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My sister and her husband came to the US from Ukraine 12 years ago. In December 2012 they got divorced and he decided to go back home. She wants to stay here, in Atlanta. She is 50, has US degree in accounting and a job paying her $45K plus benefits. She also has 10 years US experience and about 20 years job experience in Ukraine.
I am not sure she will make it in the US since she walked out of this marriage with $90K in cash from the house sold. She has no savings, no 401-K, but she wants to put entire money to buy a house.
This all looks silly to me and I really think she would be better off at home since they have free medicine and cost of living is much cheaper. She also can retire at 55 over there.
She understands that financially she can afford more in Ukraine but she likes it more here.
What do you guys think - can she make it in the US?
My sister and her husband came to the US from Ukraine 12 years ago. In December 2012 they got divorced and he decided to go back home. She wants to stay here, in Atlanta. She is 50, has US degree in accounting and a job paying her $45K plus benefits. She also has 10 years US experience and about 20 years job experience in Ukraine.
I am not sure she will make it in the US since she walked out of this marriage with $90K in cash from the house sold. She has no savings, no 401-K, but she wants to put entire money to buy a house.
This all looks silly to me and I really think she would be better off at home since they have free medicine and cost of living is much cheaper. She also can retire at 55 over there.
She understands that financially she can afford more in Ukraine but she likes it more here.
What do you guys think - can she make it in the US?
I came from Ukraine 12 years ago with nothing. Was much younger, had very little experience, but had my bachelors degree. I made it just fine. I would never, ever go back. I went back for several weeks, and visited - it was very nice, but I don't think I could live there. After 12 years here, your sister is more american than she is Ukrainian, most likely. She has a good job and a decent salary for the area she lives in. $90K is also a decent chunk of cash. I would not put it all in housing, though. If she has good credit she can get a relatively inexpensive mortgage, and use just a part of her money as a down payment. Invest the rest (IRA is not a bad first step, get 401K if she can).
BTW, Kiev is more expensive these days than most major cities in the US. And there are no jobs outside of Kiev.
Life is not worth living if your not happy and satisfied with your life in general.
She should stay in the US as that is where she wants to be.
She has friends in the US and she has you and your family, please support her decision.
I am moving back to the US after 20+ years living in other countries as I am no longer satisfied with my lifestyle in Australia. My siblings are very supportive of my decision. It's where I want to be in my retirement.
Would you ever permanently move back to the Ukraine?
She won't make it anywhere if she's going to be irresponsible with her money. You know that she shouldn't put all of her cash into the purchase of a house. Your sister is an accountant and this is her plan? I guess it goes to show that you can buy/pay for a college degree but you can't buy common sense.
Right now, she has $90,000 in savings. She should put some money aside in an emergency fund and begin to save for retirement. Does she have any debt? If so, pay that off first.
Your sister can afford a house if she can continue to add to savings, retirement, pay a mortgage and meet all of her monthly expenses. Maybe she'll find a nice little short sale or foreclosure to buy.
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