- Thread starter Robert
- Start date
Living Costs in the Dominican Republic
I suffer from the same diseasePrice Smart is tricky, I always walk out with stuff I dont need, watch out for that.
I suffer from the same disease
this desease is typically found on females of all ages.
they leave the house to "quickly get some needed small thingy" from the Supermarket. of course the supermarket is strategically perfectly located in the middle of a big nice Mall, and they come back HOURS later, the Jeepeta loaded and the CC on it's limit.
and of course the Male in the house has to go to the next Colmado to get the needed lil stuff for which the wifey left the house in the first place.
i know very well about that desease, lol.
Mike
"Singles",...and "Childless Couples" MAY FIND IT EASY TO "ECONOMIZE,& downsize, but those of us with children know that they deserve better!
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they always deserve better, but when you are on a budget in the first world, purchasing even simple cheap stuff like TV's by CC to be able to afford such, then the children will be on a basic level in the new country, too. just that here a basic level is in case of schools and alikes many steps downgrading. and you will not get the next TV on pump, as you will not get any credit, you need to pay cash or watch the movies together with neighbours at their place.
Mike
Mike
Reason #6 {c}, second volume, in the list of why not to have kids..........especially in the dr.....
yet, like I told you - they doesnt seem to be bothered by their kids future...they just love them....
while on the other hand - what kind of population growth is in rich countries in Europe ? somewhere around 0 ? ;-)
they plan, they calculate....not like here
while on the other hand - what kind of population growth is in rich countries in Europe ? somewhere around 0 ? ;-)
they plan, they calculate....not like here
Meal Planning for a family of 5 for 10 days
Alright, so I am doing some meal planning and hope to start buying in bulk at Pricemart. Also, make and freeze a months worth of meals, the dinners anyways. Me have a new full time maid, so I am going to make it as easy for her as possible. We are a family of five, who spend way too much time eating and too much money on food. I've made a menu, bought everything, pre cooked and frozen everything I could, and left instruction for our new lady.
On the Menu, 10 days, M- F, for 3-4 adults, 1 teenager, 1 school aged child, and one toddler.
Chicken, Rice, Habichuelas
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Baked Pasta Dish with Garlic Bread
BBQ Chicken Wings with Fries
Homemade Pizza
Fish, Beans, and Rice
Whole Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Corn
Spaghetti and Garlic Cheesy Bread
Tacos
Cheeseburgers with Pickles and Chips
Above and beyond the items needs for the 10 dinners, I bought eggs, yogurt, bread, and fruit loops for breakfast. Plus, the maid will stop in the morning on her way here for fresh fruits for breakfast, and veggies for dinner. I am giving her RD$100 per day. Lunches will be school lunches, leftover, and sandwich stuff. I'll probably have to get some more eggs and bread. Weekends are open at the moment, probably BBQ or restaurants.
Purchased at Super Pola in Sosua
Product Amount DOP USD (44.5)
Hamburger 8 lb 744 $16.72
Ground Pork 2.67 lb 371.13 $8.34
Whole Chicken 2 4 LB 422.54 $9.50
Chicken Thigh/Leg 2 Package/ 4 250.58 $5.63
Chicken Drummies 2 Package/ 11 318.2 $7.15
Chicken Wings 2 package/ 11 293.16 $6.59
Fish Whole or Fillet 2.07 lb 184.23 $4.14
Pork Tenderloin 3.06 Lb 486.54 $10.93
Pepperoni Slices 1 1 Bag 171 $3.84
Sliced Ham 2 Package .5lb 174 $3.91
Sliced Turkey 2 Package .5lb 174 $3.91
Sliced Meat 2 Package .5lb 184 $4.13
Eggs 1 2 Dozen Pkg 214 $4.81
Speghetti 2 Bag 182 $4.09
Spiral Noodles 1 Bag 69.95 $1.57
Rigatoni 1 Bag 69.95 $1.57
Potatoes 1 4lb bag 141.44 $3.18
Red Beans Bag 199.9 $4.49
Taco Shells 2 Bag of 8 164 $3.69
Chips 2 Bag 282 $6.34
Hamburger Buns 16 Each 227.2 $5.11
Pizza Crust 6 Each 539.7 $12.13
Sandwich Bread 1 Loves 109.95 $2.47
Pasta Sauce (Huntz) 4 Cans 408 $9.17
Diced Tomatoes 4 Cans 339.8 $7.64
Corn 2 Cans 117.9 $2.65
BBQ Sauce 2 Bottle 195.9 $4.40
Taco Seasoning 2 Packets 125.9 $2.83
Sour Cream 1 Can 135 $3.03
Salsa 1 Can 170 $3.82
Mozarella 2.41 lb 445.85 $10.02
Cheddar 4.74 lb 924.3 $20.77
Milk 2 Cases/ 12 L 1258 $28.27
Butter 1 Stick 48 $1.08
Fruit Loops 4 Boxes 380 $8.54
Yougurt (flavor) 3 Bottles 387 $8.70
pancake mix 1 box 135 $3.03
Crackers 1 Boxes 69 $1.55
Peanut Butter 1 Jar 139 $3.12
frito lay 1 Bag 175 $3.93
Jelly 1 Jar 95 $2.13
Oreos 1 Package 119 $2.67
Doritos 1 Bag 125 $2.81
Toilet Paper 4 x4 319.8 $7.19
Bleach 2 149.9 $3.37
Mistolin 1 199 $4.47
Coffee 3 lbs 657 $14.76
2.5 L Coke 4 Bottles 260 $5.84
Juice Concentrate 1 Bottles 380 $8.54
Fanta 3 195 $4.38
Anejo 1.75 1 919 $20.65
Presedente 1 90 $2.02 (Got thirsty shopping!)
DOP USD
Sub Total 14935.82 $335.64
On sale -785 -$17.64
ITBIS 943 $21.19
Total 15093.82 $339.19
I'm going to try to do the same plan again for a month, and buy everything at Pricemart and compare. Some things I see already is to prepare my own pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. The accuracy above may be a few pesos off either way, my spreadsheet doesn't exactly line up with the receipt, but it's within 200 pesos.
Alright, so I am doing some meal planning and hope to start buying in bulk at Pricemart. Also, make and freeze a months worth of meals, the dinners anyways. Me have a new full time maid, so I am going to make it as easy for her as possible. We are a family of five, who spend way too much time eating and too much money on food. I've made a menu, bought everything, pre cooked and frozen everything I could, and left instruction for our new lady.
On the Menu, 10 days, M- F, for 3-4 adults, 1 teenager, 1 school aged child, and one toddler.
Chicken, Rice, Habichuelas
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Baked Pasta Dish with Garlic Bread
BBQ Chicken Wings with Fries
Homemade Pizza
Fish, Beans, and Rice
Whole Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Corn
Spaghetti and Garlic Cheesy Bread
Tacos
Cheeseburgers with Pickles and Chips
Above and beyond the items needs for the 10 dinners, I bought eggs, yogurt, bread, and fruit loops for breakfast. Plus, the maid will stop in the morning on her way here for fresh fruits for breakfast, and veggies for dinner. I am giving her RD$100 per day. Lunches will be school lunches, leftover, and sandwich stuff. I'll probably have to get some more eggs and bread. Weekends are open at the moment, probably BBQ or restaurants.
Purchased at Super Pola in Sosua
Product Amount DOP USD (44.5)
Hamburger 8 lb 744 $16.72
Ground Pork 2.67 lb 371.13 $8.34
Whole Chicken 2 4 LB 422.54 $9.50
Chicken Thigh/Leg 2 Package/ 4 250.58 $5.63
Chicken Drummies 2 Package/ 11 318.2 $7.15
Chicken Wings 2 package/ 11 293.16 $6.59
Fish Whole or Fillet 2.07 lb 184.23 $4.14
Pork Tenderloin 3.06 Lb 486.54 $10.93
Pepperoni Slices 1 1 Bag 171 $3.84
Sliced Ham 2 Package .5lb 174 $3.91
Sliced Turkey 2 Package .5lb 174 $3.91
Sliced Meat 2 Package .5lb 184 $4.13
Eggs 1 2 Dozen Pkg 214 $4.81
Speghetti 2 Bag 182 $4.09
Spiral Noodles 1 Bag 69.95 $1.57
Rigatoni 1 Bag 69.95 $1.57
Potatoes 1 4lb bag 141.44 $3.18
Red Beans Bag 199.9 $4.49
Taco Shells 2 Bag of 8 164 $3.69
Chips 2 Bag 282 $6.34
Hamburger Buns 16 Each 227.2 $5.11
Pizza Crust 6 Each 539.7 $12.13
Sandwich Bread 1 Loves 109.95 $2.47
Pasta Sauce (Huntz) 4 Cans 408 $9.17
Diced Tomatoes 4 Cans 339.8 $7.64
Corn 2 Cans 117.9 $2.65
BBQ Sauce 2 Bottle 195.9 $4.40
Taco Seasoning 2 Packets 125.9 $2.83
Sour Cream 1 Can 135 $3.03
Salsa 1 Can 170 $3.82
Mozarella 2.41 lb 445.85 $10.02
Cheddar 4.74 lb 924.3 $20.77
Milk 2 Cases/ 12 L 1258 $28.27
Butter 1 Stick 48 $1.08
Fruit Loops 4 Boxes 380 $8.54
Yougurt (flavor) 3 Bottles 387 $8.70
pancake mix 1 box 135 $3.03
Crackers 1 Boxes 69 $1.55
Peanut Butter 1 Jar 139 $3.12
frito lay 1 Bag 175 $3.93
Jelly 1 Jar 95 $2.13
Oreos 1 Package 119 $2.67
Doritos 1 Bag 125 $2.81
Toilet Paper 4 x4 319.8 $7.19
Bleach 2 149.9 $3.37
Mistolin 1 199 $4.47
Coffee 3 lbs 657 $14.76
2.5 L Coke 4 Bottles 260 $5.84
Juice Concentrate 1 Bottles 380 $8.54
Fanta 3 195 $4.38
Anejo 1.75 1 919 $20.65
Presedente 1 90 $2.02 (Got thirsty shopping!)
DOP USD
Sub Total 14935.82 $335.64
On sale -785 -$17.64
ITBIS 943 $21.19
Total 15093.82 $339.19
I'm going to try to do the same plan again for a month, and buy everything at Pricemart and compare. Some things I see already is to prepare my own pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. The accuracy above may be a few pesos off either way, my spreadsheet doesn't exactly line up with the receipt, but it's within 200 pesos.
great list, DR.. thanks.. but I have to say you are being EATEN by the Pasta sauce.. it is just tomato paste, or fresh tomatos, sugar, oregano, pepper and garlic.. there I saved you $7... go out drinking!
ah yes, I see that you saw that about the pasta sauce.. sometimes when I feel lazy, I use a jar of prepared and then use the packages of paste.. another trick is to buy a ton of the Roma tomatoes .. the little ones.. PriceSmart always has huge packages .. then skin them by dunking in boiling water on the end of the fork.. then boil them down. I do not know if this is cheaper but it certainly makes the house smell great.
I looked over your list again .. and I would be sure to print it and take it with you. I don't know what brand of toilet paper you bought .. but wowow,, I tried to economize on that for a while since it seemed so expensive but .. not worth it. As I remembered Price Smart, which I gave up since I ended up with too much that did not get used, was good on that. And also on peanut butter. And brand name stuff.. like for me.. if it is not Hellmans, it is not mayo.
I ecconomized and downside quite a bit to afford it. I still had lots of fun, and learned to live with less. For a time I was doing really well, but somewhere along the line, I noticed that I wasnt being fulfilled, no matter how many 20something yr old girls I was with. I decided to chill out with that, and I realized, WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE. I think its time for a change, its a big world out there and I think....next stop COLOMBIA. I mean really, If I am not planning on setteling down, then what the heck am I still doing here.
don't worry,
they are young and cheap in Colombia, too.
and Colombia offers great Biz oppryunities for the ones who don't wanna work.
i heard the snow sector is still running on highest levels due the huge demand from Europe and North America.
good luck
Mike
they are young and cheap in Colombia, too.
and Colombia offers great Biz oppryunities for the ones who don't wanna work.
i heard the snow sector is still running on highest levels due the huge demand from Europe and North America.
good luck
Mike
How many people?
There are those who will say it's plenty for one person, others will tell you that at least double is necessary. Depends on what you mean by "live fully".
It's all written here.
Fully?
Could it be, that you have not read the 135 pages of this thread?
donP
Fully?
Could it be, that you have not read the 135 pages of this thread?
donP