Cost of Living – Page 4 – Happier Than A Billionaire

THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:32-04:00 March 29th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: happier than a billionaire, review, the howler magazine|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 4 brand new, Chinese engineered tires—$600

Holy Toledo! I’ve been reviewed in the March issue of The Howler Magazine (page eleven for all you inquiring minds). I can’t tell you how happy this makes me, because The Howler Magazine is one cheerful periodical.

The Howler gives you precisely the right amount of current affairs one requires while living in Costa Rica. Who needs to know about the Republican Primaries when the best frozen daiquiris are being served at Chillerz in Tamarindo? Or that high tide is 9:08 tomorrow morning, a perfect time to get out that boogie board and get some exercise?

I remember reading an issue before I moved here and thinking, it would be so awesome to live like this. Now I’ve been reviewed in one, next to an advertisement for Las Brasas Steak and Pasta Restaurant (closed Tuesday, reservations preferred).

I feel like I made it. I think I’ll celebrate with a frozen daiquiri.

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FILL ‘ER UP

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:34-04:00 February 6th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: gas, gas station, gasoline|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Cost of gas—$0 because gas station ran out

The gas station is out of gas. This has happened before, and one might think it would be a good idea to not allow our gas gauge to dip below a quarter of a tank. But my husband thinks that idea is ridiculous, and cars can go miles— perhaps cross country—when the empty tank light starts to blink.

Rob appears to have a fascination with how low he can get that little red indicator. Not long ago, we ran out of gas and had to buy some from a guy along the side of the road. The entrepreneur poured some mucky stuff out of a Coca-Cola bottle into our tank, which in retrospect, might have actually been Coca-Cola. But it did give us enough time to make it to a gas station.

So if worse comes to worse, I’ll just look for a someone selling soda along the side of the road. Next time I’ll choose Pepsi, it might give us better mileage.

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A NOT SO SPECIAL SURPRISE

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:34-04:00 January 24th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: dinner, food, restaurant|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Cost to fix timing belt on car (got rid of the girly noise) and repair horn (which now sounds like a girly moped beep) -$400

Our friends are here from Pennsylvania and they want to treat us to dinner. We take them to a place we normally go—in the LOW season. Rob orders the specials, waving his hands in the air like he’s conducting a symphony. “We’ll have two orders of the coconut shrimp appetizers.” He convinces our friend to forgo the reasonably priced chicken and rice dish to splurge on the fresh lobster.

Everything is great until the waiter brings over the check. Those delicious shrimp appetizers cost $20 each. And the lobster dinner…it was $40.

So when ordering the specials, make sure you ask the price first. But even with that surprise, it was a memorable evening as we watched the sun set while two people made-out in the ocean in front of us.

They didn’t spend a dime and, apparently, had just as good a time.

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MORE WAYS TO BE FRUGAL

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:35-04:00 December 15th, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: fish, fish market, fishing|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 1.1 pounds of catch of the day- $3

You can’t get fresher than this—my local fish market is right on the beach. We came across these men after taking a nice sunset stroll.

“What do you have today?” Rob asks.

“Grouper, but come tomorrow morning before 10 and we will have more things available,” the fisherman says. “It’s always fresh. Just yesterday we had lots of red snapper.”

I like the idea of buying off them directly; there are not many mom and pop operations in the states anymore. It’s one of the things that makes living here so great, supporting the local businesses and keeping the money flowing in the community.

Next time I stop by I’ll look for the guy giving me the thumbs up. I know he’ll have something great waiting for me in that blue container.

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BLAME IT ON THE MOON

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:36-04:00 October 15th, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: doctors, health care, hospitals|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 1 kilo (2.2 lbs) potatoes- $1.25

Today we have an appointment for a follow-up visit with Rob’s surgeon. His hernia has healed but he is getting some discomfort near the incision. Rob feels that he should have no pain and be able to go back to his Herculean work-out regimen. Even though other people have said it will take a while, my husband believes his superior Italian genetics should allow him to heal faster than the average mortal.

It’s no surprise that when we arrive at the hospital the waiting room is filled with people. However, today I come prepared with a few things to keep me busy: Sudoku puzzle, WWII history book, and a roll of toilet paper. I have learned all three are invaluable while visiting this Costa Rican hospital. (more…)

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THE HOWLER MAGAZINE

FILL ‘ER UP

A NOT SO SPECIAL SURPRISE

MORE WAYS TO BE FRUGAL

BLAME IT ON THE MOON

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