RE: Florida State Park Frustrations?
Golden Gooses may not stay in state parks but the Silver Gooses do and they:
1. Eat food bought from your stores just like Golden Gooses.
2. Probably spend more on gasoline that you probably tax at 30 cents or more a galleon.
3. Shop at retail stores, rent from video stores, buy firewood, buy your liquor with it high taxes and etc.
A Silver Goose may spend less than the Golden Gooses but whatever they spend, it is taxed by FL and it is ALL INCREMENTAL taxes that you would not get if they were not there. Tired of them, I know 49 other states that would love to have these Golden and Silver Gooses.
Why don't you call a few of your friends in CA and see if they would like some of them?
RE: Florida State Park Frustrations?
I forgot, one of the reasons Snow Birds come to Florida is your wonderful winter weather, your beautiful beaches and your outstanding state parks. Take these away or price them to high and the Golden Gooses may chose to lay their eggs in another location.
RE: Florida State Park Frustrations?
Bearn Den--have Florida quit relying on tourism, you have got to be kidding? Every state in the union spends millions each year trying to get these tourist and you have them. Other states would kill to have the tourist and Snow Birds Florida enjoys. It is akin to having the Golden Goose. Appreciate it and work around it. I hear complains by AZ residence of the extra traffic and hard to get seats in the restaurants. From retail friends of mine, they can hardly wait for the Snow Birds to returns as many would have to close their business if they stayed home. AZ has a huge budget shortfall this year. I cannot imagine how bad it would be if the Snow Birds stayed home. They add billions not millions to FL and AZ stae income.
Yes, they can be a pain in the a-- but it should be a welcome pain in the a-- for those states who have these Golden Gooses.
RE: Florida State Park Frustrations?
I am reading a lot of complaining about Snow Birds taking up all the State Parks site from Florida residents. I live in Sun City AZ 6 months of the year in a house I own and also hear AZ residents complain about Snow Birds. The real truth,which no residents has noted; it would be a disaster for both FL and AZ if the Snow Birds quit coming to their state.
Yes it is hard to get sites. However, FL makes a bundle off every dollar Snow Birds spend in taxes. Example: About 8 to 10% in sales tax off every dollar: taxes on the profits of all the business these unwelcome Snow Bird shop at: taxes on all income of all the extra employees hired as a direct result of their purchases; taxes on gas the Snow Bird buy and etc.
These are all incremental dollars the states get from the Snow Birds because if you a resident do not get a site, you will spend your incremental dollars somewhere else probably in the state. If you raise the prices on the things bringing Snow Birds to your state, they will stop coming and your state loses all this extra income. Where will they replace this income? By raising residence taxes or reducing residence's services.
Yes, it is hard on residence in some cases but these same residence receive a benefit from these Snow Birds, taxes they pay to your state which keeps you from paying them.
My suggestion, a little less whining and a "Lot more appreciation" as your state of FL and my state of AZ would both being in serious financial trouble if these unwelcomed guest listened to you and stop coming.
RE: NC smokers, obese state workers to pay more.......
It will not make a lot of difference or be fair UNLESS it is extended to the family. Example; Employee A is not over weight and does not paid additional premiums and he also has his family on the policy. Employee B is overweight and he pays an additional premium. However, employee A's wife is 100lbs overweight and all three of his kids are obese but neither employee B's wife or his 3 kids are overweight. Now which one of these employees with cost the insurance and the company more money in insurance claims. If charging overweight employees is accurate, then Employee A who pays the least will cost his employer more.
That is UNFAIR!!!!!! and should be challenged unless everyone on the policy are rated by the same standards.
RE: Am I the only one who drinks my coffee straight up black?
Straight up and black. What is the knock on Starbucks, their black coffee is excellent, just overpriced? When I visit the kids, we go there, sit outside, people watch and talk. Lots of fun. On the road, I drink my coffee at McDonalds drive through, it is excellent.
RE: Fall in Arkansas
I left Harrison AR last night at 7pm and was there for 3 weeks. Just arrived in Sun City AZ about an hour ago. No change as of last night. Most years, it is around the 20th to the last of Oct.
RE: Insurance
Cougar88nw--you can shop around and beat Met Life's premiums. However, the guaranteed replacement cost was worth a few extra dollars to me. When disasters happen, hurricanes, wind storms and etc, replacement cost go up because everyone has all the work they can handle and their rates go up. Material is in demand and they go up. The replacement cost today are a lot less than after a disaster hits an area. Therefore, Met Life's guaranteed replacement cost sold me and I sleep better at night.
RE: Insurance
I've had Met Life for my home in Sun City AZ for years. Little if any rate increases plus Met Life offers something no other insurance company I know offers. They will write X worth of replacement cost on your home. Lets just say that is $200,000. If the home is destroyed, they will replace the home "no matter what it cost to replace". If that is $300,000, they will pay the full $300,000. Guaranteed Replacement coverage on your home. Most insurance companies will pay "up to the amount of replace cost on the policy". In the example I gave, they would have only paid $200,000 of the $300,000 and you would be out the rest.
That is the reason i chose Met Life for my home.
RE: Bank Auction
I agree with Skid, we are at the bottom in residential real estate but commercial real estate is far from the bottom. You cannot believe how many commercial businesses are just barely holding on now and cannot hold much longer. Yes, the worst is still to come in commercial.
RE: Taxes, State by State
You need to look at the assumption each article made in determining or rating each state. They use different income levels, different retirement income, all of which you may have more or less. Some of the things that is important to compare:
1. Some states charge sales tax on food, TN I believe charges 9%, others exempt food from sales tax completely, like AZ. This can get to be a big number.
2. Some states exempt all SS retirement money some don't. Plus states vary on different kinds of retirement income. Do the math on "your income" by state, not the income assumed in different articles.
3. Many states have a state income tax, a few don't. If you have no work income, this does not affect you.
4. The property tax by state is a big one "if you own property". This can be the biggest issue of all.
5. The rate to register your vehicle or TT each year varies greatly by state, can be a big issue.
6. How does the state treat inheritance taxes? If you have a lot of net worth, and are old, you want to live in a state that exempts all or most so it all goes to your remaining family, not taken by the state.
7. Do your kids fly in often to see you? How close you are to a major airport could depend on how often you see them.
8. Fuel cost by state can vary as much as .50 cents a galleon. This adds up to a big number over a year or lifetime.
Food for thought.
RE: What's the best gas rebate credit card?
I went to Pentagon Federal's web site last night and signed up. Great rates and discounts, best I have ever seen. It even says clearly in their advertisement that the 5% discount on gas is good "only" at the pump. For none or ex military/fed employees there is a cost to sign up. It is $20 a year, 3 years for $50 or $300 for a lifetime card.
Look past their discount and see the rate they offer on car purchases, 3.99%, or 2nds on homes, 4.99%. Just outstanding. Thanks to the first member who suggested them.
RE: Dallas Cowboys - what seems to be the problem?
The Cowboys will never get back to "greatness" until Jerry Jones realizes he "is not General Manager material". Jones is a coach want-to-be and always has been. Great owner, terrible GM. Should have hired Parcells as GM and then I promise you Phillips would not be coaching the Cowboys where he is completely over his head. Parcells would have probably stayed had Jones stayed out of the coaching and valuating side of the business. Bet Jones would like to have a mulligan on the Parcell's decision.
Why is it that every pro owner in Dallas also wants to be the GM of the team they own? Is it the water in North Texas that is the problem? Does the water swell their heads?
RE: Relocating to Greenville, NC
My daughter's husband was transferred to Greenville NC and they lived there for 2 years. He just got transferred again to Seattle Washington. We visited them in Greenville for a week. I love that town. Has everything you could want in a town plus less than hour to the beach. Their BQ is vinegar based and takes some getting used too. My wife did not like it,( she is a Yankee, what does she know about BQ) but I grew to love it. Had BQ 5 times while there. Nice town with good inexpensive housing. Be sure and tour the USS North Carolina about an hour from Greenville. Well worth the time. Excellent coastal fishing nearby.
RE: NADA rv pricing
Most of the RV especially Pop Ups sell below low NADA retail on Ebay every day. I have been watching pop ups on Ebay for 4 months and I believe over 50% sell for less than NADA "low" retail. Cannot say for regular RV as I have not watched. On Craigslist, ever listing is well above low retail. I quit watching Craigslist as they are out of line on pricing. I think this is because the listing cost them nothing and there is no penalty if it does not sell, and most do not. When you call or go see one of the campers and make them an offer of or near low retail, they get insulted.
Ebay listing are much better priced as it cost them to list and if the pricing or Reserve is out of line, they are just throwing money away. IT IS A BUYERS MARKET FOR RV'S.
RE: 21st century insurance
They "were" part of AIG and were spun off when AIG had their problems. Farmers Insurance bought them several months ago and are now incorporating them with their company. I've had Century for several years. They are and excellent insurance company with probably the best car rates in the nation.
I would leave my current agent if they lied about their competition the way your did. We have enough of this stuff in politics without taking it from our own insurance agent.
RE: New Bank Ripoff???
Some of you folks are missing the point. You want the banks to be financially responsible yet you criticize them when they are. Now let's assume they cashed that $5 check from Grandma and through no one's account as the parents ask them to do. Now, what happens if grandma's check bounced, insufficient funds? Who do they charge this write off to? What if the check was for $200?
If a bank cashes a check with someone who does not have a checking account with them and the check is on another bank, the bank is in effect "giving unsecured credit" to that person for the amount of the check!! No bank in the world that I know of would have cashed this check for a 5 year old yet they get criticized for this, or as one person said, "sad". It is not sad, it is responsible which is what all of us want and expect from our bank.
I can take any industry, (retail, automotive, food, airline, transportation, insurance, pharmacy, education and etc.)and post criticism of them on this forum and have numerous people on this forum give examples of what is wrong with that industry. Yes, there are many issues within the banking industry "as there are with most industries". However, "MOST" of the criticism on these post are frankly, unjust including the criticism of the banking industry charging $5 to cash a check for someone who does not have an account with them.
We expect everyone "except ourselves" to be perfect. Not realistic.
RE: New Bank Ripoff???
Tom&Patty wrote:
How about this. We went to OUR bank with a five dollar birthday check to our son from grandma. We couldn't cash it because HE doesn't have an account. HE IS FIVE YEARS OLD
msmith1199 wrote
Something is not right with this picture. You should have been able to deposit it into your own account and give him the $5.
They could have but then they could not post an unwarranted complaint against banks.
RE: suggestions for camping in Dallas for a month
The COE park in Lewisville is nice, only W&E though, and about 30 minutes from DFW. Time limit I believe is 14 days but could make exception if not full. Inexpensive, and Senior pass 1/2 price if 55 years old. It is within 5 to 10 minutes of all necessary things.
