Any Alaska Fru-gals on board?

[toile]

I am looking for a fru-gal whos currently living in Alaska to chat with about life there? I have a lot of financial and lifestyle questions.

Anyone up for that?
My daughter by accident did a big school project on the state 2 years ago and I became very interested in moving there.
Now with Alaska in the news almost every day, it interests me even more.

My research is worrying me because the initial costs of a move sounds so high?

I'm looking for a lifestyle thats hard to get these days here.
I have bought and sold 3 homes to get away from subwoofers and neighbors like that. I live in the boonies but loud, disrespectful neighbors are also moving to the boonies too...
I have moved as far north, boonies as possible and there is no place left to move to. We have massive growth here, especially my county.
I am looking for peace and serenity, a great place for kids, beautiful nature to look at each day, and NICE friendly people.

My husband is a daily delivery route CDL big rig truck driver etc..
Can anyone tell me how the groceries are delivered there?
Is that job even needed?
My daughter knows pharmacy is a huge need there because thats what shes chosen to do and researched that as well. But that wont help us trucking folks

Thanks if anyone is willing to have a conversation about this

[Kellili]

I don't live in Alaska, but bumping so hopefully someone who does will see this!

[Missourimom]

I understand your fascination with Alaska because I share the same feelings. As a matter of fact, I have a book on Alaska sitting on the table next to my laptop and I record any show I can find on the state. It's simply beautiful and I have the same fantasies as you do about living there. I also know it'll never happen and I'm sure I've just romanticized the whole thing because I don't handle the cold so well.

[Jamauk]

We don't live there, but hubby and I have tossed the idea around more than once.

It would not surprise me in the least little bit if we end up there eventually.

I know there are a couple of Alaska gals here......'cmon show your face!!!

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Just saw this!!

I'm an Alaskan girl! Born and raised! Livin' in the big city of Anchorage.

Alaska has a lot of pros and a LOT of cons... It depends on the individual...

Some general stuff...

Pros:
~ Alaska residents (after, I believe it's a calendar year of residency) are eligible for a Permanent Fund Dividend... YUP...free money...for living here and breathing! https://www.pfd.state.ak.us/
~ No state income tax
~ No sales tax in Anchorage (other areas have a city income tax...in the 3% range).
~ No need for A/C!
~ No icky-scary bug problems
~ We're having the inflation problems that the whole country is having, but not the job loss/job shortage issues...there's plenty of work.
~ Water is paid for in a "flat rate" amount each month...you can use as much as you like.

Cons:
~ VERY expensive cost of living. Houses are spendy and so are apartments...the apartments up here are NOT big fancy nice complexes like the lower 48 (though a few have started to pop up)
~ Limited choices for phone/internet...and they aren't cheap!
~ Food is much more expensive (specifically produce, meat, dairy)
~ NO dollar stores, CVS or any of the other discount stores down in the lower 48... We'll be getting our FIRST Super-Walmart soon...they're building now. And our FIRST Target should open any time now.
~ our gas prices are higher at the pump more often than not (4.21/gal right now...that's come down from over 4.80)
~ Anchorage has a LOT of gang problems (and with that MANY annoying, thumpy cars). Alaska overall has exceptionally high rates of rape, child abuse, etc. - Lower side of crimes like burglary/car theft...there's no where to "escape" with the goods!
~ Car insurance seems to be pretty high -- how comfortable are you at driving in VERY inclement weather? 4-5 months each year you're driving on snow and ice, in traffic.
~ Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong winters...DARK, and bitter cold (Jan/Feb it gets down to -25 to -35 in Anchorage...colder elsewhere).
~ If you like to travel/road trip there's not really anywhere to go without a long and expensive airline ticket involved. (It's a 3.5 hour flight just to Seattle...about a 5 DAY drive...and you have to have a passport now to get through Canada).
~ There are very limited options for college.
~ The public high schools are VERY rough (many, many drug problems...amongst other things).

Groceries, for the most part, are barged up from Washington. They are taken by truck from the port to the stores.

Medical people are in high demand...

Yes, to be very honest...it IS very expensive to move up here... It's very expensive to LIVE up here. Furniture is terribly expensive, yard sales aren't nearly as "plentiful" or low-priced as the lower 48 (yup, I've been yard saling down there in several states). But it is beautiful and majestic beyond all description...pictures don't even do it justice. And the northern lights are breathtaking!!

If you decide to move and are bringing less than 1000 lbs I'd find a branch of "the packaging store". They've got decent rates. Also, if you already have passports and are planning to bring a car (and have more than 2 people traveling), driving up is cheaper than flying and shipping your car...and it's a neat road trip.

As much as we love the beauty of the state...my Dh and I plan to move as soon as I finish college...in 5 years (just started).

If you have no debt and can fit in a 2 bedroom apartment I would recommend at LEAST a $17/hr job to live a VERY limited lifestyle up here...IF you want to live in a relatively safe neighborhood.

www.adn.com (newspaper)

If ya have any specific questions...feel free to PM me anytime. I'd be happy to help ya! And if you do decide to move up, you've got "frugal family" waitin' to greet ya!