ClimbnSink
Ejection Handle Pulled
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Greg
Some good glider clubs up that way...
Statistically, what's the best state to keep most of your money?
- Thread starter KeithASanford
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Azure,
Having been in Vermont only once, and then in the Rutland and Manchester area, I had to do some research. Seems there is very little manufacturing or other industries there to pick up the tab for the taxes, leaving the residents to foot the bill for state services. Only IBM was mentioned as having a manufacturing facility there. Sounds like the way Michigan is becoming.
Having been in Vermont only once, and then in the Rutland and Manchester area, I had to do some research. Seems there is very little manufacturing or other industries there to pick up the tab for the taxes, leaving the residents to foot the bill for state services. Only IBM was mentioned as having a manufacturing facility there. Sounds like the way Michigan is becoming.
VT has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the US and on top of that taxes business personal property. Of course, the politically connected get all kinds of abatements, but that just ensures that those who are not connected end up paying even more. No big suprise that companies that dont have to be in VT won't be there.
The mountains look nice. An where else in the US can you see uncaged socialists in the wild ?
Well, that 'splains' that. 
Art VanDelay
Pattern Altitude
I would NEVER live in Illinois because I couldn't stop yawning ! That and the state is completely bankrupt.
NoHeat
Final Approach
It depends on the country and your situation.
I once spent a year and a day in Germany, and I paid no tax to anybody on earned income. Amazingly, that was completely legal!
I was on sabbatical at the time. It was over 20 years ago. If I remember correctly, the US and my home state did not tax me because I was out of the country 12+ months, and because my earnings were low enough that they did not exceed an exemption cap. Meanwhile, Germany did not tax me because of a tax treaty specifically for scientific researchers; this deal was good for up to 2 years of residence. So, combining these rules, there was a sweet spot of 1 to 2 years for researchers to live tax-free while visiting certain countries.
Some scientists on sabbatical even got double paid while living tax free. For example, by collecting a Fulbright scholarship while being paid also by an employer.
The deal with the exemption on certain taxes for scientific exchange between the US and germany is reciprocal.
Dav8or
Final Approach
It all depends on where in the state you live, and some other stuff.
I use more electricity (in the summer) than I did in California, but it costs much, much less here (we have a competitive electrical service market); I am paying under $0.08/kWh. That balances out pretty well. Still, it is a cost. Of course, heating expense is way, way less; in a reasonably well-built home, heat is almost trivial cost.
Amazed, too, at how much less electricity I am using since I moved to a better-constructed house; guess I was air conditioning and heating the neighborhood at the old place!
On balance, utility bills are not an issue.
Property taxes are high, especially in the major metro areas (mostly because of higher property values). I definitely pay more in property taxes here than ever I did in California. But, I don't have to file a FTB540 (state income tax return), and the savings there are vastly greater than the extra I pay in property taxes, here. Too, because of the way the property tax exemptions work, if you live in a less-lofty home, the taxes are not that big a deal.
Homeowner's insurance? Meh, not that bad.
Every place has its yays and nays.
1600vw
Pattern Altitude
I hear that. But the state of Illinois is not just bankrupt but corrupt. But what state in the union is not? We just have politicians that do not know how to hide thier corruption. If it was not that family was here I would not be here. But when your health takes a turn and you can no longer work, you want to be by family. But then when the family turns their back on you, one wonders why they came back. The biggest issue for me cost of living. Its cheaper here then in any other area of the country. There maybe a few other areas that are lower but I do not want to live there.
Illinois sucks and I will be the first to admit that. When I could work I left this sad state. I never wanted to return. But what do you do. But like I said hard to beat the cost of living. For someone on a fixed income that means everything.
I lived in resort communities after leaving here. No way one can live in those area's on a fixed income of Social Security alone.
Tony
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1600vw
Pattern Altitude
For those who believe California is nothing but hot. I would say you have never been to Northern California, or to the Bay area.
The Bay area from Monterey Ca north on the coast has a yearly temp of 65 degree's. When I lived in Pacific Grove the temp would be in the 60's almost everyday. All one had to do was get in the car and drive 30 mins and the temp would be 100. California has a wide range of weather. None of it bad. I loved California.
Tony
The Bay area from Monterey Ca north on the coast has a yearly temp of 65 degree's. When I lived in Pacific Grove the temp would be in the 60's almost everyday. All one had to do was get in the car and drive 30 mins and the temp would be 100. California has a wide range of weather. None of it bad. I loved California.
Tony
steingar
Taxi to Parking
At the conclusion of my one trip to Vermont I shared the pattern with a couple gliders surrounded by fall colors toward sunset. One of the prettiest things I've ever seen.
FlySince9
En-Route
the best state is "unspent" 
steingar
Taxi to Parking
the best state is "unspent"
Says you. You can't take it with you. The best state is spent to the last nickel the moment you take your final breath.
denverpilot
Tied Down
Read yesterday that Redd Foxx died $3.5M in the hole on taxes. I guess he had chosen his fiscal methodology and lived it. Pretty impressive to be that far in the hole and not imprisoned. (Sharpton notwithstanding...)
Viable strategy if you've outlived everyone you know, I guess. Wonder how much his estate paid or if he'd managed to get rid of it all?
Viable strategy if you've outlived everyone you know, I guess. Wonder how much his estate paid or if he'd managed to get rid of it all?
azure
Final Approach
An ideal that few achieve. Which is what one would expect, since few commit suicide immediately after spending their last penny.
Everskyward
Experimenter
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Everskyward
But the temperature depends on how far you live from the ocean and the terrain in-between. At any given hour the temperatures in the Bay Area can range from the 60s to the 90s. I almost never turn on the heat in the SF condo and there is no AC. But it's in the fog belt. On the other hand, buying a place there is incredibly expensive, which would negate any savings on utilities.
1600vw
Pattern Altitude
I think it just depends on your temperament. I personally really hate feeling sticky and sweaty so the hotter climates of somewhere like FL or CA would be miserable for me in the long run. I have an airplane, I can visit.
OTOH, I can live with cold. I moved up to WI about 7 years ago for work reasons... now moving back down to central IL for family/business reasons. I loved the arctic winters... made ground ops troublesome for flying but you can't do this in FL..
I also couldn't live in a major metro.. heck even in a small town is too crowded for me at this point. I want to step outside my house, walk around the yard, and not see anyone... or anyone else's house. I want to do what I want when I want as loud or ugly as I want and not have anyone complain about it. Can't do that in the suburbs.
I've got friends in the Chicago Suburbs. We visit them, they visit us. I can't figure out why they lock their doors when they're home, they can't believe I never lock anything. I watch how they fret over what their neighbors are going to think about this or that in their yard.... I cringe and barely contain my internal rage at the traffic, the crowds anywhere we go. We went to some big Christmas event in Chicago once with them... literally standing room only, you could go in no direction without bumping into someone within inches of you. How do they stand that? An hour of this and I'm about ready to flip out. Nobody even thinks about respecting personal space in the city...
My current minimum salary to move to an urban area is $500,000/yr.... although I'm thinking that's too low considering life is so short.
When I moved to Keystone Colorado we did this all the time. Only difference. There would be 6' of snow on the ground and we would be in tee shirts sweating most days. In the evening it would get cooler but never the cold we see here in Central Illinois. If the sun was out it was warm, even in the middle of winter.
We had a snow storm on July 4th. You could not see the fireworks as they went off, but boy did it turn all the snow in the sky different colors. It was so cool to watch. It really was not cold, we had on light weight jackets.
Tony
FlySince9
En-Route
That's the way my ex-wife felt... notice the prefix "EX!"
archerdriver
Pre-takeoff checklist
Bury your cash next to Jimmy Hoffa. The FBI's been searching for him for forty years and hasn't found him yet.
section 107 at Giants Stadium.
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SoonerAviator
I prefer states with 4 seasons, personally. I don't want it 75-degrees every day, nor do I want snow on the ground from Nov-Apr. I like the middle of the U.S., like MO, TN, SC, etc. I love snow and I love hot summer days on the lake. I also enjoy powerful thunderstorms that the south/Midwest gets regularly. Cost of living in most of any state I'd love in is a wash between goods and state/local taxes. I prefer to be in the rural sections outside of major suburban areas so that I have few neighbors within sight, but less than an hour drive to any of the city entertainment. Nice, large lakes within an hour drive are also a living requirement as well.
To each their own.
To each their own.
kkoran
Pattern Altitude
When we lived in Hawaii, my wife complained that she wanted four seasons. I like four seasons: nice, nice, nice, and nice.