This is part of a series here at Ultimate Money Blog. I’m featuring fun money facts about all 50 states in America and why it is frugal to live in that particular state. Here are the states we’ve covered so far:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California

Colorado is one of my favorite states in the U.S., if not my absolute favorite state. There are so many things that make it wonderful- the scenery, the people, and things to do. Why is it frugal to live in Colorado? Let’s find out.

photo credit: Ed.ward

-Colorado is know for its beautiful ski resorts.  There are are over 26 different ski resorts in Colorado.  No matter where you live in the state, there’s always skiing or snowboarding fairly close by.  No vacation needed!  For a discounted ski lift tickets, you can purchase a Colorado Pass, which allows you to ski at various ski resorts.

photo credit: griffhome

-Colorado’s natural beauty is free to enjoy through hiking, driving, and even cross country skiing.  There are so many different areas in Colorado to explore, and a lot of the activities are free!  You can’t beat the camping and hiking in Colorado!

-In Boulder (which is coincidentally my favorite city!), there are many environmentally conscious people.  Many people are into urban homesteading and creating mini farms.

-Real estate in Colorado seems to be a good investment.  Despite the turmoil in the real estate markets over the past few years, the house values in Colorado have decreased at a pretty small amount compared to other states, and prices seem to be on the rebound.

photo credit: 246-You

-If you’re a beer connoisseur, you’ll be pleased to know that Colorado has the highest number of microbreweries per capita out of any state. Cheap beer!

-The weather in Colorado is normally sunny.  They receive over 300 days of sunshine each year.  More sunshine=happier people=less depression.

photo credit: WhitA

-Colorado is a tourist destination.  If you’re in the hospitality field, this may be a great place for you to get a job (especially in the winter!).

-The current unemployment rate in Colorado is 8.3%, which is less than the US average.

photo credit: Astig!!

This is part of a series here at Ultimate Money Blog. I’m going to be featuring fun money facts about all 50 states in America and why it is frugal to live in that particular state. Here are the states we’ve covered so far:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas

Why is is frugal to live in California? It’s not! Just kidding- certainly there are reasons it is frugal to live in California. Let’s find out why.

-California has a range of vast outdoor activities; in fact you can swim, ski, and hike all in the same state! How cool is that?

-If you’re obsessed with celebrities and your favorite past time is stalking celebrity houses, you can drive around Los Angeles and have entertainment for just the cost of gas.

-The price of real estate in California has dropped significantly in the past couple years.  It’s still not cheap by any means, but it’s much more affordable than it has been in the past.

-The weather in California is pretty mild all year round.  In the lower part of the state, you probably won’t experience cold weather, so that means a lower electric bill!

photo credit: AmandaBreann

-California is a tourist destination.  If you’re a California resident, you can be a tourist in your own state.  You could visit the Golden Gate bridge, Bubblegum alley, Lake Tahoe, or even Angora Lake.  If you’re feeling less frugal, you could visit Knott’s Berry Farm, Disney Land, or Six Flags.

-If you’re into technology or acting, California would be the place to seek unemployment.

-Depending on where you live in California, public transportation may be a viable option.  You can choose from light rail, subway, and intercity bus transportation.

photo credit: vvvracer

-You have a higher chance at winning the lottery.  In Baker, CA The Country Store has sold more winning California State Lottery tickets in the state than any other establishment.

-California is the most populous state.  If you’re single, this would be a fabulous place to find a mate.

- If you like painting, you could be employed as a Golden Gate Bridge painter.  The bridge is so big that painters paint the bridge year round.  By the time they get finished, they have to start all over again at the other end.

Do you have any other ideas on why it’s frugal to live in California?  Would you consider moving there?

photo credit: Adam K. Walker

This is part of a series here at Ultimate Money Blog. I’m going to be featuring fun money facts about all 50 states in America and why it is frugal to live in that particular state. Here are the states we’ve covered so far:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona

When I think of Arkansas, I think of banjos playing. No offense to anyone that lives there, it’s just the first thing that comes to mind. It’s President Bill Clinton’s home state, Ozark Mountains and Hot Springs National Park is located there, and the Duggars live in Tontitown.  What makes Arkansas a frugal state?  Let’s find out.

photo credit: GollyGforce is slipping on learning curve…:(

Economy

In 2004, the average income per household was $35,295. Located in Bentonville, Arkansas are the Wal-mart headquarters. Many residents are employed by Wal-mart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt. All three companies are currently headquartered in the state. Arkansas is dubbed “The Natural State”, and draws many visitors in each year, making tourism a large part of Arkansas’ economy. The state’s agricultural production contains soybeans, cattle, cotton, hogs, poultry, eggs, rice, and milk.

photo credit: MSVG

Taxes

Arkansas has a state income tax ranging from 1.0%-7.0%.  Retirees don’t have to pay taxes on social security, so this would make Arkansas a great state to retire to!  In addition to the state tax, there are more than 300 local taxes.

photo credit: Just a Prairie Boy

Employment

Farming, education, and automobile parts manufacturing are popular careers in Arkansas.  If you’re interested in working for Wal-mart, Arkansas may peak your interest.

photo credit: OakleyOriginals

Housing Costs

The most inexpensive place to live in Arkansas may be in Fort Smith.  There you can pick up a house for around $91,000 (source).

Miscellaneous

If you’re a huge Wal-mart fan (or Bill Clinton, or the Duggars), you may want to relocate to Arkansas.  Full of natural beauty, farming, and lots of land, you just may find yourself at home.

Do you have any other ideas on why it’s frugal to live in Arkansas?  Would you consider moving there?

photo credit: SearchNetMedia

This is part of a series here at Ultimate Money Blog. I’m going to be featuring fun money facts about all 50 states in America and why it is frugal to live in that particular state. Here are the states we’ve covered so far:
Alabama
Alaska

photo credit: Ms. Phoenix

Economy

Arizona’s economy is interesting in the fact that it relies on its lovely climate as a main factor.  Crops and livestock contribute, and it’s about a 50/50 split between the two.  Lettuce, cotton, cantaloupes, barley, potatoes, and wheat are all main crops grown in the state.  Cattle and dairy farming make up the other 50%.

Tourism and retirees help bring the bucks to the Grand Canyon State.  With a plethora of sunshine, dry heat, and beautiful scenery, who wouldn’t want to visit Arizona?

photo credit: SearchNetMedia

Taxes

Arizona collects personal income taxes in five different brackets, ranging from 2.87% to 5.04%.  The sales tax is around 6.3%. The state of Arizona doesn’t tax food for consumption, or drugs that have been prescribed by a licensed physician.

photo credit: rezsox

Employment

Arizona’s largest employer is the United States government, followed by Wal-mart.  Interesting!  If you’re looking for a career in hospitality, Arizona may be the state to go to due to the high volume of tourism.

photo credit: Orygynyl Photography

Housing Costs

A frugal place to buy a house may be Tempe, Arizona, where you can buy a house for around $150,000.  Of course, the further you are willing to live away from a city, the better the housing costs will be!

photo credit: ocean yamaha

Miscellaneous

Arizona would be a frugal place to live in the winter, as you most likely won’t have a huge heating bill.   If you’re a fan of raw vegan foods, you can find an abundance of citrus and vegetables here!  All in all, I think Arizona would be a fabulous place to live if you do not like cold at all.  I can say that it wouldn’t be frugal to live there in the summer with the air conditioning bills!

Do you have any other ideas on why it’s frugal to live in Arizona?  Would you consider moving there?

image from US Mint

This is part two of a series here at Ultimate Money Blog. I’m going to be featuring fun money facts about all 50 states in America and why it is frugal to live in that particular state. Here are the states we’ve covered so far:
-Alabama

Ahh, Alaska.  When I picture Alaska, I see running streams, fishing towns, bears, flying salmon, and cute little cabins.  I can smell the fresh, clean air.  Alaska is a state I’d love to spend some time in.  What makes living in Alaska frugal?  Let’s find out.

Economy

photo credit: njwilson23

Alaska’s economy heavily relies on its natural resources. Prudhoe Bay, which is North America’s largest oil field, resides on Alaska’s North Slope.  The state ranks number one in oil production. After oil, Alaska’s second highest export is seafood, unsurprisingly. They export salmon, crab, Pollock, and cod.

Many people who live in Alaska hunt and fish.  They have access to organic, free range moose and bears, and that helps cut down on their grocery budget.  Alaskans also consume a lot of salmon, which is high in omega fatty acids, and very nutritious.

Taxes

photo credit: Wonderlane

Alaska can boast that it has the lowest tax burden of any state in the United States of America. They are one of seven states that does not have an individual income tax, one of only five states with no sales tax, and one of two states that has neither of them. There are local sales taxes, though, and they typically range from 3-5%. I think that’s fantastic!

Employment

photo credit: smichal

Not surprisingly, Alaska’s main sources of employment are in natural resources and government jobs. Lots of fishermen are also needed to help catch the salmon for export.  Hospitality is also a good field to get into, as Alaska relies on tourism to help support its economy as well.  Unemployment is right around 8.8% in Alaska currently.

Housing Costs

photo credit: bradley j

If you choose to live in Denali, you can expect to pay around $149,950 for a single family home. I think Alaska would be the perfect place to live in a yurt!  Of course, the average home price in Juneau is $333,961, so don’t be fooled by Denali’s low house prices!

Do you have any other ideas on why it’s frugal to live in Alaska?  Would you consider moving there?

image from US Mint
This is part one of a new series here at Ultimate Money Blog. I’m going to be featuring fun money facts about all 50 states in America and why it is frugal to live in that particular state.

What do you picture when you hear about the state of Alabama? Is it banjos, warm weather, and the ocean? There’s more to Alabama than that! Alabama is a great place to live for frugal people for many reasons.

Economy

Alabama’s economy heavily relies on agriculture. They produce cattle, poultry, eggs, corn, sorghum, grains, and peaches. Cotton is one of the main crops, and Alabama is also known as “The Cotton State”.

Their industrial economy produces steel, iron, paper, lumber, and even some aerospace products.

Taxes

The state’s general sales tax sits at 4%, which I think is fabulous! However, there may be city and/or county taxes, so don’t too excited.

Employment

The current unemployment rate in Alabama is 11%.  If you are interested in a career in banking, auto manufacturing, or telecommunications, you may want to move to Alabama.

Housing Costs

One of the most affordable areas to live in Alabama is Florence-Muscle Shoals, where the average house price is just $97,000. Wow!

Do you live in Alabama?  Would you ever consider moving there?