Would you take a pay cut to say in Hawaii?

[stan4]

Almost everyone takes a mega pay cut. Paradise tax.

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by akboy

I moved here on May 2nd. From Alaska. I worked at Safeway there and got a store transfer to here. I was making $10 an hour there, when i got here, i was only offered $7.25 an hour! Like a new person. My time in service, my experience nor my status being an assistant deli manger mattered. I felt really disrespected by the company for this. I had to take it just to have a job, but i can not live on that. I have applied elsewhere now and waiting to get a call. I even had to call my friend to borrow money to pay rent next month.

So yes, i took a pay cut, but i did not know it would be that low at the time, if i was told that on the phone, i would not have came right away. Live and learn. But i must say it is beautiful here!

Doesn't McDonald's pay $10+ per hour for starting pay? Not that anyone desires to work there... My point being that Safeway should be smart enough to match.

[DBale]

My husband took a $20,000 pay cut to come to Hawaii. I would take another $20,000 (or more!) to stay. Hawaii is home now, I like visiting the mainland - but LOVE coming back.

[husky422]

we moved in august. i have a pretty decent job but the cost of living is so high that it is def a pay cut. i was just in seattle this past week (where we moved from) and i was in awe how 'cheap' things were i'm def acclimating to the hi lifestyle. i guess it just depends what you are looking for. we love the beach and go every weekend, love hiking, love being outdoors...worth it in my opinion.

kinda funny story: i picked up my rental car from the seattle airport and got on the freeway...i was actually kinda scared cuz the cars were going so fast...lol. i was also surprised at how unfriendly the drivers were...no one would let you merge...i'm very used to the wave and letting you in here in hawaii i haven't been here that long but i def regard it as home.

[PugMaster007]

I don't get how most folks do it. Higher cost of living and lower wages...?

[KoaKine]

Great reply's so far

I understand about the cost of living is higher and I plan not to live in the complicated living style of the Mainland life ie: keeping up with the Jones es
ect. Im just trying to figure out if it would be possible to live comfortably in a small 2 bedroom house while i take a pay cut . I still dont know how much the cut will end up being but there will be one.

[X529]

Would I be willing to take a pay cut to stay / move to Hawaii ?

Interesting question, I am debating it myself. In my case, I have Family on Oahu and BI and lived previously on Oahu.

To a point , I would be willing to do it, but then I know what my absolute minimal comfort level is and I have no illusions about Paradise.

Since I was a Military transplant, and not native born like my Niece's, my ties to Hawaii are probably not as strong. There are also many other places on the mainland I consider desirable and could make a nice life without sacrificing my standard of living to eke out a meager existence albeit surrounded
by all that is Hawaii.

Even with all my experience, I would have to opt for a try it before I buy it period. Hawaii has changed so much in the last 20 years and while not keeping up with the Jones Family is an admirable goal, one still has to have the basics and certain comforts to be happy. I lived in Europe for a while, a beautiful city with exquisite 15th Century Architecture which was enthralling, for a while. Once the novelty wore off, and my day to day life wasn't spent exploring new and exciting venues, I started to long for a better standard of living not attainable since I wasn't a citizen. Better to visit as a monied tourist than be miserable surrounded by ancient ruins as beautiful as they were.

The key for me to living in Hawaii has always been "The Housing" and frankly, it's not easy to crack. People become so enamored with Hawaii at first - the (pick one) 600, 700, 800 square foot condo/apartment is bearable. At some point though, the walls start to close in and then it is a
cascade of issues that finally forces one to confront the reality. There is a price to pay for living in Paradise.

I also enjoy working in my chosen profession which I may not be able to do in Hawaii. Would I be happy working at a Costco, Wal Mart, etc. just so I could live in Hawaii again ? No. For some, work is an integral part of who we are and I'm not yet ready to surrender that part of what I enjoy
just yet. Take a pay cut but stay in my field ? Now the choice becomes easier but then "The House" comes into play. I grew up realtively poor, had a bit of success, own a nice home but it would not translate well in Hawaii. Perhaps the BI to a degree, but certainly not one of the other Islands.

I guess I would be willing to lower my standard of living maybe 15- 20 % in relative terms, but 30, 40, 50 % ? Nope, no way. But that's just me. I would go for a trial period first, get a feel for where you would be the happiest because if this is a long term proposition, one needs to get ready for a potentially more difficult life in Hawaii should the economy not recover for
years to come. Let us hope that is not the case, but the reality is, Hawaii is sort of a boom / bust environment for some.

Best of luck, I hope you and I get the "lucky you live hawaii" thing someday.

[wandering_jew]

Ever since Gilligan's Island, living in Hawaii has been my dream...i interviewd for an IT job during Y2K at the Bank of Hawaii...I applied with my mainland address on my resume only to find out later the 'natives' especially the white ones, really guard their turf, and so i didn't get the job even though i wa a perfect fit for the job. ignorance on my part was the problem: presenting a local address as if i was already living there might have altered the outcome. life is making trade offs, so if living on a pacific island is your dream, then trim the fat from your life and go for it! it is always later than you think, and if not now, when???