US woman explains why she regrets returning from Europe to live the ‘American dream’

An American woman who lived in Europe for four years has gone viral for explaining why she regrets returning to the US.

Kayleigh Donahue posted a TikTok video last November and admitted she was “stunned” when she returned to Massachusetts.

Donahue assumed that returning to America would be a good thing and believed that there would be more career opportunities and better pay.

“I really got sucked into living the American dream when I was abroad,” she said.

Donahue revealed that she would most likely move back to Europe and “live a lavish life there” compared to the US.

Donahue assumed that moving back to America would be a good thing and believed there would be more career opportunities and better pay

Donahue moved to Europe in 2018 and lived in Dublin, Ireland before returning to the US.

However, her move didn’t turn out as well as she expected.

“I literally lost money moving back here,” she said.

‘I got a job where I made more money in America than in Ireland, but I still can’t save.’

According to Donahue, the cost of living in the US is higher, the job market is not good and she has “much less free time.”

The content creator revealed she had 29 paid days off a year in Ireland and now only 10 in the US.

“What I thought would be a good decision to move back to make money and advance my career ended up leaving me poorer.”

According to Donahue, she had 29 paid days off a year in Ireland and now only has 10 in the US. She also admitted that she had lost money since returning to America

It is unclear what Donahue’s career in Ireland was, but according to the Working Time Organization ActIf she were a full-time employee, she would be required to have 20 days of paid vacation each year.

She also didn’t clarify what his current job is, but according to Statistics of 2024the average American worker only gets eleven days of paid vacation per year.

Property prices between the US and Ireland are also very different.

The price of renting within and outside the cities in the US is much more expensive than in Ireland.

According to Numbeo it is the average price Buying an apartment in an American city costs almost $770, while in Ireland it costs just $498.28.

Donahue lived primarily in Dublin, Ireland for four years, but was able to vacation in other countries in Europe

Social media users currently living in Europe were grateful that Donahue posted the video. The content creator admitted that she would even move just for the holidays

Several TikTokers were attracted to the idea of ​​multiple vacation days, with Donahue even admitting that she would move back “just for the 20+ vacation days.”

“American currently living in Amsterdam with an Irish boyfriend, he thinks he wants to try the US, I don’t want to… I’m just going to send him this!” wrote one TikTok user.

Other users wrote that they ‘burst into tears’ as soon as they heard how many paid holidays she had in Ireland.

Donahue responded to several comments from TikTok users and even thanked one TikTok user who wrote that she was “breaking down facts.”