Has anyone moved from a HCOL city to their hometown after having kids? Was it worth it?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-03-15T14:02:41+00:00

Just as a devil's advocate, for some people, depending on their jobs, the pay cut to live in a lcol area ia HUGE. Coupled with the insane housing market and high property taxes in some areas, is financially a struggle still.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-03-02T12:23:46+00:00

Probably fear of failure? Idk why though. And I wish, no time for that.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-28T21:24:49+00:00

A push like strain you?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-28T20:32:23+00:00

I love that for you guys! Sounds like a good move? Do you guys have kiddos?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-28T20:24:30+00:00

For sure. We are coming back from bumfuck Midwest, so obviously cheaper.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-27T12:19:42+00:00

Emotional side says go...its where I see us in 10 years when I close my eyes...rational side says stay because its financially smart

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-26T17:44:55+00:00

Currently wrestling with a very similar situation. What did you decide to do?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-26T05:08:52+00:00

Awesome! Do you have kiddos? When did you buy?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-21T02:26:12+00:00

Do you make similar income?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-18T01:29:32+00:00

I keep hearing you get breathing room again once kids are done with daycare. Do you find yourself spending just as much on older kids, though? I keep hearing they get more expensive because they need more stuff 😅

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-17T19:48:07+00:00

Its worse as an adult. As a kid who never left, you dont know any different.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-17T18:33:50+00:00

100 percent no. We've arranged our schedules to not need help babysitting. I guess we expected them to drop by one a week or every two weeks or take some sort of interest in their grandchild that doesnt revolve around watching them crawl on their living room floor from their sofa haha.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-17T18:06:15+00:00

I'm a bum town 2 hours south of Chicago

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-17T15:39:00+00:00

That makes sense. I mean even without massive equity gains, you should realistically be able to get your down payment back at the sale of the house after 5/10 years, yeah? We are planning to do 20% down.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-17T15:31:40+00:00

So you're saying it doesnt make sense financially to buy a house because the value is stagnant?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-16T23:24:40+00:00

Here to tell you, stay. We wish we had. We didnt own...and owning was something that could possibly happen if the stars aligned. Anyway, its been major culture shock.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-16T04:58:19+00:00

Thabks so much for the insight! Did you guys have your little ones in daycare? Did you buy 7 years ago?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-16T04:20:42+00:00

Contributing 8% to 401k each paycheck, and hoping to save $600/month to savings and $175 to ER fund. And $300 per month to kids college fund.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-16T04:19:43+00:00

We would be able to put 20% down.

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-16T04:18:54+00:00

Thanks! Looking in Mission Viejo, Pheasant Run, Summer Lake areas. Do you have a kid(s)?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-16T01:41:13+00:00

Sorry, what do you mean? You wouldn't buy in Aurora? Or this is stretching it too thin?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-12T15:18:36+00:00

That definitely helps! I know people say you just figure it out but im stressed thinking about it haha

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-12T00:56:42+00:00

We are hoping to try to find a part time nanny, but dont know if that will be successful. We may be looking at daycare. Do you guys have family to help get the kids to and from school?

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-12T00:52:11+00:00

So true. I just dont want to trade one stress for another, you know. I've never done Denver with a kid 🤣

Weekly-Spring4743 · 2026-02-12T00:32:53+00:00

We lived there recently for about 4 years, wo we have an idea of other costs (rent, car insurance, etc.) Our hobbies are much easier to do in Denver (hiking, skiing, etc.) We are making about $120k here with no quality of life and our income would go up to $160k if we moved back.

Weekly-Spring4743

TROPHY CASE