So, You Want to Live and Work in Vieques..
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Vieques- October 2008 NEW
Living and Working in Vieques..
Living and Working… October -, 20008
Since the whole world seems to be talking, and worrying about money, I thought I would write about money in Vieques.
Money is Vieques is small town money – which is not to say that many people do invest in the stock market. Nevertheless, basically, people here work for a paycheck, or commission and do not make a lot of money. - Certainly not compared to urban centers.
However, here is the real deal – one can live in Vieques for cheap. Leave the mortgage aside for the moment; if you live here, you will have certain basic expenses. Electric has become expensive. If one has a pool and uses a/c in limited quantity, bills still run to $350.00/month. Water used to be very cheap, but it has also become more expensive, say $50/month. Cable, depending on what extra channels you order is about $70/month.
Taxes are a non-issue, they are so low. The biggest mansion on the island pay about $1200/yr. and the exemption Puerto Rican residents here virtually erases the property tax.
Food is probably a little more expense here, but not that much.
In addition, there is not a whole lot to buy here. Not many stores, a couple or three boutiques, but Vieques is not for duty free shopping. Many of us rely on catalogues.
One expense is entertaining at home – the most popular form of social life.
Gas is high but one can only drive so much on this small island so it goes far.
Again, mortgage aside, I believe one can live on $2500 a month very nicely. My New York friends are in shock when I tell them that. Other expenses include medical insurance – but insurance for Puerto Rican residents is not too expensive.
People who rent their houses have to employ house managers, more cleaning expenses and repair.
If you live in an urban center, you will immediately cut your taxi, movie, high-end restaurant, impulse shopping and heating oil.
Haircuts (good ones, too) at $20.00. We do now have a manicure place that costs $30.00.
It is, as I have said before, hard to make a living and very hard to make any serious money. In exchange for that, one gets the lifestyle that I have described many times. Beaches are free except for Sun Bay, which does charge $2.00 for entrance.
Cleaning people charge around $15.00/hr.
One big expense is the very high cost for local plane service from Vieques to San Juan. This is a sore point, since only Cape Air issues coupons, which decreases the flight price.
So, that’s the story. While other snowbirds and retiree have a larger burden, living here is manageable from a financial point of view.
Still one should not consider it though without appreciating the life style alterations it will make in your lives. It will be a big change for people from urban areas and even for people living in other small towns.
If you have any other questions about this, let me know.
Have a wonderful visit,Sheila
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Webmaster's Note * Sheila has many hats and is also a published author Her first book was "Simple Truths". She has asked that I put a short story she has written and I enjoyed it a lot, even though it has nothing to do with Vieques. You can download "Knowing" by right clicking on the link.
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Last revised: 11/02/10