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According to weather.com the average highs in Honolulu are never lower than 80 degrees. With 89 being the highest 'average high'. It will get into the 90s but the record high there was 95 in 1994[/quote]
so I'll stay inside if it gets that bad, what I do here. I don't work. Being *disabled* is expensive. I'll have to expect a higher elect. bill that month.
According to weather.com the average highs in Honolulu are never lower than 80 degrees. With 89 being the highest 'average high'. It will get into the 90s but the record high there was 95 in 1994
so I'll stay inside if it gets that bad, what I do here. I don't work. Being *disabled* is expensive. I'll have to expect a higher elect. bill that month.[/quote]
Well, it will be in the 80s most days of every month. But I'm sure it won't break 90 in the 'winter' months.
I guess we'll just have to bite the bullet on that one then
we just can't think of Hilo because of the dampness=mold, Vog and I don't particularly like the idea of being near a lava flow. I worry about the kids thinking they can manage in Puna. They're looking at the comparably low prices but then, they've been living in New Orleans.
Let's see, I looked at our electric bills which cover everything from hot water to heat to cooking to running the other stuff. I'd guess we're averaging $125/mo. in a one br. How's that stack up compared to Honolulu?
Do the sea breezes affect the outdoor temp? As I said, I'm adjusting to heat and I won't be jogging, riding a bike or ever walking very far. I need to be near the water. By that I mean any place on Oahu is ok. I have never done well in continental climates or even inland a number of miles where the opposite side is landlocked. I'm on a small peninsula now and it's heaven. Something to do with negative ions in the salty air.
Let's see, I looked at our electric bills which cover everything from hot water to heat to cooking to running the other stuff. I'd guess we're averaging $125/mo. in a one br. How's that stack up compared to Honolulu?
Do the sea breezes affect the outdoor temp? As I said, I'm adjusting to heat and I won't be jogging, riding a bike or ever walking very far. I need to be near the water. By that I mean any place on Oahu is ok. I have never done well in continental climates or even inland a number of miles where the opposite side is landlocked. I'm on a small peninsula now and it's heaven. Something to do with negative ions in the salty air.[/quote]
My electric bill is about $175-235 for a 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath 1500 sq feet. The Tradewinds are what we call sea breezes and they are delightful, except today it is cold and rainy. It is 78-83 but I only own slippers (flip flops) so my toes are cold. Even in September, October (hottest months) it is so doable with breezes and ceiling fans. If the Trades stop (and they do) watch out. But they always come back (thankfully). It doesn't get Florida hot, in my opinion. I can recall NJ summers 100+ and wanting to die feeling like I was melting. Unless your in an apartment/high rise or Leeward ac isn't needed. Windows open are all you need.
My electric bill is about $175-235 for a 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath 1500 sq feet. The Tradewinds are what we call sea breezes and they are delightful, except today it is cold and rainy. It is 78-83 but I only own slippers (flip flops) so my toes are cold. Even in September, October (hottest months) it is so doable with breezes and ceiling fans. If the Trades stop (and they do) watch out. But they always come back (thankfully). It doesn't get Florida hot, in my opinion. I can recall NJ summers 100+ and wanting to die feeling like I was melting. Unless your in an apartment/high rise or Leeward ac isn't needed. Windows open are all you need.
I'm a north Jersey girl too and I hear you about the summers. remember the humidity? Which Island are you on? I don't know if I made it clear that we need to go to Honolulu or if it matters at sea level. I wear slippers most of the year too so when it is chilly I just put on rag socks and wiggle my toes around the thong and nice and toasty. will try to avoid high rises/anything without cross vent.
There used to be an old song I think Bing Crosby did "I want a little grass shack in [something] Hawaii" sounds good to me.
Not going to happen. You may find a small studio for that kind of money with a tiny kitchen hotel sized fridge and only a microwave.
Come here and investigate before you move here- save yourself a load of heartbreak.
Every post from people that are living here today are saying it is expensive.....do you think they are lying?
good luck
I don't think they are lying but we live on so little here and I think there are trade offs. FL is expensive too. If you look at one item, like Kilowatt hr. rates sure but what's the actual usage? A/c isn't cheap but heat uses more. Right now in St. Pete its 45º and the heat came on with the thermostat set at 62. I cut it off and put on a sweater. The houses here are designed to shed heat: tile floors deep overhangs so no sun. Nice in August but we DO use heat. Can we survive in Honolulu without using the car? Probably. St. Pete? No way! Gas is just at $3/gal. but we have to drive EVERYWHERE.
Do Cheerios at $9.60 a box dismay me? no because I don't eat them here.
True there's no personal income tax and no tax on food (that's disgusting where it exists) but property taxes are high and that is reflected in rents. Who says renters don't pay taxes? We pay $25/mo. for water/garbage/sewer on top of rent and for tel/cable/internet usages fees and taxes are very high.
Compared to other parts of the country, food is very expensive. I checked out some other states. In Phoenix for example, I can get 2# of navel oranges for .99! Here they cost #1.29 EACH and that's not an anomaly. On top of that, farmers markets haven't really caught on so they're only on Sat., a day we don't do any commerce. I can barely get fresh fish let alone at a reasonable price.
I don't use standard medical care and don't plan to. Evey person I know who's been in hospital recently has contracted MRSA, no exaggeration. So no med insurance expense.
We're not totally off the grid but I'd say we can tolerate a lot more closeness in our living arrangements ( a microwave is a definite no-no, however, I don't even know how to use one) than many couples and our food preferences are definitely not supermarket dependent. I am also the "thrift shop queen" I don't think too many things in our home including clothing were bought new and we look great!
Anyway! I was just joking about the grass shack. It was meant to indicate how little we can manage with and how un-mainlandish we can be. WE don't need Mc Donald's, a Mcmansion or Wal-Mart.
The thing that looks like it may be a deal breaker is work for my husband at 55. He still needs to work and we don't think he can find a match. I don't want to spend the money yet to take an exploratory trip. We're going to see how the kids settle in and then visit.
Thanks for your concern but please don't think I'd ever call anyone a liar. I have done what research I can do online and I do know our tolerances. We are a bit unconventional especially for our age. .
I don't think they are lying but we live on so little here and I think there are trade offs. FL is expensive too. If you look at one item, like Kilowatt hr. rates sure but what's the actual usage? A/c isn't cheap but heat uses more. Right now in St. Pete its 45º and the heat came on with the thermostat set at 62. I cut it off and put on a sweater. The houses here are designed to shed heat: tile floors deep overhangs so no sun. Nice in August but we DO use heat. Can we survive in Honolulu without using the car? Probably. St. Pete? No way! Gas is just at $3/gal. but we have to drive EVERYWHERE.
Do Cheerios at $9.60 a box dismay me? no because I don't eat them here.
True there's no personal income tax and no tax on food (that's disgusting where it exists) but property taxes are high and that is reflected in rents. Who says renters don't pay taxes? We pay $25/mo. for water/garbage/sewer on top of rent and for tel/cable/internet usages fees and taxes are very high.
Compared to other parts of the country, food is very expensive. I checked out some other states. In Phoenix for example, I can get 2# of navel oranges for .99! Here they cost #1.29 EACH and that's not an anomaly. On top of that, farmers markets haven't really caught on so they're only on Sat., a day we don't do any commerce. I can barely get fresh fish let alone at a reasonable price.
I don't use standard medical care and don't plan to. Evey person I know who's been in hospital recently has contracted MRSA, no exaggeration. So no med insurance expense.
We're not totally off the grid but I'd say we can tolerate a lot more closeness in our living arrangements ( a microwave is a definite no-no, however, I don't even know how to use one) than many couples and our food preferences are definitely not supermarket dependent. I am also the "thrift shop queen" I don't think too many things in our home including clothing were bought new and we look great!
Anyway! I was just joking about the grass shack. It was meant to indicate how little we can manage with and how un-mainlandish we can be. WE don't need Mc Donald's, a Mcmansion or Wal-Mart.
The thing that looks like it may be a deal breaker is work for my husband at 55. He still needs to work and we don't think he can find a match. I don't want to spend the money yet to take an exploratory trip. We're going to see how the kids settle in and then visit.
Thanks for your concern but please don't think I'd ever call anyone a liar. I have done what research I can do online and I do know our tolerances. We are a bit unconventional especially for our age. .
Well I'm sure if you want to make it work it can. If/when you move, what do you (estimate) your monthly budget to be?
to keep it around 2K. That includes the car pymt of 240 and rent of 800 rest is for food, auto ins which is also high here (110/mo with GEICO sr. good drivers rate) util. and gas. that's about it. anything else we can do will go for the other stuff. forgot to mention that we don't eat out, go to clubs or movies and don't rent movies. if we go out for entertainment, it's something free. right now our budget is just a little less than that, about 1800. What's the poverty level there? Here for 2 people I think it's set at 1,440 thereabouts. Of course no one can live on that but if you make 1441, you get no assistance. I guess the car is the big factor, if we find we can really manage w/o it, we will save at least 400/mo.
Thing is as I've said and maybe it IS the deal breaker, we cannot increase our income here either. I have MS and it is the cluster of symptoms that make work pretty difficult. Plus my age. I gave up using a cane because I've been fired for using one because the employers, big companies, have been afraid "I'd fall and sue them". Duh! The cane was supposed to keep me from falling but their lawyers said no. I've also had apartments refuse to give me a handicapped parking space or a ramp because they were afraid of liability. If I had the money to sue them, I wouldn't need to work or collect SSI. I now cannot drive so I really need my husband to not have a very demanding job or be at work 60 hrs. a week. He's needed for transportation services. I call him the most expensive cab company in town I don't even get trans. from Medicaid because we own a car and he doesn't have a "regular" job despite the fact he works every day. DART transportation is a pay for service operation. They just provide door to door for people who can't walk to whatever buses there may be.
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Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
oh well
Living in paradise
and rainy. It is 78-83 but I only own slippers (flip flops) so my toes are cold. Even in September, October (hottest months) it is so doable with breezes and ceiling fans. If the Trades stop (and they do) watch out. But they always come back (thankfully). It doesn't get Florida hot, in my opinion. I can recall NJ summers 100+ and wanting to die feeling like I was melting. Unless your in an apartment/high rise or Leeward ac isn't needed. Windows open are all you need.
Which Island are you on? I don't know if I made it clear that we need to go to Honolulu or if it matters at sea level. I wear slippers most of the year too so when it is chilly I just put on rag socks and wiggle my toes around the thong and nice and toasty. will try to avoid high rises/anything without cross vent. 
I don't even get trans. from Medicaid because we own a car and he doesn't have a "regular" job despite the fact he works every day. DART transportation is a pay for service operation. They just provide door to door for people who can't walk to whatever buses there may be.
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