[smekuly]

yes. its true it is a very good hospital and reasonable. but alas now that people become more aware of it like americans. they may morph into something like cima and the rest of the private hospitals.

it reminds me of the movie cocoon when word got out of that life rejuvenating pool. all the people came and ruined everything.

already prices are escalating here and I am amazed how average ticos live.

costa rica is heading in the wrong direction in my humble opinion.

[smekuly]

[quote=”Imxploring”]Adsense…. more pretend economy ![/quote]

Imexploring

pretend economy lol that was funny

my friend who is actually with me on holiday these past few weeks read your post and laughed. this month he will be hitting his all time record month of $60 grand.. Ill take that pretend economy any day of the week

steve

[smekuly]

[quote=”wspeed1195″][quote=”*Lotus”]adsense ( I have friends that live here and make $15 to 20 grand a month on adsense alone)

affiliate marketing

ecommerce

membership model.

you get the picture

just stay away from brick and morter businesses here

just mis dos colones

i[/quote]

How do they generate this kind of cash flow with adsense?[/quote]my curiosity also,is aroused.[/quote]

I do not understand the question.. are you referring to the specific strategies he uses to do this… if thats the case I cannoit help you since I am not the one who does this

[smekuly]

scott

if you feel so safe!!!!

why do you carry an concealed weapon and never leave home without it.

back in the states I never felt the need to walk around having a concealed weapon as I do here.

steve

[smekuly]

4 of a kind

unfortunately you will have your work cut out for you since this is what many men call the land of honey.

steve

[smekuly]

Sprite

I am also still working for the “white man” so to speak. and you bring up some interesting things. if we ever get to the level where cash is king which we are experiencing more and more right now. for example. a large percentage of people looking for homes and property know the current situation with real estate and they have a few sheckles. so they bid these almost half price offers on houses and properties.

the step between cash and barter… good question.

growing your own food and weening yourself from the grid is an option. but then again the problem would be the rest of the people that failed to plan.. then you will be spending your time protecting your self from the unprepared trying to get your food and water.

me personally I believe technology will be the partial answer since we already have the technology for alot of great stuff.

when you mention water rationing.. there are already machines that can take pure water from the humidity form the air for drinking purposes.

pretty cool.

anyway.. one day at a time

here is 1 thing I am certain.

[b]better to be here in costa rica than back in the U.S. [/b]

the average tico still has the skill set on growing their own food and such.. while the average American has the skill set of heading to their nearest wallmart if they need anything.

i was one of them… before I cam here i knew nothing really on anything except spending money.. while here kind of forces you to learn and develop some new skills to move thru life on a day to day basis.

[smekuly]

hi sprite

the strategy is sound if you are holding any form of paper dollars.

I should have stated that I am referring to the selling of lots NOT to americans but local costa rican. I sold 7 lots the past 2 years and they were all sold to local costa ricans. average price 40 million colones.

I own a few nice 190 hectars in cartago and had segregated them all legal to lots ranging from 1000 to 7000 sq meters the smaller lots are off public roads and all have great views. no hard selling.

Sprite.. please share some of your strategies for people that have some paper money.

the best investment you can make in my opinion besides land is a small business. keep your overhead debt free and learn some new online skills to generate a cash flow.

look at scott for example. he uses membergate a cms platform. writes articles and free optin members so he builds a list. which he uses to build a relationship and in the end he generates commissions with the sales of properties. nice business model

you have various business models to choose from

adsense ( I have friends that live here and make $15 to 20 grand a month on adsense alone)

affiliate marketing

ecommerce

membership model.

you get the picture

just stay away from brick and morter businesses here

just mis dos colones

i

[smekuly]

Property.. good location one that you can segment into smaller lots and sell

the sweet spot here is under $100,000 meaning if you have a large lot that can be broken up into smaller parcels that you can charge under $100,000 you have a good market

this has been my model now since I got off the brick and morter wagon.

i just sold 2 smaller 1000 meter lots for $80,000.

better than having money in a bank..

[smekuly]

Jim

I have had in the past 10 years a internet cafe, boutique hotel, restaurant, bar.

now again my experiences have been only in san jose so I am not qualified nor do i find supporting articles to say that I have experience other than san jose.

getting permits seem to always depend of some niche tramite expert since going about it the normal way is a long delayed process. the whole system is one giant pain in the arse here and it has been my experience that the only way to actually get anything done here is to adapt that famous costa rica mindset

don’t ask for permission just do it and ask for forgiveness later

something like that 😀

I found in my experience that the tico mentality here is one of entitlement and it is perpetuated by goverment regulations every try to fire a tico here you wind up paying them this severance package that could add up depneding how long they work for you.. it does NOT matter if they do a lousy job or even steal.. if you fire them you have to pay them a severance.. which is always higher since they run to the minister of work here and bring back this document that you owe 2 times what they are actually entitled to.

my experience with employee’s here has been not good. I even made the mistake of actually arguing a case in front of a judge of an employee’s that was actually caught stealing. the judge favored him and i had to pay plus his attorney fee’s.

I pay taxes, Caja almost $4000 per month, aguinaldos, permits, I even had this guy who used to come in and collect money because music was being played.

lets not talk about the muni here.. always had some sort of visit from some inspector from some goverment agency.. and the problem is that information is never clear and one hand doe not know what the other one is doing.. and law here is so inconsistently applied. its a disgrace.

there was an occasion where a muni inspector was causing me grief because according to him my handicap ramps were not the correct angle he closed down my business for that and i actually had to pay him a bribe to reopen the next day while I fixed the problem. meanwhile 95% of all businesses in san jose do NOT even comply wit handicap laws..

always looking for that bribe handout.. disgusting really.

don’t get me wrong.. corruption is everywhere especially back in the states.. but it seems like it is at higher levels while here is more street level if that makes any sense.

finally just got tired of bending over and I sold off to other pura vida customers

I made that reference to scott because when ever someone mentions something negative with costa rica he always finds some material to basically say.. “well its not as bad as the terrible USA”

people just so we are clear… I love living here.. because now I have a business like scott and I sit home typing this in my underwear and I just make money from home. no one knows what I do

I even sell a few properties here and there.. heck why not.. you don’t need a license here to sell real estate.

now I have

no employee’s
no muni
no inspectors
no permits
no caja
no aguinaldo

well except for my domestica

para sirvile 😆

steve

[smekuly]

Scott

HOGWASH!!!

sorry 😀

I have had many small business in the U.S. and I have have business here. costa rica is terrible regarding any support for small business. My only experience is san jose so it may be easier in the other areas. but anything brick and morter terrible terrible terrible.

scott now I know you sit in your nice apartment in your PJ’s writing as if you are the expert but sir please.

No disrespect.

you are actually doing it the smart way having this lead generating site and selling real estate without selling.. since you refer people and receive a commission in a country where anyone can sell real estae.

but opening a brick and morter business here

Not recommended!!

saludos to all and to the people also living here. I salute your moxy. since most people back home are dreamers and not doers

steve

[smekuly]

[quote=”Scott”]Interesting comment…

I can assure you that Randall is a “real” Costa Rica tax expert who would have been a very senior member of the political adninistration had Laura Chinchilla not won the most recent election…

And, if “this has been around 50 times in Congress” it would appear that they are determined to ram it through, no?

Owning dozens of corporations myself, active and inactive, I also hope it doesn’t got through but “vamos a ver.”

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com[/quote]

Hi Scott

todays first page NACION discusses the tax that it will NOT be approved.

again this makes sense

steve

[Author]

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