Should I take the promotion or not? My husband and I move 4x's over past 10 years each time for job promos

Yes, this should be a joint decision between you and your husband of course. A promotion should always be a step up or at least a step equal, and keep in mind that it does not have to encompass just the paycheck. There might be other perks--such as living closer to family--that make it seem worthwhile. However, to give up a home and find one in LA at that cost....and will Dad be going too, and how does he feel?

There's an easy way to do this:

put it on paper in black and white, so you can't argue at hard facts. Sit with hubby and get a legal pad. On one piece of paper make a list of things you LOVE about LA and why you want to be there, why this promotion would be good, etc.

Then, make a list about what you love about where you currently are, why you want to stay there, etc. Hopefully this can help you sort things out a little bit.

Oh, and I know what you mean about the housing prices there....ouch!

One more piece of advice, on a personal note: I said some things are more important than money. My guy left Ohio on countless jobs, and is now in northern CA after having lived in north LA about a year ago. I too loved the area and wished to stay there with him but things at the time did not work out, we were not working out. He and I spent a wonderful Christmas together and he was supposed to leave on New Year's Eve but he called me and said he missed his flight on purpose, had already called his boss and said he was coming back a few days later than planned because he just wasn't ready to leave yet... :-) and that some things mattered more than money so if he was in trouble they would have to yell at him when he got back. This business of constantly being on planes has been hard on both of us the past couple years and he misses his family here terribly too.....He is trying to find a different job and is willing to take a severe paycut and move across the country to come home. Or so he says, I'll see if it really happens....but, what I mean is sometimes home is where you make it, and if home isn't home without the people you love, then go for the move. Even if it seems a little unsure.

I wish you the best!

How does your husband feel? If it were me I would stay right where you are. You will be starting a family soon and would want the peace of mind of not worrying about your children. And you have the responsibility of taking care of your father.

stay put in your home and be happy

im married 25 yrs and this is my third home and now i have a bigger mortage than my last home and less time to pay it back since i was in my last house 21 yrs-now im starting from scratch with a new mortage -even though its a 15 yr --i have bigger payments--

i want to have less worries the older we get not more

bad area, higher house payment ect.....forget it stay put

the question is, to be stupid or not. i think if you really look at reality, the answer is there. what is a dream home? once you have it, nothing else will compare. your next one might be larger,but will it really be home? if your happy where you are, why screw up a good thing? ive done it, and lived to regret it later on.