Moving to the DR on a low budget! Questions and Musings

[Hillbilly]

tlbaker: I am not sure if I have posted on one of your threads.

But you sound like an interesting person.

Please go about this shift slowly. Unlike Cortez, do not burn your ships...

HB

[SKing]

Chris, I apologize for posting...I thought that the thread was for everyone and I hope that I did not say anything offensive.
But anyway, I'll keep reading and thread hopping...this is my relaxation after a 12 hour Nursing shift!!!

[Chris]

Not at all Sking ... you have a valuable contribution and your opinion so far is appreciated.

[Adrian Bye]

IMHO economically it doesn't really matter if they don't survive. They will just go back to their native countries and be a burden there, ie on healthcare or social security.

[SKing]

I'm sorry Chris... I have to...

Mister adrianB, whomever you are...contrary to what you MIGHT believe, I am not a burden on society whatsoever.
If I fail at my beloved attempt to live in a country that I love, be it for financial reasons or otherwise, I have quite a few companies, hospitals, etc...kissing my a**. I never have been or never will be a burden on society. I have worked since the age of 14 (I am now 32).
True enough, I am not rich by any means, and I plan to live like a local when I move to DR, but I am not running AWAY from financial problems, I am running TO happiness.
Chew on this: I am an African-American woman, born from poverty, 3 children, first child at the age of 18... and I have NEVER
1.) Been on welfare
2.) Been on free insurance
3.) Received free items from the government (i.e. CHEESE)
4.) Been dependent on a man or family

Get your facts straight or QUEDATE CALLADO

[mike l]

The Riches come with the Spoils, not everyone is going to purchase Real Estate in the DR, but even the attraction of possible short term renters helps that cause.

After all the DR1 is all about selling Real Estate and generating revenue, so why would anyone turn away a possible sale.

Airplanes come loaded from many countries with these individuals looking for the least expensive Island in the Caribbean . The DR is that Island, so if someone shows up with their $1000 and does not make it, there is always someone to bail them out, which is also good for the economy.

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by Chris

Musings ...
These folks won't be adding financial resources to the DR. They may be good people, but they will support themselves only. They however may teach, volunteer and bring other types of added value............... In other words, the' salt of the earth' ingredient

From my perspective these are two distinct groups of people. Those coming to volunteer define themselves by what they can do to help i.e. 'I'd like to teach skills I've got in so-and-so. Anyone got any ideas/contacts as to how I can do this?'. I get emails from a lot of such people - young, keen, have seen a need, want to make a difference. They bother very little about themselves and how they will manage - their focus is on others. For themselves they'll make do - young & healthy they can & are prepared to put up with physical privations to get the emotional, or for some spiritual, satisfaction of doing something useful. I have all the time in the world for these people. They are independent, survivors and you give a little bit of help & they do the rest.

Those looking for an easy life on minimum budget are a different group psychologically IMHO. They don't define themselves by what they can do to help, they define themselves by what life will be like for them. Real volunteers know they're in for a hard slog. I've come across very few real volunteers with 'attitude'. Min-budget-easy-life, on the other hand, may well wish to emulate the lifestyle of those better off but can't. I'm not so sure that MBELs would volunteer to help (& with some I'm not oversure I'd want them to.............). MBELs aren't necessarily survivors nor are they necessarily all that independent and yes, many may well fall back on the expat community for support and help.

Just some thoughts from one who arrived 15+ years ago MB but definitely not EL.

[Malibook]

Originally Posted by johne

One more person that will give less to their host country than they receive.
john

They will spend less than some other foreigners but so what?
What is it that you think they will receive from the Dominican Republic?
It's not like they will use public school, health care, and welfare.
There doesn't seem to be much of a public social safety net in the DR for Dominicans so what is it that foreigners can receive?

They are spending money in the Dominican Republic that otherwise would be spent elsewhere.
If their limited budget isn't a problem for them, why would it be a problem for anybody else?

I would wish them well.

[Adrian Bye]

SKing, you crack me up! Why do you assume I know who you are and was writing about you? :-)

[Malibook]

Originally Posted by adrianb

All those guys coming over with $1,000/month to live on will be an overall positive for the DR because they are importing money and spending it on the local economy.

Exactly.

One could argue that they are contributing more than someone who is recirculating existing pesos, especially when these transactions do not add taxes to the public coffers.

I don't think the Dominican Republic's taxpayers will be providing them with public education, health care, welfare, food bank, subsidized housing, etc...

Now the ones who are going with no income, little savings, bleak job prospects, and no cash for a return ticket, should think twice.