Gringos Coming and Going But We're Still Here! Living frugal, happy and free Cuenca Ecuador VLOG! A little bit about our frugal life in the U.S and in Ecuador.
Welcome to Gringo Good Samaritans, integrated with our 8 years of living in Cuenca Ecuador and traveling the world. We create informative videos and articles helping people come to awareness of what's happening in our world so they can enjoy their retire early lifestyle with their families, healthy, happy and free!
Showing posts with label cost of living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cost of living. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Straight from the Horse's Mouth! Cuenca Ecuador VLOG
Straight from the Horse's Mouth is a recent interaction we had with a Ecuadorian taxi driver with English subtitles.
Do you want to have access to more videos we create about real life abroad? Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Do you want to have access to more videos we create about real life abroad? Check it out: https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Mercado Shopping Is Not a Panacea to Going Local in Cuenca Ecuador - Updated 2018
This article was first published on this blog on November 16, 2015...today we bring you the companion video to the updated article.
Feria Libre Cuenca Ecuador Mercado Shopping
You want to save money on your grocery shopping. That's a good goal. Surprisingly or not, fruits and vegetables in the regular grocery stores of Cuenca, whether its Supermaxi or Coral Hypermercado are inexpensive when purchased in season. Often times it’s simply not worth the trip or the effort of traipsing through Feria Libre or any other outdoor Mercado to save a literal buck.
I know, I know, this coming from Frank and Angie, but we’ve written about this before on our blog. In our Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide as far back as 2012, we mention prices for many things being better priced at the regular grocery stores than at the local Mercado or outdoor market.
For example we haven’t been to Feria Libre in almost two months and our grocery bill is the same. We wrote an article a couple years ago about how we stopped going to Feria Libre as often because many of the fruits and vegetables, especially the vegetables that we use for cooking are just as, or almost as cheap at Coral Centro as they are at Feria Libre when in season!
You have to understand that this is because we’re the gringo and they just up the price on us, no amount of negotiating is going to make the price cheaper than what they think the gringo should have it for…but at the grocery store THE PRICES ARE ALREADY FIXED! Do you understand what we’re saying here?
Well that was then, nowadays, we just understand what’s in season and buy that at fixed prices. We rarely go to Feria Libre outdoor Mercado anymore; it’s just not worth it. Why? We’ve noticed prices steadily going up (for the gringo) at Feria Libre, which by the way, is supposed to be the cheapest open air market in Cuenca, and so we have (almost) stopped shopping at Feria Libre.
Getting Gringoed!
How long that will last remains to be seen but let us just say that it’s a consequence of living in touristville. “Touristville” is the latest word we’ve coined, besides “getting gringoed”. Tourists are great for local business people but they are a scourge for those that are local residents, whether nationals or foreigners.
We need to rethink our strategies folks. Up north we’re used to buying whatever is at the store at any time of year. Because the food there is trucked all the way across the country from California or Florida, and imported from Mexico, etc. There is a little bit of seasonality but mostly things are available year round. Well here too except that we need to get used to the seasons being upside down so we need to pay attention.
For example when onions are not in season the price doubles at Coral Centro but at Feria Libre outdoor Mercado they triple. Our response? We buy very few onions if any when they’re not in season. We concentrate on garlic instead, as it seems to keep its price, which is fixed at the stores.
Living Like a Local
You know for years now we’ve been bringing you the lowdown on the real skinny of what it’s like on the ground "living like a local", not a year round tourist in a make believe place like touristville Cuenca Ecuador, which the locals refer to the entire city as “gringolandia”. And part of that has been to shop at outdoor Mercados like the locals do.
Back to prices at the Mercado: Just in case some of these vendors think
they can start charging the locals these kind of ridiculous prices then
it’s simply not good for the local market if prices continue to get
more and more expensive for them. Now you know.
Back to the touristville and gringolandias of the world being a scourge on the local residents, whether nationals or foreigners: here’s something we noticed in Panama city, which we’ve referred to previously as a destination that is well matured in its touristvillness, and gringolandianess.
This might shock some people eh? The local Panamanians on the street don’t smile. They seem stressed and unhappy. And this was confirmed with a conversation with a teller that divulged to us that previously to 2002, (keep this date in mind) it was easy for her to live well on her standard salary per month, but after that year its been getting steadily harder and more difficult to live on her $600 a month wages. But…–her words—“Thanks to God the creator he’s watching over my family” and they are surviving", she said.
Central Americans are normally a gregarious people and Panamanians in particular are much more so than Ecuadorians. Most Panamanian taxi drivers easily engage with me in interesting conversations that we both enjoy. But generally speaking you can see the stress in the Panama City people and many will just come out and tell you that “life is hard”. Meaning they can barely make ends meet. Unsurprisingly life is not as hard for those that cater to foreigners in their businesses.
Source: DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide
More Ways to Save Money Grocery Shopping
in Cuenca Ecuador
We practice every one of these five things to save on grocery shopping and as you can see from our cost of living budget for five adult people, our grocery bill is not that high!
1. Buy fruits and vegetables in Season. There are always a variety of produce that is in season at certain times of the year. You’ll know some of what is in season by the price. For example prices of Ecuador potatoes come down considerably during harvest time as well as other hot weather vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, avocados, etc. In Cuenca this time of year is coming up soon or is here now. Remember, summer here is wintertime in North America.
A quick note: if you don’t think it is worth noting the seasonal price changes then how are you going to think it is worth haggling and rejecting gringo prices on a regular basis at outdoor mercados?
2. Buy the “whole food” rather than the canned or boxed version. Your grocery bill will go down by 75% by doing this. Prepared, frozen and packaged foods not only cost up to 75% more but are unhealthy! Examples: whole potatoes instead of boxed potato flakes; whole apples instead of canned applesauce; whole mushrooms instead of canned mushrooms, etc.
3. Buy local brands instead of imported. Local brands (usually) are grown and manufactured and packaged somewhere in the Ecuador, and the prices reflect that. Again, you can save as much as 50% on your grocery bill by buying the local Ecuadorian brands. You’re helping out the small Ecuadorian farmer by buying their Quinoa instead of Quinoa from let’s say, Peru, where it costs twice much.
TIP: Bring your reading glasses because some of those food labels have really small print.
Local brands are usually healthier than the imports because they have less chemicals and preservatives. We used to buy the local peanut butter at Coral but they started adding some other ingredients to it other than peanuts, so now we just make our own PB. Making your own peanut butter is really easy and only takes two ingredients, the peanuts, which are grown in Ecuador, and oil.
4. Buy Meat at the Grocery Store: We have never bought our meat or cheese at Feria Libre or any outdoor market in Cuenca. You've probably noticed when walking through the meat aisles it smells, there’s flies, and the food is just sitting out all day long. Now, from what I've learned growing up, meat cannot sit outside of the refrigerator for more than an hour or so, especially chicken. That means they are putting preservatives on the meat to keep it from rotting. Yuck!
Mercados standards are just not acceptable, especially from a health standpoint. We’re not telling anyone what to do, just giving you our two cents. Even though we buy many food items at Supermaxi and Coral Hypermercado, our grocery bill is still low because we save in all the other areas we talk about in this article and pay attention to seasonal price fluctuations, meaning we notice when the item is not in seasons and the price is higher, and well, we don’t buy it.
So here it is 2018 and we still rarely shop at the Mercados in Latin America as the video states, we occasionally have that one item we must get at the Mercado but that's it for us...unless one of the sellers yells out a bargain to us, which usually doesn't happen. But we still love Ecuador and will continue to buy what is in season at the regular grocery stores where it smells clean, looks clean and is safe from thieves.
FYI: Frugality is not always about buying the cheapest; most people know this concept. We’re frugal, yes, but we also care about our health; it’s worth more to us than saving a few bucks at Feria Libre.
Amazingly, we have found the best meat prices at Supermaxi. They have the best prices on ground meat and some of the chicken in all of Cuenca!! And, it doesn’t smell, it’s not sitting out collecting flies; it is packaged real nice and refrigerated! We’re not big meat eaters anyway, but when we buy meat, Supermaxi is where we buy it.
5. On Wednesdays Supermaxi takes 15 to 20% off all produce and on Fridays they discount 15% to 20% off all meats; so taking advantage of these two days can save even more on your grocery bill each month!
There are now four Supermaxi stores located throughout the city of Cuenca and the recently built one is off of Don Bosco.
Until we write again…
If you liked this article, we’re sure you’ll like these ones too.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!
Feria Libre Cuenca Ecuador Mercado Shopping
You want to save money on your grocery shopping. That's a good goal. Surprisingly or not, fruits and vegetables in the regular grocery stores of Cuenca, whether its Supermaxi or Coral Hypermercado are inexpensive when purchased in season. Often times it’s simply not worth the trip or the effort of traipsing through Feria Libre or any other outdoor Mercado to save a literal buck.
I know, I know, this coming from Frank and Angie, but we’ve written about this before on our blog. In our Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide as far back as 2012, we mention prices for many things being better priced at the regular grocery stores than at the local Mercado or outdoor market.
 |
| Quote from the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide |
For example we haven’t been to Feria Libre in almost two months and our grocery bill is the same. We wrote an article a couple years ago about how we stopped going to Feria Libre as often because many of the fruits and vegetables, especially the vegetables that we use for cooking are just as, or almost as cheap at Coral Centro as they are at Feria Libre when in season!
You have to understand that this is because we’re the gringo and they just up the price on us, no amount of negotiating is going to make the price cheaper than what they think the gringo should have it for…but at the grocery store THE PRICES ARE ALREADY FIXED! Do you understand what we’re saying here?
 |
| Quoted taken from DIY Cuenca Landing Guide |
Well that was then, nowadays, we just understand what’s in season and buy that at fixed prices. We rarely go to Feria Libre outdoor Mercado anymore; it’s just not worth it. Why? We’ve noticed prices steadily going up (for the gringo) at Feria Libre, which by the way, is supposed to be the cheapest open air market in Cuenca, and so we have (almost) stopped shopping at Feria Libre.
Getting Gringoed!
How long that will last remains to be seen but let us just say that it’s a consequence of living in touristville. “Touristville” is the latest word we’ve coined, besides “getting gringoed”. Tourists are great for local business people but they are a scourge for those that are local residents, whether nationals or foreigners.
We need to rethink our strategies folks. Up north we’re used to buying whatever is at the store at any time of year. Because the food there is trucked all the way across the country from California or Florida, and imported from Mexico, etc. There is a little bit of seasonality but mostly things are available year round. Well here too except that we need to get used to the seasons being upside down so we need to pay attention.
For example when onions are not in season the price doubles at Coral Centro but at Feria Libre outdoor Mercado they triple. Our response? We buy very few onions if any when they’re not in season. We concentrate on garlic instead, as it seems to keep its price, which is fixed at the stores.
Living Like a Local
You know for years now we’ve been bringing you the lowdown on the real skinny of what it’s like on the ground "living like a local", not a year round tourist in a make believe place like touristville Cuenca Ecuador, which the locals refer to the entire city as “gringolandia”. And part of that has been to shop at outdoor Mercados like the locals do.
Back to prices at the Mercado: Just in case some of these vendors think
they can start charging the locals these kind of ridiculous prices then
it’s simply not good for the local market if prices continue to get
more and more expensive for them. Now you know.
Back to the touristville and gringolandias of the world being a scourge on the local residents, whether nationals or foreigners: here’s something we noticed in Panama city, which we’ve referred to previously as a destination that is well matured in its touristvillness, and gringolandianess.
This might shock some people eh? The local Panamanians on the street don’t smile. They seem stressed and unhappy. And this was confirmed with a conversation with a teller that divulged to us that previously to 2002, (keep this date in mind) it was easy for her to live well on her standard salary per month, but after that year its been getting steadily harder and more difficult to live on her $600 a month wages. But…–her words—“Thanks to God the creator he’s watching over my family” and they are surviving", she said.
Central Americans are normally a gregarious people and Panamanians in particular are much more so than Ecuadorians. Most Panamanian taxi drivers easily engage with me in interesting conversations that we both enjoy. But generally speaking you can see the stress in the Panama City people and many will just come out and tell you that “life is hard”. Meaning they can barely make ends meet. Unsurprisingly life is not as hard for those that cater to foreigners in their businesses.
Source: DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide
More Ways to Save Money Grocery Shopping
in Cuenca Ecuador
We practice every one of these five things to save on grocery shopping and as you can see from our cost of living budget for five adult people, our grocery bill is not that high!
1. Buy fruits and vegetables in Season. There are always a variety of produce that is in season at certain times of the year. You’ll know some of what is in season by the price. For example prices of Ecuador potatoes come down considerably during harvest time as well as other hot weather vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, avocados, etc. In Cuenca this time of year is coming up soon or is here now. Remember, summer here is wintertime in North America.
A quick note: if you don’t think it is worth noting the seasonal price changes then how are you going to think it is worth haggling and rejecting gringo prices on a regular basis at outdoor mercados?
2. Buy the “whole food” rather than the canned or boxed version. Your grocery bill will go down by 75% by doing this. Prepared, frozen and packaged foods not only cost up to 75% more but are unhealthy! Examples: whole potatoes instead of boxed potato flakes; whole apples instead of canned applesauce; whole mushrooms instead of canned mushrooms, etc.
3. Buy local brands instead of imported. Local brands (usually) are grown and manufactured and packaged somewhere in the Ecuador, and the prices reflect that. Again, you can save as much as 50% on your grocery bill by buying the local Ecuadorian brands. You’re helping out the small Ecuadorian farmer by buying their Quinoa instead of Quinoa from let’s say, Peru, where it costs twice much.
TIP: Bring your reading glasses because some of those food labels have really small print.
Local brands are usually healthier than the imports because they have less chemicals and preservatives. We used to buy the local peanut butter at Coral but they started adding some other ingredients to it other than peanuts, so now we just make our own PB. Making your own peanut butter is really easy and only takes two ingredients, the peanuts, which are grown in Ecuador, and oil.
 |
| Raw peanuts before roasting - grown and bought in Cuenca |
4. Buy Meat at the Grocery Store: We have never bought our meat or cheese at Feria Libre or any outdoor market in Cuenca. You've probably noticed when walking through the meat aisles it smells, there’s flies, and the food is just sitting out all day long. Now, from what I've learned growing up, meat cannot sit outside of the refrigerator for more than an hour or so, especially chicken. That means they are putting preservatives on the meat to keep it from rotting. Yuck!
Mercados standards are just not acceptable, especially from a health standpoint. We’re not telling anyone what to do, just giving you our two cents. Even though we buy many food items at Supermaxi and Coral Hypermercado, our grocery bill is still low because we save in all the other areas we talk about in this article and pay attention to seasonal price fluctuations, meaning we notice when the item is not in seasons and the price is higher, and well, we don’t buy it.
So here it is 2018 and we still rarely shop at the Mercados in Latin America as the video states, we occasionally have that one item we must get at the Mercado but that's it for us...unless one of the sellers yells out a bargain to us, which usually doesn't happen. But we still love Ecuador and will continue to buy what is in season at the regular grocery stores where it smells clean, looks clean and is safe from thieves.
FYI: Frugality is not always about buying the cheapest; most people know this concept. We’re frugal, yes, but we also care about our health; it’s worth more to us than saving a few bucks at Feria Libre.
Amazingly, we have found the best meat prices at Supermaxi. They have the best prices on ground meat and some of the chicken in all of Cuenca!! And, it doesn’t smell, it’s not sitting out collecting flies; it is packaged real nice and refrigerated! We’re not big meat eaters anyway, but when we buy meat, Supermaxi is where we buy it.
5. On Wednesdays Supermaxi takes 15 to 20% off all produce and on Fridays they discount 15% to 20% off all meats; so taking advantage of these two days can save even more on your grocery bill each month!
There are now four Supermaxi stores located throughout the city of Cuenca and the recently built one is off of Don Bosco.
Until we write again…
If you liked this article, we’re sure you’ll like these ones too.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
This Was Really Smart - Cuenca Ecuador Life 2018 VLOG
Some of you may remember, we wrote an article wishing the city would do this in Cuenca Ecuador and they finally did and it was really smart!
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS?
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS?
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Ecuador vs. Dominican Republic - Cost of Living, Crime, Infrastructure, Etc...
Ecuador vs. Dominican Republic for permanent living...and we share our 5 biggest reasons why in this video. We share crime rates, cost of living, infrastructure, general environment ambiance, etc, etc...
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS?
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS?
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Thursday, December 28, 2017
This Is Bull-Shift, Dominican Republic for $1355!! DR Travel VLOG
We apologize if you have already seen this video but our Anti-shyster antennas are going up and thought we'd post this here just in case you missed it. Oh and yeah, we changed the title because this one is better. :-) LOL
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Cuenca Ecuador Economy, Trends & Rental Prices VLOG
So here we are at the close of 2017 and what is Cuenca Ecuador doing as far as prices? We've always said there is two worlds (price structures) in Cuenca. In this video we talk about the economy, trends, and prices in Cuenca Ecuador, all the while we eat a wonderful meal with great service in El Centro. Come and join us!
Forget about Patreon where people beg for money to buy better camera gear...you do not have to support us monetarily, Showing support is as easy as leaving a comment or liking a video and subscribing! Doing these things shows your appreciation. Money doesn't buy love, at least not REAL love.
Forget about Patreon where people beg for money to buy better camera gear...you do not have to support us monetarily, Showing support is as easy as leaving a comment or liking a video and subscribing! Doing these things shows your appreciation. Money doesn't buy love, at least not REAL love.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Goodbye Mexico, Hello Dominican Republic! DR Travel VLOG
We have more great insights for you today with our Goodbye Mexico, Hello Dominican Republic VLOG. If you didn't already know, the DR is the new kid on the retirement abroad circuit which means more Americans getting deceived into believing they can live in luxury for a low-cost on their Social Security pension, however let us know if you think this is luxury living. You'll be able to live better in Ecuador for that money.
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS?
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS?
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Thursday, December 14, 2017
The Biggest Mistake Gringos Make, But Not You - Discover Cuenca Ecuador VLOG
We're shopping for medicinal herbs today in Cuenca Ecuador and enjoying our day. In this video we offer a little commentary about the biggest mistake (unintentionally) gringos make when they go abroad. We probably made this mistake too when we first moved to Cuenca but we quickly realized it's not the way to live in a developing country.
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS? There are several ways you can support what we do. Encouragement in the form of commenting on our YT Channel or commenting right here at the end of this video. You can thumbs up our videos or send us a friendly email. Supporting us does not mean you need to give us money...Patreon is just a way for raising funds to help on the monthly budget a bit since adsense is not the ends or the means anymore. Your encouragement means a lot to us...without you there would be no YT videos. So, thank you.
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
DO YOU LIKE OUR VIDEOS? There are several ways you can support what we do. Encouragement in the form of commenting on our YT Channel or commenting right here at the end of this video. You can thumbs up our videos or send us a friendly email. Supporting us does not mean you need to give us money...Patreon is just a way for raising funds to help on the monthly budget a bit since adsense is not the ends or the means anymore. Your encouragement means a lot to us...without you there would be no YT videos. So, thank you.
We're glad you appreciate what we do and you get something out of our videos. With Patreon it's fast and easy to show your appreciation. You will enjoy access to our community where you will receive two exclusive videos each month, plus more rewards!
Join our exclusive community today!
https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
We're still living it up in Ecuador, what about you? / Day in the Life Salinas VLOG
Yes, we're still living it up in Ecuador after 6.5 years of living here. I think we are 'true to life" expats that just love going through the challenges of life in a foreign land and telling you guys all about it. LOL... We hope you're still with us too.
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Goodbye Ecuador, Hello Mexico - Ecuador vs. Mexico Travel VLOG
Goodby Ecuador, Hello Mexico: Leaving Ecuador and moving to Mexico. There are reasons why Mexico seems so appealing right now. So let's get right into it and see some of the Ecuador vs. Mexico Comparisons.
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon.
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
$40 Weekly Grocery Haul at Mi Comisariato Grocery (Paseo Shopping) Salinas Ecuador VLOG
This is one of our weekly food shopping trips to "Mi Comisariato" grocery store located in the Paseo Shopping Mall. This is what you can get for a little under $40.
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon.
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
I'm Fed Up With This Place
Are you ready to move abroad because you're fed up with the place you're living now? A lot of people seem to be in your shoes but are on a small budget or are not yet retired with a pension coming in. Can they still move abroad and live comfortably on small means? We're an example of a family living on a smaller budget abroad; we don't live on the beach but it's only a 10 minute bus ride! We share in our videos how anyone can live abroad on small means if they really want to.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We lived in Cuenca Ecuador for five years and now we are in Salinas Ecuador where our adventure continues.We vlog several times per week where we share crucial insights and every day experiences to help others see what its really like to live in a Latin American country.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We lived in Cuenca Ecuador for five years and now we are in Salinas Ecuador where our adventure continues.We vlog several times per week where we share crucial insights and every day experiences to help others see what its really like to live in a Latin American country.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
You Can Live Anywhere in South & Central America with THIS SKILL
Where do you want to live? What country in Latin America have you always wanted to move to? Having the skills of living like the locals and applying the money-saving skills into your daily life gives anyone the opportunity to live in any country in south and central America of their choosing. Think of all the options opened to you and countries you could move to.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We lived in Cuenca Ecuador for five years and now we are in Salinas Ecuador where our adventure continues.We vlog several times per week where we share crucial insights and every day experiences to help others see what its really like to live in a Latin American country.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We lived in Cuenca Ecuador for five years and now we are in Salinas Ecuador where our adventure continues.We vlog several times per week where we share crucial insights and every day experiences to help others see what its really like to live in a Latin American country.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
What Are You in Such a Hurry For? You're in Latin America
Is your time worth so much to you that you do not want to look for bargains and deals? Then think twice about moving to a developing country because that's what it's all about here. People care about saving money here.
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!
We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Ecuadorian Paradise, Land of Contrasts: LOVE It or LEAVE It! Update 2016
Update 2016- Remember, we live here but that doesn't give us any good reason to leave out all the tidbits and details, does it? We think newcomers want to know that some public banos come without the toilet seats.
In this place referred to as the earthly paradise of Ecuador, or “retirement haven”, there are so many contrasts. And I’m not talking about little insignificant things.
Where Have All the Toilet Seats Gone?
Well, I was walking around the Cuenca mall the other day marveling at the amazing new commercialization of a third world; nice new stores everywhere, great lighting, nice plants, expensive shoes, etc. and then oops, what happened to the toilet seats?
Somebody please tell me how much does it cost to put up a mall? My son’s guess is $25 million dollars. It’s not an educated guess, probably much more. So, was somebody trying to save a few pennies by leaving off all the toilet seats in the restroom? And what about the toilet paper rolls? There are no toilet paper rolls in the stalls either; you have to get it all at once before you go in. Your calculations can be over but you won’t want to be under…
This is not some dusty dive in old town. This is a big time modern commercial mall and the place otherwise sparkles.
UPDATE: September 2013: Guess what? Went to the Mall Yesterday and used the little girl's room and they have toilet seats now! Yahoo!!
Update August 2014: I don't know what is going on but the toilet seats are gone! I guess they took them off. Want to hear a rumor? Of course this is all speculation but, here goes. Someone told us that there are no toilet seats in the women's restrooms because they tinkle on the seats! LOL...and the cleaning lady or cleaning man does not want to have to keep cleaning the toilet seats. LOL. This could be correct as our favorite ice cream joint, Tuddo Freddos does not have a toilet seat in the ladies room either, but the men's room does have a toilet seat. So you figure this one out. Let us know when you get it figured out and we'll post it.
Update 2016 - Toilet seats were put back on and they have remained on the toilets for sometime now, so we think the seats are there to stay.
I keep pondering what the reasoning might have been when the plans for this mall were being drawn, and how come nobody noticed while it was being constructed? Maybe it was intentional? Well if you were to judge by the fact that the food court prices are three to four times as high as outside of the mall you wouldn’t think it was a cash flow problem. Oh, and while I’m on a roll, how come the janitor (in the men’s room) is always a young woman? Am I just modest? Because even after a year I’m still not used to that. Riddles of riddles, keeps my mind active. My sense is that there’s gotta be a good reason.
Saved by the Ecuadorian Lady
Ecuadorians are some of the nicest people I have ever met on the planet, besides those in the south USA. A perfect example was when an Ecuadorian lady told the other lady that cut in front of us in line at the grocery store, -- that we – the gringos, mind you - were in line first. I was totally amazed and let out an uncontrollable smile. This I would have never expected. What a welcome surprise, and just when I was getting worried that I might have to say something to the cutter myself. Do I risk the ugly American label? No, I was saved, by the nice Ecuadorian lady.
Update 2016 - Ok, ok, we speak Spanish but maybe our accent is too gringoish because once in awhile we get someone who curls their eyebrows, which we understand to mean: "Uh"...are you trying to talk to me in my native tongue; because you're not making any sense". This goes on and on for at least a full minute. We go to the next stall and they seem to understand us just fine.
The Dark Side of Year Round Spring Weather?
We’ve all heard the story of the perfect weather in Cuenca, which is why I find it interesting that nowadays the retirement press seems to have toned it down a notch. I keep seeing this new terminology, “moderate weather” now, instead. But nobody says anything about the mold. Well, when there’s not enough sunshine, and plenty of moderate weather, throw in lots of rain, you get…Mold. Cuenca is a moldy city. We noticed this while doing a humidity experiment, since we’re normally healthy as oxen but for some reason, not in Cuenca. Not for the faint of heart.
Update 2016 - Never fails during rainy season the mold seems to come back...home.
And Then There’s the Wall
What’s your beef? I hear you saying. Look I enjoy moderate weather just like you all. I love walking around and looking at the pretty trees with their bright colored blooms of yellows and pinks and reds. They are so wonderful to look at, unless you’re walking by any of the several urine soaked walls around town. Kinda overwhelms the blooms, know what I mean? It never ceases to amaze me how I forget to repel myself all the way to the other side of the street when I’m coming up to a wall. Ahh, paradise, it’s easy to forget you’re not in it when walking around in the retirement haven of Cuenca Ecuador.
Update 2016 - We veer away from the areas (near Mercados mostly) that were well known for this. Frugal family rarely shop at the Mercados anymore. Just goes to show, being frugal is not the same as being cheap. We've decided to skip the smells, thievery and gouging and spend more on groceries at the regular grocery stores. Aaah, compromise in paradise.
Avoiding the Gringo Tax
Of course nobody moves across continents just to look at spring blooms and to enjoy moderate weather. Yes, it’s all about the price isn’t it? Throw in a lower than where you live price and that bakes the cake. Unless of course, you don’t speak Spanish and you consider paying more than the locals, just an inevitability, like death and taxes. Oops, somebody told me the other day that some “Jesus” guy had said long ago he conquered both of those. Now there’s an odd thought. But for us mere mortals, we should just “suck it up” and pay the gringo tax, right? Those of us that don’t come from the perimeter metro areas of the northern country will find prices the same or higher than back home. They’re softening the blow; they’re calling it “sticker shock”. Should we stay or should we go?
Update 2016 - There's so much to love about Cuenca that we'll stay and just walk away! As you probably know, we walk away a lot!
Helping folks figure that one out has become somewhat of a specialty of ours, and it’s a popular one at that, judging by the nice folks that write us privately to tell us so. There are some quirks to bargaining in paradise that we had not previously been aware of. We give it all away to the owners of the Do-It-Yourself- Cuenca Landing Guide, as a show of thanks for your support.
Some people are flabbergasted at the thought that anyone would want to leave the freest and best countries in the world for some third world so called paradise. Is that for real? You’ve heard the school of thought that says “happiness is within you” or “the kingdom of heaven is within you” i.e. you take yourself and your attitude with you wherever you go. Home is where the heart is, blah blah blah, well you might want to bring a bit of rhino skin with you. It will help when you’ve been waiting weeks and then months for the cover plastics to come in for your new Ecuadorian Paradise identity card. Oh yeah, those finally came in, but don’t leave your rhino skin home just yet, I’m almost certain by next week it will be something equally suspenseful… gotta run, the sun is shining…
Update 2016 - Once you have your i.d. emplasticated, you won't have to worry about it for another ten years.
Until we write another "real life" report from paradise, check out these articles about one of the best cities to live in the world.
We're an expat family of five. We live frugal, healthy and happy in Cuenca Ecuador. We travel when we get a chance to and we record all of our experiences and adventures. Come along with us and enjoy the fun!
In this place referred to as the earthly paradise of Ecuador, or “retirement haven”, there are so many contrasts. And I’m not talking about little insignificant things.
Where Have All the Toilet Seats Gone?
Well, I was walking around the Cuenca mall the other day marveling at the amazing new commercialization of a third world; nice new stores everywhere, great lighting, nice plants, expensive shoes, etc. and then oops, what happened to the toilet seats?
Somebody please tell me how much does it cost to put up a mall? My son’s guess is $25 million dollars. It’s not an educated guess, probably much more. So, was somebody trying to save a few pennies by leaving off all the toilet seats in the restroom? And what about the toilet paper rolls? There are no toilet paper rolls in the stalls either; you have to get it all at once before you go in. Your calculations can be over but you won’t want to be under…
This is not some dusty dive in old town. This is a big time modern commercial mall and the place otherwise sparkles.
UPDATE: September 2013: Guess what? Went to the Mall Yesterday and used the little girl's room and they have toilet seats now! Yahoo!!
Update August 2014: I don't know what is going on but the toilet seats are gone! I guess they took them off. Want to hear a rumor? Of course this is all speculation but, here goes. Someone told us that there are no toilet seats in the women's restrooms because they tinkle on the seats! LOL...and the cleaning lady or cleaning man does not want to have to keep cleaning the toilet seats. LOL. This could be correct as our favorite ice cream joint, Tuddo Freddos does not have a toilet seat in the ladies room either, but the men's room does have a toilet seat. So you figure this one out. Let us know when you get it figured out and we'll post it.
Update 2016 - Toilet seats were put back on and they have remained on the toilets for sometime now, so we think the seats are there to stay.
I keep pondering what the reasoning might have been when the plans for this mall were being drawn, and how come nobody noticed while it was being constructed? Maybe it was intentional? Well if you were to judge by the fact that the food court prices are three to four times as high as outside of the mall you wouldn’t think it was a cash flow problem. Oh, and while I’m on a roll, how come the janitor (in the men’s room) is always a young woman? Am I just modest? Because even after a year I’m still not used to that. Riddles of riddles, keeps my mind active. My sense is that there’s gotta be a good reason.
Saved by the Ecuadorian Lady
Ecuadorians are some of the nicest people I have ever met on the planet, besides those in the south USA. A perfect example was when an Ecuadorian lady told the other lady that cut in front of us in line at the grocery store, -- that we – the gringos, mind you - were in line first. I was totally amazed and let out an uncontrollable smile. This I would have never expected. What a welcome surprise, and just when I was getting worried that I might have to say something to the cutter myself. Do I risk the ugly American label? No, I was saved, by the nice Ecuadorian lady.
Update 2016 - Ok, ok, we speak Spanish but maybe our accent is too gringoish because once in awhile we get someone who curls their eyebrows, which we understand to mean: "Uh"...are you trying to talk to me in my native tongue; because you're not making any sense". This goes on and on for at least a full minute. We go to the next stall and they seem to understand us just fine.
The Dark Side of Year Round Spring Weather?
We’ve all heard the story of the perfect weather in Cuenca, which is why I find it interesting that nowadays the retirement press seems to have toned it down a notch. I keep seeing this new terminology, “moderate weather” now, instead. But nobody says anything about the mold. Well, when there’s not enough sunshine, and plenty of moderate weather, throw in lots of rain, you get…Mold. Cuenca is a moldy city. We noticed this while doing a humidity experiment, since we’re normally healthy as oxen but for some reason, not in Cuenca. Not for the faint of heart.
Update 2016 - Never fails during rainy season the mold seems to come back...home.
And Then There’s the Wall
What’s your beef? I hear you saying. Look I enjoy moderate weather just like you all. I love walking around and looking at the pretty trees with their bright colored blooms of yellows and pinks and reds. They are so wonderful to look at, unless you’re walking by any of the several urine soaked walls around town. Kinda overwhelms the blooms, know what I mean? It never ceases to amaze me how I forget to repel myself all the way to the other side of the street when I’m coming up to a wall. Ahh, paradise, it’s easy to forget you’re not in it when walking around in the retirement haven of Cuenca Ecuador.
Update 2016 - We veer away from the areas (near Mercados mostly) that were well known for this. Frugal family rarely shop at the Mercados anymore. Just goes to show, being frugal is not the same as being cheap. We've decided to skip the smells, thievery and gouging and spend more on groceries at the regular grocery stores. Aaah, compromise in paradise.
Avoiding the Gringo Tax
Of course nobody moves across continents just to look at spring blooms and to enjoy moderate weather. Yes, it’s all about the price isn’t it? Throw in a lower than where you live price and that bakes the cake. Unless of course, you don’t speak Spanish and you consider paying more than the locals, just an inevitability, like death and taxes. Oops, somebody told me the other day that some “Jesus” guy had said long ago he conquered both of those. Now there’s an odd thought. But for us mere mortals, we should just “suck it up” and pay the gringo tax, right? Those of us that don’t come from the perimeter metro areas of the northern country will find prices the same or higher than back home. They’re softening the blow; they’re calling it “sticker shock”. Should we stay or should we go?
Update 2016 - There's so much to love about Cuenca that we'll stay and just walk away! As you probably know, we walk away a lot!
Helping folks figure that one out has become somewhat of a specialty of ours, and it’s a popular one at that, judging by the nice folks that write us privately to tell us so. There are some quirks to bargaining in paradise that we had not previously been aware of. We give it all away to the owners of the Do-It-Yourself- Cuenca Landing Guide, as a show of thanks for your support.
Some people are flabbergasted at the thought that anyone would want to leave the freest and best countries in the world for some third world so called paradise. Is that for real? You’ve heard the school of thought that says “happiness is within you” or “the kingdom of heaven is within you” i.e. you take yourself and your attitude with you wherever you go. Home is where the heart is, blah blah blah, well you might want to bring a bit of rhino skin with you. It will help when you’ve been waiting weeks and then months for the cover plastics to come in for your new Ecuadorian Paradise identity card. Oh yeah, those finally came in, but don’t leave your rhino skin home just yet, I’m almost certain by next week it will be something equally suspenseful… gotta run, the sun is shining…
Update 2016 - Once you have your i.d. emplasticated, you won't have to worry about it for another ten years.
Until we write another "real life" report from paradise, check out these articles about one of the best cities to live in the world.
We're an expat family of five. We live frugal, healthy and happy in Cuenca Ecuador. We travel when we get a chance to and we record all of our experiences and adventures. Come along with us and enjoy the fun!
Saturday, May 14, 2016
10 Warning Signs You Might Be Paying Too Much for Rent in Cuenca Ecuador? Updated 2016
Some
of you might think you got a great deal on your rental and maybe you
have. However, we know that many expats in Ecuador are overpaying for
their rental house or apartment. So consider the list below to see if
you may be getting gringoed on your rent.
Note: There are many variables that go into the price of a rental including but not limited to, whether bldg. has an elevator, square footage, foreign owners or local owners, etc. etc. Houses have higher rents than apartments.
See our videos of beautiful homes in Cuenca for between $250 and $400!!
We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!
- You procured your rental through an English speaking/ Ecuadorian real estate agent or online.
- You asked for any one of these amenities in your new place: views 2) elevator 3) by the river 4) near shopping 5) walk to Supermaxi.6) yard 7) a detached house.
- You took the first price that was quoted and did not negotiate.
- Your new place is a furnished one bedroom suite. (Tourist rental)
- Your landlord raised the rent after one year. (Illegal in Ecuador)
- You paid two or three months rent upfront. (The locals do not do this)
- You compared the Ecuadorian rental price to what you WERE PAYING in the u.s.
- You brought your u.s standards of living with you.
- You simply don’t care how much your rent is.
- You’re paying more than
$400(now new gringo rate $600 to $1200 for a house) for an unfurnished 3-bedroom 3-bath house, or you are paying more than $350 for 3 bedroom 3 bath apartment that does not have 24 hour security or elevator.
Note: There are many variables that go into the price of a rental including but not limited to, whether bldg. has an elevator, square footage, foreign owners or local owners, etc. etc. Houses have higher rents than apartments.
See our videos of beautiful homes in Cuenca for between $250 and $400!!
We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
In Ecuador You Can Go In Front of the Line at Banks - Update 2016
Update 2016: There have been some updates we want to tell you about. You want the hard cold truth, right? Heheheh. We are told that in Ecuador if you are a senior/elder person then you should be able to go in the front of the line at banks and in other establishments but we have experienced that it doesn't always work out and especially if you're in that void where you're mature but not quite yet the senior age.
In Ecuador you can go in front of the line at banking establishments, and even at ETAPA Internet, if you are an older man over the
age of 60, have a handicap, or if you are a woman with a small child. Now this may not mean
much to you if you’ve never stood in an Ecuadorian bank or Internet line
before. But waiting to make a bank deposit or waiting to pay an Internet bill
in Ecuador can take 30 minutes or longer.
Why the long
wait? The crowds are huge here! It doesn’t matter what bank you go to, they are
all busy all day. If you’re lucky there may be a lull between 1:30pm to 3pm,
which is Ecuadorian dinner time. But then again that may backfire since there
are less tellers at that time because their all out to lunch too.
If you
happen to be on a schedule it is always a good idea to get to the bank or other
government establishment early because, who knows, you may wait in line up to
an hour, or longer! Unless of course, you
happen to be an older man over the age of 60, a woman with a small child, or
have a handicap.
Some
establishments have a sign stating this policy, but many do not. When we were new, and were waiting in large
lines, we would notice people that appeared to be cutting in front of
everyone. We tried and successfully were
able to profile them, apparently those who were cutting in line were pregnant women, or women holding small children, and older citizens. However, it wasn’t easy as we weren’t
completely sure. Then we happened on an
institution with an explanatory sign.
It is
apparent to us that this policy is well established within the culture. The respect of the elderly and pregnant women
appears to be ingrained within the society.
And this is a good thing. It
would be the equivalent in North America to letting the handicapped park in
front of the parking lot without there being any signs under penalty of law compelling
anyone to do so.
Understand,
we’re not saying there aren’t any similar law here. We don’t know. But if there are, the fact remains that there
is not always a stick being waived for compliance. And this is because people simply respect the
respectable, usually. And that’s the kind of
neighborhood we like to live in…
So does this
apply to gringos too? Well, why not?
Just the other
day we were at the bank and the teller motioned for a 30 something
younger man to go before us. Clearly we are older but maybe she wasn't paying attention. We did mention something to her when we finally got up in the
line and she said she was sorry. Should we take it as a compliment or something else? Or perhaps it only applies to those who look over 60 years of age.
Waiting in a long and busy supermarket line a couple of years ago in Cuenca, an older lady kept bumping her cart into our backsides. We'd turn around and she would look the other way. This happened at least four times before it dawned on us that she wanted to go ahead of us. We of course let her go before us.
Another time a young person pushed their way in front of us but we didn't let the 20 something youngster go before us, we asked the lad to please go to the back of the line.
Another time on the bus a young boy of about 10 years old was scrambling to get the seat before us and we again said "sorry kiddo, you're just a bit too young to be able to get the seat". (paraphrased for effect) We usually have very heavy backpacks and welcome a seat on the bus. We're saying all this to let folks know that you may have to be a bit assertive to go next before a young(er) person.
We
have had a couple different senior expats complain to us that they try to go
in the front of the line but younger people push their way in front of
them and that it doesn't happen rarely but often. She went on to tell us that one time she asked a young woman why she went
in front of her and she said she was pregnant. Our senior expat friend said she didn't look pregnant.
Ah well...what can you do. Until we write again, you might like to read these other articles about what you can do while living in Ecuador.
We're an expat family of five living frugal, healthy and happy in Cuenca Ecuador. Come along and enjoy some of our adventures with us!
In Ecuador you can go in front of the line at banking establishments, and even at ETAPA Internet, if you are an older man over the
age of 60, have a handicap, or if you are a woman with a small child. Now this may not mean
much to you if you’ve never stood in an Ecuadorian bank or Internet line
before. But waiting to make a bank deposit or waiting to pay an Internet bill
in Ecuador can take 30 minutes or longer.
Why the long
wait? The crowds are huge here! It doesn’t matter what bank you go to, they are
all busy all day. If you’re lucky there may be a lull between 1:30pm to 3pm,
which is Ecuadorian dinner time. But then again that may backfire since there
are less tellers at that time because their all out to lunch too.
If you
happen to be on a schedule it is always a good idea to get to the bank or other
government establishment early because, who knows, you may wait in line up to
an hour, or longer! Unless of course, you
happen to be an older man over the age of 60, a woman with a small child, or
have a handicap.
Some
establishments have a sign stating this policy, but many do not. When we were new, and were waiting in large
lines, we would notice people that appeared to be cutting in front of
everyone. We tried and successfully were
able to profile them, apparently those who were cutting in line were pregnant women, or women holding small children, and older citizens. However, it wasn’t easy as we weren’t
completely sure. Then we happened on an
institution with an explanatory sign.
It is
apparent to us that this policy is well established within the culture. The respect of the elderly and pregnant women
appears to be ingrained within the society.
And this is a good thing. It
would be the equivalent in North America to letting the handicapped park in
front of the parking lot without there being any signs under penalty of law compelling
anyone to do so.
Understand,
we’re not saying there aren’t any similar law here. We don’t know. But if there are, the fact remains that there
is not always a stick being waived for compliance. And this is because people simply respect the
respectable, usually. And that’s the kind of
neighborhood we like to live in…
So does this
apply to gringos too? Well, why not?
Just the other
day we were at the bank and the teller motioned for a 30 something
younger man to go before us. Clearly we are older but maybe she wasn't paying attention. We did mention something to her when we finally got up in the
line and she said she was sorry. Should we take it as a compliment or something else? Or perhaps it only applies to those who look over 60 years of age.
Waiting in a long and busy supermarket line a couple of years ago in Cuenca, an older lady kept bumping her cart into our backsides. We'd turn around and she would look the other way. This happened at least four times before it dawned on us that she wanted to go ahead of us. We of course let her go before us.
Another time a young person pushed their way in front of us but we didn't let the 20 something youngster go before us, we asked the lad to please go to the back of the line.
Another time on the bus a young boy of about 10 years old was scrambling to get the seat before us and we again said "sorry kiddo, you're just a bit too young to be able to get the seat". (paraphrased for effect) We usually have very heavy backpacks and welcome a seat on the bus. We're saying all this to let folks know that you may have to be a bit assertive to go next before a young(er) person.
We
have had a couple different senior expats complain to us that they try to go
in the front of the line but younger people push their way in front of
them and that it doesn't happen rarely but often. She went on to tell us that one time she asked a young woman why she went
in front of her and she said she was pregnant. Our senior expat friend said she didn't look pregnant.
Ah well...what can you do. Until we write again, you might like to read these other articles about what you can do while living in Ecuador.
We're an expat family of five living frugal, healthy and happy in Cuenca Ecuador. Come along and enjoy some of our adventures with us!
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Do You Want This Kind of Inflation to Happen to Cuenca Ecuador? UPDATE 2016
Update 2016 - Once again, bringing you the info that no one else talks about. A few days ago we made a video titled, when prices go too high frugal folk move out. We often wonder what the local (national) does when he can't find decent rental housing for his family?
***
Do You Want This Kind of Price Inflation to Happen to Ecuador?
Click to see this Shed for sale in Majagual of Veracruz Panama $155,000
 | ||
| Somewhere in Panama outback, shed on 3/4 acre - $155K |
Update 2016 - it was almost 5 years ago when we first wrote this article (November 2011) about higher prices in Panama. They weren't always high though. It only took just a little while for prices to spiral to where they are today.
This has been happening in Ecuador: Salinas and Chipipe condos, Cotacachi houses, Manta condos, Puerto Lopez, Quito, Cuenca and other high foreigner traffic areas.
And actually real estate market in Ecuador has always been overpriced, especially in the Andes. We see only a little change in the RE market from 5-years ago, unless its resells from foreigners targeting foreign buyers; However in rents, foods, plane travel, tourist services, restaurants, local Mercados, etc, prices have inflated and some drastically, like the rents have in Cuenca and certain coastal communities.
We used to joke around that you couldn't even buy a shed in Myrtle Beach South Carolina for $150k, and now you can't even buy a shed in Panama for $150K Well, I guess that joke in our family has come to have some truth to it in Latin America now. Panama Realtor is promoting this shed for sale as “priced to sale” property! It may be priced to sale for those who truly have a purpose for such a structure in the middle of nowhere.
Who is really going to buy this shed on a 3,643 m2 lot (less than an acre) in some spot, away from everything in Panama? It is not even all the way enclosed in. And don’t think any of the farm equipment, boat, or the goat come with this shed. All you get is the dirt floor on almost an acre of land.
After clicking the link above take a look at some of the other ridiculous prices now in Panama from this realtor newsletter. Check out the rents!! We're wondering how the average Panamanian can afford living in their own country of birth? Why are we showing you this? Well, this could and probably will happen to Ecuador.
Update 2016 - It's already happening in well trafficked areas. Rents have doubled in Cuenca and Quito; and some of the resells we are seeing on the coast like in Salinas and Chipipe are outrageous! We're shaking our heads..."Simply silly prices!" This is still a 3rd world country but people are behaving as if its Myrtle Beach South Carolina!
We've been closely watching the market since we arrived and some of the stuff is totally off the wall. We're certain there are many foreigners stuck in their real estate right about now. To be able to get any kind of profit margin from property investments, you have to be one of the first people on the scene. You've heard of the saying, "Early bird gets the worm", right?"
Flash Back to 8-Years Ago in Panama
We used to be pretty excited about the housing market in Panama about 8 to 10 years ago (now in 2016, it would be 15 years ago) when you could buy a fixer upper house on an acre of land for 35K, or a fixer upper condo in Panama City for just $25K. Seriously! Panama only just 8-years ago was cheaper than Cuenca is now.
Update 2016 - problem is the foreigner enclaves of Panama (Chiriqui Province) that were once touted as cheap are now not only crime ridden but expensive. They're also stuck in their property. They can live there but be in fear of getting robbed and violently. We just updated an article about crime in Panama with new stuff happening in these gringo enclaves according to someone who has lived in this community for 9 years! Click to read "Why foreigners minimize crime in these paradise cities".
Now look at Panama. What has happened with Panama is gringo inflation. Our dream of moving to Panama did not materialize because we just were not yet ready to pick up our life and move to a foreign country. Moving your whole family to another country takes careful planning and absolute due diligence, otherwise it may not work out. So be sure you do your home work. And be on the lookout for higher rents and housing prices in Cuenca and the coastal areas of Ecuador in the coming years.
That was five years ago (2011)...and this is today (2016).
Update 2016 - We're not picking on the gringos but its difficult to not make the gringo the focus of inflation in paradises all over the world where foreigners flock. Foreigners aren't the only ones who raise prices; they contribute to it BC they are willing to pay the over-inflated prices that the owners and RE agents bestow upon them and then they brag about how cheap it is. They pay erroneous deposits and continue to compare to back home. That's how gringos contribute to inflation in these "so called' best places to live cities.
Now to end this post I'd look for a shed for sale in Ecuador on 3/4 of an acre to compare with Panama but Ecuador doesn't have any sheds. SERIOUSLY. For a full week we scoured our rental resources looking for a casa with a shed in the yard and there aren't any!
So we'll show you something else. I picked this one to show you because the ad says incredible price! Are you ready?
This tiny cement block house can be built for $15,000 (look it has a tin roof) on a little over half an acre is $134,000. That is incredible alright.
 |
| tiny house on 1/2 acre |
 |
| kitchen in the casa - incredible! |
And this is the $134,000 kitchen.
next...
Let's show you a foreigner resell now. Are you ready for this?
But first we have to let you know that...
1. this home is not on the beach,
2. nor does it have beach view
3. and its in an area (Esmeralda Province) where foreigners are warned to stay out of according to their own government advisories issued from the State Travel Website. They do not allow their own embassy personnel to go here. And this house is targeted for resell to gringos.
4. This home is not secure...expect to be robbed at some point, if you are a foreigner living in this area of Ecuador.
5. This area of the coast is the poorest of the whole Ecuador coast.
 |
|
There are oodles of houses in this area for less than half that, why? Because its too dangerous to live there. There's all kinds of really bad deals like this one in Ecuador. And gringos in Panama that ignored those issues and just had dollar signs in their eyes, buying property and then doubling the price for the next gringo, they're needing an underwear change right about now. It's a big scary world out there. Heck you can even get a better deal than that in the states right now.
We aren't saying don't buy in Ecuador because there are still deals out there if you know what to do, where to go and speak Spanish and when you buy from the local people and not from a website in English. Buyer beware...that's all we're saying. For the ins and outs of the whole of the Ecuador coast, check out the DIY Ecuador Coast Guide.
And rental prices in well trafficked areas are continually going up so be prepared for that when you get here. Cuenca certainly is not the cheap retirement haven it was once touted to be just a few years ago.
Until we inform you again with what's happening in Ecuador and elsewhere abroad, you might want to read these articles about the real estate market in Ecuador.
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