Why Financial Clarity Is Key to a Successful Relocation

Thinking about relocating to another city without a holistic approach to all six critical steps is like embarking on a road trip without a map, spare tire, or credit card for emergencies. You might get lucky, or you might make one of the 10 Biggest Mistakes When Relocating.

Introduction

It is often said that people spend more time planning a vacation than their retirement. The same is true for relocation. The goal of this post is to unpack and explain Step 2 of our unique 6-step process. Step 2 is called Financial Clarity.

This is a two-part post, in this part one we discuss how much a family of our needs to earn to be comfortable, why financial clarity is practical and useful, and the three types of people who relocate. Part two of this article explains how financial clarity and strategic relocation can fix many families’ money issues. Click here for part two.

Worrying about money is stressful and unhealthy. We coined a phrase: joy and fear cannot coexist. The mission of Considering Austin is to make a positive difference for those struggling with insufficient or unsustainable finances. This has been our passion since 2007.

Why are so many moving away from high-cost, high-tax cities? Because living under financial strain is not living.

Key Financial Questions

For those thinking of moving to Austin, before you start browsing online for houses, ask yourself these important questions:

• Is our lifestyle financially sustainable?
• How much money do we have in savings?
• How much will we need in the future?
• Will a relocation to another city or state help us or hurt us financially?
• How much would we need to earn if we wanted to stay here and not relocate?

This 2024 chart shows how much annual income is needed for two working adults who are raising two children. This does not include putting the kids through college.

Two big reasons you need to earn more in different states are the price of housing and gasoline. According to AAA, the average price for gas in CA on 6/10/24 is $4.93. In Texas, today's average price is $2.97. The average gas price is 66% more expensive in CA than TX. House price differentials tell a similar story._[1]

Looking at the chart above, let's compare income needed for three high-cost states vs. Texas:

• New York: $279k
• California: $277k
• Illinois: $230k
• Texas: $201k

Now, let's convert this data into something more tangible, like how hard do we have to work or how many hours of labor does this represent? Two questions come to mind:

1. If a couple earns the ‘Income Needed,’ shown above, how much would they owe in state income taxes?
2. How many hours would each adult have to work to pay just those state income taxes?

The following table shows the amount of state income tax for a family living in: New York City, California, Illinois, and Texas. It shows approximate state income tax due and the number of hours both adults (individually) would have to work to earn enough to pay that state income tax amount._[2] Hours or weeks needed are estimates because taxes vary based on individual variables._[3]

Approximate state income taxes, by state, for married, filing joint, for a state-specific 'comfortable' income level as shown above:

• New York: $28,569
• California: $22,518
• Illinois: $11,385
• Texas: $0

To summarize, in New York City, each parent would have to work 213 hours or 5.3 weeks to cover half of the state/city income taxes due. In California, each parent is 169 hours each or 4.2 weeks each. In Chicago, each adult must work 103 hours per year to collectively pay their state income taxes.

In contrast, Texas residents have the equivalent of a month off because of the combination of a lower cost of living and no state income taxes. This thought exercise is an example of how financial clarity helps people understand the pros and cons of relocating.

Money is a proxy for time. Put simply, if we don't have to earn as much, because our cost of living is lower or we don’t have to pay state income taxes, that frees up time for health, family, and spirituality – things old people say matter the most.

Step 2 of our relocation process revolves around two questions: 1) How would moving to Austin affect our checkbook (cash flow), and 2) How would relocating affect our savings, investments , and retirement (net worth)?

Personally, in our case, moving to Austin had a very positive effect on our check book, savings account, and retirement. Because our experience was so positive, we chose to create this company to help others get out of the financial hamster wheel.

People Who Relocate Fall into One of Three Groups

Perspective is driven by perception. If you know you have a problem, you think about a situation differently than if you are unaware of the problem.  For example, if I know my tire has a nail in it, I'll drive slower (to the repair shop) than if I didn't know about the nail.

Out of the six steps we say are necessary for a successful relocation, the money part, what we call Financial Clarity, is where you see this perception/perspective thing most vividly.

People who consider moving to another state typically fall into one of three groups:

1. Want to – looking for a lower cost of living, to be near family, job opportunities, different politics, etc.
2. Need to and aware – currently in an untenable situation: insufficient cash flow, or their kids cannot afford to purchase nearby, etc.
3. Need to but unaware – in an unstable or unsustainable position without realizing it—walking on thin ice.

Want to Relocate

These individuals or families want to relocate for one or more reasons; they want:

• More affordable living conditions, especially for raising kids
• Better employment opportunities
• Improved lifestyle
• Different politics

Need to Relocate and Know It

The second group needs to relocate, and they know why:

• Any of the reasons above plus...
• They have clear goals and follow a budget but still struggle
• Their current situation is unsustainable
• They just can’t get ahead financially
• They cannot save for retirement
• They cannot get debt paid off

Need to Relocate, But Don’t Realize It

This third group needs to relocate but don’t realize it:

• They do not understand how much they are falling behind financially
• Their income is not sufficient for their debt load
• They do not know their financial numbers at all
• They have insufficient retirement savings, but they do not know how far they are off

What Motivates People to Move to Austin or Relocate in General?

Understanding what motivates people to consider relocation provides insight into their decision-making. Typically, motivations are split between attraction and avoidance. They want more good things and less bad things:

More:

• The ability to save money and get ahead financially
• A secure retirement
• More time for family
• An improved lifestyle

Less:

• Taxes, regulation, and market distortions
• Financial distress and instability
• Congestion and overcrowding
• Safety concerns

Often, within a family, different people are in different buckets. The person who pays the bills might feel moving is more of a need than a want, and vice versa.

In Part 2 of this post, we delve deeper into why many people are leaving high-cost states, how inflation has poured fuel on that fire, and how Considering Austin helps families take steps so money is not a constant source of distress.

[Click here to read Part 2]

References and Resources

[1] AAA Gas Price Survey: https://gasprices.aaa.com/ 

[2] CA state taxes: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/california-state-tax

[3] Considering Austin is not licensed to provide tax or legal advice. Your tax totals will depend on many variables - consult your tax advisor: https://www.consideringaustin.com/licensing-disclosures