The Positives Of Moving Back To Your Hometown
I don’t think any college graduate really wants to move back to their hometown after graduation. In a lot of cases, that may go against the very reasons why you went off to college in the first place. However, due to a variety of reasons, sometimes that’s just the way things work out.
Over the past few years I have read many posts from folks who graduate only to have that experience. They go off to college, and then feel disappointed about the fact that they are back living at home, in some cases back working their old job before school.
On the flip side, I have also read many posts of folks who landed the job they thought they wanted only to wind up miserable. The long hours and high demands of their new position leave them so burned out after a long days work that they have no time or energy to do anything other than watch TV and go to sleep.
When looking at these two positions side by side, sometimes I wish it was easier to get across to the first guy just how much opportunity they have at their fingertips. However, due to social media, and the human tendency to compare to others, sometimes it can be hard to recognize that.
You Give Yourself Room to Grow
As mentioned briefly in the introduction, a lot of folks land that big job after school and find themselves with not much time to do things other than work. Managing a work-life balance as a fresh graduate has to be very tough. Afterall, on top of the regular demands at work, you also have to commute, upkeep your living premises, meal-prep, grocery shop, do laundry, and maintain your vehicle.
When you head back to your hometown after school, chances are you have taken some of the pressure off of yourself. It is possible that your hometown may not offer the same full time job working 50+ hours a week that you would have picked up elsewhere. What that means is that you have more time to develop in the other areas of your life. You can hit the gym and make those personal gains you’ve been wanting to make. You can continue to read, learn, and develop your professional skills on the side. You can start that business or side hustle you’ve been wanting to start.
It Is Less Expensive
In bigger cities rent prices are obviously more expensive, and in some areas it seems like they are just going up more every day. Chances are that your hometown isn’t quite as expensive or over-populated. Although you may not be making as much as you would have, you’re not having to spend as much either.
When you break things down, in some cases the overall profit margins between a guy out living and hustling in the big city versus a guy working part time in his hometown might not be all that much different. I actually saw a graphic recently that showed that due to the high costs of living in an expensive city like NYC, even after pulling in over $500,000 a year, a couple’s overall take home profit was only $7,300. And that’s after not only working over 50 hours a week but also dealing with all the hassle of living in a city of that size.
You Can Reconnect With Friends and Family
If you went to the same college for a full 4 years there is a chance that you may have picked up some new friends in your new area. But, in a lot of cases, those relationships can easily drift apart after school. Folks move and relocate, and with no longer having a common ground to bring everyone together it may be harder to catch up and touch base.
When you come back to your hometown, chances are that you have to stress less about putting a social life together. You can reconnect with the friends and family that you missed while away at school, and now have more time to spend with them as a fresh graduate.
I can personally say that I was so grateful for this when I first came back. Family get togethers, visits with old friends, holidays, family dinners. It was so nice to go out in the community and be around people that I know and grew up with. With no longer having tests, homework, and studying hanging above your head it can make for such a nice opportunity to go out and connect with the people you enjoy.
The Big City Isn’t Going Anywhere
Although it might feel like a bummer to go from living in a big city to back in your hometown, it is alright. The big city isn’t going anywhere. Sometimes it’s better to continue to develop your skills, save your money, and continue to get accustomed to taking care of yourself as an adult rather than jump into anything too over the top.
