Finance/Life decision advice needed

LegacyUser

Hi,

I’m looking for a bit of advice from fellow boards members as to what you would do in my situation! Myself and my fiancée are currently in jobs abroad and saving approximately e4000/month each. The job is grand, but the location leaves a lot to be desired and we generally spend weekends relaxing watching TV/movies and doing a bit of exercise. Social life is fairly limited by location but we try and get away to visit friends in neighbouring towns every now and again. We have approximately e60000 savings which we intend to eventually spend on a house to live in ‘til our days are numbered. We’re planning to buy in 2014/15 as I feel that by then some decent value will have come into the market and prices will be back to sanity levels!

We are coming close to a point where we have to stay or go and we’re pretty torn. Personally the job is pretty good, giving me great experience and 80% of the time I enjoy it. The social life side of it can be tough at times and I suppose that is the main motivator for us to leave as we feel quite isolated at times (the local community is pretty closed off and cliquey)! If we do stay on it will only be for a further 10 months before we decide to go traveling for a year and enjoying ourselves. Our travel plans incorporate further work abroad so should end up reasonably even from that time.

If we leave in the next month, we’ll just bring forward our travel plans and maybe try and work in a different country for a bit longer. I have no doubt that I wouldn’t match my current earning potential in another job, so it will result in considerably less savings. We’re in our late 20’s so time isn’t exactly running out but I do miss the social aspect of my life at home quite a bit!

I suppose my main question is – is it worth sticking out a slightly dull life for a while where I’m earning over twice what I did in Ireland? It’s nagging in my mind that whatever money we can amass now will pay dividends in the future and mean a much easier life. Also, with the current global uncertainty, I'm almost scared that I'd regret it forever if we left! What would you do? Anybody been in a similar situation?

Any questions fire ahead, I’ve probably forgotten a whole load of important details!

Thanks in advance

zxcvbnm1

Absolutely stick it out would be my advice.

How come your social life is that bad?
Is there any few pubs there at all?

LegacyUser

Thanks for the reply. Yup there are a fair few bars around but most of them are full of old drunks or teenagers! There seems to be almost no one else around our age and the people we work with a quite a bit older too. I'm not a sporty guy but there aren't even any rugby clubs or any sport I can actually play around.

My big concern with staying is that the social aspect takes a toll on our relationship. Hasn't happened yet but it very well could!

Taco Corp

Hi OP,

You seem to be in a position that a lot of people would actually like to be. Being able to save 8000 a month is huge. Look at the situation that a lot of people find them selves in, huge mortgage that they are struggling to pay and 30 odd years still to go. By the sounds of things you could nearly be mortgage free.

A few years of boredom would be worth it IMO. Stick it out

fungun

As long as you are there together and agreed, then Id stick it out. Couple of years more saving at that rate could set you up to really enjoy your 30s and the rest of your life....sounds like its a sensible investment of your time to me

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies! We had a long chat about it today and we're echoing your sentiments! We've decided that if work maintains as enjoyable for the next month then we'll commit to a longer term and set ourselves up for a fairly stable future! I just hope the boredom doesn't get to me!

Midnight Sundance

What would your social
Life be like if you came back to ireland to no job? I'd say you'd be doing exactly what you're doing now.
Sit it out another while and you'll be happy you did in a couple of years time
Best of luck

Curry Addict

some long weekends away would help releave the boredom