Cost of Living – Page 7 – Happier Than A Billionaire

DON’T GO HEAVY ON THE MUSTARD

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:57-04:00 February 3rd, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: groceries|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 12 Ounce Bottle of French’s Deli Mustard- $5

My husband went shopping today and returned with the fancy American brand mustard. We rarely indulge in such extravagance, instead buying the yellow Costa Rican kind when possible. It is a fraction of the price (with a fraction of the taste) but much more affordable.

Unfortunately, today the store was out of the cheap stuff so we had to break the bank and buy the high falutin kind.

If you are at my house and you catch me eyeing you as you squeeze a strip of mustard on your hot dog, just remember I’m on a fixed income.

So don’t go heavy on the mustard. $$$

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WHY PAY MORE?

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:58-04:00 January 13th, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: taxes|

Costa Rica Cost of Living Update: Property Taxes- .25% of value of land Property Taxes in New Jersey- One Hundred Million Dollars

Disclaimer: For those of you from New Jersey, kindly grab the defibrillator before reading any further.

One great thing about owning property in Costa Rica is the low property tax. You pay .25% on the value of your property….yes….I said point 25 percent. So if your real estate cost $100,000 you only pay $250 in taxes.

Now restart your heart and consider moving to Costa Rica. You don’t get these kinds of views off Exit 15.

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CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:58-04:00 January 6th, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: phone|

Costa Rica Cost of Living Update: Land line Phone Bill- $28 (includes DSL Internet)

I remember the days talking to my girlfriends on the phone while reading Tiger Beat, contemplating whether Joanie really loved Chachi or confirming that Rick Springfield will surely have a career rivaling the likes of Elvis.

Now I don’t like to talk on the phone because it sounds as if I am calling from a bunker in Iraq. My husband went out to the road and found this mess. A birds nest of wires tangled together next to two high voltage cables. He carefully stepped around the electrical lines, re-spliced the others, and gave me the thumbs up.

I tried calling my mom and was pleasantly surprised. There was only moderate interference and we had a nice conversation about how my father wants me to get the rest of my crap out of the garage. I asked her to tell him not to touch my albums, I’ve been saving that Rick Springfield one for when he makes that long anticipated comeback.

Rick Springfields Official Website- www.rickspringfield.com (It’s just a matter of time guys)

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STICKER SHOCK

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:58-04:00 December 27th, 2010|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: car|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Toll 50 cents Verrazano Bridge Toll Connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn- $13

I’m having sticker shock while visiting my parents for Christmas. I live comfortably on $1000/month but apparently this will not get me far in the Unites States. I blew $13 going over one bridge. That’s half my weekly grocery bill and double my cell phone bill in Costa Rica.

In Costa Rica if there is too much traffic the toll booth attendants wave you through for free. I like this feature and wanted to suggest it to the Verrazano Bridge worker.

Maybe that’s what America needs. Just one day a year when everyone gets waved through. It would make paying the $13 a little more tolerable.

Picture of bridge from Costa Rica to Panama. Hey, at least it’s cheap.

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SNAP OUT OF IT

By Nadine Hays Pisani| 2018-04-15T18:19:59-04:00 December 22nd, 2010|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: airport|

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: San Jose Airport Departure Tax- $26 a person

30 Degrees…that’s the temperature where I’m heading for Christmas. And people wonder why I try to convince my family to visit me for the holiday.

Leaving Costa Rica requires one to pay an exit tax of $26. It’s always sad to say goodbye to this country even though I’ll be back shortly. This place brings me great happiness; a country that has taught me to be kinder, have more patience, and to understand that a two hour siesta might possibly be the key to peace on earth. All the things you do not want to be while standing at a US airport baggage carousel during one of the busiest times of the year.

I’m certain this is Dante’s tenth circle of hell, a place where abrasiveness is the preferred survival method when rescuing your luggage off the congested conveyor belt. I’ll stand back, visualizing blue skies and cute kinkajous, while my husband bravely fights his way through the crowd. I’ll eventually snap out of it…30 degrees has a way of doing that.

Moonstruck 1987: Arguably the best movie slap of all time

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DON’T GO HEAVY ON THE MUSTARD

WHY PAY MORE?

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

STICKER SHOCK

SNAP OUT OF IT

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