new comer!!

[Tatiyana]

hi everyone, my husband went to Sweden recently for 1 day, he fell in love with it, now he wants us to move there!! and the weirdest thing is that we are living on different contents already! he is in Russia and i'm in the US!!!

[Petabyte]

Well that was some thing new Fun for him hope you do it

[-Lonely-]

Welcome to the country of Alfred Nobel, the man who invented the baseballcap!

[trs990]

i love sweden too. i visited there in 1986 .

[paka]

Originally posted by -Lonely-
Welcome to the country of Alfred Nobel, the man who invented the baseballcap!

aha ! it just had to be a pesky swede to invent my favourit thing in the world...the thing keeps me inconspicuous in crowds

[paka]

unless your bull****ting of course. but its cool.

[Tatiyana]

i have a question about the people living in Sweden, how do you servive with such a high tax rate you have on your shouldgers, its about 50% of your income right?
i mean i realize that you dont have the problem of paying for school and colleges, but what about housing, do you have to pay rent monthy or does the government provide you with an apartment. and if it does what happens to the legal residence who are not citizens yet.

[Petabyte]

No it is not about 50% it is about 30% and if you not live in down town you can get a low price flat and yes you have to pay rent every month. The goverment do not provide you whit any flat.

[bosse_s]

People in Stockholm spend a relatively high part of their income on rent (probably around 35-40% on average), but it is a choice to live here. Stockholm has the jobs, but it is quite unrational to live here if you want to get life-quality for your tax-money. The living costs are expensive.

On the countryside, you´ll find life less expensive, but there are off course some downsides with that as well... like lack of job-opportunities!

Basically, if you compare Sweden with the U.S, you´ll find Sweden more expensive and if you are educated you will earn less money in Sweden. However, if you look at the total costs for living, it is basically a "zero-sum" game. What you loose in sallary in Sweden, you will have to spend on social security, insurances (much less expensive in Sweden, since we don´t have the same tradition of expensive law-suits), child-care, school etc.) in the States. Just a few examples: the cost for kindergarten in the States is probably around $1000/month in a U.S city, while it is less than $250 in Sweden. Car-insurance is around $500/year in Sweden. (The gas-price is about $1 per litre, however!) A visit to the doctor costs $25 in Sweden.

It is easier to get real rich in the States, but for "middle class" people, Sweden gives you more for the (tax)buck. Since most of us are stuck there in the middle, Sweden gives quite a good life for everybody.

Rent here in Sweden is much cheaper and so is insurance than in the US.Those two expenses make up a big portion. Also, included in the rent is basic cable and water and heat. (At least in everyone apartment I've ever heard of)

I've known couples here that survived on less than 10.000SEK a month.. Even couples with kids..

I find some things higher, but overall, the cost of living is cheaper here.

[Tatiyana]

thank you guys for the cool reply's, by the way you know that on average a studio, which is a living room a bathroom and a kitchen in Brooklyn,NY, one of the boroughs of New York City costs $800, and a one bedroom almost $1,000!!!, i really feel like moving, i don't like it anymore. all the politicians are stupid, and the people here are just low lives! especially the mexican-hispanic community of my neighborhood. sorry i hate to generalize like that but in my case its very much the truth.
you know, i had this stereotype that in Sweden everything was provided by the government, turns out its not, which seems more realistic, I still want to move to you guys

[Petabyte]

Well it isent totaly untruth that the government provid whit much well in the good old days that was almost the case but now a days that isnet the case but the government still provides whit much

[Tatiyana]

okay, another question, is it hard to find a regular job, i'm talking about something like a driver or a construction worker, or for girl, like bookkeeping and typing, or being a cashier, and then be able to live on that income? or do you have to be, like it is in US, a very highly educated person, like a lawyer or doctor, to enjoy the benefits of a good life. because middle class here in NY can only afford to pay for rent and utility bills,and food. and maybe save like a few bucks to be able to go on vication for a week once a year.
i still believe its better to pay higher taxes like in Sweden, 30% and then actually see where the money goes... like doctor here, if you have no health insurance, which only the poor get, i do by the way, but if you dont have it, a regular doctors appointment runs between 150-300 bucks. my dad stayed in a hospital and had some tiny opperation, not even, they just gave him the right pills for swelling to go away, the cost ---- $10,000. yep. thats the wonderful U S of A for ya!

[Petabyte]

I don't really know how hard or easy it is to find a job I am only 17 soon to be 18 but if you look here: http://www.ams.se you might get an idea. But it shouldent be that hard. Yes you will probebly be able to live on that income. And if you have problems you could always apply for "contribution" from the goverment. No you don't nead to be "like a lawyer or doctor, to enjoy the benefits of a good life." But it is good if you have finished high school.

[bosse_s]

Somehow, Swedes like me seem to manage quite well in this, as some would say, "socialistic country". We have larger amounts of freedom compared to the U.S (carryin´guns are not allowed however), we got plenty of vacation (5 weeks minimum by law), and we happen to be one of the best citizens of the world when it comes to travelling foreign countries (somehow, we can afford that). People are quite good looking and well educated.

Good damn, the more I think about it, the more this country rocks!