09/18/11 - DVCers Take Over the Dream (S.S. Member Cruise 2011) - Thread #6

[calypso726]

We have 3/2 1500 sq ft ranch built in 93. Our homeowners is about $800 I think. Deb will make that correction, I'm sure, when she sees it. So yeah, that would be more but we would still be able to make that up no problem with the savings in property taxes and no income taxes!

HEAR THAT DEB!!!

How much is a normal utility bill? Electric and gas together!

We don't have a gas bill, everything is electric. Average electric bill is between $200-$250. However, factor in mind that I keep the A/C at 71 unless the temps dip below that in which case we just shut it off. In 12 years we only used the heater one season which was 2 years ago when it got into the 40's repeatedly so we turned the heater part of the unit on a few times. I also have the garage turned into a kennel which has it's own A/C unit that runs 24/7 and of course we have multiple computers that are on most of the time.

Does proximity to the coast play a factor? The further inland the cheaper?

Yes, definitely and we are 11 miles from the beach. If we lived in the Orlando area it would be less.

Ours is around $800 or so, IIRC.

I took a peek to see the cost of living in Oregon vs Florida. If you make $50K in Ft. Lauderdale (where we live) and you move to Portland, you need to make $57,552. Florida has no personal income tax but Oregon does. Florida has a homestead exemption when it comes to property taxes but Oregon doesn't. Also, Florida does not have an inhertinace or estate tax but Oregon does. So, yeah, I am sure we'd much rather pay $800 instead of $2700 for the homeowner's/flood insurance But then anyone making $50K falls into the 9% personal income tax bracket which is $4500 Since Florida is only one of a few states with no presonal income tax I think we will be staying here, hurricanes not withstanding I'll take the hurricanes over the tornadoes and earthquakes though. I dunno how California people deal with the whole earthquake thing. That would freak me out. Sheesh at least we get a few days to decide if were gonna ride it out or get out of Dodge On the upside, Oregon does not have palmetto bugs or gators and water moccasins LOL

 

[friends with mickey]

Glad to be of service.

Keep up the good work.

 

[DizDragonfly]

Keep up the good work.

I'll do my best.

 

[Steamboat WillyNilly]

We don't have a gas bill, everything is electric. Average electric bill is between $200-$250. However, factor in mind that I keep the A/C at 71 unless the temps dip below that in which case we just shut it off. In 12 years we only used the heater one season which was 2 years ago when it got into the 40's repeatedly so we turned the heater part of the unit on a few times. I also have the garage turned into a kennel which has it's own A/C unit that runs 24/7 and of course we have multiple computers that are on most of the time.



Yes, definitely and we are 11 miles from the beach. If we lived in the Orlando area it would be less.



I took a peek to see the cost of living in Oregon vs Florida. If you make $50K in Ft. Lauderdale (where we live) and you move to Portland, you need to make $57,552. Florida has no personal income tax but Oregon does. Florida has a homestead exemption when it comes to property taxes but Oregon doesn't. Also, Florida does not have an inhertinace or estate tax but Oregon does. So, yeah, I am sure we'd much rather pay $800 instead of $2700 for the homeowner's/flood insurance But then anyone making $50K falls into the 9% personal income tax bracket which is $4500 Since Florida is only one of a few states with no presonal income tax I think we will be staying here, hurricanes not withstanding I'll take the hurricanes over the tornadoes and earthquakes though. Sheesh at least we get a few days to decide if were gonna ride it out or get out of Dodge

Thank you very much for all that!!! Did you want to be an investigative journalist at one point?

 

[DizDragonfly]

But then anyone making $50K falls into the 9% personal income tax bracket which is $4500

I know! Stupid taxes!! I'd much rather pay sales tax than income tax!! Ugh!! At least Jason is seriously considering moving to Florida, even if it won't be for at least another four or five years.

 

[friends with mickey]

I'll do my best.

When I am good, I am very good. When I am bad, I am even better.

 

[Steamboat WillyNilly]

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

I just got that!! I'm an idiot.

 

[DizDragonfly]

Thank you very much for all that!!! Did you want to be an investigative journalist at one point?

LOL Sounds like she's a lot like me. I get curious about something and then research it to death.

 

[DizDragonfly]

I just got that!! I'm an idiot.

You're not an idiot. Just a little slow on the uptake. You got stuck on whiskey and discarded the rest.

 

[Steamboat WillyNilly]

I know! Stupid taxes!! I'd much rather pay sales tax than income tax!! Ugh!! At least Jason is seriously considering moving to Florida, even if it won't be for at least another four or five years.

Maybe we could all pool our money together and build our own subdivision! We could call it Dis Freak Estates or something!

 

[DizDragonfly]

When I am good, I am very good. When I am bad, I am even better.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Steamboat WillyNilly]

You're not an idiot. Just a little slow on the uptake. You got stuck on whiskey and discarded the rest.

 

[DizDragonfly]

Maybe we could all pool our money together and build our own subdivision! We could call it Dis Freak Estates or something!

Sounds like a plan. We'd have to design our own flag. Who's the graphic designer here?

 

[M & N Potter]

 

[Steamboat WillyNilly]

There would need to be a test on all things Disney in the covenants!

 

[M & N Potter]

 

[DizDragonfly]

 

[W@LL-E]

 

[friends with mickey]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

It was a non surgical out patient procedure.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Hope all of you had a nice long week-end.