The cost of living in Jamaica is very high. Can a foreigner, live on a very tight budget of only 100 USD per month for groceries? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Cheap Essential Foods (Jamaican style) 03:28 How to save up on food 05:29 Cheap Fruits and Vegetables 07:27 Why locals have it cheaper 09:55 Cheap Meats 11:21 Cheap sweet stuff 12:55 Where to buy cheap food 14:06 Cheap Non-food supplies 16:20 Summary
Listen, I'm so proud of the way this woman pushes Brand Jamaica. Too many people like to denigrate our country. She shows a balanced perspective in all of her videos that I appreciate.
As a Jamaican, I love the way you explain things. By the way, liver is a breakfast staple in Jamaica. Liver & green bananas, very inexpensive even in a restaurant.
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
You know how to shop, more than a lot of Jamaicans. I think u need a program to teach them. A lot of returnees complain about the price... you are very wise
Food can be cheaper if you budget right and grow what you can. Scallion, tyme, calallo, mint, fevergrass and pop choy (bok choy) can be grown in containers if you don't have the space. When Manley was Prime Minister he told all Jamaicans to grow what they can. I
Jamaicans are the reason why food is so expensive,laziness,and like to buy everything that comes from a foreign country, Mr Manley tried to teach them but they never learned ,until their backs are against the wall they will never learn..I'm sorry for the younger generation
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
That bar of soap for laundry is mostly used for washing white or light coloured clothing: Blue bomber or cake soap is ladder up the items and left to soak for sometime. After which you would hand wash the items , paying special attention to neck/calor and arm pits and seat or crotch of underwears. Some items may need brush with a "wash brush" after which you can run them through a wash cycle in the machine
Not many people who don't live here don't understand about seasonal goods offered here and when Jamaica receives alot of rainfall and goods prices will sky rocket. Plus ackee not many Jamaicans buy it, because why should we when a neighbour that has a gigantic ackee tree exists but cant climb. As long as u can climb you can get ackee for free. Yes potential people looking to live here. Try to get a neighbour with ackee tree, mango tree, and fruit trees next to you. Neighbours are gold mines here "as long as you can climb."
Thank you! I had about 10 minutes of me talking about how people can get by without any money at all in Jamaica by simply having relatives/neighbours or growing things and getting food from them, or by growing your own foods! But then I decided to remove that part and use it for another video :)))))
Most of the produce I can get from back yard, no need to go to market unless I need something and its not in season. Working a sustainable food garden is relaxing and rewarding... One walk round the yard and that is breakfast.
The way to tell if something is in season is to look in the area in which they sell food. If it's everywhere then it's in good supply. You also need to bear in mind the not every parish grows the same products at the same time. What may be in abundance in St Elizabeth may be hard to find in Hanover for instance. It may also be cheaper to buy eggs and or chicken from someone who actually raises them. And don't forgot the two staples. Tinned mackerel and corned beef. By the way porridge whether it's oats, cornmeal or otherwise can be eaten at anytime and not just for breakfast.
Thank you so much for the tips! And yes, I should have included mackerel and corned beef, they are indeed popular and can be a good replacement for any meats when it comes to cheap meals!
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
Irina! The JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD NEED you! I found your channel yesterday, and I love, love, love it❤️🇯🇲. The job you are doing is an amazing one, I have never seen the JTB covered Jamaica tourism like this. I will say this again, YOU DESERVE A MEDAL!!!!💖🙏🏽🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
You can know when somebody love where they live for you to come from Ukraine and I love Jamaican like that you are a Jamaican guarantee you speak nothing more than the truth and that’s what matters thank you for being who you are and never change the person you are and thank you for living in Jamaica to shine light on Jamaica One love
This list is very accurate, this is how I grew up single mom 3 kids survived off this in the early 00s. I never realized how cheap Tomatoes, Scallions and Thyme. I live in Canada now and the price is just plain crazy. I couldn't buy vegatables here for under 80 bucks alone, made me just realized how cheap food is in Jamaica.
Thank you for sharing! Well, depends on the type of food and the time of the year. Tomatoes in December were from 5 USD per pound! However, knowing when and what to buy - works wonders!
Good day Irina. You need to know and check a Butcher for meats. Liver my favourite breakfast meal on a Sunday is available at a Wholesale. I find Wholesale cheaper than Supermarket. I lived near Downtown Kingston so prices are usually good. Also we get wider variety of goods at good cheaper prices. Yes you are right that depending on your location and access to goods prices are determined in Jamaica even though its a small island. You are so right that you need to learn when to buy what so you can get good prices for goods for your money. A trick I try in the market is to asked the question if they are local or foreign goods . Please note that ackee can be cook with different meats than saltfish. For example fried chicken cut in small bite sizes as well as chicken back, sausages, bacon, salt mackerel and Smoke Herring and also without any meats. Just add seasoning to flavour with onion, garlic and tomato as well as sweet pepper. Etc. Irina had to share so you can get other ideas.
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE Thank you Irina. You should try local liver. It is so tender and soft, its like it melt in your mouth. That with lots of onions and garlic is so delicious..mmh and please don't forget the scotchie pepper.. serve that with soft green bananas and soft yams as well as Johnny cakes/fried dumplings as well as some yellow heart roasted breadfruit. ..Mmmmh
So Irie...you a gwaan good but can I tell you a few things? Just indulge me... 1. Soap powder or fab.....is what we call laundry detergent 2.for dishwashing liquid, shampoo, bleach, disinfectant etc. you need to find a bulk shop that retail these in chubby bottle or soda bottles...it cheaper than supermarket 3. Liver is used for a meat yes...but not a lot of recipe options for it...you mostly find it at supermarkets for true. 4. Fish is cheap....ish at the supermarket and meat mart...but what kind of fish and where it comes from? Local fresh fish nuh cheap 5. Bread....haffi buy....fi is even half a bread....bread haffi buy. We don't make bread as the norm but we fry nuff dumpling...but if is even 1 bread...we a buy it. 6. What happened to the tin mackerel and sardines? That's my 2 cents. I love your channel and I think I will give you 9 out of 10 for your shopping.
Thank you so much! Well, I had to make sure the video was under 20 mins long for this topic, lol :))) There are quite a lot of things I didn't mention, so leaving them for other videos! Thanks a lot for sharing the tips and things! Much appreciated! 🙏
I loved my mother's beef liver with onion and gravy, fried dumplings or rice. Since I have to be on a tight budget, I will eat corn meal porridge I made today for the next 3 or 4 days and ramen noodles or pasta. No fast food. Buying street food can add up. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Iryna I can't wait to see you in Jamaica. IM Ukrainian leaving in Canada. I love love your positive attitude and amazing life in Jamaica. YOU are brilliant smart elegant and sweet. See you this summer 🤗❤💚💗🧡
Almost every home in Jamaica has an ackee tree in their backyard or they know a neighbour down the street that has one in the residential areas but especially in the rural areas.
Keep up the good work thank you for showing Jamaican people how to live in Jamaica it always take someone not from that place to show people the opportunities they have in their home country you're doing a really great service to Jamaica your knowledge of Jamaica is unreal for a person living in Jamaica too long
I think Jamaicans know how to live in Jamaica much better than me, since they are the ones I learn from!!! 🤓🙃 HOWEVER, thank you so much, I really appreciate all the support!
kinston market place is the best.. beware though that your skin color will effect some people to become greedy and charge you more. and also i hotels in small hotels around . they have two prices local and foriegn so do ur homework if you shop and ask about prices . from each person . i store. markets not so .. walk like your born there.
Gor tea you just go in the yard almost any plant can make tea. . Jamaican eat liver for breakfast. In the rural areas breadfruit,avocado and fruits grows wild.
Irina, Snowy Sunday morning in Ottawa sipping the last of my blue mountain coffee. Ladies and gentlemen, spent nearly a month at Irina’s AirBnb. Absolute paradise!
Aaron, awww, snowy Ottawa... 🥶we miss you already in Jamaica 🌊🌴 ❤️. Thank you so much for staying with us, for all the support and for being such a wonderful person! I hope I get a chance to see you again, either in Jamaica or in Canada (but Canada during summer, of course! ))))
Your editing skills is fantastic,Videos always edited properly and well put Together.😍😍😍Thanks again for the continuous showing off the beauty of Jamaica in positive way.Never leave Jamaica hun we will always need u🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲These videos making me miss home 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
God your videos are good. Next level tingz 💯. I especially like the parts about knowing when to buy certain foods, living closer to where the food grows & understanding the difference in pricing between supermarket & market. As a diasporan returning home, I need to re educate myself on how to survive there. Things operate differently than they do in the West.
I love your videos 😍. I'm originally from Mobay but I live overseas. My mom still lives in Mobay and she came to Jamaica from Russia over 30 years ago. She knows how to survive in Jamaica like you👍🏼
Important point about food. Don't put your Red Stripe bottles in the trash. Just set them down anywhere they can been seen. Someone will be by to collect them. If you put them in the trash, then the collectors have dig through trash, and they sometimes make a mess.
Hm, I wonder if this is relevant only to Kingston 🤔. I have a hard time finding a place where Red Stripe bottles can be returned in Montego Bay... Places that supposed to get them - all ask for crates (which have to be bought and then bottles have to be placed in them). But even when we buy crates and place bottles in them - often places would refuse to accept them. The thing is - when our guest house was full of guests before covid - the problem of red stripe bottle recycling was really a serious one, since it was from 30+ bottles every day! Since I couldn't find a place in Montego Bay to hand them in, I drove bottles to Kingston to recycle...That's why I find your comment very interesting - people who find a few bottles- how do they manage to hand them in for cash? Where?
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE I learned this from experience, I have only ever been a tourist in Jamaica. I stay down in Negril, although I am looking for a permanent retirement residence in or near Sav-la-mar.
Very thorough if I may say so. Iris you let the cat out of the bag. Now I know certain people can live off US100 per month were food is concern of course 😄😄😄😄😄👍👍👍👍.
That’s amazing! I wish I had all those good vegetables and fruit 🍉. In USA the fruit is not the same and often grown with chemical in a factory somewhere. I just love that about Jamaica how you can get fresh fruit or ackee in your own backyard or a neighbor. My boyfriend lives there and there’s plenty of mint and lemongrass for tea and lots of herbs 🌿 you can pick right out of your own yard.
My home country of Mauritius is in the tropics too.. but the cost of living is killing people over there. Thank God I live a much better life in Ireland.. great video 📸 and hope your channel grows bigger 💯✅
Irina I laughed so loud when you showed the chicken feet and your bird squawked!! He felt for his brethren 😂😂 Few things I've learned from my Jamaican friends is dont plant what you cant eat. Also seen a lot enjoy tin makrel and those soda crackers. Ive done a lot of food shopping in JA and I much prefer buying chickens from local as well as produce. As for laundry soap i love Ariel and tried to bring some back to cda but airport security confiscated it 😂 Love Lasco hot cocoa w nutmeg too. But the real cocoa is the bomb! Miss JA bad and cant wait til I can visit once flights resume and virus is under control. Thanks for this episode - really enjoyed it ✌
Again great info. As a regular Jamaica traveller, though not currently Canada band flights to there, I have shopped all over. Yes, I did notice price differences. Negril was a bit more pricy than Mo'bay. Portland had great prices. Keep up the great work...will be I Jamaica once the Covid restrictions are over. PS...it would be great to report on how the Covid effects the locals and vaccine roll outs.. Cheers
First to make a comment I love this video it's very educational and it's very helpful even for some Jamaican too and one thing I want to say or make mention is that you can get bread in Jamaica cheap yeah like for $250 directly from the bakery I would just go to the bakery and buy it from Captain's Bakery the last time I went to the bakery I bought a big bread for about $400 warm and nice and steamy bread and everything that you have said so far is directly on budget for us locals because we will walk all day around in the marketplace to find the best prices and we do, and for me every month I would spend around exactly $14,000 a month. And sometimes another way we can get things cheaper is buy them in bulk for example you can buy some chickens in a bag and buy a sack of flour and a sack of rice which would each equals about 30 lb and you can do the same for sugar which for me I do use a lot of sugar an another way we getting cheaper is the fact that some of the people have like a banana tree in the yard and most of the time we plant stuff so that's what makes things even easier for us.
Irina,,Thanks again. You are a woman of my own heart.I live in the Uk and like you always see the positive side of our country.I think a lot of our people for what ever reason edpecially if they sre returning residents serm to set themselves apart from the local people.This creates an impression that becsuse the hsve lived abroad they csn turn their noses up on going to the markets.How do I know its because when I come home I mske it my business to find out these things by observing and discussion.I know this can a generalisation but a lot of Jamsicans have a passion for all thing foreign.Irina as you have demonstrated if you budget and are careful you can manage to bjy food that is more organic than can be had overseas.Thanks again for kerping things real.
Thank you so much for this feedback, and yes - I've noticed the things you're mentioning and I'm thinking of making a a video about it, since some Ukrainians living abroad and then coming to Ukraine for a visit behave in exactly the same way!
Great content as usual.... I would only point out that plenty of the fruits/vegetables mentioned are easily grown in a backyard/front yaad/side yaad or the occasional bush....
I'm a Jamaican living in the Bahamas and cost of living is three-time higher here than in Jamaica $100 can't give me 2/3 of those stuff here believe me
Another awesome and very informative video Irina. You are right many people in the country parts wont need to buy many if the fruit and veggies. Callaloo, breadfruit, banana and a variety of fruits grows on their land. If some people stop eat meat or cut down they can even spend less. 🙂
Great Video, I lived in Jamaica for two years 2002 - 2004 in Kingston, loved it and considering on moving back close to retirement have not look in to long term rental place.
Rice and peas every day! Patty for breakfast. Also, Jamaica has the best gringo pricing anywhere Ive been in Caribbean. As far as I can tell there is no premium for being a foreigner in Jamaica on pricing.
Very informative. Please do a video on the proper utensils one should have in order to prepare meals and to save money, for example, a steamer, or bread maker, blender for juices, these machines can help an individual even save even more money. Looking forward of seeing it.
Hm, I think these machines are not for Jamaica, because they eat up electricity like crazy, and electricity is one of the most expensive things you can get! I don't even use an electric kettle, instead - boil water on gas, saves around 50 USD per month on light! The best appliances to save up $ would be ...open fire outside or a cheap gas stove 🤔😊
Back then my grandma and mom used to do that with a section of the yard. Beans, corn, carrots, tomatoes. Much better use of a yard than having it as a pretty green carpet to show off with (like here in the States)
This is interesting. I'm totally seeing it---with the green bananas and veggies. The list seems a bit top-heavy with carbs and starches though. Those staples are cheaper though not all that healthy to eat every day. I am amazed that you came in under $100...even with these.
@@FallacyAsPraxis Well, there were two packs of oats (need only 1 for the month) and two bags of rice (need only one), but included them to show the brands/types. However, in general, yes, it's what it is - the cheapest food in Jamaica is indeed mostly carbs! That is why it's very easy to get overweight in Jamaica, unless having a very active lifestyle. Then again, most people relocate to Jamaica not to stay indoors, so they get active and it compensates the carb-heavy diet. For a person with diabetes - not sure how this would work, hmm 🤔
Chicken gizzards ( sounds like wizard with a G sound) batter and fried in the USA is delicious or chicken gizzards and gravy served over rice is delicious
Funny how I am a Jamaican living in cold New York and you are Ukrainian living in warm Jamaica. I am enjoying your videos - very well produced! I shared your video with my friend from Belarus. Keep up the good work.
I live in St.Elizabeth and am a farmer tomatoes are only jmd $10- $20 per pound out the farm, farmers are leaving them to rot in the gardens, because they are not making anything off them compared to what they spend to prepare and mention their farms. In the Christmas season tomatoes was jmd$600 out of the farm...
Some farms in the US allow customers to go into farms and pick their own and pay the farmer. I don't know if that's something jamaicans would do, or even if you as a farmer would do it?
@@waitaminute2015 Yes we do, most farmers in St.Elizabeth the parish I am from does it, St.Elizabeth is where most of the foods in Jamaica are produced..
@@ShanZenZenJamaicanVibez I'm usually in St Mary when I visit. That's good to know in case I go that way. It's a shame to see food going to waste. Wishing you the best!
That's the amount I spend every month for my mom and I. Love how you break down everything you buy your more Jamaican than a few who I know that is born here. I grow my own garden with different types of.... beans, (vine) string bean, chards, something rotate the type of vegetables I plant. Food stuff: sweet Cassava, yams, bananas Vegetables: Pak Choy, , pumpkin, thyme, escallion, scotch bonnet, Fruits: mulberries, pomegranates, Cherries, sour Sop, mints, Fever grass (lemon grass) and few other things. ......Plus I'm surrounded by 11 massive trees of commons, Blackie & Robin mango trees 💚💚💚
I just love your contents, as a jamaican myself living in jamaica i appreciate you and respect because your contents are so factual and unbiased i admire you as an honest presenter.i get the feeling that you're highly trained in journalism.God bless you .you make me feel proud.Your life is purposefull in this country.You have become a great asset to us.thank you for your great work
Thank you for another great video.....Tea- Most locals will use bush tea, Cerasse, Wild Barsley, Peppermint, no tea bags. Breakfast- Roasted breadfruit or fried plantain with avocado. You are right Irina, you can easily live on a food budget of 100.00 US per month because most Jamaicans have to, they don’t have a choice.
thank you for the info about tea, certainly true, I should have mentioned this! :))) and I can't wait for avocado season! As for people living on a tight budget - true, but it's not most Jamaicans, it's actually 14% of population who official earn 30,000 JMD per adult or less (monthly). At least that was the statistics before covid.. Not sure what the situation is like now. Then again, I earn way more than that and still struggle to make ends meet... 🤷♀️🤦♀️
@@NATURALMYSTICMK Do you live in one of the urban areas, Kingston, Mobay, Ocho Rios, etc? Nothing wrong with your weekly shopping being more than 100.00 if you can afford it.
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE Thank you for pointing that out...Did not know the actual numbers.....Like you, I will be making more than that in retirement, but I am heeding your warning that even though we may make more, I may struggle to make ends meet when I return there.
The problem some jamaican want to live like they're in America, my home is in mobay and every time i drove by those two KFC always a Longline food price is never a problem because i eat like I'm home , i live in Washington dc $100 last me and my wife about 3WEEKS .thank you keep up the great work
I live in London £120.00 a month I spend on grocery shopping. I go to the butchers for meat, Savers for my household and other things I am always looking for a bargain and I cook my own food, not too much takeaway. I shop at places such as Iceland, Poundstretchter , wilko and the local markets.
Irina when I was a child only poor people ate saltfish because it was so cheap and corneal was dog food because it was dirt cheap. They called it "tuncormeal" made with deboned codfish and fed to the dogs. Here is the irony " cornmeal porridge was given to kids because it was considered healthy. In realty it has lots of sugar. Children were fed lots of porridge.
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
Irina, another very well researched and informative VLOG. Also, I am starting to hear some "Jamaican" in your speech....for example "mats" for "math"...LOVE it
I am learning so much from this channel and I was born in Jamaica. I did nit know about St. Elizabeth being the main source of our product and I never paid attention to the foods being in season. Also liver and green banana is delicious!
It's gizzard with a hard G. And it's hard to die from hunger in Jamaica especially in Clarendon where I'm from since there are so many fruit trees growing around.
Hi Irina, I always enjoyed watching your videos. You are awesome!! You should try some Jamaican chocolate stick for tea, it's alot cheaper than tetley tea bag and last alot longer when you grater it. You can use milk to Sweetened also.
The cost of living in Jamaica is very high. Can a foreigner, live on a very tight budget of only 100 USD per month for groceries? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction
01:13 Cheap Essential Foods (Jamaican style)
03:28 How to save up on food
05:29 Cheap Fruits and Vegetables
07:27 Why locals have it cheaper
09:55 Cheap Meats
11:21 Cheap sweet stuff
12:55 Where to buy cheap food
14:06 Cheap Non-food supplies
16:20 Summary
I would never be able to get that amount of items for $99.90 in the US.
Very nice you make my day
...this is an amazing video. I really need take a cooking course in Jamaica.
I like you I like to get to link up with you someday
I live here and spend more than that on groceries I need help
Irena as Brand Ambassador for Jamaican Tourism. Who second that. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Listen, I'm so proud of the way this woman pushes Brand Jamaica. Too many people like to denigrate our country. She shows a balanced perspective in all of her videos that I appreciate.
Swaggy have it already
As a Jamaican, I love the way you explain things. By the way, liver is a breakfast staple in Jamaica. Liver & green bananas, very inexpensive even in a restaurant.
Liver & fried dumplings with lots of gravy 🤗
Liver for dinner as well. With ground produce or rice.
I tried liver, it's ok but I definitely don't have it on my menu. Prime cuts only.
@@Ubetterworkblog let me guess 🤔 you like lots of gravy 😄
@@LivingOnPurpose1 lol, yes!
You can grow your own tea in Jamaica. Like mint, fever grass, and various others. Remember that Jamaican soil is great for planting.
Yes that's what I do
I have a fever grass and mint bush at my home
@@simonedennis8022 send mi some 😀
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
You should automatically get your Citizenship after this video. She reuse the tea bag ...true yardie
LOL 😂 Thank you!
Is true.. Agree....🤣🤣
LOL this is very new to me. I have never seen any Jamaican do that
my mom reuses the teabag all the time. i taught she was the only one that does that.. LOL LOL. lots of old school Jamaicans do it.
@@jamdawgutube me neither. This does happen a farin by the natives but not by any Jamaican I know.
You know how to shop, more than a lot of Jamaicans. I think u need a program to teach them. A lot of returnees complain about the price... you are very wise
Cooking for person us much different from a mother father and kids ,
Lmaooo true😂
She’s navigating Jamaica better than me, and I born n grow ya!!!
Great great content!
Maybe a meal prep video next?
Food can be cheaper if you budget right and grow what you can. Scallion, tyme, calallo, mint, fevergrass and pop choy (bok choy) can be grown in containers if you don't have the space. When Manley was Prime Minister he told all Jamaicans to grow what they can. I
Jamaicans are the reason why food is so expensive,laziness,and like to buy everything that comes from a foreign country, Mr Manley tried to teach them but they never learned ,until their backs are against the wall they will never learn..I'm sorry for the younger generation
Irie Jamaica 🇯🇲 needs people like you and you always speak good about Jamaica 🇯🇲 😒 love 💘 the things talk about God bless 🙏 ❤ you and your family
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
That bar of soap for laundry is mostly used for washing white or light coloured clothing: Blue bomber or cake soap is ladder up the items and left to soak for sometime. After which you would hand wash the items , paying special attention to neck/calor and arm pits and seat or crotch of underwears. Some items may need brush with a "wash brush" after which you can run them through a wash cycle in the machine
Not many people who don't live here don't understand about seasonal goods offered here and when Jamaica receives alot of rainfall and goods prices will sky rocket. Plus ackee not many Jamaicans buy it, because why should we when a neighbour that has a gigantic ackee tree exists but cant climb. As long as u can climb you can get ackee for free.
Yes potential people looking to live here. Try to get a neighbour with ackee tree, mango tree, and fruit trees next to you. Neighbours are gold mines here "as long as you can climb."
Thank you! I had about 10 minutes of me talking about how people can get by without any money at all in Jamaica by simply having relatives/neighbours or growing things and getting food from them, or by growing your own foods! But then I decided to remove that part and use it for another video :)))))
🤣🤣
It is good to get permission first and plant seeds and trees for the future.
😄 " as long as you can climb".
Most of the produce I can get from back yard, no need to go to market unless I need something and its not in season. Working a sustainable food garden is relaxing and rewarding... One walk round the yard and that is breakfast.
The way to tell if something is in season is to look in the area in which they sell food. If it's everywhere then it's in good supply. You also need to bear in mind the not every parish grows the same products at the same time. What may be in abundance in St Elizabeth may be hard to find in Hanover for instance. It may also be cheaper to buy eggs and or chicken from someone who actually raises them. And don't forgot the two staples. Tinned mackerel and corned beef. By the way porridge whether it's oats, cornmeal or otherwise can be eaten at anytime and not just for breakfast.
Thank you so much for the tips! And yes, I should have included mackerel and corned beef, they are indeed popular and can be a good replacement for any meats when it comes to cheap meals!
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
Irina! The JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD NEED you! I found your channel yesterday, and I love, love, love it❤️🇯🇲. The job you are doing is an amazing one, I have never seen the JTB covered Jamaica tourism like this. I will say this again, YOU DESERVE A MEDAL!!!!💖🙏🏽🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
Strange why haven’t any jamaicans done it there are so many JA living all over the world.
I wish I could give this video 10 thumbs up. This was so insightful 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾.
thank you, Teacher Irie, greately appreciated. I will have to write the Jamaican Gov't to tell them about the treasure they have. It is you IRIE.
Locals especially those in the country side plant/cultivate their own fruit and vegetables so they can live cheaper
You can know when somebody love where they live for you to come from Ukraine and I love Jamaican like that you are a Jamaican guarantee you speak nothing more than the truth and that’s what matters thank you for being who you are and never change the person you are and thank you for living in Jamaica to shine light on Jamaica One love
Thank you so much for such kind words! ❤️
Thank you, dear! This is a good one. You are such a gift 💝
Good morning
Yes she is awesome
Yes she needs citizenship Rn,We don't want her to leave Jamaica 👏🏽
This list is very accurate, this is how I grew up single mom 3 kids survived off this in the early 00s. I never realized how cheap Tomatoes, Scallions and Thyme. I live in Canada now and the price is just plain crazy. I couldn't buy vegatables here for under 80 bucks alone, made me just realized how cheap food is in Jamaica.
Thank you for sharing! Well, depends on the type of food and the time of the year. Tomatoes in December were from 5 USD per pound! However, knowing when and what to buy - works wonders!
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE lots and lots and lots of chocolate😂😂😂😂
Good day Irina. You need to know and check a Butcher for meats. Liver my favourite breakfast meal on a Sunday is available at a Wholesale. I find Wholesale cheaper than Supermarket. I lived near Downtown Kingston so prices are usually good. Also we get wider variety of goods at good cheaper prices. Yes you are right that depending on your location and access to goods prices are determined in Jamaica even though its a small island.
You are so right that you need to learn when to buy what so you can get good prices for goods for your money. A trick I try in the market is to asked the question if they are local or foreign goods .
Please note that ackee can be cook with different meats than saltfish. For example fried chicken cut in small bite sizes as well as chicken back, sausages, bacon, salt mackerel and Smoke Herring and also without any meats. Just add seasoning to flavour with onion, garlic and tomato as well as sweet pepper. Etc.
Irina had to share so you can get other ideas.
Thank you so much for sharing! Yes, much appreciated! 😊Reading this comment made me hungry 😋
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE Thank you Irina. You should try local liver. It is so tender and soft, its like it melt in your mouth. That with lots of onions and garlic is so delicious..mmh and please don't forget the scotchie pepper.. serve that with soft green bananas and soft yams as well as Johnny cakes/fried dumplings as well as some yellow heart roasted breadfruit. ..Mmmmh
So Irie...you a gwaan good but can I tell you a few things? Just indulge me...
1. Soap powder or fab.....is what we call laundry detergent
2.for dishwashing liquid, shampoo, bleach, disinfectant etc. you need to find a bulk shop that retail these in chubby bottle or soda bottles...it cheaper than supermarket
3. Liver is used for a meat yes...but not a lot of recipe options for it...you mostly find it at supermarkets for true.
4. Fish is cheap....ish at the supermarket and meat mart...but what kind of fish and where it comes from? Local fresh fish nuh cheap
5. Bread....haffi buy....fi is even half a bread....bread haffi buy. We don't make bread as the norm but we fry nuff dumpling...but if is even 1 bread...we a buy it.
6. What happened to the tin mackerel and sardines?
That's my 2 cents. I love your channel and I think I will give you 9 out of 10 for your shopping.
Thank you so much! Well, I had to make sure the video was under 20 mins long for this topic, lol :))) There are quite a lot of things I didn't mention, so leaving them for other videos! Thanks a lot for sharing the tips and things! Much appreciated! 🙏
I loved my mother's beef liver with onion and gravy, fried dumplings or rice.
Since I have to be on a tight budget, I will eat corn meal porridge I made today for the next 3 or 4 days and ramen noodles or pasta. No fast food. Buying street food can add up. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Iryna I can't wait to see you in Jamaica. IM Ukrainian leaving in Canada. I love love your positive attitude and amazing life in Jamaica. YOU are brilliant smart elegant and sweet. See you this summer 🤗❤💚💗🧡
Almost every home in Jamaica has an ackee tree in their backyard or they know a neighbour down the street that has one in the residential areas but especially in the rural
areas.
Keep up the good work thank you for showing Jamaican people how to live in Jamaica it always take someone not from that place to show people the opportunities they have in their home country you're doing a really great service to Jamaica your knowledge of Jamaica is unreal for a person living in Jamaica too long
I think Jamaicans know how to live in Jamaica much better than me, since they are the ones I learn from!!! 🤓🙃 HOWEVER, thank you so much, I really appreciate all the support!
kinston market place is the best.. beware though that your skin color will effect some people to become greedy and charge you more. and also i hotels in small hotels around . they have two prices local and foriegn so do ur homework if you shop and ask about prices . from each person . i store. markets not so .. walk like your born there.
Gor tea you just go in the yard almost any plant can make tea. . Jamaican eat liver for breakfast. In the rural areas breadfruit,avocado and fruits grows wild.
Irina,
Snowy Sunday morning in Ottawa sipping the last of my blue mountain coffee.
Ladies and gentlemen, spent nearly a month at Irina’s AirBnb. Absolute paradise!
Aaron, awww, snowy Ottawa... 🥶we miss you already in Jamaica 🌊🌴 ❤️. Thank you so much for staying with us, for all the support and for being such a wonderful person! I hope I get a chance to see you again, either in Jamaica or in Canada (but Canada during summer, of course! ))))
Your editing skills is fantastic,Videos always edited properly and well put Together.😍😍😍Thanks again for the continuous showing off the beauty of Jamaica in positive way.Never leave Jamaica hun we will always need u🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲These videos making me miss home 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
That was a good education video if I was coming there to live that's nice to know 👍👍👍
God your videos are good. Next level tingz 💯. I especially like the parts about knowing when to buy certain foods, living closer to where the food grows & understanding the difference in pricing between supermarket & market. As a diasporan returning home, I need to re educate myself on how to survive there. Things operate differently than they do in the West.
I love your videos 😍. I'm originally from Mobay but I live overseas. My mom still lives in Mobay and she came to Jamaica from Russia over 30 years ago. She knows how to survive in Jamaica like you👍🏼
Important point about food. Don't put your Red Stripe bottles in the trash. Just set them down anywhere they can been seen. Someone will be by to collect them. If you put them in the trash, then the collectors have dig through trash, and they sometimes make a mess.
Hm, I wonder if this is relevant only to Kingston 🤔. I have a hard time finding a place where Red Stripe bottles can be returned in Montego Bay... Places that supposed to get them - all ask for crates (which have to be bought and then bottles have to be placed in them). But even when we buy crates and place bottles in them - often places would refuse to accept them. The thing is - when our guest house was full of guests before covid - the problem of red stripe bottle recycling was really a serious one, since it was from 30+ bottles every day! Since I couldn't find a place in Montego Bay to hand them in, I drove bottles to Kingston to recycle...That's why I find your comment very interesting - people who find a few bottles- how do they manage to hand them in for cash? Where?
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE I learned this from experience, I have only ever been a tourist in Jamaica. I stay down in Negril, although I am looking for a permanent retirement residence in or near Sav-la-mar.
Very thorough if I may say so. Iris you let the cat out of the bag. Now I know certain people can live off US100 per month were food is concern of course 😄😄😄😄😄👍👍👍👍.
That’s amazing! I wish I had all those good vegetables and fruit 🍉. In USA the fruit is not the same and often grown with chemical in a factory somewhere. I just love that about Jamaica how you can get fresh fruit or ackee in your own backyard or a neighbor. My boyfriend lives there and there’s plenty of mint and lemongrass for tea and lots of herbs 🌿 you can pick right out of your own yard.
My home country of Mauritius is in the tropics too.. but the cost of living is killing people over there. Thank God I live a much better life in Ireland.. great video 📸 and hope your channel grows bigger 💯✅
Mauritius is an amazingly beautiful place!
Wow u r the best Jamaican live in canada love ur video
Irina I laughed so loud when you showed the chicken feet and your bird squawked!! He felt for his brethren 😂😂 Few things I've learned from my Jamaican friends is dont plant what you cant eat. Also seen a lot enjoy tin makrel and those soda crackers. Ive done a lot of food shopping in JA and I much prefer buying chickens from local as well as produce. As for laundry soap i love Ariel and tried to bring some back to cda but airport security confiscated it 😂 Love Lasco hot cocoa w nutmeg too. But the real cocoa is the bomb! Miss JA bad and cant wait til I can visit once flights resume and virus is under control. Thanks for this episode - really enjoyed it ✌
Breadfruit - 'bread that grows on trees' .. lol😃
I enjoy all of your videos
True, 👍
Thanks again for the presentation Irina, well said, mad respect 👏👍.
*Irina* I am gonna use your idea here in the *U.S* to help me budget. This knowledge works everywhere, not just in *JA* .....🤔
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK .I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL.GOD BLESS YOU ALL🙏////////
Another great video. Put a smile 😊 on my face. Love ❤️ how you adapt and fit in.
Another awesome video. I appreciate the tips because I need to learn how to budget better so that I can save more.
Again great info. As a regular Jamaica traveller, though not currently Canada band flights to there, I have shopped all over. Yes, I did notice price differences. Negril was a bit more pricy than Mo'bay. Portland had great prices. Keep up the great work...will be I Jamaica once the Covid restrictions are over.
PS...it would be great to report on how the Covid effects the locals and vaccine roll outs..
Cheers
First to make a comment I love this video it's very educational and it's very helpful even for some Jamaican too and one thing I want to say or make mention is that you can get bread in Jamaica cheap yeah like for $250 directly from the bakery I would just go to the bakery and buy it from Captain's Bakery the last time I went to the bakery I bought a big bread for about $400 warm and nice and steamy bread and everything that you have said so far is directly on budget for us locals because we will walk all day around in the marketplace to find the best prices and we do, and for me every month I would spend around exactly $14,000 a month. And sometimes another way we can get things cheaper is buy them in bulk for example you can buy some chickens in a bag and buy a sack of flour and a sack of rice which would each equals about 30 lb and you can do the same for sugar which for me I do use a lot of sugar an another way we getting cheaper is the fact that some of the people have like a banana tree in the yard and most of the time we plant stuff so that's what makes things even easier for us.
Thank you so much for sharing! 🙏💚 Yes, I get bread from the bakery, but it disappears very quickly, kids eat it in no time, lol!
Sooooo true I have to buy bread at least two times a week because my family is bread lovers
Thank you for the lesson in what can be achieved with a limited budget and determination
Irina,,Thanks again. You are a woman of my own heart.I live in the Uk and like you always see the positive side of our country.I think a lot of our people for what ever reason edpecially if they sre returning residents serm to set themselves apart from the local people.This creates an impression that becsuse the hsve lived abroad they csn turn their noses up on going to the markets.How do I know its because when I come home I mske it my business to find out these things by observing and discussion.I know this can a generalisation but a lot of Jamsicans have a passion for all thing foreign.Irina as you have demonstrated if you budget and are careful you can manage to bjy food that is more organic than can be had overseas.Thanks again for kerping things real.
Thank you so much for this feedback, and yes - I've noticed the things you're mentioning and I'm thinking of making a a video about it, since some Ukrainians living abroad and then coming to Ukraine for a visit behave in exactly the same way!
Your appreciated, never looked at it from that angle, i always had a little farm
Good info Irie Irina 💕 it was the music for me dancing too some savings 🤗
You are definitely a Jamaican every thing you said in the video we usually do it before we move to the USA
Great content as usual.... I would only point out that plenty of the fruits/vegetables mentioned are easily grown in a backyard/front yaad/side yaad or the occasional bush....
Yep, absolutely! But it's a story for another video that is coming up some time later! 😊🙏
I'm a Jamaican living in the Bahamas and cost of living is three-time higher here than in Jamaica $100 can't give me 2/3 of those stuff here believe me
LOL
Here in New York, $100 can literally buy 2 months' worth of grocery if you are buying cheaply
Wow that’s crazy
So true
Another awesome and very informative video Irina. You are right many people in the country parts wont need to buy many if the fruit and veggies. Callaloo, breadfruit, banana and a variety of fruits grows on their land. If some people stop eat meat or cut down they can even spend less. 🙂
Great Video, I lived in Jamaica for two years 2002 - 2004 in Kingston, loved it and considering on moving back close to retirement have not look in to long term rental place.
Irie!!! you don’t like peppermint tea. You can plant it in your garden
I love peppermint tea ))
Thanks Irnea.
Rice and peas every day! Patty for breakfast. Also, Jamaica has the best gringo pricing anywhere Ive been in Caribbean. As far as I can tell there is no premium for being a foreigner in Jamaica on pricing.
My mom reuses the teabag all the time. I taught she was the only one that does that.. LOL LOL. lots of old school and modern Jamaicans do it.
Very informative. Please do a video on the proper utensils one should have in order to prepare meals and to save money, for example, a steamer, or bread maker, blender for juices, these machines can help an individual even save even more money. Looking forward of seeing it.
Hm, I think these machines are not for Jamaica, because they eat up electricity like crazy, and electricity is one of the most expensive things you can get! I don't even use an electric kettle, instead - boil water on gas, saves around 50 USD per month on light! The best appliances to save up $ would be ...open fire outside or a cheap gas stove 🤔😊
This is great! No idea how this all worked, been in mobay 7 times and love it there!
Another great video. I really appreciate your objective views on Jamaica. Continue to be an asset. Blessings.
If you have the land, plant what you eat and eat what you plant. Monthly expense will be even lower.
Back then my grandma and mom used to do that with a section of the yard. Beans, corn, carrots, tomatoes. Much better use of a yard than having it as a pretty green carpet to show off with (like here in the States)
@@jackolantern7342 very true
This is interesting. I'm totally seeing it---with the green bananas and veggies. The list seems a bit top-heavy with carbs and starches though. Those staples are cheaper though not all that healthy to eat every day. I am amazed that you came in under $100...even with these.
Carbs and starches? WTH? These are everyday supplies that almost every household that actually cooks buys. Furthermore, it's for the month!
@@jamdawgutube I'm speaking from the perspective of a person with diabetes.
@@FallacyAsPraxis Jamaica is kind of big on starchy food
@@FallacyAsPraxis Well, there were two packs of oats (need only 1 for the month) and two bags of rice (need only one), but included them to show the brands/types. However, in general, yes, it's what it is - the cheapest food in Jamaica is indeed mostly carbs! That is why it's very easy to get overweight in Jamaica, unless having a very active lifestyle. Then again, most people relocate to Jamaica not to stay indoors, so they get active and it compensates the carb-heavy diet. For a person with diabetes - not sure how this would work, hmm 🤔
@@bored3404, everywhere has starchy food
Chicken gizzards ( sounds like wizard with a G sound) batter and fried in the USA is delicious or chicken gizzards and gravy served over rice is delicious
I love how you just fit right in. Keep the videos coming!
Love ur videos amazing irena god bless keep safe.
Very informative and helpful video. You teach so much in a short time. HUGS and GOD bless you from snowing again ❄ NY State by Pennsylvania border. 🤗
It’s a amazing how you put out so many great informational videos of Jamaica 🇯🇲, thank you
Super information. Thanks Irina. ☝🏽👊🏽🙏🏽🇨🇦🇯🇲
This was good information as usual. Purchasing the goods enhanced the presentation rather that items on a spreadsheet. Keep up the great work Irina.
When I come to Montego Bay, I would love to interview you for my program.
Funny how I am a Jamaican living in cold New York and you are Ukrainian living in warm Jamaica. I am enjoying your videos - very well produced! I shared your video with my friend from Belarus. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much! :) ❤️
I live in St.Elizabeth and am a farmer tomatoes are only jmd $10- $20 per pound out the farm, farmers are leaving them to rot in the gardens, because they are not making anything off them compared to what they spend to prepare and mention their farms. In the Christmas season tomatoes was jmd$600 out of the farm...
I need to come to St.Elizabeth and get all these tomatoes and then pickle them 🤔
Some farms in the US allow customers to go into farms and pick their own and pay the farmer. I don't know if that's something jamaicans would do, or even if you as a farmer would do it?
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE yes, you should!
@@waitaminute2015 Yes we do, most farmers in St.Elizabeth the parish I am from does it, St.Elizabeth is where most of the foods in Jamaica are produced..
@@ShanZenZenJamaicanVibez I'm usually in St Mary when I visit. That's good to know in case I go that way. It's a shame to see food going to waste. Wishing you the best!
Your definitely one of the best Jamaica reporters on you tube Irena
That's the amount I spend every month for my mom and I. Love how you break down everything you buy your more Jamaican than a few who I know that is born here.
I grow my own garden with different types of....
beans, (vine) string bean, chards, something rotate the type of vegetables I plant.
Food stuff: sweet Cassava, yams, bananas
Vegetables: Pak Choy, , pumpkin, thyme, escallion, scotch bonnet,
Fruits: mulberries, pomegranates, Cherries, sour Sop, mints, Fever grass (lemon grass) and few other things.
......Plus I'm surrounded by 11 massive trees of commons, Blackie & Robin mango trees
💚💚💚
Very informative, love this video.
I just love your contents, as a jamaican myself living in jamaica i appreciate you and respect because your contents are so factual and unbiased i admire you as an honest presenter.i get the feeling that you're highly trained in journalism.God bless you .you make me feel proud.Your life is purposefull in this country.You have become a great asset to us.thank you for your great work
Thank you for another great video.....Tea- Most locals will use bush tea, Cerasse, Wild Barsley, Peppermint, no tea bags. Breakfast- Roasted breadfruit or fried plantain with avocado. You are right Irina, you can easily live on a food budget of 100.00 US per month because most Jamaicans have to, they don’t have a choice.
thank you for the info about tea, certainly true, I should have mentioned this! :))) and I can't wait for avocado season! As for people living on a tight budget - true, but it's not most Jamaicans, it's actually 14% of population who official earn 30,000 JMD per adult or less (monthly). At least that was the statistics before covid.. Not sure what the situation is like now. Then again, I earn way more than that and still struggle to make ends meet... 🤷♀️🤦♀️
My weekly shopping for 1 person costs more per week.🤫
@@NATURALMYSTICMK Do you live in one of the urban areas, Kingston, Mobay, Ocho Rios, etc? Nothing wrong with your weekly shopping being more than 100.00 if you can afford it.
@@JAMAICAWITHIRIE Thank you for pointing that out...Did not know the actual numbers.....Like you, I will be making more than that in retirement, but I am heeding your warning that even though we may make more, I may struggle to make ends meet when I return there.
Godwin.....i am good. Easily afford my standard of living. I live in Kingston.
Man!!!! I swear, irie needs her own tv show
But I have one! Right here on youtube 🤗🤗🤗
Hi Irina. I met you in the supermarket recently. I love this video. Keep up the great work.
The problem some jamaican want to live like they're in America, my home is in mobay and every time i drove by those two KFC always a Longline food price is never a problem because i eat like I'm home , i live in Washington dc $100 last me and my wife about 3WEEKS .thank you keep up the great work
I live in London £120.00 a month I spend on grocery shopping. I go to the butchers for meat, Savers for my household and other things I am always looking for a bargain and I cook my own food, not too much takeaway. I shop at places such as Iceland, Poundstretchter , wilko and the local markets.
Your accent is coming on. You drop it in now and then👍🏾
Thank you 😊🙃My accent usually shifts all over the place if I don't control it on purpose.
I noticed that too. Love it.
Irina when I was a child only poor people ate saltfish because it was so cheap and corneal was dog food because it was dirt cheap. They called it "tuncormeal" made with deboned codfish and fed to the dogs.
Here is the irony " cornmeal porridge was given to kids because it was considered healthy. In realty it has lots of sugar.
Children were fed lots of porridge.
That was well worth my time. Thanks Irie
This is perfect for teaching us some jamaican recipes now Irina.
they are coming! Working on filming them with Jamaicans :)
I will marry a woman who can budget any day!
LOL 😆
😝
lol
😁😁😁😁😁😁 most women who runs a 🏠 can budget. If they can't it is because they have not learned how to squeeze two dollars out of one dollar 💰
Repent , the kingdom of God is at hand , read your bible for yourself, and pray , there is nothing our there in the world ,ask God to guide and protect you ,if you have any question please ask me.
Irina, another very well researched and informative VLOG. Also, I am starting to hear some "Jamaican" in your speech....for example "mats" for "math"...LOVE it
Great video,, very realistic. Thank you
Using tea bags twice? I've never heard of people doing this. I learned something new today 🤷
I LOVE HOW U DEAL THE JAMAICA
I am learning so much from this channel and I was born in Jamaica. I did nit know about St. Elizabeth being the main source of our product and I never paid attention to the foods being in season. Also liver and green banana is delicious!
Ok that's it, I'm moving back!!! ❤❤❤❤
I love your honest
It's gizzard with a hard G. And it's hard to die from hunger in Jamaica especially in Clarendon where I'm from since there are so many fruit trees growing around.
Hi Irina, I always enjoyed watching your videos. You are awesome!! You should try some Jamaican chocolate stick for tea, it's alot cheaper than tetley tea bag and last alot longer when you grater it. You can use milk to Sweetened also.
Thank you for sharing this great and practical guide
Happy Sunday, Irina. Bless up