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

Chris · #1 03-26-2008, 09:28 PM

Just lately we've had a number of posts of people wanting to move to the DR on very limited budgets. Kinda a different group of people .. not those who want to work themselves silly, not those who want to aim for great success in business or money, but low budget folks that want to live a simple but still reasonable life. Seems to me they are willing to make sacrifices. I have no problem with these folks and think that perhaps the financial situation in the US (and the world) is kinda pressing and people are looking to other solutions.

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.

These folks may be needing expat community support if they get into trouble. (Illness, accidents, etc.)

These folks may be very well suited to do those community support actions that most of the busy expats do not have time for. In other words, the' salt of the earth' ingredient

Questions ...

Do we want to encourage the very low budget expat?

Will this 'blow the mind' of the Dominicans that are used to the 'ever stretching' gringo pockets? What would be the Dominican reaction?

What is the lowest budget that a gringo could live on in the DR and still live?

Tallman1818 · #2 03-26-2008, 09:33 PM

What is the lowest budget that a gringo could live on in the DR and still live?

I will say about $1,000 USD monthy.
Take public transportation and eat what an average Dominican eats.

My 2 cents.

johne · #3 03-26-2008, 09:50 PM

One more person that does not have a vote/say in the government of the country. One more person that will give less to their host country than they receive.One more person that THINKS they are moving to paradise, before paradise in the sky, and will be challenged to make a real go at living.

One more person that thinks "retirement" is the finish line. BTW-for those that post "five more years to the end of working, bla, bla, bla..... retirement is not the finish line, it is the start of a new life for you. The DR has many, many strong points, but is it for you????

john

Julio Tulio · #4 03-26-2008, 10:03 PM

For an adult you need at least 1000 US a month to live ..okay.Bare minimim 800.

Un aparta-estudio(aka one bedroom,one bath),utilities,gas/transportation and groceries alone.

Thats about six-seven hundred dollars outside of the barrios.

The rest is pocket money just to maybe grab a chimi,drink some beers,and shoot some pool.

Forget about Ipods,Imacs,HBO,Caddillacs,etc..unless we're talking care packages and remittances from relatives back home.

And thats living modestly which americans are allergic too.

Thats why Dom-york go running home con la cabeza baja.Too expensive for such ****ty services and lifestyle.

tlbaker78 · #5 03-26-2008, 10:05 PM

Not all Americans are Alergic to living on a budget...Most are!! I know, as you can see from the people here, But not all are!

Julio Tulio · #6 03-26-2008, 10:08 PM

tbtalkers,.....you cant convince anyone on our island that a white foreigner isnt rich.

You could be Armenian,you're a "gringo" to us...a target.Sorry to tell you.And life is not cheap at all even if you try.

Like I said,even Dominican americans go running back home here.In their 60's and 70's with children already rooted here with nothing to lose,just pack it up and dissapear after ten years,cuz the prices down there are MURDER>

Not to mention how ****ing STUCK UP dominicans are.You should visit and live in the capital in a middleclass area for 2 weeks and see if you can stand it...I mean survive..lololo...

SKing · #7 03-26-2008, 10:15 PM

VAMOS A VER

Yes, I think that some posters are rude and inconsiderate. But I also think that there are posters who may actually have concern for people who are making such a big change in their lives. I felt almost the same as you tlbaker78 until I started getting PMs and emails from posters who really want to help. I am in a worse situation than you because I have children...I know that there are people here on this site (and in the USA) who are waiting for me to fail. But I feel that if I can live off of $2,300-$2,500 USD per month in the US, I could certainly do it in the DR. Maybe I would not be so sure if I did not know tons of people who are already doing it. $700-$1000USD goes a long way if you stretch it.
I think low budget posters should be encourage to do what they think is best for them and then let us know about it. You never know until you try... I have already secured a rental house in Sajoma and plan to go in April to pay for the school I have chosen in Santiago and so far monthly I am up to 12,000pesos for the both (and that's school for 2 children).
Life is what you make it...low budget or high budget
Just my opinion

Chris · #8 03-26-2008, 10:16 PM

tlbaker78, this is a thread meant for expats. Folks that have been in the DR and lived in the DR for some years - the folks that have forgotten about us and them!. I would stop with all the words if I were you, cause I'm going to delete you. I need the experienced voices, not the newbies. Now, put that in your pipe and smoke it - and be quiet for a few ... There are many rich white gringos on here, and there are many not so rich white gringos on here. We can just as well tell you to go to your own country and be not so rich there! OK! so be quiet a little.

If you'all don't get it by now, this will be heavily moderated. So, think before you respond! tlbaker78, you have two threads already! That is enough for anyone ...

Adrian Bye · #9 03-26-2008, 10:16 PM

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.

Chris · #10 03-26-2008, 10:20 PM

But can they survive AdrianB? Survive on a level that is not a bigger burden than the import? And can we save a little you know? Savings, the real dinkum stuff ..