Cost of Living in the U.S

[SHEILA 13]

Hi ,I have started this thread off . .
If we can post on here about the costs etc in the U.S.
Thanks
Sheila

[lorraine]

Hi Sheila where are the posts? xx

[SHEILA 13]

Lorraine,Just had to take a phone call,I am back now !!!
Sheila
Sorry folks,posts got lost in Space !!!

[lorraine]

Ha ha ok, here I go again lol..took me ages posting on the other one......so who is the dippy blonde now then;)

Food Weekly $400
Electric monthly $390
Water monthly $95
car insurance yearly $1500 (cheaper than when we first arrived)
Health and dental insurance $700 a month
House Tax $12,000 a year
House insurance $1200 a year
Housing Assosiation fees $1000 a year (cheap compared to alot)
Phone, internet and tv approx $120 a month
Bug killer, grass and lawn care (do it yourself) approx $40 a month
not sure on rental but I would have thought approx $1500 per month

As for the business stuff:( dont even go there lol............I have never seen so many taxes
Tangiable tax
Annual tax
Personal Tax
Quaterly Tax
Unemployment Tax
Fees for filing annual report corporate
Annual listing of company

All that said still wouldnt go back to UK :)

[davidmartin_uk]

Here are New Hampshire prices

Auto tax 2006 Chrysler Cruiser $550 2005 Jeep Liberty $400

Insurance for above $950 per year

504k broadband $34.99 month

Verizon pay as you go phone $25 a month

New Hampshire Electric co-op 24 cents per KWh for residential

Rents in this area are high between $1000-$1200 a month for anything half decent. Old shacks (sheds) straight out of Twin Peaks $700

Health Insurance for two 50 year olds though the e2 company $13,200 with $1500 deductible each!!

Business bills are disproportionately high

Phone bill at gas station 3 lines, credit card, fax and phone, hardly use phone & fax, don’t get charged for the credit card dial up but still $280 a month!! this one really grates!!

Electricity for Gas Station $13,000 a year!!
Heating Oil $2000 per year
Property tax $3000 per year
Various ridiculous insurances for compensation etc $5500 a year

That’s over $25,000 to keep the door open

Dave

[OberonSH]

Just a note - can we put up the size of the family, and the general area for the rental/mortgage - is $1500 dollars average for family home in a decent area?

This is realy useful, thanks guys

[SHEILA 13]

Rental Prices are anything from $1100 - upwards for a 4/2 family home in a decent area.( Davenport Highway 27 )
Sheila

[grumps]

a 4 bed 2 1/2 bath 2500 sq ft with pool and hot tub on 1/4 acre in sebring would cost $1000 per month.

[lorraine]

Winter Garden Windermere area would cost for 2500 square feet approx 1500 to 1800

[Kriz1]

Here on the Cape in MA...rentals are around $2k per week in season...which is about 9 months of the year...and about $1200 to $1800 a month for a small 2/3 bed in winter....no pool..or much of anything really...

[Kriz1]

Food Weekly $230 for 2
Electric monthly winter $330..summer $200 if no AC used.. gas if we used it $750 plus if on a few hours a day double if on all the time in winter..$12 summer...wood $400 a year
Water monthly $15
car insurance yearly $1200
Health and dental insurance $100 a month company pays for it
House Tax $1300 a year
House insurance $2000 a year
Housing Assosiation fees $10 a year
Phone, internet and tv approx $149 a month just got that down from $200

House is 1200 square ft used..the rest is unheated..2 beds on used floor..

[SHEILA 13]

Kriz,Your water bill is cheap !!!
Sheila

[Kriz1]

We have a town well...so we don't really pay much for water...just the well upkeep..

[DEE F]

Cant believe how much rentals are on the cape ,you would have to be related to the Vanderbilts or the Kennedys to rent a property there:D

Dee x

[Kriz1]

Most people are Dee...and that is the trouble...we have a lot of poor...but even more rich...all the 'old' money is here...

[chris]

Not quite sure what this thread is meaning to show as the bulk of the information detailed so far is subjective to say the least. For those who like champagne and steak everyday, their food bill will be high. If you like sub zero AC then your utility bill will also be high. Auot insurance is equally subjective as it's about the driver and the vehicle, no two are the same. Same with County tax.
I suppose as a very general guide, it has a purpose.
Not being picky.. just an observation

[Kriz1]

Steak is the one thing going down in price around this area..same with pork...can't believe how cheap it is...

I'm sure most people will take this as a rough guide ....and will ask if they want to know anything more like Dee did about my water bill...

[davidmartin_uk]

II think its useful for ball park figures. The biggest shock Oberon for us was the cost of health insurance, followed by the price of rents (although you do get a lot for your money) once you start looking at cheaper properties things go down market and seedy pretty quick. Then the price comparison between Verizon and BT and electric here as in the UK and Time Warner broadband compared to AOL etc etc is very similar. Just remember that your business will earn half a similar biz does in the UK so those bills are comparatively much more out of your budget.

Hope this is of help

Dave

[anniefromessex]

Chris, I think what people are trying to show is an "across the board" scenario - I do see your point but I think Lorraine's post was really good as she showed taxes in the US which most people think (as we did) is sooo much cheaper than England and Peter reiterated that he thinks so too. Unfortunately when you are subject to the rigors of immigration (as most people are) when you add up having to employ Americans (which after all is what the Visas are for) and is not really cost effective to you as an employer then I would say that it is not that cheap. Okay, for Americans who are obviously not subject to immigration rules it might be okay, but lets face it we are talking about Visa holders!! So unless you are earning mega money over here and paying 40% tax, then I really don't think it is that different.

With regard to NI which again Peter quoted, then I am sorry but I don't know that many people over here who are paying the equivalent of Health Care over there. To my mind that is the biggest single expense any family has over there, equivalent really to another Mortgage, you then have to take into account (if you go for the cheaper Health Insurance) your prescription costs. One time I went to the Docs over there who prescribed pills and when the prescription was filled it was over $200, I nearly had a heart attack and said that I wouldn't mind the generic one, and she told me that is what they had given me!!! To my mind because of the cost people do not then look after their health, oftentimes opting to have no Health Care at all!!

Chris, you mentioned sub zero AC. We lived in a relatively modest home compared to some - 3/2 with pool and because I spent a lot of time under our lanai I didn't leave our AC on until I actually went into the house, but in the summer months our leccy bill was well over $100 pm - over here the bills are quarterly so that is something else people have to get used to. Our water bills were pretty low - we were on septic, so never worried about them.

With regard to car Insurance, okay first of all it is pretty expensive but even after a few years it was still more than over here, but again we are now driving a smaller car (which I think a lot of people will eventually end up driving over there because of the cost of gas) but don't know whether they will lower the cost of Insurance which is a 6 monthly bill, not yearly.

We then have Property Taxes, ours was $4,000 p.a. and House Insurance has gone up astronomically, nearly $1300 p.a. which is nearly double what we pay here. Our Direct TV (with medium amount of channels) together with phone line and internet cost us double what we are paying here, so all in all I would think everything is now on a par with England, whereas years ago it was really cheap to live there. I am saying this after owning a property in Florida since 1989, living there for 6 months of the year for 3 years and then living there full time for 4 years.

Many would say I am denigrating America, believe me I am not. It was our choice to move back to England because we couldn't stand not seeing our grandchildren grow up - a personal choice - and one that if I am totally honest if we didn't have grandchildren I would not have made. This forum is about making people aware of the best way forward to make your immigration dreams come true, it should also be a forum that is honest about the real cost of immigration in all its glory. To that end I would say the sun, attitudes and lifestyle over there is wonderful most of the time, but at least would be immigrants through this forum will also know the real cost of living and it wont be a shock.

Just my 2 cents worth really - everybody has to decide for themselves at the end of the day and I wish them all the luck in the world.

Love Anniexxx

[grumps]

Very Well Put Annie, At The End Of The Day It Is Whether It Is Were You Want To Be. And The Thing We Miss Most Is The Grandkids. But Hopefully To Be In A Position To Solve That.

[chris]

As a very general pointer this thread has much to commend it. But readers should be aware that their are variables on both sides of the pond to be taken into account. Still not being picky - just offering an opinion.
I think the biggest concept that wannabe's have to get their heads around is STOP converting the currency- get out of vacation mentality. You pay bills in dollars with money earned in dollars. If folks can get their heads around that, they will quickly be able to grasp the realities of the true cost of living in the US.

[davidmartin_uk]

Good point Chris. The thing I am trying to get across is this. In our ladies boutique for instance. The clothes would be twice the retail price in the UK. The wholesale cost would be very similar and a lot of the background cost are very similar to the UK. Electricity, Heat, Insurance, taxes, phone, internet. So your biz would make more money. You obviously pay more in wages in the UK. But you also do not have top employ which on an e2 visa is an absolute must. Its important point out that despite all the pluses of living here whatever they are for each individual weather, lifestyle, kids choices etc etc ITS QUITE DIFFICULT TO MAKE A LIVING. I think that the ball park figure the embassy uses of $50-$60K owner benefit is actually very low for a family to survive on.

Dave

[anniefromessex]

David, re Visa Holders that was my point exactly and you have probably pointed it out better than I.

Grumps, wish you the very best of luck in sorting out your grandchildren issue, we tried and failed and the rest as they say is history!

Love Anniexxx

[chris]

Another good point Dave which many wannabe's often forget. That ther are bureaucratic requirmenst that must/should be met which defy commercial logoc and that hits the bottom line

[Carl]

2 Adults ( one XXL Adult )
1 11 year old
2 dogs

Property tax. $5230 ( without homestead 2 acres )
Property Insurance. $1200
Car insurance:
Expedition. Sorrento and Tahoe Boat. $2100 per year
Monthly shopping. $500- $600 ( Bjs, Sams , Costco ) say $7000 per year
Electricity and Water. $350 - $550 per month so say $5500 per year
3 phone lines 3 vurtual nimbers a toll free number and a fax line. $1600 per year.

Mobile Phones. 5 phones $1400 per year
Pool Maintenance. $150 per year ( do it myself )
Beer $20.000.00 ( just kidding )
No HOA thank god.
Ceptic tank emptied every 18 months or so $250
Wifes Faggs. $15,000.00
Cable TV 5 rooms MOvie channels HBO. Showtime High Def 10mb Internet
$ 159 per month $1808 per year


I dont think I have missed anything.

Carl.

[chris]

Carl,
I never knew your two dogs had cell phones???

[Carl]

Carl,
I never knew your two dogs had cell phones???

Yeah they keep ring the ASPCA.:) :) :) :) :)

carl

[Carl]

Just my 2 cents worth really - everybody has to decide for themselves at the end of the day and I wish them all the luck in the world.

Love Anniexxx

Hi Love

That should be Just my 2 pennies worth now. so thats 4 cents.:) :) :) :) :)

Carl.

[SHEILA 13]

Carl,I think you have under estimated your costs on the fags !!!!!!;) and dont forget the bedding !!!
Sheila

[Carl]

I think your right Sheila, I was basing that on when she had cut down. and dont get me started on the bedding, Bed bath & beyond call us for stock. :) :) :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Carl.

[DEE F]

I think your right Sheila, I was basing that on when she had cut down. and dont get me started on the bedding, Bed bath & beyond call us for stock. :) :) :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Carl.Hey you watch it,or you might get me started on all the useless gadgets ,and we dont wanna go down that rd ,do we;)

Dee xx

[grumps]

i think that would be a good idea what is the best gadget you have bought. i will post a new thread.

[DEE F]

i think that would be a good idea what is the best gadget you have bought. i will post a new thread.You do realise that it will be totaly dominated by all you blokes,difference between men and boys is only the size of their toys:) Go for it will be an interesting thread;)

Dee xx

[hollaka79]

2 Adults ( one XXL Adult )
1 11 year old
2 dogs

Property tax. $5230 ( without homestead 2 acres )
Property Insurance. $1200
Car insurance:
Expedition. Sorrento and Tahoe Boat. $2100 per year
Monthly shopping. $500- $600 ( Bjs, Sams , Costco ) say $7000 per year
Electricity and Water. $350 - $550 per month so say $5500 per year
3 phone lines 3 vurtual nimbers a toll free number and a fax line. $1600 per year.

Mobile Phones. 5 phones $1400 per year
Pool Maintenance. $150 per year ( do it myself )
Beer $20.000.00 ( just kidding )
No HOA thank god.
Ceptic tank emptied every 18 months or so $250
Wifes Faggs. $15,000.00
Cable TV 5 rooms MOvie channels HBO. Showtime High Def 10mb Internet
$ 159 per month $1808 per year


I dont think I have missed anything.

Carl.


Carl -

I have to say you are hilarious - your posts really make me laugh!! :D

Without sounding dumb, can anyone explain house taxes? Are they the same as council tax?

Thx

Kate
:confused:

[OberonSH]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the info, I'm aware it's pretty personal stuff. Chris and Dave both make good points; the reason I asked the question is becuase it's fine for us to put a plan together saying we'll take $3000k a month out of the business, but if this isn;t enough to live on, and live at a decent standard then what's the point? I'm not trading our life here for sunshine but a worse quality of life.

Is it easy enough to learn to maintain your own pool? Can you shop around with your utilities or are there just a few big companies?

[lorraine]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the info, I'm aware it's pretty personal stuff. Chris and Dave both make good points; the reason I asked the question is becuase it's fine for us to put a plan together saying we'll take $3000k a month out of the business, but if this isn;t enough to live on, and live at a decent standard then what's the point? I'm not trading our life here for sunshine but a worse quality of life.

Is it easy enough to learn to maintain your own pool? Can you shop around with your utilities or are there just a few big companies?


Excellent post

We have disucssed this many a time with friends that live here. The first couple of years can be hard. Personal experience, we didnt take wages, ploughed all our money and time into the business and felt we had no quality of life. We still have not had a holiday, just one weekend away. When we lived at home we got our holidays and quality time. All that said we love the sunshine and way of life. We have now got good staff and manage to get weekends off. We have some friends that havnt been here long at all and they are saying the same , when they were in the UK they had good money and lots of holidays, here all they do is work. It takes time and money to build a business and it is not easy. All that said again I wouldnt swop it.


Good Luckx

[Carl]

I think its easier not to take a huge wage from a business when you are on L1, E2 however have to show that they are taking a substancial income from the business for a renewal I believe.

Carl.

[Carl]

Carl -

I have to say you are hilarious - your posts really make me laugh!! :D

Without sounding dumb, can anyone explain house taxes? Are they the same as council tax?

Thx

Kate
:confused:


Thank you Kate, I am glad someone appreciates my efforts of humor.

Council tax in the UK and property tax here are basically the same thing, execpt you actually get services over here for your money.

Carl.

[davidmartin_uk]

Utility, TV, Phone etc choice depends where you live. Here in the White Mountains we have no choice at all. Customer service is TERRIBLE and the prices are very high. The utility company even takes huge deposits before you sign up. Doesn't give you interest and’ may ‘pay you back in 2 years. They have almost $4000 of our money locked up in these deposits when I asked for it back they gave me pretty short shrift!

To be honest your $3000 a month is not going to go very far. Your rent and health insurance is going to be around $2500. You need to be earning at least $70K to have a decent standard of living. All is OK if you come out here with some cash to live off for the first year or so. Its very difficult to live if you don't have some funds to relay on. We were lucky and still had a rental income from our houses in the UK.

Just don’t come out here thinking you are going to make great money because the likelihood is that you won’t. But you have the sunshine in Florida and access to the beach and boating life is all quite cheap. We have skiing and a great warm summer up here for golf and the outdoor life so really its whether these pluses outweigh the economics

Dave

[OberonSH]

thanks david, the $3k was just a figure to make the point. I'm glad this thread got going because it's a real eye-opener - all I can say is I'm glad we're still researching and haven't put the paperwork in.

[chris]

On the utilities front, most areas have just one provider. In central Florida around Kissimmee, it would be Progress Energy, OUC or KUA. Elsewhere there will be other companies. Many cities in the USA still have their own electricity companies - KUA is Kissimmee's own, but it's geo coverage is limited. How much your AC bill is depends on the size of your house and how cool you want to be. The companies recommend 78 as the ideal - we work on 80 +/-, but I know many like nothing more than low 70's. If you're in that group you'll pay dearly. In winter we have to have the heating on and yes it gets damn cold here! On water, again you tend to have about two or three suppliers but only one will supply to your home. Our water hovers $53.00 per month
Phones are either landline with Embarq or similar, but many cable companies offer their own phone VOIP based service for a lot less. If you're on HS internet you can go the Vonage route and save a big chunk or go go Skype and save even more.
On the property tax, which as Carl pointed out is simialr to Council Tax, you should remember that if you are on E or L and not a GC holder or LPR, then you cannot get Homestead Exemption and you pay the full wack. If you are entitled to it, then they based o your property tax on 75% of the rateable value. Also there is another tax saving that locals get which limits to 3% any property tax increase. I pay $4300 for my house. My US neighbor across the road who gets all thats available pays $1400 (admittedly a mite smaller house) but your outgoings are high. Becaue my wonderful developer has passed on to the County a strip of road they were keeping looking nice, where I live we're going to get slapped with another $240 pa assessment on our property taxes for that too. If you live in a HOA area you'll pay HOA dues - I pay $200 pa, but some gated communites pay that per month. House insurance depends on the area - you pay more on the coast. I pay $950 for a 4/3 2-story.
Remember that in the UK it is the norm to pay your utilities every quarter. Here it's monthly, no ifs or buts.
Personally food bills are how long is a piece of string.
The absolute bone crusher IMHO is medical coverage. If you don't get coverage and many don't in the US, you are living on a wing and a prayer. A serious illness or family medical emergency can wipe many families out financially in quick sticks. I ended up in ER when we first arrived for a back problem. I spent about 6 hours in ER, with really only bed rest and about 6 big needles stuck in me. Cost was over $4000 with the ambulance coming in at $500.
I can only suggest to any wannebe to do your homework carefully. Decide really why you want to be here. If it's just for the Florida fix, then sometimes it can be better all round to work in the UK and play in Florida.

[davidmartin_uk]

I think this is a great thread, just the sort of info forums like these should be supplying. All these costs are personal but a reader should be able to collate all the info and get a really good idea.

I wish we had known all of this when we came out. You do your research and base costs on huge leaps of faith, this should cost this much, this should cost that much etc etc. It is expensive to live. Most Americans up here have at least 2 jobs, many have 3.

Health care as Chris has said is the big one. One of our employees last month had an accident while chopping wood. A large splinter split his eyebrow. 4 Stitches in the hospital cost $1000!!! He has no insurance and no real way to pay. That’s why a lot of Americans have such poor credit scores. Medical bills are not meant to count towards your score but when you default they do!!! Our employee has now got a forth job to pay off the $1000!!

Dave

[lorraine]

Health insurance and Dental..

I had root canal treatment on Tuesday:( cost $1000 for root canal and $700 for the crown that they will do next week .. We have insurance so they are paying 80 percent of the cost.

[hollaka79]

Great thread guys. Very helpful.

My husband and I have quite a bit of money behind us to get us through the first yr or so. Still very scary though as so hard to anticipate what costs are going to be, and considering we have bought a start up franchise ....(Eeek!)

If you see a brunette begging at WG mall then you know who it'll be!!!!

xxx

[Carl]

OOOOOOOOoooooo just got a letter from my insurance company, my premiums have come down by $10.09 per month.
Sorrento $69.57 per month
Epedition $77.31 per month
Boat $32.84 per month
Monthly $179.72
Annual $2156.64 for all 3

[SHEILA 13]

Carl,Dont you go spending it all at once !!
Sheila

[Kriz1]

A good topic for anyone coming over here with a job offer...wages can seem good until you try to live on them...and getting a yearly rise from a company is not something you can count on...so make sure you get a good offer for the area you are moving too...

[britcan]

Hear hear for Annie-

[OberonSH]

Kriz, that's a very valid point. I've already revised the CV I've been sending out to US companies to refleect the info I've gathered here. Although still think I shouldn't get out of bed for less than $500k a year.....

[SHEILA 13]

The Health Insurance/Co payment is a major factor to work into your budget otherwise I think you will be in for a very nasty surprise !!!!!
Sheila

[davidmartin_uk]

Another major problem is of course the price you pay for the biz or the rent. On the back of the property boom these have all become massively inflated. I know when we applied for our visa we had to offer the asking price to get the sellers to agree because at the time there was all the uncertainty at London and the big 30 week waits. That puts you at a disadvantage straight away.

A lot of rents are at the top end now. Our rent on Littleton main street for the boutique of $24,000 a yr bares no relationship to the low footfall in the town in these times.

It was actually our bread delivery guy who made a very valid comment yesterday. He was talking about how all the restaurants in town had had a bad winter season (the winter sports tourists were still coming but not spending as much when they were here) His point was that he felt only the old established family run restaurants, the ones who were not paying rent or paying a big mortgage would survive and I think he is dead right.

There is a breakfast place up the rd for us for sale. It probably a $70,000 building and maybe a $50,000 biz (turnover is about $200,000. Its a quite a good looking e2 visa vehicle on paper but it is up for sale for $250,000!!!!! The current owners make money because they have always owned it. The new ones will not because they are paying over $100,000 to much for it and up here as everywhere there is only so much you can charge for a breakfast.

Dave

[Carl]

POssibly if you take into account health insurance cost, ours is just over $500 per month for the family with a diabetic and offset that against National Insurance, Higher taxes in the UK and that it is written off against your taxes here, its probably not such a bad deal really, oh and off course you actually get to see adoctor when your ill and not afterwards.

Carl.

[davidmartin_uk]

Carl. You must have a huge detuctable to get a family insured for $500!!

We pay $1,100 a month just for two people!!

Dave

[grumps]

our medical is $352 per month for me and the mrs.

[kirtida8]

Mine is $232 pm for me and 2 kids with a $1500 deductible

[davidmartin_uk]

The cost must be because we are older 50 & 51!!!

Its with MVP through the e2 corporation and is the cheapest in NH We have $1500 detuctable each

RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave

[peter gold]

My wife and I are 57 and 58 and one kid on the policy with a $4000 annual cumulative family deductible then 100% cover with BCBS of Florida cost us less than $400 a month. I paid that in the UK SHOP AROUND

[grumps]

well you have a fare way to go to catch me im in my 60's just must cost more in the cold weather

[grumps]

Just been shopping at albertsons and spent $56-65 and saved $76-39 that is a bargain there were buy one get two free on sirloin steaks chicken $1-79 down from $3-99 and 24 cans of coke for $4-97 and 5 corn on the cob for $1. so went mad and bought a load of stuff and saved a load of money. 7lb of sirloin steak for $18-54
You just have to know how to shop.

[lorraine]

Grumps who are you with and what policy do you have?

[Kriz1]

I just spent $98 on next to nothing....it must be nice to live in an area where you can shop for bargains...our nearest wally world with a food area is about 40 miles away...

[Carl]

Just been shopping at albertsons and spent $56-65 and saved $76-39 that is a bargain there were buy one get two free on sirloin steaks chicken $1-79 down from $3-99 and 24 cans of coke for $4-97 and 5 corn on the cob for $1. so went mad and bought a load of stuff and saved a load of money. 7lb of sirloin steak for $18-54
You just have to know how to shop.



Exactly, no way is the UK cheaper.

carl.

[Kriz1]

Its really like most things down to where you live...I don't live in FL all the time...and find it a lot cheaper than here...but on my last trip I noticed my shopping bill was a lot higher than before...where things were a dollar or more cheaper per item in FL at one time..now the gap is getting smaller.. I think in this part of the country they are now working out you can't get blood from a stone...

[davidmartin_uk]

Trouble is the are only a few health insurance companies that are licensed to operate in New Hampshire, I think it is three. A bit like the utilities. No choice so high prices!!

Dave

[Kriz1]

Same in MA with car Ins...you see a company with good rates...but in small print it says not in MA...:(

[hollaka79]

Evening all from a sunny England!
Not sure if its relevant, and you may be able to clarify for me, but over here my hubby is on the 40% tax bracket, add to this NI & pension, every month half of his wages goes to Mr Brown or someone not us!
Is this the same for you guys over there? On top of this our council taxes (prior to us selling our home) were £180pm for a 3 bed mid terrace house in SE England. Food bill for 2ads 1 infant (who's now 2 but at the time was 18mths) was £180pw. Gas & Electric £150pm, water £20pm, phone & internet £40pm, petrol £100pw and mortage £1250pm (3 bed terrace). The list does go on. Obviously we get paid in pounds over here but surely its all relevant and the extra bonus is you're working for yourself (as most of us will be), not necessarily fab all the time but at least you have a purpose, you have the great (? most of the time?!) weather and ultimately, at the end of the day we've all moved/moving over for a better life for ourselves and our family. Am I right or am I right??!! :)

Hope to see you all soon

Have a nice day - im off to bed (well in a min anyway!)

:)

p.s - Carl, cant wait to meet you -I'm still chuckling!!!

[Kriz1]

We were the same 40% tax...we pay a lot less here...but we have less disposable income...other costs eat away at our money...but we work for a wage and wages go up a lot slower here and prices don't...to get a cost of living rise you really have to keep moving jobs...

I've said for years...whatever you think you need to live on...double it...
Double any costs you think you may have...then you can't go far wrong...

[Kriz1]

Two years ago I would of disagreed with people who say you can't live on $60k a year...now I would be looking for more like $80k plus..unless you have no car or house payments...

[grumps]

Grumps who are you with and what policy do you have?

humana

[OberonSH]

Sorry to be a bit dim but what's 'deducibles'?

[davidmartin_uk]

Like an excess. We have $1500 per year each so the first $1500 each of medical bils in any given year we have to pay. Once the year is over you start again. There is no carry forward. After that insurance pays 100%. Obviously if you are ill or have an accident the deductible has to be added into your total costs because you have to pay.

You can choose your dectuctable and have a really high one like $5000 and you premium will be much lower but of course you are gambling with you health here . If you are ill or have an accident you have to pay the first $5000. Even a small procudure can be that much!

Most insurance have a co pay for doctors visits where they pay a proportion and you pay the rest. In ours we pay $20 per visit. The same with prescriptions. We have a $20 co pay.

Dave

[davidmartin_uk]

Holloaka79

You are correct. As long as you have enough money to lead a better lifestyle this place is great. We don't have anything like the disposable income here compared to back home in the UK but we do far more here. Ski every day, hike, golf etc etc. Everything on your doorstep, never any traffic jams, not looking out onto someone’s house or the next door neighbour having a BBQ and they are so close that you can't use your own garden.

This country has a lot going for it lifestyle wise., whatever you may be looking for. You are just not going to make as much money. One piece of advice I would give to anybody is if at all possible keep your house in the UK. If things go wrong either personally or financially you need to be able to come home.

Dave

[floridapete]

If anyone is interested (for price comparison sake) I am quite happy to post my wifes Tesco online home-delivered shopping list from last week.

If you're not interested I won't bother.

[lorraine]

If anyone is interested (for price comparison sake) I am quite happy to post my wifes Tesco online home-delivered shopping list from last week.

If you're not interested I won't bother.


I am interested Peter thanks:)

[InnVic]

We only have three providers in the whole state BCBS are way too expensive we took policy with MPV $128 per month for two people with $10,000 deductible. We figured as we didn't vist docs regularly we'd rather save the $700 per month difference and use it to offset any routine stuff (which for the past year we haven't needed) And even with a large deductible at least we'll keep our house if the worst should happen and we run up a huge bill. People should be aware that an accident or acute illness can easily run to over a HUNDRED thousand dollars.
P.S we thought Publix and Albertsons were more expensive than grocery shops in Vermont.

[peter gold]

Doing all these comparisons help the would be emigrant but really it is all superficial.
Many give up a good living wanting a quality of life, and as long as they are comfortable and not accumulating debt comparing to your former life IMHO is unhelpful and unsettling.
For my income (now 3 times less than I earnt in the UK) I can live and can just pay bills. It all depends on whether you have a mortgage, its size , car loans etc.
Whatever the finances we have been here ten years and my last trip to the UK for a bereavment wil be my last for many years. The world is a big place and does not end at lands End or John O Groats.

[jay]

If anyone is interested (for price comparison sake) I am quite happy to post my wifes Tesco online home-delivered shopping list from last week.

If you're not interested I won't bother.


Go on Peter post it lets see what you had for tea last week.

jayne

[Carl]

Doing all these comparisons help the would be emigrant but really it is all superficial.
Many give up a good living wanting a quality of life, and as long as they are comfortable and not accumulating debt comparing to your former life IMHO is unhelpful and unsettling.
For my income (now 3 times less than I earnt in the UK) I can live and can just pay bills. It all depends on whether you have a mortgage, its size , car loans etc.
Whatever the finances we have been here ten years and my last trip to the UK for a bereavment wil be my last for many years. The world is a big place and does not end at lands End or John O Groats.


Very good point Peter.

Carl.

[Kriz1]

I would not like to move here with just enough to get by....about half our income when we first moved over was disposable...now only a few hundred is...we do OK...but if anything big comes in we are put back for years...I do feel that at our age we should have more free money...I did all this watching the pennies when I was in my 20s...I don't really think it would be any better in the UK...I just think its a sign of the times...and things are getting harder all over....

[floridapete]

Yes, Kriz, things are getting harder all over ..............but a BIG factor in your outgoings as you get older over there is the cost of health insurance, medications and any hospitalisation required.

In the last eighteen months I have had three non-surgical internal examinations at our local hospital. I also had one 'emergency' attendance. I received excellent attention throughout, at reasonable notice given that the other three were non-emergency. I also have a great doctor just a short walk from here who I can get to see at three days notice but same day if it is urgent without difficulty.

From all the above I have been prescribed medications, some of which are repetitive and ongoing.

However, all of it costs me absolutely NOTHING (yes, I have paid into the NHS over the years I was working) - even the prescribed drugs etc. are free to seniors here.

We also get free bus travel all over England thanks to our recent national bus pass, 33% reduced Seniors fares on the trains, reduced admission to the movies (and with two for one deals on Wednesdays - it cost us just £2.50 each) etc. etc.

I really don't think that I could afford to be a retiree in the USA - just as many millions of retired Americans struggle every day unable to afford their health insurance and prescription drugs - and many milions more just cannot afford to retire at all.

[Kriz1]

We don't have any healthcare out goings...its taken care of by the company....we do pay about $200 a month...but had a rise to cover that...
Yes we pay to see our doctor...but that $10 also covers any drugs we need...
He runs a small hospital so if you use him the full cost is just the $10...
Our local hospital is also free to most people...all the poor use it as a doctors...
We could not stay here if we had to pay...but I have to say the service here is first class...

[Kriz1]

Old people.. people with kids on low income and disabled get free door to door bus service on the Cape..its only 75 cents to travel all over the Cape for anyone by normal bus...it also costs our older people $2.50 to go to the pictures before 5..and all day Tuesday...a lot of older people get free health care in MA and don't pay for drugs...in the US like the UK it can be down to where you live...my mum was always moaning about her doctors till she moved...she has had to pay in the past for Ops because the wait where she lived was too long...and she could die before she had her Op...now where she lives there is never a long waiting list...

[SHEILA 13]

On the medical side,you can get the $4 prescriptions(Generic) from Walmart and they have just started a 90 day supply for $10.
Which I think is a great saving for people who have to have regular Generic medication.
Sheila

[DEE F]

On the medical side,you can get the $4 prescriptions(Generic) from Walmart and they have just started a 90 day supply for $10.
Which I think is a great saving for people who have to have regular Generic medication.
SheilaCarl and I were talking about this yesterday,its cheaper over here now for generic medicine than it is for prescriptions in the uk,we are both on meds,so a boon for us.

Dee xx

[hollaka79]

Thats great to hear as I am also on mthly meds and was very worried about costs!
x

[Kriz1]

I think the $4 thing at wally world is great news...proves that some out there are making a bomb on the needs of the sick..

[Sharon]

I have noticed the food prices have gone up so much in the past 4 weeks and so have the gas prices. Annie is right the health care costs are too much for the average man on $10 per hour to pay, don't know how they cope

[Kriz1]

Gas is $3.85 here...what is it like in FL because it cost more there than here when we were down there in Feb/March...

[hollaka79]

In UK is over a £1 a litre - Costs me £55 to fill up my car every week.
Is that the equivelent over there?

:)

[Carl]

Paid $3.53 at Bjs Saturday.

Carl.

[chris]

They are forecasting that milk is soon going to be $4 per gallon at which point with both gas and milk the same cost, you may as well sell the gas guzzler, buy a cow and you can drink and ride from the same source!!!

[anniefromessex]

Ha ha!!!

Love Anniexxx

[Kriz1]

Milk is over $4 here now...but on special most places at $3.99

[Kriz1]

My daughter puts in $40 worth of gas to last around a week...that is if she only goes to work .2 miles a day..and then into town twice a week...

[Kriz1]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/NEWS/805120316

Interesting to read the price of gas over the years...

[OberonSH]

We got rid of our car, now petrol near us is £1.12 a litre. We walk everywhere, and use public transport. I get my shopping delivered (thankyou Asda) and so we didn't need it, so gave it to J's brother. Looking at the price of petrol, insurance, upkeep, road tax etc etc etc etc I'm glad!

[Kriz1]

I would not have a car if still in the UK...I never used mine...and hubby had a company one...I can walk to the shops here...but its not that safe...we have no walkways...

[davidmartin_uk]

Trouble up here in rural USA is there is no public transport. No train line through NH. One bus a day to Boston at 7:30am, no taxi service. You have got to have a car.

Gas at my Gas Station is $3.75 today. Price stable over the past 4 days. There is going to be a major spike in diesel prices over the next few days. It is coming in at the Port at a very high price and as Gas Stations run out they have to buy at the new price. I am selling it at $4.29. The price at the port last night was $4.60. Add on our pathetic profit and you can see diesel is edging towards $5 a gallon.

We have already had suppliers at our store introducing surcharges. The diary guy is $3 a delivery. Cigarettes went up on sat, quite a few sodas like red bull went up. There is even a surcharge now from our Newspaper people.

We are passing these prices on to the customer

This recession is nowhere near its peak.

Dave

[Kriz1]

We are lucky living with good public transport...apart from trains...but there is always talk of starting the service back up again into Boston which would be good at any price...

[britcan]

They are forecasting that milk is soon going to be $4 per gallon at which point with both gas and milk the same cost, you may as well sell the gas guzzler, buy a cow and you can drink and ride from the same source!!!

Then when it does'nt doo goo-ood mileage any more, turn it into ham boogers...