What I never understand is the people who work in the City, say at PENN,
yet live in the Suburbs.
They still pay the wage tax (a slightly lower number, still around 4%)
and also the "Tax of Time". The person who makes $100,000 / year is
essentially making $50.00 / hour +/- benefits. Why would this person
commute 1.5 hours per day, thus paying another $3,750 per year in "Time"
all the expenses of commuting. These might be owning, maintaining,
insuring and gassing a commuting car or paying for Public Transportation
and waiting for service.
Why worry about schools if you can't spend time with your children before
and after their class?
Some will say there is no second employer in the wings waiting to "pay"
for their time.
But anyone in a committed relationship and /or with children should be
prepared to spend time with their family, and consider it as valuable as
time spent on work or a commute. My average carpenters are charging $25
(after my tax) / hour. So doing home projects is be paying "Sweat
equity". One may learn new skills and pass them on to family members.
Sharing the responsibilities around the house, learning to garden,
putting sex back into marriages are all bonuses that can come from
reducing a commute.
And, while I complain about the occasional neighbor problem, I am
thrilled to have true neighbors. I believe Suburban living is quite
isolating. Also, nothing beats the convenience and cultural
opportunities here in the city. Most nights I have to choose which, of
any number of opportunities to exercise or enjoy. Just last night the
Orchestra played in Rittenhouse Square. My Polish "Home Stay" walked
there from my home but could have gotten to Rittenhouse Square by
spending $2.60 on Tokens or $8.00 on a cab. Suburbanites probably pass
on most of our free concerts and wonderful institutions.
My kids go to a great Camp in Wernersville. They love it as a summer
treat. They get to meet and discuss "life" with Suburban kids. They are
surprised at how few are the cultural institutions that the Suburban kids
are even familiar with. They tell me that the City kids are much less
bored (and boring) yet have fewer bad habits (teen drinking and smoking)
than the Suburban kids.
For those who chose private education, it is temporary.
Food, clothing and shelter are life long.
Shelter decisions should be thoughtful.
I've added PFSNI to this post, because I'd like to hear (off-list?) from
Suburbanites who work in the city, on how the Suburbs are better for
them. For examples:
Were the actually mugged here and not there?
Did they ever have their car stolen here or there?
Are the public schools worth the move?
Were the thirty years of mortgage on
a more expensive home less than
the risk of not getting into one of the better public schools or
paying fewer years of tuition?
Best!
Liz
For your convenience my Web page links to any ACTIVE listings and many
useful sites and tools:
http://ilead.realtor.com/display/?id=13380525&;
Elizabeth Campion
Neighbor, PENN Grad '77 & Real Estate Broker
Direct & VM: 215-790-5653
Cell Phone: 215-880-2930
Private mail to :
P.O. Box 23632
Phila, Pa 19143
MailTo:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
or
MailTo:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PRUDENTIAL, FOX & ROACH
Reception: 215-546-0550
Shared Fax: 215-546-9781
Office at
210 W. Rittenhouse Sq., Suite # 406
Phila, Pa 19103
On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 07:52:22 -0400 Richard Hotchkiss
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> Also related to wage tax: I have recently realized why people leave
> the
> city and move to the suburbs, wage tax (yeah, I can be slow). There
> was a
> discussion recently about people making six figure incomes and
> living in the
> city. Let's do the math; 4.5% of $100,000 is $4,500 in wage tax,
> add that
> to the rising property taxes of maybe $3,000 and that's ends up
> being more
> than the property taxes in the suburbs where there is no wage tax
> (if your
> job isn't in Philly) Therefore, it only makes sense to move out of
> the city
> as you make more money.
>
> Richard Hotchkiss
> http://www.hotstrings-inc.com
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