what happens...

Depends how you're looking at "tons" of money. You do need first, last and one month security to secure a rental apartment and although in some places you CAN get around without a car, that gets old very fast so you have to get some sort of transportation. Obtaining health insurance is next to impossible unless you work for a relatively large corporation and even then you usually have to be employed for six months to be eligible.

A lot of yonger people come here with just the basics to get going and treat it as an extended vacation, working to cover their expenses (sometimes at two or three different jobs) and then leave. Some of us come and stay for years without having arrived with a lot but you'll probably find that we're a relatively "poor" bunch financially!

Now all that's for a single person with no children, Children put a whole new angle on the equation and that's been discussed many times over.

I'm sure you'll hear more from others. Cheers!

Oh... that's a good answer so far. And another question (though I still can't wait to hear more about what happens to "them poor folks" who move down) what do you do if you don't have health insurance? Are there clinics? Thanks! 🙂

I only have short answers.

Yes, some make it.

You can tell because they have no tan. (ha ha) They work two or three jobs just like many Islanders.

Work hard and work more than one job, live with nothing but the bare necessities and when you find your niche, work to keep it.

And don't doubt. The island is very transient, more people move back stateside than stay.

That's all I have. Hope it helps.

Teresa

There are clinics for locals and they are overstressed. Many, many people here are working poor. The government employs a lot of locals and provides health insurance benefits. Many people live in public housing and there are long waiting lists that will take many years to fill. Transplants are welcome as long as they don't burden the already overwhelmed public assistance infrastructure.

Ha ha! Another great answer... especially the tanless bit! So... are you all saying that there is the TINY POTENTIAL that if someone is "well off" or "comfortable" up here and doesn't mind working non-stop and being poor down there, that it can be done? 🙂

Another off-topic question... the last few times I have been there (all February/March) many of the workers (I specifically remember some fabulous waitresses at the outdoor restaurant at Bolongo Bay) wearing PANTS! I was like: "PANTS!?!?!?! CRAZY!!!" And they told us that to them (your winter or something) it was kind of cold (I'm talking 70's 80's)... they said that people that have lived there forever (or a long time) are acclimated to the high temps so that what seems hot to the visitors is sometimes not so hot to the islanders. Is this true for anyone else? I'm in the middle of a blizzard right now and it's APRIL! I can't imagine moving to your warm "paradise" and being chilly! 🙂

I am one who came down w/ no job - found one while on my pre move visit and stayed. It wasn't easy - I was lucky - found a decent job - had made a few contacts from this board that helped. I had little cash beyond my first month rental - but worked the last 2 weeks of that month so I had money to move into someplace (furnished). I went without a car for MONTHS - seemed like longer. I now have a 3 bedroom house I rent (I rent rooms to help with my rent), but it's a very nice house w/ a big yard and I have a car and am picking up a second car next month. I don't go out much - I'm not a drinker so that takes care of most of the extra activities here on-island. But I live a nice life.

I am much happier than I was in Michigan. I don't get to the beach as often as I'd like, but that's my own fault. I made it - others do. My employer provides insurance after a time and I've been here almost 2 years now so I have been covered quite a while. You do what you have to - sometimes it is easier than others. But we have to be grateful for the good AND the bad.

Good luck.

Bird, why in the world would you want to work nonstop to live in a place you don't see because you're working nonstop? Think about how frustrating that would be! And going from being "comfortable" to living paycheck to paycheck is not as glamorous as it sounds.....no martyr here.....blue skies don't pay the WAPA bill.....

And yes - you acclimate VERY quickly - my kids (27 and 30) visited over Christmas holidays and thought the water was perfect. My husband and I sat on the shore with our jeans, tennis shoes, and 3/4 length sleeve shirts on with a beach towel wrapped around us....it was probably upper 70's that day, but when the sun started setting we were just flat COLD! Moving back stateside - ugh, this winter was tough - so I just drank a lot of Starbucks 🙂

Hello,

No, not everyone that moves here from the states or from elsewhere has tons of money and a super job; this scenario is a great one to be in here and for the matter anywhere else you might choose to live. Having money generally makes living anywhere more comfortable and convenient. The recommendation many posters on the board with experience living in the USVI make is that it is necessary to have money set aside for the set up period when you arrive on island; for first & last months rent plus security deposit, deposits for phone and other utilities, buying a car or just for transportation in general and so forth. And then most recommend that its a good idea to have money set aside for emergencies, and just in case it doesn't work out for you here that you can move on to another place or back home. As STT Resident mentioned if children are involved that adds costs like medical and education and parents should factor this into their budget.

There are people living here (whether they moved, were born here, been here a long time) in the same span of economic conditions that you find in the states including living in poverty straight through to be well off financially. There is a range however it isn't an even distribution.

How do those without a lot of money and super jobs make it within the general population; some rely on government assistance programs, those with family here or close friends might pool resources as far as sharing housing, child care, constructing homes and so forth, many work several jobs to make ends meet or to reach their financial goals, some start small businesses or do odd jobs on the side.

As far as people that move from the states to the USVI, no they don't all have tons of money. Many younger people (college aged) move here with limited resources with the intentions to live for 6 months to a couple years; a working vacation of sorts. They might work a couple jobs, pool their resources or they may have good jobs and do fine - or not. Older people that move generally have more resources, savings and more work experience but again they may or may not find good employment and they may stay or leave. There are folks that move with lots of money with the intentions of investing, living here part of the year, buying big lots of land for development and so forth. There are folks that move from the states that fall somewhere in between.

It may be assumed that many folks that move here from the states leave because they don't find a good job, but some folks move here and do find a good job, or have resources to set up a "comfortable" living here but for personal reasons they decide to leave. Perhaps they don't like it here, have health issues, miss family and so on and so forth. And as you are asking about, there are some that move here and find ok jobs and do stick it out and make the VI their homes.

Hope that helps give some insight into your question.

PS. Yes you get used to the hot temperatures, so temps in the 70's are brrrrrr COLD. LOL 😀

--Islander

Another factor is whether you are part of a couple. Two may not be able to live as cheaply as one, but two incomes and one set of living expenses sure makes things a lot easier.

ha ha! You all crack me up with these "cold temperatures," but I don't live there so I can't judge... what you're saying must be true. I'd give anything to be there right now. And no, I'm not moving there (not this year at least...) I was just asking out of curiosity 🙂 Of course, it has to be said that if you are poor, miserable, always working and cold up here... why not be poor, miserable, always working and WARM down there! Ha ha... no seriously, I was just making conversation with a curiosity. Now... onto another question (in case I do move there someday...) do your clothes really continually get moldy and/or mildewy? That's what I read... if so, how do you fight it? 🙂

Hello birdz17,

Re: mold & mildew:

Depends on where on the island you live. Cloths & shoes that you use regularly usually won't be affected but stuff you store away or that sits for a while might get mildew.

--Islander

More mildew on the north side of STT rather than on the south side because it's cooler & damper there. I don't know about that situation on other islands, though.

A good work ethic will help to get you ahead but develop as many skills as possible & get a good resume together. If you like it here & do work hard, well it's a small place & word gets out if you keep your workplace nose clean. I came here with some marketable skills but was hired way above my experience & I worked extremely hard and did very well. In fact, it's been that way with every job I've ever had. Good local references helps a LOT.