https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 05:20:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320754 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:00:36 +0000 SugarplumsMom 320754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Good point!</p> <p>@MamaMoose: It would even out to roughly the same lifestyle, except he'd work more. We'd have more money but houses are more expensive there, plus all the other expenses I listed it sort of evens out. But 2 to 3.5 times more is a HUGE difference, so if we lived frugally, like we do now, then we'd be able to save a lot more. Now, there's really nothing we're lacking. We live simply, so we'd we don't really need much. Sure I'd love to renovate, and update a few things around the house, but none of it is "needed". So instead we're trying to pay off our mortgage. Education and healthcare is free here, so that wouldn't be a problem. If we moved to the States, she would be able to go anywhere she wanted, now it could be tricky if she wanted to attend college out of country. If she did want to go somewhere else, then it would definitely be worth moving to the US. The low salaries and high taxes here aren't made for paying premium for education elsewhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320709 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:29:57 +0000 London Mama 320709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting question, I've done the same move as you but the other way around. I am from Sweden but moved to London for my career and work for an American firm.</p> <p>I may be biased but the quality of life in Scandinavia is unbeatable, now that I have a baby I realise how important that is. Short working hours, very long maternity (and paternity) leave, free education, clean environment, time off work to look after sick kiddos etc etc. What you really need with a family is time together, not spiffier toys.</p> <p>I'm hoping my kids will get a chance to spend part of their childhood in Sweden. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320699 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 11:26:12 +0000 Bookish 320699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Quality of life definitely is more important for us. I make very little money, but I have the most kind, flexible work place. They work with your schedule so you can be home when your kid gets home, and are paying for my grad school! </p> <p>I would SO go overseas, though, if I had the chance!!!! I'd love to be in a more family-friendly country :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320614 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:48:42 +0000 rachiecakes 320614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"less time with family, less vacation" kills it for me. my time is worth way more than money can pay. working full-time, my time spent with DS is priceless. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320459 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:08:01 +0000 looch 320459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dunno, I have lived and worked in the US and abroad, and I can personally say for ME, my life is a lot better abroad. I made a lot more, even though the cost of living is higher. I also was able to file for overtime, which wasn't possible in the US. I had better unemployment benefits (18 months at 70% pay (18 months at 80% if I had a child) if I had worked for just one year)), my son gets free monthly visits at a parent consulting service until he turns 5 for things like feeding questions, routine illnesses and other support, he also gets a childhood allowance monthly until he's finished with school.</p> <p>Yes, the downside is that I don't have my family nearby, but things are a lot less stressful than they would be in the US. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320446 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:59:58 +0000 blackbird 320446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, it's not even the money. It's this part: "less time with the family, longer work hours, less vacation". I really don't want to work more hours than I work now, and it's perfect because we both only work 40/week. </p> <p>But, I will say that living in the US, i work for a family friendly company and only work 40 hours/week, so I know these companies exist. Moving to another country wouldn't work for me, when I have what i want right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320417 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:40:22 +0000 MamaMoose 320417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess I would have to know more about the money differential. Would it just be that you could have some nicer toys, or would it be that you could better provide for your and your children's future (college savings, retirement plans, etc). If the money would make a big difference not only to your current situation but also for your future... that's something to really consider. Also, I live a 2 hour plane ride away from my parents and extended family and that's hard enough for me. I don't think I could move to another country unless I knew it was for a set limited period. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320402 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:32:11 +0000 Cole 320402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I realized pretty young that more money doesn't help too much when you work long hours. I would go back to your number crunching and add in things like lawn service so he doesn't spend home hours out cutting the grass and other convenience things. The way I see it is he will have a hard time losing so much free time to work that you guys will probably rather pay someone to handle things like that so you can maximize time together.</p> <p>My dh works long hours and when he is home we want to enjoy each other, not trek around home depot trying to figure out basic home repair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320372 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:10:13 +0000 lawbee11 320372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: DH and I spoke about this when I finished law school as well. I had no desire to live the "firm life" and spend 80+ hours a week at the office and constantly have to check emails from home. I went the more non-traditional route and even though my salary is about 1/2 as much as I'd make at a firm, I wouldn't change a thing. I work 40/hrs max a week, never on the weekends, and I don't even know how to check my work email from home. Best decision I ever made! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320359 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:56:06 +0000 Sammyfab 320359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Quality of life always takes precedence for me. I'm not that career-driven so I would never choose a lucrative job opportunity at the expense of my happiness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320316 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:57:05 +0000 Arden 320316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know exactly what you mean.</p> <p>People think we're crazy for choosing to be career aid workers - our salary comes out to less than 20k a year (of course we have benefits, but still).</p> <p>But for us it means raising our children abroad, exposing them to many cultures and languages, teaching them from a young age to help people, and making a real impact on the world.</p> <p>If we stayed in America and finished some more education (meaning I'd be a midwife and DH would probably teach university), we would probably make 150k a year versus our current 17k. </p> <p>But as huge as that difference is, the trade-off just isn't worth it for us.</p> <p>Also - some of the benefits of our current job are HUGE for us. Our kid's college tuition will be 90% covered, and continuing education for us is also covered. That's a big thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320303 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:45:22 +0000 looch 320303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: Move to Switzerland, it is seriously the land of the small business owner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320301 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:43:23 +0000 heffalump 320301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Id want to live close to home no matter what. For me its not about the money or house, I just wouldn't be happy so far away from my family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320284 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:16:10 +0000 SugarplumsMom 320284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I've been researching business opportunities here and it's pretty difficult! Things are changing but it's not very business friendly at all! It's generally accepted that when someone makes it "big" they move to another country because of taxes! Hahah </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320283 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:14:36 +0000 hellobeeboston 320283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and i spoke about this when he was finishing up law school... If he went into a large corporate firm, he would be working crazy hours, but making a lot of money. As he went back to school later in life, he/we realized quality of life was much more important than killing yourself and working 90+ hours a week. Same goes for me. I work in advertising and the hours can be tough, but I have been trying to re-position myself so that I can be home more.... Especially with our baby due in 3 weeks!</p> <p>Ps - Would looooove to visit Sweden some day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320282 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:12:16 +0000 SugarplumsMom 320282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ree723: Thank you! I needed to hear that. It's just that there's recent changes that opens things up ... all of the sudden, now would be the chance to get the ball rolling IF we wanted to move to the US. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320280 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:01:57 +0000 Ree723 320280@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You can't put a price on time and memories. Spiffy toys and a more expensive house don't really matter if it means that your DH is going to be missing out on big chunks of your LO's life. That time in your LO's life only comes around once and I think it's more likely that someday down the road, you would think "I really wish DH had been around for LO's first this, or first that", but I sincerely doubt you'll ever think "gee, I wish we'd been able to buy LO a bigger collection of toys or the fanciest new gadget to keep up with the Joneses".</p> <p>I may be wrong, but I think Sweden is pretty similar to Australia and we're in a similar boat. We know we'll ultimately move to the US or UK as we're just too far from our families (one side in each of the aforementioned countries) but we kind of hate the thought of giving up our great quality of life here. The thought of paying for health care, DH having to work much longer hours, and the abysmal annual leave most American companies give, makes our stomachs turn. The UK would be wonderful but the economy is still shite so it would probably have to be the US. </p> <p>I don't know, it's a decision that is of course up to you and your DH, but if it were me, I'd stay put! Money is not everything and if you're comfortable enough to get by, which it sounds like you are, then that's all one really needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320279 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 05:00:42 +0000 mrbee 320279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: That's awesome that you followed your heart and prioritized your family's happiness!!</p> <p>I'm an entrepreneur, so my hours are driven more by how much I want to work. I would have a hard time moving to another country though... most aren't that entrepreneur friendly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-would-you-pick#post-320275 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:31:55 +0000 SugarplumsMom 320275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH's work is going through some rough times right now and it got me looking up possibilities ... </p> <p>People usually wonder why I'm here in Sweden when they find out I'm from Southern California. It's not just because of the weather, but the pay. If DH were to find a similar job back home, he would be paid at least double his salary, to upwards 3.5 times more! It sounds like a lot, but once you figure in the costs for healthcare, daycare, dental, education, insurance, and less vacation time, not to mention longer work hours, the quality of life would be about the same. We'd have spiffier toys and our house would be more expensive, but our yard would be smaller and the size of the house would be about the same. </p> <p>One of the reasons why we initially chose to live here was because of his job. But regardless of where he works, Sweden is just so much more family friendly and our neighborhood (in my mind) is the perfect place to raise a child! </p> <p><u>Which would you pick:</u><br /> More money, good weather, less time with the family, longer work hours, less vacation</p> <p>OR</p> <p>Less money, less stress, more family friendly environment, surrounded by nature, and more vacation</p> <p>**I've taken extended family (in-laws, siblings) out of the equation. </p>