Would you move to Texas for USD 5k more a month

[Constance17]

DH has been offered a job in U.S, we have children aged 6 & 8. What concerns you most?

For 5K? Where in America? From what country are you moving? For what type of company - are there huge growth prospects, is it a multinational, are they helping you relocate? I don't know OP, moving a 6 and an 8 year old for 5k of a salary increase seems a bit strange unless there are huge perks or are you both mad for a change of lifestyle?

Contact the British American Foundation of Texas:

www.baftx.org

Lots of Brit expats in Texas. Some parts are lovely. It sounds like a great career move. You don't have to stay forever, just long enough to put it on his CV.

The Living Overseas board might have some more perspective from people who have actually lived in Texas.

In terms of what concerns:

• what city has a massive impact on cost of living (Austin is relatively expensive for example)
• what will your company cover in terms of moving costs, travel back to the UK (some expat packages include an annual travel allowance), health insurance, etc.
• factor in the additional expenses you’ll face — food, mobile phones, internet, power costs for running your air con (it’s hot in Texas), etc. will all be higher. You’ll also need 2 cars.
• What are your schooling options? State schools are assigned based on location and can vary dramatically in quality. Better schools typically = more expensive housing typically. Does your company have an allowance for private school? What are the options in the area you’re looking at? Is there an international school nearby? This becomes more important as the kids get older (into secondary school age really) as it can be harder to switch back to the U.K. then, so it also depends on how long you plan to stay.
• what kind of visa will you be on? This determines whether there are spousal work rights or not.
• how do you feel about the lifestyle, culture, etc.? This is also very dependent on where in Texas you are. Texas is generally very conservative (there’s a reason they call it the Bible Belt...) but Austin is much less so. You’re pretty much guaranteed to live in suburban sprawl in Texas. Some people love the big houses, big cars, etc., some people don’t.

Lots to think about and there’s not just one straightforward answer. Good Luck!

I live in the USA (East Coast) and have turned down job opportunities in Texas mainly due to the climate. Guns are a major factor as well. From what I understand, carrying a weapon is the norm there, not the exception, and I couldn't live in that environment.

A relative went to university in Austin, though, and really liked it, it's very different to the rest of the state...but I still wouldn't consider a move there.

I live in the US but would not move to Texas because of the heat, the politics, the religion and the gun culture. Austin would be ok maybe but the overall ethos of the state wouldn't be for me.

But my cousin and her family lived in Houston for many years and they had a lovely life, made lifelong friends from all sorts of backgrounds - religious/nonreligious/gay/straight/ conservative/liberal

5k wouldn't go far when you consider trips home, cost of health insurance (even if on a good package you will pay something toward it) and the fact that you may want to send your children to private school. Not because they are 2 years behind the wonderful british schools (they are not) but because the curriculum is very different and you will find the cultural shift a bit startling (but very welcoming).

I would go to the US if I could but maybe not Texas. Never been to Texas but I know there gun laws are a little more lax than say California.

Getting a pint of milk when you need may take 30 mins or more

So no different to where we live North London Borders

Dd has a lot of friends around areas of London which are known for knife crime.

The uk really isn't as safe as a lot would have you believe

I've lived there, with toddlers, for 6 months, it was enough. I used to travel with my DH and lived many different places, but Texas is a culture shock, people dont realise this. I also lived in Chicago, washington and bar harbour which were fine and I loved, but Texas was another story.

I liked Austin and have friends there so it would be a maybe from me for a set period if time. Not sure about the heat and hurricanes though.... that would worry me more than the guns.

Shootings happen but they are still rare.

They really aren't rare. There were 40000 gun deaths in 2017. 40 thousand! Including massive numbers of suicides. But there were 11000 homicides. There are the same number of gun deaths as road deaths. That's not rare.

@Catsandchardonnay

And American adults about 5 decades behind.

And that's prejudice. Please don't say that about over 300 million people whom you don't know.

I couldn't cope with the distance from family (I don't like flying either) and I have a progressive disease that would cost a fortune in health care. If we had a great scheme I would still worry about coming back to the UK and being eligible.
And guns and attitudes.

No, my dh had an amazing job offer with a very high salary but decided not to go.

I wouldn't want to move to the US, definitely not inTexas. I would never want to raise kids in the US.

They really aren't rare. There were 40000 gun deaths in 2017. 40 thousand!

The population of the US is 327 million. It's not great but there's no need to get in to panic if you're physically in America. The chance of someone randomly shooting you is very very small just like the chance of someone randomly throwing acid in your face in the UK.

There are many things that would worry me.

The biggest one would be that if you move and then decide you don't like it you may find you cannot legally move back with your kids if your dh doesn't want to go back.

But the guns, crime etc, childhood obesity etc all all things that scare me.

Not saying it's the biggest concern, but has your DH checked what his annual leave entitlement would be? My understanding is that US employees on average get much less annual leave than in the UK.

Great post from @gotakeahike

For me, I'd be questioning all that and also thinking what kind of adults would I like my sons to grow in to.

I wouldn't move on that basis.

I used to live in the US (first DH was from AZ) but I wouldn't live there for any money at the moment. And if I was happy to live there again, TX isn't where I'd choose. But as everyone has said, you need more information about the exact location, the package and the long-term plan.

The OP doesn't even mention Texas!

I think the OP needs to give more details. What salary are they on now? We need some sort of comparison! Where are they potentially relocating to? San Francisco would be expensive so an extra £5K pcm might not go far for example.

I wouldn't move to Texas for all the tea in China. And I'm an American.

Most of the states we've visited we've ended up thinking "Oh, I could live here" (even if only for a moment). Texas is the only state that we've ever felt absolutely "Hell, no". Not even Austin.

I particularly would not want to live in a Blue state. Too many rednecks, too much religion, too much racism, too much anger, too many guns, too many corporations with too much power, too little society

@jimmyhill I think you mean a RED state. Blue states are liberal-leaning states. Texas is very much a red state.

The OP doesn't even mention Texas!

yes she does in the title.

The title of her post does though, sansou.

Nope. Wouldn't move back to Texas for millions of $ a month. No way, no how.

Signed,
An American Expat and ex Texan