How to save money in Dominican Republic

The best way to save money here is to buy local products (especially food) rather than imported products. And try to do your house hold (non food) shopping in the larger cities or at least in non "tourist" areas and stores.

Some one once told me the best way to leave the DR with a million dollars in the bank is to arrive with two million....
Bob K

Frankly it takes time.  You will not score local pricing on  much of anything until you understand how things actually work here.  You don't get that knowledge in  2 weeks.  It takes months and sometimes a couple years to really get it. 

This country is  less expensive  then many many others in the area with the same types of offerings.

The key is to live comfortably without having to pay the Gringo  or Grina Tax as we call it.  That takes time.

Bob is right,  living a modified expat / local  life is the best way to do this reasonably!

I agree with both Planner and Bob. Eat like a national and never pay the asking price. Cash money is be better to bargain with and every store will bargain with you provided you can haggle in Spanish. For some purchases, I just find it best to give the money to a local friend and let them buy for me. ;-)
The other thing I found to be true both with myself and my expat friends, is when you have pesos in hand, it is easy to look at it like monopoly money and not calculat the true value. Especially true on a night on the town.

That brings up the point to buy EVERYTHING using Pesos.  I cannot remember the last time I had a USD in my pocket.

Bob K

great advice bob,i will take that into consideration !

Living in DR I found that you spend lots of the money is on transportation. I live good off the locals lil stores and always go with the wife which she is native or a friend so that way I get native pricing. That has helped me stretch my disability income.

Wow  how do you spend lots on transportation?  Taxis are cheap.  carros publico, cheap.  Gua gua - cheap. Travel across country on Metro, cheap.  LOL

It is cheaper compare to up North but lot of our money goes to go travel to my wife doctor's appointment clinic and hospital and different lab areas. Plus to go to supermarket. We live in a rural area in the country.

Ok well that is the extra cost I guess to living in a rural area.

Eat Organic,  skip the doctor!

Adminww08, and this is related to the topic how????

Bob K