Job proposal in Austin (Shepherd: coupon, lease, insurance)

[norgre]

Hi everybody,

We are a French family living in Norway and my husband just got a job offer from his current company, for a position in Austin (local contract, no expat).

I dug a bit in the forum to find out what the cost of living is there but I ended up with yearly expenses that were above the proposed salary for the job ($115,000).

Here are my calculations (per month):
Rental: 3,500 (we would like a house with a 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a pool as close as possible to Shepherd Mountain).
Elec/Gas/trash: 500
School: 2,100 (2 kids)
Food: 600
Travel: 500 (1 trip to Europe/year + some WE around)
Taxes: 2,400 (based on 115,000 salary)
Leisures: 200
Insurances: 450 (cars, house. Health is covered by company)
Total is 10,250 a month, which is 123,000 a year!

I have several questions:
1- We are a family of 4, 2 kids 10 and 5 years old and 2 adults. What do you think about the calculation above? Is it realistic? Do I miss something (coming from Norway I guess there are costs not covered by the state I should take into account).
We are not going out a lot and are not shopping addicts but we don't want to count every cent. We will need 2 cars.

2- Is the Steiner Ranch area an option if work is located in Shepherd Mountain or is it hell to get there during rush hours?

3- How is the work market situation at the moment? I'll need to search for a job there (we won't move if we don't get a visa allowing me to work). I have a Master in business and 10 years experience in Marketing and sales. I currently work for a US company, don't know if that can be an asset.

4- We are considering private schools because the kids don't speak English, what's your opinion about that? Do you know of any programs in public school for foreign kids? This is a big budget...

I have 100 of other questions but I think if you can at least answer to some of the above, that would be great.

Thanks :-).

[austin-steve]

1) Your calculations include luxuries far and above what the average Austin family needs or desires. You could easily live on $60K ($5K per month) if you can handle sticking to the median lifestyle for the area.

2) Steiner is hell no matter what. But it has excellent public schools, so you can find a nice 4/2/2 home there for under $2,500 and use the public schools.

3) Unemployment is very low, but still some have a hard time getting hired. If you interview well and no how to job search, you should be ok.

4) I think they'd be fine in public school. I thought all kids in Norway learned English, or at lease some?

I have a cousin living in Stavanger who was born/raised in Austin. Where are you?

Steve

[norgre]

Thanks.

1- I know that sounds luxurious, but we have two good jobs in Norway with good salaries so we won't move if we have to lower our standard of living.

2- That's what I feared... What would your suggestion be then?

3- Thanks.

4- The older one speaks some English from school, the young one speaks only French and Norwegian.

We are in Stavanger :-).

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by norgre

Thanks.

.... we won't move if we have to lower our standard of living.

2- That's what I feared... What would your suggestion be then?

3- Thanks.

4- The older one speaks some English from school, the young one speaks only French and Norwegian.

We are in Stavanger :-).

I was under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that life in Norway was more spartan and simple than in the U.S. I mean, do you currently live in the upper income area with a lifestyle double the median cost for your area? That's what you are describing as what you need here to be happy.

Steve

[Nacho_Friend]

Originally Posted by norgre

Hi everybody,

We are a French family living in Norway and my husband just got a job offer from his current company, for a position in Austin (local contract, no expat).

I dug a bit in the forum to find out what the cost of living is there but I ended up with yearly expenses that were above the proposed salary for the job ($115,000).

Here are my calculations (per month):
Rental: 3,500 (we would like a house with a 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a pool as close as possible to Shepherd Mountain).
Elec/Gas/trash: 500
School: 2,100 (2 kids)
Food: 600
Travel: 500 (1 trip to Europe/year + some WE around)
Taxes: 2,400 (based on 115,000 salary)
Leisures: 200
Insurances: 450 (cars, house. Health is covered by company)
Total is 10,250 a month, which is 123,000 a year!
.

What country taxes income at a rate of 2400/115000?

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Nacho_Friend

What country taxes income at a rate of 2400/115000?

per month .. so about 30k/year

[Nacho_Friend]

Originally Posted by Austin97

per month .. so about 30k/year

Sorry. Misread.

[kiacook]

One salary of $115,000 is not nearly enough for the lifestyle you describe.

[spchtx]

Originally Posted by Nacho_Friend

What country taxes income at a rate of 2400/115000?

If your tax bracket is 25% than that would be about right per/mo, however I suspect the tax bracket would be slightly higher for $115,000.

The food cost seems pretty low to me for a family of 4. I know people can make that work, but that's some pretty heavy duty coupon shopping.

[nylady123]

Where is shephard mountain?

Why Steiner is hell?