What would you do? Ridiculously tough decision

life is all about being happy, where will you be happy?

If the difference in money was relatively small, I would say live in the city that you enjoy. But this offer is a HUGE jump in pay, and it's just very hard to turn down. More money leads to greater security and freedom. If I were you I would suck it up, save up as much as possible, visit my home city as often as possible, and then enjoy an early retirement. No pain, no gain.

I would move. You would build up a considerable amount of wealth which you can use to move back to your midwest place and live like a king/do anything you want. essentially, compound your happiness a decade.

of course, it totally dpends on your utility curve. I am still in college so take what I say with a grain of salt

I think you're the only one who's going to know what you should do.

Not sure if you are looking for our opinions or just want to validate your own(which is fine) but personally I would never be able to turn that offer down. Sounds like some of the things you dislike about where you grew up, or at least the ones you mentioned, are pretty superficial and shouldn't matter all that much.

Keep in mind this is the opinion of someone who would never ever leave an east coast city for the midwest. That being said, do what makes you happy.

Need more info, how are taxes there vs currently?

What do you mean you don't "fit" in there?

Like I think the above people said, what do you think the monetary value of moving back is? Is it worth the extra $340k to deal with the reduced QoL. And it also seems like CoL is a lot more in the old city, so $400k isn't really $400k- maybe like $200k (or something less at least) In my opinion, you are probably overestimating the bad points of living there. That said, it sounds like you really don't wanna move back.

Personally, I think all your cons are probably overblown: there are pretty girls everywhere and I'm very conservative Southerner on a liberal campus of mainly Northerners. Fit and girls can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. It's your decision, if you move you could reach your "walk away number" much faster and retire to where you want to live. Also, the work is probably easier- even though you said that it was similar work, being an entrepreneur is hard work vs. being in a structured company where you do the "same work" but are also responsible for a ton of intangibles.

VT,

I know a little bit about your situation. Weren't you planning on supplementing your income in your new location with entrepreneurial activities? Is that still possible? If it is that would be a big plus to stay where you're at. Even if your original plans aren't working out you can find something else. You've been too successful not to find something else if you try.

Only you'll be able to know what works best for you, but I'll give some opinions.

I would probably move and get a decently affordable apartment and save like hell. Personally, I like big cities and feel like I could adapt and have fun anywhere. Also, I'm not in a position to make $400k for a REALLY long time so I'd sacrifice a lot for that type of $.

However, lately I have really come to realize how much more fulfilling everything feels when I focus more of my time/energy outside of work. I've settled down and spend more time with friends/family and doing things I enjoy and I couldn't be happier.

Plus, I've heard of too many people not making it until retirement......so, ultimately, my advice is to do what makes you happy now.

Do you need the money? If your life is good now and you have no financial issues now, what's the point of ruining what you have for more money? I'd stay w/ the happy lifestyle you currently have. Can the money make your life better than what it is now? I haven't had to face a decision like this so take my opinion as a grain of salt. But in my opinion: Happiness+women> money

My $40,000/yr includes entrepreneurial supplements. : /

While I like my new home a lot, it's a wasteland for real estate people and real estate is the only think I'm even marginally good at professionally. Pretty much a class-A screw-up who happens to be a savant in the real estate business.

Not having financial issues per se, but I'm starting to eat into my savings.

Anyway, I value the opinions. At least they're not colored by personal friendships or familial relationships.

i think take the cash suck up and try to do other hobbies and things to make you happy, find hot girls SOMEWHERE and retire earlier and enjoy your life/family.

Well, it's a situation of 1 in the hand vs. 2 in the bush. I believe--I think--I can push it into the 6 figure range by 2013 with the strategies I'm putting in place--if it takes off I could retire in 3 years. But that's all speculation, hopes, targets, etc. My business COULD blow up and make me low 7 figures in one fell swoop. I believe it definitely could. But it's speculation.

Ohh, if 6 figures in the midwest is realistic I'd definitely stay there. Double down on yourself and enjoy your time while hopefully making it rain.

If you were making $250 - 300 in the city you hate would you quit and move to your current city to do what you're doing and make 50 - 60?

you're basically paying a minimum of 200k p.a. to live in your preferred city? is your current lifestyle worth that much? i would probably take the job.

after a certain income level you really don't have to "fit in" anymore. You can fly your friends to you, you can fly out to where the heart is (and still have more left over than if you just lived there); if traffic is a problem - get a pad within walking distance of work, don't live a 10-mile drive away. Pretty much money solves a lot of problems and buys a lot of freedom, if you know how to approach it. If all else fails you can save up and then move back when you are 35 and ready to start a family, and buy a nice house, find a nice girl, become an entrepreneur again, spend time with your kids, work and live on your own terms, etc etc .

I was miserable there--girls are ugly, I don't fit in with the culture, traffic is a nightmare, equivalent house of $250,000 would cost about $625,000.

LOL so you're from Philly?

Don't do it

Wow, that preliminary offer of $250,000 just rose to $400,000 base. Phuuuck. I was just offered ownership in the branch office which would boost the base another $150k to $400k. This is just base! Then I was told I can open up more branches under my name. They're basically telling me I can do 7 figures/year by 30 doing exactly what I'm doing now but at a managerial and ownership level

I mean, I hate where I grew up but I'd live in freakin' an abandoned part of Alaska for this money. Offer isn't finalized yet. It's dependent upon the answer of my business partner, who is wavering (because he wants to go into Christian ministry). I guess I know my answer now.

This proves to me that there's always a dollar amount. Ask someone to swim around in a tub of urine? Nope. Offer enough money and the answer is yes.

congrats man.... sounds like you'll be doing very well for yourself hahaha

Dude, unless your home town is deep in Alaska or Chernobyl, I don't see how you DON'T do this. Save up for a few years and then go back to wherever you want.

Haha, Chernobyl.

I was going to say stay, but it looks like you've already made up your mind. There's always a price tag on somebody lol. Congrats though man, have fun.

if you move back to philly you might like the outer suburbs better.

Virginia Tech 4ever:

Fundamental question: Would you leave a place you love for a place you hate for 5-10 times the money?

Let me preface this by saying that I think only 1 person on this site knows my actual identity. Maybe 2 or 3, but the point is I'm essentially an anonymous poster so please don't take anything I'm saying as bragging--just trying to get some independent advice (my friends and family all have ulterior motives and other interests).

So, I grew up in a particular city with a ton of career opportunity. I spent the first 26 years of my life in that city (a relatively high cost Mid-Atlantic city--think Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C.) and walked away from about $110,000 per year the month I turned 26 (8 months ago), packed my bags and followed my heart to a small market in the Midwest with little career opportunity.

I'm currently making about $40,000/year as a hybrid entrepreneur with expectations of doing about $60-70k in 2012. I really like it out here--this is where my heart is. The women are beautiful, it's easy to get around, lower cost of living ($200k gets a very nice house), much of my family is here, and I fundamentally just "fit in" here.

I was just today given a preliminary offer of $250,000 per year to return to my home and do approximately what I'm doing now with expectations of doing probably $400,000/yr by the end of 2013 or by at least 2014. But I HATE the place I grew up. I was miserable there--girls are ugly, I don't fit in with the culture, traffic is a nightmare, equivalent house of $250,000 would cost about $625,000.

Do you leave your heart behind for that much more money? Keeping in mind that the move is basically permanent for the next decade or so.

This sounds like Richmond lol