dilemma- advice appreciated (leasing, daycares, income)

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I would say that as well. Lots of tech companies here would be willing to consider a PM with a tech background. I would expect having a local address would help the search. Throwing relocation expenses into the offer can be pricey into this area.

I'm not so sure relo expenses would factor into a company's response to a job application. In a cover letter, or elsewhere, one can state that they are relocating to the area already. Also, many companies don't even pay relocation expenses anymore, anyway, so they'd simply state as much.

[rdb123]

Thanks all. I have been trying for a while. I have used both linked in and indeed for job applications.

I even tried using my wifes home address for few months. I did not mention earlier I even had my resume professionally done.

I think (I may be wrong here) the 2 calls I got both jumped straight to salary and looking at my experience the recruiters thought that I will be out of the range for the positions.

I agree the cost of living in boston is much higher than chicago. Being next to family is invaulable but at the same time is it worth the sacrifices? I know this is something that we have to decide but its a tough one. I just find it hard to leave a very well established stable job with no stress(+12 years) with great pay to take a risk and start all over again. Thats life.

Anyone know recruiters or connections in the industry looking for Product managers (pharma, med, manufacturing etc) Thank you

[rdb123]

OP and Chicagoliz..we have some family in the area but more family and friends in the boston area.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by rdb123

I agree the cost of living in boston is much higher than chicago. Being next to family is invaulable but at the same time is it worth the sacrifices? I know this is something that we have to decide but its a tough one. I just find it hard to leave a very well established stable job with no stress(+12 years) with great pay to take a risk and start all over again. Thats life.

I don't think you're going to find the answer to this here. This is certainly a very tough dilemma. A no-stress, stable, well-paying job? That's like hitting the lottery. But if this is a great opportunity for your wife, that's a huge deal, and being near family is nice and can be very helpful.

Good luck in this decision -- it sure is not an easy one.

[kingeorge]

You might be the one with toughest decision here. What your wife says all about this? It might be test to strength of your union. I agree that it is tough decision.

Count on a fact that your quality of living might go down with high cost RE and everything else. I think you both need to sit down and be honest about all the good and bad associated with this move. And also not every family or family member is great to have close by, as much as it seems from afar. Everyone is busy running their lives. Make sure you are both on the same page. Maybe she can try for a while and come here alone before you can be sure it is a good move?

Good luck.

[Parsec]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

I always hear this, but I'm curious -- I paid about 1300/month for infant care and 1100/month for care for a 4-5 year old. When I see info about how MA is so expensive, it seems like they're not more expensive than that. In terms of real numbers, how much higher is it for daycare expenses?

Thank goodness this isn't a worry for me anymore as my youngest is now in K. But I'm just curious if the problem exists at all levels, or if there's more of a shortage of lower-cost care, which is a problem everywhere, it might just be worse in MA.

You need to compare apples to apples. If you're seeing numbers that aren't much higher than $1300/mo for infant care then you're probably being quoted prices for a home-based center run out of someone's basement. How much does Bright Horizons cost where you are? It's around $2800-3500/mo here for infant care depending on the town.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by Parsec

You need to compare apples to apples. If you're seeing numbers that aren't much higher than $1300/mo for infant care then you're probably being quoted prices for a home-based center run out of someone's basement. How much does Bright Horizons cost where you are? It's around $2800-3500/mo here for infant care depending on the town.

I didn't do quotes, I just had seen some stuff online -- again, I don't need daycare anymore (hallelujah!) but I was curious since a lot of the numbers people threw around were fairly comparable to what I paid. That sure is a lot of money. My older son was at Bright Horizons from 9 mos to 5 years (he's now 11), and it was somewhere in the vicinity of 1300 when he was a baby. Tuition increased every year, but decreased most year for us as our child got older and teacher ratios could change. For my younger son, I did inquire at a Bright Horizons, and it was about 1300-1400 for babies. (It could have been 1500 -- I can't remember for certain, but I am sure it wasn't more than that.) I'm not sure what it is now. He was at a different center last year, and it was 1100/month, but he was not an infant.

I am amazed to see costs of $3500/month. I don't think there was anything even approaching that where I am now. That is certainly a major factor to consider in making a decision to move to the area.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by Parsec

You need to compare apples to apples. If you're seeing numbers that aren't much higher than $1300/mo for infant care then you're probably being quoted prices for a home-based center run out of someone's basement. How much does Bright Horizons cost where you are? It's around $2800-3500/mo here for infant care depending on the town.

Center based day care can be cheaper outside of 128. Bright Horizons is known for being [more] expensive.

[johngolf]

From some mommy chat 09/11, in MA:


We go to a Bright Horizons that costs $1675/mo for 9 hours a day/5 days a week. They have plenty of openings for infants, and so did the KinderCare we visited. All depends on where you live if there is a waiting list or not!

[vtecluder617]

Originally Posted by vtecluder617

And I've heard from some people that Bright Horizons in Kendal Sq Cambridge charges over $2000 a month for daycare (again, I'm sure due to the high concentration of highly paid pharmaceutical employess in the area)

I confirmed with my wife this weekend (because it was a co-worker of hers who was inquiring) but it was actually $3000 a month for the Bright Horizons in Kendal, and that quote was given to her in 2013 My mortgage isn't even that high!