[grammy164]

My daughter in IL woke up to 43 degrees this morning. My daughter in OH woke up to typical gray skies and 53 degrees (she's supposed to hit the 40s tonight.) Nope, I'm happy where I am. If I need to cool off, I'll jump in the pool.

[LGaudette]

Grammy,
I couldn't agree with you more! Everything in FL is airconditioned. If I am hot, I go inside. I do not miss the days of freezing rain, blustery winds, and pushing the grocery cart through the ruts of snow and slush. Yes-it is hot here in the summer for about 3 months, but the humidity levels have already started to drop and we now have about 9 months of absolutely gorgeous weather! In New England, they are experiencing their last few weekends of being able to go out and enjoy the weather. By the end of October the cold sets in and doesn't leave again until May!

[mbmouse]

I moved to East TN from FL back in 97 and SO glad I did! I love it here. The weather is GREAT! all 4 seasons and yet mild, not TOO hot summers, the hottest days still do not have the humidity that FL does. Fall is beautiful and I can open up the house, air it out, pay about nothing for electric as I don't run air or heat several months out of the year. Winters are not bad..a little chilly, but nothing like New England bitter, cutting cold (grew up there) and we only have on average 6 days of snow that melts off by the next day. Spring...ahh spring...GEOURGIOUS! there are about 5 varieties of indigenous trees that bloom all along to roads and hwys. The view on the drive to work changes every season. 3x the house for the money compared to FL, taxes are CHEAP, so is the home owners insurance, no wind or flood insurance needed as we are protected by the mountains in the distance. Yea wages are a bit less, but so is the cost of living and my money goes so much further here. Good schools for my kids too. We actually have the time to enjoy life here, lots to do and really nice people.
So in a way, I agree with Lgaudette and Granny, Fl is better than New England, but I chose in between the two, best of both worlds.

[elfyum]

Talk about heat & here I am!!!
Thanks for the kind words need_a_h!

Good god! I can't believe some of your bills!!!
Our highest bill was $250!!!!!!!!!
Our house is only 1300 sq ft, but still...!
72?! Indoors?! That's electric blanket weather!!!!!!!!!
I'm starting to get cold just thinking about it!
Oh - the ac was on...I think that's what was making me cold!
It's autumn!
HAPPY AUTUMN EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've already started wearing more clothes & the ac is on less & less...
In fact our July bill was 250, Aug 249(!) & this one 240! ARIGHT!!!!!!

[mcbadhair]

i remember when i worked in equards drugs store in 1998 i was paid 5.15. Then i wnt to disney and got paid 6.25 and i was like wow good money. Now i live in arizona and dish washers get paid her like 8- 9 dollars hour. not kidding the real thing. I work in a restruant here and they pay me $4 hour to serve and tips of course. O the host in the restruant get 9.88 hour to do nothing!

hard to believe the wage diffrence. I want to come back to florida but not until i finish college because can't live on hourly wage in florida.

You think its hot there come to arizona in summer. When u open the over and the heat come out that phoenix in the summer.

[mcbadhair]

O i forgot i have high electricity bills in arizona also. I have a one room apartment and paid around 100-120 a month. A coworker who owns a prefab home pays arounf 250 month. Big water bills also here. Cost of living here is high.

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by alexander59

Its hot and crowded in Tampa.My Electric bill for a 1500 sq foot house is between 325.00 to 375.00the highest its ever been, The electric company got a raise because of hurricanes, the insurance company got a raise because of hurricanes, gas companies got a raise, I didn't get a raise so how in the hell am I supposed to afford to live here. My expenses have gone up 600.00 a month in the last few years. My mom got a 3 percent social security raise, who are they kidding. No wonder people are living two families per house. One good example of how things are done here when the state raised the minimum wage. one of the not for profit thrift stores took away the small bonuses the employess received now they make less. Rents are skyrocketing because the taxes keep rising with the higher assessment rates. I always thought I was middle class, now I know I am poor not destitute yet but close.

Florida has become a place only the rich upper middle and upper class can afford. Between hurricanes, insurance, property taxes, electric bills and expensive houses, 90% to 95% cant afford to live in south Florida. Why do some families put up with sharing the house with friends, roomates or another family when they can move elsewhere and easily be able to afford their own house? If I were to stay in s. Florida, id need four incomes to afford a house! This would mean id need to share with 3 other people! By moving out and to somewhere like West virgina, my income alone can afford a house!


Elfyum, why do you use air condition if you like the heat?

[mystree]

I hate the surprize of an electric bill so I'm on an easy payment plan,it stays the same every month and adjusts every aug. Last year it was $136..this year it actually went down to $134 month.

[Need_affordable_home]

Explain easy plan. Can you use as much electricity as you want? No it doesnt make sense. How does it work?

[alexander59]

Teco averages out your electric bill for the year and then sends you a bill for the average. Lets say you spent 2700.00 dollars last year for all twelve months then they would divide that and send you a bill for 225.00 instead of you getting some bills in the 300.00s and 150.00s it would stay the same, unless you use more or less the next year and it would be adjusted accordingly.