Spending money

sarahshubin

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Feb 18, 2004
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Hello- To all those who live in the DR: On average, how much money a month do you spend on extras, like clothes, cigarettes, CD's, little drinks, little snack, etc? I'm not talking about all food, or bills, or any of that, i just want to know how much is averagely spent on recreational-type things. Thanks-
 

crybaby12

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Mar 19, 2004
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Agree

I think that all those unneeded things like CD's and going out to eat and other stuff is a stupid thing to do if your already struggling. it will make yuo struggle more.
 

sarahshubin

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Feb 18, 2004
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I didn't say i was struggling actually-- i just wanted to know how much money i should bring for a year of DR living-- for personal spending costs, that is
 

Forbeca

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sarahshubin said:
I didn't say i was struggling actually-- i just wanted to know how much money i should bring for a year of DR living-- for personal spending costs, that is


Just curious as to why you'd bring money to last for an entire year. What w/ you do with the money? open an account? Why not withdraw the money from your existing account on a weekly basis?
 

sarahshubin

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Feb 18, 2004
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i don't have an exsisting account.....i'm going to open an account in the DR for a year's worth of spending money (i'm going as an exchange student, so thats all i'll need-- money for recreational stuff and maybe a few personal belongings)...i want to figure out, based on the prices for things in the DR, how much i should plan on saving up to bring with me...
 

mountainfrog

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Dec 8, 2003
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Wide Range

"Recreational stuff" is hard to define unless you know the individual likings of a person.
Of course walks on the malecon (if not mugged) are cheaper than visits at the casino or entertainment with the opposite sex.
So the answer is: zero to unlimited.
 

MaineGirl

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Jun 23, 2002
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sarahshubin said:
i don't have an exsisting account.....i'm going to open an account in the DR for a year's worth of spending money (i'm going as an exchange student, so thats all i'll need-- money for recreational stuff and maybe a few personal belongings)...i want to figure out, based on the prices for things in the DR, how much i should plan on saving up to bring with me...


I wouldn't open an account. Keep your US account and use an ATM, or bring traveller's checks and change as needed. The peso is weak against the dollar, so keep your dollars.

As for spending money...everyone has different spending habits. I find things are cheap in the DR compared to the US.

Give us a list of what you buy in a week, or month...maybe that will help?
 

Forbeca

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sarahshubin said:
i don't have an exsisting account.....i'm going to open an account in the DR for a year's worth of spending money (i'm going as an exchange student, so thats all i'll need-- money for recreational stuff and maybe a few personal belongings)...i want to figure out, based on the prices for things in the DR, how much i should plan on saving up to bring with me...



I see, well, it's been a long time since my college days, and I'm not the best person to give advice on money, as my husband w/ tell you, I go through it like water. Sooo, perhaps someone else can chime in with suggestions.

I'd say that $150-200 monthly is a modest amount.
 

Domwolf

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Mar 22, 2004
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Don't u dare

Don't u dare come down here and change all your cash on the 1st day and open an account.

Change only a few bucks to open the account and change only as u need.

Now as for extras, as u r a student u must be young so having the newest fad and newest cd is a must, but if your not that type of person then u are ok

cd's here are about the same as the U.S.A. because of the exchange rate. $US13-$US20.

shirts and pants here u can find a good discount at sometimes better price but not name brands (but still good) if u want name brands u will pay the price like in the U.S.A.

Going out, if u go to fast food joints like MCD or BK or KFC they are i bit more expensive then in the states but they are pleanty of chicken and burger joints that are at a good price and taste better than those fast foods places

So all in all, it dependes on were u are going to stay and who u hang with. Just be smart and $us goes a long way here :)
 

MaineGirl

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In my AFS days, I budgeted about $30 a week. Enough for sodas and sweets, the occasional magazine, movie....and for extra trips I'd have to scrimp a bit....but my host family paid for a lot of what we did as a family. The whole year I spent $1500, give or take.

Sarah, aren't you a sophomore in high school yet?
 

sarahshubin

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Feb 18, 2004
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yup, i'm a sophmore... I'm just about to get a summer job, and i'm trying to estimate how much i should try to save for spending money. Thanks for the advice...i'm not the kind to jump on any new trend, but i love to go out, see movies, sit at cafes, and get pedicures...
 

Johy

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sarahshubin said:
yup, i'm a sophmore... I'm just about to get a summer job, and i'm trying to estimate how much i should try to save for spending money. Thanks for the advice...i'm not the kind to jump on any new trend, but i love to go out, see movies, sit at cafes, and get pedicures...

I think that with 200 US$ a month will be more than enough, that's if you don't want to feel a little tied at the moment you want to go out. Pedicure is really cheap in DR, of course depends on where you go but it won't cost more than RD$ 200 pesos (and this is in the most expensive places). It all depend on the places you'll go, also in what part of DR you will be?. The 200 US$ estimate is for a place like Santo Domingo, if is in other places could be less, and as I said before this is if you don't want to feel tied at the moment to choose where you want to go.

Johy ;)