Alaska BS thread

Yeah housing prices are shitty.. But the scenery and outdoor activities make it damn tough to leave. You can head down to ship creek in downtown Anchorage and catch fat silver salmon after work without issue And if you can get to where the deer are, cuz there aren't any around the anchorage area, the pickings are pretty good too. And last time I went, I think my dad and I could each get three tags.

 

No matter where you go in the world just outside the base is always ghetto. Funny how that is.

The property taxes in Anchorage are pretty significant as well, tacking on several hundred per month to the housing payment... On the other hand, you guys don't have a state income tax or sales tax right? What do you figure the average income is in Anchorage? 100K or so?

 

You've lived in both states, are you better off up there?

 

I would say more around like 70-75k is fairly middle of the road. We do have the highest percentage of people making over 200k of any state though. All the oil companies pay pretty well.

 

Born in suburban Minnesota, spent nine years there. Moved to Alaska and I have loved every single minute of it. Oregon I can't real comment too much on since I'm just down here for school, but if it means anything I have zero intention on living in OR permanently. Alaska is spendy, but I love it.

 

I just looked it up, $75,682 for Anchorage. My job starts at $91k, so I'll be ok. The prices on stuff is just shocking, and doing some napkin math even with the jump in salary I would have more folding money down here...

 

If you're just looking for a short term rent in Anchorage then it's not bad. If 100k is the average income in Anchorage then I'm in the wrong profession

 

Yeah renting is kinda hit or miss. My parents both rent, like five minutes apart. One pays like $2100/moth for a three bed, two bath single level duplex and the other pays like $2300 for a 2800sq ft house with three stories, two car garage, a deck, and a nice back yard. So you kinda gotta do some hunting to find a good deal.

 

91k? Shhhhhhiiiiitttttttttttt, you got nothing to worry about. I'm living off of 40k (give or take a few) and I'm doing ok, I'd be better off if I didn't own my taco and dump all my money in it

 

You might not have tons of extra cash floating around, but you won't be hurting too bad I don't think. No sales tax in Anchorage is nice, but I can't remember if that applies out in the valley. I know some municipalities have it and some don't.

 

Seems like a lot, but after taxes, SSI, health/dental, retirement, etc it leaves around $4k a month that actually goes into the bank. If half of that goes to housing that leaves $2000 a month for car insurance, fuel, groceries, vehicle maintenance (I have three 4x4's that eat tires), ammo (I shoot a lot), fishing/hunting gear, etc it gets whittled down pretty fast. I'm not complaining, I know I'm doing ok, just showing that it's not all gravy.

 

Yeahhhh its pretty surprising how quickly income gets eaten up.

Thats a big reason as to why I, just a broke ass college kid, try to keep an updated yearly and monthly budget as to what I predicted I would spend to what I actually do spend. Managing money is wayyy overlooked by too many people.

 

Perks of having a roomate and cheap rent in a not so good part of town I guess. I'm only coughing up 500 a month for rent

 

Don't ever get married buddy. Ha! (Just kidding dear)

 

I'd get a big pay raise if I did and still wouldn't be able to afford it

 

I like my toys and hobbies to much and don't wanna give them up just yet

 

It'll get better. When I joined I got $856 a month. I served ten years then got out and continued working for the government, slowly working my way up the chain for the last 5 years to get to this point. The reason the pay is higher in Alaska is because the cost of living is higher... you know all about it. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth it for me and what I like to do.

 

If you ask anyone (that's not a complete indoor shut in) the higher cost of living up here is worth it

 

Plus there's no taxes haha

 

And plenty of crazy ass 2nd amendment defending mofos up here too