Is $1800 a month enough?

[AZB]

at least you wont get charged gringo prices, just a thought.

Blackrainbow

You would be surprised to know, domincians (from outside) pay higher price than the locals who live here. The problem is, dominicans who lived outside of DR all their lives have little idea of how the prices and things work here. They have little clue of what is going on here on daily basis. I see dominican yorks pay higher prices (like gringos) every day. Local dominicans love to charge them more because domican yorks have a fame for spending money like crazy when they come on vacations. Then you have the dominican yorks comparing dominican prices with NY prices and find the prices (gringo rates) cheaper.
AZB

 

[blackrainbow]

i also read half of his family are in DR. which means he has knowledge of dominican republic, maybe etc?

BlackRainbow

 

[MikeFisher]

You would be surprised to know, domincians (from outside) pay higher price than the locals who live here. The problem is, dominicans who lived outside of DR all their lives have little idea of how the prices and things work here. They have little clue of what is going on here on daily basis. I see dominican yorks pay higher prices (like gringos) every day. Local dominicans love to charge them more because domican yorks have a fame for spending money like crazy when they come on vacations. Then you have the dominican yorks comparing dominican prices with NY prices and find the prices (gringo rates) cheaper.
AZB

absolutely correct,
I see that on daily bases here in the Touristy PC Area.

and btw,
"Gringo Prices" are only paid by Gringos who did not do their homework to know what the real value/price of specific products is.
a Newbie may need a month or if slow even 2 months in a new neighbourhood in the new country, but then he/she should have figured out what is worth how much and get all the daily stuff for the usual Rates/Prices.
really Living with the Neighbours makes you in this country very quick a Real Neighbour.
sure such doesn't work for the ones living on a Fenced off Property and the only visits toTown are Driving Through in a big Jeep with dark Windows, lol.
without Rent 1800 a month would even here in PC be enough for a comfo Life including sending a child to a good bilingual private school.

if I would ever decide to move into a City, Santiago would be my own choice on the Isle.
but I stay Country, lol.

good luck
Mike

 

[DRdaddy]

The problem is, many dominicans from usa come here, relying on personal guidance from their family members, primos etc and often make the wrong decisions. Example: they often are guided to invest in some stupid business like, restaurant, carwash or some investment scheme etc. They lose it all in 6 months and then have to go back to usa empty handed

So true AZB my dad had to find this out the hard way with his own brothers, if you let them they will use you.That is life, some family will help you, others just seem to want to see you fail.

On another note;Damn 4G in santiago ...wish they had something going on in harabacoa.

 

[MikeFisher]

i also read half of his family are in DR. which means he has knowledge of dominican republic, maybe etc?

BlackRainbow

maybe yes or maybe no,
not necessarily.
many Dominicans are in the USA since looong Years or even raised there, aside of a x-mas visit every other Year they often have not much contact with the daily dominican lifestyle, they are used to their lifestyle in the USA on daily bases and have to get used to the Islandlife like evrybody else coming down to the Isle.
at least he speaks his native Language, that's of course a big advantage over many others.
Mike

 

[MikeFisher]

The problem is, many dominicans from usa come here, relying on personal guidance from their family members, primos etc and often make the wrong decisions. Example: they often are guided to invest in some stupid business like, restaurant, carwash or some investment scheme etc. They lose it all in 6 months and then have to go back to usa empty handed

So true AZB my dad had to find this out the hard way with his own brothers, if you let them they will use you.That is life, some family will help you, others just seem to want to see you fail.

On another note;Damn 4G in santiago ...wish they had something going on in harabacoa.

Yes,
it is similar to so many foreigners beeing taken advantage of by their own fellow countrymen living down here.
too much trust and not suspicious over them, while they are often the worst Tigueres to find in a new Country.
Mike

 

[Dominicanoc]

Thanks once again guys/girls, with family a lot of them are telling me Dominican is really bad don't come out here, so I rather not ask them right now, I use to go every summer when I was a kid, I also live in Santiago for 2 years 15 and 16 years old, So I wanted to get the input of the forums and I really want to thank you guys/girls for it...

 

[bob saunders]

Thanks once again guys/girls, with family a lot of them are telling me Dominican is really bad don't come out here, so I rather not ask them right now, I use to go every summer when I was a kid, I also live in Santiago for 2 years 15 and 16 years old, So I wanted to get the input of the forums and I really want to thank you guys/girls for it...

Since you are Dominican you know that your countrymen have a tendency to exaggerate the negative. Yes Crime is up, and the economy is affected by the Global economy, as well a have a government that misdirects tax dollars. Having said that I?ve spent the last month in Jarabacoa, and not in one of the better sections of town and I never felt in danger, or witnessed, heard, or heard about much of anything to be concerned about.

 

[Dominicanoc]

Hey bob saunders same thing hear, I always hear how the crime is so bad, in new york and friend of mine got robbed at gun point at 10 am in uptown Manhattan, last week I was in vacation in Punta cana, and I drove from Punta Cana to Santiago in a rental car and the only thing I saw bad was crazy ass drivers but no type of crime, I say if you hang out with the wrong people or in the wrong place you looking to get rob, or if you go to Dominican with a lot of gold on, you are looking to get robbed.

 

[bachata]

The big mistake most Dominican York do when moving back to DR is the life style they want to have, usually theses people (we) are of a low social class but when relocating to DR want to become part of the high class using the saving of many years of hard work in the US or Europe but this money is not enough to support this life style as it goes fast in the construction of big houses and the luxury cars, theses stupid chopo Dominicans with no education and or administration in most of the case will have to go back to US to start washing dishes again...

Haha

JJ

 

[Dominicanoc]

LOL Bachata I like that one, with me is not really savings I'm 31 years old I got hurt in my state job and had 3 major back surgery, I'm getting $1800 a month for the rest of my life, So I was thinking the $1800 will do better in DR then here...

 

[Lando calrisian]

It's true what Bachata say's, people come wanting to style and profile and forget the fact that they came here to live simpler lifestyle. I almost fell into the temptation of buying a yipeta and moving away from the house. I had a good wake up call and remembered that I came to live pobre pero feliz and not rico like a Vicini. I still hang out but don't spend like before. 1800USD is great!!!

 

[ExtremeR]

The big mistake most Dominican York do when moving back to DR is the life style they want to have, usually theses people (we) are of a low social class but when relocating to DR want to become part of the high class using the saving of many years of hard work in the US or Europe but this money is not enough to support this life style as it goes fast in the construction of big houses and the luxury cars, theses stupid chopo Dominicans with no education and or administration in most of the case will have to go back to US to start washing dishes again...

Haha

JJ

True!! Haha!

 

[Frank the Tank]

The big mistake most Dominican York do when moving back to DR is the life style they want to have, usually theses people (we) are of a low social class but when relocating to DR want to become part of the high class using the saving of many years of hard work in the US or Europe but this money is not enough to support this life style as it goes fast in the construction of big houses and the luxury cars, theses stupid chopo Dominicans with no education and or administration in most of the case will have to go back to US to start washing dishes again...

Haha

JJ

Bingo!! We have a winner.

 

[AZB]

The people who have to work in santiago and depend on their salary or business are the ones who are suffering the most. No wonder your family is telling you to stay there (usa). Now you have an ideal situation here, you get your money from usa. Now all you have to do is live way below your 1800 dollars / month budget and save some for the rainy days. After making the initial investments, you need little to live here. Do not buy a fancy SUV or a gas guzzler. Gasoline is way more expensive here than in USA. Do not listen to some dominicans who would instantly guide you into buying a SUV and convince you that this is the only type of car you need. Remember, when you are in financial disaster, they will not pay your bills. Mostly when you take dominican advise, especially people from barrios, you normally get a bad advise. The primos and friends most likely give you a bad advise on how to live here. If you want to know how to survive in santiago, ask people who came here from usa and made it, not the locals, because they didn't have to start from the scratch like we did. We had to find out everything, from buying a stove to setting up the satellite system. You need to live away from the barrio because once the people know you are a gringa (speak english) and have all the goodies at home then you may become a target. Do not make friends with people who want to be your friends. The rule of thumb is, make friends with people who don't need your friendship. You may not understand what I am saying now, but it will make sense to you after a few years of living here. Do not just take any electrician or a plumber or a handy man to come and fix things in your house. Remember, they watch and observe what you have at home, then they talk to their primos and sooner or later, your possessions will change hands. The expats or dominicans who have gotten robbed at home are the same people who invite just about anyone home, example: colmado guys to bring in things, cheap barrio girls/hookers, barrio vagabundo guys even handy men from shady backgrounds etc. These people watch and take note. I was shocked to see how much the tigres in the barrios know about other people's business. I stay in capital from monday to frinday and come home to santiago on weekends. I was at the local barber shop and I was shocked to hear the question from the barber's mouth "doctor, usted todavia esta pasando toda la semana en capital y viene aqui solo los fines de semana?". wow. he said "doctor, you are still spending your week in capital and only come home on weekends?"
how did he know that? he just did. He didn't see my car in my driveway on weekdays so he came to this conclusion when he heard from other people that I work in capital now. I told him immediately that I have a guy staying in the back service apartment and its true. We have a guy living on the property whom the owners know and trust. But the point is, the barrio tigres knew about my movements in the weekdays.
AZB

 

[greydread]

LOL Bachata I like that one, with me is not really savings I'm 31 years old I got hurt in my state job and had 3 major back surgery, I'm getting $1800 a month for the rest of my life, So I was thinking the $1800 will do better in DR then here...

I think you're correct in moving to the DR. I can't think of many places in the US where $1,800 a month would cover basic expenses. Is the State also taking care of your medical expenses and prescriptions? That would be my major concern. Do you foresee the need for future operations?

I know Miami is only 2 hours away but having suffered a ruptured disc once I have a feel for the level of pain involved and I know that back then a 2 hour plane ride would have made me suicidal, regardless of the med's.

Have you looked into identifying orthopedic specialists in the DR? You might be able to find very good (and less expensive) treatment from one of them, after all medical tourism is one of the growing economic sectors. Not all tourists are there to frolic in the Caribbean. I have met a few in my travels.

 

[suarezn]

even extremeR agrees with you. Now imagine, if the same (exact) post was written by AZB? hahahaha you dominicans would be all over me.
So extreme, what does that make you?
AZB

Well as you know we Dominicans get a "ghetto pass" on this. It's like when black people in The US say the "N" word, but if you're not black then you're not allowed to say it.

 

[AlterEgo]

Well as you know we Dominicans get a "ghetto pass" on this. It's like when black people in The US say the "N" word, but if you're not black then you're not allowed to say it.

You're right on the money with this suarezn.

I'm allowed to criticize my countrymen, my husband, my family, but if YOU dare to do it, well, watch out!!:cheeky:

AE

 

[Robert]

If you guys continue, you're all going on Vacation.

Don't say you wasn't warned, when all of a sudden you cannot login to the forum anymore.

 

[suarezn]

Now for your information: suarezn, extremeR or even bachata don't live in their own beautiful land. They have sold their patriotism in exchange for the green dollar. I am a pakistani born, american citizen and I have left my life in the good ol USA to come and live in your land. So tell me, who has more right to criticize this country? the people who actually live and work here or the people who log on to DR1 from USA? By the same token, who knows more about the current events in DR? The foreigner who lives here 24/7 or a dominican who only visits here from time to time?

AZB

We have the god given birth right to criticize our own and unfortunately you can't (unless you have lived in The DR forever, have raised a Dominican family, etc...i.e Hillbilly gets a "Dominican pass" in my book). I know, I know...you live there 24X7 and we don't anymore (even though I'm in touch with The DR on a daily basis, visit every couple of months, own my house and property down there, etc.). Unfortunately life's not fair and even though you may feel that you know Dominicans (and you may) there are some cultural things that you may never understand.

I could move to Waziristan, learn to speak fluent Pashtun, become a hardcore muslin, etc...but I'm sure you'd never see me as truly one of your own and I'm sure I would never get a "Pakistani Pass".

Anyhow, back to the regular scheduled program...

...and Robert don't get me involved with this. I'm not arguing with anyone, just stating a fact of life.