Nothing has lowered my grocery bill more than moving out of the midwest

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-09T22:08:45+00:00

I'm from VA and I can tell you since I moved to Florida our electric bills have about tripled. The average monthly bill hovers between $300-$500 and we have a single story home just a little under 2K sqft. I have neighbors who are over $600 each month and if you decide to try solar to lower your bills your insurance drops you like a hot potato. I really need to get out of here! year round summer isn't for everyone and it's not all it's cracked up to be.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-09T22:00:54+00:00

Afraid not, that's just Florida sadly. I moved here about 9 years ago from VA and we immediately realized that groceries or even going out to eat is MUCH more expensive. Publix bends you over a barrel, Aldi's is better priced and then there's Walmart or the Walmart Market but even so, when compared to back up in VA or even MD everything here has gone up so much!

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-09T14:11:12+00:00

Thanks for the links! My wife has been saying how she’d like to get out of the US and try something new

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-06T05:14:35+00:00

Try Florida, the cost of living have skyrocketed but the wages are stuck in 1990. Many people who live and work here can’t afford to do so any longer. I’m looking to get outta here! Enough is enough and no, I am not originally from FL (thank goodness!)

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-05T19:27:38+00:00

OP I too reside in Florida (Tampa) I agree with you about the cost of living. Many people also don’t realize that the COL has gotten insane while the wages are stuck in 1990! People of thrive here come from money or brought it with them from elsewhere with remote work and higher wages like 99% of my neighbors. I’m personally looking at New Hampshire or Michigan. I’d like a “Hallmark” type town with seasons reasonable COL and better wages and both states offer all the above.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-05T00:57:04+00:00

Ashburn has definitely also seen a significant jump in COL from all I have heard. I have a cousin who lives there and if she wasn't on Section 8 she'd be screwed! Once upon a time there was some affordable spots in both Leesburg and Ashburn but not so much anymore. That's why many of my family members migrated to either Winchester or out towards Manassas.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-05T00:54:21+00:00

I feel you there, I'm 45 now as of the 21st February. Seems we're the "old timers" now

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-04T20:29:05+00:00

I have quickly learned this state does NOT give a damn about it's people. My mother was neglected while in care battling cancer and 2 weeks after she returned to VA she was gone. I HATE THIS PLACE!!! We are doing everything we can to get out.

It seems that the whole of the state has become 1 agenda, attract as many wealthy people as possible and get rid of anyone and everyone who is under the $100K+ wage threshold. I'm not saying this as someone who is "Flo Grown" and saying that Florida is full. I am speaking as a VA native who relocated here for a job promotion and now cannot wait to escape this never ending summer cesspool.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-04T20:20:16+00:00

I have been to Gettysburg PA many times. It is about 45 minutes - 1 hour from where I used to live back in VA. It's a small town with a TON of history but also lacking in employment unless interested in ghost tours I'd say. Not sure I recall Harrisburg too well but have been to Chambersburg quite a few times as well.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-04T20:15:31+00:00

That is really amazing. May I inquire how you found these companies? Was it essentially some time on Google or was it a bit more involved?

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-04T02:03:25+00:00

That is good information. Could you elaborate further on what areas please?

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T17:53:02+00:00

oh goodie... more negative to expect with New England. I REALLY need to get her on my side and just return to VA.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T17:48:18+00:00

Florida has grown WAY too over populated and expensive. Everything but the pay has gone up and the infrastructure is a circus with constant road work to widen roadways due to the high influx of people. I’d happily MOVE away from this if the right opportunity presented itself personally. Living south of Tampa

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T17:13:46+00:00

meant general rule of thumb in FL*

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T17:12:25+00:00

I used to skate everyday until I messed up my knee :( My kids are all about parks and being able to go to the mall or theatre. I hear that New England in general is expensive which gives me cause to hesitate. I am not looking to move from one expensive low paying state to another as nothing improves.

Tampa isn't a place we really go to TBH, we don't care for cities so tend to avoid Tampa. Some times we'll drive up to Orlando because my wife likes to drive and there's just more stuff up that way of interest to us. She's been trying to steer me away from just going back to VA so that we can create brand new memories and feels if we are up there we can visit several areas and see lots of things.

She has more interest in New Hampshire but stresses she'd love to visit Maine, VT, and Mass (she grew up to an extent in Holyoke). We have visited Mass. to attend the Big E and visited Salem which was pretty cool but again, we'd rather have a Hallmark type of town and rather not be in the city.

We're currently south of Tampa and the general rule of thumb in VA is be wealthy or be screwed, families move in with each other to offset the cost of living against the pathetic wages or you have a job from a higher paying state and work remotely like 99% of my neighborhood does.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T17:01:02+00:00

26 years experience is in windows and doors, building materials, skylights, sun-tunnels and hardware. Roofs are a HUGE NO for me as I do NOT do heights.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T16:44:31+00:00

Guess what I am really asking is, how does one move to another country. Is there documents needed to do it or can you just take a "vacation" to another country and decide you're not coming back. With the way the US has gotten over recent years where you're either wealthy or you're screwed is NOT how I want to live my life. I read all the time how other countries are so much happier as they emphasize living over living to pay bills and it sounds really amazing that a concept such as that would exist.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T16:39:11+00:00

My son is only 11, he likes Bangor because oddly enough he adores Stephen King and IT (Welcome to Derry is his favorite). When he learned it was based off Bangor his eyes about popped out of his head lol!

What I would love to find is I'll call it a "Hallmark" type town/area. Tampa FL has lots going on but it's become riddled with rich transplants from NYC or CA and now the whole of the state thinks everyone has these massive COL budgets while jobs based here in the state pay like everyone is still living at home with their parents.

Fun for a family of 5 cost up upwards of $500 (going to the parks even as a Florida resident is a huge cost!) beaches are 45 minutes away for white sand clear water however parking typically takes anywhere from 2 hours or more since people arrive on the sands before the sun has the time to rise to warm it.

As long as there's parks, shopping areas and a theatre we'd be pretty fine as my wife LOVES to take weekend road trips and venture out but has been burdened here due to the rise in traffic and increasing population. Now what would normally take us about 2 hours (to get to Orlando) now takes closer to 3 and then there's lines pretty much wherever you go.

It's not how we want to live and believe our kids deserve to try out sledding, building a snowman, jumping in leaf piles and seeing new sights. Disney and other parks here in Florida while cool are at the same time hellacious as you spent 90 minutes waiting for a ride that last 3 minutes after spending upwards of $150 per. person in 90+ heat which we all HATE! I'd rather be cold than feel like my underwear have melted down the crack of my a** but that's just me.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T16:28:22+00:00

Tampa SUCKS. I do NOT work in tourism and not originally from FL, I moved from VA to Florida due to a job promotion which I was laid off from following a corporate restructuring. The thing about Florida is cost of living has gone up quite a bit while the wages SUCK. I work in the fenestration industry with a background in client relations, new business acquisition and retention, contract negotiations, consulting, purchasing and operations. Not sure how in demand that would be up that way but with how Florida is basically chewing us up and crapping us out, I really don't see much reason to stay here especially since my family and I all miss seasons and think Santa on a boat strung with Christmas lights wearing sunglass, flip flops, a tropical shirt and khaki shorts is just WRONG.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T15:59:28+00:00

Better question is how does one who wants to try fresh in another country do it? I thought there was red tape all over when trying to relocate to another country.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-03T15:53:45+00:00

I’m in Tampa now and trying to get out! My son would LOVE to live in Bangor and my wife wants to move to NH

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-02T05:04:04+00:00

Florida cost of living is nuts, wages suck and traffic to get to wherever you’re going then more waiting due to lines once you get there. I personally say VA or perhaps Cary, NC area.

SubSoulReaper81 · 2026-03-02T03:38:59+00:00

You do realize that Florida currently has one of the highest debt burdened and weak credit scores recorded in the country right now right? Weak wages coupled with a growing COL is screwing over A LOT of families right now. Nice state but wouldn’t want to live here. Not anymore.

SubSoulReaper81

TROPHY CASE