by Hope
One started submitting their resume early last year.
Two told me at Thanksgiving.
One told me at Christmas.
Another laid out their plans in mid-February.
And, of course, one is already here.
Yes, what I’m saying is that my kids have begun a migration to Texas.
Beauty has been here for just over two weeks now, started a new job, and has found housing. She’s staying here with my parents and I in the meantime, but will return to GA within the month to pack up the house, the animals, and the husband. We anticipate they will be moved into their new place by the end of March.
History Buff made clear his intention to move to Texas when his current lease is up in August. He’s hoping his roommate/best friend will make the move with him.
Sea Cadet wants to move here too. However, we’ve discussed him sitting tight in VA until he finishes the degree he’s working on in preparation for applying to PA school (eventually.)
Princess is the hold out. But she is coming for 3 different week+ long visits between now and mid-year. She arrives for a 10 day visit this week. Woot, woot!
It will be interesting to see who all is here by the end of 2026. (No pressure from me.)
Move My Stuff
I am here as moral support. They are getting no pressure from me to move. In fact, I continue to caution them that I don’t know what I will do next, after my parents no longer need me. I never wanted Texas to be my home again. But we shall see…
In the meantime, I’ve got to decide if this is the time to move my storage from GA. Since Beauty and her husband will be making the move, it may be a good time to get my stuff moved. Share the cost of a Uhaul maybe? I’ve begun pricing storage here.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
This sounds like heaven for a momma’s heart. But please don’t let it be a silent drain on your potential savings. You have already supplemented a significant amount to some of your kids over the past year already. Don’t let your excitement/happiness of them being closer to you turn into monetary help getting them there and settled. You’ve raised them all to be independent, let them be independent.
My main advice for this is to redirect your happy energy into non-monetary help like advice on towns to live in, packing/unpacking help, a BYO coffee date in a park, an apartment hunting trip. There are lots of ways you can help or share your excitement without buying things or going out to lunch with them.
I agree with Angie – I hope this does not turn into a financial drain. If they have decided to move to Texas of their own volition, then they need to make sure they are prepared for that. You’re still budgeting and figuring things out, you cannot support them all, at all. Princess I hope stays where she is, and tbh I am surprised that she and Beauty want to move to a state that doesn’t seem to be POC friendly. Or woman friendly.
I agree. Texas is very troublesome politically, and as a woman and a mother of daughters I could never encourage my kids to move there during the current administration.
Yeah, I have two cousins born and raised there- their mom is an immigrant. Mom and one cousin very red, one cousin blue and not speaking to mom as much. All women of colour to boot. I hope it works out for them all, maybe cost of living where they are combined with pay is amazing!
My first reaction is how lovely this will be to have family closer together! The second, more powerful reaction is a feeling of impending doom for your finances. DO NOT take this as an opportunity to fund any of these moves. You are their momma, not their bank. They need to figure out a way to do this all on their own. Emotionally support them, yes. Prayerfully support them, yes. Physically support them, yes – to the extent that you can unpack boxes or point out where the couch should sit in an apartment. But do not, under any circumstances derail your future by spending money you don’t have to spend. You’re at a precipice of success. Do not go back into debt. Please keep Dave Ramsey’s gazelle intensity in the forefront of your mind.