Need Advice (how much, income, friendly)

[Maineah]

Trouble with the Great Lakes influence theory is Portland sees many more storms from the coastal influence than inland does. Some years this precip is mostly rain or ice, last year it was snow.Lots of it! We had snow on the ground until May this spring. Keep an eye out for very early October snow this fall, and much colder tempuratures than last winter in general. I believe cold will be the big problem this winter not the snowfall. We could see -25F for weeks even on the coast this winter.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Trouble with the Great Lakes influence theory is Portland sees many more storms from the coastal influence than inland does. Some years this precip is mostly rain or ice, last year it was snow.Lots of it! We had snow on the ground until May this spring. Keep an eye out for very early October snow this fall, and much colder tempuratures than last winter in general. I believe cold will be the big problem this winter not the snowfall. We could see -25F for weeks even on the coast this winter.

Within the context of comparing Maine weather patterns to Connecticut however. Keep in mind that Ct does not get the 'coastal influence' but very rarely. Ct gets the majority of it's patterns from the Great lakes.

As you mentioned Portland being on the extreme Southern edge of Maine, only gets some of the Great lakes weather. Maine also gets the 'coastal influence', and it gets the cold stuff blowing down from up North. Which accoutns for us being slightly cooler than Ct.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Within the context of comparing Maine weather patterns to Connecticut however. Keep in mind that Ct does not get the 'coastal influence' but very rarely. Ct gets the majority of it's patterns from the Great lakes.

As you mentioned Portland being on the extreme Southern edge of Maine, only gets some of the Great lakes weather. Maine also gets the 'coastal influence', and it gets the cold stuff blowing down from up North. Which accoutns for us being slightly cooler than Ct.

GotCha!

[sweetmichelle28CT]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Welcome!

We were living in Ct, before we moved to Maine.

We lived in Norwich.

We have really enjoyed our move to Maine.

In our experience moving to Maine has been a big drop in cost-of-living.

Good luck.

Thank you so much I'm sorry for my late reply, but things have been a little hectic here lately. What part of Maine did you move to? I'm glad that everything worked out for you

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by sweetmichelle28CT

Thank you so much I'm sorry for my late reply, but things have been a little hectic here lately. What part of Maine did you move to? I'm glad that everything worked out for you

We live in Argyle Maine. [just North of Bangor, Freeway exit 199]

Though the natural wilderness beauty and the economics of any 'unorganized township' is about the same. [which amounts to the majority of Maine]

[spaige]

My daughters' fiancee goes to Rhode Island, CT, and Ma. for car auctions. He is a general manager for a Jaguar dealership. I live outside the Portland area in the Sebago Lake region. There are some nice spots to rent and the market is competetive. There are houses to rent with lease option to buy along with apartments. If you won't have a car to get around while he is gone then you will want to be within a bus route. Good luck in your search. I have friends who live in Ct. and you are right about it being expensive in certain areas.
Sue

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by Maineah

$40,000 a year won't get you far in Maine either I'm afraid. Since your fiance is going to be commuting to CT you will probably need to live in the Southern part of Maine. This is also the most expensive part of Maine too. Most housing in Southern Maine will start in the $200,000 range and go up from there. Rent will cost you $1000 a month for anything decent and you'll most likely have to pay heating costs on top of that. That's nearly half of your fiance's income just in rent and fuel. Most all of the schools in Southern Maine are very good so there is no problem there.
If you buy or rent a house you will have to be willing to shovel snow or hire someone to plow you out since you will be alone most of the time.
Shoveling is fun the first time, though about the 10th storm you just don't want to do it anymore and you still have two months yet to go.
If your fiance is willing to drive a couple of extra hours further north you would do much better in terms of affordability.
You have to remember that especially this winter fuel is going to be a killer. The average house uses three 275 gallon tanks of fuel for the winter months. That fuel this winter will cost you over $4,000. Four thousand dollars is a lot to come up with in the middle of the winter on top of rent,electric,insurances, car payments, food, gas, clothing,etc. You'll be lucky to have enough left over to rent a DVD! Sorry to be discouraging but that's just the way it is around here these days.

Hope the $40K isn't the norm .. we are putting so much away to be able to move asap and are living on substantially less than that here. We have not budgeted anywhere near that amount annually for when we are in Eastport.

[Maine Writer]

You can live comfortably on much less than $40k in many parts of Maine. A lot of people don't make that much a year here, own homes, good vehicles, etc.

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

You can live comfortably on much less than $40k in many parts of Maine. A lot of people don't make that much a year here, own homes, good vehicles, etc.

Thanks, Robin. That's what I thought from other posters info.. then saw $40K and panicked... I'm better now!

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

You can live comfortably on much less than $40k in many parts of Maine. A lot of people don't make that much a year here, own homes, good vehicles, etc.

I agree.

We have lived in other areas where $40k/year was barely scrapping by, if you kept your head above water at all.

Here it is doable.