www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Costa Rica is no bargain, but you can find lower costs if you know where to look.

First, most of the items that increased seem to be commodities that have increased in price over the past year. I'm not sure, but to me inflation is when the price increases while the supply exceeds demand, and should be dropping. Market forces where demand exceeds supply drives prices up, but to me that's the market, not inflation.

First, I know whe and where to buy produce from. I have a discounted grocery store that I make many of my purchases from. I buy my at home booze at the duty-free shop at the airport, which is several dollars cheaper than the booze in the duty-free shops in US airports. I buy fresh coffee at the Mercado Central and use the bolsa to make coffee (ground coffee there is the fine powdery stuff good for the bolsa method).

Second, Perimercados has super sales every Tuesday, so I buy some of my meats. I know the wholesale sellers and buy from them (where your sode/pulperia buys from. I buy at Pricesmart. I bring down everything that is outrageously expensive from the States. I buy fresh bread and snacks off the back of the Bimbo bread truck for 1/2 the price at the store.

In short, buying in Costa Rica is like it was in the States before WalMart.

dudes, I pride myself, (perhaps falsely), on at least being able to translate our esteemed scribes words.....and I even figured out the "shu xiu" part....


but the rest.....?.....I'm bad, but not that bad.......

( I even got the 747 and 12 dollar little darling part......got lost after "new fastbacks")

_________________
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(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

A good way to control the inflation rate in Costa Rica is not be careless with your money. These working girls know fresh meat when they see it. We have to educate all the newbies and spend thrifts that bargaining for what you want is way to go. They expect you to pay less than asking price. I would compare negotiating with the girls to like buying a car. They always ask more for it than its worth and if they will not come off the price walk away. You may not get it but if enough people walk away from this deal. You will see a lower asking price or at least they will be willing to negotiate. In U.S. we are used to it being in short supply that is not the case in Costa Rica.

The real killer is the decline in the dollar. The "hidden" inflation. My first trip to Colombia in March 2009, I was getting a little more than 2300/dollar. Now, about 1800/1830 if lucky. This fact alone effectively lowers my buying power by more than 20%. Not to get another topic started but maybe if we don't see "QE3" by the Fed, the dollar will begin to gain a little more strength. And, of course commodities are skyrocketing with all the worthless dollars floating around in the world. I still find it funny how so many people have the impression that you can "go to a third world country a live for almost nothing." Well, nothing could be farther from the truth. I know, I know...we have a handful of misers on the board who can live in CR for almost nothing. But, that ain't me.

dapanz1