Mistakes expats make in Puerto Rico

We THRIVE living like we are in PR instead of the mainland US. If we want watermelon but can find mangoes for free, guess what we're eating.

Change your perceptions of what's necessary to live...embrace the environment and don't try to fight it...

You need make a budget, maybe we can help you with that and you need to start eating at home. 55 per adult for dinner with drinks once in a while, I can understand. Many nice sit down restaurants in PR have specials of dinner for 2 where each get your own dish for under 28 dollars for 2 people, maybe you can try those and save and only go out to dinner 1 or 2 times a month. Do notice that in the budget below I set entertainment (Dinner/Lunch/Drinks) is 200 a month for this example. If your expenses are anything close to this you should be fine.

Here is a sample budget, add and remove items to fit your situation:
Rent / Mortgage    $500.00
House maintenance    $25.00
Car Maintenace    $20.00
Entertainment    $200.00
Groceries    $500.00
Property Tax    $25.00
Home/Car Insurance    $70.00
Medical insurance    $480.00
Pharmacy    $30.00
Electricity    $95.00
Water    $45.00
Propane    $20.00
Gasoline    $120.00
CableTV/Internet    $60.00
Cellular Phone    $100.00
Other    $50.00
Total Expenses    $2,340.00

In the above, items that are once a year like insurance and property taxes for example, were divided by 12 to fit the monthly budget model. This is just a sample adjust to your situation then decide if you can lower or cut some of it down.

As to replacing lost items:
a) Check with neighbors they will know where to get used items and used clothing.
b) Also look at Clasificados: https://www.clasificadosonline.com

Check these sites for specials:
a) Gustazos: https://www.gustazos.com/deal/subscription
b) Ofertones: https://www.ofertones.com/pr
c) Oferta Del Dia: https://www.ofertadeldia.com/puerto-rico-ofertas/oferta
d) Goza Goza: https://gozagoza.com/deal/all

How is your home maintenance bill only 25 a month when we need a new roof every three years for 2500 dollars. And car maintenance when average car repair is 500 bucks. Any way to cut roofing costs down? Unlike new York pay like 5000 dollars for a roof but don't have to do again in like 25 years. One big expense here. O those taxes are so low. Here it's about 450 a year. But did file for exemption. Don't know when it starts and how long it lasts. Value 75k house

Meant 55 without drinks is my average dinner bill out

How do people save money when need a new car when average price is 27000  dollars. I refuse any financing. How do we all do that here. Guessing we all pay with a check and drove off in your car with 5 miles on speedometer. That's how think it's done here

Tseweam wrote:

How do people save money when need a new car when average price is 27000  dollars. I refuse any financing. How do we all do that here. Guessing we all pay with a check and drove off in your car with 5 miles on speedometer. That's how think it's done here

A lot of people drive 20 year old cars and most that buy new, buy a Toyota Yaris.

Tseweam wrote:

How is your home maintenance bill only 25 a month when we need a new roof every three years for 2500 dollars. And car maintenance when average car repair is 500 bucks. Any way to cut roofing costs down? Unlike new York pay like 5000 dollars for a roof but don't have to do again in like 25 years. One big expense here. O those taxes are so low. Here it's about 450 a year. But did file for exemption. Don't know when it starts and how long it lasts. Value 75k house

People use handy man or they do it themselves. Concrete roof should last a life time, and a reseal every 5 years or so. Resealing it your self cost around 500.

For Cars you use a local friendly mechanic, cars don't break every year, specially new ones. You save what you don't need and apply it to years you need it. I have a 2014 car that all it has needed so far are breaks every 3-4 years and wipers every 6-10 months. You can do the brakes yourself or have a friend come over for a 6 pack.

Tseweam wrote:

Meant 55 without drinks is my average dinner bill out

You. must be buying 3 pound lobster dinner or going to a high price place. Depending on my fancy, I can have dinner for 8 to 16 bucks. I don't go to fancy places normally. The less you eat out the more you save. There is nothing wrong with going to Subway and taking a 6 dollar sub home, no tips, drink at the house a beer that cost less than 1 dollar.

Thought sealer is about 180 dollars for 5 gallons times 10 to cover 900 square feet two coats. Plus renting a power washer plus 400 for labor. As me think buy the most expensive sealer .with tax. Isn't that what I use. Urethanizer  .thinking we should buy top of line thinking it will last. Is that what you use and keep adding coats on and more coats on roof over years. Or is that too many. Or you use solicone sealer. Am I right buy the best or does not matter

Ok you avoid going to shops to fix cars. Things I need to learn here to stretch money. Guess need to make a car friend then you won't be paying a shop 100 bucks an hour then add sales tax and add another 100 dollars to get the part. My car needed a new radiator outlet part and I had to 100 bucks for delivery of the part. Now I know there is a delivery fee from shop to have they get the part. Yes was charged for shop get the part. Said part not in stock at shop you must pay extra 100 bucks for it to come to our shop. Never heard of such a thing. Guess you have friends can help fix your car. As you see most of a repair is labor sales tax and delivery. Is usually not the part costs the most. At 113 dollars an hour add up very fast. Me guessing you go to a friend

What to do about my landscaping damage as stuff turning brown all because of flooding. looking for free plants trees and bushes.  Do you mean go dig them out of the woods. Simply don't have the money to buy again. Not that amount of money. Starting off with Browning tips. Ok wait to see if recover from it first. We're growing fine before flooding. By mid rainny season problems with burning tips yellow leaves stunted half burned some of bushes.looks like need new bushes soon. Just way too much damages.

Not sure what did your plants in, but if it was salt water, you may have issues growing plans for a year or more if the ground is salty.

I buy that I absolutely need today and always postpone buying nice to have for later, this extends my money and savings until a purchase is a must.

Your lifestyle and what is important to you are different from mine, not sure I can help more other than the advice I have already given.

Bought the house before the hurricane and inspector found no flooding issues. Then the following  may my prized landscaping being killed off when rainny season started.  Then I went back to new York and came back in Sept and more damaged. In March April no flooding. My yard can't handle wet season and never told that. How could home inspection not find that. Flooding more now than in past.trying to find a lawyer as I want my landscaping replaced. Not my fault. Nobody told me the problems with house. Should have been told before buying it. It always floods every time it rains more than a short passed shower and water just sits there. Won't drain. It's all the time. Without storms just quarter inch of rain causes 8 inches of sitting water around entire house then inside.not easy getting a lawyer. Guess I must stop at one not just email and calling

What about the houses to the front, back and sides of you? Do they also flood?
If they don't flood there must be a reason. Where there water stains on the walls showing that the house had flooded in the past?

If the other houses are raised and yours isn't then you may have a problem getting any legal action as it was visibly clear they were raised for a reason.

You may have a case with the house inspector, but I don't think the realtor or prior owner have anything to worry about. Houses in PR are basically sold "AS IS" and it is up to you and the house inspector to find any faults. This is assuming you can find a lawyer to take the case.

My both neighbors too also flood all the time but across. The street doesn't or third house away does not. Neighbor told me reason their is not fixed is lack of money to have it raised. So town suggestions is build a  wall on sides and raise the property. Me makes no sense. Going to ask instead of a wall raise all three property. Why fix only one house. Me going to ask if can just fix all three homes. Telling me those houses are lower than the street telling me the water is coming down to us from the raised homes. How inspector not realize it. I didn't either. Didn't realize that after rain. Told me we need to add 205 meter of soil to raise it. O grade way off. I ask about doing neighbors too. That's a lot of soil. Me wondered where all that water was coming from. Don't they survey the land before selling it. Said raise it like 18 inches so it level with street or higher. Be a lot of work dig up all trees to raise it. It hard to tell looking at a home something like that until it  rains. Such is a home sitting in a hole. Yeah every time it rains .but said must wait it dry out to bring equipment in .can't do by wheelbarrow. Estimate spread out 205 metters of good draining soil. Can't imagine what 205 meters of soil looks like in a pile.

We rented a place that must have had taht issue because they had cement gutters built around the property that went into a pipe and the water went out else where.   
If someone build that could have caused the water to flow differently and causing your issue. The question would be to find out if the neighbor with the same issue, had it before you bought the house

Not entitled to a job. Not entitled to social security or unemployment. What are my other options. Can't pay my bills . I am living on a savings account and lawsuit money of 3370 . I deperately need another source of paycheck from somewhere .limited income life. Plus reason I refuse to listen to many pushing air conditioning to us. Very bad advice go run ac all day all month. Being pushed into it. I know better don't listen to them. What am I entitled to. Tell me where to go next .two years no work paycheck. Help with money. Where to go appears there is absolutely nothing can be done for income. I am right don't listen to the pushing air conditioner s . Signs everywhere.now I am serious depressed. Everything is taken from me. AC appears is big business here making you think it's a need vs a want. Appears a lie. Don't open all windows work and fans. What's up with this AC pushing . Guess for someone with no brains. It's not like it dangerous outside. Silly. I say if this was death valley or Las Vegas . If was 135 degrees outside. Yes push it. But it's only in the 80s. To me sounds silly .told AC place what happened to just Open the windows  unless you have none to open

3370 should be plenty to live in PR, I don't know what your bills are, but I live on less than that. You have a sample budget, change it by adding your numbers and see what you can cut out or reduce.

You could also declare bankruptcy to get the bills of your back.

** Here is an idea, go find a church they have experience getting help for the church members. At a minimum, they can help you with information and calls to the right agencies. It cant hurt.

Am I right don't buy an air conditioner. Don't listen to the push of AC

Tseweam wrote:

Am I right don't buy an air conditioner. Don't listen to the push of AC

It all depends on how well you can take the heat. I use air conditioner for sleeping and take the heat the rest of the day. Many locals sleep with a fan instead of air conditioner. Not only are air conditioners an expensive gadget, but they use up giants amounts of electricity and electricity is very expensive in PR. Somewhere between 2 to 3 times what you would pay in the US for the same usage. So minimizing use of electricity can save you money.

The most efficient units are called inverters or split units, they are expensive to buy and require installation, but they use a lot less electricity than a window unit or a rolling movable unit.

The average native in the island makes around 1700 a month to support a family of 3. There are people living hire making 850 or so, those have a very hard time making ends meet.

You need to decide which things are important to you and either cut the ones that are not important or cut down on them. Do you need 200-400 tv channels versus a subscription to Netflix? Can you make a sandwich at home instead of eating out, maybe make a soup. When I was working I would go out to lunch every day in the states, it was costing me about 14 dollar for lunch every single working day or 280 dollars a month (20 days) or 3,360 a year. So I decided to save money, and started making a sandwich at home and take it to my work which gave me 3,360 dollars a year to pay other bills or invest.

You have identified Dinner as being around 55 dollars a day on average, that is 1,650 dollars a month for dinner, or 19,800 a year. You can go to the supermarket and buy about 400 dollars worth of groceries for a single person for a whole month or 500-600 for a family of 3 for a whole month.

You could save a lot of money by hiring somebody to cook for you a lunch and dinner and reheat it later in the day. 8-10 bucks an hour plus your supermarket bill will still save you a lot of money instead of 55 for dinner.

Using LED light bulbs instead of incandescent, using a propane stove instead of electric, using a fan instead of an air conditioner, organizing your trips to the store so you go out 1 to 2 times a week instead of daily can save you gas, tear and wear on your car and maybe also save on tolls and traffic tickets. There are lots of ways to save money and live well and make your 3k stretch not only to cover expenses, but also to save for emergencies like car repairs.

If your land cannot be planted, maybe you can talk to somebody with good land and plant your own vegetables for free or for a percent of the crop and save money on your grocery bill and eat fresher food.

You can also fish or snorkel for your fresh seafood, have fun and save at the same time. Raise chicken for meat, lots of things.

Think about it

Found need to cut down on craft beers when out. That ends up very quickly at like 7 to 10 dollars for one. I decided pick the specials instead . As I see would save a lot if I learned to stick to like medeella or basic beers. Part of my big expense is wanting to a craft beer type of bar. That easier eat up 50 bucks in one night. Trying to cut back on it.now I see why most just ask for medella or Coors light vs picking up draft beers . In new York used to easily spend 500 a month to go out to night life ordering them.  Me learning now must cut back on them. Like mostly get the basic beers only. No longer can be ordering a ten dollar beers often. Vs get a medella for two dollars . But I know drink less of them as they are stronger reason why more flavor. Some of them can be equal to two beers. So evens out to 5 dollars. Average beer is 5 percent alcohol. I always read the level to know how many it equals to. Last thing I need is a dwi

Tseweam wrote:

Found need to cut down on craft beers when out. That ends up very quickly at like 7 to 10 dollars for one. I decided pick the specials instead . As I see would save a lot if I learned to stick to like medeella or basic beers. Part of my big expense is wanting to a craft beer type of bar. That easier eat up 50 bucks in one night. Trying to cut back on it.now I see why most just ask for medella or Coors light vs picking up draft beers . In new York used to easily spend 500 a month to go out to night life ordering them.  Me learning now must cut back on them. Like mostly get the basic beers only. No longer can be ordering a ten dollar beers often. Vs get a medella for two dollars . But I know drink less of them as they are stronger reason why more flavor. Some of them can be equal to two beers. So evens out to 5 dollars. Average beer is 5 percent alcohol. I always read the level to know how many it equals to. Last thing I need is a dwi

At the house I have some beers in the fridge and on average, I have 2 of them a month. I like them, but they don't call to me, almost freezing water is what I crave all day, but it has to be to the point that is starting to turn into ice. Once in a while I go out to dinner and will have one beer then switch to a coke.

Tried all options .appears there is absolutely nothing I can do about income. Must live without that money .back at employment place again know I be fired quickly

How do New comers afford to pay their monthly nursery bill of 500 700 dollars a just for landscaping plants only. I am struggling to pay it . When average palm tree costs about 150 each and you have entire yard needs landscaping. Like me always broke. And then last like two years. No wonder why I can't buy health insurance or flood insurance. Etc. Because of the plants. What do people do? O I forgot about this cost when buying the house. Litterally almost same as a mortgage just to plant nursery. Suggestions. It's breaking the bank. How do people get trees for yard. Cost now 5000 dollars and not even half though . Lot is about 150 feet by 60. Has one tree. And not even up to flowers yet or walk ways. For diy. Plants only costing like 13000 dollars. That's so much money I forgot I would need to move in. Walkways not included in price or grass. Something should have known. A lot more costs than just shipping and buying home and some furniture. O forgot what plant materials will cost. What is rest doing by this cost. O furniture was small cost. O plants appear cost the most money. And that's diy job too. Forget it if was a landscape design and installation. Be costing almost price of my home. Be like a 40000 to 50000 dollars to landscape a home worth 60k.now I have no money for anything else. Isn't 500 to 700 dollars a month to pay a nursery big cost. How do we all afford pay that every month for 24 months

It's not that hard. Set your priorities, quit buying plants.

Then what is rest doing about their yards if it's not landscaped. And you one tree only and weeds

You mean I can get free plants and don't have to buy them. Where do I go. Ok quit paying . . As isn't it a need in order to move into a home like you need electric water and food.

We get free plants from friends & neighbors. Take cuttings and root them. 

I keep a shovel and bucket in the car, sometimes find plants alongside the road.

I have some big cactus that grew from a small pad.  Always looking for a new species.

How do we afford to eat here. My biggest bills are plants 500 a month and food shopping 450 a month  and buying local food costs more then the imported food in the states. Suggestions how to save on food. Yes Sam's club  helps. Yes usually lower price per unit in bulk.  In new York a pineapple costs about three dollars and not grown there. Here it costs about five to six grown locally. So buying local y costs more than imported in the states. As I was told try shop locally grown food. Not the case here. Even if no. Shipping involved. A papayas costs like four dollars .local buying more expensive. Or if has to do with the storm. A guess. Big part of my food  bill is produce like 70 dollars a week. It's not even the process Ed foods . Ideas. To feed one person. Twice for produce I say at local farm stand.  Would think like 2.50 for a papaya. Four is a little high. For pineapple would think like two to three dollars here . O if wait for island recover longer if makes a difference. As told we should be eating more produce but who could afford to vs eating the daily fried foods .

While I wouldn't suggest that emigres to Puerto Rico should only aspire to the lifestyle of the average Puerto Rican, I do think it is a mistake to believe that one will enjoy in Puerto Rico precisely the same commodities as they once enjoyed on the mainland.  If you discover that many of the things you once enjoyed are expensive on the island, perhaps desires and expectations need to be adjusted.  If you find yourself wondering "how can I afford to live here?" perhaps the better question is "how does the average family live here for less than $20,000/year?"

https://caribbeanbusiness.com/household … erto-rico/

Yeah how do people eat here. At 70 dollars a week just for produce for one person. Vs 35 in the states. Why is local produce more expensive than the states

Do you mean 20000 year take home pay they can live on. Like to see budject samples on food .as for me it's 500 a month to feed one person. And most of bill is fruit and vegetables.

People here, live on about 1700 before taxes so take home is a lot lower. They have different diet and customs. A lot of people grow some of the fruits and vegetables at home and exchange with friends and family. They been living at a different consumption rate for more than 500 years. People cook at home, or go see Grandma and eat there, Grandma likely makes less than them, but she lives a simpler life.

If you are a vegetarian, you will suffer in PR or spend a lot more money. Chicken and pork is cheaper in PR than in the states, beef is a little cheaper as it comes from South America but it is not prime beef.

Most stuff comes by boat so fruits are often ready to spoil and don't last long in the refrigerator. We spend about 600 in groceries for 2.

If you want to live like in the states, you will spend more, if you live like the natives, you will spend less.

Sounds like I need better  budject for one person without a mortgage. So  3400 cash a month you say should be plenty.  As me again at employment center looking for work. As my sister thinks that should be plenty . Not a family one person living in a paid off home. No rent. Me around asking if budject help around humacao. Employment center busy. Jobs appears won't be easy to get. Must be hard . In punta Santiago live in. No I don't know what neighbors live on there.

I live on less than that and I have a 600 rent and utilities on top of that.
you can prob get a place for 400 in Humacao since it just needs be 1 bedroom. If you can share a place, you can go lower for your part.

Appears hard to find a job .months to find one knowing with my mental illness probably last just two weeks. My line of work is landscaping greenhouses horticulture. Being warm year round not so common. Looks like I may have to push health insurance into budject .how don't know so I can update my medical records and try to apply for social security. Me amazed how most can survive on half my income . Been looking. In humacao . Not much here. If anyone know this area punta Santiago and humacao. And will average pay here of 7.50 an hour .no way worth a long drive. When I was used to 18 in the states for the same exact job.work be nice as bored at home plus get things I need. If anyone know where jobs are. A shocker 18 an hour to 7.50 . Or take home 5 an hour after the 33 percent taxes plus subject the gas. Most jobs saying San Juan like most things. And no way drive two hours each way for five dollars an hour. Would not be worth it.

Sorry for your struggles here.  Yes jobs are hard to get here and don't pay much. I never sugar coat anything and i tell people dont expect to get a job here or one that actually pays. Then on top of that bilingual is a must if you think you need to work.
Next obstacle you mentioned is applying for social security here. The average time here to see a judge is 888 days. And most people get denied the first time. I know people here and they all had to wait more then 3 yrs.
Your next topic is medical records.  You need to contact your provider in the states and they have to mail you your records. Which you have to pay per page. Then you will have to actually reach out and do the same for all the drs, specialist etc you have seen.  As drs here dont get or hold your records for you.
It took me more then 3 months for a lawyer here actually to meet with me.
Nothing here is easy.   I am at the point that i think i will file for ssdi on my own, because teh lawyer says i have a good case, however its been more then 4 yrs that i have seen a dr.
Why? Because my medical insurance isnt accepted here, we make to much to get free or reduced medical insurance here. All expensive are out of pocket.
Medical here is horrible. I spent 1 year plus in the states jumping through all the hoops and doing everything my dr asked.  Why would i pay to do it all over again? I am not going to get better or differnet results.
Just wanted to inform you that you only have 5 years from your last day of work to apply for social security,  which i didnt know until my lawyer told me. Which mean i onlybhave until may 2019 to get my situation,  paperwork etc to social secuity. To wait years to deal with the system.  I strongly suggest to move back to the states and do your stuff their. Where i come from it has taken less then 6 months for people to get their ssdi case settled.  Well of course that depends on your medical situation.  If you want to private message me to chat your welcome to

Problem is salary cut. Only thing I have is a lawsuit check but I can't pay all bills. Very hard to live on only 3300 cash a month. I need a job or social security. Struggling to live in punta Santiago .without the extra 1400 a month cash witch was coming in new York. I have no mortage or rent. Single in a paid off home. I cancelled real car insurance health insurance flood insurance did property tax exemption. No cable . Almost nothing else to cut from budject to stretch one monthly check. O what else budject. Looks like a job is not going to happen. I would like one for two reasons keep busy and able to pay bills. I know health insurance not cost much here but I can't squeeze extra 185 out of my monthly check. Was used to two checks. Plus I worked at a special program which fired me after so many autism meltdowns. As no regular job will deal with it. Me history of meltdowns due to autism.

Then apply for ssdi.  But dont expect anything fast to happen here. I dont sugarcoat anything.  I will you the best sincerely

But if didn't have to pay 500 bucks a month for plants I would have able to get the help I need to apply for social security disability . Be able get a therapist for help on my autism meltdowns not allowing me to work to  make money .and my other autism treatment of poor motor skills  cause me always injurying myself due to poor hand and eye coordination. And best way I know is a MMA gym. It's all coordination reaction time. But instead spent on yard isn't landscape d. Longer plant bill keeps going on longer wait to update paperwork to apply. As me losing money .it's going to nursery vs helping myself. Need income help but will cost to get it. You need triple SSS .in order see doctors and apply.  That's the issue o yard needs landscaping but I also need help for income. Guess I must find free plants. Need my insurance. Or else won't apply for SSD. All because can't always control autism. Must find way lower nursery bill. Plus I say 500 is a lot of money just to a nursery. And go for two years. That's 12000 dollars just for plant materials. Grass not in price mulch walkways etc not included in that price. And I don't mean huge plants. Just pot sizes talking 12000 dollars to pay