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PRIUSH8R - Don't bother arguing with Algia. She thinks the US should be Europe and we should be a Socialist Society. Europeans do not understand Pay For Use..... don't get her started on Toll Roads. LOL Yep, she always goes off topic and goes on rants. Keep the Carpel Tunnel at bay and don't argue with her. It's pointless.
Here's my advice to anyone looking to move to Florida. Do not move to Florida unless you will be making as much money as you currently do. Having the same income and moving will be great and you'll likely be happy with your move. Making less when you move will tick you off and you'll blame your money woes on Florida and be upset with your move.
Certain parts of Florida are affordable when you are looking at housing costs and taxes. But please remember... you will drive more... that's more gas. Your bank account will be reeling from the move for at least a year (moving expenses and rebuying stuff you got rid of). You'll likely be buying new clothes for the weather amongst other "Florida Lifestyle" stuff. You are going to need money to explore you new state.
Groceries are not the cheapest here, neither are household goods. When you think about it, housing should be costing you no more than 25% of your income.
I moved to Florida because I came from Alaska. Where housing, household goods, groceries and heating bills are out of this world. I moved to Florida with the same job and same income I had in Alaska.... so the move was great. Would I have moved to Florida making 20% less than I did in Alaska? Nope... even though on paper it would appear I would have had the same quality of life.... I would have never been able to make it with a 20% pay cut and probably would have been miserable.
Once again, FloridaKash nails succinctly nails it ^^. Wish I could give you more reps, Kash.
I also agree with PriusH8r many thoughtful and intelligent posts on the matter.
OP, think long and hard, you can see there are differences of opinion and different experiences here. Many people here are doing very well; and many people move here and do well, but many others do not. Bottom line, you should have a lot of savings before moving, and your husband should have a job lined up making as much (or close to as much) as he makes now. If you only work one day per week you may as well not work if you are going to have to pay for child care. Keep your options open as to where in Florida to move to, as the cost of living can be way higher in some places than others.
PRIUSH8R - Don't bother arguing with Algia. She thinks the US should be Europe and we should be a Socialist Society. Europeans do not understand Pay For Use..... don't get her started on Toll Roads. LOL Yep, she always goes off topic and goes on rants. Keep the Carpel Tunnel at bay and don't argue with her. It's pointless.
Here's my advice to anyone looking to move to Florida. Do not move to Florida unless you will be making as much money as you currently do. Having the same income and moving will be great and you'll likely be happy with your move. Making less when you move will tick you off and you'll blame your money woes on Florida and be upset with your move.
Certain parts of Florida are affordable when you are looking at housing costs and taxes. But please remember... you will drive more... that's more gas. Your bank account will be reeling from the move for at least a year (moving expenses and rebuying stuff you got rid of). You'll likely be buying new clothes for the weather amongst other "Florida Lifestyle" stuff. You are going to need money to explore you new state.
Groceries are not the cheapest here, neither are household goods. When you think about it, housing should be costing you no more than 25% of your income.
I moved to Florida because I came from Alaska. Where housing, household goods, groceries and heating bills are out of this world. I moved to Florida with the same job and same income I had in Alaska.... so the move was great. Would I have moved to Florida making 20% less than I did in Alaska? Nope... even though on paper it would appear I would have had the same quality of life.... I would have never been able to make it with a 20% pay cut and probably would have been miserable.
Thanks FloridaKash. I will heed your advice and it is greatly appreciated.
Wow. Alaska to Florida. Now THAT must have been quite the change. I hope you did it over the winter time......lol
When we moved down last year, I took a 100% pay cut. I quit my job and moved down without a job. Luckily my wife was able to transfer her job. We have always been financially responsible, so we could do that. We don't take loans on anything, except the cheap mortgage. We only buy cars we can afford to pay cash for. That's not hard. If you have a car loan, just make the payments to yourself first and then buy a car when you have the money. You tend to spend less on a car when you do that. Sticker shock effect....ya know.
You bring up some excellent points to consider when moving....anywhere....that people often times forget.
People need to consider the moving expenses such as you said buying again what you had to get rid of to move, vehicle registration fees, plates, licenses, utility setups, etc. THAT can be the biggest issue for some people.
However, the OP is doing the right thing by asking questions. Once she has gathered all the information, analyzed the cost, then she and her husband should make whatever choice they feel comfortable with.
The big advantage we had moving down was our kids were already out of the house. If you have kids still dependent on you, I believe people should be extra careful in their planning process.
So, if someone disagrees with what YOU think, THEY are in denial.....lol.
Maybe they have a different opinion. Maybe your opinion is not correct for "some" other people.
What I will agree with you in your posts is that the OP's husband probably will not make $65,000 in the same field in Florida working from someone else. I will also agree with you that the cost of living differential will probably not make up for the income reduction "this" particular couple will likely experience.
However, it is up to each person to decide what is most important to them in life. Money is not everything. It's not really anything, except a means to support oneself. I hear way too many people advising people to live wherever they can make the most money. I find that to be horrible advise. Chase the dollar, never find true happiness.
I wish the best for the OP. She should take each post here for what it is. An OPINION. Opinions vary, based on personal preference and experiences.
Please have a delightful day.
I understand how opinions differ...and how they all add value to a particular subject.
However, we are talking about the OP's specific circumstances.
Taking that kind of pay cut with a small child in tow.....just to have warm winters is not a smart choice in today's economic climate.
Any advice otherwise, to me, is bad advice.
If you disagree, and think taking a $30,000+ per year pay cut with a small child in the mix to have warm winters is good advice........than I would really like to hear you make a reasonable case for it.
To clarify my "sunshine denial" comment......I will tell you that I (and my family) experienced it as well for the first decade (give or take) that we lived here. It is a widely discussed opinion that Florida "takes time to wear on you". At first..you marvel at how clean everything looks, how clean all the cars look, palm trees everywhere, white sand beaches, dolphins, birds, lots of new houses for cheap, no income tax, boats everywhere, ect, ect....but most people eventually get tired of going to the beach all of the time, and the other things that were so "awesome" just become every day occurances.
When I was in the Air Force I noticed that most people spend a lot of time talking about where they came from compared to where others came from..and also compared to where you get stationed (good or bad) I was definately one of those people.....I "talked up" Florida all of the time. "beautiful beaches, no snow, clean-shiny cars, boating-fishing-sailing, ect, ect.... All I wanted to do was come back to Florida to experience that stuff.
The thing is....most people have to work at least 5 days per week for the majority of thier lives, and that part doesn't "fade away"- you have to keep going to keep paying your bills. Florida's best attributes...are best experienced on vacation IMO. I've never heard anyone say that Florida is a "great place to make a living-especially as a blue collar worker"......that's because it's just not- compared to many other places.
You mentioned that you moved down here "last year".......well, when I was in that situation- I could have worked for the Florida Board of Tourism as a spokesperson because I loved it so much. No kidding- but the things that make Florida a neat place are, for the most part- not really important in the grand scheme of things. Making a good living and being treated with respect at the place you spend 40-50 hours per week is important. If you have children (which the OP does)...securing the best future possible for them is important. Going to the beach is not important.......going to the beach and "seeing the sights" is important ON VACATION....
Florida has ALWAYS HAD terrible wages compared to most other places. It is no different now- and as long as this state is all about tourism, housing, and a service economy....it always will.
The fact that the OP can make $65,000 per year as a professional flooring installer in Massachusetts compared to what that "profession" (if it is even considered that down here) can make- clearly illustrates my point.
Florida is very much a "shiny, thin veneer" covering up a deeply flawed state...once you look past the "veneer" you will see the real Florida: a neat place to vacation to- but, not a good place to start a career or make a living as a "skilled laborer'.
I understand how opinions differ...and how they all add value to a particular subject.
However, we are talking about the OP's specific circumstances.
Taking that kind of pay cut with a small child in tow.....just to have warm winters is not a smart choice in today's economic climate.
Any advice otherwise, to me, is bad advice.
If you disagree, and think taking a $30,000+ per year pay cut with a small child in the mix to have warm winters is good advice........than I would really like to hear you make a reasonable case for it.
To clarify my "sunshine denial" comment......I will tell you that I (and my family) experienced it as well for the first decade (give or take) that we lived here. It is a widely discussed opinion that Florida "takes time to wear on you". At first..you marvel at how clean everything looks, how clean all the cars look, palm trees everywhere, white sand beaches, dolphins, birds, lots of new houses for cheap, no income tax, boats everywhere, ect, ect....but most people eventually get tired of going to the beach all of the time, and the other things that were so "awesome" just become every day occurances.
When I was in the Air Force I noticed that most people spend a lot of time talking about where they came from compared to where others came from..and also compared to where you get stationed (good or bad) I was definately one of those people.....I "talked up" Florida all of the time. "beautiful beaches, no snow, clean-shiny cars, boating-fishing-sailing, ect, ect.... All I wanted to do was come back to Florida to experience that stuff.
The thing is....most people have to work at least 5 days per week for the majority of thier lives, and that part doesn't "fade away"- you have to keep going to keep paying your bills. Florida's best attributes...are best experienced on vacation IMO. I've never heard anyone say that Florida is a "great place to make a living-especially as a blue collar worker"......that's because it's just not- compared to many other places.
You mentioned that you moved down here "last year".......well, when I was in that situation- I could have worked for the Florida Board of Tourism as a spokesperson because I loved it so much. No kidding- but the things that make Florida a neat place are, for the most part- not really important in the grand scheme of things. Making a good living and being treated with respect at the place you spend 40-50 hours per week is important. If you have children (which the OP does)...securing the best future possible for them is important. Going to the beach is not important.......going to the beach and "seeing the sights" is important ON VACATION....
Florida has ALWAYS HAD terrible wages compared to most other places. It is no different now- and as long as this state is all about tourism, housing, and a service economy....it always will.
The fact that the OP can make $65,000 per year as a professional flooring installer in Massachusetts compared to what that "profession" (if it is even considered that down here) can make- clearly illustrates my point.
Florida is very much a "shiny, thin veneer" covering up a deeply flawed state...once you look past the "veneer" you will see the real Florida: a neat place to vacation to- but, not a good place to start a career or make a living as a "skilled laborer'.
I do agree ALL people considering moving anywhere should be careful not to let the "new & shiny" effect get to them too much. That can happen anywhere someone chooses to move, however can be amplified in Florida due to the phenomenal weather and so many great activities.
We are no stranger to picking up and moving to new places, so we understand what to watch out for. We don't fall for the new and shiny syndrome, although some people obviously do. We also did extensive, as in years worth, of research before moving here. We also regularly visited multiple times per year for multiple years. Given all the research we did, having full knowledge of what we were getting into and understanding the risks, we still chose to move here by me giving up my job and having to start over. I realize I will not make as much as I could have in other states. Probably not even close. But that is a decision we made for ourselves. We intentionally chose to make less money, in order to enjoy this area. That was the right choice for "us". "I" cannot decide what is proper for the OP. "YOU" cannot either. Only "SHE" can.
Here is another thing to consider. Florida attracts people by the thousands. People are more than willing to move here, knowing full well the pay is lower. It is lower because employers have a huge pool of willing applicants to choose from. Supply & demand. That is fair. It is what it is and yet people have no problem moving here. It's the lifestyle people want. We spent years chasing the glory and the next step in the corporate rat race. You know what? We discovered that didn't matter to us. We have now opted for what really matters in life. Family, health, happiness and enjoyment. Money doesn't matter. Quality of life does. It is up to each individual or family to decide what the proper balance is between QOL and the dollars needed to provide such.
Read about American Exceptionalism. Thats why we can't learn any lessons from any other society, anything thats not pure free market or capitalism, gets labeled as Communism.
I do agree ALL people considering moving anywhere should be careful not to let the "new & shiny" effect get to them too much. That can happen anywhere someone chooses to move, however can be amplified in Florida due to the phenomenal weather and so many great activities.
We are no stranger to picking up and moving to new places, so we understand what to watch out for. We don't fall for the new and shiny syndrome, although some people obviously do. We also did extensive, as in years worth, of research before moving here. We also regularly visited multiple times per year for multiple years. Given all the research we did, having full knowledge of what we were getting into and understanding the risks, we still chose to move here by me giving up my job and having to start over. I realize I will not make as much as I could have in other states. Probably not even close. But that is a decision we made for ourselves. We intentionally chose to make less money, in order to enjoy this area. That was the right choice for "us". "I" cannot decide what is proper for the OP. "YOU" cannot either. Only "SHE" can.
Here is another thing to consider. Florida attracts people by the thousands. People are more than willing to move here, knowing full well the pay is lower. It is lower because employers have a huge pool of willing applicants to choose from. Supply & demand. That is fair. It is what it is and yet people have no problem moving here. It's the lifestyle people want. We spent years chasing the glory and the next step in the corporate rat race. You know what? We discovered that didn't matter to us. We have now opted for what really matters in life. Family, health, happiness and enjoyment. Money doesn't matter. Quality of life does. It is up to each individual or family to decide what the proper balance is between QOL and the dollars needed to provide such.
I would argue that "people know full well that the pay is lower"........I think many people take a low paying job with the thinking that a better one will come along. Just as long as they get to move to Florida..and escape the "evil, cold winters'.
However, they SHOULD know that they pay is way less....with the internet, it's pretty much common knowlage. As you stated- you did a lot of research including many trips down to explore. I just don't think "most" people do that.....many are blinded by the fact that they're moving to "paradise"
The other thing is....you have obviously lived many other places and "made your money up north" so to speak- which allows to move to Florida with a different mindset..and at a different stage in life. I would argue that the exact situation I just decribed is the IDEAL situation to move to Florida under....full grown kids, at least 1 spouse with an established professional career, little to no debt, and ready for some "life enjoyment' so to speak......
The OP's situation is very different...they are obviously not that old (as evidenced by the young child) and assumabely have many "working years" ahead of them. Combine that with them being "skilled laborers" who I'm assuming do not have college degrees (and therefore would not be realistically moving to a different career that pays more) and the fact that 1 of them now makes $65,000 per year in said career...... and you have a very different situation- a situation that doesn't make sense from any reasonable standpoint.
Florida's weather and "low" housing costs are what attract people to move here. It is certainly not the blue collar pay scale. And I think what happens is....people are so excited to be leaving the snow and cold (because snow and cold is evil) that they don't think "it could be that different" than up north and that the low wages (if they've thought about it) will be temporary.
Earlier in the thread....someone mentioned that Florida "should be an easy place to stand out because of the lack of people with good work ethic"......It sure would seem that way, I used to think that also-heck, it makes sense right? It just isn't that way in the blue collar fields....it's just not. The "culture" of work ethic isn't really important down here......what is important is: "it's 5 o-clock somewhere" lets grab a beer and watch the sunset.
The "culture" of work ethic isn't really important down here......what is important is: "it's 5 o-clock somewhere" lets grab a beer and watch the sunset.
Honestly, this is one of the reasons that I love it here. Much more laid back.
Correct - Have a blue collar career and want to get ahead and advance your career by working hard? Florida is probably not the place for you. Unless you want to be your own boss and do it that way.
Moving down with a job/career with pay you are satisfied with and more interested in a laid back lifestyle than trying to further your career - Florida may be for you.
Honestly, this is one of the reasons that I love it here. Much more laid back.
Correct - Have a blue collar career and want to get ahead and advance your career by working hard? Florida is probably not the place for you. Unless you want to be your own boss and do it that way.
Moving down with a job/career with pay you are satisfied with and more interested in a laid back lifestyle than trying to further your career - Florida may be for you.
Theres only a couple months of winter left. Then you know how aewsome the spring, summer and fall are in some of the prettiest area in the country.
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. Wish I could give you more reps, Kash.
