Hi everyone! I've recently become fascinated with Belize. I'll be making my first trip down in the later part of May. I'm hoping that Belize will be a good fit and that I'll take 'early retirement' there(I'm 34 but have sufficient investment income to live comfortably). Since I'm not old enough to go the qualified retired person route I'll probably be more or less a perpetual tourist. Which means I can't have a job. I really don't want a job....I have enough money and I'm trying to get AWAY from punching a time clock...not move the time clock to another country. But I digress....this posting is about barter. I have quite a few useful and possibly rare skills(don't know how rare because I haven't been down there yet). Anyhow I'm wondering if it is ok to do a bit of bartering? An example might be that I groom little Fifi for you and you have some lovely orange trees, so as a thankyou you bring me some fresh oranges. Would this sort of thing be considered accepting pay? LOL....you can take the american out of america but you can't kill the capitalism

It could be but only if you ticked someone off enough to report you. Much of Belize works on the barter system still.

Yes, you CAN work in Belize. Americans run shops, B&B's, restaurants. I know one with a paint shop. One owns an internet place. Many are teachers.

A volunteer at Belmopan's new Humane Society says groomers are needed. The only one here has left. Most people have muts but there's some with poodles and other purebreds.

Belizeans are poor...they need almost everything, so I'm sure bartering would work out fine.

Let us know if you need more help. We offer relocation assistance...can pick you up at airport, introduce you to the best most honest realtor, show you least expensive places to shop...go shipping with you and negotiate prices, take you touring (I'm a tour guide, master diver and licensed medic).

Send your "Does Belize Have This" list so we can help further. Belize is an adjustment, it's beautiful, and a great place to live/retire

Legally you cannot work in Belize-paid or unpaid unless you have a work permit/residency/citizenship-I have no idea where aloha got her info from-plus she has only been here a couple of months and knows the only honest realtor-give me a break from I have been here for three months know-it-alls

Just set up a local company:
http://www.belizeoffshoreinvestors.com/inv1.html
and then you can apply for a workpermit:
http://www.belizeoffshoreinvestors.com/inv4.html
After a year you can apply for a permanent residence:
http://www.belizeoffshoreinvestors.com/inv5.html