North Carolina or Bust! (Detroit, Charlotte: student loans, relocation, health insurance)

[wanderer74]

Originally Posted by NCarolinaNewB

Yes, those jobs only pay nominal wages. That is why we are trying to move to NC to make a better life for our family. I've found that many people are "slamming" people for leaving. It is not my first choice. We "stuck" with MI for the past 3 years while I finished my college education, hoping that all would be well, however we've found that it is just not working for us.

I opened this forum for suggestions about moving to NC, positive ones I was hoping, however I've found that some people have found it a place to argue and wallow in their misery.

While I don't want to leave my extended family I don't have many other choices. We have to pay the mortgage, insurance and for our automobiles. YES, I want better for my children. If we have to leave Michigan to have that then that is what we will do. Our extended family can travel as can we during the summer and holiday season. I am sure that our phone bills will increase, however that is worth it to me.

For those of you who are open to giving me suggestions or positive experiences, I would appreciate it. If you know someone who has moved to NC please let me know about their experiences. I try to learn from others examples.

I'm sorry for not giving you the information you wanted. I'm not really sure what kind of tips or suggestions you want - do you want to know about how to make the adjustment process easier for yourself? for your kids? Do you want tips for how to get established in a new place? I'm not really sure how to help because I'm not sure what you're looking for. If you want information that's specific to North Carolina, you might get more of the kind of information you're looking for if you ask in the NC forum since there probably aren't too many people reading the MI forum who have experience with moving to NC.

That said, I do have a friend from MI who just moved to Charlotte NC a couple months ago. She said that the availability of work there is just shocking compared to how things are in MI, and even grocery cashier jobs pay better than $10 an hour! But she also said that moving has been much more expensive than she expected (things like utility deposits, vehicle registration, etc) and she's had a difficult time with homesickness for MI.

[tom&jenny]

Well I support you leaving michigan, let the people who want to keep the titanic afloat there. they can go down with the ship.
as the big three goes so goes michigan.
This medical industry leading michigan in the right direction is a plain case of too little too late. Michigan moaned this last winter, this next winter it will howell.Those with jobs may sat that is not true, but I think it was louis the 16th that thought everything was fine in paris untill he saw the blade streaking tward his neck.

[Sociologist]

Originally Posted by NCarolinaNewB

My family and I are contemplating a move to the Raleigh, NC area this summer. We have two sons - 13 and 10 - and I am wondering if anyone else from MI is headed that way. My husband is an electrician and can't find a job here and I just graduated in education and can't see myself subbing for a year (or more) before finding work, especially without insurance benefits - hmm, story sound familiar? I've read so many postings of people who can't find work here in MI (no matter what their field)

We will be sad to leave our friends and family - this is the only home that my kids and I have ever known. My husband traveled with the military before we were married. My kids are nervous, but anxious about the move. Any tips or suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks bunches!!

As you have read there exists a large amount of negative energy toward the state of Michigan. Moving to any state is a monumental task, regardless of the state. I attended college in Raleigh for several years (along with friends that currently live in ann arbor). The city is very urban new and shiny looking but also has its faults.(suburban areas mostly) There is a large abundance of degreed professionals doing work they did not expect to be doing (bar tending etc) due to sheer numbers of them. Lots of IT based positions, pharmaceutical, medical field, and in general service work. Its hard to compare it to our economy because they are not in the same state of development. Its getting more and more expensive to live there, urban sprawl is rampid (fly into the airport and it looks like they are cutting down all the trees). Houses in decent hoods are 300K. Agreed it is a good place to raise a family, but it would be a lot of money and a long trip home if things didn't settle as planned. If you move stay away from downtown Raleigh: Apex and outer areas are desirable. Just as ANY city in ANY state you can weigh the pros and cons, go to a NC thread and read the issues there. Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed. I'm not saying its a bad idea, although u didn't indicate if you had been there or not which I would strongly recommend before making a 700 mile leap.
Good luck hope I assisted you

[Sociologist]

I must write this in support of Michigan....a drum can only be beaten a certain amount of times before it tears, no longer producing any noise. Can you beat louder if your situation is more dire than someone who doesn't want to? Ofcourse, I have been there for over a year, and it took me that long to find a decent job. Yes, waves of change are occurring in this state and it is to the advantage of some people to leave and many to stay. I'm not disagreeing to the mother of 3 who cannot find employment with a degree, or the father either. But can negativity really help your situation? As much as I have traveled there is things about every city, every state that will be frowned upon. Think of the H.S students getting out, or the college graduates holding the new high school diploma of the 21st century. There chances of having the life of those in the past are virtually nill, but many of them stay and look for work. Competition isn't the best thing to be involved in, but the more qualified people are the ones who are staying in this state. Eventually you have to do what you have to do, but negativity of 10 million people will not produce 1 job.

[abtgo]

I think many here use the term being negative wrong.

webster puts it like this
1 a : marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal <received a negative answer>; also : marked by absence, withholding, or removal of something positive <the negative motivation of shame -- Garrett Hardin> b (1) : denying a predicate of a subject or a part of a subject <"no A is B" is a negative proposition> (2) : denoting the absence or the contradictory of something <nontoxic is a negative term> (3) : expressing negation <negative particles such as no and not> c : ADVERSE, UNFAVORABLE <the reviews were mostly negative>
2 a : lacking positive qualities; especially : DISAGREEABLE b : marked by features of hostility, withdrawal, or pessimism that hinder or oppose constructive treatment or development <a negative outlook> <negative criticism> c : promoting a person or cause by criticizing or attacking the competition <ran a negative campaign> <negative advertising>
Stating a fact that michigan is in the dumper and getting worse is not negative.
denying the fact that michigan is getting worse is negative.

[wanderer74]

I don't think I'm "bashing" Michigan or that I have an unjustifiably negative view of it. I actually love Michigan, but I AM really discouraged by how difficult it is to find adequate work. I'm also frustrated with those who say that all of us who are having trouble in MI are looking for 'screw-turning jobs that pay enough to buy Corvettes'...some of us are college-educated with modest goals such as just a full-time job with health benefits, and we can't find even that. Work is a very big part of one's identity in America, so doesn't it make sense that if lots of people can't find gainful employment (gainful being the key word!) it's going to be really hard to remain positive and upbeat? It's kind of unrealistic to think that those of us who are really struggling should be cheerleading for Michigan, especially when we know that we wouldn't likely have the same difficulties finding adequate employment in other states.

[jeffncandace]

No one's saying things aren't tough, or that someone doesn't have the right to talk about how tough it is. It just becomes frustrating for those of us who are doing okay and like it here to see posts over and over that say things like this..." let the people who want to keep the titanic afloat there. they can go down with the ship. as the big three goes so goes michigan."

It's like, come on, it sounds like certain posters WANT for us all to be destitute. It sounds like a reasonable solution would be for all 10 million of us to form a straight line and conga our way outta here. Then, what, let Michigan go back to nature, make the whole place a giant National park?

Again, it's fine to vent your feelings of frustration regarding the state of affairs in our state. But please don't make broad, sweeping generalizations regarding how we are and where we are going! If you feel the need, remember to add that it's YOUR OPINION, not fact.

For instance, of course we are all aware that it's a FACT that Michigan is not doing well. But it is not a FACT that there is no hope.

Everyone dig?

[JenM]

Oy vey!

Ok... I will be nice, promise! What ever happened to hard work? You CAN survive on $8-10 an hour, probably not in a huge house with all the ammenities, but you can survive! And yeah it's gonna stink that you have to work a 90 hour work week to do so, but so what??? It's called survival. And in hard times that's what you do.
I mean I hear all of these people all of the time complaining about not having insurance or not having benefits or not having vacation time... um that's what the real world is like. There are many people like me, who've never had health ins. and I'm almost 30. I've survived thus far. Do I get regular check ups? Yes. Do I pay out of pocket? Yes, it's called a payment plan. Remember stories from our grand-parents who lived through the depression? The worked hard and wasted nothing! They saved everything and remained alive. And they saw "the light at the end of the tunnel!"

What happened? I mean come on, have we really become a society that has no backbone? I know this sounds harsh, but I just feel like we have forgotten about how good we actually have it! We have running water, suitible food, good health care, better working conditions than many other countries.

And if you have to work hard for 2,3, or even 5 years, so what? You'll look back, years from now and laugh. Truly. Healthcare is much better, so the 40's are the new 20's and the 70's are the new mid-50's. You live much longer now, so you'll have more time to relish when you are older! Think back to highschool; whether it's been 5,10, or 50 years ago. Remember, in the moment of highschool, with all of the drama and cliques and the "trying to fit in" how hard it was and how terrible you felt? Think about it now, doesn't it seem like a distant memory? You laugh to yourself and think: Gosh I was so silly for dreading those silly highschool moments!

And is exactly what you'll do 10 years from now with this so-called MI crisis.

I know you Michiganders are very strong people! Give yourselves a little credit!!!

[JenM]

Oh one more thing... if you are having trouble finding employment, check out Granholm's "No worker left behind" Plan. It offers free schooling to displaced workers. You'll find everything from a 10 week fire academy training program to wedding planning to phelbotomy. All courses are under 2 years!

[mhogan10010]

I grew up in MI, but lived in NC for 12 years.
My dad was a contractor in Ann Arbor. I tried to get work in the HVAC field in NC, and was shocked at how low the pay was. If your hubby is an electrician, he will need to find the right kind of company or your pay situation will match the cost of living.