How Much Can You Expect To Spend Pursuing This Endeavor

[AvHdB]

Free Rabbit,

Just a thought in Cleveland, Chicago as well Philadelphia there are large Ukraine communities some living in the United States for generations others for weeks. Perhaps you can spend a weekend in one. Yes I know it will not be the real thing but you might make some contacts and you will understand a bit more about the people.

Eventually you will have to get on the plane bound to the former Soviet Unin and see if what is written here is BS or helpful. As has been said common sense is essential if you wish to succeed.

AvHdB

[FreeRabbit]

Free Rabbit,

Just a thought in Cleveland, Chicago as well Philadelphia there are large Ukraine communities some living in the United States for generations others for weeks. Perhaps you can spend a weekend in one. Yes I know it will not be the real thing but you might make some contacts and you will understand a bit more about the people.

Eventually you will have to get on the plane bound to the former Soviet Unin and see if what is written here is BS or helpful. As has been said common sense is essential if you wish to succeed.

AvHdB

You know, that's a good idea and since there's a Ukrainian church that towers over (and shames the architecture of) a business district not too far from here, I'm assuming there's some Ukrainian community right here where I live too. I think I'm going to go to a Ukrainian restaurant downtown and chat them up a bit. Good suggestion!

[RG]

Tell me about it. I had to subdivide folders on my already cluttered desktop with shortcuts saved to several topics here and my first endeavor is to get all the way through ChristianV's and find out what happened to him and Bluegirl. I average about 2 pages a day, having occupied every spare minute of my time and being busier than a one-legged man in a one-legged man contest.
I could put this off for the next 2 years reading the book and every thread here, and I still wouldn't expect to be immune to the "I wish I had known...." syndrome.

No association, blah blah, but I'd highly recommend Manny's book as a decent starting point; I'm not sure if you said you've read it or not?
You can get nearly all of the same information from reading RUA, and then even more (RUA), but it's an easier starting point that "read everything," IMO, and pretty inexpensive.

A flat salary is meaningless by itself, as even across the US, the cost of housing can be 4x or more than somewhere else. 

It's not helpful that I live in New York, the most overtaxed state in the union (actually that's not true, I think it might be Pennsylvania)...but until my Bachelor degree is complete and I start trying to overcome the stigma of Master's holders who can't find a career in their field and currently sling Slurpees, I've made the ill-advised choice of leaving my field where I made around 44k a year (not counting monthly and quarterly bonuses) but gained the advantage of being able to work anywhere in the world. That's just one thing to give me some hope, and if all I get out of it is a couple of "vacations" in Ukraine, that's still more than I've really ever given myself.

And oh God...now that I've revealed what I earned in my real pre-education vocation, I expect the unzipping and measuring intermingled with the sound advice to recommence!

Nope, no unzipping; I know plenty of exceptional people that were without work for "some time" during dot-bust days, and remain reminded many things can be here today and gone tomorrow. 

I don't know what your former career was, but I'm assuming the rest is completing a BS in comp sci, competing against MS in various flavors? 
If so, all I can say is - have a backup, and do anything/everything you can to build up some legitimate experience, if it's not a natural followup/progression from your prior career.  Recent CS grads are employable, but you'll also need to deal with the reality of recent 20-something grads will eat, live, and sleep writing code for relative peanuts, with much less time constraints due to family, kids, etc., and are eager to "prove themselves."  A recent grad at late 40s - unless you've got something in the way of directly related, solid experience, look for companies needing tech employees, but that aren't software/tech only type of companies unless you stumble across something directly in line with your real world experience; maturity may be of more value there vs. pure tech companies looking for (regardless of discrimination, etc.) code monkeys and such.

The same statement as before applies - if, for example, you say you make 44k/year to someone in the FSU, it's a "lot" of money, to many, even moreso when owning an apartment, somewhat free health care is the norm.  Deduct for your rent or mortgage, insurance, car loan(s), credit card payment(s), cable/internet bills, 401k/IRA contributions, etc., and what do you have left?  Now, the number's still not directly applicable, compare the cost of goods in both places, and lay it out in terms of what you can buy or do with whatever is left over.  Add in numbers given previously assuming you aren't going to force your potential wife to work at Wally World, and allowing for both of your "tolerable" and "ideal" lifestyles.

Only you can say if you have enough.  She can as well, but the "answer" if it comes after marriage, may not be the simple one.  No, not all FSUW are "money hungry" by any means, but most are also not so tempted to move from their owned apartment and likely occasional help from parents if needed, into living in a trailer one paycheck away from potential homelessness. 

I would also do everything possible to ensure that especially for the first year, unless your potential wife falls into one of the relatively few that will be emotionally, mentally, and certified/education/experience-wise capable of actually working early on(and willing/wanting to), that you ensure you are in a stable financial/employment situation.  The best intentions of both parties meeting unpleasant reality and surprises doesn't have an automatic foregone conclusion, but you might want to consider the odds and plan accordingly, whether it's paying down all debt and waiting until you're solidly in a career allowing "enough" disposable income, trust fund, whatever is required allowing for "if you need to watch every penny, you can't really afford surprises or loss of a paycheck" etc.

Then again, if you own your home outright with near zero debt or outgoing cashflow, it's not in need of immediate or extensive repairs (or "honey do"s), you might manage to live "well enough." Maybe.

[FreeRabbit]

No association, blah blah, but I'd highly recommend Manny's book as a decent starting point; I'm not sure if you said you've read it or not?
You can get nearly all of the same information from reading RUA, and then even more (RUA), but it's an easier starting point that "read everything," IMO, and pretty inexpensive.

I didn't order it yet but I'm not making a move without it; I just checked today to see if it was available on Kindle...not sure why I think that would be easier for me!(well, maybe one more book without needing to balance it on my lap while another is across my desk, that would've appealed.)

You know, the whole reason for leaving the better paying career of retail management was, my wife made dumb decisions without discussion and I knew there was no future without concentrating on 4 years of school for something. But you're right, the competition with young guys entering the field is going to be fierce; so, one more benefit I have is, our servers are all here on premises in Rochester and I've been making friends with guys in this IT department for a couple years so I hope I can break in that way. The minute I do though, bang goes my work-from-home status, and my mobility...as soon as that happens, there's no trips to Ukraine no matter what I earn!

I'm staggering all of this like "Jenga" blocks hoping I can make it stand!

[d672]

All this nonsense is putting the horse before the cart.

Perhaps.  The point I was making is the cost of acquisition and dating the lady in the FSU is just a fraction of the cost a WM will incur once he marries the lady and begins to make a life together. 

It's an extension the exuberance some men express once they are finally married to their FSU sweetheart and the 'elders' caution that "now the hard work begins".

That, I find totally believable. I know there are future ramifications I haven't even thought of yet.

 There are many expensive future ramifications that could happen with western women too... and they can pale in comparison to the extra cost involved with marrying an FSU wife. I've seen a few guys lose all they have by marrying the wrong western woman.
 My brother fell into a trap of one of these women just over 3 years ago. They got married 6 months after they met and ended up separating less than 2 years later.  He told me that he lost about 120,000 in that short period of time and his credit rating is shot now for a few years. That is before the divorce settlement which should be finalized this spring.
 When he first met her I knew she was trouble but I also saw he was in love and nothing I could say would change his mind about her. But seeing what was happening to him really opened up my eyes to what options there were out there for a guy like me in my 40's and I knew there were lots of women like this out there and not too many good ones left anymore. Thats when I seriously started looking at FSU women as an option to get married.
 So the way I see it these extra costs are worth it if you are going to have a happy marriage and a woman who who really loves you and will spend the rest of her life with you. And those extra expenses could be a LOT less than if you end up with the wrong western woman like my brother married! 

[FreeRabbit]

There are many expensive future ramifications that could happen with western women too... and they can pale in comparison to the extra cost involved with marrying an FSU wife. I've seen a few guys lose all they have by marrying the wrong western woman.
 My brother fell into a trap of one of these women just over 3 years ago. They got married 6 months after they met and ended up separating less than 2 years later.  He told me that he lost about 120,000 in that short period of time and his credit rating is shot now for a few years. That is before the divorce settlement which should be finalized this spring.
 When he first met her I knew she was trouble but I also saw he was in love and nothing I could say would change his mind about her. But seeing what was happening to him really opened up my eyes to what options there were out there for a guy like me in my 40's and I knew there were lots of women like this out there and not too many good ones left anymore. Thats when I seriously started looking at FSU women as an option to get married.
 So the way I see it these extra costs are worth it if you are going to have a happy marriage and a woman who who really loves you and will spend the rest of her life with you. And those extra expenses could be a LOT less than if you end up with the wrong western woman like my brother married!

I hear ya! It was after divorcing and making a commitment to a girl I refer to as "the huge mistake" that I heard about the upbringing and motivations of FSU women. I know that as with your brother, one of my friends could have looked past the enormous hooters and told me this girl was trouble but I might not have seen it.
So I hope your brother comes out of it in one piece - and congratulations, looks like your investment in your own dreams paid off!!

[FreeRabbit]

Great. While I was working I looked this place up, and "Olga's Restaurant" in Rochester is apparently closed for business. But the "St. Josaphat Ukrainian Festival" takes place here for four days in August so I'll be able to hang out with them for a while.

[rosco]

Boy, you Britons can't speak American. 

Well considering that the IRA is an active terrorist organisation within the UK and ROI, it is understandable to not get it.

My apologies. Seriously.

Please understand that for us Americans IRA is Individual Retirement Account and ROI is Return On Investment.

ROI is the same here, but it also is Republic of Ireland.

And whilst we're all being so civil for a change - apologies for anyone who misunderstands the British humour!! 

[Muzh_1]

(I'm still interested in Russian TV myself, so I might look into its availability in my area)

Hint: Google "Free Russian TV online"

It's free.

[Muzh_1]

Great. While I was working I looked this place up, and "Olga's Restaurant" in Rochester is apparently closed for business. But the "St. Josaphat Ukrainian Festival" takes place here for four days in August so I'll be able to hang out with them for a while.

For a better feel, swim across the Ontario and head to Toronto.

[FreeRabbit]

(I'm still interested in Russian TV myself, so I might look into its availability in my area)

Hint: Google "Free Russian TV online"

It's free.

Well that was easy! I found a great site, squidtv.net, that leads to lots of Russian programming.
I haven't been in Toronto in a long time; big Russian population there? (I know about all the Scots running around!)

[Muzh_1]

(I'm still interested in Russian TV myself, so I might look into its availability in my area)

Hint: Google "Free Russian TV online"

It's free.

Well that was easy! I found a great site, squidtv.net, that leads to lots of Russian programming.
I haven't been in Toronto in a long time; big Russian population there? (I know about all the Scots running around!)

Not sure about Russians, but there are a lot of Ukrainians.

Also, I understand that many of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada made their way to Buffalo/Niagara about 100 years ago.

[d672]

I hear ya! It was after divorcing and making a commitment to a girl I refer to as "the huge mistake" that I heard about the upbringing and motivations of FSU women. I know that as with your brother, one of my friends could have looked past the enormous hooters and told me this girl was trouble but I might not have seen it.
So I hope your brother comes out of it in one piece - and congratulations, looks like your investment in your own dreams paid off!!

 Lol! those hooters have been the downfall of men for hundreds of years!   

 Yea, little bro is doing good now, he's slowly starting to get his life back together and soon it should just be a bad memory.
 And yes, I have to say life is really good for me since I married my wife. I could honestly say that I've never met a woman like her before and I cant remember when I've ever been this happy.
 Thanks for the congrats!   

[sparky114]

If You need to ask this question 

Then the answer is you can not afford it 

[Muzh_1]

(I'm still interested in Russian TV myself, so I might look into its availability in my area)

Hint: Google "Free Russian TV online"

It's free.

Well that was easy! I found a great site, squidtv.net, that leads to lots of Russian programming.
I haven't been in Toronto in a long time; big Russian population there? (I know about all the Scots running around!)

Here's one for Ukraine.

http://beelinetv.com/