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Hello everyone! I have sort of a dilemma and I just want to get other people's perspectives on my situation.
I've lived in NJ practically my whole life. I'm currently in college working on my degree so I can get a job to support myself and to have a better future. I am living with my parents so I just have my own living expenses (credit cards, chipping in for food, etc). Once I graduate from college, I have the opportunity to move to San Antonio Texas. My best friend lives there and she says I would be more than welcome to stay with her and/or her other family members, whom I am also very close with. They are like my second family.
I had a good long talk with my parents, whom I am very close with as well (my mom and I do everything together), and they think the best thing for me is to get out of New Jersey. Now, I don't hate New Jersey; in fact, I am a little reluctant to leave, hence my dilemma! My father pointed out that I would never be able to live as comfortable a life in New Jersey as I would in Texas, and he says it's because the taxes and housing costs alone would bust me. Every year, it pains me to see my parents pay more and more in property taxes; they just keep rising! And our house is very small...it's only assessed at $180K, but it's definitely not worth that. They are paying almost $5K in taxes. It's ridiculous!
I am not looking to live on the high horse as I get older; I just want to be able to live comfortably enough where I could treat myself to something once in a while, and be able to save for my future, i.e. retirement.
I'm also the type of person who would take any job I could get just to get myself established. I would work as a cashier in a grocery store if I had to if it meant there was some money coming in. From what my best friend tells me, their economy is booming right now. I've heard it from other people as well. I also have almost 9 years experience as a medical biller, so I could definitely do that until I find something where I could utilize my degree.
I don't have many friends I would be leaving behind here. I have more friends in Texas than I do here. I've lived there before, so I definitely know what to expect when it comes to culture shock and things like that.
I am currently working on paying off my credit cards and saving money; by the time I'm ready to go, I would have over $20K in savings, and not have to worry about a place to stay until I can find my own place. I would also love to buy a house in the future; not a mansion, just a house to call my own. It seems nearly impossible in New Jersey. My parents want to get out as well as soon as they retire. My dad says he and my mom could never retire here.
I just wanted some perspective from other people. Is my dad right? Is New Jersey just going to get worse? Would I be smart to take advantage of the opportunity of getting out before I start a family and get settled into my career?
I can't answer about the future of NJ having just moved here myself last month, but it is definitely very expensive to live in this part of the country. Depending on your career, it might be better to move other parts of the country where the COL isn't as high.
You sound like you are a very responsible young adult and have been taught right. Since you are young, you might as well give it a shot and see if you can establish yourself in San Antonio. I have never been there so I don't know what it is like, but that's the whole point when you are young, you can try out different things. You will have a good support system there with your friend, so I can't imagine it being too bad. If things don't work out for you, you can always move back in 6-12 months.
It's fine, everybody is FROM NJ,,, and there's a big world out there to live in. The parts of Texas I've been to kind of blew my mind because they have more shopping malls, stores, restaurants, etc than NJ has, and I was expecting the opposite. Sort of like Arizona too.
Depending on your career, it might be better to move other parts of the country where the COL isn't as high.
I am an English major who hopes to work as an editor. I used to think all of the jobs were in NYC, but a lot of opportunities exist online as well, and I could easily work as an editor anywhere in the country. Plus, San Antonio has a newspaper and there are several magazines located in Texas. With a career like that, I definitely wouldn't be raking in the dough.
Thanks for the replies, guys, and the nice comments! I appreciate it.
Yes, captne76, Texas is surprisingly amazing! The first time I visited there I fell in love with it. San Antonio alone has more to offer than NJ ever will, it seems.
One of the biggest regrets I have is not moving to California when I was in my early 20s. I could have transferred to a job with CBS-TV and got cold feet (or more like I didn't want to leave the boyfriend, etc).
Well, he blindsided me a few years later and married his secretary. I was left "stuck" in NJ, although my life turned out wonderfully with a great, great guy and I now have kids who just graduated college.
My advice to them all the years was to get out of NJ if they had the chance, unless, of course, they were going to be investment bankers making a fortune, then they would have needed close proximety to Wall Street, etc.
I will be moving out of NJ next, year, 30 years late, but better late than never.
Go for it if you have the chance. You can always move back if you want. You'll never know if you never take that first step.
Hello everyone! I have sort of a dilemma and I just want to get other people's perspectives on my situation.
I've lived in NJ practically my whole life. I'm currently in college working on my degree so I can get a job to support myself and to have a better future. I am living with my parents so I just have my own living expenses (credit cards, chipping in for food, etc). Once I graduate from college, I have the opportunity to move to San Antonio Texas. My best friend lives there and she says I would be more than welcome to stay with her and/or her other family members, whom I am also very close with. They are like my second family.
I had a good long talk with my parents, whom I am very close with as well (my mom and I do everything together), and they think the best thing for me is to get out of New Jersey. Now, I don't hate New Jersey; in fact, I am a little reluctant to leave, hence my dilemma! My father pointed out that I would never be able to live as comfortable a life in New Jersey as I would in Texas, and he says it's because the taxes and housing costs alone would bust me. Every year, it pains me to see my parents pay more and more in property taxes; they just keep rising! And our house is very small...it's only assessed at $180K, but it's definitely not worth that. They are paying almost $5K in taxes. It's ridiculous!
I am not looking to live on the high horse as I get older; I just want to be able to live comfortably enough where I could treat myself to something once in a while, and be able to save for my future, i.e. retirement.
I'm also the type of person who would take any job I could get just to get myself established. I would work as a cashier in a grocery store if I had to if it meant there was some money coming in. From what my best friend tells me, their economy is booming right now. I've heard it from other people as well. I also have almost 9 years experience as a medical biller, so I could definitely do that until I find something where I could utilize my degree.
I don't have many friends I would be leaving behind here. I have more friends in Texas than I do here. I've lived there before, so I definitely know what to expect when it comes to culture shock and things like that.
I am currently working on paying off my credit cards and saving money; by the time I'm ready to go, I would have over $20K in savings, and not have to worry about a place to stay until I can find my own place. I would also love to buy a house in the future; not a mansion, just a house to call my own. It seems nearly impossible in New Jersey. My parents want to get out as well as soon as they retire. My dad says he and my mom could never retire here.
I just wanted some perspective from other people. Is my dad right? Is New Jersey just going to get worse? Would I be smart to take advantage of the opportunity of getting out before I start a family and get settled into my career?
Thanks for letting me vent; I really needed it.
Katie
NJ is virtually bankrupt and it has some of the biggest pension liabilities of any state in the Union. Those liabilities have to paid for through increased taxes. There is no way around it. So yes, NJ will get worse in the future. If you have a friend in TX, you should move immediately!! The cost of living is sooo much better, the fiscal situation is much better and they have jobs there...you can't buy a home in NJ unless you're making very good money or willing to "power commute" for nearly 2 hours one way. Stay away from California which has the biggest debt bomb in the Union about explode on its residents. And stay way from IL which makes NJ look fiscally responsible. Ya all, have fun in TX!
NJ is virtually bankrupt and it has some of the biggest pension liabilities of any state in the Union. Those liabilities have to paid for through increased taxes. There is no way around it. So yes, NJ will get worse in the future. If you have a friend in TX, you should move immediately!! The cost of living is sooo much better, the fiscal situation is much better and they have jobs there...you can't buy a home in NJ unless you're making very good money or willing to "power commute" for nearly 2 hours one way. Stay away from California which has the biggest debt bomb in the Union about explode on its residents. And stay way from IL which makes NJ look fiscally responsible. Ya all, have fun in TX!
I wish I could move immediately, but I do have to wait until I finish school. It will be even harder for me to do so on my own. I'm very fortunate in that my parents are allowing me to live at home (rent free; yes, I'm spoiled, but I do pay my own way with other expenses ). Once I finish school, however, I am out!
Thank you so much for the kind words! Everyone's replies have definitely made me feel better about my decision.
OP you clearly have a head on your shoulders.
As others said, try it while you're young.
NJ isn't going anywhere and you could always move back.
The worst thing that could happen is you don't like SA.
It will be a learning experience and an adventure.
Best of luck!
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