Your State and Your Money

I highly doubt New Englanders are better at paying the bills, as I know my fair share who have their problems. But there probably is some Yankee thrift that goes on. I was raised to not buy something unless it was broken and the cost of repair was higher than the cost of something new. If you're not constantly taking on new debt, you don't have as much debt.

New England also has its own different subcultures. The southern states (MA, RI, CT) have more wealth, a higher cost of living but also offer more public transportation options. The northern states can be cheaper to live in, but your cost of transportation will eat up your budget (unless you live REALLY close to where you work, but that appears to be the exception and not the norm)

I live in a state without an income tax, but there are more jobs in a state with an income tax. But the wages are generally higher in that state (even after I deduct the income taxes). Even though I find it annoying to pay taxes in a state where I don't benefit from the services, I'd gladly take the higher wages than work in a state with no income tax for less.

veronica of NH 10:08AM April 14, 2011