For most American families enduring the devastating economic effects of the recession, the prospect of moving to another city or town simply does not make financial sense. Others may be forced to relocate for the sake of a job opportunity or to start their lives anew. If you are contemplating a move in the near future but are working with a limited financial budget, it is important to stay mindful of avoiding the most expensive places to live throughout the country. From thriving urban metropolises to quaint, small town communities, there are five cities which have risen to the ranks of America’s priciest places to live.

1.  New York, New York –The nation’s most populated city is home to renowned museums, thriving art districts, world class shopping and unsurpassed cultural diversity. The citizens of New York pay a heavy toll for these amenities, however, and the cost of living for New Yorkers ranks as the highest in the country. Property prices in the Big Apple are rising at a seemingly exponential rate, with the average two-bedroom apartment renting for a staggering $4,300 per month, and moving to New York means you’ll be paying higher rent for a much smaller dwelling. Groceries, gasoline and other commodities are also far more expensive within the five boroughs of New York than they are in other large urban centers.

2.  Los Angeles, California –Standing as the West Coast’s equivalent to New York in terms of cost of living is Los Angeles. As home to the nation’s television and film industries, L.A. attracts waves of aspiring actors, singers and other entertainers desperately searching for their big break. Living in L.A. means looking the part and the old maxim keeping up with the Joneses has been radically transformed. Extravagantly overpriced meals, designer fashions and the other trappings of the Hollywood lifestyle make L.A. one of the most expensive places to live in the country.

3.  San Francisco, California –Located just 35 miles from the Silicon Valley technology hub, San Francisco has become home to America’s nouveau riche after dot com bmillionaires began flocking to the city in the late 90’s. The average two-bedroom rental in the City by the Bay costs $2,400 and nearby Berkeley realtors report a recent rise in housing costs. Acombination of gourmet eateries, high utility costs and long travel distances from the suburbs to downtown makes San Francisco one of the country’s costliest places to live.

4.  Jupiter Island, Florida –As the home of some of America’s wealthiest athletes and celebrities, this southern enclave has become one of the richest zip codes in the country. Tiger Woods and Celine Dion have recently built lavish, multimillion dollar mansions on Jupiter Island.

5.  Suffolk County, Long  Island, New York –Home to the Hamptons and other symbols of American opulence, Suffolk County has long been considered one of the country’s most expensive places to call home. From the Vanderbilts to the Kennedys, Suffolk County has always been a destination for the rich and powerful.

In general, gold is a fairly valuable commodity.  Like diamonds and other gemstones, as well as other precious metals, there is a finite quantity of gold in the world, so that gives the substance inherent value from the get-go.  Plus, it’s shiny, which people seem to think equates to some kind of intrinsic value.  But even beyond that, it is recognized to have trade value (as well as monetary value) pretty much anywhere around the globe.  So if you have actual gold, you can use it for barter in place of money, or trade it in for the current value in currency wherever you happen to be in the world.  But investing in gold is another matter entirely, and whether or not it’s a good idea depends on several factors.

In terms of investment value, gold should be considered in the same way as any other stock, which is to say speculatively.  At the moment, the price of gold on the investment market is quite high, which means it definitely isn’t a good time to buy.  In fact, many people who have invested in gold are currently trying to sell.  Like any other commodity, the value of gold will go up and down.  Remember a couple of years ago when the price of gold crashed?  It had been at all-time high and then the bottom dropped out.  But it came back up slowly over time, so that it is once again terribly high.  It goes in cycles that are not exactly predictable, but you can bet that if you hold onto gold investments long enough, they’ll eventually go down and then come back up again.

So at the moment, you probably don’t want to buy, but considering the supply-demand equation, more people selling than buying means that the price should begin to come down in the near future.  Another factor to consider is the value of the dollar, which is really what determines the value of gold.  It is relative to currency.  If you’re confused, consider that gold is what backs paper currency for most countries.  Since nobody really wants to carry around gold as a means of currency (it would get quite heavy), we use paper money that is guaranteed to have a value in gold.  If you’ve heard of Fort Knox, then you probably realize that there are places in the country where gold is stored.

Now, money continues to be printed, but the amount of gold in our coffers stays roughly the same, year upon year.  What this means is that the value of a dollar goes down, so that more dollars are needed to equal the same value in gold.  So the further the value of a dollar drops, the more gold becomes worth (although there are also times when the government takes money out of circulation to increase the value of the dollar).  So it’s not just about supply and demand of gold bonds on the stock market, it’s about the number of dollars you would theoretically have to spend to get a certain amount of gold.

The long and short of it is that you don’t want to start buying up gold coins online or purchasing gold stocks for your investment portfolio at the moment.  Wait until the price drops significantly before buying.  If, on the other hand, you have gold or gold bonds to sell, now might be an ideal time to do so – if you can find a buyer.

Most of us don’t live like the jet-set, coming home to a million-dollar mansion, driving high-end automobiles, and taking off for weekends in the Hamptons to “get away from it all”.  But if we had the money to move beyond the rat race, we certainly wouldn’t opt for clunky older cars that are on their last legs or a seat in coach for cross-Atlantic flights.  No, most people, if they had the means, would travel like a millionaire, utilizing the costly methods of locomotion that take only the wealthiest customers from point A to point B.  Although many of us will never enter the upper echelons of wealth, you may be able to scrape together enough dough to enjoy some of the finer forms of travel to be found in the world these days.  Here are just a few that millionaires regularly enjoy.

1. Helicopter.  Although these small aircraft are most often used by the military, hospitals, and news organizations, that doesn’t mean they can’t be privately owned.  And if you’re making millions, you might have the cash on hand to purchase one (along with the helipads needed to park them and a pilot to fly you around).  It may seem a bit opulent, but wouldn’t you just love to yell, “Get to the chopper!” (complete with Ah-nuld accent) every morning on your way to work?
2. Yacht.  If you’re going to tour the globe via the water that covers 70% of the planet, then there’s no better way to do it in style than with a luxurious and powerful yacht.  Funny enough, you don’t have to have a ton of dough to own a yacht (although you’ll likely have to pay the ongoing fee for a berth somewhere).  But if you’re rich you can get a really nice stealth yacht (yes, you read that right) like the Strand Craft 122 Super Yacht, which features an art deco interior (including four staterooms, a salon, and a reception area), a Rolls Royce engine, and a matching sports car that has its own garage in the back of the boat.  Yowsa.  Of course, at $24 million dollars, it’s one heck of an expensive way to see the ocean blue.
3. Private jets.  If you’re not so much into the outrageous travel options available to millionaires, then perhaps you’d rather settle for something a little tamer, like a private jet.  With many small airports catering to the rich and famous that prefer this method of travel, you can get on and off without any pesky security checks or frisky TSA agents stopping you and fly in the comfort of your own cabin, complete with wait staff and a slew of pricy food and beverage options that you won’t get from Delta or Continental.
4. Private cars. Stretch limos may be a bit much (then again they might not), but if you can’t stand to deal with traffic, then town cars with drivers will still provide for luxury transportation about town while you relax, sip some champagne, and play Angry Birds on your diamond encrusted iPhone.
5. Luxury vehicles.  If you’re the go-getter type, perhaps you’d rather drive yourself around.  But if you’ve got millions, you’ll still want to travel in style.  That’s where a garage full of luxury cars (both classic and new) comes into play.

Emma Martin writes for Boston Limousine Service which offers over 100 unique vehicles and superior service at affordable prices.