[sunshineann]

Here it comes, another oh know where to live kinda question. I have been reading alot on here from everyone, and i value ones input. I realize that its only opinion, and its nothing like seeing is believing.

I traveled to Michigan a couple of years ago with my husband. (he's a truck driver) I fell in love, know i know that in trucking you dont really get into the heart of it all but what i seen was amazing. I grew up in Pa, live in Mo. for the past 5 years, and we have been trying to decide where to move to. I have looked into WV, VA ect. Some reason i keep going back to Michigan. After hearing i believe Michigansnowflake, and seeing pictures, i cant get away from the idea.

I have four children, i am currently doing online college to get my cert. in Medical Transcription. My husband is stll an OTR truck driver. (hate it) he would love to come off the road. His passion get this....is cooking. We like i believe alot of people are on a budget. We would need to rent for awhile. My eye keeps going to the West coast of MI. Traverse City or somewhere around that area. I would like to know, and im sure ya' all will give it to me..lol. For a family of 6 and on a tight budget, would MI work for us? or around that area specified?

Thanks so much for your input...Sunshineann

[goblue1231]

Hey Sunshineann,Even though the economy is not the best in Michigan the medical field is in need of all types of work. I actually live in traverse city, I moved up there from Det 5 years ago and I love it up there. It is one of the best places to raise a family and live. There are tons of great resturants and outdoor activity to do. Actually all of Northern Michigan is beautiful with different smaller communities that offer alot for their size. I just got hired as a teacher in South Carolina but I think I am going to decline the offer because I love TC. The schools are good, home prices are pretty good, next to no crime. If you have any other questions give me a shoutgood luck

[Bydand]

TC can be expensive, but is a nice place. My cousin and his family live there and wouldn't leave for anything. I am partial to the Ludington area myself, but actually live a few miles outside of Ludington because just a few miles from the Lake and things are cheaper. My main concern would be what kind of budget are you looking at? I have found this area to be much cheaper than other places I have lived. The food bill is about the same as most places, but the quality of food is amazing. I don't know what utility bills are there, but electric here is around 9 cents per kilowatt hour. Natural gas varies with the market, but with all fees and taxes it was $1.53 a therm last month for us here using DTE. I have my phone (unlimited local and long distance), Internet (10 mb/sec download speed), and cable (200+ channels) and it runs $140 a month with all taxes and fees. I could drop the phone/internet/cable bill down to under $60 if I needed to, but would give up somethings I like. Gas just dipped below $4.00 a gallon today so that is good.

My wife and I also have 4 kids and one of the main reasons for coming back home to West Michigan was the great schools in the area. A larger paycheck is nice as well, and more home for our dollar helped sweeten the pot also. Healthcare is topnotch and affordable. 4 real seasons without any of them being over powering is nice. The water in Lake Michigan is over 70 degrees now and the swimming is fantastic. Salmon will start to run in another month and a half so that is a great time of year if you like to fish. Nothing like fresh King salmon straight out of the lake. It can be done with 4 kids here, I know several couples who have 6 or 7 and are on a fairly tight budget. It isn't easy, but the quality of life and the opportunities for you as a couple and the kids are fantastic.

I will never leave this area again. I left many years ago and have traveled all over this Country, for us, this is the perfect place to live and raise out family.

[suydam]

Traverse City might be tough... there just aren't that many jobs. If you can find one, it's worth your while to live up there... I love it and would live here in a heartbeat if I could.

You should look at Grand Rapids and the surrounding communities too. There are more job opportunities here than other parts of the state.

[sunshineann]

Thanks for all the great info. I really do appreciate it.
Im gonna check out the Ludington area as well. We dont have to live right on the Lake but as long as im close and dont have to drive half the day. And alot of things to do for us and the kids.
Tight budget is what we are right now. We even gave up cable to save save save.
We want our children to be happy, and living here where we are now, is not making them happy. (or us for that fact)
Thanks you guys for your wisdom....i'd love to hear more.
Sunshineann

[Cliffie]

The West side of the state is the only one growing economically. It's not only very beautiful, but by far your best bet economically. I say scout around a little and see what you like in the area.

Medical transcription, or medical anything, is a great field to go into right now, even in Michigan. Cooking, I couldn't say. But they say in bad economic times, people flood into the restaurants because they are a fairly cheap way to get a change of pace, people watching and a nice steak. I can't believe there aren't opporuntities out there for someone who can cook.

[sunshineann]

Thanks Cliffie for the great advice. I appreciate all that is given.

[Jswee]

The Medical field and the hospitality industry are two of the stronger sectors of the Traverse City economy, we have a world class medical center in Munson Hospital and it is constantly expanding. There are tons of great restaurants in this area, although the hospitality industry takes long hours and is tough on families. The opportunities are there if you go for it. People say that there are not any jobs up here but somehow 50-60,000 people manage to make a living and somehow survive. Sometimes you just have to think outside of the box and find a need that you can supply a solution for.

[sunshineann]

Great words of wisdom Jswee. I know with the medical transcriptionist field, you can anywhere. doctors, dentists, chiro., even lawyers offices. Plus you can work from home now doing it which saves the companies alot of money. My husbands passion is cooking and is very good at it. He now is a OTR driver just to make a living out here where we live now..He seen the school in Traverse City and just wants to go for it...im a little nervous.

[xlabel]

Michigan is a heck of a lot cheaper than FL, that much I know. I was getting slammed with $700 a month rent, $250 electric bills, a $50 water bill in FL, and here I pay $500/mo my electric hasn't been over $90, no water bill or gas heat bill my landlord pays that. I don't know that I would want to live in TC though, too far north, the winter is a little more brutal. I live in Paw Paw it's about a half an hour to Lake Michigan. With your husband being a truck driver Paw Paw, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids would prolly be a good fit, they are close to 94. I know a company locally here all you need is 6 mos otr experience and you can go out regional and be home on weekends or they shuttle frieght from manufacturers to warehouse and he'd be home everynite or day, they run 24 hours. Good luck.