Stay in the US or move abroad?

Maybe it’s just me, but I honestly don't see what moving abroad actually solves. If you're a young person with a solid career and a decent paycheck here in the States, what's the point?

I also don't quite get the logic behind families working over in Germany who still can't scrape together enough to pay off their mortgage back home in the US. Unless they simply don't want to... then I suppose I'd understand.

Nicholas Doyle7 said:Maybe it’s just me, but I honestly don't see what moving abroad actually solves. If you're a young person with a solid career and a decent paycheck here in the States, what's the point?

I also don't quite get the logic behind families working over in Germany who still can't scrape together enough to pay off their mortgage back home in the US. Unless they simply don't want to... then I suppose I'd understand.

He basically said he misses his family.

swiftgardener33 said:Ouch, Yuna. You really went for the jugular there. But honestly? That's the root of it all. No girl, no hobbies. Just vibes and nothing else.

No girlfriend, no hobbies, just a mountain of problems and expenses...

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the whole "smooth jazz" debate lately—you know, that polarizing genre that seems to divide people just as sharply as coffee versus tea. It’s funny, isn't it? One minute you're enjoying a mellow saxophone solo while driving through the suburbs of Chicago, and the next, someone is decrying it as nothing more than glorified elevator music. I have to admit, I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for it—perhaps a slightly embarrassing one, if I'm being honest! There is something undeniably soothing about those polished, laid-back arrangements after a particularly grueling day at the office. It doesn't demand your full attention with aggressive brass sections or complex, jarring rhythms; instead, it just... exists, providing this gentle, rhythmic cushion for your thoughts. Of course, I hear the critics loud and clear. They argue that it lacks the improvisational soul and the grit that defines true jazz. And look, I get it—if you're looking for the raw, experimental energy of a Miles Davis session, smooth jazz is definitely going to feel a bit too "sanitized" for your taste. It’s certainly more produced, more streamlined—very much a product of its era. But can we really deny the craftsmanship involved? Even if it is meant to be background ambiance, there is still a level of technical skill required to pull off those silky melodies without it feeling completely hollow. At the end of the day, I think it comes down to what we need from music in a given moment. Sometimes you want to be challenged; sometimes you just want to pour a glass of Cabernet, sit on the patio, and let the world fade away into a series of pleasant, melodic swells. There's no shame in seeking out a little sonic comfort, even if it isn't considered "high art" by the purists. kaže:
Maybe it’s just me—I really don't see what moving abroad would actually solve. I mean, if you're a young professional already holding down a solid job with a decent salary right here in the States, what's the endgame?

I honestly can’t wrap my head around it—take those families working over in Germany, for instance. They’re pulling those long hours abroad, yet somehow they still can’t scrape together enough to finally clear the debts on their homes back here in the States. I mean, if that's just a choice they're making because they don't want to let go of the debt, then fine—I get it. But if they're actually trying? It just doesn't add up to me.

Honestly, they’re just being delusional. I mean, I have no idea how they expect to ever have an extra hundred bucks left over at the end of the month when they clearly have zero clue how to manage their finances—it's just a mess. It is such a ridiculous thing to even say out loud.

Kate Jones2 said:I worked my way through college while helping out my parents, too. On paper, they own the place, but the liens on the house are basically equal to its market value. They don't have the cash, and—believe me—neither do I. I've managed to patch up parts of the house already, but we're talking about a place built in the late '60s, which means it needs a massive amount of investment. To me, $30–$40 is a huge sum regardless of what I make, because once I pay all the bills, I'm left with barely $333. Here is the breakdown:

$500 Commuting to work
$267 Electricity (don't even ask—I honestly have no clue, I think there's an issue with the wiring since I'm away from home most days, or maybe it's just old appliances)
$67 Water
$117 Utilities, trash pickup, and stuff like that
$500–$700 for car maintenance, since I work via 932 miles (that's my average monthly cost leveled out over the year)
$400 for rent and my cell phone
$2,000 for food (I don't have a functional kitchen, but I still have to eat, obviously)
About $333 per month for various house repairs
Around $500–$333 for unexpected expenses, like a burst pipe or things I can't really control

Just to get the bare minimum of a decent living situation set up right now, I'd need about $25,000–$30,000—and that's using the cheapest materials and doing the labor myself. Someone might think I'm exaggerating, but if you've ever stepped foot in a house from the late '60s, you probably realize exactly what needs replacing and just how much it all costs.

Thanks everyone for the replies, especially Lavazza.

Regards, Mackenzie. A few of those expenses jumped out at me as being way too high. If you want to actually survive in the US, you should probably start by looking into the electric bill, the phone (with unlimited data and decent plans, a phone 400 USD is way too much for one person), and the kitchen (if you're spending $2,000 on food, but a new stove starts at $1,500, it might be smarter to invest in a new stove, fridge, microwave... and solve the cooking issue long-term).

Based on what you wrote, it honestly sounds more like you're just lonely rather than needing to upgrade your lifestyle.

If you have the ability and the capacity to work elsewhere, that's definitely the better move—provided you find a good offer, not just any random job.