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Rastagirl777
Member posted on Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 06:34 pm
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Post Number: 1150
Registered: 02-2008
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Seveen on: Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 11:27 am, wrote:when i stayed a month i cooked - well Shereth cooked - and it was still expensive
It depends on what you eat and where you shop. As the years have gone by my grocery bills have gone down because I keep finding out the little secrets of not breaking the bank.
I don't shop at HiLo much at all...sure, I'll go there to "stock" my kitchen - spices, etc. paper goods. Aside from maybe two or three more times in the three months I'm there, I shop at Wise Choice - cheaper but less of a selection and I'm buying ONLY locally produced stuff - no American toilet paper, cleaning products, canned goods etc.
I eat a mostly vegetarian diet - the veg truck comes to the yard twice a week, I eat beans, rice and...tuna fish! I LOVE the tuna in Jamaica, especially the kind with the "stuff" in it (onions, jalapeno peppers, sun dried tomatoes etc.) Its amazing what you can do with tuna, lol. I get my chicken from a local grower and I have my fish guy but I try to limit those purchases as it all becomes expensive. Hubby doesn't eat red meat at all therefore I don't either.
I find it is ALWAYS more budget concious to eat in as opposed to eating out and I have NO objections to preparing meals while there...I have a nice kitchen, decent enough kitchen stuff that I've collected over the years...and we eat communally with our friends so everyone takes turns preparing, cleaning etc.
Its feeding the whole mishpacha (read: posse, neighborhood, etc.) where it can get a bit spendy.
I too will be on a tighter budget this year so that will mean fewer dinners out and setting limits for myself at the bars when I go (also sticking to those bars where the drinks are less expensive...). I see many nights spent in, enjoying a meal with my friends, watching the stars and reading myself to sleep...
http://nikkikamens.squarespace.com
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DAWN
Member posted on Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 07:12 pm
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Post Number: 1901
Registered: 07-2006
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You are staying at Foote Prints and there are a few places around there with some good ja food. Cool Spot is right across the road from you. Ossie' Jerk Center is up to the right a couple of hundred feet. Pilot Cafe about 3 properties down the beach from FP. Auntie has a cook shop around back of the patty shop between Sea Splash and Tree House.
"Begin at the beginning, and go on till you come to the end: then stop."
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monk
Member posted on Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 07:57 pm
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Post Number: 3585
Registered: 03-2007
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DAWN on: Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 07:12 pm, wrote:Auntie has a cook shop around back of the patty shop between Sea Splash and Tree House.
and she cooks really well.
a noble stroke he lifted high, Which hung not but so swift with tempest fell On the proud crest of Satan that no sight, nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield such ruin intercept; ten paces huge he back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee...
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skyjuice
Member posted on Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 09:23 pm
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Post Number: 257
Registered: 01-2009
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| When I first started going to Negril in 1990, I didn't have a credit card, it was just the money in pocket and the clothes that I had brought. It didn't leave much room for not having a budget. I used my tax return to buy my plane tickets every year and even missed my plane on one trip going home and still managed with what little money I had. |
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Shawna
Member posted on Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 10:04 pm
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Post Number: 405
Registered: 06-2006
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Marko on: Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 06:41 pm, wrote:and mi actually bring stuff down der to eat in mi luggage; chocolate, Pringles, cookies, cans of tuna & chicken, pickles, spray cheese spread, crackers, candy, dog biscuits, etc......
not so much the doggie biscuits but I usually bring down some snacks and quick breakfast foods. Things like instant flavored oatmeal or cream of wheat (can get hot water from the coffee pot), luna bars or protein bars, trail mix, crystal light, foil packets of tuna, little tubs of international delight creamer, chex mix, crackers and either some peanut butter or Goober(country as hell but a great pb&j combo in one jar)
Really cuts down on food costs and helps in the mornings if I've sipped a little too much the night before and need some oatmeal to help settle my tummy. Having the portable snacks is also good when we go on excursions to the river and in the bush and can't find a place to eat for a while...gives you something to snack on until dinner.
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for-MaureenDowd
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wit
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:37 am
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Post Number: 621
Registered: 12-2008
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ahh but I'm a decent tipper so ....$25 per day? I don't think so.
$5.00 per day for housekeeping alone right?
We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
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JA Jeff
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:42 am
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Post Number: 353
Registered: 02-2007
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wit on: Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:37 am, wrote:$5.00 per day for housekeeping alone right?
Thats what we do.
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LegendOnTheLoose
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:57 am
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Post Number: 714
Registered: 06-2008
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JA Jeff on: Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:42 am, wrote:
wit on: Monday, November 09, 2009 - 10:37 am, wrote:
$5.00 per day for housekeeping alone right?
Thats what we do.
Same here & it's separate from our spending $$$
"I am prepared to believe that a dry martini slightly impairs the palate, but think what it does for the soul" - Alec Waugh
Jamaica
"La Buena Vida"
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wit
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 11:21 am
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Post Number: 622
Registered: 12-2008
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cool...spending money, eating money, trip money....it's ALL the same to me. It all comes out of my bank account 
I guess for me ...it's TOTAL amount spent. Not on what items/people or things.
We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
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Rastagirl777
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 12:22 pm
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Post Number: 1155
Registered: 02-2008
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wit on: Monday, November 09, 2009 - 11:21 am, wrote:cool...spending money, eating money, trip money....it's ALL the same to me. It all comes out of my bank account :-)
I guess for me ...it's TOTAL amount spent. Not on what items/people or things.
YES! You are 100% right but you should see my spreadsheet to figure out how much is the whole..oy vey...
http://nikkikamens.squarespace.com
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JA Jeff
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 01:28 pm
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Post Number: 355
Registered: 02-2007
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wit on: Monday, November 09, 2009 - 11:21 am, wrote:it's TOTAL amount spent. Not on what items/people or things.
Exactly.
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irieworld
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 01:53 pm
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Post Number: 1267
Registered: 04-2008
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I tip well for housekeeping and if I sit down and eat or drink somewhere--but still find it easy to get by on 25-35 per day, sometimes less. But that is largely due to the fact that I don't have much money in the first place. I am sure I could happily spend more if I had more.
http://irie-negril-jamaica.blogspot.com/
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goldilocks
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 02:23 pm
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Post Number: 763
Registered: 12-2006
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LOL, monk, thanks for reminding me why I don't eat that processed meat food product!
I bring a huge bag of trail mix, tea, oatmeal, sweeties for the children, maybe a can of vegetarian baked beans or two and something of interest to local friends - Nutrigrain bars or they love Campbell's Chunky Soup although I can't convince them not to put water in it! but with weight restrictions, canned goods are not really the way to go.... |
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wit
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 03:06 pm
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Post Number: 623
Registered: 12-2008
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when I went alone this was my budget:
about $50-$75.00 per week in juice, coffee, snacks etc at Hi Low.
Breakfast would be coffee ( I made) and a piece of fruit/cake from fruitlady.
A patty from Neville
And out for dinners.
So...let's say $10 for grocery stuff, another $2-5 ish per day (daytime stuff...patties, fruit) that would leave $10.00 ish for dinner with tip including taxi? Umm not really no. I'd budget $20 for dinner....so I guess ya...$35.00 per day.
I don't drink alcohol and that's not really eating a breakfast nor a lunch (a patty).
Tight but doable I guess.
We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.
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head in the trees
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 03:40 pm
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Post Number: 78
Registered: 07-2006
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| We also stick to around $100/day. We have a kitchen where we stay. The same group is usually there the same time we are so we prepare a couple of community meals during our trip. We also bring our favorite snack items down with us. We always bring a couple bags of beef jerky also. Some of the Jamaicans love it, and some just don't know what to think about it. We gave some to our friend Big John one day, and the next day he came over and asked for some more of "that meat". He said he went home and made stew out of it? I didn't even ask!!! |
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LegendOnTheLoose
Member posted on Monday, November 09, 2009 - 03:52 pm
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Post Number: 717
Registered: 06-2008
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head in the trees on: Monday, November 09, 2009 - 03:40 pm, wrote:We always bring a couple bags of beef jerky also. Some of the Jamaicans love it, and some just don't know what to think about it. We gave some to our friend Big John one day, and the next day he came over and asked for some more of "that meat". He said he went home and made stew out of it? I didn't even ask!!!
Our friends @ SamSara LOVE this stuff 
"I am prepared to believe that a dry martini slightly impairs the palate, but think what it does for the soul" - Alec Waugh
Jamaica
"La Buena Vida"
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goldilocks
Member posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 09:25 am
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Post Number: 764
Registered: 12-2006
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| I bet the stew was slammin' though! |
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Norda Ratcliff
Member posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 03:27 pm
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Post Number: 1059
Registered: 08-2006
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CHICKEN LAVISH, great food and lots of it! Reasonable prices. I usually take left overs home and eat next day!
INTERNET AND MORE Across from NBCC's and next to the Negril Gym, Doreen making some awesome soups and food!
Good Luck}
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head in the trees
Member posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 03:32 pm
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Post Number: 80
Registered: 07-2006
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| That's the same jerky we bring. I bet the stew was slammin! |
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easton714
Member posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 04:58 pm
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Post Number: 277
Registered: 08-2008
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CharlesJAB on: Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 02:19 pm, wrote:Just a thought, I wonder what the locals think of this thread where we talk about spending in a day what some of them make in a week.
Good point.
-----
As an aside...
When we were in St. Thomas with a group of about 25 college students building a school, our budget for the entire group was about $40 per person per day just for food! That is $1,000 US per day...and this is in rural St. Thomas parish.
So...our group's budget was to spend nearly 6 months worth of Jamaican minimum wage on food, per day.
Why? Stupid sponsors (two professors who had no business on a service trip) who wanted sit down meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner despite being there solely for the purpose of building a school.
I have mentioned it before, but I was head of our construction project (there was also a medical project) and it wasn't until I told the professors I had to spend the money on cement and paint (we went overbudget) did they "allow" us to not have full catered sit down lunches and multi-course dinners.
I guess they decided finishing the school was more important than sit down meals.
Sheesh.
Seriously, it took major, hardcore pleading by our entire group of college students to convince these women that we could "live on" patties, crackers and cheese, fruit, etc. for lunch and patties, box meals, or simple family style meals for dinner.
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jessa
Member posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 08:24 pm
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Post Number: 1532
Registered: 05-2009
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I like to eat out, and I like to drink mixed drinks, along with the ocassional red stripe, and I like to indulge in herbal remedies, so would $65 a day be a reasonable bugdget given my proclivities and tastes?
It might be a lot, it might not, but it is what I have to spend, and have every intention on enjoying the heck out of myself when I do so.
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5801
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