Well apparently you can no longer purchase a Powerball ticket for $1.00. In a recent article about the increase in Powerball tickets from $1 to $2, this quote was found.....
"These days people are used to a dollar not buying much anyway," said P.J. James, manager of the Lotto Mart in South Pittsburg, Tenn., which is the top lottery retailer in the 13-county Chattanooga region.
To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45865706
However, not all hope is lost! This comment got me thinking, yes, there are things that only cost $1.00. Yes, one US Dollar. And YES, here in the VI where things do tend to be a lot more expensive than elsewhere under the US Flag.
For example, the Daily News, the local newspaper here still costs a mere $1.00. For $1.00 you can check out the latest on the local news.
It's a great resource for visitors as well as locals to find out what is going on. We recently had friends visiting who actually bought and read the paper. They asked me about the WAPA water shortage and how that was affecting people on the island. A great conversation starter about living on the island and the challenges we face, AND a great way to encourage conservation!
I have often seen friends faces (and sometimes their entire bodies) photographed in the Daily News. Sending them a copy is a great way to reach out to friends and let them know you're thinking about them or just tease them about the bad hair day they were having! I also like to read the Opinion section to see if anyone I know has written anything. It's nice to be in a small community where you know many of the people who are mentioned in the paper. We even keep track of a lot of the local sports items!
Another great Bang for your (one) Buck is the $1.00 safari on St. Thomas. This safari (I believe) still only costs $1.00. It goes around in the same direction, so you are in for a ride once you are on, but to be able to get most places on this island for only $1.00 I think is a miracle. It's also a much safer option than walking on the narrow roads. Something we discourage guests from doing. Although I sometimes am frustrated that these safari's for not pulling over to allow their riders to disembark, for the most part, they are courteous and they do pull over. To be able to provide a transportation system to people without cars or other transportation is really a wonderful thing on this island.
So next time someone tells you that a dollar isn't worth anything anymore, well, you can tell them you can't play Powerball anymore, but you can take a relaxing ride on a safari or buy a Daily News on St. Thomas.
