In case you didn't notice in the header of my blog I recently moved to Orlando, FL. I loved living in Southern California. How can you not love a place where it is sunny all the time, the beach is on one side of you, and the mountains are on the other? I moved from 75 and sunny to 95 and hot. But, this is a finance blog, and, face it, California is EXPENSIVE. Wow, is it expensive. And I'm not only talking about the 1000 sq. ft. houses in the desert that people pay $450,000 for. It's the house, it's the German import in the garage, it's the $3.50 gas, and it's the high state taxes (not to mention having the privilege of paying for everyone that is unemployed in the state).
So now I'm in Orlando, in the Sunshine State. Frankly, I never thought I would enjoy living in Florida. I've never been a fan of heat and humidity and all people think when they hear Florida is that it is full of old people. Well, I've been here two months now and I haven't found that to be the case. Sure, there are plenty of developments for "active adults" but the apartment complex I live in is filled with young people, both single and married. The heat is bothersome but it gives you an excuse to go and check out a matinee on a weekend day.
One of the parts of Florida I've enjoyed the most about Florida is the reduced cost of living. Now, don't get me wrong. You can read articles all of the time in the newspapers around the state about a high cost of living. I'm sure if you move here from Iowa or Montana that is the case. But I'm here from California and it's great.
How is Florida different from California? I used to pay a couple hundred dollars every other week in state taxes in addition to the unemployment insurance tax they levy on everyone working in the state. Now I pay $0. No state income tax. I paid $1500 a month for a 900 sq. ft. 2 bed/2 bath apartment in California. In Orlando, I pay $1150 a month for an 1100 sq. ft. 2 bed/2bath place. I used to pay $150 per year for my car registration. Now I pay around $50. They tax everything in the grocery store in Cali. In Florida, food items are tax free.
It's not only the obvious cost savings in Florida. It is the change in culture. In California there is always the pressure to keep up with the Jones'. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post everyone in Cali wants a big house, an expensive car, designer clothes, etc. In Florida, it's more relaxed. No, not trashy, relaxed. People live in average houses and don't mind driving domestic cars.
I have really enjoyed my time in Florida so far. As long as the hurricanes stay away I can definitely see myself calling Orlando home for a while to come.
