I lived on the East Coast my whole life until my partner and I moved to the Upper Midwest a little over two years ago. I had never visited the Midwest before, so I had no idea what living here would be like. For the first few months, I experienced a bit of culture shock and had trouble adjusting.
But once I settled in, I started to feel grateful to live here and recognize all the financial and lifestyle benefits of being a Midwesterner. Here are 5 ways moving to the Midwest has not only saved me money, but enabled me to enjoy life more.
Housing Is Cheaper
My partner is from the Midwest, which is the main reason we moved here. However, affordable housing was another big factor.
Homes cost much less in the Midwest than they do on the coasts. The median home price in Massachusetts where we used to live is over $600,000, so we probably would’ve been perma-renters.
In the Midwest, homeownership is still achievable. The median sale price of homes in Michigan where we live now is just $230,000. And according to a recent study, the Midwest is the only region where households spend less than 20% of their income on their mortgage payments.
Salaries out here tend to be lower, so that is something to consider. You may have to take a pay cut if you move to the Midwest. However, the cost of living is also much lower, especially when it comes to housing. So you may still come out ahead even if you earn less on paper.
Fewer Malls and Stores
Where I live in Northern Michigan, I’ve noticed there aren’t as many malls and stores. It seems like Midwesterners don’t shop as much or care about brands the way people on the coasts do.
I don’t see many flashy designer bags or clothes when I’m out and about. My observations seem to be supported by the fact that many malls in the Midwest have shut down due to lack of sales and foot traffic.
My wallet has definitely benefited from the fact that there are fewer places to spend money here. There’s less pressure to look a certain way or keep up with the Joneses, which has helped me realize I don’t need a lot of luxuries to be happy.
Outdoor Lifestyle
The main thing that surprised me about living in the Midwest is the emphasis on nature. Almost everyone enjoys outdoor hobbies like biking, hiking, skiing, boating, fishing, and birdwatching.
Although I wasn’t a very outdoorsy person before I moved here, I’ve definitely started to embrace a more active, outdoor lifestyle, which has helped me save money. When I lived in Boston, I used to shop or go out to eat for fun. Now my favorite way to spend the day is to go to the beach or enjoy a nature hike.
Since winter is colder and longer in the Midwest, I’ve truly learned to appreciate warm, sunny days and make the most of them, which thankfully doesn’t cost me anything.
People Help Each Other Out
Another financial benefit of living in the Midwest that I didn’t anticipate is community support. People help each other out and share resources here.
A few weeks after moving to Michigan, our car got stuck in an ice covered parking lot. To my surprise, two strangers who were driving by jumped out of their car and helped us push our vehicle out. Even though it took fifteen minutes, they were happy to lend us a hand and save us from having to pay for a tow truck.
I felt awful that I couldn’t repay their kindness in some way, but that’s just the way people are in the Midwest. They’ll literally give you the shirt off their back and ask for nothing in return.
One of our neighbors plows our driveway all winter and won’t let us pay him for it. Another neighbor brings us produce from her garden and lets us borrow any farm equipment we need. Their kindness and support has definitely saved us money and stress, so we try to pay it forward as much as we can.
Affordable Food and Groceries
Another advantage of living in the Midwest is affordable food costs. The average Midwestern household only spends $4,100 per year on food at home, which is lower than the national average.
There are lots of local farmer’s markets here and almost everyone has a garden, so fresh healthy food is pretty accessible. Although we live fifteen minutes from the nearest grocery store and 30 minutes from our preferred supermarket, we can still eat well without breaking the bank.
Eating out is also much cheaper here than in the Northeast. My spouse and I can enjoy a nice sit-down dinner with drinks and an appetizer for about $40 plus tip. It was hard to eat out in Boston for less than $75. We still don’t go out to eat very often, but it’s a nice treat when we do.
Where do you live and what are some of the financial benefits of residing there? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
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