I do think much of it is regional. Cost of living tends to be cheaper in IN than in Philly! (Of course, you probably are making less money in IN, too, if my not-so-distant knowledge of IN salaries still holds water...)
Oh, and it sounds like you need to learn to hear what you MIL is really saying. When she drags her feet and says "we'll see how it goes," it sounds like that means a pretty firm "No" in MIL language. I have to learn stuff like this all the time. I'm really bad at it. But, sadly, my problem is with learning to read my OWN family! :p
