[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by triton1

Cost of living is likely worse in chicagoland than it is even in miami!

At least Naples is. Maybe the property tax is half, but you get hit with other things, HOA, etc., so it is a wash. Forget talking about state income tax. I paid $10 a bi weekly paycheck last year in NYS income taxes. Big whoopee.

[New England Yankee]

Well I am reading all of this and wondering about the people who complain about the heat.Florida is hot,didn't they know that before they came.
Also do you like Florida? Florida is a huge state.If you came to Ct,me being from there,I can't imagine me asking someone if theY liked Ct,which is a small state.I mean it is all so different.My town is small with low crime there and yet the town next door has high crime(same state)just a couple of miles away. I am not hurting money wise,not rich either and always lived in a decent house,in a nice part of town.Others who have a poor standard of living,live in a seeder part of the town.Its all about Education.You can all get a decent one,if you want to.
We have bought a home in Florida and like it.It is nice to have longer days and I enjoy walking my dogs in the evenings w/o freezing.It gets quite chilly in the evenings Jan/Feb in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.Which makes you appreciate the heat but also enjoy some cool time.
I don't think there is a difinative answer to if Florida is a good or bad place.It all depends on what you want out of life.
There are A rated schools here in East Bradenton.
I had to smile,I just read more people commit suicide in N.York than get murdered.
Though I won't complain about the north,it too has many excellent points. I think if you are an unhappy person,you will be unhappy where ever you go.

[Tausha]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and am trying to gather information about the cost of living in Florida. I have done online searches but really putting numbers to real living can be challenging. We are a family of 4 with 2 growing boys under the age of 6. We currently live in South Carolina and are looking into the Wellington area. I know the cost of living is higher but I was curious how much income does it really take to live in Wellington or something comparable?

[samrrr]

Originally Posted by jeannievb

I am considering moving to Florida with my husband and two young kids. We currently live in downtown Chicago and it appears that the cost of living is similar to Jupiter/West Palm area so we feel confident we will be able to handle the cost of living there. Is there anyone familar with these areas? Does it seem like a good place for younger families? We are in our 30's and my kids are 3 and 4 years old. We love Chicago's urban lifestyle but are over the brutal winters. I'm just trying to find out if there are people who have relaocated to Florida and are happy with their decision. Thanks in advance for the input.

do it, grab the bull and do it. it,s hot, has roaches. learn to spray your own if buying. it took us years then the heat becammme tolerable, my email (sideall06007@yahoo.com. i will tell you the good and bad,

[amymc01]

Originally Posted by Tausha

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and am trying to gather information about the cost of living in Florida. I have done online searches but really putting numbers to real living can be challenging. We are a family of 4 with 2 growing boys under the age of 6. We currently live in South Carolina and are looking into the Wellington area. I know the cost of living is higher but I was curious how much income does it really take to live in Wellington or something comparable?

I have been here one month from SC and I do not like it. I am in the Coral Springs area. This is so different from SC and I hate it! We relocated for my husband's job and I have a MS age daughter, so I am trying to stay positive. People are rude, the constant sound of Spanish is driving me nuts, and crime is out of this roof!!! We have already had our GPS stolen out of our car in our driveway Everyone I come into contact with that asks where we're from, always asks WHY WE MOVED?? They constantly dicuss the negatives of this place - mybe that explains my displeasure - even those who have been here for years don't like it.

Just my 2 cents..............

[berryjuice4life]

Maybe u moved to the wrong area? anytime one relocates anywhere u have to give it time...from expereince 1 yr is a good time frame on whether u really hate where u are or there were other factors..

sorry your not happy....so far we really like it here in West Boca again its always difficult when your new to somewhere and have to start over..We werent expecting alot when we moved so to speak but this was where we wanted to be, and dh was offered a job here..but anyway we have made a few friends and my kids made friends..my son is going into High School, and my daughter into 4th grade..I have noticed though u need to get involved and get your kids involved in something as well to...

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by amymc01

I have been here one month from SC and I do not like it. I am in the Coral Springs area. This is so different from SC and I hate it! We relocated for my husband's job and I have a MS age daughter, so I am trying to stay positive. People are rude, the constant sound of Spanish is driving me nuts, and crime is out of this roof!!! We have already had our GPS stolen out of our car in our driveway Everyone I come into contact with that asks where we're from, always asks WHY WE MOVED?? They constantly dicuss the negatives of this place - mybe that explains my displeasure - even those who have been here for years don't like it.

Just my 2 cents..............

Sorry to hear this, but you really have only been here a month. You really should give at least a year if not two. They say it takes 2 years to make new friends, etc. when you move to a new place. So give it some time.
On the other hand, the majority (not all) of the people that I have met that have move to Miami mostly (you are in C.S.) usually leave within 3 years. Which says a lot to me, that people aren't staying and making roots here.

[floridadon]

My wife and I are in Inverness. This is a quiet area, with reasonable travel distance to many larger areas. Low crime rate, low taxes, property values that have not taken as much of a dip as some other areas. Here we find a great deal of community activity. Many families here have been crackers for several generations and show a warmth towards everyone.

[verobeach]

The people who have moved to Florida and who are out enjoying their day are happy. Those stuck to their keyboard, whining and complaining about what they left behind are not. What you see here are the whiners.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

I could live in some parts of North Fl, but the S.fL
lifestyle is like what it would be like to live in the bus terminal in DC.
Crazy people, traffic, trash and crime, everywhere.
I would suggest anyone who is thinking of moving here voluntarily read the
antagonistic posts by the locals in a few of the S.Fl forums and the Palm Beach Post
web page everyday to get an idea of what you might be coming into.