[alexander59]

What kind of house? Maybe a small condo in any of the metropolitan areas. Check the newspapers Tampa Tribune, Florida Today, St. Pete Times, Miami Herald for both jobs and housing.

[LongIslander]

Originally Posted by mpassaro

I have one more question that I should have added to my hurricane question below. I make 60,000 here in Long Island. Can anyone tell me what a comparable salary in Florida would be?? Thanks again.

=======================

Since your biggest savings will be in housing costs, and income taxes, figure on needing to make around 60 to 70% of you LI income. That means around $40k, depending on where you live, that may not buy much, but will go much further then $60k on LI for sure!

Go to Salary.com and run a cost of living comparison.

[simplistic007]

Originally Posted by chocomom

Elfyum, that highly depends. Many people in FL cannot afford a home on 40k once taxes, insurance, and HOA/Condo fees are added in.

I would have to say that it all depends how you budget. I have family members that survive on 40K and they have a beautiful home, new car and live very well in Florida. You can make a lot of money, but if you do not know how to budget, it is all a waste. It is an individual thing. I was a single mom for 19 years and before I had a career I was making $10.00 an hour, living on my own and owning my own place. No other income coming in just me working hard and this was in Massachusetts, but I made it. Now I have my degree and make much more money and still live in Massachusetts and have managed to buy a bigger home and live well. It is all in what you consider being broke. I know for a fact that Florida's cost living and expenses can never compare to Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the 3rd most expensive state. This was noted a few months ago. So I know if I survived in Mass, Florida will be a breeze. It is all in the attitude and what people consider being broke.

[Smithkl04]

My husband has 3 degrees (he's a Criminal Justice Major) & was working for the state as a Juvenile Correctional Officer. He was making around $25,000 a year. We moved to Ohio about 2 years ago & he is doing the same work (except he is working for the State of Ohio) & he is making close to $60,000. Very HUGE difference!

[elfyum]

Thank you!
To the rest: In my opinion, it is - trying to think of a non offensive word - ok - silly - to live in a condo or a housing community with homeowner fees. What a waste of money. Of course if you are disabled or something like that & cannot mow your lawn, or some other circumstance like that, but otherwise you are wasting hundreds of dollars a month!!!
Also, I DON'T HAVE KIDS!!! We make 40+ between the two of us & live in a 3/2 8100 sq ft lot in a very nice area!!! I said in another post, anyone who cannot afford that either has kids or waaay too many toys!!!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by elfyum

Thank you!
To the rest: In my opinion, it is - trying to think of a non offensive word - ok - silly - to live in a condo or a housing community with homeowner fees. What a waste of money. Of course if you are disabled or something like that & cannot mow your lawn, or some other circumstance like that, but otherwise you are wasting hundreds of dollars a month!!!
Also, I DON'T HAVE KIDS!!! We make 40+ between the two of us & live in a 3/2 8100 sq ft lot in a very nice area!!! I said in another post, anyone who cannot afford that either has kids or waaay too many toys!!!

Me personally, I would not live in one of those communities. Not because of the cost but due to the politics. The cost though is not a waste of money. They are private and everybody shares the roads and there is landscaping and maintenance that someone has to pay for. I own a couple of lots in a gated community I bought as an investment and it cost me $275.00 a year for each lot for H.O.A Fee's.

When ever I drive up there the place is really beautiful and people who live there love it. My sister lives in a gated community and loves it. I am just a little different, I have long hair a long beard and look like a biker and don't like people messing with me, I would not get along well in one of those places, but I see how some would.

[backtofla]

25k in fla and 60k in ohio??? what type of work??? i know where i work, a guy moved here from ohio, and is making about the same. i guess it all depends on what type of work... it just seems a little odd that there would be a 35k difference in pay for the same job. i mean, i know cops here in fla that make 38k here in fla and made 27k in sc doing the same thing. but that is a far cry from a 35k difference. please let us know what position/occupation you are talking about.

[crankyyank]

a mobile home in florida is almost impossible to insure unless you want to spend endless hours on the phone and online trying. if you are however lucky enough to get it, you will find an active storm season will result in the company dropping you even if you make no claim. mobile homes are either in a park or on a piece of land suitable for mobile homes, if you can FIND a piece of land and you can AFFORD to buy it, dont put a mobile home on it, in the long run it will cost more to improve the lot for use than the whole property will be worth when it is done, and the taxes and utilities will kill you. i own a home in polk county (redneck capitol of the world) and even in this part of florida i see the commissioners are moving to limit the number of mobile homes.after the storms took out the last batch of them there was a limit placed on the replacement of them as well.

[chocomom]

Originally Posted by simplistic007

I would have to say that it all depends how you budget. I have family members that survive on 40K and they have a beautiful home, new car and live very well in Florida. You can make a lot of money, but if you do not know how to budget, it is all a waste. It is an individual thing. I was a single mom for 19 years and before I had a career I was making $10.00 an hour, living on my own and owning my own place. No other income coming in just me working hard and this was in Massachusetts, but I made it. Now I have my degree and make much more money and still live in Massachusetts and have managed to buy a bigger home and live well. It is all in what you consider being broke. I know for a fact that Florida's cost living and expenses can never compare to Massachusetts. Massachusetts is the 3rd most expensive state. This was noted a few months ago. So I know if I survived in Mass, Florida will be a breeze. It is all in the attitude and what people consider being broke.

I have two children and live in South FL. Since I'm currently attempting to do it on 65k (2 combined salaries) with little success (and I'm not alone)....I'll take the comment with a grain of salt. If I recall, you have only one child and he/she is already 19? It's been almost 20 years and that's a long time and a big difference in situations.

I budget, brown bag, and only shop sales. I want to enjoy life a little more. Not necessarily spend every dime, but be able to save for a house, retirement, and enjoy today. I'm tired of the budget better line given to me by almost everyone I speak to from the Northeast. Budgeting is NOT the problem for me and the people I know. Sharp increases in housing costs (both ownership and renting), stagnant salaries, and higher prices for goods are.

[chocomom]

Originally Posted by Smithkl04

My husband has 3 degrees (he's a Criminal Justice Major) & was working for the state as a Juvenile Correctional Officer. He was making around $25,000 a year. We moved to Ohio about 2 years ago & he is doing the same work (except he is working for the State of Ohio) & he is making close to $60,000. Very HUGE difference!

My husband was a JPO. Crap job for crap pay with no respect. Yep, they are paid a starting salary of a whopping 25k a year. AND the position requires a degree.