We have four days to decide on moving to Michigan

**Russ** · 01-23-2012, 10:17 AM

As long as you like the occasional heavy snow, you'll enjoy Michigan,

**Spirit Deer** · 01-23-2012, 12:33 PM

We were advised at one time to move during the school year. That way, the kids make some friends before summer so they know people in their new area before the summer vacation starts, and they also have friends already when school starts in the fall again, so they aren't facing a new school and new people with no friends during what can be a stressful time for a lot of kids even without being new.

Yes, you're probably worrying too much but that's a mom's job, to think about all these things. Especially if your husband is leaving it up to you. But that tells me a few things about him and what he thinks of this idea. He has a lot of confidence in your ability to make good decisions and knows you'll do what you think is best for the whole family. He's comfortable with the new job prospect, but also with the job situation he has. He is able to pass the stress to you so he doesn't have to deal with it.

But I do think you need to pin him down and find out what he REALLY does want. IMO in decisions of this magnitude, it's not possible for the major players not to have an opinion. If he doesn't take this new position, is it something he'll regret? Sometimes, you have to take a chance even if it's just to see how things will turn out.

If you hate it in MI, would you be able to return to where you are now?

**Libby** · 01-24-2012, 07:39 PM

Not sure if I read this correctly but did you say the cost of living is a bit higher but not enough to worry you? Does that include medical, dental and car insurance? How about the cost of utilities - were those things factored in?

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-25-2012, 05:15 AM

So,what did you decide? Are we getting new residents?

**mystypooh** · 01-25-2012, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Libby

Not sure if I read this correctly but did you say the cost of living is a bit higher but not enough to worry you? Does that include medical, dental and car insurance? How about the cost of utilities - were those things factored in?

we tried factoring most of that in. the HR director went through some company they use to compare cost of living. they showed almost no difference , all except for car insurance. we thought cost of living was higher, DH researched on his own but his results were from a couple of years ago. they made sure to point that out real quick-that his results were off- when he was negotiating his salary....which he almost didn't get because of their results.

okay, maybe i shouldn't have said "not enough to worry" because i ALWAYS worry. i think i was focusing more on the move itself and the kids. i tried to think of everything but that's why i have you all, lol....to help me.

forgive me if you can't understand a thing i'm saying. i have a migraine and i can't "think"

**mystypooh** · 01-25-2012, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

So,what did you decide? Are we getting new residents?

oh my, i believe so! he's supposed to turn in the contract this morning....if he doesn't chicken out. i don't think he will but i feel like it, lol. having some major butterflies in my stomach....more like angry birds actually!

sort of good news. finally got a hold of a very nice man, who just so happens to be a teacher at mount pleasant, and he's holding people off from his rental so that DH can look at it tomorrow. if we want it he's willing to wait a month for us to move in. it's an older farmhouse, which we'd love to have. the pictures are lovely and everything's been remodeled. it's only 6 miles outside town and 12 to DH's job. he's been driving over a hundred miles, 6 days a week, so that would definitely help us as far as gas goes. oh, and his son also has ASD and was trying to tell me about the school's sped dept. but i have horrible reception out here and i lost him on my cell. i hope DH remembers to talk further with him about the subject.

i'm trying not to get my hopes up, just in case they turn sour but so far so good.

**Spirit Deer** · 01-25-2012, 12:02 PM

If a higher cost of living means better services and a higher quality of life, then it's worth it IMO. A lot of states are cheaper to live in but don't offer a very good quality of life (and no, I'm not going to start naming names.) It's not always just about money, although of course you don't want to end up in poverty.

**Libby** · 01-25-2012, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by mystypooh

oh my, i believe so! he's supposed to turn in the contract this morning....if he doesn't chicken out. i don't think he will but i feel like it, lol. having some major butterflies in my stomach....more like angry birds actually!

i'm trying not to get my hopes up, just in case they turn sour but so far so good.

Embrace change

If you go into this with a positive outlook, things WILL turn out for the better - worry wart or not. Its always beneficial to way the pro's & cons and expect the worse but I'm gonna say this move is for the better!

Keep us posted on how things are going along with your move (if you have time)

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-26-2012, 12:24 AM

My dear-sounds like you are being "directed" here. There aren't that many jobs,there's a perfect for you rental and the guys Ds just happens to have the same condition as your Ds? really. Wasn't that an after school special once?lol
And really I think we are a pretty cheap place to live. Housing certainly,grocery pretty much. Kroger has milk for $2.50 a gall. almost always as they have their own dairy. Car ins. is the biggy and there's that safety no sueing thing already mentioned. I do hope the farmhouse is well insulated or the heating could be a killer in a hard winter ($500. a month or more but you said its remodeled). Gasoline cost rise as you go up the state because we are that penninsula and we have weird truck laws. And are not on a route asross anywhere.
I hope you like it. We do. I just wish we were further up too.

**mystypooh** · 01-26-2012, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

My dear-sounds like you are being "directed" here. There aren't that many jobs,there's a perfect for you rental and the guys Ds just happens to have the same condition as your Ds? really. Wasn't that an after school special once?lol
And really I think we are a pretty cheap place to live. Housing certainly,grocery pretty much. Kroger has milk for $2.50 a gall. almost always as they have their own dairy. Car ins. is the biggy and there's that safety no sueing thing already mentioned. I do hope the farmhouse is well insulated or the heating could be a killer in a hard winter ($500. a month or more but you said its remodeled). Gasoline cost rise as you go up the state because we are that penninsula and we have weird truck laws. And are not on a route asross anywhere.
I hope you like it. We do. I just wish we were further up too.

Exactly what I was thinking "being directed". It's kind of comforting.
My hubs met with the couple tonight and they ARE going to rent it to us. They said they were impressed with us, lol, not sure what they meant about that. Even though we won't be able to move in till Feb. 24, they will take a partial security deposit but they want us to fill the propane tank....in order to "hold" it for us. I have NO clue how much that will cost. I haven't had to deal with a propane tank since I lived in MO, which has been about 20 yrs ago and I'm sure prices are much higher, lol. They were going to take DH out to dinner tonight but he had to meet the guy he's replacing. He was hoping to hit them up for more info.

The house needs a bit of cleaning up, in and outside, but we're ALL for that. The more we have to do the better. They said we could paint it or whatever. There's even a basement! Woohoo! They're going to help us with the schools (she subs at all of them) and find us a nice church "family". All in all the house looks fine, the renters are very nice, and are willing to help us get acquainted with the town and people.

Wow, 2.50 for a gallon??? I spend 4 a gallon. We go through a ton of milk too. I hope cereal is cheaper there, lol. I spent 6 and some change on my daughter's Dyno Bites, I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it went up again....it's the ONLY one she'll eat.

You know here it's the opposite. The air unit runs constantly from about April to Nov. Shoot, the past few days I've wanted to turn it on because it was sooooo humid. It just didn't seem right to turn it on since it's only January, lol. We spend too much money on air conditioning but you HAVE to have it. It just gets too miserable if you don't. We had to go stay in a motel for a week because our unit broke. We tried to stay in the house but when the house hit mid nineties inside we had to leave. We even tried setting a tent up under the tree thinking it would help us sleep at night...not! The rent house doesn't even have air conditioning. Are the summers in MI really that mild?

Okay, frugalwarrior, didn't meant to go on and on! Trying to get it all out. I did tell my mom that it was official and she was not happy at all. She said she'd better get used to flying up once a year. I haven't called my Dad yet but I will this weekend. Now it's hubby's turn. Oh boy, I feel for him! They will take it a lot worse than my ma.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-26-2012, 09:51 PM

Well, I don't know "dyno bites" but cereal can be gotten for about 2/$5. a lot of times. Now let me say,I am a lot closer to the metro area than you so my prices may be better. I shop at Meijer,Kroger,Costco and sometimes Sams club. I have no idea what they have where you are moving.
And Air conditioning-mines been broken for 8 years. About 2 weeks in the summer I want to die but the rest fans will suffice.
I just cook on the grill outside.

**mystypooh** · 04-11-2012, 10:04 AM

Well Spirit Deer, FW2....I have to say you all (or all of you, lol) were right! We are now settled into the farmhouse, kids are settled into school, and things are awesome...well, except our house back home hasn't sold yet but we're trying to be optimistic about it. I won't say it was easy getting settled in here. I'm having a difficult time getting used to the cold. They're wearing shorts here and I'm wearing gloves with my Carthart, lol.

Let's see, L had a very rough two weeks getting used to her new school but her school is THE BEST!!!! OMGOSH, they have so MANY resources here and they are WONDERFUL with her!! I just can't get over the difference in the way schools are run here vs. MS. It's been a delightful shock. Now when I say rough, she did act out violently...enough to knock herself out. They had to call the ambulance and when I showed up she was coming too. That scared the you-know-what out of me. And she's tried running away but now that she's "calmed" down she's a totally different child. She's not being bullied anymore and she's just so happy now. They told me they have excellent anti-bullying policies and I can SEE that! Anyway, they have this buddy program here and they set L up with other children who "watch" out for her and play with her. I just can't gush enough about this school. My son was also having a hard time -he's super super shy, and they even set him up with another boy who has the same interests as him, so they've become good friends. My little Jellybean has also made friends and loves her teachers to death. So school is going great.

I have made friends with the neighbors and my landlord. We have actually found a couple of churches that we're comfortable going too. Back home it wasn't like that but that's another post :-)

My husband LOVES it here. He can actually go outside without breaking a sweat, lol! He gets to work in 10 minutes and back home it was over an hour drive. The kids and I get to see him a lot more now which is a nice change! He can actually help with homework, hahahaha!

I'm still learning my way around and I'm so impressed with what I see. The only thing I don't like is the traffic. I'm told it's because of the college but they say things will be much quieter once summer rolls around.

Oh, FW2....the milk prices are awesome!!! But get this....now they won't eat cereal, lawl!

Um, oh we're on propane and that's so expensive. I'm still paying for all the bills and house back home plus the bills/rent here. Not sure how this is going to play out. Oh, our car insurance was actually CHEAPER than back home too! Even with that no fault thing you all were telling me about.

Almost forgot....it's a good thing we do have better/cheaper auto ins. here. We had a monster box elder tree fall and it hit both vehicles. It smashed hubby's windshield, dented and cracked the hood, and it dented my fender. It also somehow wedged under the propane tank and LIFTED it up into the air! I took myself and the kids to the landlord's son's house and they didn't believe me, lol....then they got to the house....then they believed me! It was the craziest thing! I just knew it was going to blow up or something, ha! I kept waiting for it to crash and explode, lol.

So needless to say it's been quite an adventure....I have yet to tell you about the move itself. NOT FUN!!!!! Had a couple of incidents happen but now I'm tired of typing, lol, so the story will have to wait for another day!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement. It seems like one of the better decisions we've ever made.

**Russ** · 04-11-2012, 10:08 AM

Welcome to Michigan!

from Imlay City!

**Spirit Deer** · 04-11-2012, 10:19 AM

Welcome to the northern tier! Wait till summer comes and you don't have to slice the air with a knife before you can breathe it! If you like camping, I've heard Michigan has a great state park system.

It sounds like overall it's been a good change for your family. Great news! I'm glad it's working out. There are always so many worries about making a big change like that.

Propane bills will be high, but on the flip side, AC costs will probably be lower in the summer. Talk to your propane supplier and see if they offer a contract for next season. Ours does and we are guaranteed a set price providing we buy a certain amount of fuel.

As for the cool weather, try dressing in layers. That way you can adjust to conditions easier. Fingerless gloves make a big difference. You will most likely acclimate over time.

Thanks for updating us!

**frugalwarrior2** · 04-11-2012, 10:37 AM

Oh I can hear the happy in your voice. Glad things are moving along well.
And i forgot all about peer pals or i would have mentioned it.
And yes the college traffic will go to almost ghost town but some tourists will come. That is if the gas doesn't gas too much more out of hand. Many downstaters (TROLLS-those that live below the bridge) will vacation up north as the state parks are excellent. Download a park guide and buy a state park pass ($10. thanks for something Obama.lol). Your kids can fish,beach comb,skip rocks,camp overnight,bike,swim there.
I am so glad to hear from you. It makes me a bit proud. I am so sick of being judged solely by DEtroit.