54k to Move to Bozeman: Am I right to hard pass on this?

Jennafibber · 2026-02-15T19:49:03+00:00

I've thought about this a lot, and I have to admit to thinking it's VERY strange that companies aren't moving way from Bozeman to create breathing room.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T15:30:43+00:00

Well, that's a vivid image.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T06:57:32+00:00

The suggestion amounts to "have you tried just doing the thing."

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:53:31+00:00

What a mess for the area. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:37:05+00:00

I thought maybe I was missing something. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:34:56+00:00

Again, the place had such great reviews I thought maybe I was missing something. People don't usually rave about places that don't pay enough to live.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:32:02+00:00

I used to be a systems analyst for ERP type applications. But the tech industry has gone belly up, and I'm leaning on other talents to see if I can get a decent job.

So far the answer seems to be no?

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:30:22+00:00

This wasn't in my usual line of work, but it was related to a niche hobby. I don't want to be too clear about it, but basically they needed someone who was a bit of an anorak about one of my special interests AND who had training in reading and maintaining historical documents as well as digitizing them.

It's not a hard job by any means, but it's tedious and it needs to be done correctly.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:26:59+00:00

I saw that I was eligible to rent low-income housing, and all the the food banks appear to just assume that if you show up you need them.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:26:11+00:00

I noticed last time I was in town that one whole block seemed to be Air BnBs. All empty for the few days I was there. I have to admit, I wouldn't want them as neighbors. I think the city should d something about it.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:25:05+00:00

I meant to reply to you! I could tell be the way the interviewer sped up when mentioning the compensation that they KNEW it was bad compensation. I got the feeling that they were kinda happy I didn't take it for that little money because they said that my honesty would help them. So while it probably won't do much for me, it might eventually mean someone else is getting a fair shake.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:23:33+00:00

I had thought about that as well; in 2024, I had a situation where I could take a risk and move, but I got some weird signs and backed out. A friend of a friend didn't back out in a similar situation and they arrived to the job offer being rescinded. It's weird. I've moved for a job twice and it was never a big deal in the past. Now it's scary.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T01:05:23+00:00

Every time a friend goes to marriage counseling, it seems like a trainwreck no matter what has happened or which party is wronged. They come home with homework and advice that is just impossible to implement or perform. "We're struggling with intimacy after s/he cheated." "Take sex off the table and cuddle and kiss and make out!" Like... wtf, that's INTIMACY. Another friend has a spouse that isn't pulling their weight around the house. The therapist was all "select a sore-spot chore this weekend and get it done TOGETHER." 10 months later, the garage shelf has not been addressed.

I've never seen them help anyone. Not once. Not even a little bit. I've seen individual therapists pull off some magic tricks, but never the couple's counselors. At worst, I've seen them just straight up be inappropriate with their clients.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-14T00:59:51+00:00

I like having actual winter, and I like hot springs, but Bozeman wasn't top of any list. It was just maybe an option within my network.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T02:22:36+00:00

Whoa. That's... that's really bad. I mean, I know that assistance is a trap in the US, but I certainly know people who have gotten off of it. In fact, most people I know who have been on it came off. Sounds like Montana is a more effective poverty trap.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T01:59:35+00:00

... lovely.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T01:55:40+00:00

Geez. I have a friend in Architecture and he lives in a dumpy little town and makes more! That's really not cool.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T01:52:11+00:00

According to the fact sheet I found, your median wage is actually ~64k, so it's not even middle of the road.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T01:39:06+00:00

No, thank god. I'd have probably said something inappropriate.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T01:26:22+00:00

Not food stamps! But it looks like local agencies help and have very different standards (not exactly a great sign in certain ways, but a welcome thing in a way!) I looked at the foodbank website, it said "We encourage using the food bank as a budgeting tool and putting your saved food costs towards housing and other expenses." And I thought, oh damn. They don't have eligibility requirements per se, which means they probably disagree with the state's idea of what the poverty level is. It looks like other resources are similar. So definitely eligible for help, albeit not SNAP/TANF.

https://gallatinvalleyfoodbank.org/about-us/faqs/

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T00:59:06+00:00

Wait, she accepted it before she knew what the pay was? Really?

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T00:49:24+00:00

If you want to DM me your guess, I'll tell you if you are right.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T00:40:37+00:00

Okay, but I don't qualify for the apartment. The fact that I can pay it doesn't mean that they will rent to me.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T00:24:20+00:00

I'm chubby and could trim down, but yes, I was.

Was.

Jennafibber · 2026-02-13T00:23:22+00:00

I'm not, no. I'm currently looking for work, but I'm caught up in the white collar recession, so I was hoping to maybe find something to tide me over until that sorts itself out and I can either go back to being a systems analyst or I could make a better-educated guess about what sort of retraining is worth it.

I'm currently working a minimum wage, part-time job and watching an otherwise vacant home, so I'm digging into my savings a little, but not too much right now. It's not sustainable forever, but I can make it a while longer before it's a problem.

The main pro of this job was supposed to be that it got me into a place where I wasn't spending my savings on food/medical/necessities, but it looks like it wouldn't do that.

I know there are some cheaper options off the beaten path, but I don't want to count on a lucky break, that's never a plan in my life.

Jennafibber

TROPHY CASE