The REAL Way I Make Money in DR

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In this edition of the Grubernation Weekly Newsletter:

• The REAL Way I Make Money in DR

• This Week in DR News…

• Retiring in DR? Punta Cana is the ONLY Choice

There’s a trend in my DM’s - ‘Jamie I’m afraid it’s going to be hard to meet people when I eventually move to DR’.

After sharing some options with them, I reluctantly mentioned the DR Inner Circle and our different chat groups, our exclusive content, our monthly get togethers, our weekly zoom Q&A - I never want to seem ‘salesly’.

But this is EXACTLY what it was built for. To bring together people regardless if they’re retiring or moving their kids and mix them with people ALREADY HERE so connections are made and friendships are formed. Whether you’re moving now, in a few years, or just coming down for a few weeks or months a year, this is your investment in your network .. and we get to hang out too 😄 

The REAL Way I Make Money in DR

Ever leave a $250 tip?

Alright, here’s the REAL story (then I’ll get all philosophical 😜).

I prepaid for a hotel in Banff, Canada last week. Plans changed, so I shortened my stay. The hotel said, “no refunds,” but that I could use the remaining balance as credit around the property.

Cool, right? Until I realized it was a lot more than I expected 🤦🏻

So I started doing my best to burn it.
Omelette and French toast? Yes please.
Extra chai latte? Don’t mind if I do.

Finally, at my last meal — a $27 burger — I asked the waiter how much credit I had left.

He said, “$250.”

At that point I figured, I’m not coming back here. May as well leave a big tip.

The hotel was gonna keep it anyway, so why not let the waiter have a great day instead?

And man… it felt GOOD.

Like, really good.

The deeper part

As a guy who once had a secure, high-paying job and walked away from it, I still have moments of fear.

The kind where I think:

And even if I know those thoughts aren’t real… they feel real.

Money is important — it’s how we’ve agreed to trade for security and access. But the longer I’ve lived this entrepreneurial life, the more I’ve realized that money is a relationship.

And like any relationship, it thrives when you’re relaxed, happy, and warm.

When you’re stressed about money, you repel it.
When you’re in harmony with it, you attract it.

So the only guaranteed way I’ve found to feel good about money…
…is to give it away.

$250 or $2.50 — it doesn’t matter

Usually, for me, it’s just buying the latte for the guy behind me at Starbucks.
$250 was a bit more than I intended 😂

But the number’s irrelevant.
The act — that feeling of generosity — is the thing that keeps me in the right relationship with money.

And honestly, that’s been the real secret to how I’ve been able to build a life without a job:

I find ways to feel GOOD about the most important relationships in my life.

💙 I date my wife weekly
📞 I call my parents to check in
🏊 I play in the pool with my kids
💵 I give money away

Not perfectly. Not always. I have my moments as a dad, husband, and business owner like anyone else.

But this little experience reminded me: when I feel good about my most important relationships — money included — those relationships stay strong.

They’re around when I need or want them.

The takeaway

Everyone wants the tactics. The “how-to” manual.
And that’s important.

But the frame of mind in which you apply those tactics is everything.

So, here’s my question to you:

💬 P.S. I first wrote this story as a Facebook post after returning from the GoBundance event in Lake Louise. It resonated so much that I decided to share it here, too.

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This Week in DR News…

• DR Government and Nvidia Sign MOU - the memorandum of understanding is a landmark agreement and is step one to DR achieving data soverignty, the creation of the first hub for AI in the Caribbean and Central America, education for locals to upskill for higher paying jobs and a massive push forward technologically for the country. This is a potentially MASSIVE announcement

• Los Manantiales overpass to open in 3-4 weeks - if you’ve been to Punta Cana, left the airport, hit the traffic circle and went north toward downtown, that traffic can get nuts. Frank Rainieri, founder of Grupo Punta Cana, announced that the overpass being built to replace the first traffic light will be done in a few weeks. Seeing it built every day .. it has moved VERY fast! Good news for traffic!

• Alleged fraudulent project in Boca Chica - this has flown below the radar but the allegation is this scheme targeted disaspora and has had zero momentum despite investments made. The project blames permitting which, to be honest, has been slower lately with additonal permits being required. I’m following this to see what comes of it. Stay tuned.

Retiring in DR? Punta Cana is the ONLY Choice

I’ll give you 5 reasons you’ve NEVER considered in this video, PLUS a realistic budget for a retired couple to live a GOOD life in paradise.

Don’t forget to check out the DR Inner Circle - I’m proud of the energy in the community .. give it a shot!