Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Painted into a corner, or...
Why does none of the prior post apply to me?
I have a wasteful, borderline extravagant, lifestyle, and any changes that ameliorate my financial difficulties are worth exploring. As such, moving Upstate to work at a SUNY or community college should be investigated, right?
Not so fast. The only facet of my life that isn't expensive is my housing. True, I despise my co-op, but at least it's cheap. I pay $825 a month between my mortgage and maintenance, and I get some of that back via tax rebates. After that, I pay $600 a month.
Otherwise, my costs are mostly fixed. I'd have a nicer place, but I'd pay the same per month without the tax benefit. I'd save money on things like car insurance, gas, and possibly my commute, but I'd lose in other areas. Food would be more expensive in Plattsburgh, since there is neither a BJ's nor a Costco. Niagara/Buffalo has a BJ's in Amherst. Another consideration is utilities. Obviously, the winters are much colder in either location, and my heat is included down here. Would that be the case elsewhere? Probably not.
As usual, I'm writing in circles around the real reason for moving. I love traveling to Canada, and my area is deadly boring. Yes, I'm close to New York City, but I almost never find myself there. As such, knowing my proclivities towards Cuban cigars and casinos, perhaps it's for the best that Montreal or Niagara Falls or only an occasional diversion. This line of reasoning has go far enough to the point I'm sick of even thinking about it. Time for a new topic.
I have a wasteful, borderline extravagant, lifestyle, and any changes that ameliorate my financial difficulties are worth exploring. As such, moving Upstate to work at a SUNY or community college should be investigated, right?
Not so fast. The only facet of my life that isn't expensive is my housing. True, I despise my co-op, but at least it's cheap. I pay $825 a month between my mortgage and maintenance, and I get some of that back via tax rebates. After that, I pay $600 a month.
Otherwise, my costs are mostly fixed. I'd have a nicer place, but I'd pay the same per month without the tax benefit. I'd save money on things like car insurance, gas, and possibly my commute, but I'd lose in other areas. Food would be more expensive in Plattsburgh, since there is neither a BJ's nor a Costco. Niagara/Buffalo has a BJ's in Amherst. Another consideration is utilities. Obviously, the winters are much colder in either location, and my heat is included down here. Would that be the case elsewhere? Probably not.
As usual, I'm writing in circles around the real reason for moving. I love traveling to Canada, and my area is deadly boring. Yes, I'm close to New York City, but I almost never find myself there. As such, knowing my proclivities towards Cuban cigars and casinos, perhaps it's for the best that Montreal or Niagara Falls or only an occasional diversion. This line of reasoning has go far enough to the point I'm sick of even thinking about it. Time for a new topic.
