Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Jul 13th 2017, 6:35 pm
#31
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,020
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I can't give you much help as l am a newbie and only been Stateside for less then 4 weeks but having been in your position recently l personally think you have done a really good job of looking into this and that approach will stand you in good stead. We are up in NJ and l am honestly constantly shocked by the prices out here and we have stumbled across a few unexpected expenses so make sure you have a contingency, which l am sure you will. The reason for chipping in is with regards to the shopping, avoid publix (lovely but expensive) however Aldi, Walmart, Trader Joes and Costco are all good options. The monthly deals in Costco are always really varied but so far the ones we have picked up have been great. Also when you arrive think about the dollar stores for some of your basics. Wishing you lots of luck.
Jul 13th 2017, 6:48 pm
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 315
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
JG we were told to budget $600 a month for electric alone for a 4/5 bed house, does that sound about right? I understand there is just one utility supplier, not like in the UK and therefore you can't switch suppliers.
Jul 13th 2017, 6:57 pm
#33
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,020
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Yes it is crazy expensive here isn't it! That said there aren't many places as beautiful and well located and whilst we are new to this, we love NJ. Whereabouts are you?
JG we were told to budget $600 a month for electric alone for a 4/5 bed house, does that sound about right? I understand there is just one utility supplier, not like in the UK and therefore you can't switch suppliers.
JG we were told to budget $600 a month for electric alone for a 4/5 bed house, does that sound about right? I understand there is just one utility supplier, not like in the UK and therefore you can't switch suppliers.
Jul 13th 2017, 7:00 pm
#34
Powder Maggot
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Nuevo Mexico
Posts: 4,452
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
It may be worth noting that $60k is the minimum wage necessary for an H-1B-dependent company to gain exemption from the prevailing wage requirement. Once you get some experience, you might consider shopping yourself around on the down low.
Jul 13th 2017, 7:05 pm
#35
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Yes it is crazy expensive here isn't it! That said there aren't many places as beautiful and well located and whilst we are new to this, we love NJ. Whereabouts are you?
JG we were told to budget $600 a month for electric alone for a 4/5 bed house, does that sound about right? I understand there is just one utility supplier, not like in the UK and therefore you can't switch suppliers.
JG we were told to budget $600 a month for electric alone for a 4/5 bed house, does that sound about right? I understand there is just one utility supplier, not like in the UK and therefore you can't switch suppliers.
Jul 13th 2017, 7:11 pm
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Just logged into my power company to check the bill. We average about $90 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment. However, we were usually out of the house. If the husband is hanging around a lot, TV on etc, I can see it reaching $150.
Jul 13th 2017, 7:14 pm
#37
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Athens GA
Posts: 2,134
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
There's a big difference between NC and FL. You probably have to run yours for about 6-7 months, as I do. In FL it is likely to be 10 months and running longer periods day and night plus husband at home.
Jul 13th 2017, 7:24 pm
#38
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Our electricity bill in Austin works out about $180 pcm. 2800sq ft home, 4 beds, house kept at 75F at night, 78F during the day, pool pump running 6 hours a day, house is all electric, no gas. I have to use electricity for heating in the winter for about a month in total and that gets expensive. Less so since I got a heat pump installed.
Neighbours run the air con at 70f-72F practically all the time from end of April to end of september, no pool and their bill averages $400.
Jul 13th 2017, 7:25 pm
#39
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,061
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
My June bill was $190. My running 12-month average is $148 for a 3-bed well insulated ranch-style home. I have a pool and hot-tub but also have 8kW of solar panels. My water bill is usually less than $20. I'm on city water and septic tank. Gas is usually around $18 (half of that is the standing charge) but we only use that for cooking. We have a gas fire but rarely use it.
Jul 13th 2017, 9:07 pm
#40
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,387
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
I think our overall health care costs may be a little below those suggested in the thread Pulaski linked, because the insurer seems to provide better coverage than most - it's the Florida state employees benefits plan (I'm working in education). Like I mentioned earlier, the whole-family deductible is $500, and the ceiling for mail-order prescription copayments is $90. That might be cancelled out by the fact that we'll be paying for lots of medication and checkups, though - perhaps including some that are excluded from the copayment upper limit.
In retirement, for coverage for both of us under CSEA the premium annual is less than $1,600 with no deductible. Co-pays are $30 per office visit for regular doctor, specialist is $60 and hospital stay is $100.
Jul 13th 2017, 9:50 pm
#42
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 315
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Jul 13th 2017, 10:15 pm
#43
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,020
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
When we lived there it was frequently reported that NJ had the highest (or one of the highest) utilities, healthcare/insurance costs, property taxes, car insurance etc etc etc. Oh and property prices in good areas are high.
Anyways this is not helping the OP so....
Anyways this is not helping the OP so....
Jul 14th 2017, 1:06 am
#44
BE Irregular
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa Bay Florida
Posts: 4,849
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
wimps!
Taking a bike to work for a couple of miles is a great idea. It will save you loads of money and probably time too, since you won't get stuck in traffic jams.
Living within cycling distance of work is definitely the way to go, here is a great article on that. If he can do it in Houston heat/humidity and traffic then you most definitely can in Florida. Houston Attorney Thrives on Doing The Impossible – Daily
My daughter and I were out cycling this morning at 8.30am for about an hour. It was 85F and pleasant, if I'm not mistaken this is what you get in Florida??? It will go up to near 100F for the afternoon so we get out early in the morning. I row at 6.30 am 3/4 mornings a week. I also row in the evenings 2x a week when it's about 95F,it's ok.
One of our regular contributors, Kodokan, sent me a spreadsheet a while ago that she uses for household expenses. I'll try and find it if you like?
Taking a bike to work for a couple of miles is a great idea. It will save you loads of money and probably time too, since you won't get stuck in traffic jams.
Living within cycling distance of work is definitely the way to go, here is a great article on that. If he can do it in Houston heat/humidity and traffic then you most definitely can in Florida. Houston Attorney Thrives on Doing The Impossible – Daily
My daughter and I were out cycling this morning at 8.30am for about an hour. It was 85F and pleasant, if I'm not mistaken this is what you get in Florida??? It will go up to near 100F for the afternoon so we get out early in the morning. I row at 6.30 am 3/4 mornings a week. I also row in the evenings 2x a week when it's about 95F,it's ok.
One of our regular contributors, Kodokan, sent me a spreadsheet a while ago that she uses for household expenses. I'll try and find it if you like?
Now at sunset it is still 88F and 65% humidity. I just sat on the patio for an hour reading, and had come in to cool off!
I'm in Tampa Bay, 1100sf house. On utility bills:
Electric $50-$60 Nov to March, $80-$150 otherwise (a/c being the main difference)
Spectrum start up offer is currently $30 each for cable,100mps internet and landline -IF bundled. I currently have 30mbps with WOW, internet only. It was $30pm first year, then $45, then (now) $65 - time to change back again!
Water is about $35-40pm
Car insurance about $100pm.
Jul 14th 2017, 11:12 am
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Learning to budget for day-to-day life in the US (Florida)
Just a few thoughts from someone who spent a long time in Florida:
1. You will need two cars. Nothing in Florida is walkable and public transport is both inadequate and seen as something for the have-nots.
2. Publix is one of the finest supermarkets in the world. Floridians treasure it. I've never encountered another supermarket, anywhere, that I felt compared.
3. Outdoor strip malls are hideous.
4. You do have to be careful to avoid falling into a sedentary/indoors trap. It's always too hot, too humid, too rainy, and traffic can be hellacious to get anywhere. If you are going to do something outdoorsy, plan it, and commit to it beforehand.
5. Oh, and medical. That does tend to be a lightning rod in the forum but, just, it will be more expensive, possibly a lot more. I do feel the quality is better but you will pay for it.
1. You will need two cars. Nothing in Florida is walkable and public transport is both inadequate and seen as something for the have-nots.
2. Publix is one of the finest supermarkets in the world. Floridians treasure it. I've never encountered another supermarket, anywhere, that I felt compared.
3. Outdoor strip malls are hideous.
4. You do have to be careful to avoid falling into a sedentary/indoors trap. It's always too hot, too humid, too rainy, and traffic can be hellacious to get anywhere. If you are going to do something outdoorsy, plan it, and commit to it beforehand.
5. Oh, and medical. That does tend to be a lightning rod in the forum but, just, it will be more expensive, possibly a lot more. I do feel the quality is better but you will pay for it.