Insufficient Salary?

It depends on what type of lifestyle you "reallY' want. You'll have to set priorities. $50K is not a lot and is about the minimum you'll need for food (not dining out), basic lodging and transportation. You won't have much left over for extracuricular activities.

Dixie Pixie,

Congratulations on your job offer. Since you ask about living in Charlotte Amalie I wonder what you thought when you were here for a pre-move visit.

I think you'll be totally fine! If you don't have a lot of monthly bills, such as credit card, car, or student loan payments, it is enough for sure. Even if you are in debt, you will get by on that salary. You won't be rolling in money, but you should be able manage just fine. A nice apartment can run you about $1200 minimum, but you can get lucky and find deals. I seriously doubt you'll find yourself living in squalor. Food is very expensive here, both eating out and grocery shopping. Utilities, too, are expensive. Everything is way too high here, and this is coming from someone who moved from New York City. So if you really want to try it out, I say go for it, but try to get a little more $$$ just for the hell of it.

IMHO, you can definitely get by on $50K, as long as you bring enough to get situated in a place (i.e., 3x rent, buying a car, etc.) and are careful until you get familiar with managing the cost of your needs and wants, and don't come with too high of expectations (meaning if you plan to live and eat and entertain yourself like some do in the states, you may only be here for a cup of coffee). Find a roommate and it gets even easier. Everyone who has come here has had to figure this out for themselves, but $50K is very doable and much more than many who live here make (maybe not many of the attorneys, though). Some of the higher tenured government employees, that have been working in the VI for 30 years, are just at that income now. On one hand, some deck hands on the tour boats can make that much in a season and may not save enough for the summer slow season and have to leave. On the other hand, I know a single woman who makes that much, has been disciplined, and has saved almost that much in a few short years here. It will depend upon YOU how you will fare.

Thanks everyone! I am very good at living comfortably on whatever salary I've been able to make. I lived for 16 years in the Appalachian mountains making $12,000 and raised two children on that meager income! (My W-2 for 1998, the year I moved to Atlanta, showed a total annual income of $12,900!)

I currently make more than $50K in Atlanta, but I am coming down with no car, no debt, no mate, two cats and no expectations. I just don't want to live in a horrible part of town where being broken into, or worse, is wearisome and weighs heavily on me. I live in a predominantly black neighborhood in Atlanta now, so I'm not talking about a racial boundary, but I AM talking about a crime boundary. Of course, I'm not an idiot and I know crime strikes anywhere and everywhere, and I know the disparity between those who have and those who have not exists on the islands and fuels a lot of the crime, especially against outsiders. But, just as I would not move to certain areas of Atlanta because of the crime here, so I would also avoid such areas in STT.

I'm glad some of you felt that the salary offered was "doable." I would rather use paid vacation as my bargaining chip than ask for more $$ in salary compensation right off the bat. I'm sure if I stick around for a couple of years and we develop a good rapport, they will be willing to increase my salary.

This message board has been a great "connection" to my new home. I read it every day! Even the posts that don't pertain to me I find helpful!

Liz

I don't know Liz, having TWO cats just might put you over the line. Can you just bring one?

LOL! Look forward to meeting you.

Dixie: One of the strange things about the USVI is that the boundaries of neighborhoods are very porous. When I lived in the states, my neighboorhood consisted of houses that were all of a similar size and price range, people who were of similar socio-economic status. Our neighborhood was separated from shopping and apartments by large streets, walls, etc.In the Virgin Islands, you may have a huge house next to one that is in the process of construction (and has been in the same state for 10 years.) You may have pitbulls staked out next door to a lovely home. Businesses run in residential areas. Government housing projects on the waterfront. There is no real zoning, so you don't get the separation you see in Atlanta. You will want to get something short-term and search out an area that meets your needs.

Thanks! I have decided that if I can find a short term rental or even stay at the Fairview Villas for a couple of months until I get my island bearings I will take my time finding my permanent digs. I actually prefer having neighborhoods of varying levels of socio-economic status. You eliminate that "ghetto" syndrome that plagued "projects" in our inner cities.

OK ... here's a new question and this is an exercise in my pre-move jitters/I want to know EVERYTHING/how prepared can I get GAME:

I want a furnished apartment or house (small square footage) that has a view (yeah, me and everyone else!) If I'm selling everything I own and starting over, I want to at least look out my window in the morning and know that it was worth it! Looking to spend $1000 a month (or less, of course).

You have my permission to laugh me down. 🙂

You may find this humorous: I was not planning to bring my cats at all. I had a house guest a couple of nights ago, a nice woman I met through a group of mutual friends. When I asked her what she did for a living she told me she was an "animal talker." !! She told me that my cats told her they would be devastated if I didn't take them, even if the trip killed them, they would prefer to die near me. Now I'm a pretty down-to-earth kind of person who talks (admittedly) with her cats, but really doesn't expect them to reply with anything other than a "meow." But there is something about someone telling you they are "talking" to your pets about you! I wanted to know everything the furry beasts were saying about me!! LOL!!

So, I may arrive with my conscience intact and two cats in tow, OR, I may come to my senses and arrive sans fur balls. Time and necessity will tell!

Ciao!

Bring your cats - if I can find housing with 5 Rottweilers and a mutt on STX, you can find it with two cats!

Becky:
What time of the season did you get there(off/or on season).How did you end up finding a place with your menegerie??
I am ending up bringing my 2 Bouviers with me,and my daughters neutered cat.Am going to be in dire straits trying to find a house in a safe area for us all on STX....
I had German Rotts for 18 years,and do have a strong weakness for them still.Would love to meet you when me/my daughter get there.Rottie lovers comroderie!!!!
Was diagnosed with cancer a couple days ago,and I know I'll beat it,but really would like to meet people with similar interests to keep my mind off all the additional treatments I am going to need to keep the Big "C" Beast at bay...I would so much appreciate it if you could email me at:zwie2@yahoo.com so maybe we could arrange to meet.Maybe you could help me out with island living tips.....Thank You So Much....You are such a trooper to hang on to ALL your Rotties......LA

I'll send you a private note - we have TOO much in common!

Dear Liz:

Just a couple of comments. You mention the disparity which "fuels a lot of the crime, especially against outsiders."

Actually, if you really look at the local crime statistics, there is more crime directed by locals towards locals than towards tourists or 'outsiders." Of course crimes against tourists get national headlines (a recent one of course comes to mind) and in the aftermath you inevitably get the huge slew of people both on this forum and other forums who immediately jump on the bandwagon decrying such violence and bewailing the fact that the VIPD is so inefficient. I'm a Devil's Advocate where the VIPD is concerned, have had some really BAD experiences with them over the years but also some very good experiences.

Please don't misunderstand me. In no way do I condone violence and neither do I accept it as a given but it all needs to be put into perspective. I have been a victim several times in my 21 years here!

The cats? Well, you're talking to a cat lover who tends to all and sundry felines. If you can't find a place to which you can immediately bring them here, find a very good friend or someone else who can care for them briefly until you can send for them. Your "animal talker" sounds like a most interesting person. You say you talk to your cats and they answer with a "meow" but I talk to my cats and they answer with a variety of meows. All animals have different vocabularies.

As a sort of corrolarly, those who have adopted children of a talking age from non English-speaking countries have first had to learn how to interpret the different speech of a child unused to the English language, based on sound, expression and body language. The child quickly learns the appropriate language and over time is able to express itself in the language the parent understands but those initial expressions are very basic.

A domesticated animal doesn't have the ability to speak English or any other language but learn to use their own language to communicate with their humans by inflection, tone and body language to transmit their wants and needs to silly humans.

I've always done my own thing where animals are concerned and don't thrust my experiences on anybody. I'm idiosyncratic enough in many areas without being labelled a complete nut by those who think that animals don't communicate! Your animal talker is right, knows what he or she is talking about and wouldn't have probably said anything unless quite sure.

Enough said - hope your move goes smoothly. $50K will be fine! Cheers.

Ha, your post made me laugh! I have always talked to my cats, much to my children's embarassment, but this was the first time I had someone "interpret" their responses. I do know their different "meows" for different things, but this woman was telling me all sorts of things (like where my one cat had gotten to when she disappeared for 3 months!). That's when a little voice in the back of my head said, "warning! don't be a sucker!"

In any event, I am going to try to bring them. I would be happier having my buddies with me than living completely and totally away from every living thing/person I know. Rental situations will tell the tale and I won't know about that until after my pre-move visit the end of February.

Thanks for your insights on the police/crime situation too. It is a very complex issue anywhere in the world. I'm sure my "street smarts" will keep me in good stead.

Enjoy your blustery winds today and your balmy temperatures. We're ecstatic over our high today of 50 degrees F. (Poor tings.)

STT Resident:
Just wanted to know, in your years on the island;has your home ever been broken into at night when you were home??.....LA

No, LA. MUCH worse than that!

LA,

I'm sorry to hear that you've been diagnosed with cancer. I've read your posts and know you and your young daughter are planning to move from AK to STX. I'm sure you've inferred that most board participants would not rely solely on island medical care for serious illnesses like cancer. Island residents who can afford to seek cancer treatment in the states generally do so. If your financial situation permits you to travel to the states for treatment then this message is superfluous but if you intend to rely on the treatment available on island to save your life you should know that you are assuming a tremendous risk.

dntw8up:
I Thank You for your concern about the lack of extensive medical care in the VI.I have got my bases covered,and since I was diligent in my yearly woman tests after the age of 40,I was fortunate enough to catch this in its early stages,so my treatment/survival rate is very good.Since optimism is imperative in any treatment of anything,I really need to be where there is regular sunlight for more than a few days a year(if ya know what I mean)..I'm really creative and already a survivor of three strokes-(learned to walk and talk again when I was 34),car wreck(drunk driver hitting me),and a heart condition(I've learned how to live with).I know what I need to do to keep going,and the sunshine will help immensely......Attitude is everything.....Anyway,I'm scrappy,and have a little girl to raise on my own(as I always have),so I'm not going to leave this world anytime soon,if I have anything to say about it.....I appreciate all the people on the board,that are so helpful,and to meet other survivors....They Are GREAT!!!!!!!!Have A Sunny Day.....LA

LA,

Thanks for the reply. I read your post about your cancer diagnosis last night and it was still bugging me when I woke this morning so I thought I'd scribble you a note. I'm glad to hear that you have got things under control and after spending time with a friend in Chugiak I know exactly how important sunshine is for me too!

dntw8up:
Had to laugh today,as I was stuck at the hospital(more tests)and the sun came out.I was really upset,as I couldn't stand to miss the (ever-so-rare)instances of sunlight...The doctor thought it was funny,that anyone could get so bent about missing out on sunshine.Only 8 more days til I can dig out my shades,and actually buy some sunscreen.....Yahoo!!!!!! La

Lora - you are in my thoughts. I hope everything goes well and you and your little girl arrive on STX soon with wonderful smiles on your faces. Hang in there...

Alexandra:
You as so kind/thoughtful/helpful.Can't help but smile,with your good wishes.Everything at this time is really appreciated....Thank You So Very Much......LA