I have discovered that the 3/4 Ps in Italy have helped me cope with buying a house and upgrading to a liveable standard. They are Patience - Politeness - Plenty of Prosecco.
Another excellent entry, Cheryl, thank you. I loved the immigrant quote. I need to check out that Patchett book.
Also, what would have happened if you had taken a chance and let the moving van park in a ZTL without the day pass? How big of a ticket would it have been, and might it have been worth your while (versus all the schlepping) to chance it? See, this is how I look at things: forgiveness vs permission kind of thing.
Bigger question, do people establish residency 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 moving in, is that the order the cretini in the comune want you to do things? I know you were moving out, but people need moving vans for both scenarios, no?
Lucca seemed pretty on top of things, and I was too new in the country to say let's risk it (and my man with a van didn't want to). When I moved to Perugia it was no problem, even though I lived in a ZTL zone—I guess we arrived during the open period, though I can't really remember. As to your bigger question, not that I know of, though you raise a good point. I can't speak for the situation in Lucca, but in Perugia I declared residency after I moved in.
Love! I roll my eyes a lot at the questions and comments in expat chats but you certainly have the experience to back it up. Thank you for all the examples. A very informative post! Am sharing it.
Cultivate patience, you say? And once it's been cultivated to an extent almost impossible to achieve for anyone other than Zen monks...what then? Stuff the anger? Shut out the disappointment? Cry? No. None of that. Laughing and raconteuring are the only solutions. (Says he awaiting the install of a new caldaia, ordered in October, the old one being bust. Perhaps La Bufana will bring it.)
I feel your pain having been without a caldaia for a while last winter. May La Bufana deliver! In the meantime, see the above comment-- prosecco is clearly the answer!
Brackets range from 23-41%; plus there is a wealth tax of 0.2% (negligible) on investments (not sure exactly what’s included, but note that mutual funds are not; they’re taxed at the income tax rate, unfortunately). Medical and vet costs are deductible (including the annual fee for the national health service), among other things (see the link below). Each year you pay for the current year and part of the upcoming one, in 2 installments. This site can help; Bolla is a very reputable firm. https://accountingbolla.com/calculators/income-tax/#gref
Great article, love it. One question, please except this as an honest question, not trying to be devils advocate. Does your cost of living comparison include the difference, if there are any, in taxes?
I certainly agree with your, painting with broad strokes comments.
Thanks, Tim. Yes, my much lower overall cost of living here includes my income taxes. And my annual fee for the national health plan. Everything! Otherwise I’d be comparing apples and oranges. But if you live in an area where the cost of living is far, far less than in the SF Bay Area (where I was) and you move to Milan, say, or Venice or Rome (the cities proper, not the outskirts), then you’d probably find Italy more expensive than the US. It really depends on your point of comparison.
Yes. So affordability depends on where you come from but also where you go. The cost of living in small towns is low. Other things like taxes and the health care fee are based on income (and assets, for taxes), so it doesn’t matter where you live. All this can be estimated fairly easily.
Hello again Cheryl. While health care is based on income, sadly, the quality of healthcare you receive 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 on the region. This is why, when my mamma developed stomach cancer in southern Italy (she completely recovered), my sister in northern Italy swooped her up to a local hospital. Well, I guess it was also so my poor mamma wouldn't go through the treatment alone. But it was definitely a statement on the quality of care she would have received had she stayed at home.
That is another living criteria American Ex Pats ought to consider. Saluti.
In the US the quality of care also depends on the region. Even within the same city there are differences in care depending on the hospital, and if you are out in the boonies... well, good luck! Quality of care also depends on your health insurance, if you can afford to pay for health insurance.
Yes, definitely, and maybe I should have mentioned that. But I have no data, only what I've heard, and I hesitate to put that kind of thing in writing. Lots of Americans like to go to the south where there are 7% tax schemes for some period of time, so maybe it's worth it to them, assuming they're in good health (hopefully for a long time!). Anyway, I'm very glad to hear your mamma recovered!
A dream country? Sure, in some ways, but like anywhere else, it has its challenges and frustrations. Clearly, it's a world away from your existence in Nicaragua. Thanks for chiming in!
I have discovered that the 3/4 Ps in Italy have helped me cope with buying a house and upgrading to a liveable standard. They are Patience - Politeness - Plenty of Prosecco.
Oh, that's perfect! (See what I did there?) ;-) I may quote you someday! Thanks for the comment and the smile it gave me!
Another excellent entry, Cheryl, thank you. I loved the immigrant quote. I need to check out that Patchett book.
Also, what would have happened if you had taken a chance and let the moving van park in a ZTL without the day pass? How big of a ticket would it have been, and might it have been worth your while (versus all the schlepping) to chance it? See, this is how I look at things: forgiveness vs permission kind of thing.
Bigger question, do people establish residency 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 moving in, is that the order the cretini in the comune want you to do things? I know you were moving out, but people need moving vans for both scenarios, no?
Lucca seemed pretty on top of things, and I was too new in the country to say let's risk it (and my man with a van didn't want to). When I moved to Perugia it was no problem, even though I lived in a ZTL zone—I guess we arrived during the open period, though I can't really remember. As to your bigger question, not that I know of, though you raise a good point. I can't speak for the situation in Lucca, but in Perugia I declared residency after I moved in.
Thank you so much!!
Love! I roll my eyes a lot at the questions and comments in expat chats but you certainly have the experience to back it up. Thank you for all the examples. A very informative post! Am sharing it.
Thanks so much, Jan!
Cultivate patience, you say? And once it's been cultivated to an extent almost impossible to achieve for anyone other than Zen monks...what then? Stuff the anger? Shut out the disappointment? Cry? No. None of that. Laughing and raconteuring are the only solutions. (Says he awaiting the install of a new caldaia, ordered in October, the old one being bust. Perhaps La Bufana will bring it.)
I feel your pain having been without a caldaia for a while last winter. May La Bufana deliver! In the meantime, see the above comment-- prosecco is clearly the answer!
Love what you wrote about "many truths" in Italy — it is something that is not fully appreciated or grasped by many.
thanks so much, enzo, and also for subscribing!
Thanks for another great read! Just now catching up on all your postings. Loving them!
Music to my ears, thank you!
ah, there is no nirvana. every place is nirvana....until it is not.
thx as always for such insights, wisdom and wonderful writing, cheryl.
Thanks, Felice!
Brackets range from 23-41%; plus there is a wealth tax of 0.2% (negligible) on investments (not sure exactly what’s included, but note that mutual funds are not; they’re taxed at the income tax rate, unfortunately). Medical and vet costs are deductible (including the annual fee for the national health service), among other things (see the link below). Each year you pay for the current year and part of the upcoming one, in 2 installments. This site can help; Bolla is a very reputable firm. https://accountingbolla.com/calculators/income-tax/#gref
come puoi facilmente stimare le tasse?
Tim, it looks like my reply to this question ended up in the wrong place, so scroll up!
Great article, love it. One question, please except this as an honest question, not trying to be devils advocate. Does your cost of living comparison include the difference, if there are any, in taxes?
I certainly agree with your, painting with broad strokes comments.
Thanks, Tim. Yes, my much lower overall cost of living here includes my income taxes. And my annual fee for the national health plan. Everything! Otherwise I’d be comparing apples and oranges. But if you live in an area where the cost of living is far, far less than in the SF Bay Area (where I was) and you move to Milan, say, or Venice or Rome (the cities proper, not the outskirts), then you’d probably find Italy more expensive than the US. It really depends on your point of comparison.
Thanks Cheryl
Sorry but have to say it, isn’t the SF Bay Area one of the most expensive in US?
Yes. So affordability depends on where you come from but also where you go. The cost of living in small towns is low. Other things like taxes and the health care fee are based on income (and assets, for taxes), so it doesn’t matter where you live. All this can be estimated fairly easily.
Hello again Cheryl. While health care is based on income, sadly, the quality of healthcare you receive 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 on the region. This is why, when my mamma developed stomach cancer in southern Italy (she completely recovered), my sister in northern Italy swooped her up to a local hospital. Well, I guess it was also so my poor mamma wouldn't go through the treatment alone. But it was definitely a statement on the quality of care she would have received had she stayed at home.
That is another living criteria American Ex Pats ought to consider. Saluti.
In the US the quality of care also depends on the region. Even within the same city there are differences in care depending on the hospital, and if you are out in the boonies... well, good luck! Quality of care also depends on your health insurance, if you can afford to pay for health insurance.
Yes, and it's so wrong that healthcare depends on a person's financial state. I find it horrifying that in the U.S. medicine is big business.
Yes, definitely, and maybe I should have mentioned that. But I have no data, only what I've heard, and I hesitate to put that kind of thing in writing. Lots of Americans like to go to the south where there are 7% tax schemes for some period of time, so maybe it's worth it to them, assuming they're in good health (hopefully for a long time!). Anyway, I'm very glad to hear your mamma recovered!
A dream country? Sure, in some ways, but like anywhere else, it has its challenges and frustrations. Clearly, it's a world away from your existence in Nicaragua. Thanks for chiming in!