JoLo908

Thanks so much! I really appreciate all of the information, it is so helpful! FI's car insurance on a 97 Honda civic here is $155, no collision, just the basics... and mine is about $100 per month with just the basics, no collision... things just cost a lot here... those are pretty good for insurance around here. I definitely want to check it out down there. Not to be nosey but Morgan if you like it why would you leave? I am guessing work reasons. Thank you so much again, I really appreciate it.

Haha, I have a feeling "rocky" is one of the key words with DWs... but most people seem to love them in the end! Don't worry, everything will work out. And make sure you keep on your TA about getting everything figured out as well. Let me know what happens with the date and all!

Ha! Emily! You are from WV! I was a mountaineer!!! I transferred back here to NJ, but I went to WVU, so I am always a Mountaineer at heart. I totally agree with what you are saying. It just seems more reasonable. There are a lot of great high paying jobs in NYC and the surrounding areas, but it is such a high paced lifestyle. I love NYC and NJ, but for the long term I think we may be suited better to another location. My friends and I have conversations all the time about how everything around here is just crazy and the cost of everything is crazy...When we were on vacation when FI proposed, we later sat at a local bar and met a couple from Georgia and we were so intrigued with like the more laid back life they lead. I mean, they work hard and make a living, but even when they talked about their town we were jealous... so weird I know...

Hey Morgan. I would really appreciate the info. It sounds great, and we would love to know more about it. Thank you so much.

Quote: Originally Posted by Maura Wow, Joanna - here in Chicago (in the nice neighborhoods that have decent schools) you can barely get a one bed plus den condo for what your brother just paid for a 3 BR house in Jersey! And don't get me started on the taxes...the property taxes here on a one bed plus den condo are about $8K! I have been realizing lately that I have no idea how my DH and I are ever going to afford to buy a place in the city, and we both are not really suburbs people. One of my girlfriends who just recently purchased a 2 bedroom/2 bath unit in our condo building spent $379,500 (I looked it up in the property transfer records for Chicago to be sure of the actual price - yeah for public records!) isnt that totally insane? That was just the purchase price... I am not sure that that price includes the parking space she bought in the building's garage. Then you have to also factor in the monthly condo board assessment fees to pay for the doormen, the gym facility, toward any necessary repairs, etc etc! holy cow! Yeah I totally hear you! We looked at some condos around here as well, and most decent one bedrooms, not in the city, go for over 200k. Two bedrooms are even more. Being in the city is expensive. NYC is nearly untouchable. One of my really good friends lives in Manhattan and has a one bedroom that they converted to a 2 bedroom, and they each pay almost $1700 a month and it is a showbox! So, the suburbs are expensive, the city is NUTS!!! I grew up 3 miles outside of NYC my whole life, I think different scenery might be good. I just know that there are other options out there, and FI and I both agree that we shouldn't pigeon hole ourselves here, like it is the only way to go... It also stinks, a lot, that most of my friends (around the age of 25, 26) really have no opportunity to move out of their parents houses. With rents for one bedrooms around $1000-$1300 plus utilities, it can be overwhelming, on top of student loans.... so... I really enjoy the feedback considering everyone here is from all over the place, I thought it would be the perfect place to ask questions and get ideas...

I just called FI to tell him about all of the posts... the more and more we talk about it, the better we think it is. We did think about South Jersey as well, that is another option. I don't know if anyone else from around here has this same feeling, but my friends and I talk about it a lot, that we feel like we are "stuck" here in a way. My ancestors settled in Bayonne and Jersey city after getting off the boat from Ellis Island in the late 1800s, and my family has never moved more than an hour from there! It is so crazy! I just think that as far as what you get for your money, and definitely the whole quality of life aspect too. I love Jersey, I am not trying to knock it, it is just insane here. I drive about 6 miles to the town where I nanny, and most days it takes me upwards of 45 min. with all the traffic heading to the city...

Welcome to the forum Kelley!

Welcome to the forum Missy!!

We are doing a poolside reception (mixed grill). So far the planning has been good, my whole thing is go with the flow. I just don't want to overstress and go crazy. We have also had almost 50 people RSVP and about 25 booked so far. We did not expect such a huge turnout!

We had actually discussed NC and even Georgia... I've only been there once before but really liked it. I think we will definitely be visiting some places. Teaching is pretty universal, and I am studying to be a high school English teacher. My FI is a parts manager for Audi, but he could work at Audi, VW, or another car dealer. He says it is the kind of job where they pretty much hire on your experience, so he could move anywhere where there are car dealers ( I am assuming they exist outside of the swamps of Jersey lol). It just seems overwhelming here in NJ. For example, my brother just purchased a small 3 BR house for $370,000. He has almost no property (maybe 1/10 of an acre) and lives right on top of all the other houses in his neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, his house is cute, but in other states you could have quite a nice house with cheaper taxes (taxes equal about $7000 a year). The cost of living is way too much and it is just overwhelming. Also, if anyone has ever lived here, it is like you are on fast forward-go-mode all of the time. Even if we took a pay cut moving somewhere else, it would probably be well worth it because of a more affordable cost of living, and a better quality of life. I would love to eventually buy a house in the town I grew up in, but considering it costs on average $500,00 for a small 3 BR and taxes are probably about $8000 a year, it seems insane! Not to mention our outrageous car insurance! I really am appreciating all of this feedback!

My mom and MOH told me I have to stay in a different room but I don't want to! My FI is my love, and my best friend... I am going to be nervous that night, I wanna be with him! I know it is my decision ultimately, but I wanna sleep next to my man...

So, my fiance and I have been talking, and we were thinking of eventually moving out of state. We live in North central NJ, and the cost of living here is very high. We would like to own a home one day, but it is so expensive around here and the taxes are crazy, and it LITERALLY is like a rat race... the pace of life is crazy, and we think the quality of life might be better somewhere else. He is a parts manager for a car dealer and makes a good salary, and I am going to be a teacher. I know wherever we might go we might take a pay cut, but it might be worth it for other reasons. I just wanted to get opinions from people. We would most likely want to stay decently close to the east cost maybe Georgia or the Carolinas. I just wanted to get some opinions from you ladies... we feel like we have nothing tying us to the NYC area, and it might be a great move... any ideas? advice?

All Inclusive for 4 nights 5 days $2400 per person with transfers, taxes, the whole shabang...and airfare included

My friends and I were talking about it... a lot of times you see celebrities on TV and in the media so much that you get a feeling as if you know them... I guess it is like the shock of when tragic things happen to celebrities, you feel that way.... I personally hope they recover as well and my prayers go out to those who didn't make it, celebrity or not... but you do get that feeling.

Hi Mayan Butterfly! I am getting married there in June 2009 as well!

I feel so bad going in to a tanning bed but I know I will have to, or else I will look like a vampire or a burnt tomato (after being in the sun)... the more I read about how bad they are I want to kick myself, but If I just do it this one time, maybe it's not too bad... eeek!

Hi Newbie! Welcome to the forum!

Holy ROCK! Stu is the man! hehe, PS, I love your pics, you look so happpy!

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Disney sounds cool! Welcome to the forum!

Hey Holly! Congrats and welcome to the forum!!

Ha! That sounds great! One of my lit classes always teases our predominantly female class that we do not know enough about the classics, but we can tell you anything from A to Z about the Sex and the city characters.... DAMN straight!!

Congrats and welcome to the forum! I think from past vacation experience, and the experience of friends, the AI option sometimes seems more afordable for guests. There are many people on here who know a lot about Sandals, and some resorts give the wedding for free I believe... do some searching here and you will not be disappointed!

Sooo, how is everything going out there for everyone? We keep getting more and more people each day, it's crazy! I wonder if there are any new GBP Riviera Maya brides as well?!

I always dye out of the box and was really pleased with Garnier Nutrisse... my hair actually felt good after coloring it...I am 24 and have tons of greys! Eeek!