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How Can Anyone Afford To Live In NJ?

flotown

By flotown
in New Jersey

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flotown Whistle-Stop

flotown

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I was born in NJ and have lived in SC for many years. However, I make it back home 1-2 times a year. It never ceases to amaze me at the tolerance of the people of NJ for taxes, property and otherwise.

My brother has a 30 year old 3 bedroom townhouse in Woodbridge and pays $6000 a year in property taxes, not to mention $150 in "maintenance" fees. My cousin lives further south but has a much bigger house and he pays over $10000 a year. In contrast, I have a 4 bedroom house on a large lot in a nice neighboorhood here in SC, and I was moaning about taxes going from $400 to $720 after a recent reassesment(the first in 15 years). Sure salaries are higher in NJ, education is much better and the pensions are better for teachers/police officers etc. But c'mon. I priced out the salary for my career (health care) up there, and the difference was only $3,000 a year more. In NJ, both spouses have to work or you have to hold down a second job in order to own a home. Not so in SC, where for $40,000 a year you can live very comfortably in a nice house.

Then there is the cost of buying a home...the real estate market is out of reach for young home buyers. My home is appraised at $175,000; this house would be untouchable for under $500,000 in NJ.

Also:

A carton of Marlboro's costs $60 in NJ but I saw them at $22.99 the other day.

My brother (no DUI's) pays over $1200 year for liability only car insurance on his '99 van. I pay $850 for full coverage on a '00 Jeep.

In SC there are no tolls on roads.

In SC, charging to go on the beach would be met with a riot.

Etc, etc.

This isn't to say SC is a better state. SC is backwards in many ways, such as with alcohol blue laws. But I don't know how anyone can afford to live in NJ. I've often tought of moving back to be closer to the city, but the taxes and cold weather have changed my mind (cold weather....that's another thing, the outrageous heating bills!).

Will there ever be a revolt among NJ taxpayers?

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Jerseyman4 Burg

Jerseyman4

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Will there ever be a revolt among NJ taxpayers?

No because everyone keeps moving out. The people who do not mind paying these outrageous property taxes are the New Yorkers from the city and Long Island that price out many native New Jerseyians! Theres supposebly 8 million people living in NJ but theres really 10 million or more unaccounted that are overcrowing homes, violating fire codes just for a place to stay. Its really ugly in NJ for people who are not making enough money to live comfortably! Eastern PA is the refuge for many who still want to work in NY/NJ and be close with friends & family.

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waccamatt Town

waccamatt

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When I moved to Hackensack after living in NC pretty much my whole life, I thought it was bizarre that I couldn't buy a CD or even go to the mall on Sunday.

You're kidding! I had no idea there were still blue laws in NJ. The only remnants of them here in Columbia are the parts the state won't let us get rid of by referendum: liquor stores can't open on Sundays and grocery stores can't sell beer and wine on Sundays. Bars and restaurants can.

Flo, I was born in NJ and moved to SC, too. Keep in mind that salaries are alot higher in NJ than in SC, too. Especially compared to small town SC.

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RaleighHeelsfan Hamlet

RaleighHeelsfan

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I think NJ is backwards in many ways myself.

In NC, you can buy beer at any convenience, or grocery store. In NJ you have to go to a liquor store just to get beer! How weird is that! :blink:

In NJ, your screwed if you want to make a late night beer run. Unless the liquor stores stay open all night. Do they? But even if they do, it is out of the way and not convenient. :silly:

We have it made down here :yahoo:

I like NJ though. I am there a couple times a year to visit family. I just bring all the beer I will need with me, so I don't get stuck without it. Believe me, with my family, you need all you can get. :shades:

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Jerseyman4 Burg

Jerseyman4

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I like NJ though. I am there a couple times a year to visit family. I just bring all the beer I will need with me, so I don't get stuck without it. Believe me, with my family, you need all you can get. :shades:

Some advice,

Why not just buy the booze in NJ, its cheaper than NC! Jot down the cost of a 24 case of Bud in NC, then see how much a 30 case of Bud is in NJ. You will be saving 5-8 bucks on booze and get 6 more beers out of it. The savings (although similar) is also the case when buying liqour. Filling up your gas tank is another jersey advantage too due to cheaper gas taxes but your best off doing that in South Jersey near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Other than that, BRING your CIGGERETTES, do NOT buy them in NJ, its double the cost.

Gas:

NC: 29.9 Cents

NJ: 10.5 Cents (believe its 14 cents including some other tax)

Ciggs (pack)

NC: $0.30

NJ: $2.40

Booze:

Beer Per Gallon

NC: 0.53 Cents

NJ: 0.12 Cents

Spirts Per Gallon

NC: $8.98

NJ $4.40

Source

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RaleighHeelsfan Hamlet

RaleighHeelsfan

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The gas stations are another thing I don't like.

You can't pump your on gas! I like to pump my own so I can fill it all the way up. When they pump it for you, you are short 2 gallons! Soon as the handle clicks, they stop! ergggg. :D From NC, I can get to northern Jersey with one tank of gas. But when I leave, they fill it up for me, and I have to stop in southern Virginia everytime on the way back.

And yes, Jersey man. You are right about the Beer being cheaper. I cannot believe how much cheaper it is. They charge for 12 packs what NC charges for 6 packs! $4.50

I don't smoke, but yeah, the cigs up there are way expensive.

I am heading up next month, I will try to find something else to complain about...and bring it to your attentions... :rofl:

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lammius Burg

lammius

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Melee erupts outside Orange's housing authority

Some in throng seeking vouchers point to economic desperation

Thursday, October 12, 2006

BY KEVIN DILWORTH AND BARRY CARTER

Star-Ledger Staff

Chances at a federal housing voucher don't come often for working poor New Jerseyans like Karen Patton. So she wanted to be first in line when the Orange Housing Authority started handing out applications yesterday morning.

She got to the authority's Thomas Boulevard headquarters at 11 p.m. Tuesday -- 11 hours before the applications were supposed to go out. But there were already 75 people ahead of her by then. The crowd kept growing through the night and morning, forcing police to set up barricades to keep order. The throng got so big that officials started handing out the applications at 8 a.m., two hours ahead of schedule.

Then it got ugly.

People started pushing and shoving, police said. Some tried to force themselves into the building's entrance. The cops called for backup and released pepper spray into the crowd. Patton, scared for her safety, turned around and left empty-handed.

"It shows you the state of the economy when this many people show up because they are in dire need of housing assistance," said Patton, a 48-year-old mother of three who works full-time as an administrative assistant. But, she added, "it's more important for me to be alive than be crushed to death to get an application."

More...

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flotown Whistle-Stop

flotown

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The gas stations are another thing I don't like.

You can't pump your on gas! I like to pump my own so I can fill it all the way up. When they pump it for you, you are short 2 gallons! Soon as the handle clicks, they stop! ergggg. :D From NC, I can get to northern Jersey with one tank of gas. But when I leave, they fill it up for me, and I have to stop in southern Virginia everytime on the way back.

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lammius Burg

lammius

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Add another thing to the list of high cost items in New Jersey!

Yesterday I went to Newark Municpal Court to try and plead down a moving violation I received under questionable circumstances (improper turn). I took a lesser charge (unsafe driving) which comes with 0 points. The fine? Only $135. So I go to the window to pay up... total? $451!!! That includes court fees and a $250 state surcharge attached to all moving violations! Acting Governor Dick Codey and Mayor Cory Booker are laughing all the way to the bank! Grrrrr

The good news? I was interviewed by an AP reporter and included in an AP wire story on Governor Corzine's situation. Here's a link to the story from Newsday. Newsday everyday! Newsday every day!

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nynjdude Crossroads

nynjdude

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I too can't stand the required full service laws. I have come across many situations where each tank had a parked car waiting, and so the only worker on hand had to juggle between pumping, and getting the money. I could have pumped and payed for my own gas in the time it takes them to finally get to my car. It is an inefficient old fashioned law that is not needed in these modern times.

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PcMan Crossroads

PcMan

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I live in NJ for 43 years

  • I always i mean always even in snow,rain PUMP MY OWN GAS

  • Gas here is the Lowest in the Nation

  • I don't have to drive an hour to go shoping

  • I live Between Atlantic City and Phila in S. Jersey in a wooded sububan area so both these cites are within 30 minutes

  • I can be in a Casino in Minutes and see a show of Phila to watch a Eagles/Phillies/Flyers or concert in 15 minutes.

  • I love the Beach and Sking and both are a small drive.

  • And NO I don't pay to go on a NJ beach and never will I go to Wildwood which is free and so is Atlantic city.

  • I own my house and yes Taxes are high $4300 but I have a friend with a smaller house then mine that lives in Florida and his taxes and Insurance is much more then mine combined.

  • For the people that live out of State, North Jersey and South Jersey are like to differnat states.

  • South is all wooded saburban farm areas and North is more like New York city.When people ask me where I'm from I say South Jersey.

  • Beer doesn't cost much here and I don't see myself needing beer at 4am that much

  • All stores here are open on Sunday

  • There are more Rollercoaster within a 100 mile radius then anywhere in the world (I'm a coaster enthusiast)

If i was going to sit in my house or in my back yard for the rest of my life then yes I may move

But I'm an active person and like to go out in the world and will to the day i die

so looks like I will be staying here in NJ

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edensfall Whistle-Stop

edensfall

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i live in arkansas and im moving to the NYC area, most likely in NJ, i need to know where i can find the cheapest apartments around Fort Lee and Jersey City, can anyone help me with any prices estimates? andd whats minimum wage up there?

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Lowerdeck Burg

Lowerdeck

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Minimum wage in NJ and NY is 7.15, by this time next year 7.25, but of course you need to make far far more than that to live with any comfort in north Jersey.

Can't be of any help regarding apartments other than the typical "Craigslist", and from a quick glance Fort Lee is way more expensive than J.C.

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edensfall Whistle-Stop

edensfall

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Thanks for the reply, i already have my job waiting for me up there, im a vendor for 7up/ RC, i was just tryin to get an idea for a studio one room apartment, i dont care how ghetto, i just need to plant my feet and work my way up from there while going to school, i was lookin at Newark but i heard it was the car theft capitol of the world, and with out of state tags, id be a prime target lol.

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