COST OF LIVING IN TRINIDAD $$$$

[DVSTT]

How does one become part of the fabled 1%?

[zoom rader]

How does one become part of the fabled 1%?

Selected breeding

[88sins]

tbh folks who buy breakfast could save a lot more if they simply ate cereal or oats + a banana
healthier for the body as well as pocket

we have a bad culture of making a big calorie deal out of breakfast meals, doubles, sada, bake etc
in north america many get by on a cup of coffee and a single donut/bagel

if you cook on weekends, cook and pack/freeze for at least a few meals during the week

So true. But I'll take it a step further.
Skip breakfast, have a proper healthy lunch by 11:00, and a light dinner of fruits or veggies with some meat by 5:30, and cut back on carbs and processed sugar.
Your pocket and waistline will thank you.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I never buy food while working...as long as I making groceries, I cooking...that's an ease up on the wallet right there....another golden rule is I will never rent(wasted $$ right there, that same $$ could be used as a mortgage for something of your own...another thing I don't understand is people who take out huge loans to buy expensive arse vehicles and still struggling to meet ends meet...and to top of that, the vehicle selling after a few years.

[src1983]

Invest savings one time once out of site out of mind.

Have a pension And try to have a small portfolio at the same time. These things help greatly. Always ensure you have access to your cash readily. You don't know when you may need it for emergency. So it's good to throw some money market funds in there

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Invest savings one time once out of site out of mind.

Have a pension And try to have a small portfolio at the same time. These things help greatly. Always ensure you have access to your cash readily. You don't know when you may need it for emergency. So it's good to throw some money market funds in there

this is very important...plenty young ppl doh even consider this...

[Monkey Man]

some people is refer to their children like it is a disability. they brought them into the world, then comparing themselves to other with out children like they at a disadvantage or something.

[shake d livin wake d dead]

I hate to hearing working people make excuses because of their children...when something not going right, blame the child...you signed up for that responsibility when yuh lay down and take yuh piggy...your child is your responsibility not a burden or something to be used as excuses....

reach tuh work late...blame the child
can't meet a deadline...blame the child

[Drea]

I hate to hearing working people make excuses because of their children...when something not going right, blame the child...you signed up for that responsibility when yuh lay down and take yuh piggy...your child is your responsibility not a burden or something to be used as excuses....

reach tuh work late...blame the child
can't meet a deadline...blame the child

Your comment comes across biased to women, as if men don't complain too

Edit: "you signed up for that responsibility when yuh lay down and take/ GIVE yuh piggy

[88sins]

...another thing I don't understand is people who take out huge loans to buy expensive arse vehicles and still struggling to meet ends meet...and to top of that, the vehicle selling after a few years.

what makes me laugh, they does go & scrape up $$$ & pad their income to get a loan to buy a car, then after all d driving from here to the moon & back when they realize they can't make the payments they ducking & dodging when the bank sends the repo-man for it. & the biggest joke of all, after it's repo'd that cost is added to their loan, & most times due to W&T as well as depreciation the value of the car is then substantially lower than the loan balance outstanding. So they got a big debt to pay & nothing to show for it

some ppl does get caught up in d lies they tell themselves

[shake d livin wake d dead]

Comments are not biased..i agree men complain...but some women do it more

[racedriverpro]

Comments are not biased..i agree men complain...but some women do it more

What they do at home is what u would usually experience in the workplace.

[airuma]

I hate to hearing working people make excuses because of their children...when something not going right, blame the child...you signed up for that responsibility when yuh lay down and take yuh piggy...your child is your responsibility not a burden or something to be used as excuses....

reach tuh work late...blame the child
can't meet a deadline...blame the child

This is as sad as calling in sick the day after you had one too many the evening before! This "abuse" certainly makes things difficult for parents who are genuinely "slowed down" by the fact that they have "dependents".
Thankfully, there seems to be more awareness about the challenges faced by parents. One example is an advertisement with a man asking to take the day off and then the camera shifts to his toddler in a crib. How exactly does he take a day off from that? Children do not plan and parents have to share alot of their time with their children if they want to raise them up right.
I felt truly sorry for that man who was arrested when the child drowned in POS (east dry river I think). The man was trying, school starts at 8:30am and he has to be at work for 8:00am, maybe 9:00am. Depending on the distance between school and work, he may have to drop them of very early (and risk increasing their exposure to bullies) to make it to work on time. One may say he could hare a school van, or use the school maxi-taxi. But then, who stays with them while they wait for the transport if he is a single parent? Then we have the pick up, school finishes at 2:30 - 3:00pm and work will finish at 4:00 - 5:00pm.
I must say that I respect Fitzgerald Hinds for giving his support to this man!
The fact remains, if we are to preserve the existence of human beings, we need productive, goodwill people to make AND properly raise children. Not what is happening now.... some of us happy with getting cheap/ free HDC houses and having children for different men to get maintenance money to dress up, lime and make more children!

To answer the OP question, it's not how much you make, it's what you do with it. I have seen people with very small income live a comfortable life, especially people who do farming. IMHO, the social life does not have to be at the movies, bar, club etc. It should just be time spent with your close friends at your home/ apt. Cook your own food, even if it costs the same, it will certainly save you on the medical bills. Limit your visits to the grocery, the more you go there, the more likely you will buy unnecessary things. Buy only what you need and be sure to compare prices of 1. things you buy often, 2. things that are expensive. Don't keep too much money in your wallet, if you have the money, you might be tempted to spend it. A budget is probably the most effective thing but it has a steep learning curve if you are not too disciplined. And of course, some of the posts before have very good suggestions.

[teems1]

Golden rule is have rent/mortgage come in <=30% of income, and if you an save 10% of whatever comes in, you real good.

If you're buying a 1.5m starter house in central, usually 150k downpayment and a 1.35m loan.

A 30 year loan at 6% interest rate would be $8093.93 per month. For that $8093 to be 30%, that would mean the total income after tax for the household is $26,976 or approximately 27k.

The average income per household in TT is far below 27k.

[Drea]

I hate to hearing working people make excuses because of their children...when something not going right, blame the child...you signed up for that responsibility when yuh lay down and take yuh piggy...your child is your responsibility not a burden or something to be used as excuses....

reach tuh work late...blame the child
can't meet a deadline...blame the child

This is as sad as calling in sick the day after you had one too many the evening before! This "abuse" certainly makes things difficult for parents who are genuinely "slowed down" by the fact that they have "dependents".
Thankfully, there seems to be more awareness about the challenges faced by parents. One example is an advertisement with a man asking to take the day off and then the camera shifts to his toddler in a crib. How exactly does he take a day off from that? Children do not plan and parents have to share alot of their time with their children if they want to raise them up right.
I felt truly sorry for that man who was arrested when the child drowned in POS (east dry river I think). The man was trying, school starts at 8:30am and he has to be at work for 8:00am, maybe 9:00am. Depending on the distance between school and work, he may have to drop them of very early (and risk increasing their exposure to bullies) to make it to work on time. One may say he could hare a school van, or use the school maxi-taxi. But then, who stays with them while they wait for the transport if he is a single parent? Then we have the pick up, school finishes at 2:30 - 3:00pm and work will finish at 4:00 - 5:00pm.
I must say that I respect Fitzgerald Hinds for giving his support to this man!
The fact remains, if we are to preserve the existence of human beings, we need productive, goodwill people to make AND properly raise children. Not what is happening now.... some of us happy with getting cheap/ free HDC houses and having children for different men to get maintenance money to dress up, lime and make more children!

To answer the OP question, it's not how much you make, it's what you do with it. I have seen people with very small income live a comfortable life, especially people who do farming. IMHO, the social life does not have to be at the movies, bar, club etc. It should just be time spent with your close friends at your home/ apt. Cook your own food, even if it costs the same, it will certainly save you on the medical bills. Limit your visits to the grocery, the more you go there, the more likely you will buy unnecessary things. Buy only what you need and be sure to compare prices of 1. things you buy often, 2. things that are expensive. Don't keep too much money in your wallet, if you have the money, you might be tempted to spend it. A budget is probably the most effective thing but it has a steep learning curve if you are not too disciplined. And of course, some of the posts before have very good suggestions.

I think employers also have a big part to play in this, many are still too rigid and operate in an archaic mindset. They don't even try to be flexible and work out arrangements with staff that may suit needs especially when staff are willing to work back time. I understand there are those who abuse the system but its not hard to identify genuine cases. Kudos to those who have a more modern mindset and incorporate daycares or let kids come to the office after school to wait for parents (you actually get a more productive workforce when workers know their kids are safe)

[shake d livin wake d dead]

with respects to the OP's question...it really depends on the type of lifestyle you wish to live...you can't have mauby $$ with champagne taste, it won't work.....I have seen several families get by with small salaries no matter how pricey things get..

[adnj]

Rent Prices in San Fernando are 72.03% lower than in Miami, FL
Restaurant Prices in San Fernando are 49.28% lower than in Miami, FL
Groceries Prices in San Fernando are 44.06% lower than in Miami, FL

Average salaries in Trinidad are about 80% lower than Miami, FL
Average salary in Trinidad about TT$6,000 per month
Average salary in Miami, FL about TT$29,000 per month

The cost of living is a comparative bargain but the average worker is getting paid less than a living wage.

[src1983]

Golden rule is have rent/mortgage come in <=30% of income, and if you an save 10% of whatever comes in, you real good.

If you're buying a 1.5m starter house in central, usually 150k downpayment and a 1.35m loan.

A 30 year loan at 6% interest rate would be $8093.93 per month. For that $8093 to be 30%, that would mean the total income after tax for the household is $26,976 or approximately 27k.

The average income per household in TT is far below 27k.

Property in Trinidad way over priced, right now it's best to save and search for deals. Sometimes you catch a break and might get lucky

[src1983]

Rent Prices in San Fernando are 72.03% lower than in Miami, FL
Restaurant Prices in San Fernando are 49.28% lower than in Miami, FL
Groceries Prices in San Fernando are 44.06% lower than in Miami, FL

Average salaries in Trinidad are about 80% lower than Miami, FL
Average salary in Trinidad about TT$6,000 per month
Average salary in Miami, FL about TT$29,000 per month

The cost of living is a comparative bargain but the average worker is getting paid less than a living wage.

This is where value for money comes in

If you in Miami and I give you US1000, you could get an iPhone and still have money to lime this weekend

If you in Trinidad and I give TTD1000 you can't even get a proper me 2

[pugboy]

i recall buying a computer back in 1993 for $29,000 from a place in south

[adnj]

If you're buying a 1.5m starter house in central, usually 150k downpayment and a 1.35m loan.

A 30 year loan at 6% interest rate would be $8093.93 per month. For that $8093 to be 30%, that would mean the total income after tax for the household is $26,976 or approximately 27k.

The average income per household in TT is far below 27k.

The mortgage qualification estimate rule is 31% of gross income. The 31% must also take into account property insurance, loan insurance and property taxes.

That would likely move the gross combined household minimum income to ~$28,700 to qualify for the loan.

[adnj]

This is where value for money comes in

If you in Miami and I give you US1000, you could get an iPhone and still have money to lime this weekend

If you in Trinidad and I give TTD1000 you can't even get a proper me 2

With all due respect that is not what "Value for Money" actually refers to.

[sickbad]

i recall buying a computer back in 1993 for $29,000 from a place in south

Hope you got that upgrade to WIN95 yo. Can't handle WIN3.11.

We've come a long way, cost of computing cheaper but the staples for daily living and foreign companies are competing is big time. Everybody has their category of price points that they are after, example:
doubles man wants your $5 min
Sada man or bfast will take a $8-12
Kfc had it with the $20 box, but was greedy and now they're looking for your $25 which is just over 3usd a pop. Familiar $2.99usd specials?
BBQ man will look for $45-$55 and with a drink a sure $60
Pizza hut, papa johns will accommodate your $100 to $295 "special" for your coworkers.
Take wifey out for dinner a definite $400
$800ballers in the house a date, you good, how often I could run that in a month, I dunno with disposable income and these hard times. TT's economy needs some stimulation. Foreign-local franchises that have to be paid in US and to the US is the cancer to our society, everybody wants the Nike's and KFC, apples and grapes, and not mangoes and plums and eating at and other worthly local food sourced worth patronizing.

[maj. tom]

economy stimulation? yuh mean taxation. That is all PNM know. Then bawl how the Treasury empty. That is all slave massah teach dem.

[RedVEVO]

economy stimulation? yuh mean taxation. That is all PNM know. Then bawl how the Treasury empty. That is all slave massah teach dem.

.. and protest with ah bell and no work and cyah find de fadderS ..

[RedVEVO]

i recall buying a computer back in 1993 for $29,000 from a place in south

.. but you is a ole gringo ..

Yes folks , eat home made food , save money ..

And buy a shot gun .

[The_Honourable]

I hate to hearing working people make excuses because of their children...when something not going right, blame the child...you signed up for that responsibility when yuh lay down and take yuh piggy...your child is your responsibility not a burden or something to be used as excuses....

reach tuh work late...blame the child
can't meet a deadline...blame the child

Comments are not biased..i agree men complain...but some women do it more

I have seen this happen many times at my workplace in different departments. Yes men will state at times that having children "nuh easy" but i have seen many women use their children as an excuse (sympathy card) to come late, leave during work, or leave before the end of their shift to collect their children. Then when they get reprimanded, they more vex than you and say "meh children first", "there need to be more allowances for women", "man does get away with ting", "the manager doh like meh" etc. Whoever want to get emotional and bawl sexism can suck salt.

I had a manager above me who is a single mother and made it her business to be at work before 8am and leave after work hours. Is not often she will bring the child to the workplace, and if she does, she will get permission to do so. She never uses her child as an excuse and works hard.

Ben_spanna is correct. At the end of the day, whether you find a child is a blessing from God, or you want to make one so you can fit socially with family, church, friends and get dem likes on facebook, or even to lockdown the woman or man, children cost money. Cost of living is going up and it is increasingly expensive to take care of a child. It's not easy to have a worklife and be a parent at the same time but both the male and the female should know this before bringing a child into the world. Plan accordingly and use birth control until you are ready.

[pugboy]

saving money is a lifestyle choice, requires major attitude shifts
if someone has never had savings in mind during their worklife it will require a substantive effort to make changes

[AbstractPoetic]

I believe there was a post about this issue sometime ago but I have to say that to maintain a decent lifestyle in this country is becoming very expensive!!! When you look at the cost of living, insurance premiums, gas, food, shelter/rent I really don't know some people are surviving. On the topic of food, at one point in time it's like every day I was spending $100 and the grocery (I do buy in bulk mind you). Even if you are socializing with friends or taking out your companion some where nice for example the movies. That could easily run up to $400 or more. The cost of tickets , food gas to reach there etc. A general question what type of earnings does one have to make on a monthly basis to maintain your life style. Keep in mind that it's not my intention to make a this post political. If you don't like pnm/ unc you can say so if you want but that's really your business. What are your thoughts?

The key is to live like well below your means You can make $60,000/month but live like you make $10,000/month.

- Cook food and bring to work instead of buying breakfast/lunch daily. I note that I can save thousands per year by bringing meals to work.

- Walk, ride a bike, or take public transport to work.

- Shop on sales for everything and buy in bulk to save even more (ie PriceSmart).

- Date or marry someone who has similar financial goals in mind. If he/she is one to want the latest fashions and designs, and always want to be seen, you will most likely end up broke.

- Always save extra and diversify your saving options. Invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, etc.

I think the two biggest expenses are FOOD and CHILDREN, but with proper planning and budgeting those expenses can be cut in half.

[zoom rader]

The key to living cheap as a man is to not get married.
Married life will leave you broke.