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There have been more than just a...ahem, few comments about the way some Colombians think & live "day to day". It was difficult in the beginning & it's still a little difficult now....in getting my wife to talk about plans for the future. Don't get me wrong, she's great at shopping & saving. She just has a hard time talking about what we need to plan for, in case something happens to me. Even with the advances in medicine & health care. If things proceed in our lives without an un-natural disaster.....I'm going before she does!

Anybody else going through this?

... in response to Changing the "Day to Day" thin..., posted by Hoda on Feb 22, 2005

In terms of "going before she does"...this is true...on the average....women live seven years longer then men..so for example if your wife is ten years younger then you, she will have on the average another 17 years to go after you die...........

... in response to Changing the "Day to Day" thin..., posted by Hoda on Feb 22, 2005

Her interests deal with the fact you are alive and well. you will find most people in the world look at mortality differently than us. She survived x amount of years without you, she will again, so why push her in to something she is already aware of.
ws

... in response to Re: Changing the "Day to Day" ..., posted by WS244 on Feb 22, 2005

Yes, she survived & thrived x amount of years without me...

No, I'm not trying to push her into something that she is aware of. I just want her to "know" that I have taken the pains to make sure that "our" family will be taken care of, if something happens. You're probably correct in stating that most people around the world view mortality different than us. But keep in mind that most people in the world don't have the means to prepare for the future, like us...

take care...

... in response to Changing the "Day to Day" thin..., posted by Hoda on Feb 22, 2005

My wife still usually buys things in small quantities to "save money."  She thinks that spending as little today is a way to save money.  I point out that the larger package gives you a better deal when you consider the cost per lb of something, but it's hard to get her to do this.

... in response to Shopping for the day, posted by Patrick on Feb 22, 2005

Patrick,
I am also interested to know if your wife's shopping habits are affected by things like whether or not she had a refrigerator or storage for extra food; you know, like a pantry?  Now, one reason why I am asking this is that when I was in Europe, back in the 70's, I had some american friends that were living over there too.  They told me that many of the Europeans did not have refrigerators.  So, they were in the habit of buying food for just a day or two, due to possible spoilage.  The city I was in when told that was Brussels, Belgium; which is one of the most advanced and beautiful cities in Europe. So, it wasn't a case of being in a Soviet bloc country, or something.  It was just a different way of life.  Plus, they don't use ice over there.  I think Europeans think we are a little strange because we want to cool our drinks, etc with ice.  They seem to like drinking everything either room temperature or hot; coffee or tea for instance.  My info about LA is somewhat more limited, so that is why I am asking you about this.  Thanks.
                               OkieMan

 P.S.  The Europeans also don't like all the preservatives we have in our food.  I can't blame them, but they just don't seem to be into shipping fresh food items around like we do.  Again, a different way of doing things, and not all bad either.

... in response to Re: Shopping for the day, posted by OkieMan on Feb 22, 2005

My wife's family always had a refrigerator/freezer.  I think it's just the thought that more money out of pocket at one time is a bad deal.  It's not just food products that she's that way with, it's anything household item.

... in response to Shopping for the day, posted by Patrick on Feb 22, 2005

It seems in Colombia the unlike the US larger packages are not any cheaper.Sometimes more per unit price.No Costco's here.
So this lends itself to that thinking.
Also,sometimes a person may only have  a few 1000 pesos to buy food for a few days,so they don't want to stock up on anything.One of my girlfriends said one time she had no food for her or her kids and a girlfriend lent her  5000 pesos.I said what could you buy for 5000 pesos?Eggs and rice.
My step son in the US would just grab stuff off the shelf at the grocery store,no thought of cost.One time he grags this 6 pack of soda,$3.They had a sale right there,it was  Safeway soda,tastes the same to me,a case  for $3.Now he could care less about the money.But when it was pointed out you can have 6 cans or 24 cans that made an impression.
Surprisingly,people who can spend so carefully when they have little money will just blow it fast when they do.
My own son,who had a paper route when he was 12 and now has net worth in 7 figures is more carefull at the grocery store than this 13 year old kid.

Pete

... in response to Re: Shopping for the day, posted by Pete E on Feb 22, 2005

They opened up a Home Center (Looks much like Home Depot and almost as big recently in Barranquilla by Buena Vista Mall and the place was pretty much empty. I was only looking at plants and the prices matched or were a little lower than the nurseries.
They do have a Costco type store called Makro also by the mall again few people were there. I am not sure how such large facilities can be supported by the few customers I saw. Looks like they got a building boom in the North side of the city.
Engage the Exotic – Latin Women
http://International-Introductions.com

... in response to Re: Shopping for the day, posted by Pete E on Feb 22, 2005


Sounds like an interesting business idea.

... in response to Costco's in Cali?, posted by Hoda on Feb 22, 2005

Howard,
But like this thread is saying,its counter to Colombian thinking to buy large quantities and stock up.
Even me going to Costco sometimes,I would wind up spending $300 basically for groceries and sundries.I would think I know the prices are good,but how long before I save that money back? I could have got out of Safeway for $100.
Basically they are not ready for it.Maybe a Walmart,I wonder where we are on their plan to conquer the world?
One of my financial type buddies was explaining to me how the Chineese are proping up the dollar by putting their profits in to US bonds ect.They don't want the dollar to fall,it will hurt their sales.He said Walmart buys more goods from China than England does.
Question,who is the number 2 retailer in the world?Carefore,the French supermarket dept store chain that is big here.But they are a real distant second to Walmart.

Pete

Pete

... in response to Re: Costco's in Cali?, posted by Pete E on Feb 22, 2005


Speaking of Walmart, I was very surprised to see one while I was in Mendoza, Argentina.  It looked like a cookie cutter of the Stateside stores except for the very noticable chain link fence all around the perimeter of the property.

... in response to Re: Re: Costco's in Cali?, posted by pablo on Feb 23, 2005

Wow, I knew they were in Mexico,no idea Argentina.

Pete

... in response to Re: Shopping for the day, posted by Pete E on Feb 22, 2005

Pete,
I understand your point, but just remember the kid was just 13.  Absolutely no concept of money or what it takes to earn it.  But, the other thing is that people who have done without and then suddenly have a lot more of it; they go nuts.  Just like winning the lottery or something.  At that point, common sense goes right out the window.  So, Pete if you or any of the other posters on this board do win the lottery; don't even worry about it. I would not want to see it ruin your life.  Just send it to me and I will use to retire on.  Then the pressure will be off you! ha ha  Later Dude.

                                  OkieMan

... in response to Re: Shopping for the day, posted by Pete E on Feb 22, 2005

Our first shopping disagreement was in Walmart.  Listerine cost over $5.00 and the Walmart generic "Equate" cost under $2.  It was like telling my wife that her family wouldn't eat for a week.  

We ended up buying the Listerine, by the way.

... in response to Re: Re: Shopping for the day, posted by kented on Feb 22, 2005

Kented,

 I don't get it.  Are you saying that your wife was swayed by the brand name items?  Do they have the Listerine brand in Costa Rica?  I guess I never thought of it.  I figured she would want to save money, but it is an interesting story.

                             OkieMan

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Shopping for the day, posted by OkieMan on Feb 22, 2005

Latinas are enamored with brand names. I was in a store one time and trying to show one that the ingredients were exactly the same to the letter in the generic brand. She wanted the name brand. I had to tell her that it was the name brand with a different label and then she started to budge. I finally had to say "put that back, we are getting this one". I am still very amused by their way of thinking when it comes to money and purchasing.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Shopping for the day, posted by soltero on Feb 23, 2005

It must be that they believe the hype in the advertising.  I used to be in the advertising game.  Let's face it, most of the time, the company will try to tell you anything, (whether it's true or not) to get you to buy their product.  I find that the products with the catchy jingles are the ones that people remember the most.

                              OkieMan