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Had to choose between a 2 year lease renewal or moving to a new city for a job paying 12k less
I was at a coffee shop with my brother last month and he just straight up asked me if I was happy where I was. I had two offers on the table. One was staying put, renewing my lease, keeping my stable but boring job. The other was a role in Portland that paid less but had way more room to grow. I went back and forth for two weeks. Ended up taking the pay cut and moving. First month has been rough financially but I feel more awake than I have in years. Has anyone else gambled on a lower salary and had it work out?
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hollyl251mo ago
Read something once about how sometimes you have to lose money to gain a life.
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rowan_thomas841mo ago
12k less is a lot. Like that's a car payment and then some. You could have stayed where you were, saved that money, and taken a real vacation or put it toward something that actually makes your life better. Portland isn't going anywhere and that job would still exist in two years when you had a better safety net.
Not saying your choice was wrong, but jumping into a lower salary without a plan B is risky. Rent goes up, groceries go up, and that 12k gap gets bigger every month. The "awake" feeling might wear off when you're stressing about covering your bills in January.
Plus you lost your lease. If things get tight, finding a cheaper apartment in a new city while working for less money is a tough spot. Your brother asked a good question but maybe he should have asked if you could afford the answer.
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