UK is way cheaper than the USA
#152
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
In Scotland, I don't know what the situation is regarding valuations, but the absolute cost of council tax has been frozen for a while (mine hasn't changed in about 4 years). I think council tax is frozen in the UK nationwide at the moment, or that's the plan. I think.
#153
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
In the UK, you mean, or the US? (I know that in NC, the property valuations were decades old, but the property tax went up nonetheless - valuations were only used to set relative taxation between properties).
In Scotland, I don't know what the situation is regarding valuations, but the absolute cost of council tax has been frozen for a while (mine hasn't changed in about 4 years). I think council tax is frozen in the UK nationwide at the moment, or that's the plan. I think.
In Scotland, I don't know what the situation is regarding valuations, but the absolute cost of council tax has been frozen for a while (mine hasn't changed in about 4 years). I think council tax is frozen in the UK nationwide at the moment, or that's the plan. I think.
#154
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
One thing that surprised me, and this is just in the area I'm in...but to be eligible for low cost housing, as each town has to reserve a percentage, 10% I think for low cost. Next town over had just built a bunch of new condo's and a 2 bed apartment was $1600 a month but you had to have less than $32K family income.
I don't know about you, but with than kind of income, I don't think to many could afford that rent...but now they're not poor enough to qualify for other housing options like section 8, which even with that has a 2 year waiting list to be a part of.
So there's a huge gap between the very poor, the middle class working poor and then everyone else and you really notice it in the kind of benefits that are available and the kind of healthcare that is offered.
It's quite sad.
#155
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Very true, and.. Some homeowners in the US pay $2K or $3K per year in property taxes, while others pay $15,000 a year or more (and I'm just talking about ordinary middle-class suburban houses not mansions.) I believe in the UK the council tax (is that what it is called?) is not so variable..
our sales tax here is 9.25% and when we dropped our health insurance because they raised it from $300 a month to $1400 a month ( never had a claim nor did they ever pay out a dime on us for the 10 years we were insured - after I left work when our son was born- we are self employed )
Last edited by Maltoo; Nov 5th 2012 at 11:38 pm.
#156
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
#157
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I would be way happy with the $240,000
Just did our Bills
Electric $220
Internet and home phone $100
TV $180
water $60
Insurance Home owners $390
Cell phone 3 with 2 smart phones with data $200
all of above is monthly
Just did our Bills
Electric $220
Internet and home phone $100
TV $180
water $60
Insurance Home owners $390
Cell phone 3 with 2 smart phones with data $200
all of above is monthly
#158
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
$390 a month for homeowners insurance sounds high. We pay about $1,000 a year (2,600 sq ft, 4 bed, 2 bath, built 1860, 5 acres.)
#160
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Holy crap! Australia is cheaper than that for power even after the carbon tax. Winter quarter was $800 but is usually $400, but we're going to monitor bills over the next year and what's what. There ain't no way I'm paying $800 a quarter for electricity though. I have already made savings by spending less in the supermarkets so Coles is paying for the carbon tax.
#161
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Holy crap! Australia is cheaper than that for power even after the carbon tax. Winter quarter was $800 but is usually $400, but we're going to monitor bills over the next year and what's what. There ain't no way I'm paying $800 a quarter for electricity though. I have already made savings by spending less in the supermarkets so Coles is paying for the carbon tax.
it includes our cars and 2 rental homes, I should have been more clear just wanted to differentiate it from Health
#162
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Holy crap! Australia is cheaper than that for power even after the carbon tax. Winter quarter was $800 but is usually $400, but we're going to monitor bills over the next year and what's what. There ain't no way I'm paying $800 a quarter for electricity though. I have already made savings by spending less in the supermarkets so Coles is paying for the carbon tax.
Cant wait for Belfast weather.......:-)
40 years in Texas......so excited to get out of here.......
#163
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
We wont even spend that much a quarter for electricity AND gas, thats crazy.
#164
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Here in Tennessee we only have 2 choices it is EPB or solar so basically only one choice.
Not sure what part of Texas Celticspirit is in but $770 a month is crazy! I would be shopping around for a different provider. The highest we have had here in Tennessee was $350 and that is usually just a month or two the lowest we have had was about $75,granted our house is a tad smaller at only 3000 sq ft. You can have the Power Board ave your rates and pay the same thing every month if you like and then if you have any overage at the end of the year you get a rebate.
#165
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Texas has a crazy Electrical system - you choose your provider and the rates are all over the place!
Here in Tennessee we only have 2 choices it is EPB or solar so basically only one choice.
Not sure what part of Texas Celticspirit is in but $770 a month is crazy! I would be shopping around for a different provider. The highest we have had here in Tennessee was $350 and that is usually just a month or two the lowest we have had was about $75,granted our house is a tad smaller at only 3000 sq ft. You can have the Power Board ave your rates and pay the same thing every month if you like and then if you have any overage at the end of the year you get a rebate.
Here in Tennessee we only have 2 choices it is EPB or solar so basically only one choice.
Not sure what part of Texas Celticspirit is in but $770 a month is crazy! I would be shopping around for a different provider. The highest we have had here in Tennessee was $350 and that is usually just a month or two the lowest we have had was about $75,granted our house is a tad smaller at only 3000 sq ft. You can have the Power Board ave your rates and pay the same thing every month if you like and then if you have any overage at the end of the year you get a rebate.