Cost of Living

[gazza_tyler]

Hi,
We are currently putting together business plan etc for E-2, but some questions I am strugging to find answers to,

1. What is the cost for school fees (our son is 7, 8 in aug) will he go to elementry school.
2. Has anyone out there got young children with them and have they settled well in school. Are they made to feel welcome.
3. Any schools anyone can recommend ?
4. What are some of the day-to day living costs particulary,
a). Health insurance (family of three 2 x adults one 7yr old).
b). Electricity per month
c). Water per month.
d). Local council taxes ?
e). Car insurance ?
f). TV
g). Anything I have forgot ?

We are for the first 6mth - year going to rent to insure that we settle and can fund mortgage using our UK capitl to support us should the business not take off so any clues on rent for 3 bed house appreciated.

Also is anyone Happy over there I do get a lot of negative feelings from some of the users ?
Many thanks,

Garry and Tricia

[lorraine]

Hi Gazza school nil unless you put into private, which we did first year and total waste of money not like private in UK (private fees range 7k to 12k) We pay health insurance 600 per month family of three. Taxes on our house 6500 per year. Water and electric depends on size of house we pay electric 350 and water 120 per month. Car insurance we now pay 2k per year. Rental prices vary depending where you moving. School again depends where abouts you are moving. I think most of us are happy it is just very very hard and stressful, we all love the way of life and obviously the weather. I think we all come over with rose tinted glasses on and even if someone told us how hard it would be we wouldnt beleive it. All that said most people say the first 2-3 years are the hardest then it does get easier. We are happy we obviously miss family but wouldnt want to live in UK. Take care kind regards Lorraine

[chris]

Hey Gazza,
Are going to be dieting? What about food?
Depending on whether you're buying an existing business or starting a new one, you'll need to factor in enough money to keep you going as a family for say the first 6 months. With a new business it's all pay out with little coming in.
We leased new cars when we arrived .... bad decision. I would honestly recommend keeping outgoings as low as possible till you find you feet. Drive a couple of klunkers to begin with. Low outlay and no monthly payments!
Factor in your commuting cost too, but that depends on what you buy and where relative to your abode. Find the business first, then rent a house. You need to focus down on what business you want to run, then try and spotlight where that business might be.
I'd go along with what Lorraine said on other costs. Many don't have medical insurance and certainly not to begin with. BUT if you can afford it from day one do so. I ended in hopsital ER just for a few hours and ended up with a $4000 bill.
On schools, quality varies. I have an 11 year old and a 7 soon to be 8 year old. Little one is in 2 nd grade at Elementary school. He has also been accepted for the gifted program so splits his time at another school doing higher level stuff. At least he's being challanged.
TV depends on what you contract for, but we pay Brighthouse which is cable tv, hispeed internet and phone and we pay about $180.00 per month. You can get phone for like $30.00 on VOIP with Vonage.
Leccy depends on how big your house is and how cold you want it. Ours was $2000 for a 2700 sq ft home. We have the thermostat at 80 degrees. Water $50 per month.
Been here now 7 years and can say, it doesn't really get any easier (sorry Lorraine). Biggest bugbear is the immigration paperwork and associated hassles which mean you get treated differently to anybody else. Your life will go in 2 year stages. Not ideal compared to UK, but not much we can do about it. Just suck it in and get on with it.
Good luck

[reecey]

hiya :welcome:


I have 2 sons in Elementary you are best to look for an A or A+ school 1st and plan to live near it.
My sons love school even more than the UK and i think youll find that there will allways be new pupils as central florida is growing fast,
Our house costs are similar to lorraines, you do need a bit put by at the begining but its well worth it, we love it here and its the best move weve ever made
regards x

[lorraine]

Hi I agree chris health insurance a must. We arrived in the June, I ended up in hospital in September, our son in hospital in Januray if we hadnt had insurance we would have been going home the bills were over 70,000 dollars.

6 months also you will be living on your money from Uk. It takes that amount of time to get all the licences etc through. We bought cars cash and later on bought better cars. Credit history is a real problem and it takes a couple of years before you can get credit.

We are now at the almost 2 year stage and I would say it is getting easier as we understand things alot better now and also have learnt that all though people smile and love you (that is not always the case). We have run businesses in the UK and still do, but running a business here is totally different and even if you are street wise you can still get caught out so easily. Take advice from fellow brits in the same position and be on guard, dont believe word of mouth promises. All that said apart from family I dont miss the UK at all. Good luck

[gazza_tyler]

Many thanks to all who have replied, helps build the picture of what we are about to embark on ????

Garry + Tricia

[InnVic]

Actually alot depends upon the business you are buying - some have longer lead times to any profitability so the more you can keep back the better - its always twice as expensive as you think!. We're almost two years down the line now and only just starting to get (a little) more in than goes out. We had to consider things like liability insurances, property tax on a commercial building ($14K !!we've a B&B) There are always extra fees for licenses, closing costs on a house or business purchase can be thousands. Its not all doom and gloom but its a lot easier if you come with your eyes wide open - prepare for worst case scenario and when it turns out better than your prepared for your ahead of the game!

[Jax]

I agree with InnVic we also have Liabilty Insurance as well as workers comp and insurance for cars so plan for the worst if its works out better that great

[Bobby]

4 apples tonight from Publix $2.80.

4 nectarines $3.10

What a ****** liberty.

.....and I thought that they grew on trees !

Food is getting more expensive than I'd imagined. I don't normally venture into Publix or anywhere like it, (I'm lucky enough to be able to leave that to my better half ....better at spending it seems! lol). I couldn't believe the price of some of the stuff.
$175.00 and we only had half a cart full, and no alcohol either! whoops.

She thought she'd find me pacing the wine aisles, but not tonight.
Tonight I was reading the gun and ammo magazines. ;)
This country will do that to you.

Bobby

[InnVic]

Oh no Bobbys going Columbine!

[Bobby]

I tell you Innvic, ....when I was swiping my card, I thought that I was the one being "held up" !

At least Dick Turpin wore a mask during the day.

Bobby

[lorraine]

lol I know where do they get there prices from I go to Publix twice a week and its always 120 -150 each time and again no booze. The local offi guy loves me he has the whisky in bulk now, he did ask me if I wanted to set up an account, or maybe just have a drip put in lol (ITS THE STRESS YOU KNOW)

[chris]

We nearly had riots on the streets when gas hit $3 per gallon. My wife told me OJ in Publix has nearly hit $5 per gallon with milk well over $3. Do I see any riots?

[InnVic]

Yeah...I hear you Lorraine - thank god the important stuffs not too expensive (Gordons Gin $11 for 1.75L);)

[lorraine]

Yep whisky good price also that is the main attraction lol

[britcan]

We nearly had riots on the streets when gas hit $3 per gallon. My wife told me OJ in Publix has nearly hit $5 per gallon with milk well over $3. Do I see any riots?
try living in Canada, milk over $4 a gallon,gas was up to $1.25 CDN per litre(85 cents CDN = $1 US), I make my own bread cos loaves are $2.99. Food is full of additives and v expensive. We usually go to New York State to Ogdensburg to do our grocery shopping, even with the duty its cheaper and no french on the label...
everything costs more because of the bilingualism C*AP, and you will find in the USA that your prices will go up more because of the labelling having the Spanish on it.