Would you move to Houston for 10k more a year? (Austin: best cities, rent)

[FalconheadWest]

If you move, pack some Aleve or Advil Liquigels... THe humidity is AWFUL and if you're not used to it, you're going to get headaches, if not migraines. I usually get a migraine as soon as I hit The Woodlands. NOthing can stop it. It's freakin' humid all the time!

[brattpowered]

NO. Just plain no.

[jobert]

If your husband is making 10K and now he will make 20K, that's a bfd.. If he's going form 100K to 110K, not so much. I would stick it out and rent here, even if it's not in the best part of town. IMHO

[compSciGuy]

From Austin I would (however, I'm neither in Austin or Houston now). However, as it has been stated before if you like Austin, you might not like other parts of the state. I lived in Austin for 18 years or so, and it's just not for me.

[llkltk]

No amount of money would get me to move to Houston. It's a totally different lifestyle. As for you, maybe you can go there and check out the area prior to making a decision. Look at housing, etc.

[justanothercalifornian]

For those of you who were wondering my DH just started this job last year at 45k. So the 10k more would make a very big difference for us. Especially since I stay at home with the kiddos. We could not afford to live central (I would love to live in the heights) so we would be somewhere in the burbs. He would be working central though so I'm not sure about commute times from burbish areas.
We did visit Houston once and well I was very preggo and it was August so my experience may have been clouded a bit. I think I could handle Houston. I do love museums and the arts. The zoo close by would be fun as well. But, the more I think about it the less I can really imagine us actually living there.
Austin is so comfortable and beautiful. I have good friends now and my parents are here.
Ugh. I hate money.

[jobert]

You could live many places in Austin for 45K a year. You would have to rent, and the place where you live would not be your first choice, but there are always options.

Have you considered being a stay-at-home daycare provider? When times are tough, make your own job. Believe me, there is a demand for this service and the going rate around town is 125/wk per child even if you're not certified. Some people wouldn't care if you are or not.

If you don't think you'll be happy in Houston, it's not worth being miserable. I would stick it out.

[sundevil98]

Here's a bit of advice...

Go where you're happy.

I left a job in Michigan that paid $20K more than what I'm making here in Austin... I left my house and I'm in an apartment.

I've never lived in a place that I've enjoyed more. Sure, it'd be nice to live here and have more money, but money isn't everything.

I was working 60 hour weeks, making more money... never saw my wife, and was always grumpy when I got home. I now have a job that I work (98% of the time) 8-5. I see my wife, and we do fun stuff together.

We finally got someone to rent our house (we couldn't afford to sell it), so now we're looking to buy a place of our own. Houses here are a bit more expensive, but we'll be able to afford it.

The main thing, is that we're happier here than we've ever been, even though we're bringing in about $30K less per year (she took a pay cut too)

[texasgirl1]

I think alot of that $10K would get eaten up in your electric bill. A $500 electric bill in the summer in Houston is considered "normal".

[llkltk]

Stay here if your parents are here. Don't they help out with your kids?