Happy to be back (Miami, Orlando: sales, car insurance, homes)

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by Rock Newman

Interesting , I have met several people who have moved back to Cooper City , Coconut Creek , Weston and Parkland after leaving for "greener pastures " in either NC or Georgia .... I guess South Florida is not the hell hole some people make it out to be . I have a neighbor who just moved back from Raleigh after being up there for two years and he and his family could not get used to it .... boredom and the colder than expected winters were the main reasons .

Cooper City by the way is a nice laid back place with a small town feel and I would recommend it to anyone .

Rock you are so true...and I will leave it at that

and its nice to see people say nice things about florida, as again all I hear is negativity, however I have spoken with 3 people so far from these areas in florida and all wish they could go back after being here for 2 years or more...

[Chelsa1075]

Ahhh - I really like this thread - doesn't give me the knots in my stomach that the others do. While I'm happy to here both sides of the story, I just wish the stories weren't so harsh. Fauve was very kind in telling me both sides, but also wouldn't move back to NY either. That is definitely something we have in common. I only hope that Florida will be my next and last stop.

[Rock Newman]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

Ahhh - I really like this thread - doesn't give me the knots in my stomach that the others do. While I'm happy to here both sides of the story, I just wish the stories weren't so harsh. Fauve was very kind in telling me both sides, but also wouldn't move back to NY either. That is definitely something we have in common. I only hope that Florida will be my next and last stop.

Chelsa1075 .. let me "cut to the chase" if you live in Cooper City , Weston , most of Davie , most of Coral Springs , Boca Raton , Parkland , or Wellington you will most likely enjoy it down here . There are many nice people down here , not all drivers are crazy ... yes the area has its problems , which area does not ... but we are happy here , have made great friends of all races and ethnicities , there is excellent shopping , restaurants , parks , beaches close by and no NC and Georgia are not the new paradises that many posters here claim they are .

[Chelsa1075]

Thanks Rock, but lets be fair to those who believe GA or NC are the places to be. SFL was just not their cup of tea - I'm hoping it will be mine! I'm just a little worried Rock as most of the people I encounter who enjoy Florida are Professionals, ie attorney's, higher ups in companies, etc. Like I said before, I am working/middle class, I don't stay home with the boys, I wish I could. I am a legal assistant and my dh is a Steamfitter. I'm not sure how we will fair there. I have a lot of people warning me that immigrants do jobs at much lower wages, so the jobs go to them. My dh is fluent in spanish, but make no mistake he isn't an idiot either. He is quite good at what he does and his pay here in NY says so, as he is making about 48$ an hour. I know that isn't much compared to 600$ an hour attorneys make, but for working class it is pretty good.

Don't get me wrong both of us are completely prepared to take pay cuts, however, we can't work for pennies either. While I don't think money is everything, it does play a big part. I don't want to go from buying my son a pair of $90 sneakers to shopping at Pay Less for them. I'm sorry to anyone I have offended by this statement. There is nothing wrong with Pay Less, but I'm not going to work my but off, to end up having to shop there anyway. Do you know what I mean?

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

Ahhh - I really like this thread - doesn't give me the knots in my stomach that the others do. While I'm happy to here both sides of the story, I just wish the stories weren't so harsh. Fauve was very kind in telling me both sides, but also wouldn't move back to NY either. That is definitely something we have in common. I only hope that Florida will be my next and last stop.

Omg chelsa us too, we arent doing this again im telling you....

[berryjuice4life]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

Thanks Rock, but lets be fair to those who believe GA or NC are the places to be. SFL was just not their cup of tea - I'm hoping it will be mine! I'm just a little worried Rock as most of the people I encounter who enjoy Florida are Professionals, ie attorney's, higher ups in companies, etc. Like I said before, I am working/middle class, I don't stay home with the boys, I wish I could. I am a legal assistant and my dh is a Steamfitter. I'm not sure how we will fair there. I have a lot of people warning me that immigrants do jobs at much lower wages, so the jobs go to them. My dh is fluent in spanish, but make no mistake he isn't an idiot either. He is quite good at what he does and his pay here in NY says so, as he is making about 48$ an hour. I know that isn't much compared to 600$ an hour attorneys make, but for working class it is pretty good.

Don't get me wrong both of us are completely prepared to take pay cuts, however, we can't work for pennies either. While I don't think money is everything, it does play a big part. I don't want to go from buying my son a pair of $90 sneakers to shopping at Pay Less for them. I'm sorry to anyone I have offended by this statement. There is nothing wrong with Pay Less, but I'm not going to work my but off, to end up having to shop there anyway. Do you know what I mean?

chelsa I agree, my dh has always been in Middle management, here he is a contractor, with a great salary, he took what he could so we could get down here, and I know he will not make what we are used too, although there isnt any state tax, Jobs in general are very difficult to find so either way he has to find a job, even if its consulting again...with that our biggest fear compared to here is the cost of living, since we couldnt afford to pay the property taxes in NJ so it was time for a change for us, which is what we needed more than a financial issue, florida is also our choice as I listened to people for 15 years and hence we never wound up in florida....I have been a Stay at home mom for 15 years, and being a realtor in another state for 6 yrs before leaving to move down here...so I completely agree with your fears as we have the same ones...

[Chelsa1075]

OMG - I can't believe that I put here instead of hear - sorry, I swear I'm not illiterate - LOL.

[Chelsa1075]

Yes, it is a bit scary, but I figure I have made it in the most expesive city in the country, I should do okay somewhere else.

[fauve]

Chelsa, I think you're great, and I know you want to do what is best for your kids. No one is wearing $90 shoes anymore (at least in S Florida). The economy has made excessive consumption a thing of the past. If you were to pay $15 a pair of shoes instead of $90, that would be $130 you could add to their college funds. I am about to send two kids to college. The college my son is going to costs $50,000 a year. My daughter wants to go to a school that costs $40,000 year. Trust me, it will be a lot more important for you to be able to say yes to them then, than no now.

Speaking of college, one great advantage to living here is the Florida pre-paid college program which allows you to commit a certain amount each month that will ensure free tuition, room and board to a state school when it is time for them to go to college. The monthly amount for this depends on the age of the child. This gives you some insurance in case you can't save enough for private college and take care of your retirement needs as well.

lol, Speaking of retirement... Even if you save a million dollars by retirement, this will only ensure $40,000 a year in a well-balanced portfolio. If you are used to living a $150,000 lifestyle, it will be very difficult to adjust to one that is that much smaller. And, even saving enough for that will be a challenge.

[Chelsa1075]

I know Fauve and thank you - my point was less about the 90$ shoes and more about not wanting to be dirt poor because I want to move.

Kids are kids and they really have not concept of that (parents having or not having money) until they get a little older and other children get nice things and they don't because mom and dad can't afford it. I have done drastic cut backs for our move. I'm litteraly trying to save every dollar we have.

I love the Florida school plan, another benefit of living in that state. All I can do is hope for the best Fauve. It is either move or separate from my husband and really that is not an option.