Moving to Florida!

[thrillrideseeker]

Ok so I have like 60 days till I move to Florida, and I just wanted a place I could ask questions and get some anwsers from people who live there, or people who use to live there. So here it goes... what are prices like, for like milk or bread? I am sure I will have more questions, so check back often! Thanks!

~Matthew

[Wes]

Milk is $15000 a carton, and they don't even sell bread there! Crazy I know!

[snuggles]

I hear the milk sold in florida comes from dehydrated fibers of jesus too.

[Homer]

This has to be a joke, right?

[CoasterFanatic]

Wes is right. I lived in Florida for a couple years and there is no bread to be found. The best I could muster was to throw some tortillas into a steamer until they got mushy.

 

It was kind of like bread.

[cfc]

^Olive loaf and mushy tortilla sandwiches are a delicacy there, I hear.

[larrygator]

deleted

[terrancew_hod]

Ok so I have like 60 days till I move to Florida, and I just wanted a place I could ask questions and get some anwsers from people who live there, or people who use to live there. So here it goes... what are prices like, for like milk or bread? I am sure I will have more questions, so check bacj often! Thanks!

~Matthew

 

* Food prices are about average. The farther away from the parks, the cheaper things will be.

* You don't have state income tax.

* The nightlife pretty much sucks unless you're hanging at the parks; I think everything pretty much shuts down around 2:30am. Get your party on early.

* Home insurance prices and property tax are out of this world.

* Once you get your florida ID, you can buy all your amusement park tickets and passes at the discounted florida resident rate.

* Keep change handy in case you gotta take a toll road someplace.

* Start getting your hurricane supplies together so you're not fighting crowds later. You don't wanna be suffering if we have another procession of hurricanes passing through like in 2005. That year was ugly.

[robbalvey]

Hey Matthew,

 

I apologize for some of our members not giving you a serious answer. Your question was absolutely valid and they would be the exact same questions I would have (and did have) when moving states.

 

I moved from Calfornia to Baltimore at one point in my life and I did find quite a difference in prices (much cheaper!)

 

I do applaud Terrance for giving you a good answer to a VERY good question. It's important to do as much research as possible when making a big move like this.

 

Thanks Terrance for helping out!

 

--Robb

[KrakenKing]

Florida sucks. Don't move here.

[Homer]

Other things of note in Florida, the other freak state...

 

1. The Two Seasons- Florida is of course, warm, which is why parks are open all year. But Florida is wacky as usual. The two seasons we have are "Fall" and "Hell (aka Summer)."

 

Fall lasts anywhere from like, late October/early November to around March/April. Weather is usually dry and nice, not too hot, not too cold. Oh yeah, and after living a long time in Florida, you'll end up thinking anything below 60 degrees is "freezing."

 

Hell is anywhere from May to September/October-ish. Doesn't seem bad when it just says 88 degrees, right? Wrong... add the always sticky and muggy humidity and its guaranteed to feel more than 100 degrees and you'll sweat bullets just by sitting outside for five minutes. Either be in an air conditioned place or in a body of water, other then that, its Hell...

 

2. Snowbirds (also referred to as "Season")- Pretty sure anybody living in the South gets these folks from up north (Usually Ohio, Illinois, New York, or Ontario) to come congest up our roads with their big, oversized piece of crap Lincoln Towncars and live in houses they only stay in for like, 3 months, then head back up North.

 

I also prefer to call these people "Weather Wusses" as well. They can't handle blizzards so they head South, yet when Hell comes around, they leave (possibly due to the heat or "OMG, HURRICANES!") Oh well, just a few more weeks til Hell comes!

 

3. Driving- In Florida, driving is hell. You have some strict cops for speeding, some roads are always congested (see Interstate 4). Then of course, you have old people driving Lincoln Towncars with the stupid Q-Tips behind the wheel.

 

4. Lovebugs- Your Windshield's Friend!- Every May and every September or so, we get swarms of critters called Lovebugs that come out and turn our state into a giant orgy for these things. They are a pain to deal with, especially on cars where the bugs' acid could make your car look like a rustbucket in no time.

 

This bug is probably one specie of bugs that shouldn't exist. All they do is just have sex (wish my life was like that ) and then die on a windshield. Again, major pain in the butt that comes in two times a year.[/b]

[terrancew_hod]

Matthew,

 

Hopefully you did your research on moving to orlando, so don't let others give you a negative view. Florida, like any other place has it's positives and negatives. If you're staying with relatives and haven't been out on your own, your outlook is gonna be different than starting fresh with your independence.

 

Personally when I moved to south florida, I had did my homework and research a year before I actually moved. I looked at salaries, nightlife, crime statistics, etc. Then I took a week to visit and take a look around... and I went everywhere--grocery stores, malls, etc. I drove around and decided to stay off of I-95 as much as possible . Of course I'm not a stay-at-home person, so I checked out the night life... getting your party on til 5am has it's advantages. And Boy over the last few weeks, the nights been kinda wild... you know you've partied hard when you made a hooker mad at 7:30am when she thinks you stole her corner!

 

I had considered orlando, but it wasn't that much different than a midwestern city except for no hills, swamps and tourism being it's major source of revenue. I have varied interests and a amusement park being a major draw wasn't attractive to me.

 

Considering where I was, there was a lot more positives than negatives... I interviewed at a company that paid for my moving expenses when I was hired and eventually bought a condo.

 

But again, it's about making your own fun no matter where you are. I know people that are ready to pack their bags and leave Florida and people wouldn't want to go anywhere else. Moving is a big decision and and you have to make sure the move is right for you, and for the right reasons.

 

If you have any other questions that need to be answered, since it seems no one is really trying to help you, just msg me. I can relay some of my moving cross country experiences to you.

 

Terrance

[larrygator]

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[raptorcrew2002]

I agree that’s very smart to ask a question like this moving somewhere new. Anyone who as ever relocated a few times knows the challenges of trying to get established.

 

Prices for produce, etc. vary greatly from place to place. But I have to ask you a couple questions to best answer yours.

 

Are you moving to FL for college? UCF? If not for college what part of Orlando as that makes many differences also?

 

Where are you moving from? If from CA for example then you would see 65/35 cheaper/higher price comparison.

 

Buying or renting?

 

The good thing I can say for you is this. Orlando has many options for both discount and quality retailers. From your Super Targets/Walmarts etc. to Large scale malls and outlet centers. You will have more then enough variety for goods, and products to be able to effectively shop for good prices. Just knowing where the locals shop and not the tourists, that’s the key!

 

 

Let us know, and welcome to the state.

“Just think in a few years you too will be complaining about the Canadians and their RV’s.”

 

 

Matt

 

PS. Florida is the best, we ride all year while many shovel snow.

[nyanko]

I'm a student at the University of Central Florida (graduating this summer and moving away for graduate school, probably to California) and have lived in Orlando for about 3 years now. I have to say that moving here was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. Summers can be brutal, but the rest of the year more than makes up for it.

 

As far as the cost of living goes, it is actually fairly cheap to live here compared to a lot of other parts of the country, considering the awesome weather and proximity to so many things. Lack of state income tax means you keep more money from what you make, and the job market is good because the area is still growing.

 

If you have any specific questions (aside from milk and bread, which uhh well not much different than back in Pennsylvania where I'm from tbqh), feel free to ask here as well. It's nice to get perspective from other people.

[BarryH]

I've lived in Florida for over 30 years. It's great to live in Florida for 3 reasons:

 

1.) No state income tax

2.) You can ride roller coasters in January

3.) You can laugh at your friends up north when they have 6 feet of snow in January and it's 80 degrees in Florida

 

Depending on where you are moving to, you may encounter "season," when the folks up north come down to their Florida winter homes. It's usually from Labor Day to Memorial Day. People complain about these "snowbirds" because they drive like crazy (they don't know the roads like locals) and they take up valuable space in restaurants. I say they can spend all the $ they want in Florida because tourism is the main reason why we don't have a state sales tax!

 

I don't think I want to move out of Florida and go up north. I've seen too many news reports about people stuck in the snow during winter. I had a touch enough time driving through a heavy thunderstorm! I know a friend in NJ who is quite disgrunted because: a.) he can't stand the cold NJ winters, b.) people are not friendly, and c.) he lives in NJ .

[WillMontu]

There are two seasons in Florida - Tourist Season and Snowbird Season. Unfortunately, we're not allowed to hunt either!

 

Florida is a fairly good state to live in, just watch out for Barry!

[thefitness]

Hmm funny how everyone got serious after Robb replied...

 

Anyways, Florida is a great place to live. Orlando is a little different than the Tampa area that I live in, but I go to Orlando a lot. It really depends what part of Orlando, If your moving near International Drive than that's a really congested area. Orlando can also be pretty quiet and rural in some areas.

I'm not exactly sure what the cost of bread and milk is, but the more important part is probally where your moving from, and how the prices difer.

 

I hope my rambling helped a little. Feel free to ask some more specific questions when you think of them.

And as I've been told, No question is a dumb question!

[BarryH]

^^You actually need to watch up for guys named Will who have British accents and attend the University of Florida.

[thrillrideseeker]

I agree that’s very smart to ask a question like this moving somewhere new. Anyone who as ever relocated a few times knows the challenges of trying to get established.

 

Prices for produce, etc. vary greatly from place to place. But I have to ask you a couple questions to best answer yours.

 

Are you moving to FL for college? UCF? If not for college what part of Orlando as that makes many differences also?

 

Where are you moving from? If from CA for example then you would see 65/35 cheaper/higher price comparison.

 

Buying or renting?

 

The good thing I can say for you is this. Orlando has many options for both discount and quality retailers. From your Super Targets/Walmarts etc. to Large scale malls and outlet centers. You will have more then enough variety for goods, and products to be able to effectively shop for good prices. Just knowing where the locals shop and not the tourists, that’s the key!

 

 

Let us know, and welcome to the state.

“Just think in a few years you too will be complaining about the Canadians and their RV’s.”

 

 

Matt

 

PS. Florida is the best, we ride all year while many shovel snow.

I am not moving to Florida for College. I am moving there as a Disney Cast Member I will be living in Disney housing. So I think that is renting? OH and I am moving from Arkansas I can not wait to get away from this state Oh and I have a new question.... What are hurricanes like? I mean are they really as bad as they look on T.V.?

~Matthew

[Carnage]

What are hurricanes like? I mean are they really as bad as they look on T.V.?

~Matthew

 

You're from Arkansas, so I assume you know what kind of damage a tornado can cause?

 

Well a hurricane will do alot more damage then any tornado can.

[larrygator]

deleted

[BarryH]

The good thing about hurricane warnings is that you generally have enough time to evacuate the area and head to someplace safe. If you do get an alert to evacuate, please do so. Don't be stupid and try to ride out the storm. Your house can be replaced, but not your life.

[WillMontu]

Being inland, Orlando doesn't get hit that hard from hurricanes as much as places on the coast do. It got hit fairly bad in 2004 with Charley/Frances/Jeanne, but you wouldn't know it now. If you're staying on Disney property, most likely they are well built up to building codes, and should hold up to strong winds. The main inconvenience caused to most of us is power outages, which can last from a few hours to a few days.

[Carnage]

Being inland, Orlando doesn't get hit that hard from hurricanes as much as places on the coast do.

 

Of course there's always the chance of a "wrath of God" type storm that wipes out the entire state like Andrew did.