Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

Salaries aren't that high in Peru, however, you can still save money if you watch your centimos.

Take combis instead of taxis.
Buy generic brands.
Shop at markets.
Try going to Eco instead of Metro. It's owned by the same company.
Don't turn your hot water on all the time, just when you shower.
Air dry your clothes.
Wash your clothes by hand.
Get a roommate.
Learn to cook.
Buy phone cards when there are sales, like Triplica in Telefonica.
Text message rather than call.

Any other ideas?

[bryanzth]

Ride a bike - I rode a hybrid the last time I was there. It is great. Peruvian drivers I met up with were more polite than in the States. It was uneventful riding on regular streets and on the bike paths. The rule is, he who hits, pays. In Chicago or San Francisco where I rode I think people get points for cyclists, more if you jap 'em in the bike lanes.

Share out books - I have left books with the book fairs here and also bought them, too. Wouldn't it be great if we could start a grass-roots lending library. Charge 1 sol for renting a book?

Have things fixed - I have had clothes, shoes and other items fixed by local repair people. They do a great job and they charge relatively fair prices if you show you know what you are doing.

Barter - If you don't need something, find a way to pass it on to others and then set up a bartering relationship. Notebooks, pens, coats, other items. Offer to barter for services when appropriate.

Do what you can to avoid paying for things. But be safe with food, drink and medicines. Never buy things you may ingest from unsure sources. IMHO....

--Bryan

[nineisone]

Good tips by all.

I would second bryanzth's idea for a book share. For those of us who are voracious readers, book rental would be helpful in bridging the gap that is the availability of English language reading material, which was hit or miss for me. Even in Lima, my book finds were often of poor quality.


Great point about getting things repaired. I think most newbies will find the fact that Peruvians repair things rather than throw them out quite refreshing. Mexican immigrants in the U.S. are notorious for their recycling. I'm riding on rubber from a Mexican-American junkyard as I write. In Peru, my nicer dress shoes took a beating from all those jutted(and dusty) sidewalks. I developed a small tear. It was no problem and real cheap to get them fixed.

Interesting that you had positive experiences biking. I rarely saw bike riders on the streets in Trujillo and I found most of the taxi drivers I used to drive quite aggressively. I would agree that I rarely saw the type of "yelling out the window/red faced" reaction that you get from drivers in other Latin American nations.

[bryanzth]

Dear nineisone,

[nineisone]

Hey bryanzth,

Thanks for the post and link!

You pretty much covered all the bases on your points, but I would quickly add that many goods in the U.S.(especially electronic)have come down so far in price that they have essentially become disposable rather than repairable. I don't find fixing things refreshing, rather the concept of a society that fixes things. I suppose very good arguments could be made as to economic inequality being the root cause of its existence and that if Peru's economy were better they would throw things away just like other northerners do. But I think your point was well made.

I would imagine lending libraries of English language material probably do exist at the better unis and lang institutes. I would also guess that the quality and selection may be subpar. I agree with your desire to see "free libraries" exist in Lima. Likely, this would have to come from efforts in the private sector, as I doubt many would hold their breath for this initiative to come from the government.

Glad your cycling worked out well and welcome to the forum.