[Saritaschihuahua]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Makes me realize it's not just me and I'm not going crazy. Tallahassee is very expensive. I make 1/3 the salary here and I'm beside myself with the prices. I don't know how people make ends meet here. Gas is the same as in Miami. Groceries are more expensive than in Miami. Even McDonald's are more expensive than in Miami. I've already mentioned my electric bill.

And I do know what you mean about Walmart. I ask people here and they tell me they DO shop there. I avoided buying anything at Walmart for years while I lived in Miami because I'm against box stores, and could do so very successfully and cheaply, and without going without. It's hard to not buy at Walmart here.

Originally Posted by grapico

I ran into the same issues while there... for the stuff I was used to, i.e. eating organic foods it was actually more expensive, or not to be found at all, and when found, wasn't fresh. Most people in Tallahassee shop at Wal Mart or Publix. They both suck. New Leaf is limited and way overpriced for anywhere else. You will hear this isn't true though...but, just their subjective experience.
The restaurants there are pretty garbage too, I blame it on the people working there are mostly college students.
I paid about 70 for elec in Chicago from 2004-2008... between 200-300 in Tallahassee dec-may this year
My gf experienced the same thing.
I have left that place twice for greener pastures,some of the best decisions I ever made, one of the worst was to move back there for 6 months.

Welcome to Tallahassee...it is a sleepy southern college town, so I suppose all your griefs are to be expected.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Saritaschihuahua

Thank you for sharing your experience. Makes me realize it's not just me and I'm not going crazy. Tallahassee is very expensive. I make 1/3 the salary here and I'm beside myself with the prices. I don't know how people make ends meet here. Gas is the same as in Miami. Groceries are more expensive than in Miami. Even McDonald's are more expensive than in Miami. I've already mentioned my electric bill.

And I do know what you mean about Walmart. I ask people here and they tell me they DO shop there. I avoided buying anything at Walmart for years while I lived in Miami because I'm against box stores, and could do so very successfully and cheaply, and without going without. It's hard to not buy at Walmart here.

The lack of organic food is to be deplored, but on top of that, McDonald's prices are too high?
I never shopped Walmart at all until I moved to north Florida. The interesting aspect of it for me was that their prices were not all that competitive.
I avoid Walmart.
Six months ago, it was predicted that electricity costs would go up.
Guess what? They went up. It's just that most are feeling the bite now because they are using AC.

Originally Posted by grapico

I ran into the same issues while there... for the stuff I was used to, i.e. eating organic foods it was actually more expensive, or not to be found at all, and when found, wasn't fresh. Most people in Tallahassee shop at Wal Mart or Publix. They both suck.

IMHO, Publix not only does not suck, it is superior to many other grocery chains, and is competitively priced.

If you like Miami, you'll hate Tallahassee... .

Probably true.
Saritaschihuahua, I sympathize with your situation.
Tally is not a world class city and never will be--I don't think its citizens aspire to that, nor should they.
You've ignored everything I've said and I get the feeling you just want to rant and be validated, so rant away, I'm done here.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by Saritaschihuahua;

I make 1/3 the salary here and I'm beside myself with the prices. I don't know how people make ends meet here. Gas is the same as in Miami. Groceries are more expensive than in Miami. Even McDonald's are more expensive than in Miami. I've already mentioned my electric bill.

I don't understand? Why would you move to make 1/3 of the money!?


I think that it's a tradeoff, overall. Real estate/rents are cheaper in Tallahassee than where I live now, as is home insurance.

[HeartofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Strel

Besides not being true, why would that be a bad thing?

You can't prove that it's not true and I never said that was a bad thing.

In any case, it's the reality. Some people like it, some people don't but anyone that's here will have to deal with it or leave. Being in Tally doesn't bother me because I came up here as a college student and never left. Now any person that moves here (especially from a bigger, faster city) expecting the same level of satisfaction from whence they came are more disappointed when they receive less. There's an adjustment period.....

[Saritaschihuahua]

Yep. There are no "natural" or "organic" places except for 1 place, so unless you stuff your car with bananas and water, both of which get hot in the 103 degree weather, you've got nowhere to stop for a quick anything but McDonald's. Until I got to Tallahassee I hadn't been to McDonald's in, oh, like years? So I stopped with my cousins who were up here visiting me, and they were amazed that a little tiny town should have prices higher than gigantic Miami. My only question is, how do other people make ends meet here? Maybe they don't and can't. Maybe it's a matter of reducing spending drastically in all areas by relying more on... what? I dunno.

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

The lack of organic food is to be deplored, but on top of that, McDonald's prices are too high?
I never shopped Walmart at all until I moved to north Florida. The interesting aspect of it for me was that their prices were not all that competitive.
I avoid Walmart.
Six months ago, it was predicted that electricity costs would go up.
Guess what? They went up. It's just that most are feeling the bite now because they are using AC.
IMHO, Publix not only does not suck, it is superior to many other grocery chains, and is competitively priced.

Probably true.
Saritaschihuahua, I sympathize with your situation.
Tally is not a world class city and never will be--I don't think its citizens aspire to that, nor should they.
You've ignored everything I've said and I get the feeling you just want to rant and be validated, so rant away, I'm done here.

[Saritaschihuahua]

Where do you live now?

Originally Posted by TriMT7

I don't understand? Why would you move to make 1/3 of the money!?


I think that it's a tradeoff, overall. Real estate/rents are cheaper in Tallahassee than where I live now, as is home insurance.

[JonSch7]

I grew up in South Florida, and there is no way that Tallahassee is more expensive. Real estate alone puts that comment to shame. I bought my house in Southwood for just over 250k. It is ovr 2200 sq ft, in a beautiful subdivision with great schools. There is no way you are going to get that in Miami anywhere. Miami public schools are not at the top of the list either, if you know what I mean.

Utilities do run a tad bit more, but like others have said, it includes water, sewer, fire, garbage. In south Florida you had a separate water bill, eletric bill, garbage bill, etc. In the end I think the natural gas is what brings it up, but it isn't too much more.

The organic thing is true, but remember it is all about supply and demand. Why would a store by 100 hears of organic broccoli if they can't sell it? Miami has much more demand and tons more people to buy. Have you tried The Fresh Market? And Publix is better in quality than any grocery store chain in Florida hands down! There is no one out there that is better!

And for someone who complains they can't find enough Organic, why would you care about McDonalds prices? You said you haven't eaten there in years, but you say the prices are high? Of course the price is higher than it was five years ago! There are lots of quick alternatives out there, it is just a matter of finding them. Most people who dislike Tallahassee don't know much about it, or are confined to one area. Go out one day and get lost. Explore the town or a new restaurant.

[Strel]

Originally Posted by JonSch7

I grew up in South Florida, and there is no way that Tallahassee is more expensive. Real estate alone puts that comment to shame. I bought my house in Southwood for just over 250k. It is ovr 2200 sq ft, in a beautiful subdivision with great schools. There is no way you are going to get that in Miami anywhere. Miami public schools are not at the top of the list either, if you know what I mean.

Utilities do run a tad bit more, but like others have said, it includes water, sewer, fire, garbage. In south Florida you had a separate water bill, eletric bill, garbage bill, etc. In the end I think the natural gas is what brings it up, but it isn't too much more.

The organic thing is true, but remember it is all about supply and demand. Why would a store by 100 hears of organic broccoli if they can't sell it? Miami has much more demand and tons more people to buy. Have you tried The Fresh Market? And Publix is better in quality than any grocery store chain in Florida hands down! There is no one out there that is better!

And for someone who complains they can't find enough Organic, why would you care about McDonalds prices? You said you haven't eaten there in years, but you say the prices are high? Of course the price is higher than it was five years ago! There are lots of quick alternatives out there, it is just a matter of finding them. Most people who dislike Tallahassee don't know much about it, or are confined to one area. Go out one day and get lost. Explore the town or a new restaurant.

Most people never get off Monroe or the Parkway, or the area around campus.


Then they come on this board and say things like "they only have Waffle Houses in Tallahassee, no decent restaurants." Etc.

What can you do. It took me 10 years to discover this place, and still every once in a while I will stumble on some part of Tallahassee hidden in a forest somewhere. 95% of the place goes unseen by the college student that lives here 4 years.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by Saritaschihuahua

Where do you live now?

West Palm Beach.

I enjoy living in West Palm, and enjoyed my time in Tallahassee. If I could pick up Tallahassee and move it closer to a major airport, I might have considered staying!

[hannahwiatt]

Check this out: Slow Food Tallahassee Directory of Local Resources

I also keep hearing rumors that Publix is going to build a Greenwise in the old Albertson's location on Tennessee and Ocala!