Things I favor…
As I was taking out my weekly trash cans here in Covington, and I also placed my recycling out, I realized that is just one of many things that is “different” here and in my opinion for the better! Here they collect recycling every single week! At first I was beyond confused trying to figure out the correct week when I realized it is a weekly pick up.
When one has only lived in one state, you don’t really have a comparison to know how other states do things or even to genuinely compare. I must admit, I had never thought about why one might choose a state versus another to live based on costs of accommodations and simple things we all pay that add up.
For example…I am coming from a life long Kansan. I’ve lived there 48 years and registered countless cars (I could name them if needed if not my sis could) since I was 16 years of age and just assumed all states were like Kansas. That each year you paid tags and taxes to get your registration thru the state annually. So my jeep, if I wanted to register it in Kansas for this past year, my tags and taxes were almost $1300. I have a new vehicle which means high registration! Or so I thought. Nope. Just Kansas and one of its “perks”.
Now I remember my friend Stacey having a different set up in Washington state where they paid for “tabs” and it was completely a reasonable and cheap amount compared to us! Well, now that I have my car registered in Ohio I see the extra money it costs to have a car registered in Kansas. As you can see above to have my car registered in Ohio, it is almost $57.00. A massive difference compared to $1300.
Another daily reminder the moment I hit state lines when I head back to Kansas is paying to drive on a major road! I drive all over the country and not many have toll roads, let alone the main route from two major cities that cost almost $7.00 (last i remember) round trip. That is crazy we are used to paying that! So when I want to go to KC to support sporting events, music, anything, to head east I really need to cough up a toll when living in Topeka. Plus, let’s add in the road ways in Kansas are horrendous. The only road that one could say isn’t bad is the turnpike which you pay per trip to use. I haven’t found a toll roadway in Kentucky or Ohio thus far. If someone knows of one feel free to comment.
As a sit here at a Racino, which I was not familiar with because we don’t have horse racing casinos in my neck of the woods, but in this neck of the woods, there are such a thing! I was walking in today hearing the oddest sounds and I look over and see horses running out of the corner of my eye. Now I knew it occurred here but today was a first seeing it with my own eyes!
Another thing that genuinely tickles me that Kentucky has beat Ohio and Kansas on is the price of liquor and cigarettes. Granted I am not a smoker anymore nor am I a big drinker, but those are way cheaper in Kentucky! Thus why such massive stores along the river and state lines. Plus remember you can smoke inside in KY still.
I might also add, marijuana is legalized in Ohio both medically and recreationally has been approved just not quite able to purchase it yet here without a weed card. You are able to also grow a crap ton of weed legally which I think is nuts that people are in prison yet now you can buy a lot of weed and grow a ton, enough you couldn’t smoke alone.
So weed shops are popping up everywhere but the pricing in Ohio isn’t the most competitive yet. If one were to drive three hours north to the Michigan line, it also is legal and is extremely cheap at their dispensaries.
Taxes outside Kansas is another thing that blows my mind. I will try and find comparisons of taxes on property but my Kansas house tax annually at under 400,000 is that of a 900,000 home in Ohio. Where Shannon has a small residential property the property taxes actually went down this past year. Has that ever happened in Kansas? Mine just goes up and up.
Then you look at sales tax. Kansas is over 9 percent and Ohio is 7.25 percent with kinda awesome exceptions to where they charge it. Food to go? No sales tax. Any grocery purchases? No sales tax. Toilet paper, viagara and laxatives also are not charged in Ohio.
No, the grass isn’t necessarily greener moving out of state, but I am realizing the other green savings and perks outside of Kansas can add up and make a significant difference in once’s financial situations.
Until next Friday,
Jenny
