I have been following DR1 for about 2 years now - and I have found it extremely helpful!
I would like to start joining some discussions as I have time - as well as be able to get helpful advice from the group when possible.
I am going to list my budget costs that I have had for the last year in Santo Domingo Este in order to give people an idea of my present experiences.
This is for a family of four - myself, my wife, 8 year old step-daughter and 7 month old son.
I am American (early 40s) and still travel for work. My wife is Dominicana.
These are only my costs in the Dominican Republic.
I will list everything in pesos, hopefully that is helpful.
Yearly costs budgeted:
3 bedroom apartment - pay one year in advance, 150,000 pesos (keep in mind that is really on 11 months as the lawyer takes one month)
Car Insurance for a Rav4 - 35,000 pesos
Car Registration/Fees - 7,000 pesos
Monthly costs budgeted:
Security person - 2,000 pesos (Double for "13th Month" in December)
Service Lady - 5,000 pesos (Double for "13th Month" in December)
Food - 14,000 pesos
Water - 700 pesos
Trash - 500 pesos
Gas for Stove - 800 pesos
Electricity - 8,000 pesos (without AC, it was around 3,000)
Cable TV - 1,400 pesos
Internet and Landline Telephone - 2,300
Gas for Car - 5,000 pesos (some months more, depending on travel)
Car Maintenance - 3,000 pesos
School - 4,000 pesos
Doctor/Dentist - 3,000 pesos (Mostly budgeted for the baby)
Medicine/Pharmacy - 3,000 pesos (Mostly budgeted for the baby, but occassionally for flu or other medicine needs)
Baby Formula - 3,000 pesos
Diapers - 3,000 pesos
Mini-Market - 5,000 pesos (for some reason, there are always a few items needed each day from the Mini-Market or LaSirena)
Cell Phone Minutes - 1,000 pesos
Baby Clothes - 800 pesos
Other Clothes - 3,000 pesos
Car Wash - 300 pesos
Hairdresser/Barber - 3,000 pesos
Go out for Pizza - 1,200 pesos
Night out with the wife - 5,000 pesos
Presidentes with Extended Family and Friends - 3,000 pesos
One time costs to factor in that I do not have the exact amounts:
Cost of Used Toyota Rav4
Cost of Furniture for Apartment
Cost of Stove and Refridgerator for Apartment
Cost of Washing Machine for Apartment
Cost of Air Conditioner for Apartment
Cost of 2 TVs for Apartment
Cost of Miscellaneous items: Hose, Clothesline to Dry Clothes, Plants and Nicknacks for Apartment, Utensils/Pots/Pans for Kitchen, Plates, Silverware, Pillows, Sheets, Towels, Shower Curtains, the Cable Boxes were a seperate one-time cost, Fixing both bathrooms so they operate properly...
And I am sure that I have missed some "one-time" costs, but I mention them because they add up.
I have also found that I need to add an "Emergency/Miscellaneous" line to my monthly budget, because there always seems to be something that goes wrong or needs fixing - and therefor extra money.
And - I have not added in Insurance costs, because I do not have local insurance yet, but I would like advice on getting a good family plan and what those costs might be.
Also - not budgeted is saving money for a family vacation, presently that is considered by how well work goes each year and then vacation is taken accordingly.
I have my wife (or one of her brothers or father) price some things out for me before I purchase, so I do not get an "Americano" price - which I have seen happen.
I would love any input about ways to save money on my costs for a family of four in Santo Domingo Este.
I am posting this so others can see the costs that I have run up against. I know others have posted similar threads, but there always seem to be a lot of missing costs on those threads, so I am trying to help round out a fuller picture - at least in the Santo Domingo Este area.
As well as see if I can do better based on any advice I receive.
MJ
I would like to start joining some discussions as I have time - as well as be able to get helpful advice from the group when possible.
I am going to list my budget costs that I have had for the last year in Santo Domingo Este in order to give people an idea of my present experiences.
This is for a family of four - myself, my wife, 8 year old step-daughter and 7 month old son.
I am American (early 40s) and still travel for work. My wife is Dominicana.
These are only my costs in the Dominican Republic.
I will list everything in pesos, hopefully that is helpful.
Yearly costs budgeted:
3 bedroom apartment - pay one year in advance, 150,000 pesos (keep in mind that is really on 11 months as the lawyer takes one month)
Car Insurance for a Rav4 - 35,000 pesos
Car Registration/Fees - 7,000 pesos
Monthly costs budgeted:
Security person - 2,000 pesos (Double for "13th Month" in December)
Service Lady - 5,000 pesos (Double for "13th Month" in December)
Food - 14,000 pesos
Water - 700 pesos
Trash - 500 pesos
Gas for Stove - 800 pesos
Electricity - 8,000 pesos (without AC, it was around 3,000)
Cable TV - 1,400 pesos
Internet and Landline Telephone - 2,300
Gas for Car - 5,000 pesos (some months more, depending on travel)
Car Maintenance - 3,000 pesos
School - 4,000 pesos
Doctor/Dentist - 3,000 pesos (Mostly budgeted for the baby)
Medicine/Pharmacy - 3,000 pesos (Mostly budgeted for the baby, but occassionally for flu or other medicine needs)
Baby Formula - 3,000 pesos
Diapers - 3,000 pesos
Mini-Market - 5,000 pesos (for some reason, there are always a few items needed each day from the Mini-Market or LaSirena)
Cell Phone Minutes - 1,000 pesos
Baby Clothes - 800 pesos
Other Clothes - 3,000 pesos
Car Wash - 300 pesos
Hairdresser/Barber - 3,000 pesos
Go out for Pizza - 1,200 pesos
Night out with the wife - 5,000 pesos
Presidentes with Extended Family and Friends - 3,000 pesos
One time costs to factor in that I do not have the exact amounts:
Cost of Used Toyota Rav4
Cost of Furniture for Apartment
Cost of Stove and Refridgerator for Apartment
Cost of Washing Machine for Apartment
Cost of Air Conditioner for Apartment
Cost of 2 TVs for Apartment
Cost of Miscellaneous items: Hose, Clothesline to Dry Clothes, Plants and Nicknacks for Apartment, Utensils/Pots/Pans for Kitchen, Plates, Silverware, Pillows, Sheets, Towels, Shower Curtains, the Cable Boxes were a seperate one-time cost, Fixing both bathrooms so they operate properly...
And I am sure that I have missed some "one-time" costs, but I mention them because they add up.
I have also found that I need to add an "Emergency/Miscellaneous" line to my monthly budget, because there always seems to be something that goes wrong or needs fixing - and therefor extra money.
And - I have not added in Insurance costs, because I do not have local insurance yet, but I would like advice on getting a good family plan and what those costs might be.
Also - not budgeted is saving money for a family vacation, presently that is considered by how well work goes each year and then vacation is taken accordingly.
I have my wife (or one of her brothers or father) price some things out for me before I purchase, so I do not get an "Americano" price - which I have seen happen.
I would love any input about ways to save money on my costs for a family of four in Santo Domingo Este.
I am posting this so others can see the costs that I have run up against. I know others have posted similar threads, but there always seem to be a lot of missing costs on those threads, so I am trying to help round out a fuller picture - at least in the Santo Domingo Este area.
As well as see if I can do better based on any advice I receive.
MJ