Gregg said:this thread is for whiners. how about some strategies to reduce costs? buy in bulk? buy at markets? cook from scratch? get a breadmaker? raise a few chickens? plant a fruit tree?
The best answer Gregg, is for them to STOP buying imported (or imported BRAND names) & to buy LOCAL stuff:
For Kelloggs buy Maizzorana (or some such spelling) or Best Flakes
For Bran try Salvado (in cooking section - NOT in cereals section!!) or for bran flakes get Country Best.
For Campbell's buy Linda condensed or Maggi packet soups.
Flora or Mazorra margerine is RD $112 per THREE lb!!!
For Speedstick buy Deporte or Sure (local brand)
For Colgate buy Tropical's Dental plus
For Charmin buy Victoria's (I don't NEED to improve my sex life so I am prepared to pay RD $12 per roll rather than the cheaper RD $8.00 per roll).
Instead of Supermarket French loaf, buy 'Flouter' from local baker (RD $16)
Snickers & other chocolate biscuits??? I have regular supplies from England & USA brought down by friends & contacts (Which I generally pay for before our resident joker pipes in) which work out a LOT cheaper than buying here!
Apart from the 30% plus savings their pocket will benefit from, the local DR businesses will also prosper, so they will be doing GOOD for the DR at the same time!! THINK DOMINICAN - Not Convenience!!
We have started a small vegetable garden & produce our own peppers (green & hot reds!), have canteloupe melons starting to grow & will put other veges down as we find what will grow in our garden. We also have 2 grapefruit trees, 5 banana trees (cycled so as NOT to produce all at the same time!!), 3 orange trees, 4 lime trees, & 3 avocado trees, We also plant cherry tomatoes in Jan which give us 6 months of produce, April - October!!
If we can find these 30% plus savings in the supermarkets of Puerto Plata, I am sure that Santo Domingo & Santiago prices will afford even greater savings .................. IF they shop around sensibly!! ~ Grahame.