every time I get reminded of why I haven't gone back.

You say that your savings rate will drop but I don't think you are giving yourself enough credit.  If you really want FIRE that bad I think you can make it happen in any city, if Jacob at ERE can live on 7K a year, imagine what anyone can do if they really put their minds into it.

 

[Mr. Frugalwoods]

As much as I love the Internet hive mind, this is probably a question that we can't suitably answer :-)

But heck, that's never stopped me from offering my opinion before!

I've moved around a lot for jobs.  Maximizing your earning power early in your career has massive payback down the road.  Compound interest makes every dollar you save in your 20s soooooo valuable.

And if the city you are in is really a City, then there has to be a cool part of town somewhere.  It might be small, it might not be as cool as somewhere else, but I've had epic nights out in Des Moines, Iowa and Wichita KS.  If there are cool parts of those places... there are cool parts everywhere :-)

If it were me, and I really couldn't get anywhere close to the earning potential in another city, then I'd stay put until that was no longer the case.  Maybe spend the next year trying to diversify your skillset to make that more of a reality?

[GoldenStache]

Love the money, hate the city.. I feel you.  I am currently in a similar situation but I am going to stay for a few years and get my retirement in order before I move to a place I love. I am a "bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" kind of guy. 

If I were in your shoes though I would start looking, under 25 and single is a different beast.  You have saved up a large nest egg (congrats) invest it and leave it alone and go have some fun. Make sure you have a job lined up though before you take the plunge.

[PerpetualWanderlust]

Lots of good imput!

Question: has anybody on here ever moved to a place they wanted to be (AKA, followed their heart instead of going where the work is), and failed miserably?

Like investing advice, everyone's quick to talk about times when their decisions worked out. I'd like to hear both sides of the story, so I don't over-romanticize the idea of moving to a cool place.

[rocksinmyhead]

Lots of good imput!

Question: has anybody on here ever moved to a place they wanted to be (AKA, followed their heart instead of going where the work is), and failed miserably?

Like investing advice, everyone's quick to talk about times when their decisions worked out. I'd like to hear both sides of the story, so I don't over-romanticize the idea of moving to a cool place.

I would be interested to hear about this too.

I'm in a similar situation to yours, but I have the benefit of a significant other, and our city isn't THAT bad, mostly we just hate the climate, and the overall culture of this state doesn't really do it for us :) My original plan was to pay off my student loans, and then start looking at a career change/move back up north. I paid those off this summer and now I kinda have "one more year"/"$10k more in savings" syndrome (plus the fact that my job is really pretty great, both in pay and in my enjoyment of it), so my current plan is to save up $70k which I feel will solidly cover a wedding, house downpayment in the markets we would probably move to, plus plenty of wiggle room (and none of this includes a $10k emergency fund I also have). When I get there I'll reevaluate. But it's hard... I'm worried I'll just really hate whatever kind of job I'm able to get in another area. Who knows, with oil prices in the toilet the decision may end up being made for me :/

[PerpetualWanderlust]

I too have the idea that "well, if I live here X more years, earn X more money for my stache, then I can move on". Problem is, that will be 2-3 years from now, and I don't want to wait! I know people that earn basically what I earn that live in Austin, Dallas, Denver, etc. So I constantly think to myself: Why can't I have both?

I'm not trying to sound selfish, although I know it is. I just don't want to settle. It might be a risk to move, but the risk might pay off big time.

[PerpetualWanderlust]

Can you discretely search for a job in your target area(s) that just might give you a competitive return when COL is also factored in?

Probably. It would take some luck IMO...But then again, finding a job these days takes luck anyways! Looking around open-minded would probably be my best bet at this point TBH.

[2ndTimer]

Is there any chance you could move out of the city but keep the job.  We got sick of Seattle fast but love our small town which is still within driving distance.

[PerpetualWanderlust]

There's not another city within 2 hours of here :(

[2ndTimer]

There's not another city within 2 hours of here :(

Unfortunate.   The next obvious thing to do would be look for a job that pays well in a place you want to live.  You would be working from a position of tremendous strength since you already have an excellent job.  If you may well be able to negotiate a raise on the basis of a higher cost of living.   Even if it turns out to be an epic fail socially, you wouldn't be worse off if you had the right job.

While you are looking for the right job also take another look around your current city.  If it is only 100,000 people it can't be that far to the outskirts and nature and I am certain that there are people going out there and doing something whether it's snow shoeing or dirt biking or target shooting.  If it's nightlife you are dying for, have you checked out everything available?   

[SimpleGuy]

Don't move without another job lined up!  I made this mistake several years ago because I wanted to be near family and paid for it with 2 years of unemployment and ended up living farther away than before.  Doh!

Now I'm in a similar situation as you.  Pay and benefits are pretty good and I can probably reach FIRE in 7-8 years but I don't like my job, cost of living is expensive, and I'm not all that thrilled with the location. If I can find another job closer to family without pushing back FIRE too much, I'll definitely jump on it. If my FIRE date was less than 5 years, I would probably stick it out up here.  But anything longer and I worry about the psychological toll.

[GizmoTX]

Is there a special reason why your job, which is located in a town of 100,000 & 2 hours away from any other, would not exist in Texas?

[pagoconcheques]

You don't say where you live, but I'm guessing you're in the fracking business as that's the only scenario that makes sense (unless you work at a remote, high security prison).  Please confirm either way as that will impact the advice you get here.  Some more specific information about your college degree would help as well. 

Still, the generic advice here holds: get a job before you walk away from the one you have. Make a list of cities that meet your personal criteria then start looking for leads.  The internet makes this very easy.  Visit one or two of those cities on your next vacation.  If you have friends/relatives/contacts in Texas, let them know you are discretely looking for a job.  You're a recent college grad, consider contacting a couple of your favorite professors by e-mail: let them know what you're doing, that you're thinking of moving, and solicit their suggestions for transitioning within your sector or to a different, related sector. 

[NoraLenderbee]

How long until you reach the 2-year mark?
Will your experience (after 2 years) help you get a better-paying job than you could get now in a desirable place?
I don't want to sound like an old phart, but two years is not very long in a lifetime, and there will still be plenty of time in your 20s (and 30s) to have fun.

[PerpetualWanderlust]

I'm in the Oil & Gas industry, so there's only a few select cities where jobs can be found. Dallas has some O&G companies, but not nearly as much as you might think. I'm 4 months away from getting to my two-year anniversary, so most likely if i started looking, I'd be closer to 2 years full experience by the time I start seriously interviewing. No clue how that timetable would actually turn out, however.

Will 2 years help me all that much more? I'm not sure. Most people ask for 5 years experience minimum, but that hasn't stopped plenty of fresh out of college employees from being hired.

[Ricky]

I'm in a VERY similar situation as you, except my living situation is probably much less ideal than yours. I live in the middle of nowhere. There are lots of people, but very spread out. Within a 30 minutes drive there is definitely <10k people. I am not tied to my job as much as it sounds like you may be, though.

Some people will tell you to have a job lined up, some won't. Some people will tell you it's extremely hard to negotiate from 6 hours away, some will tell you it doesn't matter. Either way you go I feel like you'll be fine. There has to be some job you can accept even if it's lower pay that will keep you going until you find an exact replacement (or better).

All of that said, if you are happy at your job, just not the area, I'd still stay for a little while longer. Reason being, you're at work most of the time anyway and you're focused on being FI. You'll have no problem moving later because you're already used to moving.

[goodlife]

Lots of good imput!

Question: has anybody on here ever moved to a place they wanted to be (AKA, followed their heart instead of going where the work is), and failed miserably?

Like investing advice, everyone's quick to talk about times when their decisions worked out. I'd like to hear both sides of the story, so I don't over-romanticize the idea of moving to a cool place.

I have moved many many times for new job opportunities and also just because I really wanted to live someplace! And I don't mean just within a country...I mean across continents. It has worked out BRILLIANTLY for me every time, except once. That one time I terribly misjudged the place that I was so keen to live in. I had a very different image in mind from my visits and job interviews...once I got there and actually lived there day in and day out, I realized I totally did not like it. I quit and moved elsewhere, but that was also due to the fact that I ended up despising this job, which was even more untolerable than the place. To me, the place where I live has never been the determining factor, it's more about the job. In every place I have lived, I always end up spending my days on pretty much the same activities, this really doesn't change at all, no matter that I have moved all across the world, my day-to-day life routine stays quite constant (in terms of the hobbies I do etc). So if I was in your shoes and you really like your job, then I would not move purely because you don't like the place. To me, the job has always turned out to be a bigger determinant of my general happiness than the place. But of course there may be other people who think otherwise and I am a total nomad with no roots anywhere, so don't necessarily take this advice. But wherever you move next, do some good research on the place first if you haven't lived there before, living somewhere and visiting somewhere can give you very different impressions.

[rocksinmyhead]

I'm in the Oil & Gas industry, so there's only a few select cities where jobs can be found. Dallas has some O&G companies, but not nearly as much as you might think. I'm 4 months away from getting to my two-year anniversary, so most likely if i started looking, I'd be closer to 2 years full experience by the time I start seriously interviewing. No clue how that timetable would actually turn out, however.

Will 2 years help me all that much more? I'm not sure. Most people ask for 5 years experience minimum, but that hasn't stopped plenty of fresh out of college employees from being hired.

OMG are you in Midland??? Suddenly everything becomes clear... I was thinking, "well I'm sure they can find SOMETHING to do!" but I wouldn't want to live there either, LOL. Seems to me like a good way to find out if you have enough experience to get hired somewhere else would just be to quietly start looking for jobs in Dallas and applying if you find any.

[stuckinmn]

You are freaking under 25 and single, nothing is holding you back.  I'm also a native Texan and at 24 I decided I was sick of the heat and I wanted to move to Colorado.  By my 25th birthday I was in Denver, and it was easily the best decision I ever made.  Of course, I eventually went too far and ended up in Minnesota but that's another story. 

I can't imagine the recent meltdown in O&G has helped your job outlook, but I'd move to where you want to be while you are still young and free enough to do it.  Once you get married and have kids it gets much harder to move, so get to where you want to be before that.