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Yes. I would prefer an area that's more laid back, has less traffic and more of a middle class vibe.
As for my personal finance matters, I am doing just fine, despite what you say. I said 90% of gross income is being expended, which includes payroll and income taxes withheld. It also includes my pretax contributions to my 401k, which is over $600 a month. My monthly financial picture goes like this:
INCOME---------------------------------------
Monthly gross income: $6,276
Less taxes and deductions: $1,708
Less contributions to 401k: $628 Net monthly take-home pay: $3,940
EXPENSES-------------------------------------
Rent: $1,550
Miscellaneous: $1,113*
Gasoline: $178
Mobile Phone Service: $116
Auto Insurance: $106
Internet Service: $55
Natural Gas Service: $35
Electric Service: $30
Motor Vehicle Tax: $24
Health Club Membership: $13
Renters Insurance: $11 Total monthly expenses: $3,231
MONTHLY NET INCOME (LOSS): $709
*Miscellaneous expenses consist of anything that is not a fixed, billable expense. This includes groceries, clothes, entertainment, car maintenance, restaurants, etc. About 50% of this amount is entirely attributable to food and groceries. The monthly amount of $1,113 is a 12-month moving average of such expenses and is not necessarily indicative of what may happen in the future. Vacations and large purchases are not included in the computed average.
So now what do you think?
I think the only thing that will change on that list is rent. Gasoline, mobile phone, auto insurance, internet, gas, electric, health club, motor vehicle fees, and renters insurance will all stay roughly the same. As will groceries, restaurants, car maintenance, clothes, etc. These are basically fixed costs, give or take a few dollars.
A nice, updated, relatively new apartment in an Upstate suburb will probably run $750 or possibly more.
So you're saving $750 a month on rent, but making $2000 less a month, according to the salary you had looked into earlier. Likewise, you're chances of getting a job with 5 weeks PTO are probably slim. But I don't know your field that well. In most fields, 2 weeks is pretty standard for a new employee.
Therefore, the other things you mentioned being important would probably be your primary reason for moving.
Status:
"Let this year be over..."
(set 22 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,219 posts, read 17,091,524 times
Reputation: 15538
Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321
Port Chester is way too urban for me. And like half of the population is Latino, which I do not want to live in that type of environment. That's why it's cheaper there.
As you can see in the examples I provided above to ckhthankgod, I prefer quiet, semi-suburban environments.
Get away of the downtown area and you'll find mostly residential neighborhoods that are very nice. Use your head the entire town is surrounded by very upscale/affluent towns and attracts a large percentage of professionals who want the area but can't afford Rye or Greenwich. Don't assume Latino means low income....
Status:
"Let this year be over..."
(set 22 days ago)
Location: Where my bills arrive
19,219 posts, read 17,091,524 times
Reputation: 15538
Quote:
Originally Posted by nep321
That's amazing. I now officially don't understand why people move to the South to have reduced cost of living (unless they hate having four seasons). Hell, WNY/CNY seems to be the same or cheaper than most areas in the South.
That means as of today, I already have a 30% down payment saved up for a house in WNY/CNY, including closing costs, points, etc.
Now.....what can I get for $180K that's suitable for a single person (I'm open to condos as well)?
You really need to do some research:
1) Many people do not like the potential for several feet of snow each winter.
2) Taxes on a $100k home in Syracuse are on average 3 times as much as down south
3) Four seasons do happen outside the northeast.
4) Show me a northeastern city that is listed on the "best of ...." lists although I will admit Ithaca or
Boston occasionally makes one of them.
5) Taxes in general are far higher in the north east
6) Find your job description paying the NY Metro salary in the Syracuse/upstate metros...good luck.
7) Strong growth in business is never shown in upstate or the north east.
You are welcome to live where you choose and if upstate is your choice fine but take off your shades and look at the big picture before criticizing those that found a better quality of life in the southern states.
1) Many people do not like the potential for several feet of snow each winter.
2) Taxes on a $100k home in Syracuse are on average 3 times as much as down south
3) Four seasons do happen outside the northeast.
4) Show me a northeastern city that is listed on the "best of ...." lists although I will admit Ithaca or
Boston occasionally makes one of them.
5) Taxes in general are far higher in the north east
6) Find your job description paying the NY Metro salary in the Syracuse/upstate metros...good luck.
7) Strong growth in business is never shown in upstate or the north east.
You are welcome to live where you choose and if upstate is your choice fine but take off your shades and look at the big picture before criticizing those that found a better quality of life in the southern states.
I tried living in Charlotte, NC and it sucked. Very bland neighborhoods, cookie cutter housing everywhere and WAY too many transplants. That's how most major areas in the South are and it doesn't appeal to me. And the worst deal breaker of all is that the South is very religious and conservative. Hell. No.
I think the only thing that will change on that list is rent. Gasoline, mobile phone, auto insurance, internet, gas, electric, health club, motor vehicle fees, and renters insurance will all stay roughly the same. As will groceries, restaurants, car maintenance, clothes, etc. These are basically fixed costs, give or take a few dollars.
A nice, updated, relatively new apartment in an Upstate suburb will probably run $750 or possibly more.
So you're saving $750 a month on rent, but making $2000 less a month, according to the salary you had looked into earlier. Likewise, you're chances of getting a job with 5 weeks PTO are probably slim. But I don't know your field that well. In most fields, 2 weeks is pretty standard for a new employee.
Therefore, the other things you mentioned being important would probably be your primary reason for moving.
So now what do you think?
I'd kill myself if I only had 2 weeks of PTO per year. That's just inhumane IMO.
As for the pay scale, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage for accountants is only 13% less in the Syracuse metro area than here in Fairfield County, CT. Therefore, my $75K job would be cut down to $65K. Since the cost of housing is MUCH less up there, I would basically be roughly in the same boat.
He's posted countless threads like this on the CT boards. Nep is downright notorious
I post a lot about relocation, yes. So what? What's your agenda? You're a troll's troll.
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