[Letsrunem8]

**I know this is only an online forum, but I know I can gain some great insight from very successful individuals here.**

I will keep this brief. I am 23 years old, no kids, girl, and don’t have any outstanding debt. I was offered a position in North Dakota for my company specializing in Oil Fields last September, and I took it. My annual income has more than doubled from where I was. I have saved a decent amount of cash, and gained some valuable experience. However, if you guys are familiar with North Dakota, there is practically nothing here. All I do is work, and don’t have time for anything else. There is hardly a social life, winters are long and cold, I am even limited to being able to visit back home. I am from California, born and raised, so it is a huge culture shock since I am used to that ‘Cali Life.’ Anyway, I now have an opportunity to take a job back home, but my compensation will be cut in half.

I’m a Project Analyst, so I do not work outside. I do work 72 hours a week currently with a 1.5 hour commute each way, and will only work 40 hours in California with the luxury of Fridays-Sunday off, and plus it is California. Should I do it? Or better, what would you do in my position? Making well over 6 figures at the age of 23 is not bad at all, but I don’t know if I should become a slave to money.

Some advice would definitely be appreciated, since I am confused as hell.

Thanks

[Litos]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

Making well over 6 figures at the age of 23 is not bad at all, but I don’t know if I should become a slave to money.

be a slave to money in your 20's so you won't have to be in your 30's...

[Myrder]

well over six figures in ND is great money... 100k in Cali is decent money...kinda livable... so when you say half cut....do you mean under 100k? If so be prepared to be poor or live at home with parents.

Working 4 days a week in Cali does sound nice. But and this is rare... I agree with Litos.

Work hard now. Another opportunity will come up to work in Cali where you don't have to take a pay cut.

[ddk632]

That is a huge pay cut. I would look harder for at least somewhat close pay in CA. Not to mention the same salary in CA will not go nearly as far as it probably does in North Dakota, let alone a 50% cut.

Tough choice.

Having moved from Cali myself I certainly understand wanting to move back, but that is a huge price to pay.

[Letsrunem8]

I would be making under a 100k a year if I move back. It's a tough choice. The question I ask myself is, "Do I want to waste my 20's not living life?"

[Letsrunem8]

Here's another thing I took into consideration, working 15 hours a day for 6 days in ND compared to 10 hours a day for 4 days in CA. The only reason I make the amount I do is because of overtime.

[F1Venom]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

I would be making under a 100k a year if I move back. It's a tough choice. The question I ask myself is, "Do I want to waste my 20's not living life?"

Yes

[BEM-S4]

Why are you living 1.5 hours away from work? If it sucks regardless why not move closer? You could cut three hours out of your day right there. Look at it this way, do another year in ND and then do literally NOTHING in Cali for a year and you're in the same place financially.

[Letsrunem8]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Why are you living 1.5 hours away from work? If it sucks regardless why not move closer? You could cut three hours out of your day right there. Look at it this way, do another year in ND and then do literally NOTHING in Cali for a year and you're in the same place financially.

That's the closest city unless I want to pay $2000 a month for an apartment

[Litos]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

"Do I want to waste my 20's not living life?"

please refer to post #2

[MetsFan]

Keep going until you can do this:

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/...oney-mustache/

Can you move closer to where you work? That would give you a couple more hours a day.

edit:

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

That's the closest city unless I want to pay $2000 a month for an apartment

You have a 6-figure salary and are worried about $2K a month for rent? IMO, the two hours a day you would get back would definitely be worth it.

[BEM-S4]

Sure $2K in ND seems INSANE but what are you paying now? It's probably only an extra $1K a month at most, so you're talking $12K to buy back what, 15 hours a week assuming you don't work weekends? That's literally over a month of your life you are spending commuting each year. Is $12K worth a month of your free time? Factor in fuel and you aren't saving much by living where you are, even if it's $100 a week (it must be a lot more) you're down to $6K a year to have no commute. I'd say that's worth it. If you can make the current job more tolerable and can stick it out you're still much better off financially than taking the new one.

[Myrder]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

I would be making under a 100k a year if I move back. It's a tough choice. The question I ask myself is, "Do I want to waste my 20's not living life?"

yes, because at 28 you will have a ton of money (if you are smart) and still be "young" and then you can slay all that young box with your confidence/money/car/house/job/success take your pick.

There is literally nothing at 23, that you can't do better at 28-9.

[Letsrunem8]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Sure $2K in ND seems INSANE but what are you paying now? It's probably only an extra $1K a month at most, so you're talking $12K to buy back what, 15 hours a week assuming you don't work weekends? That's literally over a month of your life you are spending commuting each year. Is $12K worth a month of your free time? Factor in fuel and you aren't saving much by living where you are, even if it's $100 a week (it must be a lot more) you're down to $6K a year to have no commute. I'd say that's worth it. If you can make the current job more tolerable and can stick it out you're still much better off financially than taking the new one.

I actually pay $725 with utilities where I currently am. I have a company vehicle and gas is paid for. My job isn't bad, there is a lot of overloading work but it is tolerable. My life and workload would nearly be cut by 50% if I take the job in California as well.

[BEM-S4]

It sounds like you have decided you want to be in Cali and aren't confident enough in the choice to just say fuck it and make the move, so you're looking for validation. If that's where you want to be just do it, you're young money will come. As strangers we can't opine on the soft side of things, can just try and offer financial advice. You realize this is a bad financial move but we've all sacrificed money for life or vice versa.

Just remember that free time = spending money. So unless you get off on staying home and gaming online, you'll be making less when you are working and spending more when you're not.

Realize it's hard when you're young and in the middle of nowhere but if your career trajectory is infinitely better staying put you might be trading happiness now for misery in 10 years.

[MrPrena]

One thing I regret is that I didn't play hard enough during 20s. However, I am in mid 30s, and playing hard right now. However, I am playing hard with my wife and kid. Not as fun as when I was single, but it's different fun.

I know ND is rough out there. One of my buddy went there for transportation (trucks), and made 90k-120k ish. He said he saved a lot of money by doing nothing, and his financial status is better than before he went to ND.

As other members mentioned, I would save as much $$$ as I can there.

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

**I know this is only an online forum, but I know I can gain some great insight from very successful individuals here.**

I will keep this brief. I am 23 years old, no kids, girl, and don’t have any outstanding debt. I was offered a position in North Dakota for my company specializing in Oil Fields last September, and I took it. My annual income has more than doubled from where I was. I have saved a decent amount of cash, and gained some valuable experience. However, if you guys are familiar with North Dakota, there is practically nothing here. All I do is work, and don’t have time for anything else. There is hardly a social life, winters are long and cold, I am even limited to being able to visit back home. I am from California, born and raised, so it is a huge culture shock since I am used to that ‘Cali Life.’ Anyway, I now have an opportunity to take a job back home, but my compensation will be cut in half.

I’m a Project Analyst, so I do not work outside. I do work 72 hours a week currently with a 1.5 hour commute each way, and will only work 40 hours in California with the luxury of Fridays-Sunday off, and plus it is California. Should I do it? Or better, what would you do in my position? Making well over 6 figures at the age of 23 is not bad at all, but I don’t know if I should become a slave to money.

Some advice would definitely be appreciated, since I am confused as hell.

Thanks

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

I would be making under a 100k a year if I move back. It's a tough choice. The question I ask myself is, "Do I want to waste my 20's not living life?"

Yes. The only thing you're missing out on in your 20s is making life altering poor decisions that affect the quality of your life in your 30s and 40s.

I envy the position you're in now. Keep doing what you're doing. It's going to pay HUGE dividends in about 5-7 years.

[schoy]

Think of it this way: your pay isn't being cut in half, it's getting cut to 1/4 since the cost of living in Cali is probably double to North Dakota. If I were in your shoes, I'd work in ND until I saved enough to have the life I wanted to live in CA (meaning, at the very least, enough $ for a down payment to a home in CA [EDIT: the down payment would be sizeable enough such that any mortgage payments are a manageable % of your new CA salary], no other debt (including car loans), and an emergency fund of 1 year of your current salary).

To quote Litos: "please refer to post #2".

[bimmette]

Definitely work your ass off and be mobile in your 20's, and then relax and settle down in your 30's.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by Letsrunem8

Here's another thing I took into consideration, working 15 hours a day for 6 days in ND compared to 10 hours a day for 4 days in CA. The only reason I make the amount I do is because of overtime.

Don't know any particulars on the company in CA but view the 10 hrs x four days with a skeptical eye!! I've been down this path before and you are promised the schedule but the reality is the hours are longer and your four day work week rarely (if ever) materializes... So now you you're working hours are not that different and the pay is cut in half.

As others have said, suck it up for a few years and put some serious cash away. Then you can comfortably go where ever you want.

And as an added bonus, you can probably find all the crystal meth you want in ND cheap!

[achien]

+1, suck it up for a few years. Just put a time limit at ND (i.e. 5-years, 8-years, 10-years, or until you get better paid back in California [which you will once you have the experience]).

Originally Posted by Litos

be a slave to money in your 20's so you won't have to be in your 30's...

[firstkill]

Why not try a different city. Unless you live in a cheap part of California, your situation will be worse besides the weather.

California taxes will make your income shrink even more.

fk