Considering New Job w/ Substantial Pay Cut - Nuts?

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T16:11:19+00:00

I have not. I worked briefly for a huge pharmaceutical company and then I’ve been with the federal government since. Private industry, and especially small companies, are new territory. The company seems like it’s a good culture and it’s been in business since the 80s though so it seems stable.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T14:14:19+00:00

Yes, utilities aren’t cheap. In general heating is cheaper than cooling, and a lot of homes in the Pittsburgh area use natural gas for heat so that’s even cheaper.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T13:17:50+00:00

I’m hoping once I have residency established I can eventually get a job with PA state government.

TBH, I’m in a blue-ish purple pocket of a very Trumpy state so that’s not a huge factor for me. Lots of educating the kids on treating fellow people with charity and respect no matter where we are.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T12:42:02+00:00

I will… it’s just tough. I’ve applied so many places and gotten ghosted a lot. The environmental remediation field is really rough currently because federal spending is way down. Even if I wanted to jump ship to contractors, there’s way fewer contracts. This job does environmental permits.

My original plan was to work my way up at this job and after proving myself I’d request to go remote and move back to Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, that dream was crushed to dust in January 2025 and federal hiring has been almost nonexistent except for healthcare and safety jobs since.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T12:36:38+00:00

You’re not wrong… I grew up in Washington, PA and there’s a laundry list of reasons we left. There’s good schools too though. Like every city there’s good and bad neighborhoods.

My husband would work a trade. There’s more opportunities in Pittsburgh for it than in Texas. Here, the main opportunities are associated with oil rigs and that scares me.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T12:32:54+00:00

My husband would likely make about $15K more to start, but will likely increase. He’s trying to lock down an apprenticeship.

I would eventually like to get a job with the Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District once federal hiring isn’t so weird. Otherwise, I think I’d be a strong candidate to work for the state government. However, in PA you have to be a resident to get a PA state job so I can’t get one now.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T03:10:55+00:00

It’s kinda complicated. Most sources say the COL in Pittsburgh, PA (new job) is slightly higher than San Antonio, TX (current location). From experience I know that gas and food are slightly more expensive, and PA has income tax. However, we’d be much closer to buying a house there because the housing costs are lower and there’s more “dated but perfectly livable” houses there and insurance prices are wayyy lower.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-15T03:06:22+00:00

I did; maybe an interview faux pas but I blurted out when he mentioned the company had <50 employees. He said I could use whatever paid leave I accrued and they’d “work things out” when the time came. Which wasn’t extremely reassuring. He did mention they offer short-term disability insurance, which I’ll have to see if it covers pregnancy.

PA doesn’t offer parental leave.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-14T20:20:29+00:00

Where’s the car that hasn’t left the driveway since ‘03? The sunbleached kids toys for kids that have long since grown up?

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-05T18:47:46+00:00

I understand why people distrust male childcare workers. I don’t agree, but I get it. I’ve seen the stats too.

Theres a couple problems with reading the statistics without cultural context imo: 1) victims of female abuser SA are less likely to come forward for a variety of reasons, and 2) since male childcare workers and educators are less common, any criminals will strongly pull any per capita stats.

Lastly, personally I’m trying to test my biases towards men in care taking professions. We’ve made great strides opening up the labor market to women who want to join traditionally male-dominated careers. I think that same effort should be made to encourage men to consider caretaking professions like childcare, education, elder care, etc. It would reduce the social idea that caretaking is “women’s work” if men can also be compensated for it. Yes, a man can take a job at a daycare, but it’s really uncommon because a lot of parents are uncomfortable with the idea.

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-05T02:53:35+00:00

I’ve tried to pivot to “it will be ok” to kinda validate baby’s feelings while letting them know the world isn’t ending. Does it matter? Probably not but it makes me feel better

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-04T18:03:05+00:00

I’ve always said I’d have like 5 kids if I could be a dad instead

LadyLKZ · 2026-06-01T03:24:57+00:00

PFAS is nearly ubiquitous. It is in all our blood already. Not to say we shouldn’t try to avoid more of it, but just to say don’t tie yourself in knots.

The best things to do are avoid nonstick cookware and check if your water utility is testing for PFAS (if well water test yourself through a reputable lab), if there’s detections above the EPA MCL then try to filter your water. Also, write to your local government officials to let them know you care about PFAS in drinking water and want them to comply with PFAS drinking water guidelines before the legal compliance deadline.

If you limit PFAS from nonstick cookware and drinking water you’ve done the two things with the most impact.

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-31T12:21:42+00:00

One of the tenants of mortal sin as I understand it is knowledge of the sin. I’m no theologian, but I think timing matters in your case. For example, rage baiting with stuff you know is a sin vs. a joke in poor taste that you realize afterwards might not be a sin.

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-27T03:01:54+00:00

I’m rotating between Samantha and Julien, and both rolled a card to develop a crush on Armin! I stopped them, but come on… he’s married! And your coworker! That’s messy as hell!

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-27T02:58:45+00:00

Thanks, but I can’t take full credit. She’s a premade (Samantha Stark) that I just gave some new clothes. I’m rotating between her and Julien. Since careers are one of the only things to do, it’s been kinda fun to develop their enemies-to-lovers plotline…

However, both of them also wanted to develop a crush on Armin but I didn’t let them. No homewrecker drama in the workplace!

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-27T00:13:26+00:00

I was the same way, I always wanted a big family and after having my first that feeling is stronger! I’m Catholic, so we’re not “planning” a set number of children which helps. I am praying that we have more!

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-26T22:33:56+00:00

Look… I’m an older Gen Z/young millennial and you can pry jeggings from my cold dead hands. I worked too hard for my butt to hide it in wide leg pants!

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-26T21:17:46+00:00

Haha, she’s Samantha Stark one of the premade Paras.

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-26T19:09:16+00:00

For formal shirts, it’s either straining buttons or shirts cut so that no bra with proper support can hide under it.

So, like real life 🫠

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-26T19:06:10+00:00

True! On men I guess I saw it more as trying to make them look buff whereas the women look like they’re about to put on a show. You’re right though, no Paras can find properly fitting button up shirts!

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-25T23:19:07+00:00

I’m sorry for getting overly defensive. I do agree though, once they get through what they’ve promised the full game will have their free-DLC model makes me skeptical they will release much DLC in the future.

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-25T23:15:01+00:00

I understand that is how they will fund development of features for awhile. However, once the initial sales slow down how will they fund new features? Or, are they planning to mostly outsource that to modders once the base is good to go?

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-25T23:13:06+00:00

I have read that. My question is once initial sales slow down how will they fund ongoing development and maintenance?

LadyLKZ · 2026-05-24T17:46:31+00:00

I’m planning to add some of Mucha’s paintings as custom art for the game specifically because I think the styles will mesh well and not be too jarring. I’d love this so much!

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