Arkansas

I moved with my fiancé from DC to Arkansas to save money. It was actually more expensive there, and 5 months later, we broke up.

Published

12 months ago

June 26, 2025

I moved with my fiancé from DC to Arkansas to save money. It was actually more expensive there, and 5 months later, we broke up.

We signed the lease for our new home in Bentonville, Arkansas on a damp April afternoon.

The house had an oak tree out front with a big lawn, three bedrooms, and a sunroom. Perhaps best of all, though, was that the rent was nearly $1,000 less than our DC apartment.

After four years of paying sky-high rent for DC apartments that cost as much as a mortgage, my fiancé and I were ready for a change.

We dreamed of a kitchen where two people could cook without sidestepping each other, and a dining table. More than anything, I yearned to lie in the grass in my own backyard. To hear real birds, not the Spotify ones I used to drown out the ambulances below my apartment.

I never imagined that change would come in the form of Arkansas, but my fiancé had a job lead in Bentonville, I had remote work, and we figured our money would go further there.

Bentonville wasn’t the money-saving haven I thought

We arrived at our new home, sight unseen, in May 2024. The illusion cracked quickly.

My fiancé’s job never came through, leaving us with my decent corporate salary and his hourly gig work.

Moving from urban to suburban always requires compromise, but I found that Bentonville is priced like a boutique bubble.

Our rent was cheaper, yes, but I found that a lot of other things weren’t.

For example, a latte at the award-winning coffee shop, Onyx, costs $7. Of course, there were cheaper options, like Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, but in general, I found that a decent cup of coffee cost me as much as it did in DC. Finding new friends also wasn’t cheap.

My fiancé had some friends in Bentonville already, but I wanted to try to build my own community. I went to a local women’s networking event, sipped more $7 lattes at a local book club, and befriended the cashier at the Kaleidoscope, a women-owned creative collective.

Eventually, though, I found myself eyeing Blake Street, a social club that offers a gym, pool, yoga classes, music, comedy shows, and local excursions. At $255 a month, the cost felt a little absurd, but I joined anyway. It felt, increasingly, like a necessity.

I also bought a car, paid for the insurance, and the additional annual property tax that comes with owning a vehicle in Arkansas. On top of that, maintenance costs piled up fast.

Within the first few months, I got a flat tire on a back road and had to replace it. Then came the routine upkeep: oil changes, tire rotations, a cracked windshield from flying debris during tornado season. For some, these might be the expected rhythms of car ownership, but after years of living in walkable cities, it felt like an entirely new category of expense. Suddenly, nearly 20% of my income was going toward car payments, repairs, inspections, and insurance.

Even groceries, which we assumed would be cheaper at Walmart, cost about the same as our beloved Trader Joe’s in DC. A carton of eggs that cost $2.79 at Trader Joe’s was $3.12 at Walmart. A bag of frozen mango chunks? $3.49 in both places. And organic milk — nearly identical in price, hovering around $5.50. The sticker shock wasn’t dramatic, but it added up.

In DC, my monthly “lifestyle” spending hovered around $500: coffee shops, fitness classes, the occasional rooftop drink. In Arkansas, it easily crept toward $800, even though I was doing more or less the same things.

I missed the city

After furnishing our oversized sunroom, buying a lawn mower, and stocking up on tornado-season essentials — flashlights, backup batteries, and yard tarps — I started to wonder if this “affordable” life was actually saving us anything.

I told myself I was being adventurous, flexible, and supportive. However, the voice in my head kept whispering: You didn’t really want this. I just wanted a plot of grass to call my own, but I realized I would settle for public parks if it meant living in a big city, again.

I missed the city’s convenience, but more than that, I missed the version of myself who lived there. In Arkansas, I began to disappear. I tried to cling to the things that made me feel like myself.

However, I wasn’t walking to my favorite café or running into friends on the street. My days revolved around errands, driving, and trying to settle in.

For my fiancé, the compromise made sense — he was content with a slower, simpler life. He didn’t mind living on an hourly wage or staying in most nights. He didn’t need the things I craved, and I began to feel like a supporting character in someone else’s life.

For me, the move to Arkansas didn’t just mark a change in geography; it exposed how far apart we’d grown in what we each wanted from our lives.

I left my life in Arkansas 5 months after moving there

Five months after moving to Arkansas, I left the state and my relationship, with a $10,000 personal loan to cover the cost of the detour.

I owed more on my car loan than the car was worth when I sold it back to the dealership. I had to pay the difference. My now-ex-fiancé wouldn’t be able to afford the house on his own after I left, so we had to break the lease. I paid for moving costs, and had to begin again — financially bruised, but finally honest with myself.

I wasn’t sure where I would go next, but when a dear friend offered me her spare bedroom in London, I didn’t hesitate. I booked a one-way flight almost immediately.

Since then, I have stayed with friends, joined an international housesitting website, visited seven new countries on a whim, and successfully managed to go nine months without paying rent.

What I really needed

Turns out, the reset I needed wasn’t a house with a backyard, a husband, or a booming bank account. It was a passport, carry-on, half-formed plan, and the nerve that shows up when you let everything else fall apart.

Bentonville is a beautiful, art-filled town surrounded by nature. I met plenty of people who genuinely loved it there. They biked the trails, raised their families, hosted supper clubs, and meant it when they said they couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. In hindsight, I can see why.

For me, the problem wasn’t Bentonville. It was everything I’d brought with me: the wrong relationship and an inauthentic version of myself. For them, it’s home. For me, it was a detour, so I took the nearest exit.

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Arkansas

Get to know: Arkansas DB commitment John Catlin | Whole Hog Sports

Published

10 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Get to know: Arkansas DB commitment John Catlin | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas

Arkansas basketball stars Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile selected in NBA Draft second round | Whole Hog Sports

Published

20 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas basketball stars Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile selected in NBA Draft second round | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas

Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.

Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.

“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”

The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.

“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.

With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.

“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”

“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”

Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.

About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.

About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

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