Al DĂa Poll: Most Ticos see cost of living as main problem
The Omsbudswoman, Lisbeth Quesada, had to stop buying “Coconut Milk” for her famous Thai recipe, and Channel 7’s Adriana Durán, of the show Buen DĂa, stopped being “extravagent” with the food. Singer Érick Leon finds it hard to pay food, education and gas for him, his wife and three children.
- 17,8% of Ticos see the high cost of living as the country’s main problem, according to DemoscopĂa. (the highest of any problems in the surey)
- 51,3% of Costa Ricans consider the country is going through hard times.
The same way, soccer players Wilmer Lopez and Jafet Soto, legislators Martha Zamora and José Francisco Salas, find themselves scraping the bottom of the barrel and are scared by the high cost of living.
The survey by DemoscopĂa for Al DĂa indicates that most Costa Ricans consider “the high cost of living” as the main problem, even more than delicate subjects like delinquency, unemployment and corruption.
In her capacity as Ombusdwoman, Quesada affirms that she makes certain that the prices of the products in the basic “basket of products” are reviewed frequently. On the other hand, the independent deputy, “the twin” Jose Francisco Salas, admitted that he doesn’t know what his family’s expenses are each month. “I am really very worried. In the assmebly we aren’t even debating any project to see how inflation may be restrained or how we can help people face rising fuel prices “.
Cut in everything
As a mother of four children and to be the sole provider is complicated. This is the case of journalist Adriana Durán, who says that she has diminished the outings with her children. But, perhaps, the greater problem of Adriana is that she only has boys and “they grow out of their clothes and shoes very fast, and they eat quite a bit”.
The Heredia midfielder Jafet Soto spends all year saving for “having vacations once a year. In addition, he recognizes that the ¢500 he usually gave to his children for school, no longer is enough.”
Representative Martha Zamora, in spite of earning ¢1,2 million (2500 US dollars) per year, says that to go out “there is very little money and she does not buy Jumbo shrimps”.
And you knows what? The Alajuel midfielder WĂlmer Lopez affirms that “he can’t afford a housekeeper. My wife is the one that handles the chores”.
Most of the personalities consulted yesterday by Al DĂa were emphatic in assuring that “the biggest shock”, as the singer Érick Leon put it, had to do with the constant gas hikes.
For example: Lopez, of La Liga, was surprised, because his car now takes ¢19 thousand to fill up.
How I see it - Personalities speak on the high cost of the life.
“We are suffocating, because everything goes up, and I think a lot about the people who have low wages “.
Lisbeth Quesada, Ombudswoman
“The situation is really difficult. I have three children. My work has diminished, because almost there are no shows “.
Érick Leon, singer.
“I have an impotent feeling. Our hands are tied. Very I am worried, alarmed, I would say “.
Jose F. Salas, deputy.
“Economically, the situation is very difficult for all. We have to tighten our belts, because everything rises “.
Adriana Durán, journalist.
“It is difficult to live well. Although it sounds drastic, many people say that we are not living, but surviving “.
Jafet Soto, soccer player.
“I buy per month, because they pay to me that way. The weekly shopping is for meats and I am spending around ¢150 thousand “.
WĂlmer Lopez, soccer player.